Tyrolean Explorer
- Travel to Tyrolean capital Innsbruck with a night in pretty Baden-Baden en route
- Discover the German-speaking Italian region of Süd Tyrol with stops in Merano and Bressanone
- Head over the Austrian border to Lienz, historic capital of East Tyrol
- Return to the UK with a stop in Munich to break your journey
- Decide when you would like to travel
- Adapt the route to suit your plans
- Upgrade hotels and rail journeys
- Add extra nights, destinations and/or tours
- Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations
- 11 nights’ handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast
- Comprehensive directions to your hotels
- Clearly-presented wallets for your rail tickets, hotel vouchers and other documentation
- All credit card surcharges and complimentary delivery of your travel documents
Suggested Itinerary
Set off from London St Pancras on a late morning Eurostar across to the Belgian capital, Brussels. Here, you board a German InterCity Express (ICE) train into Germany, where you then connect down to Baden-Baden. You can opt for the high-speed line to get you there more quickly, or you can take the scenic Rhine Gorge route south of Cologne for a more leisurely journey. On arrival in the famous spa town of Baden-Baden, you will be checking into in the Hotel Quellenhof Sophia (or similar) for an overnight stay.
Depart Baden-Baden this morning on a regional train through the beautiful scenery of the Black Forest. The train trundles along at a leisurely pace, twisting and turning alongside rivers and lakes, and the vast forested areas of southwest Germany, before arriving in the town of Singen close to the Swiss border. You then connect straight down to Zurich, one of Switzerland’s largest transport hubs, for the direct Austrian RailJet service across the Arlberg Pass to Innsbruck. After some increasingly mountainous scenery in eastern Switzerland and a brief foray into the tiny principality of Liechtenstein, you reach your destination as you cross into the Austrian Tyrol. Once you arrive at the region’s capital, Innsbruck, check in at the Hotel Innsbruck (or similar) for a 3-night stay.
Dubbed “the largest mountain resort in the Alps”, Tyrolean capital Innsbruck has a plethora of outdoor pursuits in the summer, such as hiking, mountain biking, paragliding and fishing. For the less adventurous, there are narrow lanes, cobbled open squares and beautiful ice-cream to seduce you into spending a whole day in the Old Town. For stunning views and hill walking, we recommend a cable car from the city centre to the Nordkette mountain chain. At the top station of the cable car, there’s a café and viewing platform as well as clearly marked walking trails.
South Tyrol (Südtirol in German, Alto Adige in Italian), is a fascinating linguistic juxtaposition of German and Italian. The area is an autonomous region of Italy where German and Italian are joint-official languages, although in much of the region German is the predominant local tongue. Your journey begins by climbing up the spectacular Brenner Pass route through some charming villages on the Austrian side, before changing trains at Brenner itself for your continued journey through the Dolomites to the town of Merano (Meran in German) for a 2-night stay at the Flora Hotel & Suites (or similar).
Merano has a pleasant mild climate and is also a well-known spa resort. The surrounding mountains are ideal for hiking in the summer and in the winter there are plenty of ski areas and cross-country routes. The city itself has a beautiful castle called Trauttmansdorff located just outside the centre and well-worth a visit during your stay here.
Taking a regional service east through the beautiful South Tyrolean landscape, your direct train arrives in the town of Bressanone (or Brixen as it is known in German). Here, you make your way to the Hotel Garni Traube (or similar) for a 2-night stay.
With its unique cathedral square, the large-scale medieval historic centre and its wonderful arcades, Bressanone is a lesser-known delight right in the northern extremities of Italy. An array of bars, restaurants and cafés await your delectation, and the cathedral dedicated to Santa Maria Assunta, dating back to the 10th century, is an unmissable highlight.
On departing Bressanone you make your way east following the watercourse of the Rienza River, through the pretty down of Brunico and onwards to the Austrian border. As well as crossing between Italy and Austria, this also marks the frontier between South Tyrol and East Tyrol (known in German as Osttirol). On arrival in the region’s capital Lienz, you make your way to the Hotel Sonne (or similar) for your 2-night stay.
Lienz is situated at the confluence of the rivers Drava and Isel in the Eastern Alps, Lienz enjoys a sunny climate and easy-going way of life. Regular concerts take place in its main square during the summer months, and a main highlight is Bruck Castle. Built by the Counts of Görz, the castle has loomed large over the city for over 750 years.
After a brief journey on regional train east to the station of Spittal Millstättersee, you then connect with a comfortable InterCity service running north up to Munich, finally departing the Tyrol region and entering Bavaria close to Salzburg. You then stay overnight at the Eurostars Book Hotel (or similar) and have time to explore the best of Munich’s evening entertainment.
This morning you board a German ICE train north to Frankfurt, where you connect across the platform to another high-speed service through to Brussels. In Brussels you have ample time to make your connection to Eurostar, which will in turn have you back into London in around 2 hours.
Typical hotels on this itinerary
The Hotel Quellenhof Sophia offers conveniently located, comfortable accommodation in Baden-Baden. Bedrooms come with TV, complimentary Wi-Fi, slippers, free toiletries and a hairdryer. There is also a sun terrace and an onsite restaurant serving local and international cuisine. The hotel is a short walk from the Fabergé Museum and the New Castle.
Located in the heart of Merano, the Flora Hotel & Suites is a modern hotel offering easy access to the sights of the area. Bedrooms all come with a balcony as well as en suite bathrooms and coffee & tea making facilities. There is also an outdoor swimming pool, a bar and a Mediterranean garden and hot tub where you can relax on a summer evening.
The family-run Hotel Traube is situated next to the Diözesan Museum in the centre of Bressanone. The bedrooms all feature a flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi internet access and views over the surrounding mountains. Free coffee and pastries are available in the conservatory during the afternoons. You can also enjoy free bike rental. The hotel’s restaurant is a 4-minute walk away.
The lovely Hotel Sonne enjoys a quiet location in the Old Town of Lienz. It offers free WiFi access and has a roof terrace with panoramic views of the Dolomites. The bedrooms feature an en suite bathroom with hairdryer, a work desk, a minibar, and satellite TV. There is also a welcoming bar, a gym and a sauna on site.
Conveniently situated just 5 minutes’ walk from Munich’s main station and 10 minutes’ walk from the historical centre, the Courtyard by Marriott Munich City Centre offers comfortable, convenient accommodation with modern interiors. In-house dining is available at the Oleo Pazzo, a Mediterranean bistro.
Upgrade your accommodation
The Hotel Windsor is a family-run Beaux Arts property with 19 air-conditioned bedrooms. These feature beds with Egyptian cotton sheets, complimentary Wi-Fi internet access, private bathrooms and free toiletries. Enjoy the views from the rooftop terrace or take a dip in the outdoor pool. There is also a bar/lounge, a poolside bar and a garden.
Hotel Elephant is a 500-year old hotel which occupies a restored historic building in the centre of Bressanone. The elegantly furnished bedrooms combine luxurious, traditional design with modern amenities such as flat-screen TVs and complimentary Wi-Fi access. There are two restaurants to choose from – one boasting a Michelin star. There is also an outdoor pool and extensive grounds to walk in.
Built into the southern wing of the railway station, this superb French-style property is amongst Munich’s best hotels. Relax in your spacious bedroom or in the heavenly spa and swimming pool. Enjoy a full, varied breakfast in the hotel’s fabulous restaurant.