Innsbruck City Guide: 10 things to do in Austria's alpine city
Please note: All information listed below is up to date as of May 2023
Tucked away within the shadows of the surrounding Alps lies Innsbruck, Austria.
A mountainous paradise that’s known for its rich Tirolean history and the epicenter of winter sports, having hosted the Olympics in both 1964 and 1976.
To this day, it remains one of my favorite European cities of all time and by the end of this post, you should have a pretty good idea as to why!
Let’s explore 10 of the top things to do when in Innsbruck, Austria.
1. SAVOR A STRUDEL AT CAFE KROLL
Nestled within Innsbruck’s old town, Cafe Kroll serves up some of the city’s best homemade strudel as voted by tourists and locals alike.
You can be sure to find a steady stream of customers from the moment the doors open in the morning straight until closing. It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of variety offered, but I would personally recommend giving the apricot and hazelnut strudel a try if in the mood for something sweet or the spinach and feta for savory.
Pro Tip: Cafe Kroll offers several gluten-free items, so there’s no excuse to stay away!
Hours: 6am - 9pm daily
Address: Hofgasse 6, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Website: www.strudel-cafe.at
2. EXPERIENCE THE JEWEL OF THE ALPS
Widely known as the “jewel of the Alps", the Nordkette mountain range sits just north of Innsbruck and rises to 8,651 feet at its highest point (Kleiner Solstein Peak) and is part of Austria’s largest Nature Park, the Karwendel.
Find your way to Innsbruck’s Hungerburgbahn Station and hop in the Hungerburg Funicular before catching a tram up to Seegrube (6,250ft.) and Hafelekar (7,401ft.) to enjoy the panoramic views of the city and surrounding mountains.
In the winter months, the area becomes a popular ski destination, the Hafekeler run being one of the steepest in all of Europe, and in the summer months, visitors can enjoy expansive hiking, climbing, and mountain biking.
It made for a great Christmas Day adventure during our most recent trip!
Pro tip: The Hungerburg Funicular will also take visitors to the Alpine Zoo, the highest in all of Europe. A combination ticket for the funicular and zoo entry will cost 19 euros per person.
Helpful Hints: The funicular from Hungerburgbahn Station is operational from 7:15am - 7:15pm M-F, 8am - 7:15pm Saturday and Sunday and runs every 15 minutes. The Seegrube cable car is open daily from 8:30am - 7:30pm while the Hafelekar tram operates from 9am - 5pm daily. Both run every 15 minutes.
Address: Hungerburgbahn Station, Rennweg 3, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Cost: Varies based one how many trams you choose to take, but expect to pay around 36.50 euros per person to get from the Hungerburgbahn Station to the top of the Hafelekar cable car (ski pass not included).
Website: More information on the entire area can be found by clicking here.
View from the top of the Hafeleker cable car
3. LOSE YOURSELF IN THE LAND OF SWAROVSKI CRYSTALS
Opening in 1995, the Swarovski Kristallwelten (crystal worlds) welcomes tourists to wander around 17 different underground “chambers of wonder,” each filled with stunning crystal art created by international artists.
When strolling through the gardens, be sure to not miss the Crystal Cloud, a piece comprised of 800,000 hand-mounted Swarovski crystals. Another fan favorite is the Crystal Dome, a room that contains 595 mirrors all working together to create stunning lighting and reflections.
At the very least, exploring the halls is a humble reminder to keep saving your money!
Pro Tip: Although the Kristallwelten is located outside of Innsbruck, a shuttle runs back and forth 5-6 times a day from various locations and costs 10 euros for a round trip ticket. More info can be found here.
Address: Kristallweltenstrasse, Wattens, Austria
Hours: 8:30am - 7:00pm, daily
Cost: 19 euros or free with an Innsbruck Card.
Website: www.kristallwelten.swarovski.com
4. STEP INTO THE RENNAISSANCE AT AMBRAS CASTLE
Once home to Archduke Ferdinand II, Ambras Castle is located in the southern part of Innsbruck and can easily be reached by tram and bus.
Ferdinand II was the prince known for elevating arts and sciences to new levels during his lifetime and the castle’s residential rooms have been transformed into the Habsburg portrait gallery (open to visitors between April and October).
Tickets cost just 12 euros and can be purchased ahead of time by visiting the castle’s website.
Address: Schlossstrassse 20, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Hours: Daily from 10:00am - 5:00pm, closed during the month of November
Website: Click here for more information or to purchase tickets.
5. CLIMB TO THE TOP OF INNSBRUCK CITY TOWER
I’ve visited Innsbruck more times than I can count, often passing through for a day or two, but I always make sure to leave time to climb the 148 stairs to the top of the Innsbruck City Tower.
It’s easily my favorite 360-degree view of the city, standing amongst the rooftops and watching life pulsate through the city streets below.
When the tower was still operational, it was manned by watchmen who were tasked with announcing the time every hour and warning the townspeople of incoming danger. The building also housed a prison during the Middle Ages on the ground floor.
Costing only 4 euros per person, this is one of the best “bang for your buck” things to do in Innsbruck and it doesn’t take much time at all! Important note: There is NO elevator available, so it may not be suitable for everyone.
Address: Herzog-Friedrich-Strasse 21, Innsbruck, Austria
Hours: Daily from 10:00am - 5:00pm (winter) and 10:00am - 8:00pm (summer)
Website: Click here for more information
View from the top of the Innsbruck City Tower
6. DEVOUR A PLATE OF SPECK AT TIROLER SPECKERIA
Since 1909 Tiroler Speckeria has been serving up some of the best Tyrolean bacon, commonly known as speck, found in all of Innsbruck.
Do yourself a favor and order the specialty board (15 euros per person). It’s a great way to experience the diversity of Tyrolean flavors and I assure you it will be worth every cent.
If you’re short on time, the owners also offer up sandwiches to take on the go, but I’d recommend taking the time to sit down for a short meal. It’s hard to beat the ambiance and delicious food.
Address: Hofgasse 3, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Hours: Daily from 9:00am - 6:00pm
Website: www.speckeria.at
7. CATCH A LOCAL SPORTING EVENT
There are two main sporting events to check out: Football Club Wacker Innsbruck and Hockey Club Tiroler Wasserkraft Innsbruck.
Formed in 2002, FC Wacker plays their home matches at Tivoli Stadium in downtown Innsbruck and currently competes in the Austrian Football Second League. The 16,000-seat stadium played host to the likes of Spain, Russia, Sweden, and Greece during the 2008 European Championships.
HC Tiroler Wasserkraft plays across the street from Tivoli Stadium at the Olympia World Innsbruck Complex. Along with soccer and alpine skiing, ice hockey is one of the most popular sports in all of Austria, so rest assured you’ll be in for quite the local experience without the normal influx of tourists.
Be sure to check the competition schedules during your trip!
Address: Stadionstrasse 1, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
FC Wacker Innsbruck Website: https://fc-wacker-innsbruck.at/
HC Tiroler Wassercraft Innsbruck Website: https://www.hcinnsbruck.at/de-DE
8. REACH NEW HEIGHTS FROM THE TOP OF THE BERGISEL SKI JUMP
If you couldn’t tell already, I’m all about gaining new perspectives wherever I go in the world and the top of the Bergisel Ski Jump certainly offers a unique one!
Used in both the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics, the tower rises 47 meters towards the sky and features a restaurant at the top that rewards visitors with stunning 360-degree views of the surrounding mountains and city below.
The 28,000-seat stadium continues to hold the famed Four Hills Tournament each year, a staple of the winter sports world, so if you’re visiting in January then make sure to check a calendar ahead of time!
Address: Bergiselweg 3, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Hours: June to October from 9:00am - 6:00pm, November to May from 9:00am - 5:00pm
Entry Fee: 11 euros
Website: https://www.bergisel.info/at/
9. STROLL THROUGH INNSBRUCK’S OLD TOWN (ALTSTADT VON INNSBRUCK)
Take an afternoon to wander through Innsbruck’s 800-year-old city center and experience the charm and sophistication that exudes the mix of baroque and gothic architecture.
Walk along the Inn River to see the pastel-colored homes across the way, visit the Golden Roof and learn about the royal box where Emperor Maximillian I once watched over the city, or shop along the famed Maria-Theresien-Strasse.
Here is where you’ll stumble upon the Triumphal Arch which was commissioned in 1765 by Empress Maria Theresa to commemorate the marriage of her son to the Spanish Princess Maria Ludovica. Unfortunately, Maria Theresa’s husband passed away during the festivities, so the arch depicts a wedding on the southern facade and the mourning of her late husband on the northern. An interesting tale to say the least.
Golden Roof as seen from above
10. GO BACK IN TIME AT INNSBRUCK’S IMPERIAL PALACE
Constructed in the 1400s, the Imperial Palace is now split into several different museums including a furniture display, an ancestral gallery, and a painting gallery.
Next to the Vienna Hofburg and Schönbrunn, the Innsbruck Imperial Palace is amongst the three most significant cultural buildings in all of Austria!
Entry is free for children and only 9.90 euros for adults, making it a great value and the perfect rainy day activity.
If you’ve ever wondered what the inside of a palace looks like, this is the place to go!
Address: Kaiserliche Hofburg, Rennweg 1, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Hours: Daily from 9:00am - 5:00pm
Website: hofburg-innsbruck.at
So, there you have it: 10 of the top things to do when visiting Innsbruck, Austria! In a city that’s filled with so much history, culture, and beautiful mountains, it’s hard to go wrong with whatever you end up deciding to do. I hope you enjoy your trip!
Have you been to Innsbruck before? Did I leave something out? Let me know about your experiences in the comments below and, in the meantime, stay safe & happy travels!