Tolls & vignettes

• Austria: buy a 10-day digital vignette (~€11.50) before you cross — it covers Aug 15–22. Buy online (asfinag.at) or at the last German gas station before the border.
• Fernpass route (Garmisch → Imst, B179): a small separate toll (~€10) if you go that way. Arlberg tunnel (if you use the Bregenz corridor on Aug 22): ~€11 — or take the free Arlberg Pass road in summer.
• Ötztal panoramic roads: the Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road (~€19/car) and the Ötztal Glacier Road (toll) are paid — pay at the booth (card OK).
• Germany: no car toll on the Autobahn. Fuel is usually cheaper in Austria — top up before crossing back.

Speed limits & enforcement

• Austria: 130 km/h on the Autobahn, strict enforcement. Watch for IG-L zones (100 km/h) — fines are high.
• Germany: Autobahn is often unrestricted, but many stretches are posted (120/130) — the A8/A95 around Munich and Stuttgart frequently are.
• Headlights ON in daytime on Austrian highways.

Mountain-driving sanity (Ötztal)

• The Timmelsjoch and the Glacier Road are steep switchback toll roads — low gears on the descents, expect cyclists and motorcycles, and allow far more time than the GPS suggests.
• Mountain weather swings fast — keep a warm layer accessible; the high passes can be 10–15 °C colder and windy even in August.
• Pay-and-display parking in the valley towns — keep a small stash of coins; always display the ticket on the dashboard.

The long haul (Aug 22: Sölden → Rust, ~5h)

• ~450 km — plan a real lunch/leg-stretch around the 2.5h mark: Lindau or Bregenz on Lake Constance if you take the Arlberg route; Memmingen if you go via the Fernpass + A7.
• Leave Sölden by ~08:00 so you land at Bell Rock mid-afternoon with the Europa-Park afternoon still ahead of you.

Day 1 — Saturday, Aug 15, 2026

Munich → Sölden (arrival)

Land in Munich, pick up the VW Touran, sort the Austria vignette, and drive ~2.5h via Garmisch and the Fernpass into the Ötztal for check-in and an easy first dinner in Sölden.

• 12:00 — Land at Munich (MUC) (Munich Airport (MUC))
  • Exit customs.
  • Follow signs for “Mietwagenzentrum” (Car Rental Center) in the Zentralbereich between Terminal 1 and 2.
  • Expect a ~5–10 minute walk (or a quick S-Bahn hop depending on gate).
• 13:00 — Car pick-up (MUC car rental center)
  • Go to your supplier’s counter (Sixt/Europcar/Avis per voucher; reservation 782766806).
  • Confirm you get the VW Touran (or equivalent class).
  • Install + check the 3 booster seats: clean, intact, proper fit.
  • Vignette check: look for “Österreich 2026” on the windshield. If missing, buy a 10-day digital vignette (~€11.50) — online (asfinag.at) or at the last German gas station before the border.
• 13:30 — Drive: Munich → Sölden (Top Apart Gaislachkogl, Sölden)
  • ~2.5h, ~270 km. Route: A95 to Garmisch → Fernpass (B179, small toll) → Imst → into the Ötztal → Sölden.
  • Headlights ON in daytime on Austrian highways. Watch IG-L (100 km/h) zones.
• 16:00 — Check-in: Top Apart Gaislachkogl (Sölden)
  • Park in the private spot at the apartment.
  • You’re right next to the Gaislachkoglbahn gondola — handy for tomorrow.
  • Use the Booking.com instructions for entry/key handover.
• 18:30 — Dinner + grocery run (Sölden)
  • Dinner: Werkstatt Sölden (burgers/pizza, lively) or s’Pfandl.
  • Grocery: SPAR or MPREIS in Sölden (closes ~19:00–19:30) — stock breakfast + snacks for the week.
• Easy first evening
  • Short walk along the Ötztaler Ache riverside path.
  • Early night after the flight — the real days start tomorrow.

Day 2 — Sunday, Aug 16, 2026

Gaislachkoglbahn + 007 Elements + Ice Q

Sölden’s icon: ride the Gaislachkoglbahn to 3,058 m for the 007 Elements Bond museum, the Ice Q glass restaurant, and short ridge walks with glacier views. ~3–4h outdoors.

• 09:30 — Gaislachkoglbahn gondola (Gaislachkoglbahn, Sölden)
  • Walk to the valley station (next to the apartment); buy round-trip tickets.
  • Two-stage gondola to the summit at 3,058 m.
  • Layers + sun cream — it’s cold, bright and windy up there.
• 10:30 — 007 Elements (Gaislachkogl summit)
  • The James Bond “Spectre” museum built into the summit — interactive galleries, great for older kids (~1–1.5h).
• 12:00 — Lunch at Ice Q (or mid-station picnic) (Gaislachkogl summit / mid-station)
  • Ice Q — the glass-cube restaurant that played the “Hoffler Klinik” in Spectre; panoramic terrace.
  • Cheaper option: eat at the Gaislachkogl mid-station or bring a picnic.
• 13:00 — Summit + ridge walks (Gaislachkogl)
  • Short marked paths along the ridge — views to the Ötztal Alps and (clear days) the Dolomites.
  • Photo points; gondola back down mid-afternoon.
• Dinner (Sölden)
  • Gusto (Italian) or cook at the apartment.

Day 3 — Monday, Aug 17, 2026

Area 47 outdoor adventure park

Down the valley to Area 47 — water slides into a lake, blobbing, cliff jumps, a climbing tower and high-ropes courses at the mouth of the Ötztal. A full 4–5h kid day.

• 09:00 — Drive: Sölden → Area 47 (Area 47, near Haiming (Ötztal valley mouth))
  • ~40–45 min down the valley.
• 10:00 — Area 47 (Ötztaler Ache, near Haiming)
  • Water Area: giant slides, the blob/catapult, cliff jumps, the lake.
  • Plus the climbing tower and high-ropes / flying-fox courses.
  • Easily a 4–5h day. Bring swimwear, towels, water shoes; cash for lockers/snacks.
• 15:00 — Drive back to Sölden
  • ~45 min back up the valley.
• Dinner (Sölden)
  • Easy night — pasta at the apartment or pizza in town.

Day 4 — Tuesday, Aug 18, 2026

Stuibenfall waterfall + Ötzi-Dorf (Umhausen)

Hike the Stuibenfall — Tyrol’s highest waterfall (159 m), with steel stairways, two suspension bridges and a viewing platform in the spray — then the Ötzi-Dorf open-air Stone Age park next door. ~3–4h.

• 09:30 — Drive: Sölden → Umhausen (Umhausen, Ötztal)
  • ~25 min down the valley.
• 10:00 — Stuibenfall trail (Stuibenfall, Umhausen)
  • The family route — built stairs, two suspension bridges and the “balcony” platform — is ~2–3h round trip with stops.
  • There’s also a via-ferrata variant for the adventurous (gear rental in Umhausen).
  • Sturdy shoes; it gets wet near the falls.
• 13:00 — Ötzi-Dorf (Umhausen)
  • Reconstructed Neolithic village (the Ötztal is where the “Ötzi” iceman was found) — thatched huts, archery, farm animals (~1–1.5h).
• 14:30 — Drive back to Sölden
  • ~25 min.
• Dinner (Sölden)
  • Sölden town; gelato in the square.

Day 5 — Wednesday, Aug 19, 2026

Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road + Obergurgl

Drive the Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road — a spectacular toll pass climbing to 2,509 m at the Italian border — with stops at the architectural ‘experience stations,’ the Top Mountain Crosspoint motorcycle museum, and an easy walk near Obergurgl. ~3–4h.

• 09:30 — Drive: Sölden → Obergurgl → Timmelsjoch (Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road)
  • ~30–45 min to the pass. The toll road opens roughly 07:00–20:00 in summer; toll ~€19/car (check the current rate).
  • Bring warm layers — it’s 10–15 °C colder at the top and often windy.
• 10:30 — Drive the pass with stops (Timmelsjoch / Hochgurgl)
  • The “Fernrohr” telescope viewpoint at the summit and the Passmuseum.
  • Top Mountain Crosspoint (highest motorcycle museum in Europe, at Hochgurgl).
  • Walk out to the Italian-border marker.
• 12:30 — Short hike at Obergurgl (Obergurgl)
  • An easy family loop — e.g. toward the Zirbenwald larch forest / Hohe Mut area, or take the Hohe Mut Bahn for a lift-assisted version (~1–2h).
• Dinner (Sölden)
  • Cook at the apartment after the mountain day.

Day 6 — Thursday, Aug 20, 2026

Ötztal Glacier Road + glacier hike

Drive the Ötztal Glacier Road — the highest paved through-road in the Alps — up past 2,800 m to the Rettenbach and Tiefenbach glaciers. No summer skiing, but you can hike right up to the ice. ~3–4h.

• 09:30 — Drive: Sölden → Rettenbachferner (Ötztaler Gletscherstraße)
  • ~30–40 min of switchbacks (toll road — check the rate at the booth).
  • Cold, thin air, strong sun — layers, sunglasses, sun cream, water.
• 10:30 — Glacier viewpoints + high walk (Rettenbach / Tiefenbach glaciers)
  • Park at the Rettenbach base; walk to the glacier-edge viewpoints and through the road tunnel toward the Tiefenbach side.
  • Panorama trails around 2,800–3,000 m. ~2–3h.
  • The ski lifts/runs are closed in August — this is hiking and sightseeing, not skiing.
• 13:30 — Drive back to Sölden
  • ~40 min. Afternoon at leisure — pool, town, gelato.
• Dinner (Sölden)
  • Nónna or Sölden town.

Day 7 — Friday, Aug 21, 2026

Aqua Dome thermal spa (Längenfeld) + pack

Mellow last Ötztal day at the Aqua Dome — the open-air thermal pools with the iconic ‘flying saucer’ basins, plus a kids’ water world — then back to Sölden to pack for tomorrow’s move. ~3–4h.

• 10:00 — Drive: Sölden → Aqua Dome (Aqua Dome, Längenfeld)
  • ~15 min down the valley.
• 10:30 — Aqua Dome (Längenfeld)
  • Outdoor thermal “saucer” pools, indoor pools, kids’ water world & slides; sauna world for adults.
  • Half a day, ~3–4h. Bring/rent towels & robes; book online to skip the queue.
• 14:30 — Drive back to Sölden
  • ~15 min.
• Pack & prep (Sölden)
  • Repack for the move; sweep the apartment.
  • Fuel up in Sölden or Längenfeld (cheaper than en route, and cheaper than Germany).
  • Aim for an early start tomorrow — it’s the trip’s longest drive.
• Farewell dinner (Sölden)
  • Werkstatt Sölden or s’Pfandl.

Day 8 — Saturday, Aug 22, 2026

Sölden → Europa-Park / Bell Rock (Day 1)

Early checkout and the trip’s longest drive (~5h) out of Austria to Rust — past Lake Constance for a lunch break — then check in at Hotel Bell Rock and ease into Europa-Park for the afternoon.

• 08:00 — Checkout Sölden (Top Apart Gaislachkogl)
  • Pack the car, quick sweep, roll out by ~08:00 to keep the day relaxed.
• 08:30 — Drive: Sölden → Rust (Hotel Bell Rock, Rust)
  • ~5h, ~450 km. Via the Fernpass/Füssen or the Arlberg/Bregenz corridor, then German Autobahn (Ulm → Stuttgart → Karlsruhe → Rust).
  • Austrian vignette still valid; headlights on in Austria.
• 13:30 — Bell Rock check-in actions (Hotel Bell Rock, Rust)
  • Pick up park tickets; leave bags at the bell desk if the room isn’t ready.
  • Confirm tonight’s dinner (Harborside Buffet).
  • Reservation H14110864 (22.08–25.08.2026); use the hotel guests’ park entrance.
• 14:30 — Europa-Park — Day 1 (Europa-Park, Rust)
  • Easy first afternoon — themed areas near the hotel, a couple of headline rides.
  • Save the big coasters for the next two days.
• 19:30 — Dinner: Harborside Buffet (Hotel Bell Rock)
  • Booked.

Day 9 — Sunday, Aug 23, 2026

Europa-Park (Day 2) + Antica Roma Buffet

Use early hotel entry to hit the top rides, plan FoodLoop early to avoid queues, and end with the Antica Roma Buffet at Hotel Colosseo.

• Early entry strategy (Europa-Park, Rust)
  • Hotel guests often enter ~30 minutes before the public.
  • Run to Voletarium or Blue Fire first.
• 11:15 — FoodLoop (rollercoaster restaurant) (Europa-Park)
  • Queue early (around 11:15) to get a good slot.
  • A great “fun meal” for the kids.
• 19:30 — Dinner: Antica Roma Buffet (Hotel Colosseo)
  • Booked.
  • Walk across the piazza.

Day 10 — Monday, Aug 24, 2026

Europa-Park (Day 3) + Silver Lake Saloon

Re-ride favorites, catch a show, and head to the Camp Resort for the Silver Lake Saloon dinner via monorail/shuttle.

• All-day park day (Europa-Park, Rust)
  • Re-ride favorites and mop up anything missed.
  • Show idea: the Ice Show or the Knights Show.
• Dinner: Silver Lake Saloon (Camp Resort)
  • Booked.
  • Take the Europa-Park Express monorail or the shuttle.

Day 11 — Tuesday, Aug 25, 2026

Rulantica waterpark → Rust-Fewo

Checkout, park at the Rulantica guest lot, spend the day swimming, dinner at Bubba Svens, then a short drive to Rust-Fewo for the night.

• 09:30 — Checkout Bell Rock (Hotel Bell Rock)
  • Pack bags to the car.
  • Park at the Rulantica guest lot (often free for hotel guests; scan the ticket).
• 10:00–18:00 — Rulantica (Rulantica, Rust)
  • Swim, slides, relax.
  • Bring towels/cover-ups as needed.
• 18:00 — Dinner: Bubba Svens (Hotel Krønasår)
  • Booked.
  • Walk from the pool to the hotel.
• 19:30 — Short move: Rulantica → Rust-Fewo (Rust-Fewo-Hotel)
  • 5–10 minutes.
  • Check-in likely via lockbox/PIN — confirmation 5313184733, PIN 4008.
  • Enjoy the AC and a quiet night.

Day 12 — Wednesday, Aug 26, 2026

Rust → Garmisch / Eibsee (Bavarian Alps)

Checkout, then drive east across Bavaria (~4.5h, lunch in Ulm) to Grainau/Garmisch at the foot of the Zugspitze; check in and take an easy first evening by the mountains.

• 09:30 — Checkout Rust-Fewo (Rust-Fewo-Hotel)
  • Pack the car; confirm any lockbox handover steps in the email.
• 10:00 — Drive: Rust → Garmisch-Partenkirchen / Grainau (Grainau / Garmisch-Partenkirchen)
  • ~4.5h, ~450 km via A5 → A8 → Ulm → Munich ring → A95 to Garmisch.
• 15:30 — Check-in: Hotel am Badersee (Grainau) (Grainau)
  • Booked: 2 rooms, Aug 26–28 (free cancellation). On its own little alpine lake (Badersee), at the foot of the Zugspitze.
  • Mountain views; swimming pier on the Badersee.
• 17:00 — Easy evening (Grainau / Eibsee)
  • Short stroll in Grainau or along the Eibsee shore.
  • Or a quick dip if the hotel has a pool.
• Dinner (Grainau / Garmisch)
  • Hotel restaurant or a Grainau Gasthof.

Day 13 — Thursday, Aug 27, 2026

Zugspitze + Eibsee

Big finale: cogwheel train and/or cable car to the Zugspitze summit (2,962 m — Germany’s highest point), then down to the turquoise Eibsee for a lakeside walk and a swim.

• 08:30 — Head to the Zugspitzbahn (Garmisch / Eibsee station)
  • Drive to the Garmisch terminus, or the Eibsee cable-car station.
  • Buy the combo ticket: cogwheel up via the Zugspitzplatt + Eibsee cable car down (or vice-versa).
  • Layers + sun cream — there can be snow on top even in August.
• 09:30 — Zugspitze summit (Zugspitze (2,962 m))
  • Viewing platforms (the Germany/Austria border runs across the top), the glacier plateau, the golden “Gipfelkreuz” summit cross.
  • ~2h up top.
• 12:30 — Lunch (Zugspitze summit / Eibsee)
  • At the summit (Panorama 2962) or back down at the Eibsee.
• 14:00 — Eibsee (Eibsee, Grainau)
  • The ~7 km lakeshore loop trail — do as much as the kids want.
  • Rowboat / pedalo rental, and swimming off the little turquoise bays.
  • ~2–3h.
• Dinner + pack (Grainau / Garmisch)
  • Dinner in the village; pack for the flight home.

Day 14 — Friday, Aug 28, 2026

Departure: Garmisch → Munich (MUC) + car return + flight home

Pack calmly, short drive back to Munich Airport (~1.5h), refuel near (not at) the airport, return the car, and fly home.

• Morning: pack & final checks (Grainau / Garmisch)
  • Final breakfast.
  • Quick room sweep: chargers, passports, swim stuff, toys.
• 10:30 — Drive: Garmisch → Munich Airport (MUC) (Munich Airport)
  • ~1.5h, ~110 km via A95.
  • Plan one short stop if needed.
• Fuel plan
  • Fill up near the airport (avoid airport prices) — around Eching or Erding.
• 17:00 — Car return (MUC car rental return)
  • Follow signs for “Mietwagen Rückgabe”.
  • Park in your supplier’s row.
  • Hand over the keys and get a receipt (important!).
• 19:00 — Flight home
  • Be at the terminal with buffer for security and walking.