Austria is such a beautiful neighboring country, and we’re always surprised why we visit so rarely. However, we recently spent a few days in and around Innsbruck and were able to enjoy the diverse outdoor activities. But the city itself also has a lot to offer, with numerous Innsbruck sights.
Innsbruck surprised us with, among other things, cool cafés and restaurants, a stunningly beautiful location, lush nature, and a super laid-back atmosphere. We highly recommend Innsbruck and the surrounding area for a diverse holiday in nature—whether for couples, families, or singles. Unfortunately, we had far too little time for this city and will definitely return.
- Getting to Innsbruck
- Staying in Innsbruck
- Other cool hotels in Innsbruck
- Innsbruck Sights
- 1. View from the City Tower
- 2. Old Town & Golden Roof
- 3. Maria-Theresien-Straße
- 4. Imperial Hofburg
- 5. Innsbruck Court Gardens
- 6. St. James’s Cathedral
- 7. Mariahilf District – St. Nicholas
- 8. Innsbruck Sights – Inn Bridge
- 9. Triumphal Arch
- 10. Nordkette Cable Car
- 11. Nordkette – Top of Innsbruck
- 12. The beautiful Mutterer Alm
- 13. Bergisel Ski Jump
- 14. Ambras Castle
- 15. KI – Climbing Center
- Our restaurant tips & cafés
- Cool outdoor activities
- Travel tip: Innsbruck Card & Welcome Card
- Conclusion about Innsbruck
- More impressions
Getting to Innsbruck
By train: There are almost 950 kilometers between Rostock and Innsbruck. Nevertheless, we travel to our destinations by train as often as possible. Traveling by train is more environmentally friendly and saves us a lot of stress. Plus, we can use the time on the train wisely, and no one has to worry about traffic. For us, it just doesn’t feel right to take a plane for such distances. Although we were on the road for more than 10 hours, everything worked out perfectly with the connections. In the following table, we’ve selected some Deutsche Bahn connections for you. Tickets are available here*.
By car: Of course, you can also travel comfortably by car. Innsbruck is strategically located on many major traffic routes. Furthermore, the road networks here are well developed. From Munich, take the A8 to Kufstein and from there continue on the E45 to Innsbruck (duration: just under 2 hours).
By bus:Another option is to travel to Innsbruck by long-distance bus. Flixbus* buses travel from many German cities to Innsbruck. Tickets start at just €4.99. Buses run several times a day, for example, from Munich to Innsbruck. From Innsbruck, you can also continue on to Venice, Rome, or Milan.
Staying in Innsbruck
We stayed in a very nice city hotel, the Design Boutique Hotel Nala*. This hotel is just a 10-minute walk from the main train station. There are 57 rooms, each one uniquely furnished and decorated. We stayed in the garden apartment, which featured a comfortable couch, TV, seating area with a table and chairs, a small desk, a kitchenette with a refrigerator, coffee machine, dishwasher, and a comfortable bed right behind the bathroom.
The small and cozy garden with its babbling pond and colorful lanterns is particularly beautiful. Seating is everywhere, inviting you to relax. Another eye-catcher is the stylish restaurant, where you’ll be served a varied and delicious breakfast buffet in the morning. This hotel is located right in the center, yet you don’t notice any of it, allowing you to unwind wonderfully. We can 100% recommend the hotel. Click here to book*.
Other cool hotels in Innsbruck
Of course, there are plenty of other hotels in Innsbruck. We’ve picked out a few really cool accommodations for you that we would also book ourselves. During our research, we primarily looked at reviews from previous guests, as these are our most important criteria. Do you know of another nice hotel? Let us know, and we’ll add it to this list.
Innsbruck Sights
Innsbruck is beautifully situated on the Inn River, surrounded by high mountain ranges. The “Capital of the Alps” offers not only adrenaline and action, but also a whole host of sights. The mix of culture, cuisine, sports, and nature makes the city an extremely attractive travel destination. We’ve marked some highlights, excursion destinations, and restaurants on the map below. We will try to regularly update this map and add new spots.
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1. View from the City Tower
For an initial overview and a truly fantastic view, we recommend a visit to the City Tower. It’s located right in the heart of the city, next to the “Golden Roof.” In the past, the tower guards would watch for enemies and dangers here. Today, after climbing “only” 133 steps, you can enjoy the view from a height of 31 meters. From the viewing platform, you can discover the beautiful Old Town, the Nordkette Mountains, the Inn River, and many other city highlights.
- Opening hours: Monday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Admission: €3, reduced €2.50 (free with the Innsbruck Card)
- Address: Herzog-Friedrich-Straße 21
2. Old Town & Golden Roof
The “Golden Roof” is probably the most famous sight in Innsbruck. It is a roof of a bay window, fire-gilded with 2,657 copper shingles. Interestingly, Emperor Maximilian I had this magnificent bay window built to dispel all the rumors about the emperor’s financial difficulties. The bay window is 16 meters wide and around 3.70 meters high. In the museum you can see, among other things, 6 original records and learn more about the history.
- Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Admission: €5, reduced €2.50 (free with the Innsbruck Card)
- Address: Herzog-Friedrich-Straße 15
3. Maria-Theresien-Straße
The Maria-Theresien-Straße is one of the top sights in Innsbruck. This 490-meter-long boulevard runs right through the city center and is lined with countless shops, restaurants, and cafés. It’s one of the busiest streets in the city, and it was quite busy during our visit. Along this street, you can discover several important buildings, such as the Spitalskirche (Spital Church), the New Town Hall, the Annasäule (St. Anne’s Column), and the Servite Church.
4. Imperial Hofburg (Hofburg Palace)
In the heart of the city is the imposing Imperial Hofburg, built on an incredible 5,000 m². More than 400 rooms have been built in this Hofburg, as well as over 30 private apartments. Incredible, right? 400 rooms! Highlights include the beautiful Giant’s Hall (32 meters long, 13 meters wide), the Hofburg Chapel, and the Guards’ Hall. All of these rooms clearly illustrate how power and wealth were displayed back then.
- Opening hours: daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Admission: €9, concessions €6.50
- Address: Imperial Hofburg, Rennweg 1
5. Innsbruck Court Garden
Just a few meters from the Hofburg is the idyllic and beautifully maintained Court Garden. This listed park has existed for around 600 years and is a popular meeting place, especially among locals. On our way back from the climbing hall, we strolled through the park and immediately sensed the cozy atmosphere. Older men played chess together, young people sat on the green lawns, and small children gathered at the playground, clearly having fun. In the so-called Palm House at the northern end of the park, there are probably around 1,700 plant species to marvel at. We didn’t go to the Palm House ourselves, though.
6. St. James’s Cathedral
The Innsbruck Cathedral was first mentioned in 1180. As we gazed over the city’s rooftops from the city tower, we spotted the cathedral’s striking spires. After a severe earthquake in the 16th and 17th centuries severely damaged the cathedral, it was restored to its former glory between 1717 and 1724. We didn’t go inside ourselves, but according to reviews online, the rooms there are said to be very beautiful. Here you’ll find magnificent rooms with high Baroque ceiling frescoes, elaborate stucco work, the tomb of Archduke Maximilian III, and much more. In addition, the Innsbruck Peace Carillon, consisting of 57 bells (the largest carillon in Austria), rings out here every day at noon.
- Visits: Monday to Saturday from 10:15 a.m., Sundays from 12:30 p.m.
- Admission: Free admission (but purchase a photo ticket for photos)
- Address: Domplatz 6
7. District: Mariahilf – St. Nikolaus
One of the highlights in Innsbruck for us is the view of the colorful district of Mariahilf – St. Nikolaus. This is the oldest part of Innsbruck, which you can admire from the right bank of the Inn River. The many colorful houses stand close together and make for a beautiful photo opportunity. The atmosphere here is particularly charming in the evening. People sit outside with a glass of wine and enjoy the sunset with a view over the Inn River.
8. Innsbruck Sights – Inn Bridge
The Inn Bridge connects the old town with the Mariahilf-St. Nikolaus district on the other side of the river. Incidentally, the first bridge (presumably made entirely of wood) was built on this spot in the 12th century, which also gave the city its name. On a beautiful, mild summer evening, we were on the bridge and enjoyed the view over the Inn. You can see the old town, the colorful houses on the other side of the river, and the imposing Nordkette mountain range.
9. Triumphal Arch
On the way to our hotel, we also passed the Triumphal Arch, located not far from the main train station. Empress Maria Theresa had the Triumphal Arch built in the 18th century from the stones of the medieval city gate. The south side commemorates her son’s wedding, while the north side is decorated with mourning motifs and is meant to commemorate the emperor’s sudden death. Beautiful and tragic at the same time!
10. Nordkette Cable Car
The Nordkette Cable Car is also called the “Jewel of the Alps.” The cable cars will take you to the peaks of the Nordkette in no time and offer fantastic views. More on that later. Instead, we’d like to introduce you to the architecture of these cable cars and stations. The stations of the Hungerburgbahn* were designed by star architect Zaha Hadid, who was inspired by glaciers, ice movements, and snow. The journey starts at the “Congress” station, not far from the old town. On the journey to the top, you’ll climb 1,696 meters. Crazy, right?
11. Nordkette – Top of Innsbruck
One of the top sights in Innsbruck is, of course, the view from the Nordkette. From the “Top of Innsbruck,” you can see the city of Innsbruck and the Karwendel Mountains. The highest point is the Hafelekarspitze at an altitude of 2,334 meters, which you can reach after just a 15-minute walk. Enjoy the breathtaking 360° view and be amazed by the scenery.
Also waiting for you up here are via ferratas, hiking trails, slopes, a Skyline Park, geotrails, a panoramic restaurant and shop (Seegrube station), adventurous bike trails, and launching points for paragliding and hang gliding. Whether you’re just making a quick detour or planning a longer hike, the Nordkette in Innsbruck is definitely a MUST!
- Monday to Friday: 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Friday to Sunday: 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- The cable cars run every 15 minutes.
- Round trip: €38 per adult (bookable here*)
- Free with the Innsbruck City Card
- Address: Rennweg 3
12. The beautiful Mutterer Alm
Although not directly in Innsbruck, it’s only a stone’s throw away – the Mutterer Alm. The gondola takes you up to an altitude of around 1608 meters. Once there, a beautiful panoramic lake awaits you with benches, wooden loungers, and a breathtaking view of the Nordkette. There are also various hiking trails, an adventure playground for children, rest areas, adventurous single trails and bike routes (click here for the hiking map), as well as toboggan runs, over 15 kilometers of slopes, and spectacular deep snow runs in winter.
- Opening hours: depending on the month; Check times here
- Cable car prices: Round trip €17.50 for adults (in summer)
- Free with the Welcome Card Plus
- Address: Nockhofweg 40, 6162 Mutters
13. Bergisel Ski Jump
One of the top attractions in Innsbruck is the Bergisel Ski Jump, which we unfortunately only saw from a distance. On our next visit, we want to take a closer look at the ski jump. The modern architecture and the breathtaking view are particularly impressive. Star architect Zaha Hadid was at work here again. There is the panoramic restaurant “Bergisel Sky” and a viewing terrace on site. Both can be reached in just a few minutes by elevator.
- Bergisel Sky: Wednesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Bergisel Stadium: Wednesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Stadium entrance: €10 including the panoramic restaurant (more information here)
- Address: Bergiselweg 3
14. Ambras Castle
We actually wanted to see Ambras Castle as well, but unfortunately, we didn’t have enough time for that visit either. This beautiful castle is located about 4 km outside the city center and boasts a large castle park, the castle itself with the magnificent Ambras art collection, and beautiful halls. We will definitely check out this Innsbruck highlight on our next visit.
- Opening hours: daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Admission prices: €12 for adults, €8 for concessions (cheaper in winter)
- You can purchase tickets here*
- Address: Schlossstraße 20
15. KI – Climbing Center
The highlight of our trip to Innsbruck was definitely the visit to the KI Climbing Center. Tyrol is a true paradise for all climbing enthusiasts. Whether it’s via ferrata, bouldering, a climbing hall, a sport climbing garden, or ice climbing – there’s an adventure for everyone. The KI Climbing Center opened in 2017 and is one of the largest and most modern sport climbing facilities in the world. Whether you climb or not, the center itself is worth seeing! Not only amateur climbers but also the professionals of the national team train here.
- Opening hours: daily 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Prices: Day ticket costs 13.80 €
- Address: Matthias-Schmid-Straße 12c
Our restaurant tips & Cafés
Innsbruck has many restaurants and cafés. We’ve now become true “gourmets” and love trying new things and simply eating really good food. We highly recommend the Israeli restaurant HaPoel, located at Universitätsstraße 18. It’s a rather inconspicuous and small shop, but it surprised us with its delicious Israeli cuisine. The various trays of hummus, pita, salads, and more are highly recommended. Marco’s conclusion: “I’ve never written a review online before, but I’ll write one for this restaurant. The food was amazing!”
If you’re craving hearty Austrian cuisine, then you should go to the Restaurant Stiftskeller. The restaurant is located right in the center of the old town, just a few meters from the Golden Roof. We sat outside in the mild summer temperatures and were amazed at how quickly the food was served. The service was very friendly and the food truly delicious. We ordered, of course, hearty cheese spaetzle with salad.
The Cafe Moustache is located at Herzog-Otto-Straße 8 and is a great place for a cozy get-together. Every Sunday, you can feast on the brunch buffet starting at 11 a.m. (only €12) or sit outside on a warm summer day and enjoy a cool blonde beer. The toast creations and homemade lemonade are highly recommended. You can also order various salads, wraps, and falafel at the café.
More Restaurants, Cafés & Bars
We had so many more spots on our list, but of course we haven’t covered them all yet. So, we have a lot planned for our next trip, and we’re really looking forward to it. In the following table, you’ll find all the restaurants, cafés, and bars we definitely want to try. Do you have any other tips for us?
Cool Outdoor Activities
In Innsbruck, you can do more than just admire historical buildings, enjoy delicious food, and go shopping. In and around Innsbruck, a wide variety of outdoor activities await you. You can surf on the Inn River, race down the slopes on super cool mountain carts, go on a great hike, hit the slopes by bike, and much more. We’ve already published a detailed article about this: Outdoor Activities in Innsbruck. Enjoy reading.
Popular Tours & Excursions:
- Classic city tour of the Innsbruck highlights*
- Canyoning experience in the Ötztal*
- Neustift im Stubaital: Tandem paragliding*
- Imster Schlucht: Whitewater rafting in the Tyrolean Alps*
Travel tip: Innsbruck Card & Welcome Card
We’d like to share another great money-saving tip with you. If you stay two nights or more, you’ll receive the Welcome Card for Innsbruck completely free of charge. Ask at your hotel reception. This guest card grants you free and discounted admission to numerous leisure activities. Some public transport and mountain railways are also free (DreiSeenBahn in Kühtai, Muttereralmbahn, 20% discount for the Nordkettenbahn, etc.).
If you’d also like to see a lot in and around Innsbruck, the Innsbruck Card might also be of interest to you. With this card, you can explore the city for 24, 48, or 72 hours and benefit from numerous discounts and free admissions. We think it’s really cool that public transport, the sightseeing bus, various cable cars, and attractions are free with this card.
Conclusion on Innsbruck
We really liked Innsbruck. The mix of nature, city, culture, food, and sports is right up our alley. We were surprised by all the options available here. Whether you’re looking for an active holiday, sightseeing, or a mix of both – Innsbruck offers the full range. By the way, it doesn’t matter whether you come to Innsbruck in winter, spring, summer, or fall. We will definitely be back and are already looking forward to our next trip to Innsbruck!
More impressions
