Ideas for a mountain getaway near Lake Constance (Bodensee)
May 27, 2017 8:40 PM Subscribe
We'll be at Lake Constance in July and are looking to spend an extra week exploring ONE mountain region in either Northern Italy or possibly Austria. The main things we're looking for:
We'll have about 5 days to do this, so what places would be just the right size to feel like we saw the best of what it had to offer without rushing too much?
I already looked at this question for Switzerland and this one for Germany.
The Vipiteno-Sterzing area seems to be a good option. Are there any other areas like it that we should investigate?
- A variety of easy day hikes with huts or chalets along the way or as a destination.
- A friendly alpine town (with good restaurants/shops) in which to base ourselves in a hotel and easily go out exploring the local trail systems.
- Hot springs/spas
- Accessible by public transport, less than 8 hours from Zurich.
- Under 2000m (7000') altitude.
We'll have about 5 days to do this, so what places would be just the right size to feel like we saw the best of what it had to offer without rushing too much?
I already looked at this question for Switzerland and this one for Germany.
The Vipiteno-Sterzing area seems to be a good option. Are there any other areas like it that we should investigate?
Austria: Scharnitz, right past the German-Austrian border. Around 5 hours from Zürich by train.
It's got the trails, the mountain views and the restaurants. It's also close (by train) to picturesque Mittenwald in Germany, and - in the other direction - the city of Innsbruck.
posted by Namlit at 3:29 AM on May 28, 2017
It's got the trails, the mountain views and the restaurants. It's also close (by train) to picturesque Mittenwald in Germany, and - in the other direction - the city of Innsbruck.
posted by Namlit at 3:29 AM on May 28, 2017
Another idea that crossed my mind: If it's mostly about the hikes, alpine ambience, and less about Northern Italy or Austria, you could consider going to Oberstdorf in Germany. The village itself is a little away from the mountains, but there's a bus every 30 minutes to, for example, Birgsau where a number of interesting hikes could begin. The trip from Oberstdorf to Birgsau is 20 minutes. You'd be close to the southernmost "village" in Germany, Einödsbach, which is on fact a single hotel/restaurant only (which is why I don't recommend it as your base, as per your second point).
Zürich - Oberstdorf fastest: 3 1/2 hours; depending on which side of Lake Constance you're on, it's likely gonna be substantially less.
Final suggestion: Nauders am Reschenpass. This is in Austria, and Italy is an easy hike away. From Zürich by train to Landeck, and then by bus, about 4 hours. This might actually be it. Nice place.
posted by Namlit at 7:08 AM on May 28, 2017
Zürich - Oberstdorf fastest: 3 1/2 hours; depending on which side of Lake Constance you're on, it's likely gonna be substantially less.
Final suggestion: Nauders am Reschenpass. This is in Austria, and Italy is an easy hike away. From Zürich by train to Landeck, and then by bus, about 4 hours. This might actually be it. Nice place.
posted by Namlit at 7:08 AM on May 28, 2017
Bozen/Bolzano is in the German-speaking part of northern Italy (Südtirol, which you reference in Vipiteno-Sterzing). I spent Christmas there; it's a charming city, untouched by bombing in the war, and has excellent access to the mountains. The locals speak German and Italian in the city, but mostly German in the outer areas. The restaurants are great, and they have an excellent museum built around Ötzi the iceman.
It's easily accessible by train from Innsbruck or Munich.
posted by kdar at 3:36 PM on May 28, 2017
It's easily accessible by train from Innsbruck or Munich.
posted by kdar at 3:36 PM on May 28, 2017
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The valley there is really beautiful, and there are several trails to explore. I haven't been there for a while, but it is definitely a place I'd like to visit again.
posted by mumimor at 12:16 AM on May 28, 2017