History · Innsbruck · Austria
8 historic sites to see in Innsbruck
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Hafelekar, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Golden Roof, Hofburg Innsbruck and Hofkirche. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 8–10 hours across 3 areas; 1 is free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 1
- Time to see them all
- 8–10 hours
- Areas
- Altstadt, Wilten and Amras
Historic sites in Innsbruck
Landmark · Altstadt
1.Golden Roof
A small museum inside covers Maximilian's life, and the Baroque-stuccoed Helblinghaus stands opposite.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Palace · Altstadt
2.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.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Religious site · Altstadt
3.Hofkirche
The Tyrolean hero Andreas Hofer is buried here, and the adjoining Silver Chapel has a Renaissance organ.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
Museum · Altstadt
4.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
Museum · Wilten
5.Tirol Panorama
The Kaiserjäger military museum is linked by a corridor.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
Castle · Amras
6.Schloss Ambras
The park has a waterfall and peacocks.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
- Outdoors
Viewpoint · Altstadt
7.Stadtturm
It gives a close-up view over the old-town roofs, the Golden Roof and the mountains.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- History
- Kids
Museum · Wilten
8.Grassmayr Bell Foundry
Bells for churches around the world are still cast here.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Altstadt | Golden Roof, Hofburg Innsbruck, Hofkirche, Tyrolean Folk Art Museum and Stadtturm | 30 minutes + 1–1.5 hours + 45 minutes + 1–1.5 hours + 30 minutes |
| Wilten | Tirol Panorama and Grassmayr Bell Foundry | 1 hour + 1 hour |
| Amras | Schloss Ambras | 2–3 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 1 free, 5 low cost, 2 mid-priced. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Schloss Ambras; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 2 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Altstadt): Golden Roof → Hofburg Innsbruck → Hofkirche → Tyrolean Folk Art Museum → Stadtturm, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Wilten and Amras): Tirol Panorama → Grassmayr Bell Foundry → Schloss Ambras, at least 4 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- October: highs of 16°C (61°F), about 9 rainy days, quiet crowds. Golden larches and crisp air; huts close through the month and the first snow can fall on the peaks.
- November: highs of 9°C (48°F), about 9 rainy days, quiet crowds. Grey and quiet between seasons until the Christmas markets open in mid-month.
- April: highs of 16°C (61°F), about 10 rainy days, quiet crowds. Changeable spring weather; ski season ends and some cable cars pause for maintenance between seasons.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Altstadt — Gothic arcades, painted façades and the Golden Roof within the old town ring
- Wilten — A residential quarter with a Rococo basilica, an abbey and bars under the railway arches
More of Innsbruck
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Innsbruck?
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.
+Which of these are free in Innsbruck?
Golden Roof.