snowcraig

After two days in Salzburg, we have a day planned for our trip to Innsbruck. We are driving and would like to see some things along the way. Does anyone have any suggestions for good routes or sites to see?

Italy looks so close and we'd love to check it out, if even only to drive through. Is there a route (loop?) that goes south from Salzburg into Italy and then back up to Innsbruck or the Innsbruck area?

I'd love some input!

Thanks,
Jessica

KayF

You might enjoy driving the Grossglocknerstrasse. It's a stunning road through the mountains that was popular with cars and lots of cyclists when we were there. Lots to see along the way.

Here is the link to my report off Fodors and also the shorter bit about the road:

The highlight of our trip was the day we drove the Grossglocknerstrasse. It took us all day, we started from Zell am See, drove towards Bruck and bought picnic lunch supplies at the Merkur supermarket, which had a good selection, then drove on to the toll booth. The hefty fee of 28 euro per car was worth it to us.

There were lots of (very fit) cyclists and loads of groups of motor cyclists too. All along the road are places to stop, cafes, toilets, picnic tables, viewing areas etc. The views of the mountains were really awesome. Drove along towards the glacier and wondered where to stop, when suddenly we found ourselves turning into a multi-storey carpark! Up and up and on the 4th level, parked on the top (for free) to take in the glorious glacier views. Two marmots playing in the sun attracted a huge crowd of onlookers. A really good, though tiring, day. Note that if you go back towards Zell am See on the other road, via Matrei, there is a tunnel with a toll of 10 euro but it seemed quicker to return that way.

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...d-villages.cfm

Another idea is the Dolomites in northern Italy but I think they are too far south of Salzburg to be done in a day, then be back in Innsbruck. If you had longer, that could be good, the mountain scenery is gorgeous.
Kay

Jean

What time of year is your trip?

Here's a short thread on TripAdvisor's Austria forum that might have some helpful suggestions.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...g-Austria.html

treplow

This first route won't take you into Italy, but is very scenic. I have driven it many times.

From Salzburg head toward Berchtesgaden, on the B-305. It leads below the town of B'gdn past the railroad station. From there on west, the B-305 becomes the Deutsche Alpenstrasse. Take the B-305 all the way to Reit im Winkl. A few turns to watch out for: At Schneizlreuth, the B-305 turns right. You don't want to take the Austrian B-312 to Lofer. After Weissbach, the Alpenstrasse splits into two: B-306 goes straight, to Inzell, B-305 turns left and continues to Reit im Winkl.

Drive through Reit (a delightful Bavarian resort village) following the signs to Koessen (Austria). If it is lunch time, make a right turn at the maypole. There is a nice restaurant, Zwirbelstuben, a bit up the road, on your right. From Koessen, take the B-172 to Oberaudorf. The mountain massif on your left is the Wilde Kaiser. From Oberaudorf, take the German B-307 to Bayrischzell, Fischbachau, Schliersee (nice lake), Hausham . In Hausham, watch for the signs to the B-307 to Tegernsee, Rottach-Egern, along another picturesque and popular lake. After Rottach -Egern stay on the B-307 to the Austrian border. There the road becomes the B-181 and leads along the Achensee. At the southern end of the lake, take the short detour to Pertisau and have a nice coffee, with lots of pastry and whipped cream. Eventually, take the B-181 to Jenbach. Now you have to make a decision: If you have an Austrian autobahn toll vigenette, get on the autobahn A-12 west to Innsbruck.

If you don't have the vignette, just use the B-171 to Innsbruck. It parallels the autobahn and leads through some nice villages.

I would allow for the whole trip - sans lunch and coffee - about 3 1/2hrs.

If you want to have a very long driving day to get from Salzburg to Innsbruck and want to include Italy, then follow the above directions, but at Schneizlreuth go straight on the B-312 to Lofer, and on the B-311 to Saalfelden,Zell am See and Bruck am Grossglockner. Drive the Grossglocknerstrasse (B107) to Heilighenblut and Lienz.

From Lienz either take the route 100 into Italy at Dobbiaco, and from there take the Italian route 49 to the Bressanone entrance to the Brenner Autostrada A13 (toll road), north to Innsbruck. Keep in mind,that at the Brenner pass you must either buy the Austrian Autobahn vignette, or get off the autobahn and take the B-182 into Innsbruck.

If you have two days from Salzburg to Innsbruck via Italy, then - at Dobbiaco - take the Italian B-51 and B-48 south to Cortina d'Ampezzo (in the Dolomites). Spend the night there. Then follow first the B-48 to where the road 242 turns off to the right to Selva, Ortisei, and the Autostrada A-13 to the Brenner Pass. A couple of cautions: From Cortina to the Route 242 turn-off is about 55km. But this is deceiving, because you are following a pass road, which can be slow going. But the views are maginficient. Similarly, the Route 242 is about 60km, again some pass road, but also through a lovly valley. You should allow from from Cortina to the autobahn at least 3 hours, including some stopping for sights.

Cowboy1968

While all of the suggested routes are great, you may want to consider that the part of Italy you will see does not look one bit different than Austria. It's also a German language region, so don't expect some dolce far niente to jump in your face once you cross the non-existing border.

A more modest variation could be to go south from Salzburg on A10 or B159 to Werfen (visit the ice caves), go West on B311, B168, and B165 via Zell am See to Gerlos pass / Krimml cascades (stop and visit), take B169 from Zell am Ziller to B171 (near A12), go West to Wattens on B171 (visit Swarowski crystal world, or whatever you call it), next is Hall in Tirol (a pretty picture-postcard village), and after a few kms you will be in Tirol.

As others have mentioned, driving on Austrian A or S roads requires a motorway toll sticker, which is 7.70 for 10 days. You don't need it if you stick to B roads, but don't get yourself caught driving on an Austrian A or S motorway without the sticker. If you rented you car in Austria, it should have the sticker anyway, but make sure to ask or check.

Cowboy1968

Edit: Last word in 2nd paragraph should read Innsbruck, not Tirol.

snowcraig

Thanks for these great ideas. We really like the idea of driving the Grossglocknerstrasse, so I think we will plan on that. We have the whole day planned for travel, so we don't mind a long ride in the car.

Treplow - how long, about, do you think it would take to the loop through Italy? We are tempted by that option just to say we got to Italy as well.

Thanks again!
Jessica