Lucerne and Innsbruck
 

We are spending 5 nights in Lucerne and 5 nights close to Innsbruck the end of July/early August and would love to get suggestions of things to do in and around each. We will have a car and are planning to try to see Munich and Salzberg when in Innsbruck. We will also be mobile in Switzerland. Any suggestions would be welcome - sights, places to eat, things to do. Thanks all.

What made you decide on these two in the first place?

We wanted somewhere that could be a good base for seeing a lot of the area.

Munich and Salzburg are each a couple of hours by train from Innsbruck.

In Innsbruck: Schloß Ambras, Grassmayr Bell Foundry, the Hofburg, the Nordketten cable car, or a short train ride to Schwaz for the silver mines. Plenty of places to eat in Innsbruck: the Stiftskeller is quite atmospheric and good value.

Luzern is so central, half of Switzerland is accessible in one long day. But start in the immediate region, by making a list from the suggestions at www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/lucerne.html.

Then use https://www.viamichelin.com to see how long it takes you to get to the Berner Oberland region for a day trip or two, the targets are written up at http://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/d...oberland1.html

If you decide not to drive (a wise move for many targets that are just as easily or ONLY accessible by pubic transportation) learn your way around www.sbb.ch and https://www.postauto.ch/en

Thanks for your reply. I agree with the above suggestions. I would look closely at the NEED for a car when based in Luzern.

Based in Innsbruck:
Nordkettenbahn
Schloss Ambras
Hofburg
Hofkirche
Old town of Hall in Tirol
Sterzing/Vipiteno (Italy, 40 min. away)
Reifenstein Castle (aka Castel Tasso) in Sterzing/Vipiteno
The Zillertal (Zell am Ziller, Mayrhofen, etc.)
Tratzburg Castle
Bungee Jumping from the Europabrucke

Also from Innsbruck:

Stubai Glacier
Achensee (consider the mountain railway from Jenbach)

also Innsbruck hop hill-climbing tram at Schloss Ambras and take it up to the old Olympic Ski Jump area- lovely forest walks, etc.

East of Salzburg is the lovely Austrian Lake District (a k a Sound of Music Country) you could at least drive thru coming back from Salzburg.

Mount Pilatus is really nice.

Certainly go to Berner Oberland if you've never been. But Pilatus is a pretty easy day trip from Luzern.

With 5 nights in Innsbruck, do you have time to visit both Munich and Salzburg as well as see what Innsbruck has to offer?

I've been to Munich and Salzburg, haven't been to Innsbruck yet but will be there this August.

And I don't know about Austria but in Switzerland, you can go to most places by train, can't you? Parking in Luzern can't be cheap, unless you're staying on the outskirts vs. the old town.

Renting car in Austria and returning in Switzerland could mean a huge drop-off fee?

Trains are so so good everywhere you are going you may want to consider them -especially in Switzerland where cars can't even venture into many Alpine areas like the Berner Oberland.

Even if driving and taking mountain trains where cars can't go the Half-Fare Card - sold at stations - can save you money - just on a train like Jungfraujoch - 50% off almost pays for the half-fare thing. also good on boats and buses and aerial gondolas.

Info sources trains - www.swisstravelsystem.com and www.sbb.ch/en for Swiss trains - general info - www.ricksteves.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.seat61.com.

Switzerland has a (yearly) road-tax sticker requirement - a car you rent in Switzerland will certainly has it affixed already. Austria has its own such sticker (they are called by the French word Vignette) - available for shorter periods. Be sure to check, you can get fined if you drive on major highways without a vignette.

Switzerland has a (yearly) road-tax sticker requirement - a car you rent in Switzerland will certainly has it affixed already. Austria has its own such sticker (they are called by the French word Vignette) - available for shorter periods. Be sure to check, you can get fined if you drive on major highways without a vignette.

If bent on car in Switzerland rent one there and return Austrian car in Austria and train to Switzerland.