We highly recommend a trip to Innsbruck in winter. We spent a long weekend in the city and checked out some really cool winter activities. We were already thrilled with Innsbruck in the summer, with its very special vibe and the numerous excursion options around the city. And the Austrian Alpine city on the Inn River also scores points in winter. Whether it’s a snowshoe hike up the local mountain, a snowboarding session in Kühtai, a nightcap on the Nordkette, or a visit to the Olympic ski jump on the Bergisel – Innsbruck rocks even in the cold season. In the following article, we’d like to tell you more about our long winter weekend in Innsbruck. Have fun browsing!
- Day 1 – Off to the Nordkette
- Day 2 – Snowshoeing and the Olympic Ski Jump
- Day 3 – Off to Kühtai for snowboarding and skiing
- Day 4 – Between sightseeing and the ski slopes
- Recommended: The Ski Plus City Pass
- More hotels in Innsbruck
- Innsbruck in winter – Our conclusion
Day 1 – Off to the Nordkette
We slowly approached Innsbruck and were surprised by the ever-higher mountains on our left and right. The peaks were all covered in snow, the sun was shining, and the sky was a beautiful blue. Hey Innsbruck, it’s so nice to be back! The train rolled slowly into the station, we grabbed our suitcases and, with a big grin on our faces, left the Eurocity, which then continued on to the Italian lagoon city of Venice.
Our Hotel in Innsbruck
We spotted our hotel right from the station, which, as the “highest hotel in the city,” was hard to miss. The chic 4-star aDlers Hotel* is located right next to the main train station, making it a quick and easy walk. We were given our room key and took the elevator to the 8th floor. The cool thing about this hotel is that each of the 75 rooms (and suites) has a huge glass front. This offers a wonderful view over the colorful rooftops of the city.
Our Classic Double Room had a comfortable and large double bed, bathroom with shower, bench in front of the window, rocking chair, TV, table, and wardrobe. On the 12th floor is the “weitsicht” restaurant with a bar and a terrace. We were already looking forward to breakfast the next morning with a view over Innsbruck. A small but fine wellness area with a sauna and steam bath can be found on the 11th floor. Here, too, you’ll be treated to a fantastic view, but more on that later. We didn’t stay in the hotel for long, but headed straight outside.
Excursion to the Nordkette
With our cameras in hand and our Ski Plus City Pass, we strolled through the old town to the “Congress/Hofburg” stop to take the Hungerburgbahn up to the Nordkette (free with the pass). The weather was simply too good not to enjoy the magnificent view from over 1,900 meters above sea level. The first few meters are underground before continuing on rails over the Inn River.
Then, the funicular ascends toward the Nordkette. Once you reach the “Hungerburg” station, you have to walk a few meters before boarding the cable car. From there, you can fully enjoy the 360-degree panorama as the gondola ascends to an altitude of over 2,000 meters. Train tickets available here*.
This time we left the train at the “Seegrube” middle station and didn’t go all the way up to 2,269 meters (Hafelekar station) like last time. Right next to the station is the Seegrube restaurant and the Cloud 9 bar. You can either make yourself comfortable on the restaurant’s terrace or grab a deckchair and enjoy the beautiful view with an Aperol Spritz. We ordered a cappuccino in the restaurant, enjoyed the warm sun on our skin, and watched the casual skiers and snowboarders.
View over Innsbruck
It takes just 20 minutes to get from the heart of the city to one of the Nordkette’s six slopes. Up here, you’ll find the Nordkette Skyline Park, a snow park with kickers, rails, and obstacles, as well as practice slopes, snow hills, and fun sports equipment for rent (free of charge). Freeriders can demonstrate their skills from the Top of Innsbruck – the Hafelekar at 2,256 meters above sea level. Marco would certainly have jumped straight into his snowboard boots to try out one or two of the slopes. But this time we just watched and let everything around us happen…
Dinner on the 12th floor at the Weitsicht Restaurant
The sun was setting, and it was slowly getting quite chilly up there. So we decided to head back to the hotel. Once we arrived, we got ready for dinner and sat down at the weitsicht restaurant, located on the 12th floor of the hotel. We feasted on the menu and were truly impressed by the incredibly delicious food. The spinach gnocchi and the raspberry crème brûlée with chocolate brownie are highly recommended.
Another highlight of the evening was, of course, the beautiful view and the chic ambiance of the restaurant. The aDlers Hotel also has a rooftop terrace with a bar, which is particularly busy in the summer months. It was far too cold for us to stay outside any longer, so after dinner we settled into our hotel room and looked forward to the next day. Here’s the hotel’s dinner menu: Menus at aDlers Hotel Innsbruck.
Day 2 – Snowshoe Hiking and the Olympic Ski Jump
The alarm clock rang at 7:30 a.m., we carefully drew back the curtains in our hotel room, and were once again greeted by a bright blue sky. Good morning Innsbruck! We quickly got dressed and took the elevator to the 12th floor to enjoy a delicious breakfast with a view of the city. Did we mention that we love having breakfast in a hotel in the morning? You don’t have to worry about anything and can start the day in peace – just what we like!
Snowshoe hike on the Patscherkofel
Now it was time to embark on our next adventure. We took bus line J from the hotel (Sillpark station) to the valley station on the Patscherkofel. This is, by the way, the hotel’s local mountain, which, at 2246 meters, isn’t all that small. We could already see the mountain and its distinctive transmission tower from our hotel room.
After a 20-minute bus ride, we reached the final stop and headed over to Intersport, where snowshoes and trekking poles had already been reserved for us. This shop also rents snowboards, helmets, skis, and clothing for hitting the slopes around the Patscherkofel. Click here for prices.
At the cable car ticket office, we had to show our Ski Plus City Passes and our COVID pass and then received two tickets for the cable car. We took the cable car all the way up to the Patscherkofel mountain station and from there started our approximately 3-kilometer snowshoe hike (signposted as the “Gipfelrunde”) up to the summit. This hike is not particularly strenuous and can be undertaken without snowshoes.
Detour to the “Das Kofel” restaurant
In perfect weather, we hiked leisurely along the wide farm track toward the summit, enjoyed the fantastic panoramic views around us, and at the end of the tour, treated ourselves to a few treats at the “Das Kofel” restaurant at the mountain station. You should allow around 4 hours for the entire hike (around 6 kilometers – there and back), plus cable car rides and breaks. We highly recommend this hike; it was fantastically beautiful.
Visit to the Bergisel Olympic Ski Jump
To continue our cool winter program for this day in Innsbruck, after the snowshoe hike we took the bus (Line J) back to the city and then walked to the Olympic Ski Jump, which is located on the Bergisel hill. Since we arrived half an hour before closing time, there were only two other guests there with us. First, we looked around the arena, which has space for 28,000 spectators, and were amazed by the huge facility, which seemed considerably smaller from a distance.
Incidentally, the Olympic flame was lit here on the Bergisel in 1964 and 1976. Star architect Zaha Hadid has once again succeeded in designing a venue that combines several functions. It is not only a ski jump, but also an event venue, as well as a place to feast and relax. Today, this facility is one of the most modern ski jumping facilities in the world and is also one of the most visited sights in Innsbruck.
Sundowner at the Bergisel Sky Restaurant
The terrace is located at a height of around 40 meters, which we reached using the inclined elevator and lift. Of course, you can also climb the 455 steps to the top. After enjoying the breathtaking view from the terrace, you can relax and enjoy a coffee in the Bergisel Sky Restaurant. Weddings and birthdays are also popular here. The stadium and terrace are open Wednesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m..
Dinner at Ludwig
The day before, we reserved a table for the evening at the Burger Restaurant Ludwig. After our visit to the Olympic Ski Jump, we freshened up at the hotel and then strolled leisurely to the restaurant, which is located at Museumstraße 3. We took a seat right by the window and ordered homemade burgers, fresh sweet potato fries, a variety of dips, and refreshing drinks. They also serve vegetarian and vegan burgers. Full and satisfied, we strolled through the old town after dinner before heading back to the hotel. Click here for the Tripadvisor review*.
Wellness at the Hotel aDlers
Of course, we didn’t want to miss out on the wellness area of our hotel, so late in the evening, we slipped into our bathrobes, grabbed our towels, and took the elevator to the 11th floor. A Finnish sauna, a bio sauna, a steam bath, an infrared cabin, and a panoramic relaxation area with loungers awaited us. With a view of the city, we ended the day in a relaxed manner and were already looking forward to the next adventure.
Day 3 – Off to Kühtai for Snowboarding and Skiing
The weather forecast wasn’t particularly good for this day, so we were very hesitant to open the curtains in the morning. A gray sky and thick snowflakes greeted us, which is actually very fitting for a winter vacation, isn’t it? Before we left the hotel, we treated ourselves to a hearty breakfast on the 12th floor and were already excited about the day. An exciting program, a fantastic new hotel, and lots of snow awaited us.
Welcome to the Mooshaus
We took the bus (line 4166) for just under an hour from Innsbruck’s main train station to the small ski resort of Kühtai. We stepped off the bus and saw the fantastic 4-star Mooshaus Winter Resort* directly in front of us, which would be our home for the night. After a quick check-in, we were able to move straight into our room. A large bathroom with a bathtub, a separate toilet, two swing infrared loungers, a seating area with a coffee machine, TVs, a minibar, and a spacious hallway with shelves and closets awaited us. There was also a connecting door to another bedroom and bathroom with a shower.
Generally speaking, the 4-star Superior Hotel Mooshaus is a truly beautiful and tastefully furnished hotel in Austria’s highest ski resort at 2,020 m above sea level. Awaiting you here is a spacious lobby with a bar and terrace, a ski rental shop, a 1,000 m² wellness area with heated indoor and outdoor pools, an infinity pool on the roof, and two restaurants. Right behind the hotel is one of the many slopes with a lift and ski school.
Our first time on skis
After checking in, we went to the ski rental shop (located in the hotel) and then directly to the slopes behind the hotel. A young ski instructor was waiting for us there, who made sure we weren’t too wobbly on our skis for the next two hours. For me (Bolle), it was a whole new world, as I had never been on a winter vacation before, nor had I ever snowboarded or skied. I’d also never seen so much snow in my life; it was simply amazing!
Marco and I did pretty well, though, and after just a few minutes we were able to ski straight ahead relatively confidently. We slowly made our way up the slope with our guide, made a few downhill turns, and learned how to safely slow down. It was very tiring, repeatedly trudging up the small hill with skis and poles. The clunky ski boots also took some getting used to for me (Bolle) at first, and caused my legs to give out pretty quickly. But I didn’t mind and skied across the snow with a grin. And hey! By the way, the sun came out again just in time for the ski course.
Skiing or snowboarding in Kühtai
After the two hours, we said goodbye to our guide and practiced on the slopes on our own for a while. It was a really cool experience, and I definitely want to do it again sometime. Marco handed over his skis and got a snowboard. He used them to hit some of the 88 kilometers of slopes and showed off what he hadn’t forgotten in all these years. Next time, I’d also like to take a snowboarding course.
Infinity Sky Pool and Evening Dinner
Since the sauna and the infinity sky pool on the roof of the hotel are only open until 7 p.m., we quickly headed to the wellness area after our adventure on the slopes. The pool is, of course, THE highlight of the hotel and is truly impressive. It runs all the way around and offers an incredibly beautiful view of Kühtai and the mountains. The sun gradually disappeared behind the mountains, and we enjoyed this wonderful sunset in the warm pool. In the wellness area, we jumped straight into the Finnish sauna and then made ourselves comfortable in one of the relaxation rooms.
After relaxing in the wellness area, we returned to our hotel room to get ready for dinner. The menu included a 6-course meal, which we were very much looking forward to. First, we raided the fresh salad bar before moving on to the starters, main courses, and desserts. The food was delicious and generously portioned. The dishes change daily, sometimes featuring traditional Tyrolean dishes and sometimes international cuisine. There are also regular themed evenings with buffets.
Day 4 – Between Sightseeing and the Ski Slopes
The next morning, a huge breakfast buffet awaited us, which we thoroughly enjoyed. There was truly nothing missing, as there was everything you could imagine. Well-fortified, we then returned to the hotel room to pack our bags and check out. Luckily, we were able to leave our luggage in the luggage room because we wanted to hit the slopes one more time.
While I practiced what I’d learned the day before right next to the hotel, Marco raced down the other slopes on his snowboard. The longer runs weren’t for me yet; I was still far too insecure on skis. Nevertheless, it was a lot of fun, even though I couldn’t ski down a particularly long slope yet.
The Kühtai Ski Area
Here in Kühtai, there are 25 lifts, which you can use with your ski pass. You can purchase one right next to the tourist information office. The day ticket currently costs €44 (all prices here). With the Ski Plus City Pass, you can also use all slopes, cable cars, and lifts in Kühtai for free. In addition to the 88 kilometers of slopes, Kühtai offers a KidsPark, various cross-country ski trails, two toboggan runs, opportunities for snowshoeing, a freestyle area and SnowCross, cozy bars, restaurants, and various ski huts. We were already here in the summer and hiked up the Sulzkogel.
I strolled through the small ski resort and treated myself to a delicious cappuccino after my little skiing session, while Marco was still on the slopes. In Kühtai, there’s a cool bar called Eisheisl, which offers a beautiful view of one of the slopes. The Kühtaier Dorfstadl restaurant with a terrace is also very popular, as is Loisl’s Schirmbar. Also recommended is the bar with terrace at the Hotel Mooshaus, which is always busy during the day and offers a variety of drinks and dishes for those who are hungry in between meals.
Return to Innsbruck and Departure
After a few hours on the slopes, we made our way back to Innsbruck. If you don’t have a Ski Plus City Pass, you can purchase your bus ticket directly on the bus for €9.20 per person. The buses run very regularly from early morning until late evening. Our bus was quite full, as it had to accommodate not only people, but also countless skis, snowboards, and sleds. Our cool winter trip ended in Innsbruck. We were supposed to take the train back home, but we added a great road trip through South Tyrol. More on that in another post.
Recommended: The Ski Plus City Pass
We’ve talked a lot about the “Ski Plus City Pass” in this post, and we’d now like to introduce it to you in more detail. With this pass, you can explore 13 ski areas, use 111 cable cars and lifts, visit numerous attractions for free, use public transport, go to swimming pools, and much, much more. With this pass, we were able to explore the area and the slopes in a very relaxed manner. Whether it was the Nordkette cable car, the Patscherkofel cable car, the Bergisel ski jump, the slopes in Kühtai, or bus rides – everything was practically free.
The Ski Plus City Pass combines skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing, swimming, culture, shopping, and sightseeing. You can purchase the pass at the ticket offices of the 13 participating cable cars (except the Nordkettenbahn cable car), as well as at the Tourist Information Office in Innsbruck. A 2-day pass starts at just €117, a 3-day pass costs €163, and a 4-day pass costs €203. The pass is especially worthwhile if you plan on doing a lot and hitting multiple slopes. All information here: Ski Plus City Pass.
More hotels in Innsbruck
We now know quite a few hotels in Innsbruck and would now like to briefly introduce them all to you. Decide for yourself,which one you would like to choose. However, we can recommend each hotel with a clear conscience. All four hotels are centrally located and easily accessible on foot or by bus.
NALA Individuellhotel
Book a room here*
The design boutique hotel Nala is just a 10-minute walk from the main train station. There are 57 rooms on site, each uniquely furnished and decorated. We stayed in the beautiful garden apartment, which had a bedroom and living area, as well as a bathroom. The small, cozy garden with its babbling pond and colorful lanterns was particularly beautiful.
4.5 out of 5 points* on Tripadvisor
aDlers Hotel Innsbruck
Book a room here*
The 4-star aDlers Hotel is located right next to the main train station and welcomes you with beautiful panoramic rooms, a wellness area, a restaurant, a bar, and a rooftop terrace. At breakfast, you can gaze over the city’s rooftops and marvel at the peaks of the Tyrolean mountains. The small wellness area on the 11th floor also awaits you with a beautiful view.
4 out of 5 points* on Tripadvisor
Hotel Innsbruck
Book a room here*
This chic 4-star Hotel Innsbruck is located directly in the old town on the Inn River and awaits you with beautiful rooms, a small wellness area and indoor pool, a bar, a restaurant and a lounge. Although the wellness area is clearly too small for the number of guests, this hotel is still highly recommended.
4.5 out of 5 points* on Tripadvisor
Ibis Hotel Hauptbahnhof
Book a room here*
Before our onward journey to South Tyrol, we checked into the ibis Hotel am Hauptbahnhof (main train station) because we were leaving early the next morning and didn’t want to walk too far to the station. The hotel offers comfortable double rooms, a cool little lobby, and a breakfast room. The price-performance ratio is definitely right! Highly recommended!
4 out of 5 points* on Tripadvisor
Innsbruck in Winter – Our Conclusion
We were already totally thrilled with the cool Alpine city on the Inn River in the summer, but Innsbruck also scored highly in the winter. In perfect weather, we explored the city, hit the slopes, and enjoyed plenty of wellness options. We’re always surprised by all the things you can do in and around Innsbruck. You definitely won’t get bored here, whether in spring, summer, fall, or winter. We’ll be heading back to the cool city on the Inn River in July, as we’re participating as a team in the XLETIX CHALLENGE (12km obstacle course). This will be fun!