Driving Holiday Austria-Switzerland-Italy/Germany-Austria
Jul 29th, 2014, 11:19 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Driving Holiday Austria-Switzerland-Italy/Germany-Austria
Hi guys, I'm planning a driving holiday for my parents, who plan on visiting Europe for 2 weeks in mid September. They will land in Innsbruck, Austria drive to Zurich, Milan, Venice and back to either Innsbruck or on to Salzburg and take a flight back from there. I'm slightly confused about whether they should visit Italy or Germany. They haven't been to Venice and really want to see that. Apart from that they are quiet open about the rest of the itinerary. I would really love some advice on this, as I've never planned a driving holiday before.
Jul 30th, 2014, 03:43 AM
#2
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 57,890
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If they are doing a driving tour then why stay only in large cities. The point of a rod trip is to be able to easily see smaller cities, towns and countryside.
Neither Zurich (a business city) nor Milan (some famous sights but also a business city) are really top tourist places - or conducive to driving. Why rent a car just to let it sit in a garage at 30 euros a day (plus car rental) while you wander a city.
I can understand why they would want to see Venice (and they can leave the car at the end of the causeway into the city) but in Switz I would stay in Lucerne or perhaps Interlaken - so they have easy access to the charming villages, beautiful lakes and gorgeous mountains that most people go to Swtiz for. They can see the Jungfrau by train from Interlaken or Titlis, Rigi or Pilatus by cable car or mountain tram from near Lucerne).
In Switz I would head to one of hte lakes versus Milan. We loved Stresa on Lago di Maggiore - but Como and Orta are also lovely - with a lot of sights nearby.
Neither Zurich (a business city) nor Milan (some famous sights but also a business city) are really top tourist places - or conducive to driving. Why rent a car just to let it sit in a garage at 30 euros a day (plus car rental) while you wander a city.
I can understand why they would want to see Venice (and they can leave the car at the end of the causeway into the city) but in Switz I would stay in Lucerne or perhaps Interlaken - so they have easy access to the charming villages, beautiful lakes and gorgeous mountains that most people go to Swtiz for. They can see the Jungfrau by train from Interlaken or Titlis, Rigi or Pilatus by cable car or mountain tram from near Lucerne).
In Switz I would head to one of hte lakes versus Milan. We loved Stresa on Lago di Maggiore - but Como and Orta are also lovely - with a lot of sights nearby.
Jul 30th, 2014, 07:26 AM
#3
IMO, an itinerary of smaller towns would be more enjoyable and less stressful than driving into city after city. Do your parents have experience driving in Europe?
You'll need to inform your parents about the vignette they would have to buy (online in advance or at the border) before driving in Switzerland and about the International Driving Permit each driver must carry.
They also need to be aware that most Italian towns (of any size) have instituted restricted traffic zones. You can't just drive into the center of most towns, park next to the duomo and stroll around. You should find photos online of the signs posted at the entry points to these zones (called Zona Traffico Limitato) so that they know what to look out for. Otherwise, if they drive into a ZTL by mistake, it's likely they'll receive traffic tickets in the mail after they get home.
You'll need to inform your parents about the vignette they would have to buy (online in advance or at the border) before driving in Switzerland and about the International Driving Permit each driver must carry.
They also need to be aware that most Italian towns (of any size) have instituted restricted traffic zones. You can't just drive into the center of most towns, park next to the duomo and stroll around. You should find photos online of the signs posted at the entry points to these zones (called Zona Traffico Limitato) so that they know what to look out for. Otherwise, if they drive into a ZTL by mistake, it's likely they'll receive traffic tickets in the mail after they get home.
Jul 30th, 2014, 03:38 PM
#4
Hi,
I would drop Zurich and Milan for a driving trip. If they are starting out in Innsbruck, and Venice is a priority, that's easy... from Innsbruck, they could drive down to the Dolomites (Val Gardena or Alta Badia) for a couple of nights. Then on to Venice. On the return trip, I'd probably go with heading to the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse via Cortina d'Ampezzo and Lienz, Austria. Spend a night in Heiligenblut, at the southern end of the Grossglockner. Then drive the Grossglockner and either stay in Zell am See or continue to the Salzburg/Berchtesgaden area for a few nights.
Another route we like is Innsbruck to the Oetztal, then over the Timmelsjoch Pass into the Meran/Merano area and Vinschgau/Val Venosta of Italy's Sud Tirol. From here, head around Bolzano to either the Val Gardena or Alta Badia in the Dolomites. Then on to Venice. Then on to Salzburg or back to Innsbruck.
Hope this helps in some way.
I would drop Zurich and Milan for a driving trip. If they are starting out in Innsbruck, and Venice is a priority, that's easy... from Innsbruck, they could drive down to the Dolomites (Val Gardena or Alta Badia) for a couple of nights. Then on to Venice. On the return trip, I'd probably go with heading to the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse via Cortina d'Ampezzo and Lienz, Austria. Spend a night in Heiligenblut, at the southern end of the Grossglockner. Then drive the Grossglockner and either stay in Zell am See or continue to the Salzburg/Berchtesgaden area for a few nights.
Another route we like is Innsbruck to the Oetztal, then over the Timmelsjoch Pass into the Meran/Merano area and Vinschgau/Val Venosta of Italy's Sud Tirol. From here, head around Bolzano to either the Val Gardena or Alta Badia in the Dolomites. Then on to Venice. Then on to Salzburg or back to Innsbruck.
Hope this helps in some way.
