Innsbruck.
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Overview

Innsbruck is the fifth-largest city in Austria and the provincial capital of Tyrol, as well as one of the largest cities in the Alps. It is in a valley of the river Inn between mountain ranges of above 2000 m above sea level, halfway between Bavaria and northern Italy, and is a hub of a region popular for skiing and other mountain-related activities and a busy tourist destination. Its popularity as a winter sports resort was underscored by its hosting the Winter Olympic Games twice.

Innsbruck offers the traveller an intriguing mix of contemporary and imperialist history, culture and architecture with a variety of architectural styles waiting to be discovered in every street.

Understand

The first mention of Innsbruck was during the reign of Augustus, when the Romans established the army station Veldidena (the name survives in today's urban district Wilten) at the locality named Oeni Pontum or Oeni Pons, which is Latin for bridge (pons) over the Inn (Oenus), the important crossing point over the Inn river, to protect Via Claudia Augusta, the economically important commercial road from Verona-Brenner-Augsburg.

Innsbruck became the capital of Tyrol in 1429 and in the 15th century the city became a centre of European politics and culture as emperor Maximilian I moved the imperial court to Innsbruck in the 1490s. Many old buildings from the Middle Ages and modern times survived in the heart of old town.

The city is well known for its sporting opportunities, especially alpine sports, as it is in the Alps and surrounded by mountains. Innsbruck also hosted the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics. Several ski resorts are situated inside the city territory or within short distance. Innsbruck was one of the centers of snowboard boom in the 1990s and the derived distinct subculture endured until today. The population of skateboarders, snowboarders and people alike is therefore above average and nothing unusual to the people. This culture is also celebrated by a lot of events in and around Innsbruck especially in the winter season, attracting (predominantly young) people from all around the world.

There are two universities and several colleges in Innsbruck, with over 30,000 students altogether, making the city's nightlife very lively.

Innsbruck has also become one of Austria's most eco-friendly cities, due to a very good public transport system and a partial ban on cars in certain areas of the historic old town.

Innsbruck's distance from the coast and altitude lead to a continental climate. Winters are cold and snowy; summers are generally warmer and wetter, with highly variable weather. Hot and dry days, with temperatures hitting 30°C, are quite common; but can be followed by a cool and rainy spell, with temperatures only around 17°C in the day. Summer nights are cool and temperature often drop quickly after sunset - sometimes falling below 10°C in early morning.

Tourist information Innsbruck tourism website

Get in

Regular scheduled flights are available from: TUI fly Belgium 2x per week from Antwerp Austrian Airlines from Vienna and Frankfurt Transavia from Rotterdam and Amsterdam EasyJet from Berlin, London-Gatwick (also with British Airways) and 2x per week from Bristol Lufthansa from Frankfurt and Berlin-Tegel TUI Airways from London-Gatwick and Manchester Czech Airlines from Prague British Airways from London-Heathrow Sibir Airlines from St. Petersburg and Moscow

Seasonal flights (mostly active during skiing season) are available from many more destinations including the UK, the Netherlands, Greece, and Scandinavia, as well as from Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Kyiv and Moscow. There are also charter flights to several German cities - especially in winter.

The bus line F will take you to the city centre (every 15 minutes, on Sunday it departs every 30 minutes).

Other airports from which Innsbruck can be reached by train include Munich (, 200 km), Memmingen (, 175 km), Salzburg (, 185 km), St. Gallen-Altenrhein (, 190 km) and Friedrichshafen (, 215 km).

Regular direct trains run from Venice, Bolzano/Bozen, Zürich, Munich, Graz, Vienna (via Linz and Salzburg) and many other destinations.

OBB Nightjet sleeper trains run twice a week to Brussels, taking 15 hours via Munich, Cologne, Aachen and Liège, as well as to Amsterdam via Munich, Nuremberg, Hanover and Hamburg.

Despite being a smaller city, Innsbruck has fantastic train connections to all major cities in its region. The main station, , is at Südtiroler Platz (South-tyrolean square) in the east of the city centre. There are several stations which serve suburban and regional train connections.

Coming from Germany with the Deutschland-Ticket, take a local/regional train to Mittenwald and continue your ride in the same train to Innsbruck.

By bus The is right next to the main train station, and accommodates local, interregional and international traffic. There are connections to Seefeld, Wipptal, Ötztal, and Zillertal.

By car Innsbruck is reachable through both of Tyrol's motorways: (A12) and (A13) which intersect in the south of Innsbruck.

During holiday seasons, when Europeans either try to get in or out of Italy over the in summer or try to reach or return from ski resorts in winter, heavy traffic should be expected on both motorways particularly during weekends. Snowfall inevitably makes the traffic situation worse, so it is recommended to tune in to Radio Tyrol at 96.4 MHz FM for the latest traffic updates.

By bike Innsbruck can be reached on the Inntalradweg from Passau to St. Moritz. Even in the city this bicycle trail is signposted with small green road signs.

Get around

Most one-day visitors don't use any transport: all of the major Old Town sites are within a reasonable walking time.

On foot The classic walk into old Innsbruck follows.

From the main station (Hauptbahnhof) to the city center is a relatively short and enjoyable 10 to 15 minute walk. Walk out of the Hauptbahnhof, cross the street at the train station cross walk, turn to your right, and go down to the next street to your left. Walk on this street until Maria-Theresien Strasse, then turn right toward the city center. Taking this street all the way leads to the pedestrian zone and the Golden Roof.

By car Big parts of the downtown area are declared (fee-based) short-term parking zones. For longer visits, it is highly recommended to park off-site and use public transportation.

Public local traffic (6 tram-lines, and a dense network of buses) is operated by Innsbrucker Verkehrsbetriebe and a couple of private operators. All public services are organised in Verkehrsverbund Tirol, which means that tickets are valid in every public transport line (including buses, trams and trains). All buses and trams are modern low-floor vehicles.

Sometimes bus lines are split up into different destinations and so it's important to pay attention to the destination displays (outside and inside) and the spoken announcements. Regardless of the door you enter, go to the driver and pay, exact change not necessary. Daily tickets, weekly tickets and other sorts of tickets are only offered at multi-language ticket machines to be found at many stations. They can also be purchased at the identically looking machines for short-term parking tickets. You must validate the ticket when you get on your first bus or tram. See the website for all available tickets.

The special bus line "TS" ("The Sightseer") connects the major sights like Schloß Ambras, Bergisel and Alpenzoo to downtown. If you don't plan to visit every museum it might be reasonably cheaper to use the normal 24-hour ticket without this bus.

Two tram lines lead to two villages in the neighbourhood of Innsbruck.

Tram line nr. 6 connects Innsbruck and the mountain village Igls, which is worth a visit. The line passes the uplands with vast forests and gives some spectacular prospects for travellers either on Innsbruck or on the lovely landscape between Aldrans and Igls. It provides stops immediately near Schloß Ambras and the bathing-lake Lansersee (ice skating in Winter is also possible there).

Tram line STB is 18 km long and connects Innsbruck with several villages in the Stubaital valley. This tram provides also access to Bergisel (Tirol Panorama) at the station Sonneburgerhof. In Mutters, Nockhofweg access to an easy skiing area, the Mutteralm, is provided (10 minutes walk). A beautiful hour's ride will take you at least the small town of Fulpmes. The red liveried trams offer great scenic views on the journey. It is recommended to make a trip around Halloween, when the larch trees on the Telfer Wiesen have got their best autumn colour.

A suburban train system called S-Bahn with five routes (S1 - S5) connects Innsbruck to villages and towns around the city, from Landeck to Kufstein or Kitzbühel and from Mittenwald to Brenner. Inner city VVT tickets are valid between the Hauptbahnhof and (west station), , , and .

By bike Cycling is common in Innsbruck and especially popular among students. Innsbruck has some bicycle paths, but they are not very well interlinked within the city. A map of all bicycle ways/lanes is available here. In 2012, Innsbruck was awarded Fahrradhauptstadt (cycling capital) by VCÖ (an Austrian traffic advocacy group).

Innsbruck offers short-term shared bike system Stadtrad. It is subject to compulsory registration via this page or machines standing next to the bikes, and requires a credit card number.

See

The Innsbruck-Card offers free entrance to all of Innsbruck's sights, free use of public transportation (including the TS line). It also includes a one-time ascent&descent to Nordkette, Patscherkofel and Axamer Lizum, and a 10% discount to Swarovski Crystal Worlds in nearby Wattens. The Innsbruck-Card is valid for 24/48/72 hours and can be purchased at Innsbruck Information (Burggraben 3), the TI in Hauptbahnhof, and several museums and tourist offices. If you are not seeing these major entrance-fee sites, remember that you may buy more than one daily card at a time, as the 24 hours only starts once validated.

The bus line Sightseer (TS) connects the major sights in Innsbruck. However, there is always a cheaper public transport line going to the same destination, though it might take you more time.

Hofkirche. Innsbruck's Hofkirche has the most important emperor's tomb monument (of emperor Maximilian I) in Europe. Especially characteristic are the larger-than-life bronzes ("schwarze Mander") that show members of different dynasties.

Cathedral of St. James. Baroque styled cathedral, with works of Lucas Cranach the Elder. From 1717-1724 it was rebuilt (after damage from an earthquake) according to the plans of Johann Jakob Herkomer and Johann Georg Fischer.

Wiltener Basilika. Baroque styled church with Rokkoko-stucco, built from 1751-1756.

Stift Wilten. Premonstratensian monastery with a baroque collegiate church, not far from Wiltener Basilika.

Ambras Castle. A castle and palace in Renaissance style that was built in 1563 on behalf of Archduke Ferdinand II of Tyrol in the hills overlooking the city, at an elevation of 587 m above sea level, and served as his private residence from 1563 until his death in 1595. It is widely considered one of the most important Renaissance era buildings of its time in Tyrol, and now among its top tourist attractions. Supplanting an earlier 10th century fortification, the castle became the seat of power for the Counts of Andechs. Hosting Ferdinand's art collection, the castle is considered the oldest museum in the world. Interesting things to see are portrait- and armour collections, art and curiosity cabinets. The Lower Castle is home to armouries featuring numerous masterpieces preserved as evidence of the armourer's art from that era. Only the Renaissance era work has been reserved at its original location, making the Chamber of Art and Curiosities an unrivaled cultural monument. The Spanish Hall will be one of the highlights of any visit, located above the Lower Castle and decorated with a wood-inlay ceiling and walls adorned with 27 portraits of historic Tyrol royals. It remains one of the best examples of German Renaissance architecture. As one of Innsbruck's most popular attractions, waiting lines at the entrance are often long. Try to arrive a bit before it opens at 10:00 to stay ahead of the crowds.

Bergiselschanze. The Bergisel jump is a design by Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid in 2001, replacing the far less glorious jump stadium that hosted the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympic Games. You can still stand beneath the Olympic rings and flame holder, and either walk 450 steps to the top or take a funicular lift. Because of its design and prominent location (on Bergisel, south of Innsbruck) it is considered a new city landmark. During sporting events, the jumping tower is not accessible, and a ticket is needed to enter the terrain.

Bergisel Sky Panorama Café. Café on top of the ski jump, with a great view over Innsbruck and the surrounding mountains. They have good Apfelstrudel (apple cake).

Helbling House. A 15th-century house which adopted different architectural styles in later centuries until it evolved into its current amalgamation of Gothic and Baroque facade. The Rococo stucco decorations that look like icing on a cake were added in the early 18th century, and these bows, window frames, oriels, masks, sculptures and shells are what makes this building unique. The architecture helps to capture a maximum of sunlight, which is sparse in the Alps. The last major construction took place in 1732 by Anton Gigl, after which the building was renamed to Sebastian Helbling who owned it at from 1800 until 1827.

Armoury. Construction of the Armoury between 1500 and 1505 was ordered by Maximilian I to strengthen the defensive capabilities of the city, as illustrated by its location near the city walls at the time, next to the main entrance gate of the Sill. The building consists of 2 large 80 m long wings and 2 narrow gatehouses forming a large inner courtyard. It served as a storage for weapons such as cannons and small arms, and a training ground for the city guard. The Armoury retained its function as barracks until the fall of the Austrian Empire in 1918, after which it was closed. The Tyrolean State sourced funds for an extensive restoration from 1964 until 1969, and the Armoury reopened for the public in 1973 as the Tyrolean State History Museum, a branch of the Tyrolean State Museum. On display are historical and technical collections illustrating the history of Tyrol from classic antiquity to the present. In summer, the inner courtyard is often use for open-air cinemas and concerts.

St. Anna Column. The column, which is made of Tyrolean marble, was created in 1706, in memory of the withdrawal of Bavarian troops.

Triumphal Arch. It was built in 1765 to mark the marriage of archduke Leopold and the Spanish princess Maria Ludovica. The north side displays mourning themes on the occasion of Franz Stephan of Lothringen.

The ticket includes a free audio guide (which is worth getting as information is otherwise only in German) at some locations.

Alpinist Association Museum. Museum dedicated to the history of alpinism, hosted in the Hofburg. The museum is owned and operated by the Austrian Alpine Club ÖAV, and received numerous prizes including the Tyrolean and Austrian Museum Prizes, as well as being nominated for the European Museum Prize in 2010. The original museum opened in 1911 in a former villa on the Isar river side, but was destroyed by shelling in 1944 during the Second World War. It was rebuilt and reopened in 1977 in its current location. Since 1996 there are regular exhibitions on various mountaineering related topics. The collection covers over 700 m² of exhibits.

Anatomical Museum. Famous for its exhibition Body Worlds, the modern version of an anatomical museum. It belongs to the city's university, hosted in the Institute of Anatomy. On display are numerous human specimens, skeletons, skulls, and other models. In addition, there are jars with dissected organs (lungs, hearts, ...) and other wet and dry samples. A visit to the museum gives insight in the history of anatomy, and the development of anatomical devices. Visitors should be aware that real people and body parts are on display, so a visit may not be suitable to young children.

Graßmayr Bell Museum. The Bell foundry has existed for 400 years, and been led by the same Graßmayr family for 14 generations. The museum offers visitors the unique experience of feeling the craftsmanship involved with generations of bell making traditions. The museum was awarded with many prizes such as the Austrian Museum Prize and the Maecenas Prize.

Imperial Palace. The palace is a former Habsburg palace, and considered one of the 3 most important cultural buildings in Austria (the others being the Hofburg palace and Schönbrun palace in Vienna). It is the main building of a large residential complex used by the Habsburg dynasty. Construction started around 1460 under Archduke Sigismund, including medieval fortifications such as the Rumer Gate which was converted into the Heraldic Tower in 1499 under Emperor Maximilian I. The palace saw numerous expansions during the next 2.5 centuries. The most significant alterations were made between 1754 and 1773 under Empress Maria Theresia, who gave it a Baroque outlook. The palace now hosts 5 themed museum areas: Maria Theresia's Rooms from the 18th century, Empress Elisabeth's Apartment from the 19th century, a Furniture Museum, an Ancestral Gallery, and a Painting Gallery. The museum areas illustrate different aspects of the political and cultural history of the imperial palace under reign of the Habsburg dynasty for over 4.5 centuries.

Tyrol Panorama Museum. The painting depicts the Tyrolean Rebellion of 1809 on 1,000 m² of canvas, a battle in which the Tyrolean people fought against the invading Bavarian army. A free audio commentary takes visitors into the heart of the battle.

Imperial Hunters Museum. A small museum dedicated to the Kaiserjägern (Imperial Hunters), Emperor Franz Joseph I's battalion of guards. The name Jäger, "hunter" in German, is a reference to light infantry. The museum opened in 1878 and was maintained by the Jägers themselves under regiment commander Oberst Knöpfler. The collection features memorabilia, weapons, uniforms, photographs and personal belongings of former Jägers. The garden of the museum hosts the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, dedicated to the 20,000 Jägers who died during the First World War. The Jäger battalions were disbanded in 1918 when the Austrian Empire dissolved, but the museum was preserved. The museum was hit by a bomb during the Second World War but rebuilt in 1959 and expanded with a chapel and 2 rooms with display cases containing the 154 books in which the names of fallen Tyrolean soldiers are recorded.

Maximilianeum. Museum dedicated to Emperor Maximilian I and his wife, their significance to Tyrol and Austria, and the living conditions of the early 16th century.

Golden Roof. Most famous landmark of the city since 1500, the Golden Roof is a late-Gothic alcove balcony of which the roof is decorated with 2657 fire-gilded copper tiles. It was built to commemorate the wedding of Emperor Maximilian I with Bianca Maria Sforza. The balcony allowed the Emperor and his wife to enjoy festivals, tournaments and other events on the square below.

Jakob Hutter, founder of the Hutterite sect, was burnt at the stake in this square in 1536.

City Tower. Historic city tower, reaching 51 m height, and visitors can climb the 148 steps for a fee to reach the viewing platform at 31 m which rewards for the effort with a view over the historic city (Altstadt). It is a Gothic tower with a quadrangular substructure and consists of 6 floors. Above the viewing platform sits a narrower octagonal structure with 4 semicircular bay windows and a large dome roof. It was constructed between 1442 and 1450 at the old town hall to reflect the increased self-confidence of Innsbruckers in their defensive capabilities, with watchmen manning the tower day and night. The first documented tower guard took service in 1529 by order of the city council, and warned the townspeople in times of fire, assaults, or other dangers. The room at the ground floor has been used for watchmen meetings as late as 1951. During the Middle Ages, the lower area of the tower also served as city prison, and the barred windows on the first 2 floors are remnants of that function. The original Gothic tower was renovated, enhanced and rebuilt several times. Most notably in 1586, 4 wrought-iron gargoyles were added as decorations. The clock was added in 1603 by Erasmus Melchior.

Tiroler Landesmuseum. Ferdinandeum, Museumstraße, Scientific collection, Feldstraße and Museum im Zeughaus, Zeughausgasse

Folk Art Museum. Considered among the finest regional heritage museums in Europe, next to the Hofkirche and across from the Hofburg. Its collection features a remarkable selection of cultural artifacts from Tyrol, spread over four wings of a former Franciscan monastery around an arcaded Renaissance courtyard. The permanent exhibition includes handicrafts, costumes, household items, glass, pottery and ceramics, furniture, and many more. A large part is devoted to religious and secular folk art. The architecture of the museum itself is also worth visiting, with rooms outfitted in wood-paneled Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque style salvaged from noble houses in the area.

Small Cable Railway Museum. A small museum dedicated to the history of cable railways, focusing mainly on the history of the Nordkette Cable Railways. Set up in a former classroom, the museum has an authentic replica on display of the very first cable car that made the journey to the top of the Nordkette mountain. Its collection features many pictures and artifacts detailing the past and present technology involved in the construction of alpine transportation systems.

Tramway Museum. City transport museum with at least one example of almost every type of tramcar to operate in the Innsbruck area, with smaller exhibits and information on minor railways throughout the Tyrol region. Housed in the former workshops of the Stubaitalbahn line to Fulpmes, now absorbed into the city tramway. On opening days tours of the city centre by vintage tramcar run three times a day, and it is also possible to board or alight at regular tram stops to get to or from the museum.

Botanical Garden. The garden is operated by the University of Innsbruck and covers an area of 2 ha. It was established around 1911 and replaced an earlier garden, then redesigned after the Second World War from 1948 to 1965. The Alpine rock garden underwent another revision from 1987 to 1990 to update it to the most modern botanical principles. The greenhouses were constructed in 1909, with 3 additional greenhouses added from 1977 to 1979, a succulent house in 1993, and a 6th greenhouse for container plants in 1997. Visitors can view over 5,000 different species in the garden.

Hofgarten. Large park at the edge of the Old Town (Altstadt) covering an area of 10 ha between the Congress Palace, the Imperial Palace (Hofburg) and the Tyrolean State Theatre. The initiative for the park was taken by Archduke Ferdinand II in the 16th century, and at the time of completion it was one of the most elaborate gardens north of the Alps. It underwent transformations into a Renaissance style garden, a French formal garden, and since 1858 an English landscape garden. The garden features ponds, a playground, a palm house with 1700 species, and several restaurants and bars. Some of the plants in the park were planted by Austrian empress Maria Theresa.

Alpenzoo. The alpine zoo is Europe's highest situated zoo (727 m), and is specializing in alpine animals, with 2.000 animals of 150 species on display. It contains outdoor enclosures, terrariums, aviaries, aquariums (world's biggest collection of alpine fish species) and a barnyard with old farm animal races. The zoo is in hillside situation, so there's a certain altitude difference to cover. Founded in 1962 by Austrian zoologist Hans Psenner, the Alpenzoo is a non profit initiative aimed at conservation of Alpine animals, and is praised for its efforts to reintroduce endangered species like the bearded vulture, Alpine ibex and northern bald ibis in the wild. Free entrance with the Innsbruck-Card.

Do

Winter sports There are a lot of ski resorts in the mountains surrounding Innsbruck, many of which offer free ski buses from the city center so long as you have ski gear and/or a valid ski pass, making it a great place to base one's self. In 2022-2023, a "SKI plus CITY pass" combines winter sports discounts with city sightseeing passes.

Below is an overview of notable ski areas easily accessible from Innsbruck. For full information about resorts around Innsbruck and Tirol, see Bergfex.com.

Nordpark is accessible via the tram line 1, the bus lines 1, 4, A, D, E, J and T. The Nordkettenbahn goes up to Seegrube and Hafelekar, where many hiking routes and trip routes start. The Nordpark Singletrail is one of the most ambitious mountain bike freeride routes of Europe. In winter, the Nordpark can offer several ski routes. They are steep and offer a great view of the nearby mountains and the city itself. One ascent&descent is free with the Innsbruck-Card. It is possible to walk or hike all the way up to the summit without taking the cable cars. It is vigorous but doesn't require special equipment. There are places where it is not completely clear which way to go (even with local hiking).

Patscherkofelbahn. Accessible via bus line J, destination "Patscherkofelbahn" or "Olympiaexpreß" and tram line 6 to Igls. Tram line 6 is particularly worth taking - a beautiful meandering route up the mountain and included in the city zone of Innsbruck's public transport. Much better value than the Hungerburgbahn on the Nordkette. The Patscherkofel is a skiing region south of Innsbruck, that has a number of timbered ski-runs of the former olympia-routes. In summer it is a great region for hiking along the forestline.One ascent&descent is free with the Innsbruck-Card.

Axamer Lizum. Large ski resort with a variety of challenging terrain and runs. Lots of terrain for off piste skiing or snowboarding. Hosted several downhill skiing events in the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics. Easily accessible from Innsbruck using the free ski bus (picks up at Innsbruck Hauptbahnof).

Stubaital. Offers several ski resorts in the winter.

Ice skating is a popular winter activity and there are several public outdoor rinks with evening hours and rental skates (ask for directions to the nearest eislaufplatz). Olympiaworld has an outdoor rink and its TIGLS Arena is used for ice hockey.

It's a bit safer and tamer than bobsledding, but it's still plenty fast and exciting...it's called Bobrafting and you can do it on the Olympic bobsled run in Igls.

Games The Alpine weather can be unpredictable, and with rain likely to fall in every season, having indoor alternatives to outdoor activities is a must when visiting Innsbruck. For those who enjoy puzzles and riddles, there are 11 room escape games to play in the city.

Escape Game Innsbruck. Indoor room escape type games, with 5 different scenarios. Each scenario takes 1 hour to complete.

Room Escape PerplexxX. Indoor room escape type games with 3 scenarios. Each scenario takes 1 hour to complete.

Riddle Room. New room escape game in the city centre. In the scenario of Dr. Healers Secret Laboratory, one of the players has contracted a mysterious disease after being bitten by a rodent in the Tyrolean Alps. The team must find a cure within 60 minutes, using the secrets at their disposal in Dr. Healer's laboratory. For 2-6 players, game can be played in English or German.

Play The Game. Indoor room escape games, with 2 different scenarios. Play time: 1hr 15min. Both games are for 2-6 players from 14 years old.

Casino Innsbruck. Tyrol's largest adult gaming and gambling centre.

The Nordkettenbahnen are 3 alpine vehicles bringing visitors from the historic centre of the city all the way up to the top of the Nordkette mountain, from where the summit at an altitude of 2334 m can be reached by foot. The first section is the Hungerburgbahn , a funicular departing in . The middle section is the Seegrubenbahn cable car, and the top section is the Hafelekar chairlift. When buying tickets online, the code BONALPINA will give you a 10% discount on tickets for the Nordkettenbahnen.

Hungerburgbahn. Funicular taking visitors from the heart of the city to the Hungerburg station at the foot of the Nordkette mountain. The first section of the journey is underground and follows the Rennweg, emerging to the surface next to the Inn a few metres short of . It then proceeds on an elevated track to the , crossing the Inn over a bridge, with final stop after a few more tunnels and bridges. The journey takes 8 minutes, covering a difference in altitude of 288 m with a speed of 36 km/h. The funicular replaces the previous Hungerburgbahn, which had been in operation for a century since 1906. The of the original one can still be visited.

Seegrubenbahn. The Seegrubenbahn is a cable car with 2 gondolas, taking visitors from the valley station in Hungerburg up the Nordkette mountain. Completely reconstructed in 2004, the Seegrubenbahn connects the Hungerburgbahn with the Nordkette ski area in the Karwendel Nature Park.

Hafelekar. The highest section of the Nordkettenbahn, the Hafelekar chairlift takes visitors to the top of the highest point of the Nordkette mountain, from which the can be reached by foot in approx. 10 - 15 min. Halfway to the summit is the of the University of Innsbruck, and an amateur radio outpost.

Spectator sports The Tirol Raiders (as of 2015 they bear the sponsored name Swarco Raiders) play American Football in the first division Austrian Football League (that's the actual name). They have been among the top contenders for the championship for most of the 2010s. They played in the big six in 2014 and 2015. The big six is the top American Football competition for club teams in Europe.

Tiroler Abend with the Gundolf Family. For almost half a century this show is visited by travellers and gives good insight on traditional Tyrolean culture— everybody who likes everything stereotypical about the alpine culture will be served the full menu: Yodeling, traditional dances, plays, music and clothing are mixed with typical surroundings.

New Orleans Festival - Since New Orleans is the partner city of Innsbruck a festival is held every summer featuring a lot of prominent musicians and focussing on Jazz, Blues, Gospels and other styles from the region around New Orleans. The Ski Jump Contest around new year at the Begisel stadium is one of the few moments when Austrians demonstrate true patriotism. As Austrians are very competitive in alpine disciplines this is one of the events that many people follow. For the younger generation the Air & Style Snowboard Contest is the high point of the year when the best snowboarders of the world compete in the biggest snowboard event of Europe. The event is the first snowboard competition that ever featured the straight jump, it's accompanied by international bands and a crowd of more than 10,000. Usually it is held either around the beginning of December or end of January. In late spring a lot of clubs and pubs participate in the city event Sound City , where downtown Innsbruck becomes a network of discos. Shuttle buses circulate around the city and bring the guests to various locations where a range of international DJs play different styles. The Hafen, the Treibhaus and the p.m.k. are event centers downtown or a little outside of the city. Many concerts, events and parties take place all around the year and are visited by young locals, students and travellers. Note: In the summer season Innsbruck is flooded by tourists from the far east and far west - predominantly older people who are mostly on a European tour - the event calendar adapts to this. The winter season is dominated by younger people, especially students and travellers from all around the world, who provide the city with a vivid nightlife.

Buy

Malls: There are several shopping malls in Innsbruck: Inner City

Rathaus Gallerien. 2 minutes walk from the Old Town, main entrance via Maria-Theresien-Straße

Kaufhaus Tyrol. Shopping mall with five levels in the inner city opposite Rathaus Gallerien.

Sillpark. Walk one block, turn right, walk under a railway—and you are looking at it. All major bus and tram lines take you there.

DEZ. Many stores just right around it, such as Ikea.

Furthermore, there are several warehouses, especially in the suburb of Neu-Rum.

Shopping areas: There are numerous shops in central pedestrian areas like Maria-Theresien-Straße, the Old Town, Franziskanerplatz, Sparkassenplatz and Anichstraße as well as Museumstraße. You will also find shops/stores in quarter centers of Wilten (tram lines 1, 6 and STB) and Pradl (tram line 3).

Souvenir stores in the Old Town offer souvenirs of varying origin, but the Tiroler Heimatwerk (Meranerstraße 2) offers real Tyrolean handcraft. However most of the shops are real tourist traps and are overpriced by far. You will probably find more authentic and cheaper souvenirs in one of the surrounding villages of Innsbruck.

Clothes and footwear Buy creative footwear: El Natura Lista in Salamander shop (Maria-Theresien 1; also great choice of Tomy Hilfiger shoes) Think! in Stiefelkater (Marktgraben str.

GEA. "Arts & Crafts" footwear in a funny plain design, not cheap, but very durable (Anichstraße 20,

Humanic Kids. Also has discounts in early January, with a decent selection.

Eat

Gasthaus Anich. Real "Gasthaus" (tavern) with Austrian cuisine. Not too crowded and mostly visited by locals. Big portions. Offers separate smoking and non-smoking areas.

Magic Kebab. The place looks like a 1970s American diner, usually quite populated. Big portions.

Ristorante Leonardo da Vinci. Italian food. The veggie risotto is tasty. From a culinary point of view, it's like being in an old pizzeria in Napoli. Friendly staff.

Yummy Noodles. A good Asian restaurant. Great food, large portions, quick service. Good noodles and sushi. From the outside, it looks like a simple diner, but don't let that fool you. Inside, it is quite large and cosy.

Simay. Tasty pizza. The bread, the meat, the vegetables, the cheese, the sauces, everything is good. There are a few vegetarian options that are very good and tasty. Great kebab shop.

Piccola casa. The only dürüm in town that is actually spicy, if you order spicy. The garlic soup is tasty and quickly served. Very tasty veggie dürum, which is often very greasy elsewhere. Friendly service.

Buzzihütte. Traditional cuisine; known for Eiterbeule (identical to Wiener Schnitzel).

Shere Punjab. Indian Restaurant. Great portions.

Mamma Mia. Excellent salmon tagliatelli. No wifi. Walk to the 2nd floor for a more quiet and spacious seating area.

FloJos. Mexican, Caribbean and Creole food. Serving sizes are generous and the ambiance is laidback.

Cafe & Pub Hocus Pocus. Simple but good food in a friendly atmosphere. They have board games available, to spend time while waiting for food. (prices as of Dec 2018)

Il Convento. Italian cuisine. Very kind owners. Quality food and professional staff. The black risotto is recommended.

Das Schindler. High—class cuisine with great ambience. The kingfish is tasty.

Drink

Zappa Music Bar. Every day of the week has special offers and events. Since it's close to the university, there are a lot of students and you might need to call in and order a table.

Limerick Bill's Irish Pub. The place is lively and usually crowded with students and visitors from all over the world, especially a lot of English speakers. Staff is bilingual, so this might be a great place for you to feel home.

Weekender. Weekender is a place to have a drink and to dance. Almost every week there are national and international live bands. A must for indie fans!

The Galway Bay Pub. Authentic Irish pub with two large floors. Pub quizzes every Monday (except during summer), Open Mic Night every Thursday.

Treibhaus. Almost daily events, e.g. concerts, film/tv screenings, comedy shows and dances. Every Friday free concerts. Spacious café with garden, jazz salon and two big event halls. The all-female staff ("Weiberwirtschaft") serves food and snacks (pizza, kebab) in the café till midnight.

Sleep

Campsite Innsbruck Kranebitten. Kranebitter Allee 214.

Youth Hostel Innsbruck. Youth hostel.

Hotel Innsbruck. Modern hotel with many luxury amenities, including lounge bar and indoor swimming pool, in the historic centre of the city. Among the most pricey options to spend a night in Innsbruck and a large radius around it.

Stage 12 - Hotel by Penz. 4-star hotel with 120 rooms, offering a wellness area with fitness room, sauna and steam bath. Trendy bar.