3 days in Innsbruck

Day by day

1. Day 1: Golden Roof and Hofburg Innsbruck

   Golden Roof, Hofburg Innsbruck and Hofkirche, then Bögen in the evening.

   1. Morning

      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.

   2. Late morning

      Hofburg Innsbruck

      Combine it with the Hofkirche and the Hofgarten, both a minute's walk away.

   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 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.

   5. 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 and Bergisel Ski Jump, then Altstadt in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Nordkette cable cars

      Check the webcams before buying and go up in the morning, when clouds often build over the peaks later in the day.

   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

      Have a drink in the café near the top for the view straight down the in-run to the city.

   5. Evening

      Altstadt

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

3. Day 3: Tyrolean Folk Art Museum and Innsbruck Cathedral

   Tyrolean Folk Art Museum, Innsbruck Cathedral and Stadtturm, then Marktgraben and Anichstraße in the evening.

   1. Morning

      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.

   2. Late morning

      Innsbruck Cathedral

      Look up at the painted dome illusions before approaching the altar.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Speckknödel

      Inns and mountain huts across Innsbruck and the surrounding valleys.

   4. Afternoon

      Stadtturm

      The 14th-century city tower next to the old town hall has a viewing gallery at about 31 metres reached by a spiral staircase of around 150 steps.

   5. Evening

      Marktgraben and Anichstraße

      Cocktail bars and student pubs around the old town's edge and the university.

Before you go

If it rains

• Swap in Tirol Panorama (Wilten): Visit with the Bergisel Ski Jump next door on the same afternoon.
• Swap in Schloss Ambras (Amras): Take the shuttle or tram and bus from the centre and allow time for the park.
• 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

With 3 nights, Altstadt keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Innenstadt and Maria-Theresien-Straße ($$) suits first-timers, shopping, families and budget. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 10–14 hours of visiting over 3 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.

More or fewer days

• One day in Innsbruck
• 2 days in Innsbruck

Questions travellers ask