Things to do in Innsbruck: the old town, the Nordkette and the Alps
Innsbruck is a small city with mountains at the end of every street. The old town takes an afternoon on foot, and a cable car then lifts you from the center to about 2,250 meters in under half an hour. Two or three days is enough. The one thing to know: the weather decides the order of your days.
The short answer
- First trip
- Walk the old town and the Golden Roof, then ride the Nordkette cable car on your clearest morning. Add Ambras Castle or Bergisel.
- Where to stay
- The old town for walking, the Neustadt for the station and value, Saggen for quiet.
- How many days
- Two days covers the city and the Nordkette. A third adds a day trip to Hall, the Stubai glacier or Munich.
- Best time to go
- June to September for hiking and long evenings, December for the Christmas markets, January to March for skiing.
- Book ahead
- Christmas market weekends and winter school holidays fill hotels first. Cable cars and museums rarely need booking.
- From the airport
- Bus F runs to the main station in about 15 to 20 minutes. A taxi is a few minutes quicker.
Where to stay in Innsbruck, in brief
Altstadt
first-time visitors
Arcaded lanes around the Golden Roof, with everything on foot. Rooms are small and cost more, and the lanes are busy until the evening.
Neustadt and Maria-Theresien-Straße
value and the station
The long main street south of the old town, with shops, trams and a wider choice of hotels. The main station is about ten minutes away on foot.
Saggen
quiet evenings
A residential district of villas and parks north-west of the Hofburg. Calm at night, about ten minutes' walk from the old town.
St. Nikolaus and Mariahilf
river views and local cafes
Across the Inn from the old town, with colorful house fronts and the Nordkette behind. The market hall is here.
Things to do in Innsbruck
Golden Roof (Goldenes Dachl)
The gilded balcony from around 1500 that marks the old town's main square. Look from the street, or go into the museum behind it for the history.
Nordkette cable car
A funicular and two cable cars rise from the town to the Hafelekar ridge at about 2,250 meters. Go on a clear morning, and bring a jacket since it is much colder at the top.
Hofburg and the Hofkirche
The imperial palace and the church next door, which holds the tomb of Emperor Maximilian I, ringed by bronze statues. Allow two hours for both.
Ambras Castle
A Renaissance castle on the south-east edge of the city, with a famous Chamber of Art and Wonders and an Alpine garden. Take the bus or a taxi.
Bergisel ski jump
The Olympic jump above the city, with a lift to the tower and a wide view over the valley. Walk down through the park or take the tram.
Maria-Theresien-Straße and the Triumphal Arch
The main street runs south from the old town with the Nordkette framed at its end. The Annasäule column and the arch are good places to take a photo.
Stadtturm (City Tower)
A short climb up the old town's 15th-century tower for a close view of the Golden Roof and the roofs. Do it early or late in the day.
Alpine Zoo
Native mountain animals on a hillside above the city, from ibex to brown bears. A fair way up on foot, so use the bus or the funicular area.
Tyrolean Folk Art Museum
Rooms of carved Tyrolean parlors, costumes and cribs beside the Hofkirche. A good choice when it rains.
What to book before you go
These sell out. Most of the rest of Innsbruck can be decided on the day.
Every tour and ticket in Innsbruck, and which to pick- A hotel for December weekends1 to 2 months ahead
The Christmas markets fill the old town and the best rooms go first.
- Winter school holidays and ski weekends2 to 3 months ahead
Rooms close to the cable cars and the station sell out when the slopes are good.
- A table at a traditional innA few days ahead at weekends
The old town's best-known inns fill for dinner, especially in December.
What to skip in Innsbruck
- The cable car on a cloudy day
If the peaks are hidden you pay for a view of fog. Check the live webcams at the top first, and swap the day with an indoor one.
- Eating in the squares of the old town
The setting is good but you pay for it. Walk five minutes to Wilten or across the Inn for a better lunch.
- A Swarovski stop with no time to spare
The Crystal Worlds in Wattens is a polished attraction, but it costs half a day with the travel. Choose it only if it is why you are here.
Best time to visit Innsbruck
June to September is best for hiking, the cable cars and long evenings, with warm days in the valley and cool air on the ridge. Thunderstorms are common in summer afternoons, so do the high walks in the morning.
December brings the Christmas markets in the old town and cold, short days. January to March is for skiing, with several ski areas within reach of the city. April and November are the quietest months, with some mountain lifts closed for maintenance.
- From Innsbruck airportBus F runs to the main station in about 15 to 20 minutes, every 15 minutes on most days. A taxi takes about 10 minutes.
- From the main stationThe old town is about 15 minutes on foot along Salurner Straße and Maria-Theresien-Straße. Trains run to Munich in about two hours and to Salzburg in about two.
- On footThe old town, the Neustadt and Saggen are all within a 20 minute walk of each other. Only the trips up to Bergisel, Ambras and the Alpine Zoo are uphill or far.
- By tram and busTrams and buses cover the rest, and tickets work across both. The Innsbruck Card includes public transport and the cable cars, and is worth it if you plan several sights.
Innsbruck in three days
- Day 1
Walk the old town: the Golden Roof, the Stadtturm and the Hofburg and Hofkirche. Eat dinner at a traditional inn.
- Day 2
Ride the Nordkette to the top on your clearest morning and walk or hike. In the afternoon visit Bergisel or Ambras Castle.
- Day 3
Take a day trip to Hall in Tirol or the Stubai glacier, or spend the day in the museums and cafes if the weather is poor.
Day trips from Innsbruck
- Hall in TirolA walled medieval town about 15 minutes east by regional train or bus, with a mint, a pretty center and cafes.
- Stubai glacierAbout an hour by bus from the city, with year-round snow and a cable car to a high viewing platform.
- MunichAbout two hours by direct train. Possible in a day, but better as a stop on a longer Alpine route.
Innsbruck: questions people ask
How many days do you need in Innsbruck?
Two days covers the old town, the Nordkette and one of the castle or ski-jump visits. A third lets you add a day trip to Hall, the Stubai glacier or Munich.
Is Innsbruck worth visiting?
Yes, if you want a real city with the mountains close by. The old town is small, so most people come for the Alps, and for the winter or summer outdoors.
What is the best time to visit Innsbruck?
June to September for hiking and the cable cars, December for the Christmas markets and January to March for skiing. April and November are quiet.
Where is the best area to stay in Innsbruck?
The old town for the shortest walks, the Neustadt for the station and better value, and Saggen for quiet evenings.
Do I need the Innsbruck Card?
It pays off if you ride the Nordkette and see two or three more sights, since it includes public transport. For one or two sights, buy tickets separately.
Can you visit Innsbruck on a day trip?
From Munich, yes, in about two hours each way. But a day in town leaves little time for the cable car, so stay a night if you can.
Is Innsbruck good for a city break in winter?
Yes. The Christmas markets run in December, and in the ski season you can combine a city weekend with a few hours on the slopes.