Welcome to the Dolomites! Well, not quite yet, first you need to get from Innsbruck Airport in Austria to the city, and you'll be spending tonight there.

First, pick up your rental car at the airport; the whole process shouldn't take long. Once you're done, you can head to the city center. If you have the time and energy today, take a stroll through Innsbruck's beautiful historic center and visit a good restaurant. Maybe try a hearty schnitzel at the

Stiftskeller.

If you feel like getting some exercise, you can stop by the world-famous Antholz/Anterselva resort, which is a literal paradise for cross-country skiers. 

There are over 60 km of groomed cross-country trails here, divided into various difficulty levels, so there's truly something for everyone. You can check an overview of all the trails and their current status on the resort's website. You can rent cross-country skis at one of the many rental shops in town. 🎿
🔗Link here.

This area is also part of the Südtirol Arena Alto Adige biathlon center, which even hosts Biathlon World Cup races. So if you're a fan of the sport and your dates happen to coincide with a race, you can head out and cheer at the top of your lungs! 

If you still have time and energy today, your first day of skiing at the famous Kronplatz awaits! It is arguably the most well-known ski resort in South Tyrol, right in the heart of the beautiful Dolomites. 

You can either drive there and park right in front of the cable car, or save on parking by taking the free ski bus. It's totally up to you.

You can buy your ski pass either on-site or online in advance. If you choose the online option, you get an extra 5% discount, which is definitely worth it!

The price varies depending on the season and ranges between €200-220 for 3 days of skiing per adult. Naturally, it goes up if you only buy a one-day pass. You can check the current prices and find more information on the resort's website, where you can also purchase your pass online. 

🔗Link here.

So, what can you look forward to? There are 31 modern cable cars connecting a total of 121 km of slopes of all difficulty levels. From easy blue ones (52 km) and intermediate red ones (42 km) to black runs for true pros (25 km). 

The Alpine Ski World Cup is held here too, so you can enjoy testing out the same runs where the absolute masters race. 

With gusto into a new day and quickly back onto the slopes! Your legs are already stretched from yesterday, so you can try all the additional attractions that the operators have prepared for you! 

You can have your maximum speed measured on a measured section or even race with a friend in a slalom, from which you can then get a video. If you feel like something more daring, there is also a great snowpark that is calling for you to try it. And if you are not so sure of yourself, you can also go through a fun route through the castle and various tunnels. You can find all these attractions on the resort map, so go exploring! 

A day in the snow can also make you quite hungry. But this has a very simple solution! There are about 40 mountain huts in the resort where you can have something to drink and eat. So what will you choose? Will it be a real Austrian schnitzel, Italian spaghetti or maybe local dried ham with even better mountain cheese? 

📌Tip: If you have a sweet tooth, don't miss the Kaiserschmarrn with apple puree or marmalade. Look for Kaiserschmarrn on the menu. 

Fun fact: Even though you're in Italy, the food on offer at most huts is more reminiscent of Austrian cuisine. This is because this area belonged to Austria until the end of World War I. However, the locals didn't worry about being annexed to the neighboring state and preserved their customs, cuisine and language. That's why you'll find the names of towns in both languages on all the signs - e.g. Kronplatz (German) and Plan de Corones (Italian).

You have one last day of skiing left, so hurry to the slopes and ride your favorite runs! 🏃 Enjoy it properly and most importantly, be careful! 

📌Tip: Before leaving, you can still go for some après-ski (a French expression meaning to go for a drink and have fun with friends after skiing). The most famous is the Italian bombardino, a hot alcoholic drink made of Eierlikör and brandy, garnished with whipped cream. 

If you have enough time before your departure and don't want to spend it skiing in the morning, take a trip to the famous Lago di Braies lake.

This lake is a popular tourist destination, especially in the summer season, when it attracts visitors with its azure blue surface contrasting with the surrounding mountains. But it also has its charm in winter! And who can say they have walked on its frozen surface? However, be careful and only enter the lake if the ice is thick enough and access to the lake is not prohibited.

If you decide to take a walk in the surrounding area, you can also encounter a huge icefall on the left bank of the lake.

Every adventure must come to an end. All that's left is to head to the airport, return the car keys, and look forward to excitedly telling everyone about your newly acquired experiences!