Innsbruck is a city I’ve been to three times, and while I’ve only spent a day or a night there each time, I highly recommend it. It’s not like in Vienna in that you could spend days there entertained and not leave. Innsbruck is far different. It has the historical buildings, but it’s proximity to Austria’s beautiful Alpine landscapes is what makes it stand out.
My first visit to Innsbruck was in September 2003 as part of an 18-day Contiki tour. The bus pulled into Innsbruck in the early afternoon, we went on a walking tour of the city, went to a Swarovski Crystal shop, and then went back to our hotel for dinner. After dinner consisted of traffic light shots of schnapps. I was getting sick at the time and couldn’t taste anything thankfully. I remember thinking Innsbruck was cute and I enjoyed seeing it, but the mountains outside the city seemed more scenic, and I was excited that we got to see the ski jumping area from the Olympics.
Fast forward exactly 20 years to the day to the first time I was in Innsbruck, my husband and I arrived by train from Zurich to stay overnight before heading out to continue our adventure across Austria. We walked through Innsbruck’s streets and enjoyed its architecture and colorful buildings. Down by the river, students were outside and there was just an energy about the place. It was fun, it was lively, and it was beautiful, especially looking across the river at the colorful buildings.
This February, we had planned our trip to visit small towns in Tirol before heading to Vienna and Budapest. Innsbruck, as much as I love it, was not on the list to visit this go around. However, while we were on our day out exploring towns in the Tirol region, we decided to head to Innsbruck for the evening. We’d walk around, admire the buildings, and have our Valentine’s Day dinner there instead of in Kufstein. I’m so glad we went. It was a bit rainy, but the town was still gorgeous. Walking through the main square and seeing the colorful buildings with the mountains in the background is truly magical.
What to do in Innsbruck:
Innsbruck first developed as an important trading hub due to its strategic location in the Alps and along main routes. It became Tirol’s capital in the 15th century under Emperor Maximilian I. He really turned Innsbruck into a cultural and political center, and the historic buildings and landmarks really reflect the Habsburg imperial influence. The city is also most known for its stunning mountain setting and world-class winter sports. In fact, the City has hosted the Winter Olympics in 1964 and 1976. It provides easy access to skiing and other winter activities. In the summer, it’s a great starting point for hiking and outdoor adventure.
- Walk through Old Town and see all of the colorful buildings. I am still captivated by them.
- See the famous Golden Roof. This is the most known landmark in Innsbruck. It was completed in 1500 for Emperor Maximilian I to mark his wedding. I’ve never been inside the imperial residence there, but you can visit that for around $7 USD.
- Take the Nordkette Cable Car for panoramic alpine views. This is pricey though. It runs about $66 USD.
- Walk along the river for that classic Innsbruck photo spot. If you stand on the side of the river that Old Town is located on, you’ll be able to capture images of the famous row of colorful buildings across the river.
- I love palaces and castles. On my next visit, I plan to visit Hofburg Innsbruck and Ambras Castle to learn more about the Habsburg days.
- Maria Theresien Strasse is the main street. It features, shops, restaurants, cafes, and is a lively atmosphere with incredible mountain views. The Triumphal Arch is nearby. This was built by Empress Maria Theresa in 1765 to celebrate her son’s wedding.
- Innsbruck has many beautiful churches to wander into and of course there is architecture everywhere to enjoy. Near the university and Hofburg is a nice park for warmer weather to just stroll through and enjoy.
- Swarovski Crystal Worlds is also a museum and nearby art installation. I’ve never been and the jewelry isn’t my thing, but it may be of interest to you. It runs about $30 USD.
Where to Stay
I don’t honestly remember where I stayed when I was there with my Contiki tour. When we were there in September 2023, I stayed at Hotel Mondschein. It is highly rated on TripAdvisor. It had a wonderful location right across the river from Old Town so it was easily walkable to everything. The breakfast area was cute, but I thought the caliber of breakfast was greatly overrated. But that wasn’t the worse part, and why I can’t recommend this hotel. When we arrived and checked in, we were given keys to our room. When we entered, there were suitcases in there. We went down to the front desk, and we were told the people had checked out but must be storing their bags there. So he removed the bags and said the room was ours. I have so many questions about that. But the room itself had not been thoroughly cleaned. The towels did not seem entirely washed and seemed used. There are ample other hotels and inns in Innsbruck.
Where to Eat
I absolutely love Käsespätzle (cheesy noodles with fried onions on top) so whenever I’m in Germany and Austria I try to eat it as much as I can. (More difficult because my husband isn’t a huge fan of this type of cuisine). Here are some places we’ve tried:
Fischerhausl – This place is right next to Dom St. Jakob. We sat outside on the patio and it was busy. I had the Käsespätzle and a Radler (beer/lemonade mix). I enjoyed both. My husband had a dumpling, but it wasn’t his favorite. I think it was because it was different than he expected. Prices were fair and service was good.
In February, we dined at Stiftskeller near the Hofburg. It was Valentine’s Day and they were really busy. We couldn’t sit in the main dining area, and ended up in the bar/hallway. Honestly, this was fine. I had the Käsespätzle that came with a large salad. Think a huge bag of lettuce and some dressing. Salad was marginal. The main entry and beer were tasty. Service was OK. Waiter was friendly but slow. What was entertaining about this visit, however, was we had just received our food, and all of a sudden heard a huge commotion. You could hear things being thrown and yelling. This was a bit unsettling and the staff came running and Police were called. We later asked the server what happened. He said there was a dog fight between a big and little dog and the little dog bit a lady and that turned into a fight. I don’t know how true that was, but it seems likely as we saw staff carrying a dog water dish. In any event, it was memorable.
But Innsbruck has a variety of other restaurants and cuisines. There are also markets which offer items for pick-up so you will not go hungry there.
How to Get There and Other Tips
Innsbruck is very walkable so you do not need a car in the city. Outside of my tour, I’ve arrived to Innsbruck by train both times. Once from Zurich which was about a 3 hour and 30 minute train ride and the other time from Kufstein. The main train station is centrally located. Innsbruck has trams, buses, etc., so there is ample public transportation. If you have a lot of luggage, you can take a cab or Bolt from the train station to your hotel. The train station is also very convenient for day trips around Tirol too.
If you are staying a few days and planning mountain activities, look into the Innsbruck Card which includes public transportation and attractions. Price check it though compared with what you plan to do. You can also get daily transit passes.
There is an airport, but it is not a major international airport. The closest major airport is in Munich which is about 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours. We did rent a car from one of the companies at the Innsbruck Airport for the remainder of our Austrian adventure and that worked out well.
If you are planning mountain activities, be sure to start early in the day as weather in this region changes quickly. Earlier also means potentially less crowds. And, be sure to hydrate as with cities in elevations this is imperative.
With unpredictable weather, make sure to wear layers. Things can cool down and it can rain. Be prepared. Also make sure to wear comfy shoes as you’ll be doing a lot of walking and the streets are cobblestone. I once saw something online that said, “The prettier the city, the harder it is on your knees.” Truth.
Also note that Sundays in Austria are quiet. Most shops are closed. Be sure to plan ahead if you are going to need anything from a market. Innsbruck is also a tourist area so be prepared for slightly elevated prices.
Overall, Innsbruck is a fabulous Alpine city with captivating, colorful buildings, an imperial history, and easy access to towns in the Tirol region. Winter, spring, fall, or summer, activities abound year-round. I look forward to my return visit, hopefully staying longer. For more info, on trips throughout the Tirol region, including, Kitzbühel, St. Johann in Tirol, Kufstein, and Wörgl, check out this article.
