The route: over the Brenner and down the Isarco valley
Innsbruck airport lies about 4 km from the city centre, on the floor of the Inn valley. We join the motorway straight away, skirt round Innsbruck and take the A13 Brenner motorway: first the Europabrücke, high above the Sill valley, then the Wipptal up to the pass at 1,370 m. It is motorway all the way, with no hairpin bends.
The Brenner is an internal Schengen border: normally there is no stop, but checks are possible, so keep passports or ID cards to hand. In Italy the A22 continues down the Isarco valley, past Vipiteno, Fortezza, Bressanone and Chiusa, to Bolzano. These are the exits for the valleys.
- Vipiteno: the Val di Vizze and Racines.
- Bressanone – Val Pusteria: the Plose, Brunico, Plan de Corones, Alta Badia through the Val Badia and, further east, Dobbiaco and Cortina.
- Chiusa – Val Gardena: Ortisei, Santa Cristina, Selva, and Castelrotto for the Alpe di Siusi.
- Bolzano Nord and Bolzano Sud: the city, the Val d’Ega with Lago di Carezza, and Merano via the MeBo expressway.
Innsbruck airport transfer times to the Dolomites
For Val Gardena, Alta Badia, the Pusteria valley and the Bressanone area, Innsbruck is often the closest airport: the road drops straight down the Isarco valley without crossing Trentino. For Bolzano itself the distance is similar to Verona’s, and the choice mostly depends on which flights suit you; for comparison, see our Verona airport transfer.
Times assume normal traffic and dry roads; snow or queues at the roadworks on the Austrian side can make them longer.
- Brennero: about 40 km, 35–45 minutes.
- Vipiteno: about 60 km, 50 minutes – 1 h.
- Bressanone: about 90 km, 1 h 15 – 1 h 30.
- Brunico and Plan de Corones: about 110 km, 1 h 30 – 1 h 45.
- Ortisei and Selva in Val Gardena: about 115–125 km, 1 h 30 – 2 h.
- Bolzano: about 125 km, 1 h 30 – 2 h.
- Corvara in Alta Badia: about 135–145 km, 2 h – 2 h 30.
- Merano, via Bolzano: about 155 km, 2 h – 2 h 30.
- Cortina d’Ampezzo, through the Pusteria valley and Dobbiaco: about 165 km, 2 h 30 – 3 h.
Arriving at Innsbruck
Innsbruck is a small airport with a single terminal: after baggage reclaim you walk straight into the arrivals hall, where Ferjy is waiting with a board showing your name. He helps with suitcases and skis and walks you to the vehicle.
We track your flight and adapt the pick-up time if it lands late. The approach to Innsbruck, between the mountains, is a demanding one, and in strong wind or bad weather flights can be delayed or changed: if that happens, message us on WhatsApp and we will work out the most practical solution together.
The Mercedes V-Class has room for seven people with luggage, skis and boots; child seats are booked together with the transfer.
Winter, summer and roadworks on the Brenner
In winter Innsbruck is busy with ski flights: on Saturdays and Sundays many seasonal flights arrive, mainly from the UK, the Netherlands and Scandinavia, and the Brenner motorway gets busier too. The V-Class runs on winter tyres; if it snows we allow more time and tell you before we set off.
Since 2025 the Lueg bridge (Luegbrücke) on the Austrian A13 has been under reconstruction: traffic normally runs on a single lane in each direction, with two lanes on the busiest travel days, and further restrictions are possible while the works continue, which will take several more years. On summer weekends and during holiday periods queues can build up: we check the current traffic arrangements before every transfer and allow for them when setting times, especially for the return to the airport.
By train to South Tyrol, then by car
From the airport, bus line F reaches Innsbruck’s main station in about 20 minutes. From there, some EuroCity trains run direct to Bolzano in about 2 hours, roughly every two hours; with regional trains you change at Brennero.
If you prefer the train, Ferjy can collect you at Brennero or Bolzano station and drive you to your hotel. With luggage, skis and children, though, the direct transfer from the airport saves changes and waiting on platforms. See all airport and station transfers.
