Innsbruck is one of the favorite cities of those who travel to Austria, especially nature lovers. The city is the capital of Tyrol, a region located in the Alps. Innsbruck can be a wonderful starting point for an infinite number of excursions in the area. Besides, there are a lot of things to do in Innsbruck, for example, to visit a really well-preserved old town and see small wooden houses. Read on to discover many other secret corners of this city.
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What are the best places to visit in Innsbruck?
Innsbruck is an architectural treasure marked by its imperial past. The colorful facades of the old town are probably the most impressive thing in Innsbruck, but there is much more: the Golden Roof, the Ambras Castle or the Tyrol Panorama Museum. In addition, the city is surrounded by nature where there are plenty tourist attractions that you should not miss.
1. Golden Roof, things to do in Innsbruck
The Golden Roof is the most spectacular place in Innsbruck. It is a luxurious balcony built by Emperor Maximilian in 1493 on one of the buildings facing the town square. The roof is decorated with sculptures and carved figures of unequaled magnificence. Inside the building you will find the museum dedicated the history of the emperor. The building can be visited every day from 10:00h to 17:00h from May to September. The entrance fee is 5€.
2. Palaces in Innsbruck
In Innsbruck there are two castles worth visiting, the Ambras and the Hofburg. The first one is located on the slope of a mountain, and was built in the purest Renaissance style in the 15th century. It houses exhibitions of art and weaponry of that period. The castle is open daily from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and can be reached by tram lines 3 and 6. The entrance fee is 8€.
The other palace in Innsbruck is the Hofburg. It was built at the end of the 15th century and was the residence of the Habsburg imperial family for many centuries. The interior of the palace has preserved the decoration of the time. Among other things, there you can see items that belonged to the empress Sissi. The palace is open daily from 9: 00 am to 5: 00 pm and the entrance fee is 9.5 €.
3. Nordkette cable car
The cable car is one of the main tourist attractions of Innsbruck. It leaves from the historic center and climbs to an altitude of 2,300 meters with a stop at 1,905 meters in the village of Hungerburg. There you can explore the Karwender alpine park. If you then continue up, you will reach the Hafelekar station, where the views are breathtaking. The price of the cable car is 38€. It runs every day from 9:00 am to 5: 00 pm with a frequency of 15 minutes.
4. Old Town of Innsbruck
In the city center you will find colorful baroque facades and monumental buildings. Among them are the Triumphal Arch, the Old Town Hall, the Old Regional Council Headquarters, the Innsbruck Hospital Church, St. Anne’s Column and the incredible facades of the Katzunghaus and Helblinghaus.
Most of the attractions are located on Maria Theresien Street, a must-see in Innsbrusk. In the area there are also many stores, restaurants and a great atmosphere in general. In the old town there is also the Hofkirche, the most spectacular church in the city. Its beauty will leave you speechless.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
Things to do around Innsbruck
In addition to a million excursions in the Alps, there are a few places worth visiting near Innsbruck. For example, the town of Hall in Tirol, the Swarovski Museum in Wattens or many of the small villages hidden in the valleys.
1. Stubai Valley
The Stubai Valley is the typical place that comes to mind when we think of the Alps. A green landscape, dotted with picturesque wooden houses full of flowers and high mountain chain in the background. Along the valley you can find several villages just a few minutes from Innsbruck. And there is also a cable car that takes you up to the Stubai glacier for 15 €.
The glacier is usually covered with snow even in summer. So, it is advisable to bring some warm clothes. The cable car has two stops, one at mid-slope and the other at the peak. The mid-slope stop is enough to see the snow and enjoy the views. However, if you are looking for a high altitude trekking, we recommend going higher. The facilities include a restaurant where you can rest while enjoying the scenery.
2. The town of Hall in Tirol
Yet another impressive town in the Tyrol. It is only 10 km from Innbruck and it takes 20 minutes by car or bus. Buses leave Innbruck every 15 minutes and the route is direct.
The town of Hall in Tirol is characterized by its history marked by the extraction of salt. This brought wealth to the town and led to the construction of many spectacular buildings. They include the Jesuitenkirche (Jesuit Church) and the Church of St. Nicholas. Moreover, some beautiful trips start from the city. One of them is the Stuibenfall Ötztal Valley excursion, which leads to a waterfall.
3. Tyrolean Farmstead Museum
Close to Hall in Tirol there is a museum that recreates the history of agriculture in the region. It is an open-air museum with 14 buildings from different periods exhibiting different utensils. It is a perfect place to go with children.
The museum is open from April to October from 9:00h to 17:00h. The entrance fee is 10€ for adults and 3€ for children. It takes 44 minutes by car from Innbruck, and 1 hour and a half by bus, stopping in Brixlegg.
Things to do in Innsbruck in 1 day
You can easily visit the city of Innsbruck in one day. First, you can go on a city center tour and discover at your own pace the main landmarks, visit the Hofkirche church, the Golden Roof and the Hofburg Palace. After lunch you can take the cable car up and spend the afternoon exploring the Ambras Palace.
However, the most beautiful thing about Innsbruck are the hiking tours in the surroundings. That is why we recommend spending more days there. In fact, Innsbruck is the perfect center of departure when traveling to the region of Tyrol. It is a pleasant city and very well communicated with the surrounding area.
How to get to Innsbruck
There is an airport 4 km from Innsbruck, however, it is mainly used for domestic flights. So, most likely you will have to fly to Vienna and from there to Innsbruck. From the airport you can reach the city center by city bus, which takes 20 minutes and costs 2,5€. Another option is to take a cab from the airport for 15/20 €.
You can also choose to fly to a nearby European city and take a train from there. The prices are quite affordable and it is always more comfortable than a plane, especially if you are traveling around Europe. You can also go by private car or rent one at the airport. Even though the Alps are very well communicated, it is easier to travel by car than by public transport.
Where and what to eat in Innsbruck
Are you familiar with the Tyrolean cuisine? The gastronomy of the area is characterized by its hearty soups and meat dishes, resembling the German cuisine with some Italian influence. After sightseeing in Innsbruck, you will surely appreciate a good dinner in one of the restaurants that we suggest.
- Café Sacher Innsbruck: is a charming cafe, perfect for breakfast or a typical Austrian dessert. It is not one of the cheapest in the area, but is one of the best in terms of quality.
- Stiftskeller Innsbruck: is a restaurant of traditional German and Austrian cuisine. The portions are generous and the price is quite affordable. You can eat very well between 10€ and 20€. Its specialty is the Schnitzel.
- Sitzwohl Restaurant Bar: is a perfect choice for food lovers as they serve typical Austrian but signature dishes. The price is a little higher than the previous one (50/70€), but it is worth the experience.
Where to stay in Innsbruck
Innsbruck is a relatively big city with plenty of accommodation options. Whether you choose one area or another will depend on your budget and what you are looking for. For example, if you want to stay in a lively area the best place is Innenstadt, in the center. The Hotting neighborhood is more economical and perfect for backpackers. When Amras is a very quiet neighborhood. These are some of the best places to stay in Innsbruck.
- Hotel Adlers: is a 5-star hotel with all kinds of facilities and breathtaking views of the city. It has its own restaurant, spa, and a rooftop terrace. The night costs about 180€.
- Marmota Hostel: is a very affordable option in the heart of the city. The night costs about 70€ and they also offer breakfast.
- Haus der Freundschaft: It is a complex of apartments with a garden in the middle of the nature. Perfect for families. The apartments are on the outskirts but breakfast is included in the price, about 70€ per night.
Travel tips for Innsbruck
- The official currency of Austria is the euro, so you won’t have to worry about exchanging currency.
- As European citizens, we also don’t need a visa to enter the country; an ID card or passport is enough.
- If you are traveling from a country with another currency, we recommend that you make the currency exchange in advance.
- The best time to travel to Innsbruck is in spring and autumn, when there are not yet so many tourists and temperatures are mild.
- Buy museum tickets in advance to avoid queues.
- There is no Rooming in Austria, you can use the Internet on your cell phone without any problems.
- The city is safe, but as in any tourist place, better be careful with your belongings.
- Hedge yourself against possible medical emergencies: travel insured.
Organize your trip to Innsbruck
Sign up or download the Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.
- Get inspired by the experiences of other travelers.
- Create your own itinerary and add suggestions from the app to it.
- Add the stops you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest listed in this post as a reference).
- Organize your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can be inspired by the routes listed in the post)
- Check the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make the modifications you need and you’ll be all set for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you visited on your trip to the app and recommend other travelers what to see in Innsbruck Austria.
If you have doubts on how to do it, you can check our post: How to create a travel itinerary in Passporter.
Frequently asked questions on a trip to Innsbruck
The best months to travel to Innsbruck are from May to September, when temperatures are milder. However, going during the winter is a very good option for skiing. You will also be able to enjoy the markets and Christmas decorations, which totally transform the city.
The Alps are quite well-communicated by public transport, however, if you are going to do hiking trails and visit several villages in the area, it is best to take a car..
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