Before You Leave
Innsbruck truly is a place like no other. If you are like me and would rather be in the mountains than on a beach generally, you’ll die over Innsbruck. It is the perfect escape for skiing or a little winter getaway. It still remains one of my FAVORITE places I’ve been to date and made me fall in love with the mountains even further!
- Summary: Innsbruck is the fifth largest city in Austria and the capital of the region of Tyrol. It’s a beautiful town tucked at the base of the mountains which makes it a perfect location for avid skiers or anyone who loves the mountains. Austria as a country has been part of the European Union since 1995 and is located in central Europe.
- How to get there: The best way is to arrive by train (Eurorail) and arrive at Innsbruck HBF (there are three, but this is the largest), which is essentially at the very center of the city. Otherwise, Innsbruck Airport is about 20 minutes by bus or taxi from the city center. *Note because it is a ski town, be very conscious of booking train tickets in the winter on the weekend, I’d suggest booking a seat, not just a ticket!
- Language: German (officially, but Croatian, Hungarian, and Slovene are also prominent)
- Currency: Euro (€)
- Religion: Majority Christian or Catholic
- Politics: Federal Parliamentary Republic (meaning that there is a ‘show’ president that isn’t considered executive and a different part of the government is the executive).
- Side they drive: Right
- Culture: Check out Hofstede’s culture comparison.
- Fun fact: Innsbruck hosted the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics and the 1984 and 1988 Winter Paralympics.
Transportation
- Bus, Innsbruck has a FANTASTIC bus system that is both reliable and cost-effective! Bonus: they have specific busses that make visiting the major attractions much easier.
- Walking, Innsbruck is also a college town, so practically anything you need is at a walkable distance! Unless we were pressed for time, most often we walked. (TIP: The best way to find your routes is to use Google Maps (if you start on WiFi, you can continue without it!)
- Bike, there are rentable bikes, but unlike other cities bikes aren’t quite as common, especially in the winter.
- Uber, there is no Uber or Lyft in Innsbruck! However, if you find yourself in Vienna, there is Uber available there.
- Taxi, available, but expensive and slightly unnecessary).
- Best bet: walk and if not walk, take the bus!
Innsbruck Card
The best thing we possibly did while in Innsbruck was get the Innsbruck card. Essentially, it gives you access to all of the major attractions in Innsbruck AND doubles as your public transportation pass.
You can purchase the cards for 24, 48, or 72 hours and it is valid from the time you purchase it. It costs €49 for 24 hours, €55 for 48 hours, or €66 for 72 hours. And you can purchase them from most hotels, tourist sites, or information stations.
For reference, we had it for 48 hours and just using transportation and going up the mountain we got our money’s worth!
The top attractions included with the card include Nordkettenbahn cable car, Swarovski Crystal World, City Tower, Imperial Palace, Golden Roof Museum, Hofkirche (Court Church), Ambras Castle, Bergisel ski Jump, and Tirol Panorama Museum and Imperial Infantry Museum.
Click here to purchase it online or find out more!
What to See
Nordkettenbahn Cable Car: If you like the mountains, even a little bit, you MUST check this out! It is a ski attraction that is equally enjoyable if you aren’t skiing. You take the cable car up the mountain and stop at three different points, each one INCREDIBLY beautiful, but oh so different than the next. You MUST go to the very top, but if you go in the winter you MUST dress properly. I’ve never been so cold and so happy in my life! One trip up and back is included on the Innsbruck card.
City Tower: This is a fantastic way to see the entire city of Innsbruck and the mountains together! I was surprised at the view because the tower doesn’t seem incredibly tall. This is included on the Innsbruck card!
Mariahilf Street on the Inn River: This is the iconic picture you think of when you think of Innsbruck! The river is a piercing blue, the mountains are in the background, and the buildings are settled picture-perfectly with their bright colors. Absolutely fantastic! The best part? It’s absolutely free.
Bergisel Ski Jump: As part of the Olympic stadium, this is another must-do while in Innsbruck. First, it’s pretty incredible just to see the home of the Winter Olympics, but once you get to the top of the jump you’ll have two thoughts: how in the world did people ski off of this and how is there a view this beautiful! Bonus, if you want to have a meal up there you can! It’s included on the Innsbruck card too, so even better.
Ambras Castle: This is a Renaissance castle and museum that was SO interesting! The grounds of the castle are absolutely BEAUTIFUL and it was awesome to see real artifacts from when the castle was up and running. It was also interesting because there were native peacocks all over which was a surprise. Included on the Innsbruck card! Tip: If you’re in the city center, take the bus to this one, it was a bit of a hike!
Golden Roof: One of the most popular attractions in Innsbruck, it’s both a museum and an attraction! It is from the 1500s and is a symbol of the marriage between Emperor Maximilian I and Bianca Maria Sforza. You can see it from the street and the City Tower too! PS, it’s on the Innsbruck card.
Swarovski Crystal World: This was something I really wanted to see and I was glad we saw it in general (especially because we didn’t pay extra), but it was not what I was expecting. The most exciting part was walking through the different crystal rooms designed by different artists! I will say though, it was a little odd (we joked that multiple rooms were what it must feel like to be on some crazy drugs). Note: it is a bus ride away from the city (which is included on Innsbruck card and you board at the train station!) so make sure to plan for that.
Court Church: The architecture is INCREDIBLE in this church! It is just down the street from the City Tower and Golden Roof too so it’s easy to pop over to. Be sure to check the mass times if you don’t want to attend the service! It’s only a Euro or two, but it is included on the Innsbruck card.
Alpine Zoo: This is supposed to be a great mountain-animal zoo (on the way up to Nordketterbahn)! It’s included on the card so if you have time or are interested, check it out.
Imperial Palace: This palace is for Emperor Maximilian I in the late 1400s. It’s in the city center and is full of beautiful Gothic architecture. While it is part of the Innsbruck card, make sure to check when it’s closed (we lucked out) temporarily or for specific days of the week!
Tirol Panorama and Infantry Museum: This is a great supplement to the ski jump, they are right next to each other! The appeal is the 360-degree painting depicting the fight of the Tirol and their pursuit of freedom. The painting is several hundred years old and is breathtaking! Again, included on the Innsbruck card!
Maria-Theresien Strasse: This is the busiest street in Innsbruck, where you can find just about anything! It reaches from the Old town to the Triumphant arch and perfectly encompasses what you expect out of Innsbruck.
Where to Stay
This is going to be the most variable information I can give you because of two things: the season and preference. As a general disclaimer, do what is best for you and your budget! However, what I mean is because it is a ski town, there are going to date/season in which a luxury hotel will be more affordable than other times, so use your discretion with these options and remember, this is only meant to guide you (not decide for you)!
Top Rated Upscale Hotels
Top Rated Affordable Hotels
Top Rated Hostels
Nepomuk’s Bed & Breakfast Backpackers Hostel Innsbruck
Hotel Sonnenhof, Bed & Breakfast & Appartements
Where to Eat
Let me start by saying, I didn’t expect one of my favorite meals EVER to be in Innsbruck. Not that I expected it to be bad, just not what I heard of Innsbruck. Chalk it up to the chef or the fact that we were always starving and cold, but it was fantastic.
Note: Things in Innsbruck close fairly early (in terms of stores) so make sure if you plan to get snacks or cook, you know when they close. Luckily because of this, we found a GEM of a restaurant. Here were our two favorites:
Pasta Bar: We ended up here two different times, once upon discovery, and once to bring everyone who came with us there. It is one of those restaurants where you can see the chef cooking and they are enjoying cooking as much as you enjoy eating (both with red wine in hand). We got the chef’s recommendation of Pasta Carbonara and it truly was the best Carbonara I’ve ever had. For dessert, we got the Panna Cotta (Italian custard) which equally was as delicious. Do yourself (and them) a favor and try it out!
Ludwigs Burger Bar: This was another place we ended up at twice (this was more out of convenience than anything) and I’m absolutely fine with it. The burgers, fries, cake, and service was incredible! We talked to the wait staff for quite some time and it was absolutely wonderful.
Gasthof Lamm: We stopped here just for coffee and it was great, but the reviews for the food are fantastic!
Casoinn da Giorgio: Italian restaurant in Old Town, looks great!
Restaurant Bierwirt: This is an authentic Austrian restaurant with great reviews as well!
Where to go to Church
Court Church: If you can get in for a service here, try it!
I think that’s all for now! Feel free to reach out if you have any questions! Oh, and let me know if you get the pleasure of visiting!
Til next time,
Katelyn
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