by Dawson Mullins | Summer 2024
I participated in the engineering study abroad program in Leipzig, Germany. Today I will discuss my experience in the beautiful Alpine mountains around Innsbruck, Austria, as well as a few travel tips to make your future Austrian Alp experience just a little better.
The Journey to Innsbruck
The journey to Innsbruck was overall seamless, affordable, and relatively efficient. We took an overnight Flixbus from Leipzig directly to Innsbruck. Although it was not nearly as comfortable as a bed, it sure beat paying for another night in a hostel and gave us one extra day to spend in Innsbruck.
Our experience in Innsbruck, Austria
Innsbruck, Austria, is a beautiful city located in a valley deep in the Alps. On the first day, we arrived and promptly dropped our bags at the hostel and headed to Mt. Serles. At Mt. Serles, we enjoyed stunning views while hiking a little and hung out by the Mt. Serles overlook. The way down the mountain was a little more exhilarating as we took the alpine coaster down the mountain, and for $24, this was an experience we could not pass up. We then took the 40-minute bus ride back to our hostel to rest up before our big hike up Patscherkofel Mountain the next day.
Conquering the Patscherkofel Mountain
The day had arrived for our main event of the trip: a 10-mile hike with 4000 feet of elevation gain up Patscherkofel Mountain. The trail was well labeled and had a moderate/hard difficulty level with water and rest stops along the way. Despite the challenge, the incredible views of the Alpine mountains all the way up the trail were well worth it while making lifelong memories with friends along the way. Once we reached the cable car station near the top of the mountain, we continued our journey to reach the top of the mountain and conquer Patscherkofel. Little did we know, the weather had other plans, sending a large storm right for us as we neared the top of the mountain. Once we saw the storm clouds beneath us, we all decided to promptly make our way back to the cable car station to wait it out. On the way down, we were blasted with 50 mph wind gusts and extremely poor visibility, but we all made it down to the cable car station safely. Despite the challenges of the hike and weather, I will forever cherish this hike due to the incredible views, memories made, and being in awe of God’s beautiful creation.
Summary
Despite all the challenges associated with traveling, this trip built my confidence, taught me how to work with others better, and bolstered my problem-solving abilities. If you ever have the opportunity to visit the Alps, I highly recommend visiting Innsbruck, Austria, as it is a prettier and cheaper version of Zurich, Switzerland. In closing, I have listed a few pro tips for traveling to the Alps on a budget below.
Protips
- Only travel in groups of 5 or fewer
- Download the apps of the train, bus, and accommodation companies you are booking through. This will save you tons of time being able to manage your booking. My top picks are Flixbus, Hostelworld, and the Deutchbahn apps.
- Have one person book all accommodations and transport. This will ensure everyone has tickets/rooms, and if any mishaps arise, you are all in it together.
- Do your research before making decisions – poor planning will lead to a poor experience
- Be clear with your travel partners what your expectations and budget for a trip
- Download the All Trails app to find all the hiking trails anywhere in the Alps
