Innsbruck is captivating with its small-city charm, historical sites, and the breathtaking Nordkette mountain range providing a dramatic backdrop. Innsbruck is a very walkable city, and my favorite part was walking the streets and admiring the stunning, colorful architecture and beautiful cobblestone streets, completely in awe the whole time! There is so much beyond just walking the streets though, so letโs dive into the best things to do in Innsbruck to make sure you feel the charm of this incredible city!
Make sure to check out the full 1 day in Innsbruck itinerary to combine these must-do activities into a single, easy-to-follow itinerary. In one day you can do a lot in Innsbruck! This itinerary is also winter-friendly, so if you are visiting during that magical time of the year in Austria then make sure to check it out!
The Best Things To Do In Innsbruck
Cafรฉ
What better way to start your day, or take a quick break throughout the day, than with a delicious cup of coffee and a pastry in a delightful ambiance?! I highly recommend spending time in a cafรฉ when youโre in Innsbruck. Itโs a fun way to relax, yet still experience something that Austria is known for! I recommend Cafe Kutzung as the Latte is great to kickstart the morning and the Omlet Croissant or the Yogurt with Granola, fruit, honey, and croissant is delicious.
Explore Old Town
Old Town is known for having many places to stop and admire, all within a short walking distance from one another. This is the perfect area to do my favorite activity: walking in awe at all the incredible architecture surrounding you! Many can be admired from the outside, but if you want to step further go into the museums. Here is a list of the most notable places to stop at!
Many of these attractions are included in the Innsbruck Card if you decide to purchase one.
- Golden Roof: One of the most famous sights in Innsbruck, is the Golden Roof. Fun fact it is actually made of Copper, not gold! But if you catch it when the sun shines on it, it is extra beautiful as it does appear gold as it glistens! You can also explore the Golden Roof Museum.
- Innsbruck City Tower: You can climb 148 stairs to the top of the City Tower for a 360-degree view over Innsbruck!
- Imperial Palace: This stunning palace can be admired from the outside, or you can go inside to see beautifully painted ceilings and portraits.
- Court Church: This gotic church has 28 massive statues, tombs, and impressive organs for music lovers.
- Maria Theresa Street: This is a great place to take a stroll and admire Innsbruck. There are many shops along the way and if you are here during the Christmas market season (~November-December) there is a beautiful Christmas market you must stop at!
- Triumphal Arch: A beautiful arch stands at the southern end of Maria-Theresea Street, so make sure to capture a photo here!
- Cathedral of St. James: This is a beautiful cathedral, inside and out.
Inn River
For one of the most spectacular, yet simple, things to do in Innsbruck, walk along the Inn River to see the famous picturesque view of colorful buildings with the river flowing in front and the mountains behind. It is truly a sight that will be hard to pull away from! Walk along the river in both ways, admiring the views. I never wanted to take my eyes off of this magical sight!
Swarovski Museum
The Swarovski Museum is a perfect activity in Innsbruck, especially in the winter. Located about 30 minutes from Innsbruck, this museum is filled with art exhibitions inspired by Swarovski diamonds. When you arrive at the beautiful property, there are a few art sculptures outside, but you canโt miss the large waterfall that will invite you towards it, which is also the entrance to the museum. Once inside, there are multiple rooms/exhibitions which are all inspired by a different theme! Itโs a very unique art museum that I would incorporate into your winter Innsbruck itinerary.
There is a shuttle bus that goes to/from Innsbruck/Swarovski Museum five times daily. Make sure you buy the bus and museum entry tickets beforehand. They are available online, or I would recommend stopping at the Innsbruck Tourism Building earlier in the day to get one. Get on the shuttle at the main transit center – Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof.
Note that the shuttle runs every 2 ยฝ hours so be prepared to be at the museum for a while; take your time through each exhibition!
Nordkette Cable Car
One of the most popular things to do in Innsbruck is the Nordkette Cable Car. This cable car experience brings you up the mountains for spectacular views! There are three cable cars to get you to the top, with optional stops along the way at each.
The first cable car departs from Congress station in Old Town. One of the first stops once you are on the cable car is the Alpine Zoo, Europeโs highest zoo! This is a fun activity if you choose to stop here. The next leg of the trip will be a cable car transfer once you arrive at Hungerburg Station. This is also a fun place to stop, especially if the Christmas Market is happening. The next transfer is at Seegrube Station, where you can also stop to have food or drinks at the restaurant. Next, you will get on the last cable car and exit at Hafelekar Station where you can admire the fantastic 360-degree views!
The Nordkette Cable car is included in your Innsbruck Card, or make sure to get your tickets beforehand here.
Make sure to check the weather! There is a chance it could be very cloudy and unfortunately, the view wonโt be very good. Additionally, in the winter it can be very cold at the top so make sure you are prepared.
Bergisel Ski Jump
This iconic ski jump in Innsbruck is beautifully designed by the renowned architect Zaha Hadid. It has a modern feel with its sleek, futuristic design and showcases Innsbruckโs love for winter sports. In the winter, there are intense competitions where athletes launch themselves from the platform and soar through the air before landing on the hill below. This jump has hosted many prestigious events! In the summer, many people train here as water runs down the track instead of snow.
When you visit, youโll experience breathtaking views from the ski jump which gives you a different perspective of viewing the city and mountains! There is also a visitor center where you can learn about the history of ski jumping and past competitions that were held here, like the Olympics! This is a fun and unique activity to do in Innsbruck!
The easiest ways to get to the ski jump from the city center include taking public transportation by taking Bus Line 1 towards โBergisel,โ or walking/biking as it is about 1.2 miles.
The entrance is included with the Innsbruck Card.
Christmas Markets
If you are lucky enough to be in Innsbruck during the Christmas Market Season (or maybe you planned your trip around it!), you must check them out! Most of the Christmas Markets in Innsbruck are middle of November – Christmas, but a few (Maria-Theresien Market and Hungerburg) run through about the first week in January but make sure to check specific dates here.
Innsbruck Christmas Markets:
- Old Town Christmas Market (In front of the Golden Roof)
- Christmas Market Maria-Theresien Street (On Maria-Theresien Street)
- Christmas Market at Marktplatz (Market Square)
- Panorama Christmas Market on Hungerburg (Hungerburg via the Nordkette Cable Car)
- Christmas Market in St. Nikolaus (Hans-Brenner-Platz)
I was so excited about the Christmas Markets and they were even more magical than I thought. The joyous environment is incredible! The highlights for me were the Punch, especially in the festive mugs, and the Kรผrtลskalรกcs, a dough with sweet toppings such as cinnamon!
Go Skiing
If you are visiting Innbruck in the winter, then check out any of the several incredible mountains nearby and go skiing! My favorite is Stubai Glacier, the largest glacier ski area in Austria. Check out everything you need to know about skiing at Stubai Glacier.
Planning A Trip To Innsbruck
Getting To Innsbruck
FLYING
If you are coming to Austria internationally, you will most likely need to fly to Munich International Airport (MUC) and take a train. The train from Munich to Innsbruck is about 2 ยฝ hours with 1 train change. The easiest way is to fly to Innsbruck Airport (INN), however, fewer flights are coming into these airports.
Additionally, you can take the train from other areas within Austria such as Vienna, Salzburg, and Kitzbรผhel.
For all trains throughout Austria, check route availability and prices, and book your tickets online with OBB.
Lodging Options
I would recommend staying in Old Town, especially if you are only in Innsbruck for a limited time and you want to see the popular sights. Innsbruck is easily walkable and staying in Old Town allows you to be in a central location to the popular activities.
I have stayed at Stage 12 and it is a great hotel in Innsbruck in a perfect location right on Maria-Theresien Street!
Other Innsbruck hotels include:
Should You Get The Innbruck Card?
The Innsbruck Card allows you to pay one price up-front and includes many of the main attractions throughout Innsbruck. There are options for 1-3 days and itโs a great deal to save money if you are planning on doing most of the attractions Innsbruck has to offer!
Here is some general guidance if you should get the Innsbruck Card: If you are planning on doing multiple museums and attractions or if you are planning on doing the Nordkette Cable Car (more on that below) then you should get the card. However, if you are only planning on admiring the sites from the outside and doing one activity such as just the Swarovski Museum, then it most likely makes more sense to purchase those activities separately. The website offers a place to calculate your savings to see if it makes sense to purchase the card.
You can get an Innsbruck card or learn more about it at the beautiful Innsbruck Tourism Building.
There are fun and unique things to do in Innsbruck, and with these highlights, you will be able to see the beauty this city has to offer! Remember to check out the one-day in Innsbruck itinerary.
Follow for more on social media and email me with any questions! If you do any of these things in Innsbruck I would love to know how your experience was!