Innsbruck for 3 days - please help with my Xmas itinerary
Jul 2nd, 2011, 10:12 PM
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Innsbruck for 3 days - please help with my Xmas itinerary
Hi,
We are a family of 2 adults and 2 teenagers that will be in Innsbruck for the first time on the 24th, 25th & 26th of December. We've never seen snow & figured that this would be as good a place as any for a white Xmas.
Can anybody help with suggestions for how we could fill the 3 days? Really hoping some Austria / Innsbruck experts might know what will be open and what wont, at that time of year?
Is there somewhere special (or half decent) that we could have an Xmas lunch or dinner? What is there to see and do to make this an Xmas to remember?
Thanks in advance for your suggestions!
We are a family of 2 adults and 2 teenagers that will be in Innsbruck for the first time on the 24th, 25th & 26th of December. We've never seen snow & figured that this would be as good a place as any for a white Xmas.
Can anybody help with suggestions for how we could fill the 3 days? Really hoping some Austria / Innsbruck experts might know what will be open and what wont, at that time of year?
Is there somewhere special (or half decent) that we could have an Xmas lunch or dinner? What is there to see and do to make this an Xmas to remember?
Thanks in advance for your suggestions!
Jul 3rd, 2011, 12:28 AM
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Everything in Europe pretty much shuts down in the way of shops over this 3 to 4 day period (in general there is no Sunday trading either - not like in Australia and NZ). Some restaurants will be open of course, as they need to cater for the tourists, so you won't starve, and some shops inside railway stations will be open. I've had two European Christmas's and I can't get enough of them. Christmas in Austria is absolutely fantastic and such an amazing experience, especially for us folk living downunder. I hope you get the chance to visit a Christmas market - most of these will close however by the 24th.
I spent last Christmas in Germany and there was a whole heap of snow around - I just loved it (I've written a trip report if you want to have a read). The Germans and Austrians really know how to 'do' Christmas properly - they are so traditional and the atmosphere is so special - church bells, mulled wine
, christmas markets, ice skating rinks outside, the incredible decorations - its truely wonderful. I recommend attending a Church service either on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day - I did this on Christmas Day in Germany and it was one of the highlights of my trip, and I am not religious. I went into a church actually to warm up a little (I was freezing) and ended up staying when I realised a service was about to start. I can't describe the wonder and joy of sitting in this many hundreds of year old little church, with everyone standing, in the dark and holding candles, and singing Silent Night in a foreign language - magical, I had tears running down my face.
People watching is a great thing too, and just walking around the town centre.
How about a walking tour - most of these seem to run 365 days a year regardless of the weather. I did one myself last Christmas Day when I was in Frankfurt.
I'm sure you will all have a wonderful time and what an experience for your children. I plan to take my daughter Christmas 2012 - can't wait
Just make sure to take warm clothes. At times I was wearing TWO pairs of thermals under jeans, and 2 to 3 pairs of socks at once. Coldest parts of me were my thighs and toes!
I spent last Christmas in Germany and there was a whole heap of snow around - I just loved it (I've written a trip report if you want to have a read). The Germans and Austrians really know how to 'do' Christmas properly - they are so traditional and the atmosphere is so special - church bells, mulled wine
, christmas markets, ice skating rinks outside, the incredible decorations - its truely wonderful. I recommend attending a Church service either on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day - I did this on Christmas Day in Germany and it was one of the highlights of my trip, and I am not religious. I went into a church actually to warm up a little (I was freezing) and ended up staying when I realised a service was about to start. I can't describe the wonder and joy of sitting in this many hundreds of year old little church, with everyone standing, in the dark and holding candles, and singing Silent Night in a foreign language - magical, I had tears running down my face. People watching is a great thing too, and just walking around the town centre.
How about a walking tour - most of these seem to run 365 days a year regardless of the weather. I did one myself last Christmas Day when I was in Frankfurt.
I'm sure you will all have a wonderful time and what an experience for your children. I plan to take my daughter Christmas 2012 - can't wait
Just make sure to take warm clothes. At times I was wearing TWO pairs of thermals under jeans, and 2 to 3 pairs of socks at once. Coldest parts of me were my thighs and toes!
Jul 3rd, 2011, 03:33 AM
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Thanks nz101, your advice is much appreicated. Being an Aussie (Queenslander) - I dont think we can really understand what the cold will be like. We've bought up on wooly sox, thermals and some lovely warm coats . . . here's hoping we wont freeze!
I'm having so much fun planning this trip (6 weeks in Europe) but Innsbruck at Xmas has sort of got me stuck. I think we might just use this as some "down time" amongst our otherwise very hectic schedule.
A (warm) church service in a foreign country sounds like a novelty . . I love it.
Cheers!
I'm having so much fun planning this trip (6 weeks in Europe) but Innsbruck at Xmas has sort of got me stuck. I think we might just use this as some "down time" amongst our otherwise very hectic schedule.
A (warm) church service in a foreign country sounds like a novelty . . I love it.
Cheers!
Jul 3rd, 2011, 08:35 AM
#4
Hi,
We visited the Christmas markets in Innsbruck last November and they were simply wonderful. We've been to Austria so many times but last year was the first time for the Christmas Markets. We can't wait to go again at this time of year!
http://www.christmasmarkets.com/Aust...as-market.html
http://www.austria.info/au/people-an...k-1158728.html
To see (and walk in) snow, take the Nordkettenbahn to the top. It starts with a trip on the Hungerburgbahn, which you get at the Congress building, just outside the old town. This takes you to Hungerburg (860 meters), overlooking Innsbruck. Here you take the Seegrubenbahn to the Seegrube station (1905 meters). From here you take the third leg of the trip, the Hafelekarbahn to the top station (2256 meters). We have photo's from last November:
www.worldisround.com/articles/362561/index.html
http://www.nordkette.com/en/arrival-...sektionen.html
Schloss Ambras is definitely worth seeing in my opinion (we've been twice). This is open every day, with varying hours of operation.
www.khm.at/en/schloss-ambras/
http://www.khm.at/en/global-system-r...ing-days-2011/
Paul
We visited the Christmas markets in Innsbruck last November and they were simply wonderful. We've been to Austria so many times but last year was the first time for the Christmas Markets. We can't wait to go again at this time of year!
http://www.christmasmarkets.com/Aust...as-market.html
http://www.austria.info/au/people-an...k-1158728.html
To see (and walk in) snow, take the Nordkettenbahn to the top. It starts with a trip on the Hungerburgbahn, which you get at the Congress building, just outside the old town. This takes you to Hungerburg (860 meters), overlooking Innsbruck. Here you take the Seegrubenbahn to the Seegrube station (1905 meters). From here you take the third leg of the trip, the Hafelekarbahn to the top station (2256 meters). We have photo's from last November:
www.worldisround.com/articles/362561/index.html
http://www.nordkette.com/en/arrival-...sektionen.html
Schloss Ambras is definitely worth seeing in my opinion (we've been twice). This is open every day, with varying hours of operation.
www.khm.at/en/schloss-ambras/
http://www.khm.at/en/global-system-r...ing-days-2011/
Paul
