We slept in today until 10a (4a back home) and enjoyed a leisurely breakfast in the hotel. At 2:00p we went across the street to the Adlers Hotel in which we went up to the 12th floor for a birds eye view of the entire city via their rooftop bar and rooftop access. We enjoy a glass of champagne and an incredible view of the gorgeous city with the sunlight streaming over the mountain peaks. We enjoy the warm (yet still 40 degree) weather and take some stunning photos of the city before making our way back down to our tour bus.

Once on the bus, we head 20-minutes away to the Swarovski Kristallwelten museum. Since its opening in 1995, more than thirteen million visitors have visited Swarovski Crystal Worlds. That makes it one of the most popular attractions in Austria. Highlights of Swarovski Crystal Worlds are the Chambers of Wonder, the Crystal Cloud, which consists of 800,000 hand-mounted Swarovski crystals and drifts above the black Mirror Pool.

This museum was a combination of a museum and art gallery. An aeclectic combination of modern art using the crystals and beautiful pieces from designers from all over the world. We saw beautiful costumes, high fashion pieces and beautiful jewelry among unique and interactive exhibits featuring the swarovski crystals

After the museum, you could shop the gift shop or explore the gardens that featured more artwork such as an igloo, christmas lights and crystal cloud exhibit outside. The crowning piece of the new garden is the Crystal Cloud, created by Andy Cao and Xavier Perrot. This monumental installation drifts above the black Mirror Pool, inviting visitors to pause for moment and be inspired. With a surface of around 1,400 square meters, this mystical masterpiece is the largest work of its kind in the world. The Crystal Cloud consists of around 800,000 hand-mounted Swarovski crystals.

After the museum, we took the bus down the road to the Plankenhof hotel and distillery. There, we had the extraordinary and exclusive experience of having the place all to ourselves as we enjoyed a private schnapps tasting. We got to try 7 different schnapps, all made there locally in Austria by the owner, Michael, and son who is chef there, George. There, we try schnapps ranging from elderflower, to blueberry, to tart cherry to apple schnapps. We then took a tour to the distillery’s museum in which we learned it takes 14-20 days to make 150 liters of schnapps, that it is distilled three times at 85 degrees celsius, and built in 1749, a special license given to the brewery by Marie Theresa.

After the tasting, we enjoy the most amazing dinner of ribs, rosemary potatoes and cabbage. This meal was to DIE for and was such an incredible way to end both the night and trip. As it was in a distillery, we had the lucky convenience of being able to dine inside a wine barrel, imported all the way from Italy.

After dinner, we made our way back to the hotel, and said farewell to an amazing trip and our newfound friends. I highly recommend not only this trip, but the beautiful city of Innsbruck, and look forward to returning someday again!