Updated October 2026
Short answer: The Alps stretch about 1,200 km across France, Switzerland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria, Slovenia and Monaco. For a first trip, pick one or two regions and a base with a train station: Innsbruck or Salzburg in Austria, Interlaken, Zermatt or St. Moritz in Switzerland, Garmisch or Berchtesgaden in Bavaria, Bolzano for the Dolomites, or Annecy and Chamonix in France.
Here’s how I think about the regions. Each section has a good base town, how to get there by train and what each region does best. Still torn? Our Dolomites vs Swiss Alps vs Austrian Alps comparison goes deeper.
Austrian Alps
Tyrol, Salzburgerland and Vorarlberg make up the biggest share of the Alps, and they’re our backyard. Austria is the friendliest Alps region for families on a budget: lots of family ski areas, sled runs, mountain lakes and huts that serve Kaiserschmarrn (shredded pancake) with apple sauce.
- Good bases: Innsbruck (city plus mountains, with a cable car from the center), Salzburg, Kufstein, Seefeld, the Zillertal.
- By train: Munich to Innsbruck is direct on ÖBB Railjet and EuroCity trains via Kufstein. Salzburg is on the main line from Munich and Vienna.
- Best for: Christmas markets, first ski trips, summer lakes, easy hut hikes.
- More: our sister site Vacation in Austria will cover the towns in depth.
Swiss Alps
The big-name peaks and the famous panoramic trains. Switzerland costs more, but the trains, boats and mountain railways fit together so well that you really can see it all without a car.
- Good bases: Interlaken or Lauterbrunnen (Bernese Oberland), Zermatt (Matterhorn), St. Moritz or Pontresina (Engadin), Lucerne for an easy first taste.
- By train: Zurich and Basel connect to all of them. The Swiss Travel Pass covers most trains, buses and boats.
- Best for: iconic views, the Glacier Express and Bernina Express, car-free villages.
Bavarian Alps
Germany’s slice of the Alps is narrow but very easy to reach: most of it is about 1 to 2 hours from Munich by regional train.
- Good bases: Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Zugspitze), Mittenwald, Berchtesgaden, Oberammergau, the Tegernsee and Chiemsee lakes.
- By train: regional trains from Munich, covered by the Deutschlandticket and the Bayern-Ticket.
- Best for: short trips from Munich, painted villages, castles nearby.
- More: the town guides live on Vacation in Germany.
Italian Dolomites
Pale, jagged limestone towers, and a mix of Italian, German and Ladin culture. South Tyrol is bilingual, so you’ll see Bolzano/Bozen and Merano/Meran on the same sign.
- Good bases: Bolzano, Merano, Bressanone/Brixen, Val Gardena, Cortina d’Ampezzo.
- By train: Munich and Innsbruck to Bolzano over the Brenner Pass. Buses run up into the valleys.
- Best for: dramatic scenery, food, hiking, the Dolomiti Superski area (12 ski regions on one pass).
French Alps
Mont Blanc, Chamonix and the lake town of Annecy. The French Alps are big on skiing and serious mountaineering, with a softer side by the lakes.
- Good bases: Annecy, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc.
- By train: Geneva is the closest big station for both; Chamonix also has a rail line via Saint-Gervais.
- Best for: Mont Blanc views, lakeside towns, big ski areas.
Julian Alps (Slovenia)
The smallest and least crowded of the regions here, with Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj and the Triglav National Park.
- Good bases: Bled, Bohinj, Kranjska Gora.
- By train: Ljubljana to Lesce-Bled; a scenic line also runs from Jesenice to Bohinjska Bistrica.
- Best for: lakes, gentle hikes, a lower budget.
Alps destination questions
Which country has the most of the Alps?
Austria has the largest share of the Alps by area, followed by Italy, France and Switzerland. Almost two thirds of Austria is mountainous.
What is the easiest part of the Alps to visit without a car?
Switzerland, because trains, buses, boats and mountain railways are timed to connect. The Austrian Alps around Innsbruck and the Bavarian Alps from Munich are close behind.
Where should I go in the Alps for my first trip?
For a short first trip, I’d pick one base with a train station and day trips: Innsbruck for Austria, Interlaken or Lucerne for Switzerland, Garmisch for Bavaria or Bolzano for the Dolomites.
Can I see the Alps on a day trip from Munich?
Yes. Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Mittenwald, the Tegernsee, Kufstein and Innsbruck are all day trips by train from Munich.
Sources
- Alpine Convention, the area and countries of the Alps: alpconv.org
- ÖBB, SBB and Deutsche Bahn timetables (checked October 2026)