Traveling in the Sudtirol

Milan is, at least, a 4 hours drive from Innbruck....take a look at google map before asking that kind of question ! You want to see whole Sudtirol, east and west on a daytrip from Austria.....google map.

Be sure to check with car rental firm on whether you will be allowed to take your rental car into Italy

Don’t fret about missing Milan. Along with others, it’s my least favorite city in Italy. It’s less than 1 1/2 hour drive from Innsbruck to Bolzano to visit Otzi the Ice Man. From there I would consider going to Ortesei or perhaps to Val Gardena. It would make a nice day trip. I’ve never come across a major car rental company that would prevent you from driving from Switzerland to Italy.

EDIT: To see more of the area, more time is needed. Last year I drove the Great Road of the Dolomites from Cortina to Bolzano and it was a great drive with a lot of wonderful scenery. I was traveling from Venice to Bolzano so that was the particular route on which I decided. The alternate would have been the Autostrade to Verona and then to Bolzano but I would not have seen the mountains. That part of the journey, with a short stop for lunch took over 3 1/2 hours. If I think your option and the choice you would have to make is if you want to visit some areas or just drive through them. For a day trip, I would concentrate on 2 or 3 destinations and not waste a good portion of the day driving place to place. I think you are underestimating the size of the area and the fact you’ll be driving on mountain roads.

From Innsbruck we have done day trips by car to Bolzano, Chiusa and Bressanone, Brunico and Dobbiaco, Ortisei, Vipiteno. All are feasible trips. Remember that as soon as you exit the motorway, the driving is much slower; so Ortisei takes half an hour more than Chiusa, in spite of being so close as the bird flies. So you can go to most places in Südtirol, but not all of them in the same trip.

A day trip Innsbruck to Milan is too long. We are talking about 4 hours driving in each direction that may become 5 or even 6 if traffic is bad. - We once tried Innsbruck to Milan in an August weekend when the traffic comes to a standstill, we had to stop in the middle and it took two days.

Also remember that Verona looks deceptively close, but Rovereto to Verona is a somewhat longish and boring drive.

Salzburg ?? Quick train ride, beautiful city.

The Val Gardena is certainly feasible for some lovely outdoor activities and amazing scenery. Don’t go if the weather is not good. I think Bolzano is a little far (45 minutes further than Ortisei) but maybe an option for a marginal weather day. Why not take 3 nights in the Sudtirol then back to Innsbruck if you must for departure? We find the Val Gardena far more beautiful than Innsbruck and we have been to both in September.

Thanks to all who replied. I HAD looked at the map and had seen the distances but was looking for personal experiences. Thanks to those who shared your experiences. They are helpful in planning travel.

I don't drive in Europe, but many of the folks who do that seem to prefer ViaMichelin.com's driving-time estimates to those provided by Google.