traveler

We'll be spending a couple days in Innsbruck on an upcoming trip. We've noticed how close we are to Italy (about 1/2 hr, via the Brenner Pass), and are thinking about taking a trip to the border for lunch. Are there any good restaurants near the border, on the Italian side? Any place fun to make a quick visit? It looks like the closest town of any size is Bolzano.

kam

The train from Innsbruck to Bolzano is lovely through the Brenner Pass. Bolzano is a nice little city half Italian and half Austrian. Another town is Merano which is more of a spa place. It's an interesting mix of German culture and Italian culture although the rest of Italy doesn't really like it very well and thinks it tends to be too "Germanic." I would vote for a trip on the train and eat well!

Tony

I totally agree with Kams' suggestion - the train ride from Innsbruck to Bolzano for lunch, and then train back is a really great trip. There are Inter City or Euro City trains every two hours in both directions, very comfortable with buffet/restaurant cars.
The trip through the Brenner pass was a definite highlight of one my European trips.

Steve

For info. on Bolzano see:-

www.sudtirol.com/bolzano. Also:-
www.iceman.it

Both city and museum are well worth a visit.

clif

We were in Innsbruck two weeks ago on a "ski package". We took a one day bus trip to Venice. I'm not a big bus tour person, but this was well worth it. It left at 5:00AM and returned that evening. Something to consider.