What to do in Innsbruck

Geography

Innsbruck, Austria, is the 5th largest city in all of Austria, and the capital of the Tyrol region. Located inside Inn valley and right next door to Wipp valley, Innsbruck is known to be an idyllic ski resort town, stuck between three large mountain peaks -Karwendel Alps to the North, Patscherkofel and Serles to the South. Innsbruck is also just a quick, 1-hour flight from Vienna and a 2-hour ride by car to from Munich and Liechtenstein.

History

Innsbruck gained attention as an alpine hot spot after hosting the Winter Olympics in 1964 and 1976. But Innsbruck has been a focal point for Tyrol since 1429, when it became the centre for European politics! Some famous Austrians include Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mozart, Beethoven, Sigmund Freud and the beautiful Marie Antoinette.

Climate

The climate in Inn Valley can vary considerably between seasons, as is expected from Alpine mountain regions. Winters tend to be cold and dry, while summer temperatures are mild and at times rainy. These temperature changes are what allow Innsbruck to be both the wonderful winter ski town, and the beautiful summer mountain getaway.

Old Town Altstadt

Innsbruck’s old town is quite a unique site. This is the part of town where travellers stay while visiting. Walk along cobblestone paths and discover buildings and hotels over 600 years old. Some of the main architectural points of interest here include Maria-Theresien-Strasse and Goldenes Dachl. This golden roof or golden balcony was where King Maximilian I and his wife were married!

Saint-Jacques Cathedral

When in Innsbruck, many visitors love to see the beautiful Saint-Jacques Cathedral. This Baroque-style Roman-Catholic masterpiece is adorned with gold and fine art all throughout the interior. The church is famous for the painting of Maria Hilf, which is considered one of the most revered paintings in all of Christianity.

Hofburg Imperial Palace

This beautiful palace was built in the 15th century by Leopold III, on an expansive stretch of land to be the home of royalty. With 5,000 square metres, the four- floored palace packs 400 rooms, 30 private apartments, and a chapel.

Innsbruck isn’t very large, so the palace sits right inside the city and is very accessible to visitors. From the outside, the palace doesn’t look particularly special, but the interior is magnificently designed in Baroque style and is reminiscent of the Palace of Versailles.

Ambras Castle

This Renaissance-style castle built in the 11th century was initially home to various counts and wealthy Austrian families. Years later, Archduke Ferdinand purchased the castle and built a museum inside. Now known as Schloss Ambras Innsbruck museum, part of the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, construction began in 1570- making this museum the oldest in the world!

Alpen Zoo

The Alps of Innsbruck are made of valleys, forests, lakes, ice regions and stunning rock peaks. 30,000 species live in the diverse landscape, and the Alpen Zoo presents only those native to the alps. The park sits 750 metres high and can be accessed with the Hungerburgbahn train. Some of the animals who live at the Zoo include moose, brown bears, lynx, wolfs and marmot. Another species is the Pine Marten, a cute little creature with a furry coat that can jump over 3 metres!

Café Konditorei Munding

This family-owned and operated pastry cafe has been in Innsbruck since 1803, making it Tyrol’s oldest café. You can imagine that with over 200 years of practice, these desserts must be delicious! But they aren’t just scrumptious, they are tiny, beautiful works of art as well! Visit the cafe to taste traditional Tyrolean confections are celebrated in Innsbruck by both locals and tourists as positively delightful.

Bergisel Ski Jump

Zaha Hadid was a famous architect who built the Bergisel ski jump, the largest in the world. While it was first used in the Olympic Games in 1964, and 1976, it is now open for public use, as long as there are no competitions. At 47 metres high, there is a lounge and restaurant where visitors can watch skiers jump, and get an amazing panoramic view of all Innsbruck. The lounge and jump-starting point are accessible by gondola, or stairs for people who want to get a workout in!

Glocken Bell Museum

As the oldest family-run business in all of Austria, this bell museum houses the largest swinging bell in the world, weighing in at 25 tons! Bells on display here are made for everything from churches to cow collars. Inside the museum, you can ring bells of all sizes.

Swarovski Crystal World

Daniel Swarovski founded The Swarovski company in 1895. The company made a name for itself as a producer of glass and beautiful crystal jewellery. But Swarovski also produces optical glass. Swarovski Optik makes telescopes, telescopic sights for rifles, binoculars, and other optical tools.

Swarovski Crystal World, or Swarovski Kristallwelten, was commissioned to be built by Andre Heller as an experiential attraction in 1995. With fourteen unique “chambers of wonder”, all designed completely in glass, with interpretation from famous artists, architects and designers, Swarovski Crystal is quite a stunning place.

The Crystal World includes 17 underground chambers of unique glass display, a garden, children's play tower, a carousel and a restaurant. It’s a special, once in a lifetime place to visit during your stay in Innsbruck.

Outdoor Activities

Whatever the season, you can always enjoy amazing outdoor activities. From hiking to rock climbing and mountain biking in the summertime, to snowboarding and skiing in the winter!

Winter sports are very popular in Innsbruck, with skiing being an excellent way to explore the wonderful landscapes of the Austrian Alps, including the Karwendel Natural Park.

You can get your thrills by water as well in Innsbruck. For example, you can choose a canyoning or rafting excursion. Experienced guides will take you to different spots, such as the Inn, the most powerful river in the Tyrolean Alps. Here, impressive waves and giant waterfalls await you on your way from the gigantic Imster Gorge to Imst and Haiming.

Canyoning is also a popular activity in Innsbruck for visitors. You can book an excursion to explore Hache Schlucht, near Hoch Imst. Equipped with rope, climbing harness and helmet, you will explore some of the best canyoning Austria has to offer.

For additional thrills, dare to jump from the Europa bridge, at 192 metres from the ground! This crazy bungee jump is located only 5 km south of Innsbruck, on the Brenner motorway.