The fifth largest city in Austria, and the capital of the Tyrol, Innsbruck has been on our ‘must visit’ list for a long time now. Why? Because there’s so much to see and do in a relatively small area … the perfect city break for my family, who like to keep busy and see everything there is to see! Innsbruck means ‘bridge over the Inn’ (Inn is the river running through the city). Famous for its winter sports, Innsbruck has hosted the Winter Olympics twice (1964 and 1976) and the Winter Paralympics twice (1984 and 1988).
How to get there
Getting to Innsbruck couldn’t be any easier. There are direct flights from the UK on British Airways, EasyJet and TUI. Austrian Airlines, KLM and Lufthansa also fly from the UK to Innsbruck. Many airlines currently have flexible cancellation policies due to coronavirus. A flight from the UK takes approximately 2 hours.
If you are crazy, like us, you might choose to drive from the UK to Austria. From London it is 772 miles. We would set out super early and drive from home to Metz in France on day 1, crossing the Channel by Eurotunnel. From Calais there is just over 4 hours of driving to be done before you reach Metz. There are a few motels in that area, which we have used before. From Metz there’s still over 6 hours of driving left to do the next day, but you can be at your accommodation in Innsbruck by evening and that’s after stopping for regular breaks.
Innsbruck Card
When you are on a city break, it’s always worth looking to see if the tourist office have attraction cards. Innsbruck.info Tourist Information offers the Innsbruck Card that gives free or discounted access to a lot of the local attractions. This card is one of the best ones we’ve ever come across. You get a LOT of free access, including:
- Free entry to 22 museums
- One up/one down journey on the lifts and cable cars
- Free use of the Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseer bus
- Free travel on public transport, including scenic tramlines
- Complimentary city bike rental for 3 hours
- Free entry to the Swarovski Museum
- Free entry to the Hall Mint Museum
- Entry to the Imperial Gardens to walk through the new LUMAGICA Innsbruck light park
Due to lockdown, the Innsbruck Card is currently unavailable to purchase online (as attractions are closed). However, pre-lockdown a 48-hour Card for an adult was €50, and €25 for a child aged 5-16.
Our Top 10 Places to Visit, and Things to Do, in Innsbruck
Imperial Palace
The Hofburg (Imperial) Palace was once a Habsburg Palace, one of three significant cultural buildings in Austria. It is now a world-class museum.
Court Church
This Gothic church is on the outskirts of Innsbruck and was built in 1553 by Emperor Ferdinand I as a memorial to his grandfather Emperor Maximilian I. It is famous for its Renaissance organ, Ebert, which is still in use. 28 bronze ‘Black Men’ life-size statues line the cenotaph giving the church the alternate name of Black Men Church.
Imperial Gardens
The Imperial Gardens (Hofgarten) covers 10 hectares, bordering the Imperial Palace and the Tyrolean State Theatre. It is a protected park that includes the Palmtree House (Palmenhaus), housing 1800 species of plants.
Tirol Panorama Museum with Imperial Infantry Museum
The Tirol Panorama takes you on a historical tour of the Tirol that builds up to a battle between Napoleonic troops and Tyrolean rebels in 1809. The battle took place on the spot where the museum is located. The Museum of the Tyrolean Imperial Infantry (Kaiserjäger Museum) joins the Tirol Panorama via an underground passage. There is a 2.2km Panorama Loop Trail that offers panoramic views of Innsbruck and the mountains.
Alpine Zoo
This is one of the highest zoos in Europe. The Alpenzoo is home to over 2000 animals; over 150 species of animals that live (or lived) in the Alp region.
Innsbrucker Nordkettenbahnen
The Nordkette Cable Car is a gondola lift from Innsbruck to the Nordkette mountain. There are two stations, with the top one – Hafelekar – at 7,401 feet, giving the most amazing views!
Patscherkofel Cable Car
This is a mountain gondola that links hiking trails with ski runs and amazing views over Innsbruck. This is a great place to enjoy hikes with the whole family.
Alpine Garden
Located next to the Patscherkofel Cable Car, this is Austria’s highest botanical garden. Covering 1.5 hectares, this is the place to see Edelweiss … ooh, I feel a song coming on!
Bergisel Ski Jump
Designed by Zaha Hadid, rest assured you don’t have to take the jump down if you visit the panoramic restaurant at the top! There is a funicular and a lift to the top, and if you time it right you might even see a few practice runs. The views from the top are a treat I’ve been assured.
Swarovski Crystal Worlds
Swarovski Crystal Worlds (Swarovski Kristallwelten) is, as you’d expect, an attraction based around Swarovski crystals. It consists of a park, art museum, retail area, and restaurant. The Innsbruck Card gets you free entry, along with a shuttle bus transfer from the city centre.
