Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The valley's main
tourist office
( 057200-200;
www.oetztal.com
; Gemeindestrasse 4, Sölden; 8am-6pm
Mon-Sat, 9am-noon & 3-6pm Sun)
is in Sölden, though there are others in villages like Ötz and
Längenfeld. All can arrange accommodation and have brochures on activities in the area.
Getting There & Away
From Ötztal Bahnhof, buses head south roughly hourly to destinations including Ötz
(€2.70, 13 minutes), Umhausen (€4.20, 30 minutes) and Sölden (€8, one hour).
With your own wheels you should be able to get at least as far as Hochgurgl all year,
but the road beyond into Italy via the high-alpine 2509m
Timmelsjoch Pass
(car/motorbike €14/12;
7am-8pm)
is often blocked by snow in winter.
Trains arrive at Ötztal Bahnhof at the head of the valley and run frequently to Inns-
bruck (€10, 34 minutes), Imst-Pitztal (€2.20, eight minutes) and Landeck (€5.80, 25
minutes).
TOP OF CHAPTER
Imst
05412 / POP 9523
Beautifully situated in the wide Gurgltal (Gurgl Valley) and spreading towards a range of
thickly wooded mountains, Imst is famous for its many springs. While the town itself
won't keep you long, its surrounding meadows, rugged peaks and gorges might. Imst
makes a fine base for hiking and skiing in the nearby Ötztal.
Sights & Activities
The tourist office sells the good-value
Gletscherpark Card
(3/7 days €43/63)
, which covers all
public transport, cable cars and most attractions in the region.
Haus der Fasnacht
(
www.fasnacht.at
;
Streleweg 6; adult/child €4/1; 4-7pm Fri)
Every four years, Imst plays host to a
Shrovetide festival, the Unesco-listed
Schemenlaufen
(ghost dance); the next takes place on
31 January 2016. The highlight is the vibrant parade of characters, from hunchback
Hex-
en
(witches) to
Spritzer
that squirt water at spectators. This museum homes in on this
centuries-old tradition and exhibits many of the hand-carved ghost masks.
MUSEUM
