Things to do in Innsbruck, Austria - 25 tips

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What to do in Innsbruck, Austria? Innsbruck is a stunningly beautiful city in the Tyrol, famous for skiing, among other things. But there's much more to see and do in this gem. Here are our top tips on things to see and do in Innsbruck.

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Innsbruck in Austria

Innsbruck has an exciting history. First mentioned in 1187, in 1420 Archduke Frederick IV of Austria made Innsbruck the capital of Tyrol. The Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I (1459-1519) may have been born in Wiener Neustadt and died in Wels, but his impact on Innsbruck was enormous and his imprint is everywhere in the city.

Although there are only around 130,000 people living here, it is clear that this is a city that has been important throughout history. We visited for just under a week, and we were really pleasantly surprised by all the city has to offer.

Innsbruck is located in the Tyrol region of Austria, less than 500 kilometres southwest of the capital Vienna.

What can you do in Innsbruck?

So what can you see and do in Innsbruck? Well, all sorts of things! We've put together a list of our top tips.

1. get the Innsbruck Card

When you come to Innsbruck as a tourist, if you book at least two hotel nights, you will receive a so-called Welcome Card. This card allows you to travel completely free on the city's buses throughout your stay, and you also get a discount on certain attractions.

If you are planning to visit a few different attractions, or perhaps take one of the cable cars, it is also a very good idea to buy a so-called Innsbruck Card. You can buy the card for different lengths of time, and it gives free entry to a wide range of attractions, including cable cars.

2. Strolling in the Altstadt - Old Town

Of course, one thing you don't want to miss doing in Innsbruck is strolling in the Altstadt, that is, the Old Town. This part of the city is incredibly pretty and cosy, with beautiful historic buildings, charming shop signs with a medieval feel and plenty of restaurants and shops.

3. check out the Golden Roof

One of the most famous sights in the Old Town is Golden Roof (Golden Roof). This roof sits on top of a three-storey balcony on a building erected in the early 15th century, by Duke Frederick IV, to be used as the residence of the Tyrolean emperors.

Emperor Maximilian I used to stand on the balcony to watch tournaments in the square below, or to wave to his subjects. He was also the one who had the 2 600 copper tiles on the roof gilded for his wedding to Bianca Maria Sforza of Milan.

4. See the view from the Stadtturm tower

The tallest building in the Old Town is the City Tower (Stadtturm). It is more than 50 years older than the Golden Roof and for around 450 years it served as a watchtower, where guards watched for fire and other dangers.

Today you are welcome to go up to the top, by buying a ticket or showing your Insbruck Card. Up there you have a fantastic view of the city.

5. walk along Maria-Theresien-Strasse

Maria-Theresien-Strasse was founded 700 years ago. Today, this lively street, lined with imposing Baroque architecture, is a place to stroll, shop and sit down in countless cosy cafés. Don't miss St Anne's Column, which features in many photos of Innsbruck.

6. Discover the Hofburg Palace

The Imperial Palace Hofburg was completed in 1500, under Emperor Maximilian I (1459-1519). Almost 250 years later, Maria Theresa (1717-1780) visited the palace in Innsbruck and decided to refurbish it according to the ideals of the time, including organising a lavish wedding for her son Leopold II here in 1765.

Visitors are welcome to see the inside of this magnificent castle, and it is certainly well worth a visit. By far the most powerful and beautiful is the "Giants' Hall", where it is difficult to get enough. Photography is not permitted inside the palace, so we show a press photo.

7. be impressed by the Hofkirche church

Another exciting sight in Innsbruck is the Hofkirche church. Our guide described this church as a 'Kinderegg', and that's not a bad description. On the outside, the church is like any other simple church building - but inside you're in for a surprise.

Although Maximiliam I is not actually buried here (but in St George's Cathedral in Wiener Neustadt), this cemetery is a powerful tribute to him.

Surrounding the tomb are 28 bronze statues, human-sized and impressively detailed. The statues depict family and friends, as well as people who were famous and important at the time.

8. visit the Tiroler Volkskunstmuseum

Right next to the Hofkirche church is the Tiroler Volkskunstmuseum. In fact, it is usually (if there is no service) via the museum that you also visit the church. If you also choose to see the museum, you can peek into historic homes and learn a lot about Tyrolean culture.

We were fascinated by the beautiful traditional tiled stoves, which heat the rooms and fire from the outside of the house.

9. peek inside St James' Cathedral

There are many churches in Innsbruck and one that is well worth seeing, in addition to the Hofkirche, is the Dom St. Jakob (Innsbruck Cathedral). First mentioned in 1180, this church was badly damaged by earthquakes in the 16th and 17th centuries and rebuilt in the 18th century.

The church is incredibly beautiful inside, with amazing and impressive paintings. Don't miss the ceiling, which appears to be vaulted, which is actually an optical illusion due to the technique used.

10. Stroll in the Hofgarten park

Looking for a green oasis in Innsbruck? Then head to the Hofgarten Park, which is located near the Hofburg Palace and the Nordkette funicular railway. The park has existed since the early 15th century. At that time, only members of the court were allowed to walk here. Today, the park is open to everyone.

11. Take a guided tour of Innsbruck

One interesting thing to do in Innsbruck, if you have the opportunity, is to join a guided tour. Our guide showed us things that can be difficult to find and understand on your own. She took us into the beautiful arches where you shop, and told us about the gates and ceiling paintings. She also gave us various insider tips - such as the fact that locals go to the restaurants that are located at the far end of deep corridors, or upstairs.

12. experience the Bergisel ski jumping track

A different thing to do in Innsbruck is to experience the Bergisel ski jump. Ski jumping courses can be found in many parts of the world, but what's special here in Innsbruck is that it welcomes tourists. If you want, you can book a guided tour or even book the opportunity to sit at the "starting point" of the ski jump - a dizzying feeling, we promise! At the top of the ski jump there is also a viewpoint and a restaurant.

We listened to two experienced ski jumpers talk about their own experiences of the sport. Incredibly interesting! We also got to see them jump, as they maintain a whistling high speed of 95 km/h at the exit. By the way, did you know that ski jumpers mostly train in summer, on plastic surfaces? This, and much more, we learnt.

13. Take the cable car up to Patscherkofel

Innsbruck is surrounded by mountains and you can take a cable car ride up to the Patscherkofel mountain. You can easily get there by bus "J" from the centre of Innsbruck, for example from Marktplatz.

The cable car offers wonderful views and when you reach the top, even more views await (depending on the weather of course) and the opportunity to eat at the restaurant Das Kofel. Here you start with glühwein, and then you can eat traditional Tyrolean food such as soups, dumplings and meat.

14. take a trip with Hungerburg railway

The Hungerburgbahn is a funicular railway that connects the suburb of Hungerburg with the centre of Innsbruck. You'll find the station at the Congress Centre and you can then ride the Hungerburg, where the cable car to the Nordkette starts. Apart from the great design of the stations, it's really cool that you can get to the top of the Nordkette mountain directly from the city centre.

15. See animals at Alpenzoo

The Hungerburgbahn mountain railway also makes a stop at the Alpenzoo, which is the highest located zoo in Europe. Here you will find a large collection of different kinds of animals from the Alps.

16. Go to the top of Nordkette

If you take the Hungerburgbahn funicular railway all the way to Hungerburg, you can continue from here by cable car to the top of the Nordkette mountain - Top of Innsbruck. The mountain, which is 2,300 metres high, can be reached from the city centre in just about 30 minutes by funicular and cable car.

Nordkette is popular for skiing, snowboarding, hiking and climbing. At an altitude of 1,905 metres, you'll also find the Seegrube restaurant, which offers both great views and good food.

17. Explore Ambras Castle

Ambras Castle is one of the major attractions in Innsbruck, easily accessible by bus 'M' from the city centre. The castle is beautifully situated in a park, and offers both beautiful rooms and various fascinating collections.

Ambra Castle is all about Archduke Ferdinand II (1529-1595), who was deeply involved in art and science, and who once established the castle's collections. Highlights for us were the beautiful 'Spanish Hall' and the 'Chambers of Wonder', where you can see some really odd artefacts from the past...

18. Be dazzled at Swarovski Kristallwelten

Swarovski Kristallwelten (Swarovski Crystal World) is an attraction created by André Heller, for the Austrian crystal glass manufacturer Swarovski. Here you can experience fascinating exhibitions of crystal, jewellery and art, as well as a shop, garden, playground and restaurant. Located just outside Innsbruck, the attraction is easily accessible by private vehicle or by Swarovski's own shuttle buses, which run a few times a day.

19. Try Tyrolean specialities

When you're in Innsbruck, you might want to try food that is traditional to the area. For example, try knödel (a kind of dumpling made with bread), käsespätzle (pasta with cheese and roasted onions), apfelstrudel (apple pie) and kaiserschmarrn (a kind of pancake dessert).

20. Eating in restaurants in Innsbruck

There are plenty of nice and cosy restaurants in Innsbruck. Many of them serve traditional Tyrolean food, while others offer more international flavours. Plus, there's a whole bunch that offer beautiful views!

21. Try Austrian wine

Have you tried Austrian wine, or maybe even wine from Tyrol? If not, it's time! One of the things we recommend is to visit Weinhaus Tyrol, which is located in the centre of Innsbruck and has a large selection of Austrian wines.

22. Shop for local products

Maybe you enjoy shopping while travelling? In the central quarters of Innsbruck's Old Town you'll find things like scarves, mittens, traditional Tyrolean clothing, liqueurs and souvenirs. There are also plenty of shops selling clothes and accessories. For me (Helena) it was a pair of mittens.

23. Have a look round the Markthalle

Markthalle is a large market hall located at Marktplatz in the centre of Innsbruck. If you're a foodie, you'll enjoy browsing here! Here you can browse through vegetables, fruit, meat, cheeses, pastries and much more. From time to time, various events are organised, such as musical entertainment and wine tasting.

24. hiking

One popular thing to do in Innsbruck is hiking. There are many different hiking trails, which often include hills and beautiful views. Or how about rippling water?

One of our days in Innsbruck we made a hike to the alpine hut Lehnberghaus. We took a bus from the "Finanzamt" in the direction of Obsteig and got off as close to the Arzkasten Gasthaus as possible. The bus journey took about an hour and the first part of the hike took around 40 minutes. We were unlucky with the weather (rain!), but at the Arzkasten Gasthaus we could buy coffee and borrow umbrellas. This gave us the energy to continue!

The rest of the hike took about 1.5 hours in each direction and the destination was Lehnberghaus, where we enjoyed views, beer and good traditional food. Sad with rain of course, but experiencing the beautiful nature of Tyrol is highly recommended!

25. skiing

Last but not least, we must of course mention that you can ski in Innsbruck. This was not something we did this time, but of course one of the big reasons why many people visit this area.

Things to do in Innsbruck on video

More to do in Innsbruck

Looking for even more tips on things to do in Innsbruck? Here you will find some more suggestions.

• 5 bridge circuit is a central walking or jogging route that is 4.8 kilometres long.
• Basilica of Wilten is a beautiful yellow rococo church.
• Hasegg Castle is a historic castle located in Hall in Tirol, not far from Innsbruck.
• Grassmayr Bell Museum showcases clocks (such as church bells) made over 14 generations.
• Panorama Museum and Kaiserjägermuseum tells the story of Tyrol's fight for freedom, including 360° artworks.

Where to stay in Innsbruck?

There are of course many different hotels to choose from in Innsbruck. We chose to stay in a smaller hotel, in the cosy area across the river. From there we had a super short walk to the Old Town.

The hotel we stayed at is called FAKTOREI and we can highly recommend this place. There are 12 rooms in total and a super cosy café where you can eat a good breakfast with locally produced ingredients, have a coffee and talk to the staff, who almost became like good friends after a few days. The rooms are nicely, practically and modernly decorated, in a style that almost feels Scandinavian. It's easy to feel at home here!

More to do in the neighbourhood

There is a lot to see and do in Austria. For example, you can discover beautiful Vorarlberg, skiing in cosy Alpbach Valley or visit the lovely Zell am See, which offers both alps and lake.

Even more to see and do in Innsbruck?

Have you visited Innsbruck? If so, what are your top tips on what to see and do in Innsbruck?

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