Innsbruck

The capital of the Austrian Tyrol is a legendary alpine town. With some of the world’s best (and most reliable) skiing, it’s one of only a very few places to have hosted an Olympics more than once (in 1964 and 76). With direct access to the Austrian Alps, it’s surrounded by three peaks each of over 2,000 metres, not to mention proximity to the Brenner Pass. There’s a chill in the air – particularly as the nights start to draw in – but the welcome’s every bit as warm as you could wish.