Photo: Erbb · CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Innsbruck
An imperial old town with Alpine peaks rising from the end of the street.
A small Habsburg city in a deep Alpine valley, with a medieval old town, an imperial palace and mountains rising straight from the end of the streets. The Nordkette cable car up to the peaks costs more than most sights here, often around €50 or more return; the Innsbruck Card may include it (check).
Places to see
- Golden Roof and the old townSight · A late-Gothic balcony on a corner of the old town, roofed with over two thousand gilded…Free
Imperial Palace (Hofburg)Museum · The Habsburgs' palace in Tyrol: a grand white-and-gold Giant's Hall lined with family…≈ A$23
Court Church (Hofkirche)Church · A church filled by an emperor's tomb guarded by 28 larger-than-life bronze statues of…≈ A$16
Inn riverside and the coloured houses
When to go
- Jan3° / -6°Some rainBusy
- Feb6° / -5°Some rainBusy
- Mar11° / 0°Some rainQuiet
- Apr16° / 4°Some rainQuiet
- May20° / 8°Often wetQuiet
- Jun24° / 12°Often wetBusy
- Jul25° / 13°Often wetVery busy
- Aug25° / 13°Often wetVery busy
- Sep
Staying and getting around
Good areas to stay
The centre and the station. Maria-Theresien-Strasse down to the main station and Wilten, with hostels and cheaper hotels, and the tram to Bergisel.
Mariahilf, St Nikolaus and the Hungerburg. Across the river: the coloured houses, old pubs, and the funicular climbing to the Hungerburg terrace.
Flying in
Innsbruck (INN): Bus F to the centre and the station, about 20 min, ≈ A$5. Munich airport is about 2–2.5 h away by train or coach if flights there are cheaper (check).
Flewaway's estimate for the usual budget way into Innsbruck; check times and fares before you fly.
Getting around
Mostly on foot. A single ticket is ≈ A$5. The old town, the river and the centre are walkable. Trams and buses reach Bergisel and Ambras; some stays come with a guest card for local transport (check). The Nordkette lifts start with the Hungerburg funicular near the old town.
Innsbruck Card (≈ A$105, 24 hours): Usually covers the Nordkette cable cars once, the museums and local transport; pays off if you ride the Nordkette and see two museums (check).
Tourist tax
Innsbruck's local tax: usually about €3 a person a night, added at check-in; children usually don't pay (check).
