Innsbruck is located in the wide Inn Valley at the intersection of two important traffic routes between Germany and Italy and between Vienna and Switzerland. One of the most popular holiday destinations all year round, Innsbruck has retained its medieval old town with its narrow, winding streets and tall houses in late Gothic style. Most of the popular attractions are clustered near the Old Town, whose charming narrow streets have plenty to offer tourists.
Wherever you are, you will be surrounded by beautiful views of the enormous mountain range. To the north rise the jagged peaks of the Nordkette (northern chain), in the Karwendel range; to the south, above the forested Bergisel ridge, are the 2,403 m Saile and the Serles group; and to the southeast, above Lanser Köpfe, is the rounded summit of the 2,247-metre Patscherkofel, popular with skiers. The sports facilities built for the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics still attract crowds of skiers and host national and international competitions every year.
Read also: Experiences and activities on the mountain & in the valley
1 The Hofkirche and the emperor’s tomb
Innsbruck’s spectacular court church, the Hofkirche, was completed in 1563 in the local late Gothic style. This three-aisled hall church, with its narrow choir and eccentric tower, has many remarkable interior features, particularly the eighteenth-century high altar and side altar, and a 17th-century chancel screen. The most important part of the church, however, is the spectacular tomb and museum of Emperor Maximilian I. It was built in the 16th century and is widely regarded as the finest work of sculpture of the German Renaissance. Designed as a glorification of the Holy Roman Empire, the central feature of the monument is the massive black marble sarcophagus containing a bronze statue of the emperor from 1584, surrounded by a wrought iron screen and 24 marble reliefs depicting events in the life of the emperor. Also notable are the 28 bronze statues of the emperor’s ancestors and contemporaries, including those of Count Albert IV of Habsburg and King Arthur of England, the latter considered the finest statue of a knight in Renaissance art.
Address: Universitätsstraße 2, 6020 Innsbruck
Official site: https://www.tiroler-landesmuseen.at/page.cfm?vpath=haeuser/hofkirche/haus&switchlocale=en_US
2 The golden roof
The arcaded Herzog-Friedrich-Strasse, lined with beautiful old merchant houses, enters the Old Town from the south and leads straight to the famous Golden Roof (Goldenes Dachl). This beautiful late Gothic bay window, covered with gilded copper tiles, was built in 1496 to commemorate the marriage of Maximilian I to Bianca Maria Sforza and served as a box from which the court admired civic celebrations in the square below. The lower balustrade of the Golden Roof consists of 2,657 gilded copper tiles and is richly decorated with coats of arms, while the open balcony above displays ten figural reliefs. The house behind it, the Neuer Hof, was a former ducal palace rebuilt in 1822.
Address: Herzog-Friedrich-Strasse 15, 6020 Innsbruck
3 From the Hofburg
Innsbruck’s old Court Palace, the Hofburg – a former imperial residence originally built in the 15th and 16th centuries – was renovated in Baroque and Rococo style in the 18th century at the direction of Empress Maria Theresa. The palace is best viewed on a guided tour (available in English), including the luxury apartments with their beautiful painted ceilings. Particularly memorable is the Giant Hall (Riesensaal), a large hall in polished marble and decorated in white and gold, with three large ceiling paintings from 1775 and beautiful portraits of the imperial family. Other highlights include Maria Theresa’s Rooms, Empress Elisabeth’s Apartment, the Ancestral Gallery, the Furniture Museum and the Painting Gallery.
Address: Rennweg 1, 6020 Innsbruck
Official site: www.hofburg-innsbruck.at/623/php/portal.php?language=en
4 Innsbruck’s Old Town
The semicircular quarter of the old town, enclosed by a ring of streets known as the Graben (Moat), is now a pedestrian area where you can stroll through 800 years of history. With its narrow house facades, handsome doorways, oriel windows, medieval houses with arcades and arcaded façades, Innsbruck’s Old Town is filled with fine examples of old Tyrolean architecture and southern influences, along with opulent Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo buildings. Highlights of a walking tour include the beautiful Baroque Helblinghaus, known for its beautiful stucco façade with cherubs and other decorative decorations. Nearby is the 16th century Golden Eagle (Goldener Adler), an ancient inn that was once popular with emperors as it was with writers like Goethe. Also worth a visit is the 57 meter high Stadtturm, a lookout tower built in the 14th century together with the adjacent Old Rathaus offers great views of the old town. Other interesting sights include theOttoburg, a residential tower built in 1494; theDeutschordenshaus (House of the Teutonic Order) built in 1532; and theBurgriesenhaus (Castle Giant’s House), built in 1490 for a court giant.
5 The Cathedral of St. James
On the Domplatz, Innsbruck Cathedral (Innsbruck Dom) – formerly the parish church of St. James – was elevated to cathedral status in 1964. Notable for its imposing twin-towered west tower and the high dome above the choir, it was Built in 1724 in Baroque style and completely restored after the Second World War. Interior highlights include the ceiling paintings, especially the Transfiguration of St. James, the rich stuccowork by the Asam brothers and a richly carved pulpit from the 18th century. The high Baroque marble altars from 1732 have a famous statue of the Virgin,Maria Hilf, from 1530. In the northern aisle is the imposing monument designed by Hubert Gerhard dedicated to Archduke Maximilian, Grand Master of the Teutonic Order. The cathedral regularly organizes concerts that are open to the public.
Address: Domplatz, 6020 Innsbruck
6 De Nordkettebahnen
Whether you’re looking for things to do in Innsbruck in February or August, you’ll find that riding the new Nordkettenbahnen is an exciting and scenic experience, regardless of the weather. The cable car, designed by architect Zaha Hadid, starts in the heart of the city and takes you over the River Inn and into Hungerburg, where cable cars take you onwards to Seegrube and to 2,300-metre-high Hafelekar for 360-degree views. Restaurants and viewing platforms are at every stop, and several hiking trails ascend through the mountains. The rate is included in the Innsbruck card.
Address: Rennweg 3, Innsbruck
Official site: https://www.nordkette.com/
7 The Tyrolean State Museums
Innsbruck is home to a number of internationally renowned museums, especially those under the umbrella of the Tyrolean State Museums. A must-see is the Tyrolean Folk Art Museum (Tyrolean Folk Art Museum) adjacent to the Hofkirche in the New Abbey (Neues Stift), home to extensive local art collections. Representing a variety of Tyrolean themes, highlights include replicas of brick houses with bay windows from the Upper Inn Valley and half-timbered houses from the Zillertal, along with a rich shop of costumes, traditional furniture, tools, glass, pottery, textiles and metalworking. Also worth seeing is the Tyrolean State Museum (Tyroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum) with its rich collections relating to the history and art of Tyrol, including numerous works from the Gothic period, a gallery of Dutch and Flemish masters and collections from pre- and early historical times. Other notable museums include the excellent Arsenal (Museum im Zeughaus), with its collections of weapons and armor, and the fascinating Panorama of Tyrol and Imperial Infantry Museum, centered around a huge panoramic painting of the city and region.
Address: Universitätsstraße 2, 6020 Innsbruck
8 Maria-Theresien Strasse
Lined with handsome 17th- and 18th-century houses and numerous shops, the bustling Maria-Theresien Strasse is backed by stunning views of the mountains to the north. In the middle of this wide, old street, right opposite the town hall (Rathaus), stands St. Anne’s Column (Annasäule), erected in 1706 to commemorate the withdrawal three years earlier of Bavarian troops on St. Anne’s Day. With a statue of the Virgin Mary, St. Anne stands on the base near St. George, the patron saint of Tyrol, and other saints. Also of note is theAltes Landhaus, a monumental Baroque palace built in 1728 with an opulent and elaborately articulated facade that now houses the provincial assembly and the provincial government ( Landesregierung). Other highlights include a 14-metre-high war memorial, the Austrian Alpine Association Museum (Alpenverein Museum), with its extensive collection of alpine art and historic climbing equipment, and the > (Triumphpforte), at the southern end of Maria-Theresien Strasse, was erected in 1765 on the occasion of the wedding of her son Leopold (later Emperor Leopold II) with the Spanish Infanta Maria Ludovica.Triumphal Gateway built in 1615 with a fresco of the Holy Trinity. TheServite Church
9 The Hofburg district
In addition to the Imperial Palace and the church, the area around the Hofburg offers several sights worth visiting. Of particular interest is theSilver Chapel, built in 1587 as the burial chapel of Archduke Ferdinand II and named after a silver image of the Virgin and embossed silver reliefs on the altar. Other highlights include theOld University (Alte Universität), founded in 1562 as a Jesuit college, together with the University Library and the Jesuit Church (Jesuit Church), with its mighty 60 meter high dome built in 1640. TheCapuchin Monastery (Kapuzinerkloster) was built in 1593 and notable for its chapel altar with a painting of the Virgin by Lucas Cranach the Elder from 1528. TheTyrolean Provincial Theater (Tiroler Landestheater Innsbruck), built in 1846, offers operas, musicals, dance and theater performances. Also worth a visit is theHofgarten, with its art and concert pavilion.
10 Walking tour along the River Inn
Several interesting sights are close to the beautiful banks and esplanades of the River Inn. A great place to start your walk is the District Mariahilf, known for its Baroque Mariahilf-Kirche a little further downstream, notable for its neo-Gothic church. Back in the center, near the Old Inn Bridge (Alte Innbrücke), you will find Innsbruck’s lively market. In December this is the scene of a large Christmas market that spills over into the streets of the old town.St. Nikolaus (Alte Pfarrkirche), with its tower rising above the new parish church, built in 1911. Then head to the Hötting Ridgeway (Höttinger Höhenstrasse) for the beautiful view of the city and the mountains. A good place to end your walk is withinOld parish church, you will love it Hötting and observatory. In the district botanical garden from 1649, with its beautiful 17th century frescoes and the beautiful
11 Alpenzoo Innsbruck-Tirol
Just a kilometer north of Innsbruck’s Old Town lies the 15th century Schloss Weiherburg, home of Alpenzoo Innsbruck-Tirol. This beautifully located zoo is known for its collection of mountain animals from the world’s Alpine regions, including mammals, birds and reptiles. More than 2,000 animals from 150 different alpine species are kept here, along with an abundance of marine life in the cold-water aquarium. It’s a great outing for children of all ages, and well worth a visit for the views and park-like setting. A little further downstream from the zoo, on a hill above the River Inn, lies the residential areaMühlau, notable for its attractive Baroque church dating from 1748.
Address: Weiherburggasse 37, 6020 Innsbruck
Official site: www.alpenzoo.at/en/
12 Amber Palace
Just a short drive southeast of Innsbruck, Ambras Palace (Schloss Ambras) was the residence of Archduke Ferdinand from 1563-95. In the Lower Castle (Unterschloss) there are two rooms with a beautiful collection of weapons and armor, while on the first floor of the Kornschüttgebäude there is a valuable art collection, including many sculptures and applied arts. In the Upper Castle (Hochschloss) is the bathroom of Ferdinand’s wife Philippine Welser, a rarity as one of the few private bathrooms to survive from the 16th century and has a copper bathtub 1.5 meters deep. The beautiful Spanish Hall between the Lower and Upper Castles is one of the earliest examples of German Renaissance interiors. Built between 1507 and 1571, it has a beautiful coffered ceiling and many beautiful frescoes by Tyrolean nobles. The grounds and courtyard are also worth exploring.
Address: Schloßstraße 20, 6020 Innsbruck
Official site: www.schlossambras-innsbruck.at/en
13 Bergisel’s Olympic legacy
South of Innsbruck rises the 746 meter high hill known as Bergisel, famous all over the world for its excellent winter sports facilities. Highlights include the new Olympia Ski Jump (Bergiselschanze) – built to replace the previous Olympic structure – along with the beautiful new tower, built in 2003, with stunning views over the city. Long before the Olympic Games, the hill had become famous as the site of the heroic battles of 1809, when the Tyroleans liberated their capital from French and Bavarian occupying forces. On the north side of the hill, below the ski jump, there is a memorial to those who fought for their freedom, including the Andreas Hofer monument built in 1893, a memorial chapel from 1909 and the grave of the Tyrolean Kaiserjäger (imperial riflemen). The hill is easily reached via the scenic Stubai Valley Railway.
14 Seefeld: landscape and fantastic skiing
Known as Austria’s leading ski destination, the best of Innsbruck’s many slopes are no more than a short bus ride away from the city’s hotels and resorts. All told, six different ski areas are connected by shuttle services, with a single lift pass covering more than 500 kilometers of trails. The nearby ski village ofIgls has spectacular views over Innsbruck and ski slopes suitable for all levels, while experienced skiers will want to go for the< a i=3>Hungerburg-Seegrube, the gateway to the challenging descents of theHafelkar. The Axamer-Lizum, the slopes of the villageAxams ten kilometers outside Innsbruck, and the Tulfes and Mutters areas also offer good intermediate terrain. One of the most popular year-round destinations is the small village of Seefeld, now a popular seaside resort. The center of the village extends across the valley and is characterized by the 15th century parish church ofSt. Oswald with its beautiful frescoes, sculptures, Gothic fonts and wall reliefs. Also worth a visit is the Wildsee at the southern end of the town, an attractive small lake with a beach and swimming pools.
15 Wilten Parish Church and Basilica
In the southern Wilten district of Innsbruck is one of the most beautiful Rococo churches in North Tyrol, the twin-towered Wilten parish church. Built in 1755, the interior of the building is decorated with beautiful ceiling paintings by Matthäus Günther and stuccowork by Franz a>. Opposite the church is the large building complex of Stift Wilten, an old abbey founded in 1138 and renovated in Baroque style in 1695. Highlights include the 17th-century church with its large Gothic figure of the giant Haymon to whom legend attributes a share in the foundation of the monastery and Solomon’s throne above the high altar.
16 Swarovski Crystal Worlds
A 20-kilometer drive east of Innsbruck is Swarovski Crystal Worlds, an excellent museum and art gallery designed to showcase the world-famous company founded by Daniel Swarovski in 1895. The 14 rooms have impressive works of art in crystal and highlights include the dazzling Crystal Dome, the Crystal Theater and the enchanting Crystal Forest installations, all featuring unique pieces created by contemporary artists from around the world. The centerpiece of the outdoor features is the fascinating Giant, a large landscaped waterfall in the shape of a human head spewing water from its mouth. A number of art installations and sculptures adorn the surrounding gardens. You can visit independently, or purchase a Swarovski Crystal Worlds Admission Ticket including shuttle transfer from Innsbruck.
Address: Kristallweltenstraße 1, Wattens, Austria
Official site: https://kristallwelten.swarovski.com
Where to stay in Innsbruck for sightseeing
Most of Innsbruck’s main sights are in the medieval Old Town, where narrow streets are lined with tall late Gothic houses. Hotels in the old town or between the station and the train station are the most convenient, but the streets and esplanades along the other bank of the River Inn, in the Mariahilf district, are easily reached on foot. Skiers who want to stay in town will find it easy to get to the Seefeld ski slopes, just a short bus ride from the old town hotels. Here are a fewhighly rated hotels in Innsbruck:
- Luxury Hotels: Full of old-world charm, Grand Hotel Europa faces the train station, three blocks from the Hofburg, with underground parking. In the shopping area on the edge of the old town, The Penz Hotel has a chic and stylish contemporary design. BEST WESTERN PLUS Hotel Goldener Adler is located right opposite the famous Golden Roof on Herzog-Friedrich-Strasse, in a beautifully restored historic building.
- Mid-range hotels: Hotel Maximilian is located in the heart of the old town, on the market square opposite the ski bus stop, and is known for its extensive breakfast. Mozart stayed at the historic Hotel Weisses Kreuz, where some of the well-appointed rooms have a balcony and mountain views. Rooms on the upper floors of the modern, high-rise Hilton Innsbruck, on Maria-Theresien Strasse, between the train station and the market square, also offer mountain views.
- Budget Hotels: Basic Hotel Innsbruck is located next to the river, close to Marketplatz in the historic city center. Hotel Heimgartl is located in a residential area on the river, near the zoo and a 20-minute walk from the Old Town. It is located in a charming house with free parking. Located a 10-minute walk from the center, Pension Bistro offers simple, comfortable rooms in an older building without a lift.
Day trips from Innsbruck
Festival Kufstein
The old Tyrolean border town Kufstein is a popular holiday destination with an attractive lake landscape and good hiking and climbing in the Kaisergebirge. Stroll through the city past the remains of ancient walls and moated castles, pleasant squares with their fountains and monuments and the many historic buildings. The highlight of a visit, however, is Feste Kufstein, the beautiful old castle that rises high above the town on a steep rock. The fortress, which was first recorded in 1205, is notable for its 90-meter-high Emperor’s Tower (Kaiserturm). The enormous Heroes’ organ (Heroes Organ), built in 1931 with 4,307 pipes and 46 stops, plays daily at 12 noon in memory of those who died in two world wars and can be heard up to 13 kilometers away. The Kaiserturm also houses a museum of local history, theHeimatmuseum, and is used as a venue for concerts and festivals.
Address: Kristallweltenstraße 1, 6112 Wattens
Mittenwald, Germany
An hour’s train ride through spectacular scenery takes you to the Bavarian town of Mittenwald, known for its beautifully painted houses and for its location in the Isar Valley, surrounded by Alpine peaks. In the compact center there are houses with colorful frescoes of natural, picturesque, allegorical and biblical motifs, depicted by sculpted balconies and – in summer – window boxes full of flowers. Even the Baroque parish church has a painted tower. The town has a long history of violin making and you can visit a museum dedicated to the art or visit workshops of active violin makers.
Tips and tours: how to get the most out of your visit to Innsbruck
- See the view: The Innsbruck Combo: Innsbruck Card, Traditional Café and Austrian Dinner give you multiple functions in one handy card. It offers discounted entry to some of Innsbruck’s top attractions, such as Tratzberg Castle and Swarovski Crystal Worlds, and you can enjoy a traditional Austrian Sacher cake and coffee at a local café and a delicious three-course Austrian dinner. Free public transport is also part of the package.
More Must-See Destinations near Innsbruck
Innsbruck is located at the narrow point where western Austria is sandwiched between Italy and Bavaria, in Germany. Munich is two hours north, and even closer is the year-round Alpine Resort Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Bolzano, gateway to the Italian ski resorts of the Dolomites, is 1.5 hours south. Heading east is the Austrian ski resort of Kitzbuhel and further afield, just a two-hour drive from Innsbruck, is Salzburg.
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