Munich to Venice: Self-Launched Alps Crossing

Fly or train into Munich and settle in. Grab a Bavarian regional travel pass in advance and buy your Deutsche Bahn ticket to Füssen online for tomorrow. Spend the afternoon on an easy self-guided loop of the Altstadt — Marienplatz, the Glockenspiel, Frauenkirche, the surfers on the Eisbach wave at the Englischer Garten, and a beer at a traditional biergarten. Stock up on trail snacks at a supermarket (much cheaper than hut shops).

🚌Arrive by air to MUC or by train into München Hauptbahnhof; local U-Bahn/S-Bahn day ticket ~£7

🛏Central Munich hostel or budget hotel (e.g. near Hauptbahnhof), private or dorm room

• →Self-guided Munich Altstadt walk
• →Englischer Garten and Eisbach wave
• →Beer garden dinner

Take the regional train from München Hbf to Füssen (roughly 2 hours, change at Buchloe or Kaufbeuren; ~£20). Check into a guesthouse and spend the afternoon hiking the signed trails around Hohenschwangau — a 3-hour, 6 km loop with about 160 m of up and down through forest with castle views. If you have energy, ride the Tegelberg cable car for sunset views over Neuschwanstein, or soak your legs at the Kristall Therme spa in Schwangau.

🚌Regional train Munich–Füssen ~£20; local bus to Hohenschwangau ~£3

🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Hohenschwangau/Füssen, 3-star equivalent

• →Hohenschwangau area hike (3 hrs, 6 km)
• →Tegelberg cable car (optional)
• →Kristall Therme spa (optional)

Walk out of Hohenschwangau past Neuschwanstein Castle and up through the Ammergau massif toward the Bleckenau hut, then over the ridge to the Kenzenhütte. This is your first proper hut night — bring a sleeping bag liner, cash for the bill, and expect a shared matratzenlager room and hearty alpine dinner. Book the Kenzenhütte directly by phone or email a few weeks ahead.

🚌On foot all day; luggage either carried or forwarded by local bus/taxi pre-arranged

🛏Alpine hut dormitory (Kenzenhütte), half-board

• →Full-day hike Hohenschwangau – Kenzenhütte
• →Neuschwanstein Castle viewpoints

Climb to the Lösertaljoch pass (1682 m) and, if weather allows, add the optional Scheinbergjoch (1764 m) for a bigger view. Descend into the valley and make the short detour to Linderhof Castle, King Ludwig II's rococo palace, plus the nearby grotto. Finish with a bus or taxi hop to Ettal and overnight near the Benedictine monastery. Book Linderhof tickets online in advance (timed entry).

🚌Hike over the pass, then regional bus Ettal–Linderhof (~£3)

🛏Hotel near Ettal Abbey, 4-star equivalent (mid-range guesthouse with breakfast)

• →Lösertaljoch & Scheinbergjoch hike
• →Linderhof Castle and grotto (entry ~£10)

Bus to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, then the classic walk through the Partnach Gorge to Mittenwald — around 19 km and 5–6 hours, passing the Ferchensee and Lautersee lakes with the Wetterstein wall towering overhead. Shorter option: do a 3-hour return to the gorge from Garmisch and take the regional train to Mittenwald instead. Gorge entry is a small fee.

🚌Regional bus Ettal–Garmisch ~£4; train Garmisch–Mittenwald ~£6 (short option)

🛏Guesthouse or budget hotel in Mittenwald, 3-star equivalent

• →Partnach Gorge walk (19 km, 5–6 hrs)
• →Ferchensee and Lautersee lakes

A big climb day: from Mittenwald up via the Eppzirler Scharte pass through alpine meadows to the Solsteinhaus, about 5 hours, 14 km and +1100 m. An alternative gorge route with wooden bridges is longer but flatter and cooler. Book the hut ahead (Austrian Alpine Club huts can be reserved online); membership of the ÖAV/Alpine Club gives member rates and is worth it for hut discounts.

🚌On foot all day

🛏Alpine hut dormitory (Solsteinhaus), half-board

• →Eppzirler Scharte hike (14 km, +1100 m)
• →Optional gorge route via wooden bridges

Descend to Hochzirl (about 3 hours, 7 km, -940 m), then take the S-Bahn into Innsbruck. Afternoon of self-guided sightseeing: the Goldenes Dachl (Golden Roof), Helbling House, St. James' Cathedral and the Hofkirche with Maximilian's tomb. Reward yourself with an Apfelstrudel and a coffee in the old town.

🚌S-Bahn Hochzirl–Innsbruck ~£4; Innsbruck tram/bus day ticket ~£6

🛏Innsbruck hostel or budget hotel, 3-star equivalent

• →Descent to Hochzirl
• →Innsbruck old town self-guided walk
• →Goldenes Dachl and Hofkirche

Train from Innsbruck to Zell am See, then bus or narrow-gauge connection to Krimml. Visit the Krimml Waterfalls (Europe's highest, small entry fee), then hike up the Krimmler Achental valley to the Krimmler Tauernhaus — about 4 hours, 11 km and +600 m. This remote lodge has shared rooms and a legendary apple strudel.

🚌ÖBB Innsbruck–Zell am See ~£20; bus Zell am See–Krimml ~£8

🛏Mountain lodge (Krimmler Tauernhaus), half-board

• →Krimml Waterfalls visit (~£6)
• →Krimmler Achental hike (11 km, +600 m)

Cross the Krimmlertauern (2774 m) or the alternative Birnlücke Pass on foot into Italy — a 6.5–7 hour day, roughly 18–19 km with +1000 m. Descend to Kasern and Prettau, then take a South Tyrol (Südtirolmobil) bus down the valley to Bruneck/Brunico. Buy a Südtirol Mobilcard for 3 or 7 days if you're doing several bus days.

🚌Hike over the pass; Südtirolmobil bus Prettau–Bruneck ~£6

🛏Guesthouse in Bruneck (Brunico), mid-range with breakfast

• →Krimmlertauern / Birnlücke pass crossing
• →Prettau and Kasern villages

Bus to San Vigilio di Marebbe and on to the Pederù mountain hut, then hike over the Riciogonogn pass to Lago di Braies — around 13.5 km, 5–6 hours and +800 m. Book your Braies accommodation well ahead; the lakeside hotel sells out fast in summer. Swimming in the lake is cold but unforgettable.

🚌Südtirolmobil buses Bruneck–San Vigilio–Pederù ~£7

🛏Hotel or guesthouse at Lago di Braies / nearby village

• →Riciogonogn pass hike to Lago di Braies
• →Lago di Braies lakeside walk

Hike from Braies up to the Croda del Becco saddle and across the Prato Piazza alpine pastures — about 15 km, 5–6 hours, +940 m and -350 m, with big views of Croda Rossa. Overnight at a Prato Piazza guesthouse or hut. Remember many huts close in October, so this route is best from late June to late September.

🚌On foot; optional short bus connection if you reroute

🛏Guesthouse/hut at Prato Piazza, 3-star equivalent

• →Croda del Becco saddle hike
• →Prato Piazza alpine pastures

A long, spectacular day: hike from Prato Piazza past the Strudelsattel toward Tre Cime di Lavaredo and down to Antorno Lake — roughly 18 km, 6–7 hours, +760 m. Shorter option: stop at Hotel Drei Zinnen near Lago di Landro and take a public bus to Antorno Lake (approx 3 hrs, 8.2 km). Note that driving your own car to the Tre Cime toll road is now restricted in peak season — buses or walking are the way to go.

🚌On foot; local bus on the shorter option (~£4)

🛏Hut or hotel at Lago d'Antorno / Misurina

• →Tre Cime via Strudelsattel hike
• →Antorno Lake and Lago di Landro

The highlight of the Dolomites: a full circumnavigation of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo. Short route: 10 km, 3.5–4 hours, +400 m. Long route: 14.5 km, 5.5–6 hours, +670 m via Rifugio Auronzo, Lavaredo pass, Mt Paterno, Croda Passaporto, the Cengia lakes and Medo pass. Start early to beat the crowds from the Auronzo toll road.

🚌On foot; optional Tre Cime shuttle bus from Misurina ~£5 each way

🛏Hut or hotel at Lago d'Antorno / Misurina (second night)

• →Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop (short or long route)
• →Rifugio Auronzo and Medo pass

Travel from the Dolomites to the lagoon. Easiest independent route: local bus Misurina/Antorno → Dobbiaco/Toblach, then train Dobbiaco → Fortezza → Verona or directly toward Venice, or a FlixBus/Itabus coach to Mestre/Venezia. Total journey 4–6 hours and £25–40 depending on route. Check into a Venetian or Mestre hotel, then wander the old town: Rialto, St Mark's Square, the vaporetto down the Grand Canal. Mestre is much cheaper and 10 minutes from the centre by bus.

🚌Südtirolmobil bus + regional/ÖBB train or FlixBus to Venice ~£30

🛏Budget hotel or hostel in Venice/Mestre, 4-star equivalent

• →Venice old town self-guided walk
• →Grand Canal vaporetto (single ~£8)

Final morning for a last espresso and a wander before heading to Marco Polo airport or Santa Lucia station. Alilaguna water bus to the airport is ~£13; the ATVO/ACTV bus from Piazzale Roma is cheaper at ~£8. If flying out of Treviso, allow an extra hour by shuttle.

🚌ACTV/Alilaguna airport bus or water bus ~£8–13

🛏None (departure day)

• →Free morning in Venice
• →Departure