2 days in Innsbruck

Day by day

1. Day 1: Golden Roof and Hofburg Innsbruck

   Golden Roof, Hofburg Innsbruck, Hofkirche and Tyrolean Folk Art Museum, then Bögen in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Golden Roof

      A small museum inside covers Maximilian's life, and the Baroque-stuccoed Helblinghaus stands opposite.

   2. Late morning

      Hofburg Innsbruck

      Its state rooms include the Giant's Hall with ceiling frescoes and portraits of the empress's family, and the Empress Elisabeth (Sisi) apartments.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Tiroler Gröstl

      Traditional inns in the old town, St. Nikolaus and almost every alpine hut above the city.

   4. Afternoon

      Hofkirche

      The Tyrolean hero Andreas Hofer is buried here, and the adjoining Silver Chapel has a Renaissance organ.

   5. Late afternoon

      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.

   6. Evening

      Bögen

      Bars and small clubs in the arches of the railway viaduct along Ingenieur-Etzel-Straße, east of the station.

2. Day 2: Nordkette cable cars and Alpenzoo

   Nordkette cable cars, Alpenzoo, Bergisel Ski Jump and Tirol Panorama, then Altstadt in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Nordkette cable cars

      From the top, views stretch over the Inn valley to the Stubai and Zillertal Alps.

   2. Late morning

      Alpenzoo

      On the slope below the Hungerburg at about 750 metres, the Alpenzoo keeps only animals native to the Alps, including ibex, brown bears, wolves, lynx, bearded vultures and otters, in enclosures set into the hillside.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Kaspressknödel

      Tyrolean inns and mountain huts; ask for 'in der Suppe' for the broth version.

   4. Afternoon

      Bergisel Ski Jump

      A funicular and lift take visitors up to the viewing platform and café near the top, looking down the jump to the city and Wilten cemetery.

   5. Late afternoon

      Tirol Panorama

      The Kaiserjäger military museum is linked by a corridor.

   6. Evening

      Altstadt

      Pubs, wine bars and cellar bars in the old-town lanes, busy until late at weekends.

Before you go

If it rains

• Swap in Schloss Ambras (Amras): Take the shuttle or tram and bus from the centre and allow time for the park.
• Swap in Innsbruck Cathedral (Altstadt): Look up at the painted dome illusions before approaching the altar.
• Swap in Grassmayr Bell Foundry (Wilten): It is a 10-minute walk from the Hauptbahnhof and pairs well with Wilten Basilica.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 10–14 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 8.5 hours in December to 15.9 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Walking. Walking covers the old town, the Hofburg, the Hofgarten, the Inn riverside and the station; Wilten and Bergisel are about 20–25 minutes from the old town on foot.

More or fewer days

• One day in Innsbruck
• 3 days in Innsbruck

Questions travellers ask