Trip to Innsbruck and Its Surroundings
Introduction
Innsbruck, the capital of Tyrol, is located in the center of the region at a major and important crossroads. The city, which hosted the Winter Olympics twice (in 1964 and 1976) and boasts impressive sports facilities,
is considered Austria's winter sports capital and a sought-after destination among ski enthusiasts as well as culture and history buffs. Innsbruck has an illustrious past, and its historic center has been around for eight hundred years. For about one hundred and fifty years, the city was the seat of the Austrian Empire, ever since Maximilian I established the imperial court here in 1490. Yet the primary charm of the city lies in the stunning views of the Alps surrounding it on all sides. The mountains also attract skiers in winter and serve as a natural barrier against cold winds, moderating the city's climate. The city has a population of around 120,000 and spans an area of 105 square kilometers.
Tours and Attractions in Innsbruck
Here are guided tours and the following attractions available for purchase on Viator:
♦ Round-trip ticket for an excellent cable car viewpoint over Innsbruck:
Top of Innsbruck Roundtrip Cable Car Ticket
♦
Traditional folklore show including a typical dinner -
Tyrolean Folk Show
ticket in Innsbruck
You can book the show only or the show + dinner. Hotel pickup in Innsbruck is available.
♦ Exciting paragliding flight in the Tyrolean Alps near Innsbruck -
Tandem paragliding in the Stubai Valley near Innsbruck
Lasts about an hour.
♦ Car rental via reliable and convenient Booking.com: Booking.com
Innsbruck Center
The city center extends over a relatively compact area, making it easy to explore on foot. Most of the lovely buildings, fountains, monuments, and museums are concentrated in the Old Town (Altstadt), nestled between the Inn River and the moat that encircled the city in the Middle Ages. This charming area features historic buildings—many in pastel hues with painted facades—public squares, and an abundance of souvenir shops, restaurants, and cafes.
The two most famous tourist streets in the city are Maria Theresien Strasse, which offers breathtaking views of the steep rock face of the Nordkette towering over the town.
At the southern end of the street stands the Triumphpforte (Triumphal Arch), built to honor the marriage of Leopold, one of Empress Maria Theresa's 16 children. Nearby stands another key monument, the Annasäule (St. Anne's Column), commemorating the withdrawal of Bavarian troops who attempted to conquer Tyrol on St. Anne's Day, July 26, 1703. Next to it is the wide Herzog-Friedrich-Strasse, from which quaint, narrow cobblestone alleys branch out. The street ends at the city's main square, home to the Rathaus (Town Hall), the City Tower, and the city's most iconic landmark: the Goldenes Dachl (Golden Roof). This is actually a three-story balcony built onto an Old Town building and adorned with 2,657 fire-gilded copper tiles. The balcony was constructed in the 15th century for Emperor Maximilian I on the occasion of his marriage to Bianca Maria Sforza, his second wife, to serve as a regal viewing box to observe street festivals, tournaments, and processions below. You cannot enter the Golden Roof itself, but it can be admired from the outside.
In 1996, in celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Golden Roof, the Innsbruck municipality established a small museum called the Maximilianeum. Located on the second floor of the City Hall adjacent to the Golden Roof, it is essentially a hall of fame honoring Emperor Maximilian I, who bridged the Middle Ages and the dawn of the Renaissance. The museum displays period costumes, coins, and portraits of the emperor, alongside video presentations depicting his personality, life, work, and impact on the politics, economy, and culture of the region.
It is highly recommended to visit the excellent city Visitor Center for tips and information, located at: Burggraben 3, 6021 Innsbruck.
Innsbruck Card
Innsbruck offers a city card called the Innsbruck Card, which can be purchased for 24, 48, or 72 hours. The card includes free admission to all museums in the city, as well as access to many other attractions in Innsbruck and neighboring towns and villages, such as Ambras Castle, the Alpine Zoo, Swarovski Crystal Worlds, the Bergisel ski jump stadium, and discounts on additional activities such as bicycle rentals and local folklore shows. The card also includes free rides on all public transport across the city and select nearby towns, including one round trip on regional cable cars and travel on the hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus that tours the city's key tourist highlights. Onboard commentary provides historical context about the sights and landmarks along the route.
Recommended Accommodations Near Innsbruck
For traveling families, it is preferable to stay in one of the picturesque villages surrounding Innsbruck rather than in the city itself, where accommodations are generally more expensive and less spacious. Near Innsbruck lie 25 picturesque villages that offer plenty of family-friendly lodging options amidst stunning scenery, all just a short drive from town.
Some of the villages are perched in the mountains, while others are situated in the valleys. It is best to choose villages near the main A12 highway, saving you driving time on winding mountain roads.
The best villages (both for location and for their charm and leisure opportunities) are:
Mutters, a charming village that has twice been voted the "Most Beautiful Village in Tyrol." A scenic tram line running from Innsbruck through forests and valleys to the Stubai Valley stops right in the village. Mutters features a modern cable car and countless scenic hiking trails. It is located 6 km south of Innsbruck (about a 10-minute drive).
Natters, a village renowned for its excellent campsites, features a small swimming lake and is located right next to Mutters. The village offers plenty of active recreation options and an outdoor mountain adventure park.
The village of Patsch sits at an elevation of 1,000 meters above sea level, offering a spectacular 360-degree panoramic vista of the Stubai Valley, soaring mountain ranges, all the way to the famous Europa Bridge. The village is set along an ancient Roman road, about 10 km south of Innsbruck (around a 15-minute drive).
Note: Tyrol can also serve as a great base for exploring attractions in western Salzburg province or southern Bavaria. If you plan to visit these areas during your stay in Tyrol, consider staying in the region for 7 to 10 days.
Recommended Lodgings:
♦ Farmhouse in Mutters Ferienwohnung Nockhof
The farm is located on a mountain above the village of Mutters, at an altitude of 1,150 meters above sea level, approximately ten kilometers southwest of Innsbruck. It commands gorgeous views of beautiful Innsbruck, the valley, and the mountain ranges encircling it. The farm owners' two children are thrilled to welcome visiting kids and play with them in the farm playground, which includes swings, a trampoline, and even a climbing wall. The property offers four double rooms and two two-room holiday apartments, each measuring 45 square meters. The farm is home to cows, calves, goats, cats, dogs, and rabbits. Farm bicycles can be used free of charge. Facilities include ping-pong tables, a TV room, a games room, and Wi-Fi. Address: Nockhofweg 47, A-6162 Mutters.
♦ Holiday Apartments Angerer Familienappartements Tirol
Located 44 km east of Innsbruck. A typical Tyrolean lodge featuring five fully equipped, comfortable holiday apartments. You won't lack a thing! The property provides Wi-Fi, a washing machine, a drying room, and a safe. It includes two large rental suites accommodating up to eight guests, three 3-bedroom apartments suitable for 2–6 people, and a smaller apartment with one bedroom and a living room accommodating up to four guests. The property has a dedicated "Knights and Princesses" room stocked with costumes, accessories, and toys, letting young guests step into a fairy tale. There is also a games room. The spacious, well-kept garden features a generous lawn, lounge chairs, a pool, a barbecue area, and playground facilities including swings, a slide, a trampoline, and a ping-pong table. Adjacent to the building are sports fields, including three tennis courts, as well as a supermarket. A short walk brings you to a lake and a cable car leading up to the nearby peaks. Address: Reither Anger 4, 6235 Reith im Alpbachtal, Austria.
♦ Apartment and Suite Hotel - S Galtenberg Resort
A 4-star hotel in the heart of the Alpbach Valley, roughly 55 km northeast of Innsbruck, tailor-made for families traveling with young children. The hotel features family rooms and suites in various sizes, a 100-meter water slide, and a children's slide. An indulgent spa is available for adults. Full-board accommodation available. Free Wi-Fi and complimentary parking. Address: Alpbach 40, 6236 Alpbach, Austria.
Travel Destinations in Innsbruck
City Tower (Stadtturm)
Built between 1442 and 1450, the tower stands right by the Town Hall and the Golden Roof. In 1560, its original peaked roof was replaced by an onion-shaped dome. The tower served as a watchpost for the town guards to spot approaching enemies, detect fires, and maintain civic peace. The viewing platform affords lovely vistas over the rooftops of the Old Town and the surrounding mountains. Climbing the tower stairs is fairly easy and highly recommended.
Address: Herzog-Friedrich-Str. 21, 6020 Innsbruck.
Hofburg Imperial Palace (Kaiserliche Hofburg)
The Imperial Palace was built in the late 15th century for Emperor Maximilian I. Later heavily damaged by an earthquake, it was rebuilt in Baroque style with Rococo embellishments in the 18th century for Maria Theresa, whose husband passed away in the palace in 1765. It is a two-story building featuring four wings and opulent ceremonial halls where European royalty once gathered. Most rooms are furnished with period antiques, dating mainly to the 19th century. In the colossal Giant's Hall, painted in white and gold with marble flooring and crystal chandeliers, hang portraits of Habsburg family members, prominently including Maria Theresa and all 16 of her children. You can take a self-guided tour of the palace staterooms, halls, chapel, and guest apartments, or join a guided tour of approximately 45 minutes.
Adjacent to the palace lie landscaped imperial gardens, originally cultivated by royalty starting in the early 15th century and opened to the public in the 19th century. The gardens house greenhouses sheltering 1,700 plant varieties across three distinct climate zones, alongside two giant chessboards, a children's playground, and a cafe. During the summer, concerts and musical performances are frequently hosted here. Garden admission is free. Address: Kaiserliche Hofburg, Rennweg 1, 6020 Innsbruck.
Ambras Castle (Schloss Ambras)
An impressive castle built in the 16th century by Archduke Ferdinand II atop the remains of a medieval fortress.
It was Ferdinand's favorite residence and the epicenter of his cultural life. The lower floor was purposely designed to showcase his extensive collections, which encompassed armor from various eras, fine artworks, furniture, and books. The Chamber of Wonders (Wunderkammer) holds corals, ivory carvings, rhinoceros horns, and other exotic curiosities brought to Europe by early global explorers. On the upper floor is the Habsburg Portrait Gallery, showcasing paintings by celebrated masters.
The castle features sprawling English gardens with manicured lawns, fish ponds, topiary, and an artificial waterfall.
Admission fee applies. Address: Schlossstraße 20, A-6020 Innsbruck, roughly 3 km southeast of the city center.
Grassmayr Bell Foundry and Museum
The Bell Museum is a distinctive combination of an active bell foundry, museum, and acoustic sound room. The Grassmayr family has been casting bells here for 14 generations, shipping them across the globe. You can observe the bell casting process conducted according to 400-year-old traditions and trace the historical evolution of bell-casting techniques. In the acoustic room, you can test and experience the resonant tones produced by dozens of diverse bells. A typical visit lasts about an hour.
Address: Glockengießerei Grassmayr, Leopoldstraße 53, 6020 Innsbruck.
Alpine Zoo (Alpenzoo)
This is the highest-elevation zoo in Europe (750 meters above sea level), housing over 2,000 animals across 150 species native to the Alpine region. Highlights range from miniature fowl to golden eagles with three-meter wingspans, massive bison, and brown bears. The grounds also include a cold-water aquarium featuring native fish and playful otters. One of the zoo's core missions is rescuing injured wildlife, rehabilitating them, and releasing them back into nature.
Address: Weiherburggasse 37, A-6020 Innsbruck
Shopping
Among Innsbruck's many attractions, visitors looking to shop will appreciate the local branch of the popular department store chain, Primark. Originally an Irish/British brand, it quickly expanded throughout Europe and developed into a mega-chain famed for its budget-to-mid-tier prices. The stores are typically massive and very popular (as reflected by the checkout queues), spanning several levels with departments dedicated to women's, men's, and children's fashion, homeware, cosmetics, and more. Address: Sillpark Shopping Center, Museumstraße 38, 6020 Innsbruck. Right next to the Primark entrance is an excellent cafe.
Court Church (Hofkirche)
The city also boasts several noteworthy churches. The most impressive among them is the Hofkirche (Court Church), completed in 1563. This remarkable Gothic structure was built as a memorial cenotaph for Emperor Maximilian I, who died in 1519; his elaborate tomb stands here, though it remains empty as Maximilian is actually buried in Wiener Neustadt. The church features imposing larger-than-life bronze statues depicting the emperor's ancestors and heroes, alongside 24 marble reliefs capturing scenes from his life. Upstairs lies the Silver Chapel and the suits of armor of Archduke Ferdinand II, who is entombed beneath it. Entrance to the church is through the Tyrolean Folk Art Museum (Volkskunstmuseum).
Address: Universitätsstraße 2, Innsbruck, 6020.
Cathedral of St. James (Dom zu St. Jakob)
Another striking place of worship is the Baroque Cathedral of St. James (Dom zu St. Jakob). Located on Domplatz in the city center, its two towering belfries are visible from afar. It was erected between 1717 and 1724 on the foundations of an earlier Gothic church. The cathedral is renowned for the revered painting of the Virgin Mary and Child (Maria Hilf) displayed above the high altar.
Attractions in the Immediate Surroundings of Innsbruck
Swarovski Crystal Worlds (Swarovski Kristallwelten)
From the moment you arrive at Crystal Worlds, the wonder is nonstop. Guests enter a turf-covered hill through a colossal green Giant's head with glistening eyes, spouting a waterfall from its mouth, leading into an enchanting subterranean realm of interconnected exhibition chambers, each displaying unique 3D crystal art installations. In the opening chamber, titled "The Ice Passage," a long crystal corridor contains 12 tons of some of the world's most precious and unique crystal gems. Another chamber presents a 3D light show inside the "Crystal Dome" featuring designs inspired by renowned masters such as Andy Warhol and Salvador Dalí. Inside the Crystal Dome, you can feel what it is like to stand within a giant crystal, while the "Crystal Theatre" presents an atmospheric fairy tale illustrated through mystical light and shadow performances. Further along, you'll encounter the "Kristalloskop," the world's largest kaleidoscope, followed by the "Crystal Forest" featuring special visual effects. The tour concludes in a massive flagship store, celebrated as the world's largest Swarovski boutique. Swarovski also runs another large, sparkling flagship store right in the heart of Innsbruck's Old Town. Outside the pavilion lie alpine gardens with rare botanical species and an expansive adventure playground for children complete with a hedge maze.
On site, there is a gleaming crystal-inspired cafe-restaurant accented with illuminated glass waterfalls. The complex was conceptualized and created by Viennese multimedia artist André Heller, fulfilling the vision of Daniel Swarovski, founder of the world-leading crystal brand. Admission fee applies. Address: Kristallweltenstrasse 1, A-6112 Wattens. Located 15 km east of Innsbruck (off the A12 motorway).
Innsbruck Olympic Park
The Olympic Park encompasses a diverse range of sports facilities, including impressive indoor and outdoor stadiums, beach volleyball courts, the modern and expansive Olympiahalle ice rink, a high-speed roller skating track, a BMX track, and a 1,270-meter Olympic bobsleigh run featuring 14 bends and a steep 124-meter drop. Between November and February, guests aged 14 and over can experience an adrenaline-pumping ride on the guest bobsleigh.
The park is open to all, from elite athletes to sports hobbyists, families, and children. In addition to athletic competitions, it hosts cultural events such as live concerts, performances, and public expos. Address: Olympiastraße 10a, Innsbruck, 6020.
Bergisel Ski Jump Stadium (Bergiselstadion)
The site's original ski jump was constructed for the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck and was utilized once again for the 1976 Winter Games. In 2001, construction began on an ultra-modern ski jump, completed in September 2002. The structure is regarded as an architectural masterpiece thanks to its distinctive sculptural profile, designed by the world-famous British-Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid, who won the international competition to design the futuristic ski jump.
Ski jumping competitions take place here every year in January as well as during the summer months.
The complex features a 50-meter-high tower topped by a panoramic observation deck delivering a breathtaking 360-degree vista over the Inn Valley, the city of Innsbruck, and the encircling Alpine peaks. It is home to Café im Turm, where visitors can enjoy coffee and cake while soaking in the scenery. The tower can be reached either by ascending 455 steps or, more comfortably, via a 2-minute funicular ride followed by an elevator ascent to the top floor. The highest point of the facility stands roughly 250 meters above the city of Innsbruck.
Admission fee applies. Children under 6 enter free; discounts available for children aged 6–14. Discounted family tickets are available. Free entry for Innsbruck Card holders. The ticket covers the stadium grounds, the funicular ride, and the tower elevator ride. Parking requires an additional fee. Address: Bergiselweg 3, 6020 Innsbruck
Nordkette Cable Car
Another marvelous way to admire the city from above is riding the cable car network into the high mountains north of Innsbruck. The first leg consists of a funicular that ascends to an elevation of 863 meters to Hungerburg, making two stops along the way—one of which serves the Alpine Zoo. Hungerburg can also be reached by car via a winding scenic drive. From there, you can continue on two successive aerial cable cars spanning 3.5 kilometers up to the intermediate station of Seegrube at 1,905 meters, and onward to Hafelekar at 2,334 meters. This is the cable car system closest to the city center, offering grand alpine panoramas. The summit features hiking routes and is a favorite launch point for mountaineers. Several other cable car systems are located within a 30-minute drive of the city, many of which are included with the Innsbruck Card. Fare applies. You can purchase tickets for individual segments or for the complete journey. Address: Hoehenstrasse 145, Innsbruck 6020.
Purchase tickets on Viator:
♦ Round-trip cable car ticket for the Cable Car in Innsbruck:
Top of Innsbruck Roundtrip Cable Car Ticket
Video of the cable car ascent and panoramic views of Innsbruck:
Alpine Gardens (Alpengarten Patscherkofel)
Expansive botanical gardens situated at an elevation of 2,000 meters above sea level on the upper slopes of Mt. Patscherkofel (summit elevation 2,248 meters), adjacent to the mountain's top cable car station south of Innsbruck. The gardens belong to the University of Innsbruck (which also tends botanical gardens in the city center) and were established in 1930 to preserve the high-altitude flora of the Alps. The perimeter is fenced to protect the plants from grazing alpine goat herds. The grounds feature alpine forests, alpine tundra, and medicinal plants. Located right at the tree line—above which trees can no longer grow—the garden illustrates the delicate ecological balance of alpine vegetation. A scenic, steep trail winds through the various plant zones. Address: Sternwartestraße 15, Innsbruck, Tirol, 6020.
Europe Bridge (Europabrücke)
Soaring 190 meters above the valley below, this was long recognized as the highest bridge in Europe. It represents a monumental triumph of modern structural engineering. Pedestrians can cross on foot via a designated pedestrian walkway to marvel at its height and structural grandeur. The bridge is situated approximately 10 km south of Innsbruck (accessible via the A13 highway). For adrenaline seekers, bungee jumping is available from the bridge, while other visitors can simply stand back and take in the view. Bridge location address: A-6082 Patsch.
