Season guide · Innsbruck · Austria
Innsbruck in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bbb, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Snowy, cold and busy, with several ski areas nearby, Christmas markets and the Bergisel ski jumping in early January. Expect highs up to 6°C (43°F) and lows around -6°C (21°F), with about 24 rainy days across December–February. December–January are among the best months of the year to visit.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- -6°C (21°F) to 6°C (43°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 24
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3°C (37°F) | -6°C (21°F) | 8 | 8.9 h | 4/5 |
| February | 6°C (43°F) | -4°C (25°F) | 7 | 10.2 h | 4/5 |
| December | 3°C (37°F) | -4°C (25°F) | 9 | 8.5 h | 4/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 4°C (39°F) against a yearly 15°C (59°F), and 24 of the year's roughly 128 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 4/5 and hotel prices 4/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Four Hills Tournament ski jumping at Bergisel (usually early January)
- February: Carnival (Fasching) events (February)
- December: Christmas markets (usually until early January)
- December: New Year's Eve fireworks over the city (31 December)
Good choices for winter
Museum · Wilten
Grassmayr Bell Foundry
It is a 10-minute walk from the Hauptbahnhof and pairs well with Wilten Basilica.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Palace · Altstadt
Hofburg Innsbruck
The Habsburgs' Tyrolean residence was rebuilt in Rococo style under Maria Theresa in the 18th century.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Religious site · Altstadt
Hofkirche
A combined ticket covers the Tyrolean Folk Art Museum in the same building.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
Museum · Altstadt
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
Tirol Panorama
Visit with the Bergisel Ski Jump next door on the same afternoon.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Art
- Rainy day
Day trips in winter
- Stubai Glacier (About 1 hour 15 minutes by bus) — At the head of the Stubai valley, cable cars climb to the glacier ski area, where skiing usually runs from autumn into early summer.
- Achensee (About 1–1.5 hours by train and bus) — Tyrol's largest lake is a deep, turquoise fjord-like basin surrounded by the Karwendel and Rofan mountains, with boats, lakeside walks and cable cars from Maurach.
What to pack
- A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers
- Shoes with good grip for icy pavements
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Innsbruck?
Yes: December–January are among the best months. Snowy, cold and busy, with several ski areas nearby, Christmas markets and the Bergisel ski jumping in early January.
+What is the weather like in Innsbruck in winter?
Highs of up to 6°C (43°F) and lows around -6°C (21°F), with about 24 rainy days over the season.