Where to stay · Innsbruck · Austria
Where to stay in Innsbruck
7 neighbourhoods compared, with the trade-offs hotel listings don't tell you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bede735c, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
For a first visit, stay in Altstadt. Gothic arcades, painted façades and the Golden Roof within the old town ring. Best alternatives — families: Innenstadt and Maria-Theresien-Straße; budget: Innenstadt and Maria-Theresien-Straße; nightlife: Wilten.
Key facts
- First visit
- Altstadt
- Families
- Innenstadt and Maria-Theresien-Straße
- Budget
- Innenstadt and Maria-Theresien-Straße
- Nightlife
- Wilten
Best area for each kind of trip
| Trip type | Area | Why |
|---|---|---|
| First-timers | Altstadt | Gothic arcades, painted façades and the Golden Roof within the old town ring |
| Families | Innenstadt and Maria-Theresien-Straße | Shopping streets, St. Anne's Column and the main station south of the old town |
| Couples | Altstadt | Gothic arcades, painted façades and the Golden Roof within the old town ring |
| Budget | Innenstadt and Maria-Theresien-Straße | Shopping streets, St. Anne's Column and the main station south of the old town |
| Luxury | Igls | A spa village on the southern slopes at the foot of the Patscherkofel |
| Nightlife | Wilten | A residential quarter with a Rococo basilica, an abbey and bars under the railway arches |
| Food lovers | Mariahilf and St. Nikolaus | Colourful riverfront houses and old inns on the north bank of the Inn |
| Solo travellers | Wilten | A residential quarter with a Rococo basilica, an abbey and bars under the railway arches |
| Shopping | Innenstadt and Maria-Theresien-Straße | Shopping streets, St. Anne's Column and the main station south of the old town |
| Quiet stays | Mariahilf and St. Nikolaus | Colourful riverfront houses and old inns on the north bank of the Inn |
Innsbruck neighbourhoods in detail
$$$ · Best for first-timers, couples and culture
Altstadt
The compact old town is a horseshoe of arcaded streets around Herzog-Friedrich-Straße, bounded by the Inn and the Hofburg. Houses date from the 15th and 16th centuries, with the Golden Roof, the Stadtturm and the Helblinghaus at the centre and the Hungerburg funicular a few minutes' walk away. Hotels are in historic buildings and the lanes are largely car-free.
- Good
- Everything on foot, including the Nordkette funicular; Atmospheric at night; Christmas markets on the doorstep
- Watch out
- Crowded with day-trippers at midday; Rooms can be small and pricey
- Nearby
- Golden Roof, Hofburg, Hofkirche, Innsbruck Cathedral
$$ · Best for first-timers, shopping, families and budget
Innenstadt and Maria-Theresien-Straße
Maria-Theresien-Straße runs south from the old town past St. Anne's Column and the Triumphal Arch, with the Nordkette as a backdrop. The streets between it and the Hauptbahnhof hold department stores, the Rathausgalerien, the Ferdinandeum museum and many mid-range hotels, all a short walk from both the station and the old town.
- Good
- Close to the main station and airport bus; Wide choice of hotels; Shops and cafés
- Watch out
- Traffic and trams on the main roads; Less charm than the old town
- Nearby
- St. Anne's Column, Hauptbahnhof, Ferdinandeum, Triumphpforte
$$ · Best for couples, food lovers and quiet stays
Mariahilf and St. Nikolaus
Across the Inn bridge from the old town, the pastel houses of Mariahilf line the river in the city's classic postcard view, with the older St. Nikolaus quarter behind them climbing towards the Hungerburg. Traditional inns and small restaurants are scattered through the lanes, and the old town is five minutes away on foot.
- Good
- Classic river views; Quieter than the old town; Good traditional inns
- Watch out
- Fewer hotels; Steep lanes towards the Hungerburg
- Nearby
- Innbrücke, Alpenzoo, Hungerburg
$$ · Best for budget, nightlife and solo travellers
Wilten
South of the station, Wilten is one of Innsbruck's oldest districts, centred on Wilten Basilica and the Premonstratensian Wilten Abbey. Its streets of 19th-century apartment blocks have local cafés, the Grassmayr bell foundry and, along the railway viaduct, the Bögen bars. Bergisel and the Stubaitalbahn tram line start here.
- Good
- Local feel and good value; Close to Bergisel; Bars and cafés nearby
- Watch out
- Fewer sights within the district; Railway noise near the viaduct
- Nearby
- Wilten Basilica, Bergisel Ski Jump, Tirol Panorama, Grassmayr bell foundry
$$$ · Best for quiet stays, families and couples
Saggen
Saggen is an elegant residential district of villas and apartment blocks laid out around 1900, between the Hofgarten and the Inn. It is calm, green and close to the Congress centre and the Hungerburg funicular, with a handful of small hotels and guesthouses.
- Good
- Quiet and leafy; Walk to the old town in 10–15 minutes; Close to the Nordkette
- Watch out
- Few restaurants; Limited hotel choice
- Nearby
- Hofgarten, Congress Innsbruck, Hungerburgbahn
$$$ · Best for quiet stays, couples and families
Hungerburg
The Hungerburg plateau, at about 860 metres, is reached in a few minutes by funicular from the city centre. It has guesthouses and hotels with views over the valley, walking trails into the Nordkette and the cable car to Seegrube and Hafelekar starting right there.
- Good
- Mountain views and trails from the door; Quiet nights; Quick funicular to town
- Watch out
- Funicular last runs limit late evenings; Few shops and restaurants
- Nearby
- Seegrube, Hafelekar, Alpenzoo
$$$ · Best for quiet stays, luxury and families
Igls
Igls, part of Innsbruck since 1942, sits on a terrace about 900 metres up, around 15 minutes by bus from the city. It is the base station of the Patscherkofelbahn and has the Olympic bobsleigh track used in the 1964 and 1976 Winter Games. Hotels include several spa properties, and walking trails start in the village.
- Good
- Alpine village setting; Ski and hike from the village; Spa hotels
- Watch out
- Bus or car needed for the city; Quiet evenings
- Nearby
- Patscherkofel, Olympic bobsleigh track, Lanser See
Areas compared
| Area | Price | Nearby |
|---|---|---|
| Altstadt | $$$ | Golden Roof, Hofburg, Hofkirche, Innsbruck Cathedral |
| Innenstadt and Maria-Theresien-Straße | $$ | St. Anne's Column, Hauptbahnhof, Ferdinandeum, Triumphpforte |
| Mariahilf and St. Nikolaus | $$ | Innbrücke, Alpenzoo, Hungerburg |
| Wilten | $$ | Wilten Basilica, Bergisel Ski Jump, Tirol Panorama, Grassmayr bell foundry |
| Saggen | $$$ | Hofgarten, Congress Innsbruck, Hungerburgbahn |
| Hungerburg | $$$ | Seegrube, Hafelekar, Alpenzoo |
| Igls | $$$ | Patscherkofel, Olympic bobsleigh track, Lanser See |
Getting to your hotel
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.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best area to stay in Innsbruck for first-time visitors?
Altstadt. The compact old town is a horseshoe of arcaded streets around Herzog-Friedrich-Straße, bounded by the Inn and the Hofburg.
+Where should families stay in Innsbruck?
Innenstadt and Maria-Theresien-Straße: Close to the main station and airport bus.
+Which area of Innsbruck is best for a budget stay?
Innenstadt and Maria-Theresien-Straße ($$): Shopping streets, St. Anne's Column and the main station south of the old town.