A Tour of Innsbruck

12 Incredible Things to Do in Innsbruck

Having hosted the Winter Olympics twice, Innsbruck is surrounded by splendid mountains and is renowned worldwide for its fantastic winter sports facilities. Although the incredible alpine scenery is everywhere, Innsbruck is a joy to the eyes in itself, since wonderful architecture is always present in the form of castles, churches and palaces, and its delightful old town looks like something out of a fairy tale.

Indeed, it was from here that the Counts of Tyrol and later Emperor Maximilian I held so much power, thanks also to Innsbruck's strategic position. Full of history, there is plenty for visitors to see and do, and tourists will be stunned by the beauty on display in the Capital of the Alps.

12Helblinghaus

Located in the historic centre, the Gothic and Baroque façade of the Helblinghaus is absolutely stunning and certainly deserves a stop in Innsbruck. Unique in design, the rich stucco decorations appear fairy-tale-like, while sculptures and motifs wind around the window frames and sills. Standing out among the rest of the surrounding buildings, the Helblinghaus dates back to the late Middle Ages.

11Stadtturm

Towering over the surrounding roofs, the Stadtturm looks imperiously over the city and is one of the main landmarks. Fading the medieval buildings of the historic centre, it was here that the guards kept watch for fires and invading forces; at one point it was used as a prison. From the viewing platform at the top, there are fantastic views of the Inn river, the historic centre and Innsbruck itself, with all the magnificent mountains surrounding it on every side.

10Hofburg

Built as far back as 1400, the Imperial Palace of Innsbruck - otherwise known as the Hofburg - is a dazzling white, standing out magnificently against the green of the surrounding gardens and the perfect blue sky above. With various architectural styles, the palace housed various emperors and empresses over the centuries. The luxurious apartments inside are fascinating to wander through, with sumptuous ornaments and decorations wherever you look. The Riesensaal is particularly surprising; frescoes cover the ceiling and refined portraits line the walls. With so much to see and do in the palace, visitors will certainly leave having learned a great deal about the history of Austria, as well as that of all the royals who lived here.

9Dom zu St. Jakob

Innsbruck's cathedral, as it is known, is a magnificent building. Visitors to the city can hardly fail to notice it, since it is such an important and recognisable religious landmark. Circular windows frame the Baroque façade, which is delightfully framed by two bell towers, and the interior is no less beautiful to contemplate. With some wonderful painted ceilings, a beautifully and finely carved pulpit and marble altars, wandering around the Dom zu St. Jakob is an experience worth having. Almost destroyed during the Second World War, the cathedral is today one of the city's most popular tourist sites.

8Alpenzoo

Alpenzoo Innsbruck's wonderful alpine zoo is a fantastic day out ideal for the whole family. Most of the animals come from the Alps themselves or are native to mountainous areas. The animals seem to be very happy; their spacious enclosures are designed to replicate their natural habitats. Visitors can admire the large brown bears and the fierce-looking wolves before moving on to the cute and playful otters. With over 2000 animals on show and a fantastic aquarium, Alpenzoo is fantastic and visitors will learn a great deal about all the animals that live there.

7Maria-Theresien-Strasse

One of Innsbruck's liveliest streets, Maria-Theresien-Strasse, is delightful to walk along. Beautiful 17th- and 18th-century buildings line it, and there are numerous shops, restaurants and cafés full of locals and tourists at the same time. Numerous historic buildings and monuments are scattered about, and visitors can admire sights such as the Town Hall, the Column of St. Anne with its statues and the splendid Altes Landhaus, a beautiful Baroque palace. At one end of the long street is the imperious Triumphpforte, which dates back to 1765 and celebrates the marriage of Emperor Leopold II, while at the other end there is a magnificent view of the mountains overlooking Innsbruck.

6Bergiselschanze

Renowned worldwide as a winter sports centre, Innsbruck has twice hosted the Winter Olympics and Paralympics. The imposing Bergiselschanze was then built following the games that took place here. The ski jump is set into the side of a hill and the mind boggles at the speed the skiers must reach as they descend before launching themselves down below. With a café and a viewing platform at the top, visitors can enjoy the fantastic view of the city below. Once the site of an important battle - where the Tyroleans rose up and freed themselves from the occupying forces that had a hold on Innsbruck - there is a memorial, a monument and a tomb for visitors to see alongside the towering Bergiselschanze.

5Hofkirche

This late Gothic church is a joy to see, such is the art on display. It was commissioned by Emperor Ferdinand I in 1553. While the exterior is not particularly special, it is the interior that will make your heart beat faster. Marble columns line the nave and a remarkable quantity of 28 bronze statues are scattered here and there. Depicting some of the earlier Habsburg emperors, famous contemporaries such as Leopold III and mythical heroes such as King Arthur, they are a unique feature that makes the Hofkirche so interesting to wander around. While they are fascinating in themselves, it is the glorious tomb of Maximilian I that is the church's crowning glory, with its delightful decorations, the engravings and the enormous sarcophagus; 24 reliefs depict important events of his life - simply breathtaking.

4Ambras Castle

Not far from Innsbruck lies the majestic Schloss Ambras, one of the most popular tourist attractions among visitors to the city. It was here that Archduke Ferdinand resided. Surrounded by lush gardens and grounds, the castle is fascinating to visit, with the interior of particular interest; it houses numerous suits of armour, many beautiful sculptures and a delightful art collection. One of the highlights is the spectacular Spanish Hall, which shows off the best of German Renaissance art and architecture so beautifully; wonderful frescoes line the walls beneath the finely decorated ceiling. In addition to this, the adorable St. Nicholas chapel is also worth exploring, as are the interesting cabins.

3Goldenes Dachl

Located in Innsbruck's historic centre, the golden roof is stunning. The rich ornaments around the windows and the gilded copper tiles of the roof shine before your eyes. Built in 1496, it is one of the city's most famous landmarks. While the arcade itself won't give you that much to see, the museum is a captivating place and documents the life and times of Maximilian I; the Golden Roof was in fact erected to commemorate his marriage. Indeed, it was from the balcony below the roof that the court used to watch the festivities staged for their amusement in the square below. With lots of information on offer, interactive installations and interesting objects to see, the Goldenes Dachl Museum will teach you a great deal about the history of Innsbruck and about the emperor himself.

2Skiing

Nestled among the mountains, it's no surprise that Innsbruck is home to some of the best ski slopes and ski resorts in the world. Closest to the city is the Nordpark, with views so beautiful to offer, as well as many fantastic ski slopes that satisfy all levels. This place is considered the main ski destination in all of Austria. With over 500 kilometres of slopes for skiers and snowboarders, taking a run down the slopes and breathing the fresh mountain air is absolutely not to be missed when visiting Innsbruck.

1Nordkettenbahnen

The Nordkettenbahnen takes you from the centre of Innsbruck up to the extraordinary scenery of the Nordkette mountain and in just twenty minutes your surroundings change completely from those of a lively city to an unspoiled and picturesque mountain environment. Starting from the Hungerburgbahn funicular, you cross the Inn river before taking the funicular to Seegrubenbahn, where you transfer onto a chairlift for the second leg of the journey. The highest point of the Nordkette can be reached by taking the Hafelekar chairlift.

At the various stops, there are numerous activities at hand and you can go rock climbing, hiking and even skiing in the upper part of the mountain, or simply sit in one of the restaurants and drink in the breathtaking view. Surprisingly, the 360-degree panoramas will live long in the memory, and looking down on Innsbruck far, far below is an incredible experience with the panoramic mountains all around you. Riding the Nordkettenbahnen is therefore a must when visiting this picturesque alpine city.