Innsbruck to Ortisei, train or car?

You can certainly drive. I would.
No matter what the weather conditions are, the freeway through the Brenner pass to Chiusa will be kept clean. It's the most important artery from North to South Europe. From there to Ortisei you need to climb at higher altitude, but it's a major road, so they'll keep it clean. Carrying chains or snow tires are mandatory from November to April on most Italian highways, certainly that one. Having a 4 wheel drive will help too.

Thanks, Roberto. That's reassuring about the road. I'll definitely have snow tires, but probably a BMW kombi with 2WD. Anybody been to Ortisei's Christmas market? Much of the appeal is probably the hope for snow. I was in Germany and Austria last December, two weeks without one flake!

Hi Ruth,

We were near there in early December 2013. Have been to Ortisei a few times in the fall. In Dec. 2013 we drove from Innsbruck (LOVED Innsbruck during the Christmas markets) to Sterzing/Vipiteno and Brixen/Bressanone for their Christmas markets. It is an easy, almost all highway, drive to Ortisei. The day we went in early December it was warm for that time of year and crystal clear. I don't think the chances of snow are better in the Val Gardena (Ortisei) at all. Ortisei is actually at a lower altitude than Innsbruck and further south. Best bet would be the Stubaital or Stubai Glacier in Austria, close to Innsbruck. We had two days of snow in Innsbruck (we stayed in Hall in Tirol). There was PLENTY of snow on the Nordkettenbahn trip. We did this in early Dec. 2010 and again in early Dec. 2013. Both December trips we had snow in Innsbruck/Hall in Tirol and in Berchtesgaden. Not a lot, but it snowed and the ground was covered. Actually, at the end of the 12/13 trip we had near white out conditions as we drove toward Munich and then got worse as we got to Munich airport. Our flight was even delayed due to the snow.

Paul

Hi Ruth,
Just wondering when you said you would definitely have snow tires. Coming from VT, I know the rental cars up here DO NOT come with snow tires. Do the rental cars in Austria come equipped with snows?

Hi VT,
I'll be renting in Germany, and they will put snow tires on all the rentals after a certain date, I think. When we lived in Germany there seemed to be an official date when the snow tires had to go on. My German was never good enough to understand all the nuances. But it's the German way!

Hi Paul,
That is not the right answer! I want snow. I did Rothenburg to Salzburg trips in the first two weeks of December in both 2013 and 2015. In 2013 there was snow from beginning to end, and blizzard conditions on the autobahn to Salzburg from Munich, and a mess getting to MUC. Last December, not a flake! Made for easier driving, but for us Atlantans, snow is magic. Probably not so much for New Yorkers.
Last December was my first trip to Hall in Tirol, and it was lovely. I'll give Innsbruck another try, but we were there on a perfect weather Sunday afternoon, and it was so crowded we could scarcely move. I broke my rule about avoiding all big city markets on weekends.
Is the Ortisei market any different from a typical German one? Looks like such a pretty area. I try to add somewhere new to each of these December trips.

Ruth,

If you're renting the car in Germany, you'll be driving through Austria. BE SURE to have the highway tax vignette, or you'll risk hefty fines. You'll also need an International Driver's Permit for driving in Italy, which is used in conjunction with your home D.L.

Thanks, Ken. I'll buy my vignette for Austria. But my best souvenir from living in Germany is my lifetime EU drivers' license!

Hi Ruth. I responded to your PM, but for the enlightenment of others:

• Ortisei is a charming town any time of the year. The Christmas market is small, but cute.

• Chances of snow before Christmas or FOR Christmas are slight, but with climate change, who knows? Things are topsy-turvy.

• Roads were good all over the area in last Dec. 2014.

Hi Ruth,

Sounds like we were there the same time period in 2013! We had plenty of snow in the Berchtesgaden area. We also had a blizzard on the way from Hall in Tirol to Munich airport for our flight home. Did you have the 3:20pm Lufthansa/United flight?

If you haven't been to either Sterzing or Brixen in Italy, just south of Innsbruck, beautiful old towns. Sterzing is especially charming. The markets are very nice. You''ll pass right by on the way to Ortisei. Try driving the Gardena Pass while in the Ortisei area. Stunning scenery, spectacular drive!

Paul!

Thank you, everybody who posted and PM'd me. I've gotten some great info from you. Really appreciate your help.