With the Railjet into the winter pleasure

I commute a lot between Innsbruck and Vienna and I know the advantages of both cities. Many people in Vienna and generally from flatter regions long for the mountains. Again and again this longing comes up in conversations. Through my travels I have learned to appreciate the advantages of the well-developed rail infrastructure between Innsbruck and Vienna. The new climate ticket has improved everything once again. Now frequent train trips are very affordable.

These circumstances gave me the idea to show here how easy it is to start rested directly from the federal capital into the winter fun of the Tyrolean mountains. How about a weekend in Innsbruck? Skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, winter hiking, tobogganing.... everything is possible. Environmentally friendly and spontaneous - nothing stands in the way of a short ski trip.

There are many train connections to Innsbruck. Two of them are particularly good to take full advantage of the day here right away. The Nightjet from 22:55 goes directly from Vienna Central Station to Innsbruck. You sleep either in the normal seating car, or - much more comfortable - in the couchette or sleeping car. The journey takes about 6.30 hours at night: enough time to find your sleep and start the winter day rested shortly before 5.30 am in Innsbruck. My recommendation: Treat yourself to a seat in the couchette car and a good breakfast upon arrival. Then you can take advantage of the many opportunities directly from Innsbruck's main station, well-rested and invigorated. More about this later.

For early risers there is a connection from 5:30 a.m. by Railjet Express with arrival at 9:44 a.m. in Innsbruck. You can have breakfast comfortably in the train's restaurant. Winter equipment can of course be transported, but you can also rent it anywhere on the spot. By the way, the Railjet is perfectly air-conditioned and offers a power outlet at every seat.

All public connections to the ski areas of the Innsbruck region start directly at the main station. So if you want to go straight to the slopes after arriving, simply change trains here. Or you can spend a weekend in the alpine-urban Tyrolean capital and enjoy the city feeling with a view of the mountains. Such a cozy hotel bed also has its advantages!

For the weekend in Innsbruck, I can highly recommend the Ski Plus City Pass. From a two-day stay, the pass gives you access to 13 ski resorts in the region, including the Stubai Glacier, admission to pools, museums and free travel on ski buses and Sightseer, the hop-on hop-off bus in Innsbruck.

If you decide to spend just one day skiing in Innsbruck, you can take the ski bus directly from the main train station. You can quickly get to ski resorts such as Kühtai, Axamer Lizum, Patscherkofel or to the Muttereralm or Nordkette. There you can super skiing and snowboarding, but there are also many other possibilities. For snowshoe hikers, I have two recommendations from my previous blog stories below. Tobogganing enthusiasts can get directly from the main station, for example, to the Sellraintal or Rangger Köpfl to various perfectly prepared toboggan runs.

If you're more interested in sightseeing, you can also just stay close to the city. Pass the time with a mountain trip to the Patscherkofel or the Nordkette, with great views of Innsbruck or stroll through the city. I have summarized the best photo spots in this blog.

Here are also a few inspirations, which are all easily accessible by public transport.

• Ski Plus City Pass: Ideal combination for those who stay longer than one day and like to combine skiing and sightseeing.
• Kühtai: our highest ski resort at 2,020 meters above sea level.
• 9 reasons for a ski vacation in Innsbruck: My blogger colleague Lea has a few unbeatable reasons to come to Innsbruck for skiing.

• Snowshoe tour into the sunset
• Winter hike at the foot of the glacier
• Telfer meadows
• High alpine snowshoe tour

• Sledding fun in the Sellrain valley
• Snowshoe tour with tobogganing fun

• Lumagica: magical light figures in the Hofgarten Innsbruck. Attention, does not run all winter.
• Bathrobe on, world off: In these wellness oases you can really enjoy yourself.
• A night in the snow, igloo in Kühtai: Really cool and cozy overnight stay in an igloo.

No matter whether you travel quickly for a day or for a whole weekend with the Railjet in a good four hours to Innsbruck. The Tyrolean winter and mountain world inspires already when getting off the train. It has never been easier to travel from sophisticated, but in winter often foggy Vienna, to sunny, wintry Innsbruck with its countless possibilities.

I can only recommend it! Comfortable, fast, environmentally friendly and rested!

All photos except otherwise noted © Danijel Jovanovic Photography - www.djphotography.at
Instagram: @danijeljovanovicphotography
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The train times given are current as of the beginning of 2022. The Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) are responsible for the timetables. To be on the safe side, check at www.oebb.at if they are still correct!

It is of course also possible to board the Innsbruck trains from Lower Austria, Upper Austria and Salzburg. The travel time is then even shorter!

• Borrow winter sports equipment in the ski rentals and stores around Innsbruck
• Free ski bus to the ski resorts of Innsbruck and the surrounding area
• Toboggan rentals in the Innsbruck region
• Slope conditions, snow depths, open lifts, winter trails and more in the winter sports report of the Innsbruck region
• Off the slopes: Winter hiking in the Innsbruck region
• Trend sport ski touring