Innsbruck, Austria: travel guide
Alpine city of the Tirol, set beneath the Nordkette mountain range
Alpine capital of Tirol framed by the Nordkette range, known for the Golden Roof, Imperial history and world-class skiing.
About Innsbruck
Innsbruck is an Alpine capital where the old town is ringed by mountains that rise almost straight from the streets. The Nordkette range towers over the Inn valley, and cable cars lift you from the centre to rocky ridgelines in minutes.
In the old town, the Golden Roof, a balcony covered in gilded tiles, draws the eye, while the Hofburg and Maria-Theresien-Strasse speak of the Habsburg past. Ambras Castle stands on a hill to the south-east, and the Alpine Zoo is set on the slopes above town. Skiing in winter and hiking in summer are within easy reach.
Innsbruck suits active travellers who also want a proper city. Winter is for snow, summer for walking.
- Country
- Austria
- Currency
- EUR
- Time zone
- Europe/Vienna
- Nearest airport
- INN
Last updated
Top places to visit in Innsbruck
Golden Roof (Goldenes Dachl)
landmark · about 0.5 h · entry €5 (≈ ₹570)
Late-Gothic oriel balcony roofed with 2,657 fire-gilded copper tiles, Innsbruck's emblem, built for Emperor Maximilian I.
Nordkette (Hafelekar)
mountain · about 3 h · entry €44 (≈ ₹4,690)
Cable-car ascent from the city to 2,256 m on the Karwendel range for sweeping alpine panoramas.
Swarovski Kristallwelten
art museum · about 2.5 h · entry €23 (≈ ₹2,450)
Crystal-themed art and experience world in nearby Wattens, entered through a grass-covered giant's head.
Ambras Castle (Schloss Ambras)
castle · about 2 h · entry €16 (≈ ₹1,710)
Renaissance castle set in gardens, home to the Chamber of Art and Wonders and the Spanish Hall.
Bergisel Ski Jump
sports venue · about 1.3 h · entry €11 (≈ ₹1,170)
Zaha Hadid-designed Olympic ski jump with a panorama terrace and café over the city and Alps.
Court Church (Hofkirche)
court church · about 0.8 h · entry €12 (≈ ₹1,280)
Gothic court church housing Emperor Maximilian I's cenotaph guarded by 28 larger-than-life bronze figures.
Maria-Theresien-Straße
boulevard · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate
Grand boulevard with the Annasäule column and Nordkette backdrop, the city's main shopping axis.
Alpine Zoo (Alpenzoo)
zoo · about 2 h · entry €14 (≈ ₹1,440)
Europe's highest-altitude zoo, dedicated to alpine fauna from ibex to bearded vultures.
Imperial Palace (Hofburg)
palace · about 1.5 h · entry €12 (≈ ₹1,280)
Habsburg residence remodelled by Maria Theresa, with lavish Rococo state rooms.
Cathedral of St. James (Dom)
cathedral · about 0.5 h · check the fee at the gate
Baroque cathedral with a Cranach Madonna and richly frescoed ceilings.
Things to do
- Nordkette Cable Car Ascent Sightseeing · 3 h · from EUR 44 per person
- Innsbruck Old Town Guided Walk Tour · 2 h · from EUR 16 per person
- Swarovski Kristallwelten Visit Sightseeing · 3 h · from EUR 23 per person
- Bergisel Ski Jump & Tirol Panorama Sightseeing · 2 h · from EUR 15 per person
- Nordkette Guided Hike Adventure · 5 h · from EUR 65 per person
Day trips and tours
- Innsbruck City & Nordkette Panorama 5 h · from EUR 69
Where to stay in Innsbruck
- Altstadt about EUR 170 per night
Innsbruck's medieval core around the Golden Roof, close to everything.
- Wilten about EUR 130 per night
Leafy quarter near Bergisel and the university, quieter with good value.
Hotels
- Grand Hotel Europa 5-star · EUR 200 to EUR 420 per night
- aDLERS Hotel Innsbruck 4-star · EUR 140 to EUR 260 per night
- Hotel Innsbruck 4-star · EUR 130 to EUR 230 per night
- Nala Individuellhotel 4-star · EUR 120 to EUR 220 per night
- Youth Hostel Innsbruck 2-star · EUR 26 to EUR 80 per night
Where to eat
- Stiftskeller Austrian, Tyrolean · about EUR 25 per person
- Die Wilderin Austrian, Modern European · about EUR 32 per person
- Cafe Katzung Cafe, Austrian · about EUR 15 per person
- Mamma Mia Italian, Pizza · about EUR 18 per person
- Seegrube Restaurant Austrian, Tyrolean · about EUR 24 per person
Getting to Innsbruck
Airport: Innsbruck (INN)
How visitors arrive in Innsbruck
- Direct trains to Innsbruck Hbf By train from Munich, Zürich, Vienna, Venice · common
Direct trains arrive at the main station from Munich, Zürich, Vienna, Venice and other cities; Nightjet sleepers run to Brussels and Amsterdam. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Fly into Innsbruck (INN) By air · common
Tyrol's largest airport, with scheduled flights from Vienna, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, London and others, plus extra winter routes. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Motorway A12 or A13 By road from Munich, Brenner · common
Reached by the A12 Inntal and A13 Brenner motorways; heavy traffic is common on weekends and in ski season. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Fly into Munich, continue by train By air from Munich · possible
Munich and Salzburg airports are also used and connect onward by train. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
From the airport to the centre
- Bus line F to the centre
Bus line F links Innsbruck Airport (INN, Kranebitten) with the city centre. Source: bypass.innsbruck-airport.com
- Validate your public transport ticket on your first trip. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
From the railway station to the centre
- Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof
Direct trains arrive from Munich, Zürich, Venice, Vienna and Graz at the main station on Südtiroler Platz, east of the centre. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- From the main station the Old Town is a walk away, so most visitors need no transport. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Validate your public transport ticket on your first trip. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
From the bus terminal to the centre
- Long-distance bus station
The regional and international bus station is next to the main station. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
- Validate your public transport ticket on your first trip. Source: en.wikivoyage.org
Getting around
- Bus
A dense bus network run by Innsbrucker Verkehrsbetriebe and private operators covers Innsbruck, on the same regional ticket system as the trams and trains.
- Tram
Several tram lines serve Innsbruck; line 6 runs up to the mountain village of Igls and the STB line reaches villages in the Stubai valley.
- Walking
Safety and scams to avoid
Cable-car ticket confusion
Nordkette / Hungerburg
Tourists overpay by buying separate segment tickets instead of the combined return.
How to avoid it: Buy the through-ticket to Hafelekar to save; check the current combined price.
Best time to visit Innsbruck
- Jan 4°C
- Feb 7°C
- Mar 12°C
- Apr 17°C
- May 20°C
- Jun 24°C
- Jul 25°C
- Aug 24°C
- Sep 21°C
- Oct 16°C
- Nov 9°C
- Dec 4°C
More in Austria
Frequently asked questions about Innsbruck
- What are the main places to visit in Innsbruck?
- Places covered in our Innsbruck guide include Golden Roof (Goldenes Dachl), Nordkette (Hafelekar), Swarovski Kristallwelten, Ambras Castle (Schloss Ambras), Bergisel Ski Jump.
- Where should I stay in Innsbruck?
- Our guide covers these areas to stay in Innsbruck: Altstadt, Wilten.
- How do I get around Innsbruck?
- Ways to get around Innsbruck covered in our guide: City bus, Tram, Walking.
- What scams should I watch out for in Innsbruck?
- Scams reported to us for Innsbruck include Cable-car ticket confusion. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.
- What is the weather like in Innsbruck?
- Average daytime highs in Innsbruck run from 4°C in Jan to 25°C in Jul.
- Which airport is nearest to Innsbruck?
- The nearest airport to Innsbruck has the code INN.