Getting around · Innsbruck · Austria
Getting around Innsbruck
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Hafelekar, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
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. No for the city and most day trips: trains, trams and buses cover them.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- INN, MUC
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- Innsbruck Card
Ways to get around
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.
Tram
IVB trams link the station, the centre, Wilten and outer districts; the Stubaitalbahn tram runs up the Stubai valley to Fulpmes.
Buy tickets from machines or the IVB app before boarding.
Bus
City buses serve districts such as Igls and Amras, and regional and ski buses reach the surrounding ski areas and valleys.
Cable car
The Hungerburgbahn funicular and the Nordkette cable cars link the city to Hungerburg, Seegrube and Hafelekar; the Patscherkofelbahn runs from Igls.
Cycling
The flat valley floor and riverside paths along the Inn suit cycling, and e-bikes are popular for climbing to Hungerburg and Igls.
Train
ÖBB trains from the Hauptbahnhof reach Hall in Tirol in about 10 minutes, Seefeld in about 35 minutes, Salzburg in under two hours and Munich in about 1 hour 45 minutes.
Tickets and passes
Innsbruck Card
A 24-, 48- or 72-hour card covering public transport, one trip on the Nordkette and other lifts, and entry to many of the main museums and sights; check the current list before buying.
Welcome Card
Guests staying overnight in the region receive a card with benefits such as free guided hikes and discounts; check what it currently includes when you check in.
From the airport
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.
Do you need a car?
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.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Hall in Tirol | About 10 minutes by train | ÖBB train from Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof |
| Swarovski Crystal Worlds | About 25 minutes by shuttle bus | Shuttle bus from central Innsbruck, or train to Wattens |
| Seefeld in Tirol | About 35 minutes by train | Train on the Karwendel line from the Hauptbahnhof |
| Stubai Glacier | About 1 hour 15 minutes by bus | Stubai valley bus from the Hauptbahnhof |
| Achensee | About 1–1.5 hours by train and bus | Train to Jenbach, then a regional bus up to the lake |
| Salzburg | About 1 hour 50 minutes by train | ÖBB Railjet from Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof |
| Munich | About 1 hour 45 minutes by train | Direct train from Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof |
Questions travellers ask
+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.
+How do you get from the airport to Innsbruck?
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.
+What is the best way to get around Innsbruck?
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.