Innsbruck

Transportation and Accommodations

Getting There

Innsbruck is located on the west side of Austria. The mountain town has a small airport that is accessible from some European cities.The Innsbruck airport (INN) is right in a valley between the mountains and is a pretty spectacular locations. It is located about a 15 minute drive from the center of town, or an hour walk. The walk to the airport from town is right along the river and is very nice if you have time and the weather is nice.

If direct flights to and from Innsbruck are not an option, then consider flying into Munich and taking a train from Munich to Innsbruck. There is a fast train, taking about 2 hours, and a slower train taking closer to 3 hours that leaves from the main station in Munich and arrives at the main station in Innsbruck. The slower train is cheaper and does not sell out as quick as the fast train. You can buy train tickets the day of travel or in advance as sometimes tickets do sell out. There are also train travel options with connections, but a direct ride is ideal due to train delays and the ease of not having to transfer lines.

The main train station in Innsbruck is Innsbruck Hbf and the main station in Munich Hbf. Due to flight options, my friend and I flew into Munich (MUC) on Friday night and took a train from Munich to Innsbruck on Saturday early afternoon. This gave us the morning in Munich and 1.5 days in Innsbruck. We then flew out of Innsbruck Sunday night. If you like to ski, I would recommend looking into this as an option and getting on the slopes Saturday and Sunday. If direct flights are not an option, the train travel is very easy.

One could easily fly in Friday night and take an early train to get at least a half day on the mountain Saturday and a full day Sunday with a Sunday night flight. The town can easily be seen in a few hours as it is very small so getting some time out on the mountain if you enjoy skiing or snowboarding is definitely recommended or spending a full day in Munich and then using the second day to wander around Innsbruck.


Getting Around

Innsbruck is a tiny little town and you can easily see it all on foot. As noted above, you can even walk to the airport if you desire. In order to get to ski resorts nearby, it may be helpful to rent a car or use the bus services in the area. The river running through the town has a nice path along it where plenty of people walk or bike along if the weather is nice.

Accommodations

Stay anywhere in the Old Town and you will guarantee that you can get everywhere on foot. The AC Hotel, a Marriott property in the Old Town, is a nice hotel and in a prime location. It is about a 10 minute walk from the train station.

Things to do and see

Old Town

Innsbruck is a small, Austrian mountain town. The Old Town is a cute area to walk around. There are lots of little boutique shops, restaurants, and cafes to stop in. The river runs right through town and has a nice path along both sides. The picturesque Colorful Houses stand right along the river on the side of the Old Town area and have a beautiful backdrop with mountains behind them. While walking around, you will surely pass the “Golden Roof,” which is just what it sounds like – a slanted golden roof on the side of a building. It is nothing to go out of your way for, but if you are walking around the Old Town, you are bound to see it.

Overall, Innsbruck is a small town and very nice, but there is not much to do aside from relaxing in the old town and walking around. It is a great destination to consider for a quick ski trip as you can be active during the days and see the town late afternoon after being on the mountain.

Nordkette

The Nordkette cable car starts right from the Old Town and has a few stops along the way before you reach the top. You can buy a ticket from the station and hop on the funicular to start the journey, which departs every 15 minutes. Roundtrip tickets up and down cost just under 40 Euros. You can also pay a little extra to get zoo tickets, which is the second stop on the funicular. After the zoo, the funicular reaches its third and final stop where you exit and are in a small town area where you can look down and see Innsbruck’s Old Town or lookup on the mountain. There are some cafes around here to stop and grab a coffee or snack.

If you prefer to keep trekking on the journey up, catch the cable car from the town, just a 2 minute walk from the top of the funicular. The cable car takes you to an area with a nice view. This spot is in the middle of a small ski area. There is an outdoor bar with chairs outside in the snow looking out on the mountains. From this stop, you can catch the final cable car to the very top. Unfortunately it was overcast at the top for us so we could not see anything at the very top, but the views are supposedly beautiful on a clear day. Nevertheless, the second to last stop was still worth the trip up and we spent awhile sitting outside admiring the views.

River Path

If the weather is nice, take a walk along the river and enjoy the quiet down and nice day

Skiing and Snowboarding

Innsbruck is known to be a ski and snowboarding destination. I did not have the opportunity to hit the slopes while visiting, but would have loved to and would recommend those that visit to try to take advantage of the location. The town itself is lovely, but you will quickly run out of activities to do so plan to get out on the mountain if possible.


Food and Drinks

Strudel-cafe Kroll

Located in the heart of Innsbruck’s old town, Strudel-cafe is open for sit down or takeaway. It makes for a good spot to grab breakfast in the morning and is known for its strudels, a part of typical Austrian cuisine. A strudel is a layered pastry with different flavors of filing on the inside as choices. Strudel-cafe also serves other options for breakfast and has a small sit down area in the back of the shop.

Il Gusto da Leonardo

This little Italian gem is largely a spot to purchase pasta, wine or fresh cured meat. There are a few tables inside where the owner will seat you and you can order a bottle of wine. He’ll then serve you bread and throw together a snack platter with an assortment of meats, cheeses, and vegetables. We spent part of the afternoon here just chatting and enjoying wine and snacks.

Manna

This restaurant and bar can be found in the main square in Innsbruck. There is a nice upstairs area and the staff is very friendly.

Speckeria

Here you can get some great cured meat to go or sit down and enjoy some wine and snacks one one of the busier streets in Innsbruck.

Gelateria lago di Garda

Tasty gelato shop in the center of town with friendly service and delicious gelato


Restaurant Goldener Adler Innsbruck

Found in the Old Town, this restaurant serves very typical Tirol dishes 

Navigation

Transportation and Accommodations

Things to do and see

Food and Drinks

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