Innsbruck is a literal fairytale come to life…read more I don't usually gush over places, but Innsbruck absolutely earned it. Nestled between the snow-capped Alps, this charming city is the perfect blend of natural beauty, rich history, and modern Austrian culture. I went in expecting cute streets and some decent skiing--what I got was so much more. The Old Town (Altstadt) is like stepping into a postcard, with pastel-colored buildings, cobblestone streets, and the famous Golden Roof gleaming in the sunlight. Every corner offers a new photo op or a cozy café where you can sip a coffee while people-watching. Don't miss the view from the Innsbruck City Tower--360° of mountain magic! As for activities: if you're even remotely into the outdoors, this is paradise. We took the Nordkette cable car straight from the city center into the mountains in under 30 minutes. You can hike or just sit with a beer and stare at the view. (No judgment--I did both.) The locals were welcoming, the food was hearty and delicious (check out the beer garden at Stiftskeller Innsbruck), and everything just felt easy. Innsbruck somehow manages to be both a peaceful alpine escape and a vibrant cultural hub. I'd go back in a heartbeat. 5 stars!

The most significant landmark in the village is the pink-colored Saints Peter and Paul Roman…read moreCatholic Church of which is typical architecture of the region. The church and many of the surrounding buildings, both businesses and private residences, are decorated with elaborate paintings on the exterior walls (photos). Apparently the German writer Goethe called Mittenwald a "living picture book" in 1786. Mittenwald, along with Garmisch-Partenkirchen to the west, was acquired by the Prince-Bishopric of Freising in the late 14th century and the "crowned Aethiopian" head that is part of Mittenwald's coat of arms reminds us that 400-year association that ended when the Prince-Bishopric was secularized in 1802-03 and its territory annexed to Bavaria. Mittenwald's location as an important transit center on a relatively low (and therefore predictable) transalpine route has been a defining feature of the area for at least two thousand years: during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries traffic was boosted by large treasure trains sent regularly from Spain to pay troops in the Netherlands, the more conventional sea route having been rendered unreliable by the (usually) discreet but effective sympathy with which the English Protestant establishment favored the Spanish king's rebellious Dutch subjects. Mittenwald is famous for the manufacture of violins, violas and cellos which began in the mid-17th century by the Klotz family of violin makers, and has been a popular stop with tourists and student musicians since the 1930s. You can also visit the Violin Museum. It was a fascinating stroll around this town admiring all the colorful paintings on the houses and businesses. It's a must visit if you're in the area IMHO.

Soooo much fun! Take in some stunning sights while getting some exercise…read more As a lover of anything mountain and everything hike, checking out one of the gorges in the area was top on my list in our recent trip to the area. We ended up opting for Leutascher, and it did not disappoint. Figuring out where to park to gain access was our only issue. But once I found the right article we found a spot and headed towards the gorge. It's a lovely and peaceful walk from street parking in Mittenwald to the entrance. We paid the 2 euros each to take the short, lower level walk just over the stunning blue waters to check out the falls first. It's a very easy, narrow, out and back...a must-do for sure. We then chose to take the Gobblin Trail loop up high and over the bridge, returning through the beautiful forest and back around to the entrance. The route is fairly steep, maybe not for everyone, but the views down and through the gorge linking Austria and Germany are definitely worth the trip. Highly recommend!

This natural gem sits in the Limestone Alps which border Austria and Germany near a small town in…read moreMittenwald, Germany, where the winding gorge of baby blue water cuts between the mountains and valley. Breathtaking!! Awesome and exhilarating!! Definitely a must do activity if you're ever in Bavaria / Austria!! We started our nature trek on the Mittenwald, Germany side and paid 6 Euro to park. The trails are all marked (red, blue and green). We opted to do the entire loop of red and cut through the green to traverse the panoramic bridge. The walk starts of in the woods and then the "trail" becomes a STEEL WALKWAY that is attached to the side of the mountain. IF YOU ARE AFRAID OF HEIGHTS - STOP AND TURN AROUND - it doesn't get better! It literally is close to 1000 meters of "see through" steel that you're walking on and if you look down at your feet you will realize that you are pretty high up. If walking on a steel, see through walkway doesn't scare you - you can then traverse a panoramic bridge. All the photos on here do not even touch how beautiful this place is!! Seriously one of the best kept secrets and well maintained trails I have ever been on! So to note: the RED trail is the Mountain Spirit Gorge Trail and is much longer than the blue. I enjoyed this route because it takes you to a little mountain cafe on the Austrian side where you can grab a bite, rest and enjoy the beautiful Austrian landscape. This hike is for anyone of any age really. We saw young and old all throughout the trail. Most parts of the trail could be tricky if you're not wearing grippy shoes since it's loose gravel-like and going downhill could be a challenge. Tons of people using trekking poles. There are two ways to get here - Austrian side or German side. You can view the WASSERFALLSTEIG which is an easy walk of 200m through a wooden walkway that anchors into the mountain but not high up at all. It gets cold and you will get a little wet with the mist from the falls and drips from the mountain. This portion of the trail is super easy and short with amazing views of the water and waterfall. You can stop here or go on further and follow the red trail to the LEUTASCHKLAMM. Hard to tell how long it would take a person to do the entire loop trail since it is inevitable that you will want to stop many times to gawk at the wonders of nature. Absolutely excellent break from all the typical touristy things in Germany and Austria!! Highly recommended!

Came here for hiking and it was very enjoyable. There were lots of green pasture, some cows, and…read morethe hiking path were enjoyable challenging and with lots of variety to choose from. They had going from 5km to 20km in range. The top of the mtn had an amazing restaurant that made delicious food. We took the 5km hike. Would have definitely taken the longer under different conditions. Will come back to this place for longer run in the future...