excursions from Vienna
Where's my Lederhosen? I need another beer...
Munich, Germany
4.5 hrs, 5 per day, ATS 788 one way
Munich, the capital of Bavaria, is a cosmopolitan city which is more than just beer drinking and sausage eating.
Marienplatz - contains the towering neo-Gothic Altes Rathaus (old town hall) and the Glockenspiel (carillion).
Walking Tour
Peterskirche, the Heiliggeistkirche, the late Gothic Frauenkirche (the landmark church of Munich) and Michaelskirche (Germany's most grand Renaissance church) are all notable churches that can be seen on a walking tour.
Richard Strauss Fountain and the medieval Karlstor (an old city gate) are further west.
Sendlinger Tor is a medieval gate and Asamkirche is a remarkable church showing a rarity of unity and style, with scarcely a single unembellished surface.
Stadtmuseum - has outstanding exhibits that cover beer brewing, fashion, musical instuments, photography and puppets.
Residenz - this huge palace housed Bavarian rulers from 1385 to 1918 and features more than 500 years or architectural history.
Residenz Museum - has an extraordinary array of 100 rooms containing the Wittelsbach house belongings.
Schatzkammer - exhibits a ridiculous quantity of jewels, crowns and ornate gold.
Scloss Nymphenburg - it was the royal family's impressive summer home with a beautiful surrounding park.
Deutches Museum - a vast science and technology museum, this is like a combination of Disneyland and the Smithsonian Institute all under one roof that covers 13km of corridors on 8 floors.
Alte Pinakothek - a veritable treasure house of European masters from the 14th to 18th centuries.
Neue Pinakothek - contains mainly 19th-century painting and sculpture.
BMW Museum - north of the city, take the U3 from Marienplatz to Olympiazentrum.
Englisher Garten - One of the largest city parks in Europe which is a great place for strolling past the nude sunbathers.
Dachau - the very first Nazi concentration camp built in March 1933. An English language documentary is shown at 11:30 am and at 3:30 pm. A visit includes camp relics, a memorial, and a very sobering museum. Take the S2 to Dachau and then bus No 724 or 726 to the camp. A two-zone ticket is needed for the trip.
Innsbruck, Austria
6 hours, every 2 hrs, ATS 660 one way
Innsbruck is squeezed between the northern chain of the Alps and the Tuxer mountain range to the south. There is ample hiking and excellent skiing.
Walking Tour
Climb the 14th-century Stadtturm (City Tower) in Herzog Freidrich Strasse. Across the square is the famous Goldenes Dachl (Golden Roof). Behind the Golden Roof is the Cathedral whose interior is typically over the top Baroque. Turning back south, take note of the elegant 15th and 16th-century buildings on all sides, and stroll down Maria Theresien Strasse to the 1767 Triumphial Arch.
Hofburg - the Imperial Palace that dates to 1397. The grand rooms are decorated with numerous paintings of Maria Theresa and her family.
Hofkirche - the Hofkirche (Imperial Church) is opposite the Palace. It contains the massive but empty sarcophagus of Maximilian I, which is decorated with scenes of his life.
Scholss Ambras - located east of the centre (take tram No 3 or 6, or bus K), this medieval castle features the Renaissance Spanish Hall, fine gardens, exhaustive portraits of the Hapsburgs and other dignitaries, and collections of weapons, armour and odities.
Alpine Zoo - features a comprehensive collection of alpine animals, including bears and ibexes. Walk up the hill to get to the Hungerburgbahn.
Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum - this museum houses a good collection of art and artefacts, including Gothic statues and altarpieces. There's a relief map of Tirol in the basement.
Swarovski Kristallwelten - the Crystal Worlds, Kristallweltenstrasse 1, is a well presented series of caverns featuring the famous Swarovski crystals. It's in Wattens, 20 minutes east of Innsbruck by Bundesbus or train.
Skiing - Most of the ski runs around Innsbruck are intermediate or easy but there are a few difficult ones as well. A one day ski pass is ATS 265 - 360, depending on the area. Downhill equipment rental starts at ATS 180. You can ski all year at Stubai Glacier which is a popular excursion. A one day pass costs ATS 420. The journey there takes 80 minutes by hourly 'STB' bus from the bus station (buy tickets from the driver; ATS 110 return).
Mountainview over Innsbruck
Maria Theresienstrasse
The Triumphal Gate
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