Tyrol Innsbruck
3
Day Itinerary •
Austria
Three days in Tyrol and Innsbruck take you to the most extraordinary mountain city in the Alps, where the Nordkette peaks rise directly above the colourful medieval old town and a cable car connects the city centre to 2,334 metres in under 25 minutes. From Innsbruck's extraordinary Imperial Palace and the Golden Roof to the Swarovski Crystal Worlds at Wattens and the extraordinary medieval salt towns of Hall and Schwaz. This route covers the essential Tyrol. Innsbruck's extraordinary Baroque old town and the Hofburg Imperial Palace, the Nordkette cable car to the extraordinary panorama above the city, the Imperial Crypt with the Habsburg tombs, the extraordinary Swarovski Crystal Worlds, the medieval walled town of Hall in Tirol, and the extraordinary silver and copper mining heritage of Schwaz.
Best Time To Visit
June to September or December to March
Getting There
Fly into Innsbruck or Munich, train 2 hours
Getting Around
nsbruck Card covers all transport, cable cars and museums. Car for Hall and Schwaz
Budget Per Day
Approx 90 to 160 euros per person per day
Difficulity
Easy to moderate, walking and cable cars
DAY 1
INNSBRUCK OLD TOWN
MORNING
INNSBRUCK OLD TOWN AND THE GOLDEN ROOF
Innsbruck's old town is the most extraordinary Alpine city centre in Austria, its medieval lanes and Baroque facades compressed between the Inn river and the Nordkette cliffs rising directly above. The Golden Roof, built in 1500 for Emperor Maximilian I, is covered with 2,657 fire-gilded copper tiles and is the symbol of the city. The Stadtturm tower beside it gives the finest panorama over the old town and the Alps. The extraordinary Baroque facades of the Hofgasse and Maria-Theresien-Strasse are outstanding. Tower entry approx 4 euros. Travel: 15 min walk
MIDDAY
THE HOFBURG PALACE AND THE HOFKIRCHE
The Innsbruck Hofburg is the most extraordinary imperial palace in Tyrol, its Giant's Hall with the extraordinary ceiling fresco by Franz Anton Maulbertsch the finest Baroque interior in the city. The Hofkirche beside it contains the most extraordinary collection of Renaissance bronze figures in Europe, 28 larger-than-life statues of Habsburg ancestors including extraordinary figures of King Arthur and Theodoric the Ostrogoth by the young Albrecht Durer. The Imperial Crypt within contains the tomb of Emperor Maximilian I. Entry approx 12 euros. Travel: 20 min walk to Inn river
AFTERNOON
THE INN RIVER AND THE MARIAHILF QUARTER
The Inn river flowing through Innsbruck between the colourful medieval facades and the Nordkette peaks above is the finest urban river view in the Alps. The Mariahilf quarter on the right bank has the most extraordinary traditional Tyrolean character, its narrow lanes and old inns entirely authentic. The extraordinary Innbrucke, the medieval bridge giving Innsbruck its name, is the finest viewpoint of the old town facade. The Stadtpark riverside walk along the Inn is entirely free.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Annasaule on the Maria-Theresien-Strasse is Innsbruck's most extraordinary Baroque column, erected in 1706 to commemorate the withdrawal of Bavarian troops and giving the finest single view of the entire mountain backdrop above the city. The view from the base of the column with the Nordkette behind the Baroque facades is the most extraordinary urban mountain panorama in Austria.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe Sacher Innsbruck Outstanding coffee house on the Rennweg. Coffee and extraordinary Tyrolean cakes. | Lunch: Ottoburg, Innsbruck The oldest restaurant in Innsbruck in a 15th-century tower. Local venison and Tyrolean wine. | Dinner: Stiftskeller, Innsbruck Outstanding traditional Tyrolean restaurant. Local Graukase and Tarrenz lamb.
DAY 2
NORDKETTE AND SWAROVSKI
MORNING
THE NORDKETTE CABLE CAR TO 2,334 METRES
The Nordkettenbahn rises from the city centre to the Hungerburg at 860 metres by funicular, then by cable car to the Seegrube at 1,905 metres and the Hafelekar at 2,334 metres, the entire journey taking 25 minutes. The panorama from the Hafelekar over Innsbruck and the Inn valley is the most extraordinary urban mountain view in the Alps. The extraordinary ridge walk from the Hafelekar gives views over both the Inn valley and the wild northern face of the Nordkette. Nordkette return approx 36 euros. Travel: 25 min cable car and funicular down
MIDDAY
THE HUNGERBURG AND CITY PANORAMA TRAIL
The Hungerburg at 860 metres above Innsbruck is the most extraordinary residential neighbourhood in any Alpine city, its extraordinary villas built by wealthy Innsbruckers for the mountain views and clean air. The panorama trail along the Hungerburg shelf gives continuous views over the entire city. The descent on foot through the Weiherburg gorge to the city takes approximately 45 minutes through extraordinary pine forest. Alternatively the funicular descends in 8 minutes. Travel: 30 min bus to Wattens
AFTERNOON
SWAROVSKI CRYSTAL WORLDS, WATTENS
The Swarovski Crystal Worlds at Wattens is the most extraordinary cultural attraction in Tyrol, an underground museum of 17 chambers designed by different artists around Swarovski crystal, created in 1995 by Andre Heller. The crystal dome, the mirror room and the extraordinary giant head entrance are outstanding. The crystal cloud installation above the entrance is the most extraordinary outdoor crystal sculpture in the world. Entry approx 22 euros.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Bergisel ski jump above Innsbruck, rebuilt by Zaha Hadid in 2002, is the most extraordinary piece of contemporary architecture in Tyrol, its extraordinary cantilevered tower giving a panorama over Innsbruck and the Inn valley from the jump platform at 64 metres. Entry approx 11 euros. The jump is used for the Four Hills Tournament every January.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe at Hungerburg or Seegrube Coffee above the city before the first cable car. Extraordinary mountain breakfast. | Lunch: Restaurant Seegrube Outstanding mountain restaurant at 1,905m. Local Tyrolean food with city panorama directly below. | Dinner: Restaurant Philippine, Innsbruck Outstanding modern Tyrolean cuisine. Local lamb and the finest Tyrolean Zweigelt wine.
DAY 3
HALL AND SCHWAZ
MORNING
HALL IN TIROL, THE MEDIEVAL SALT TOWN
Hall in Tirol is the most extraordinary and least known medieval town in Austria, its entirely preserved old town walls, towers and extraordinary mint where the first Thaler silver coin was struck in 1486 giving it an authentic character entirely unaffected by tourism. The Burg Hasegg castle above the town contains the extraordinary Mint Tower, the finest numismatic museum in Austria, telling the story of the Thaler that gave its name to the dollar. The old town is outstanding. Castle entry approx 9 euros. Travel: 25 min bus to Schwaz
MIDDAY
SCHWAZ, THE SILVER TOWN
Schwaz was the most important mining town in Europe in the 15th century, its extraordinary silver and copper mines the richest in the world and the source of the Habsburgs' global power. The Schwaz silver mine, reached by a narrow-gauge railway into the mountain, gives extraordinary underground tours through 16th-century galleries. The extraordinary Franciscan monastery church with its extraordinary copper roof is the finest Gothic church in Tyrol. Mine entry approx 20 euros. Travel: 25 min bus back to Innsbruck
AFTERNOON
INNSBRUCK, THE ALPENZOO AND AMBRAS CASTLE
The Innsbruck Alpenzoo at 727 metres above the city is the highest zoo in Europe, its extraordinary collection of Alpine animals including ibex, wolves, golden eagles and European lynx in natural mountain enclosures. The Schloss Ambras below is the most extraordinary Renaissance castle in Austria, built for Archduke Ferdinand II and containing his extraordinary Kunstkammer with the finest collection of armour and curiosities assembled in the 16th century. Ambras entry approx 16 euros.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Innsbruck Triumphal Arch on the Maria-Theresien-Strasse was built in 1765 in a single day to celebrate a royal wedding, but its extraordinary south face commemorates the death of Emperor Franz I Stephan who died during the celebrations. The north face shows joy, the south face mourning, the most extraordinary architectural ambivalence in Austria. Entirely free to view.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cafe in Innsbruck old town Coffee before the bus to Hall. The Hofgasse in the morning is extraordinary. | Lunch: Restaurant im Stadtturm, Hall Outstanding restaurant in the medieval salt town. Local trout and Tyrolean wine. | Dinner: Gasthof Weisses Lamm, Innsbruck Outstanding traditional Tyrolean inn. Local Graukase, Kasnocken and Tyrolean Gruner Veltliner.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Innsbruck Old Town Hotel Schwarzer Adler or Grand Hotel Europa. Walking distance to everything. Approx 100 to 300 euros. Budget Option Nendwich Hostel or A&O Innsbruck. Good transport links. Approx 50 to 100 euros per night.
Top Tips
1. Take the first Nordkette cable car at 8am. The panorama over Innsbruck with nobody else at the top is extraordinary.
2. The Innsbruck Card includes the Nordkette cable car. Buy the 48-hour card on arrival at the airport or main station.
3. Hall in Tirol is 10 minutes from Innsbruck and almost entirely unknown internationally. The medieval town is extraordinary.
4. The Hofkirche Imperial Crypt is the finest collection of Renaissance bronze figures in Europe. Often missed by visitors.
5. The Hungerburg funicular from the city centre to the Nordkette base station is the finest urban funicular in Austria.
6. Book the Swarovski Crystal Worlds in advance. The underground chambers designed by Andre Heller are extraordinary.
Total Budget
90 to 160 euros/day