Driving, Innsbruck

Driving by car in Innsbruck is not a big problem. The local drivers are, like all Austrians, fairly civilized drivers :-) There are the typical "rush hours" but they never really get bad. You han hire a car at the airport of Innsbruck.

PARKING in Innsbruck: there are many park houses in Innsbruck, but they are quite expensive. In the city center and most of the city area there are short term parking areas, signed with a BLUE line on the street. At the side of the street you will find parking machines where you can buy the parking tickets which have to be placed in the front window. Not buying a ticket will cost you a 20 EUR fee. Note that the parking lots signaled with a WHITE line are for residents only, so do NOT park there, even if you pay a parkticket, you will be fined. In winter you have the problem that you do not see the street signs (because of the snow), so you better use a parking garage ;-)

This is an important message for all owners of vehicles & motorhomes with more than 3,5 tons :
The Autobahn-Vignette is NOT enough for you, you need the same kind of GO-Box, as the large trucks and buses need them !!
The system is simple, BUT also quite expensive : You buy a box, put it inside the car and at several places you will be registered automatically and will have to pay a fixed amount per each Km you drive on the Autobahn / highway.
See more details on my link below !!
You may find machines like the one on my picture at many borders of Austria.

The Brenner-pass is one of the most frequented roads and highways in Europe, as it is the easiest and quickest road across the Alps in that area.
Be prepared for a lot of trafic, especially plenty of trucks, except at the weekends, when only a few trucks with special permission are allowed to go.
For the Brenner you have to pay a seperate fee, that is not at all connected to the ordinary vignette, that you need for highways in Austria anyway.
The fee for Brenner (A13 / E45) is 8 Euros per car up to 3,5 tons.

We spent our vacation in Bavaria, so we took the car to go to Innsbruck. It was a great trip through the Alps to Innsbruck, especially when we drove down to the Inn valley. Wow! ... There is a big parking (Altstadtgarage) just near the bridge by the Ottoburg and the Goldenes Dachl.

Drive (it's not absolutely necessary to drive a Bentley, but we just saw this car, waiting for a just married couple) to Innsbruck, park your car and take "the sightseer" or any public transport network to discover all the beautiful sights of Innsbruck.

Our friends booked a car rental ahead of time from Avis at the Airport. His rate was around $200/wk. He didnt get the sedan he originally booked, but the wagon worked out better for the snowboard equipment.

My boyfriend and I rented a car from an Avis downtown Innsbruck, and it was probably around $400/4 days....we did not book ahead, and they didn't have that many cars left.

Note: gas is a lot more expensive than US!!
If there is a lot of snow, be careful of where you park, cuz chances are, you'll get stuck or slide.
Also...windshield wiper fluid is a joke....it comes in these expensive small "cola-size" bottles, and when it snows, you use a lot of it.

When you go by car to Austria you need to buy a "ticket" for using austrian streets. Coming from Germany you can get it at every gasoline station on german side....I think it will be the same everywhere. This ticket is called "Vignette". You can get it for a whole year, for two months or only for 10 days.

Bea and I were lucky to catch up with Lothar on our drive through Innsbruck....... He seemed to forgot us in the second, following car....

Thanks you girls for reminding him: "Hey Lothar what´s with Bea???
Lothar: "Beer, you can get beer everywhere!!!"
LOL!!!

Drive a car around, above and through.Park and walk the very heart of this wonderful, beautiful city.
Once you park your car, or get there by other means, start walking..it is so interesting and the feeling of 'old world' charm is everywhere.

There is a lot to see in and around Innsbruck so I recommend a car if it's in your budget. Cars can be expensive but if you reserve it ahead of time you'll often times get a better deal. If you're going to spend a few days in Innsbruck, try to get a car.