The city of Innsbruck is a diverse and impressive attraction set against the backdrop of Tyrol’s mountain landscapes. The city is renowned for its fascinating blend of old and new, modern and ancient. In the heart of the Old Town, you’ll find impressive medieval buildings such as:
- The Old Town Hall with the Golden Roof (Goldenes Dachl)
- Hofburg Imperial Palace, which served the Habsburg emperors
- Hofkirche (Court Church) with its ancient statues
- Ambras Castle (Schloss Ambras)
- And many other interesting places.
In contrast to these ancient structures, there are extraordinary modern buildings like the Nordkette cable car, designed by the famous architect Zaha Hadid. This cable car ascends from the city center to the mountain peak at an altitude of 2,256 meters and serves visitors year-round.
There’s no doubt that Innsbruck has something to offer everyone: nature lovers, culture and art enthusiasts, and of course, ski and snowboard fans. If you love winter sports, Innsbruck is the perfect place, and it’s famous worldwide as a fantastic winter sports hub.
Before you start reading all the information in the article, watch what the city and its surroundings look like:
In this article, we’ve gathered all the most important information about the city, including its history, main attractions, weather, the city’s discount card, and more. You can easily navigate through the article sections by clicking on the table of contents below:
- The Story of Innsbruck’s Development
- Weather
- Recommended Hotels
- Attractions in the City Center
- The Golden Roof House
- Hofburg Palace and the Imperial Gardens
- The Court Church
- The City Tower
- Recommended Museums
- Additional Attractions in the City
- Ambras Castle
- Nordkette Cable Car
- Alpine Zoo
- Tickets for a Tyrolean Evening Show (Dances, Live Music, and Yodeling)
- A Bit of Adrenaline in Summer: Trike down the Mountain near Innsbruck
- Winter Sports
- Innsbruck Airport
- Recommended Shopping Malls and Stores (Including Primark)
- Innsbruck Discount Card
- More Essential Information – City Website, Address, Map
- Great Attractions and Nature Areas Outside Innsbruck
The Story of Innsbruck
The fertile Inn Valley attracted settlers as early as the Stone Age, and the area has been continuously inhabited ever since. Archaeological findings in the city prove that during the Roman period, there was a large military camp here called Veldidena, used to protect the important trade route from Northern Italy to the province of Raetia (now an area belonging to Switzerland).
In the Middle Ages, the city was under the control of the Counts of Tyrol, who exploited its strategic location along the ancient trade route from Northern Europe to its southern part to accumulate great wealth. This route was called Via Imperii and was of paramount importance.
In the 15th century, the city became the capital of Tyrol and even the residence of the Holy Roman Emperor – Maximilian I. The Emperor’s arrival contributed greatly to the city, leading to the construction of beautiful buildings such as the Hofkirche (Court Church). The nobility continued to shape the city, and in the 16th century, Ambras Castle was built for Ferdinand II, Archduke of Austria.
During the Napoleonic Wars (early 19th century), the city fell to Bavaria and remained under its control until the Congress of Vienna in 1814. After the Congress, the city returned to Austrian control and was part of the Austrian Monarchy until 1918.
In World War II, the city was massively bombed by Allied aircraft and severely damaged. Many years were needed to rebuild the city and restore it to its original beauty, which can be seen today.
Today, about 150,000 inhabitants live in Innsbruck, making it Austria’s fifth-largest city. Many tourists visit the city throughout the year, especially in winter when the ski resorts around the city are active. Innsbruck has also earned the nickname “Capital of the Alps” and proudly serves as Austria’s winter sports capital.
Weather in Innsbruck
Innsbruck is characterized by high humidity and significant temperature differences between summer and winter. Winter days are very cold and snowy, with temperatures ranging around minus 5 degrees Celsius during the day. Summer days are pleasant but can even be very hot. Summer temperatures range between 17 and 34 degrees Celsius. It’s important to note that nights in Innsbruck are almost always cold, and temperature differences between day and night can be quite extreme. Even on a summer night, temperatures might drop below 10 degrees Celsius, while the day is sunny and pleasant.
Transition seasons are relatively short with comfortable daytime temperatures but low nighttime temperatures. As in most of this region of Austria, summer days are characterized by more rainy days than winter days, so this must be taken into account.
In general, it’s recommended to check the weather on the morning of the day you plan to explore the city, as the weather can be fickle. There’s no point relying on previous days’ temperatures, as they can change drastically in a very short time.
The right way to prepare for a trip to Innsbruck in terms of clothing is according to the “onion method” – thin layers underneath and warmer clothing on top. It’s advisable to bring rain and windproof clothing, especially if you plan to go up into the high mountains.
You can see the current weather (and the wonderful views) here via the city’s panoramic camera.
Recommended Hotels in Innsbruck
Hotel Maximilian – Stadthaus Penz
A charming family-friendly hotel in the heart of Innsbruck. All the main attractions of the Old Town are within a short walking distance. The hotel rooms are pleasant and equipped with everything needed for a wonderful stay. Its rating on Booking.com is 9.2/10. For more information, photos, and booking on Booking.com – Click here.
12 STAGE
A modern and new hotel that opened in 2017. The hotel is a 5-minute walk from the Golden Roof building. The hotel has a terrace with mountain views and a spa and fitness area for guests. The rooms are new and well-equipped. Its rating on Booking.com is 9.2/10. For more information, photos, and booking on Booking.com – Click here.
BEST WESTERN Plus Hotel Goldener Adler Innsbruck
A beautifully impressive hotel in an ancient and wonderfully decorated building. Located right in the heart of the Old Town, a minute’s walk from the Golden Roof building. Hotel guests can enjoy excellent meals with a Tyrolean flavor at the hotel’s restaurant. Its rating on Booking.com is 9.2/10. For more information, photos, and booking on Booking.com – Click here.
Hotel Zach
A renovated hotel in a quiet and peaceful location. It’s a 5-minute walk from the Old Town and the train station. The hotel rooms are equipped, though quite simple. The hotel offers breakfast, a gym, and parking. Its rating on Booking.com is 9.1/10. For more information, photos, and booking on Booking.com – Click here.
Hotel Innsbruck
This central hotel is located right in the heart of the Old Town. The hotel rooms are impressive and beautifully designed. Hotel guests can enjoy an indoor pool and a spa area. Its rating on Booking.com is 9/10. For more information, photos, and booking on Booking.com – Click here.
Main Attractions in Innsbruck
Although Innsbruck is quite small, it’s packed with beautiful and interesting attractions. The city is suitable for families, couples, and individuals, and everyone can find something interesting, whether in summer or winter. Here we’ve compiled the main attractions of Innsbruck.
Attractions in Innsbruck’s Old Town
A stroll through the streets of Innsbruck’s old town is truly a journey back in time to the city’s glory days during the Empire. The narrow streets, ancient and beautifully decorated buildings, and numerous cafes create a unique atmosphere. You can easily spend a whole relaxed day walking through the city’s streets and stopping for coffee and cake at an authentic Austrian cafe, but if you want to see the important places in the Old Town, you should start on the main pedestrian street named after Maria Theresia (Maria Theresien Strasse), which offers a variety of shops and cafes. This street is right in the heart of the Old Town and is specially paved for pedestrians. As you walk along the street, you’ll see the St. Anne’s Column, which symbolizes the departure of the Bavarian forces from the city in the early 18th century. You’ll also see the Parliament building of the state of Tyrol, an impressive Baroque structure built in the 18th century. Next to the Parliament building, in the southern part of the street, you can see the Triumphal Arch, which is considered one of the city’s central structures. The arch was built in the mid-18th century as a gift for the wedding of Leopold, Maria Theresia’s second son. The arch features reliefs depicting Leopold’s wedding and the sudden death of his father, Emperor Franz Stephan, in Innsbruck.
Alongside the ancient buildings on Maria Theresien Street, there are also modern buildings that blend in wonderfully. These modern buildings include, of course, Innsbruck’s shopping mall, Kaufhaus Tyrol. This shopping center has dozens of different shops, and on rainy and cold days, you can spend several hours there and escape the cold outside. The mall is open every day except Sunday, from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM. You can find more information on the mall’s website.
From Maria Theresien Street, you reach Herzog Friedrich Street, which leads to one of the city’s main attractions – “The Golden Roof.”
1. The Golden Roof (Goldenes Dachl in German)
This building is considered Innsbruck’s most famous symbol. It’s a remarkably beautiful structure built in the 15th century to celebrate the wedding of Emperor Maximilian I and Bianca Maria Sforza. The building’s roof is adorned with 2,738 copper tiles that look as if they are made of gold bars.
From the building’s balcony, the Emperor’s wife would watch events and festivals taking place in the nearby city square.
Address: Herzog-Friedrich-Straße 15, 6020 Innsbruck
Map:
From the Golden Roof building, you can take a short walk to the Imperial Palace of the Holy Roman Emperors.
2. Hofburg Palace and the Imperial Gardens
Of course, Innsbruck’s Hofburg Palace cannot be compared to the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, but it is undoubtedly a must-see building when visiting Innsbruck.
The palace was built in the 15th century under the command of Emperor Maximilian I and served as a venue for important events, storage for his various treasures, and his hunting trophies. About 250 years after the palace’s construction, Maria Theresia visited it, and as was her custom with almost every building, she ordered its renovation and reconstruction in the Viennese Baroque style. For the reconstruction, she sent the best artists from Vienna to redesign the building in the spirit of the era. The reconstruction of the building was completed in 1770.
Maria Theresia decided to hold her son Leopold’s wedding in Innsbruck. The wonderful wedding was an impressive event that took place in the palace, but the celebrations were cut short by the sudden death of the Emperor, Maria Theresia’s husband. After his death, Maria Theresia converted the room in the palace where he died into a prayer room and also ordered the construction of the Triumphal Arch, which partly serves as a memorial to the Emperor.
In the 19th century, Duke Ludwig, who ruled Innsbruck, slightly modified parts of the palace for his sister-in-law, Empress Sisi. The rooms where Sisi and her husband, Emperor Franz Josef, stayed were exceptionally decorated, and the finest furniture available at the time was brought in.
With the fall of the monarchy in 1918, the palace became state property. Today, it is considered the third most important Austrian heritage site and is used for important events and educational tours for visitors.
The palace is open daily from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (except on days when events are held). You can join a guided tour through the palace rooms and learn about the design, history, and lives of its residents. Additionally, there is a museum inside the palace.
Admission: Adult €9. Child (up to 19 years old) – Free.
Address: Rennweg 1/3, 6020 Innsbruck
Map:
3. The Imperial Gardens (Hofgarten)
North of Hofburg Palace, there is a large park with impressive gardens that were established in the 15th century for the Habsburg emperors. In the center of the gardens, there is a music pavilion where concerts are held during the summer, two large chess boards, a children’s playground, and a cafe. The garden serves the city’s residents and visitors as a place of relaxation and a retreat into nature. You can leisurely walk along the garden paths or sit on a bench and enjoy the fresh air and wonderful views. The gardens are open daily from 6:00 AM and close at dusk.
Address: Hofgarten, Innsbruck
Map:
Near the palace complex is the large and royal church, containing 28 impressive statues.
4. The Court Church (Hofkirche)
This church is known locally as “The Black Men Church” (Schwarzmander Kirche) because it contains 28 dark bronze statues gazing towards the tomb of Emperor Maximilian I. In fact, 8 of the statues are women, and the Emperor’s tomb is empty (he is actually buried in the nearby city of Wiener Neustadt near Vienna). Nevertheless, the church is a wonderful attraction and a display of beautiful ancient art. The statues in the church depict important and influential figures from the Emperor’s time, such as his two wives, King Arthur, Duke Sigismund of Tyrol, and more.
The church hall is impressive in its beauty, and it’s especially worth visiting the Silver Chapel where Duke Ferdinand II and his wife Philippina Welser are buried.
The church houses the largest organ designed in the Renaissance style. This organ is over 500 years old.
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday – 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Sunday and holidays – 12:30 PM to 5:00 PM
Admission: Adult – €7. Child (up to 19 years old) – Free.
Address: Universitätsstraße 2, 6020 Innsbruck
Map:
From the church, a short walk through the old city streets leads to the City Tower, offering a beautiful panoramic view of the entire area.
5. The City Tower (Stadtturm)
This tower was built about 50 years before the Golden Roof building. It was constructed in the mid-15th century next to the Old Town Hall. The tower served as an observation post for the city guards at that time. The tower’s height is 51 meters, and at the time of its construction, it was considered very tall and impressive. Today, you can ascend to the observation deck of the tower. It’s a rather strenuous climb of 133 steps, but at the top, you’ll be rewarded with a magnificent view of the entire city, the surrounding mountains, and the Inn River flowing through it.
Opening hours: June to September – 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM October to May – 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Climb to the observation deck: €3
Address: Herzog-Friedrich-Str. 21
Map:
3 Recommended Museums in Central Innsbruck
Culture and history lovers can enjoy several comprehensive museums featuring interesting artifacts from Tyrol and wonderful artworks by famous artists from different artistic periods. The main museums are:
1. Tyrol State Museum (Tiroler Landesmuseum)
The regional history museum with ancient artifacts dating back to the early settlement of the area.
Address: Museumstraße 15, 6020 Innsbruck
2. Tyrolean Folk Art Museum (Tiroler Volkskunstmuseum)
This museum displays the most important artistic and cultural collection in the Tyrol region. The museum is considered one of the best regional culture museums in Europe. It features antique furniture, traditional clothing, household items, religious artifacts, and more.
Address: Universitätsstraße 2, 6020 Innsbruck
3. The Tyrol Panorama Museum (Das Tirol Panorama)
In this museum, you can see the famous and enormous panorama painting of Innsbruck. The museum is connected by an underground passage to the Kaiserjägermuseum, which presents the military history of the region in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Address: Bergisel 1-2, 6020 Innsbruck
Additional Attractions in the City
As you’ve already seen, the Old Town center is packed with interesting attractions, but that’s not all. There are several other places worth discovering throughout the city:
1. Ambras Castle (Schloss Ambras)
This castle is situated on a hilltop at an altitude of 587 meters overlooking the city of Innsbruck. The castle is considered one of the most popular attractions in Tyrol.
The impressive Renaissance-style castle was built in the 16th century on the site of an older castle from the 10th century. The castle’s importance stems primarily from its being the residence of Duke Ferdinand II. The Duke was a seasoned art collector, and eventually, he turned a large part of the palace into a museum to display his art collections (this museum is considered the oldest in the world).
The lower castle complex includes armories and weapons chambers with stunning armor from the times of Emperors Maximilian I and Leopold I. It also displays a variety of very ancient artifacts.
Above the lower complex is the Spanish Hall, exceptionally decorated with wooden ceilings and 27 portraits of Tyrolean rulers. In the upper castle complex, you can see a wonderful art gallery with 200 portraits and paintings, some by members of the Habsburg family. In addition, this part of the castle features a magnificent display of medieval sculptures.
Opening hours: Daily from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Closed in November.
Admission: Adult – €10. Child (up to 19 years old) – Free.
Online purchase of Ambras Castle entrance tickets (skip the line)
Address: Schlossstraße 20, 6020 Innsbruck
Map:
2. Nordkette Cable Car (Nordkettenbahn)
One of the mountains overlooking Innsbruck is the Nordkette mountain. To reach its peak, you can take the enclosed cable car. The cable car is divided into two sections. It starts from the Hungerburg area and ascends to the intermediate station called Seegrube. From there, you can continue climbing towards the Hafelekar peak at an altitude of 2269 meters above sea level. At the top of the peak, there are magnificent views and various hiking trails in summer. In winter, a ski resort operates there.
To reach the lower cable car station, you can take the Hungerburgbahn funicular, which departs from central Innsbruck. The funicular stations were designed by the famous architect Zaha Hadid and are impressive in themselves. The funicular stops at 4 stations, one of which is the Alpine Zoo station.
Funicular departure address: Rennweg 3, 6020 Innsbruck
Lower cable car station address: Hungerburgweg
3. Alpine Zoo (Alpenzoo)
This zoo houses about 2000 animals from 150 different species. The zoo is located on the slopes of the Nordkette mountain range and is one of the only zoos in Europe situated at such a high altitude. Some of the animals in the zoo are extremely rare and include animals such as lynxes, wolves, wild boars, deer, brown bears, Alpine ibexes, owls, eagles, and more. It is a very interesting zoo with various displays about the Alpine animal world.
Although it is located in a mountainous area, the zoo’s paths are paved and suitable even for families with strollers.
You can reach the zoo by Hungerburgbahn or by bus (line W). If you enjoy walking, you can get there within half an hour’s walk from Innsbruck city center. It’s advisable to avoid driving to the zoo, as the parking lot at its entrance is quite small and also subject to a fee.
Opening hours: November to March – 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM April to October – 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Admission: Adult – €11. Child (6-15) – €5.5. Child (4-5) – €2.
Address: Weiherburggasse 37
Map:
A Bit of Adrenaline in Summer: Trike down the Mountain near Innsbruck
If you love to feel the wind on your face and experience adrenaline flowing through your body, you should try the exciting descent in the village of Mutters, near Innsbruck. You can descend at high speed along the mountain track (5 kilometers). Of course, you’ll receive safety equipment for this exciting ride. You can find more information about the attraction here.
Winter Sports in Innsbruck
Innsbruck, with all its wonderful culture and history, is also considered a highly attractive destination for skiers and snowboarders. Around Innsbruck, you can enjoy 260 kilometers of diverse ski slopes in 25 different villages, connected by free bus lines. It’s no wonder that the Winter Olympics have been held twice in this small city.
In Innsbruck, you can enjoy a real ski world called Olympia Skiworld, which includes ski resorts with slopes suitable for beginner skiers, families with children, and, of course, experienced skiers. The ski resorts are:
- Nordkette-Seegrube (right next to the city)
- Patscherkofel
- Axamer Lizum
- Muttereralm
- Rangger Köpfl
- Glungezer
- Kühtai
- Schlick 2000
- Stubai Glacier
The wonderful Stubai Glacier is located at an altitude of 3,200 meters and is the highest ski resort in Austria.
One of the recommended winter attractions to visit is the large Bergiselschanze ski jump, which is used almost every year for prestigious international competitions.
More information about skiing in the Innsbruck area.
Innsbruck Airport (INN)
Innsbruck Airport is located about 4 kilometers from Innsbruck city center and is the largest in all of Tyrol. The airport is especially active during the winter months when masses of visitors land there for their annual ski vacation.
Israel operates direct flights between Ben Gurion and Innsbruck.
Shopping in Innsbruck – Recommended Shopping Centers (Including Primark)
On rainy days, or just after you’ve already visited all the important places we mentioned above, you can properly enjoy yourselves at the various shopping centers, and of course, at the famous Primark store.
The 3 recommended shopping centers are:
1. DEZ
A large mall with 140 stores featuring brands like Calzedonia, Desigual, Deichmann, Zara, Esprit, and more. This mall was the first in all of Austria, opening in 1970. The complex also has a children’s play area, cafes, and a food court.
Opening hours: Open Monday to Saturday from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM (Thursdays and Fridays open until 8:00 PM. Saturdays until 6:00 PM).
Address: Amraser-See-Straße 56
2. Kaufhaus Tyrol
The mall is located in the heart of the Old Town, next to Maria Theresien pedestrian street. The place has dozens of diverse shops.
Opening hours: Open Monday to Saturday from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM (Thursdays and Fridays open until 8:00 PM. Saturdays until 6:00 PM).
Address: Maria-Theresien-Straße 31
3. Primark
The famous inexpensive clothing store is also in Innsbruck! The store is located inside the Sillpark Shopping Center. The shopping complex is outside the Old Town, but you can, of course, reach it with a short walk.
Opening hours: Open Monday to Saturday from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM (Thursdays and Fridays open until 8:00 PM. Saturdays until 6:00 PM).
Address: Sillpark Shopping Center, Museumstraße 3
The Innsbruck Discount Card
If you plan to visit all the places mentioned in this article, you should consider using the Innsbruck Discount Card. This card grants one free entry to all the city’s museums and attractions. With the card, you can also visit several attractions outside Innsbruck, such as the Swarovski Crystal Worlds.
In addition, you’ll get the option to go up and down one of 8 cable cars in the mountains surrounding Innsbruck, free travel on the tourist bus and public transport, free shuttle to Swarovski Crystal Worlds, a guided city tour, free bike rental for 3 hours to ride in the city, and more!
Card cost: 24 hours – €53 48 hours – €63 72 hours – €73
Children aged 6 to 15 receive a 50% discount.
You can purchase the card at the city’s tourist information office, at the entrance to museums, or at train stations.
More information about the discount card.
More Essential Information for Visiting the City
Address: Innsbruck
Map:
Great Attractions and Nature Areas in the Innsbruck Area
If you’ve already seen all that Innsbruck has to offer, or if you just want to diversify your trip, you can read about several unmissable places and attractions in the area. We’ve prepared detailed articles on the following places, which are a short drive from the city:
- Ötztal Valley and its many attractions
- Swarovski Crystal Worlds
- Stubai Valley and Stubai Glacier
- Lake Achensee
- Hintertux Glacier Ski Resort and Nature Area
If you’re planning to stay outside Innsbruck, throughout the Tyrol region, it’s worth consulting the list of recommended accommodations in Tyrol.
