Innsbruck for one full day.

Yep, we agree that Salz. & Vie. are great to visit. We spent a week there last year. We are only stopping in Innsbruck to recover from jet lag on a trip from Munich to Venice. Should just spend half a day in Innsbruck and push onto to Venice, for extra time there?

In Innsbruck... look upwards towards the mountains, because except for the old city center, the town is a bit industrial.

Thanks, Tom and Kent. We will spend half a day in Innsbruck, see the old city, maybe the schloss, look at the mountains and head to Venice before dinner.
Nat

Hi Natunic,
... ask locally in Innsbruck about taking the fenicular up to the place called Hungerburg. The bottom (Talstation) is on the Inn river, walking distance from center of Innsbruck. There are great views of Innsbruck from Hungerburg. While up there (near the fenicular station) see the small Zur Linde Hôtel which has a wonderful café garden. In fact, if I were going to Innsbruck, I would reserve a room in the Zur Linde.
... There's also hiking from the above location - if you're up to it. Also, you can take cable rides even higher up the mountain... Gute Reise! P

Danke schon, Perry, for the info on the Fernicular and hotel on the mount. I believe we will try it. As we may not make it to Innsbruck before 11:30 PM or even midnight, I don't think we are going to try to make it up to Hungerford or Zur Linde, unless there is a short cut coming in from Munich.

Good move on making it a half day stop. It should be called In-n-out as fast as you can-sbruck. It is perhaps the most disappointing city I have visited in Europe.

Back in 1961, I rode a motorcycle through Germany and Austria. The ride along a one-lane mountain road from Vienna to Innsbruck was incredibly beautiful. I remember the ride, but not Innsbruck, perhaps because it was, as you say, lackluster.
We will stay only a half day or so, but some posters have suggested some interesting things to see.

Thanks for the comments.

Natunic,
You don't indicate how you are traveling to Venice. If it's by train, then hole up in Innsbruck, certainly one of the most impressive larger cities next to towering mountains. The downtown area is worth exploring for some time; Tirol's capital has more to offer than what others are writing. If you are pressing on by train, an alternative stop would be Bozen/Bolzano, set in the midst of one of the greatest European treasures, the Dolomites.

If you are going by car, then I would explore the Stubai VAlley just south of the city (stay in Neustift or Fernau and head up to the glacier). Alternatively, visit the Svarovski factory in Wattens (20 mi. east). It's not a factory at all but an artistic tour de force (admission). Castle Ambras also is in the neighborhood. Tirol was its own country for a long time and this was its capital. By car also explore the Dolomites (Brixen, Ortisei/St. Ulrich, Cortina) and then head into Veneto.

Martin, thanks a million for the list of sights to see. We are travelling by car, so we might be able to make it to Stubai valley or Wattens. The glacier is out, as we will need to leave for Venice around 6PM on the one day we will be in Innsbruck. I am unsure of what Savroski Factory is. Is it an architectural masterpiece, an art gallery, or artists studios? Roughly how much might admission be? How much time would you allocate for Brixen or other places to visit in Dolomites. Perhaps, we should spend an extra day in the area before we head to Venice?

Nick Natunic

Hi,
The Ambras palace is nice & worth about 2 hrs. The Swarovski Kristallwelten is like a museum with a few interesting exhibits (incl a giant walk-through kaleidoscope-cum-geodesic dome) & a gift shop. 1 hour should be enough. The touristic area is rather small and can be finished in 3 hours of walking. Go up the old city tower next to the House With The Golden Roof. The area around this landmark is heavily touristed.