Travel guide · Austria
Innsbruck travel guide
Habsburg old town on the Inn with cable cars to 2,000-metre peaks
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
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Quick answer
Innsbruck, capital of the Austrian Tyrol, packs a late-medieval old town around the Golden Roof, Habsburg palaces and Baroque churches into a valley floor beneath the Nordkette range. A funicular and two cable cars climb from the city centre to Hafelekar at about 2,260 metres in roughly half an hour, so few cities put high mountains this close. It is a year-round base: skiing and the Four Hills ski jump in winter, hiking and alpine huts in summer, and fast trains to Munich, Salzburg, Zurich and Verona. Plan 3 days for a first visit; the best months are June–September and December–January.
Key facts
- Country
- Austria
- Best time to visit
- June–September and December–January
- Ideal stay
- 3 days
- Main airports
- INN, MUC
- Mid-range daily budget
- $170–$300 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Golden Roof, Nordkette cable cars, Bergisel ski jump and Habsburg heritage
Why visit Innsbruck
- The Nordkette cable cars reach the Seegrube and Hafelekar terraces, high above the city, in about 20–30 minutes from the old town.
- The Golden Roof, the Hofburg and the Hofkirche with Emperor Maximilian I's bronze-figure cenotaph trace the Habsburgs' Tyrolean court.
- Zaha Hadid designed both the Bergisel ski jump and the Hungerburg funicular stations, so modern architecture sits alongside the Baroque.
- Several ski areas, including the Stubai Glacier, the Nordkette and the Patscherkofel, are reached by cable car or ski bus from the city.
- Hall in Tirol, Swarovski Crystal Worlds, Seefeld and the Achensee are within an hour, and Munich and Salzburg about two hours by train.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 17 things to do.
Landmark · Altstadt
Golden Roof
The late-Gothic oriel balcony on Herzog-Friedrich-Straße is roofed with 2,657 fire-gilded copper tiles and was built around 1500 for Emperor Maximilian I to watch events in the square below.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Viewpoint · Hungerburg
Nordkette cable cars
The Hungerburgbahn funicular, with stations designed by Zaha Hadid, climbs from the Congress stop near the old town to the Hungerburg; two cable cars continue to Seegrube at about 1,905 metres and Hafelekar at about 2,256 metres.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Views
- Active
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
- Kids
Architecture · Wilten
Bergisel Ski Jump
The ski jump on the Bergisel hill, rebuilt to a design by Zaha Hadid and opened in 2002, hosts a Four Hills Tournament event every winter.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Architecture
- Kids
- Iconic
Palace · Altstadt
Hofburg Innsbruck
The Habsburgs' Tyrolean residence was rebuilt in Rococo style under Maria Theresa in the 18th century.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Religious site · Altstadt
Hofkirche
The Court Church holds the cenotaph of Emperor Maximilian I, surrounded by 28 larger-than-life bronze statues of his ancestors and heroes, among them King Arthur, cast in the 16th century.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
Museum · Altstadt
Tyrolean Folk Art Museum
Next to the Hofkirche, the Tiroler Volkskunstmuseum displays wood-panelled farmhouse parlours, costumes, painted furniture, nativity scenes and crafts from across the Tyrol.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Where to stay
Altstadt is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 7 areas.
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples and culture
Altstadt
Gothic arcades, painted façades and the Golden Roof within the old town ring
$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping, families and budget
Innenstadt and Maria-Theresien-Straße
Shopping streets, St. Anne's Column and the main station south of the old town
$$ · Best for couples, food lovers and quiet stays
Mariahilf and St. Nikolaus
Colourful riverfront houses and old inns on the north bank of the Inn
$$ · Best for budget, nightlife and solo travellers
Wilten
A residential quarter with a Rococo basilica, an abbey and bars under the railway arches
What to eat
- Tiroler Gröstl — Fried potatoes with onions and pieces of pork or beef, finished with a fried egg and often served in the pan with cabbage salad.
- Kaspressknödel — Flattened cheese and bread dumplings fried until golden and served in clear beef broth or with sauerkraut or salad.
- Speckknödel — Bread dumplings studded with smoked Tyrolean speck, served in broth or with sauerkraut, one of the oldest dishes of the region.
- Tiroler Speck — Cured, lightly smoked pork belly or ham protected by a PGI designation, sliced thin and eaten on a wooden board (Brettljause) with bread, cheese, pickles and horseradish.
- Kasspatzln — Small egg noodles (spätzle) baked with grated mountain cheese and topped with crispy fried onions, served in a hot pan.
- Schlutzkrapfen — Half-moon pasta parcels made with rye dough, filled with spinach and quark, and served with melted butter and grated Parmesan or mountain cheese.
When to go
Innsbruck has two seasons: June to September for hiking, alpine huts and cable cars, and December to March for skiing, Christmas markets and the Four Hills Tournament. September is a good all-round month with stable weather and fewer visitors. April, May and November are quieter between seasons, when some lifts and huts close.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Spring skiing at altitude in March, then a quiet, changeable shoulder season with green valleys and some lifts closed for maintenance. |
| Summer | June–August | Warm valley days, open huts and cable cars for hiking, mountain biking and festivals, with frequent afternoon thunderstorms. |
| Autumn | September–November | Settled September hiking, golden larches in October and quiet weeks before the Christmas markets open. |
| Winter | December–February | Snowy, cold and busy, with several ski areas nearby, Christmas markets and the Bergisel ski jumping in early January. |
Getting there and around
Innsbruck Airport is about 4 km west of the centre; city buses reach the Hauptbahnhof and old town in about 20 minutes and taxis take about 10–15 minutes. Munich Airport, with more international flights, is about two hours away by road or by train via Munich Hauptbahnhof.
Central Innsbruck is small and walkable: the old town, Maria-Theresien-Straße and the main station are within 10–15 minutes of each other. IVB trams and buses cover the city and nearby villages, and the Nordkette funicular starts on the edge of the old town.
Plan your days
Two days covers the old town, the Hofburg and Hofkirche, Schloss Ambras and a trip up the Nordkette. A third day adds Bergisel and the Alpenzoo or a day trip to Hall or Swarovski Crystal Worlds; a week suits hiking or skiing holidays.
Practical information
- Currency
- EUR
- Language
- German
- Plugs
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe and comes from mountain springs; public fountains are common.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number); 140 for alpine rescue
- Tipping
- Round up or add about 5–10% in restaurants, telling the server the total you want to pay when they bring the bill, rather than leaving coins on the table.
Innsbruck is calm for visitors. The main risks are in the mountains: sudden weather changes, afternoon thunderstorms in summer and avalanche risk off-piste in winter. Stay on marked trails and slopes and check the forecast.
Flights to Innsbruck
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Innsbruck?
Two days covers the old town, the Hofburg and Hofkirche, Schloss Ambras and a trip up the Nordkette. A third day adds Bergisel and the Alpenzoo or a day trip to Hall or Swarovski Crystal Worlds; a week suits hiking or skiing holidays. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Innsbruck?
Innsbruck has two seasons: June to September for hiking, alpine huts and cable cars, and December to March for skiing, Christmas markets and the Four Hills Tournament. September is a good all-round month with stable weather and fewer visitors. April, May and November are quieter between seasons, when some lifts and huts close.
+What is Innsbruck known for?
Golden Roof, Nordkette cable cars, Bergisel ski jump, Habsburg heritage, Skiing, Alpine hiking, Christmas markets and Tyrolean food. The Nordkette cable cars reach the Seegrube and Hafelekar terraces, high above the city, in about 20–30 minutes from the old town.
+Is Innsbruck expensive?
Innsbruck is moderately priced for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $170–$300 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Innsbruck?
No for the city and most day trips: trains, trams and buses cover them. A car helps for remote valleys or ski resorts off the bus routes, but parking in central Innsbruck is limited and costly.