Nestled in the heart of the Austrian Alps, Innsbruck is a charming city that offers an abundance of natural beauty. Right off the bat, you’ll be able to spot the beautiful snow-capped mountains behind the colorful houses along the Inn River. This majestic mountain range that towers above the city is called Nordkette, one of the most popular places to visit in this beautiful city. But that’s not all this wonderful city has to offer! From historic landmarks and museums to outdoor adventures and delicious cuisine, there are plenty of places to visit in Innsbruck for a memorable vacation.
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How to get to Innsbruck
Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Innsbruck
I took a Flixbus from Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Innsbruck. I was able to book a seat online on the Flixbus website. The bus was about an hour late which I was able to track using the Flixbus Bus Tracker online. The ride was about an hour long and the Flixbus bus stop was less than a 10 minute walk away from my Airbnb in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. In Innsbruck, the Flixbus stop was along the side of the road near the main train station. I walked about 20 minutes to my hostel, but there are also buses available to take you around the city.
Munich to Innsbruck
Flixbus, the Deutsche Bahn train, or Blablacar are your best options here. I mostly found that Blablacar is the cheapest but you may only be able to book it a day or two in advance, if available on the day you want to leave. Flixbus was the next cheapest and the train was the most expensive. Unless you buy the train tickets well in advance, they were the most expensive option for me.
Where to stay in Innsbruck
Meininger Hostel Innsbruck Zentrum
This is a great hostel in a great location. Located right by the Inn River, I was able to see the snowcapped mountains within a 2 minute walking distance. There is a small sidewalk to walk right along the river into town. Along this path I was able to see the colorful houses on the other side of the river which makes for a great photo against the mountains. The center of town has beautiful streets lined with impressive architecture and landmarks that I spent a whole day exploring.
The hostel itself is very comfortable and clean. I stayed in the 8 bed mixed dorm that had a bathroom in the room. There is one room for the toilet and another for the shower and sink. In addition, there is also another public bathroom without a shower in the basement of the hostel, it doesn’t seem like many people use it so I would use it if the bathroom in my room was occupied. There are lockers provided, however, they were small and I was unable to fit my bigger backpack in it. There is breakfast available for a price, and there is also a small kitchen available for use. The hostel also has a small bar that didn’t look that busy any time of the day.
Because I stayed at a hostel, I also received an Innsbruck Welcome Card that allows me free transportation on the public buses, and some other discounts on travel excursions or lift tickets. It was a pretty awesome deal that I believe most hotels, hostels, and Airbnbs will offer if you stay with them.
Things To Do in Innsbruck
Goetheweg Trail
Unfortunately it was rainy and snowy on the mountains during my time there. Without the proper gear to trek in the snow, (and my own dislike of cold weather) I decided against doing the Goetheweg Trail hike. This trail would have started at the Top of Innsbruck which can be reached by the Nordkette cable car.
Nordkette Innsbruck Cable Car
No visit to Innsbruck is complete without a visit to Nordkette. The view is absolutely stunning from the top and if it wasn’t so snowy I would have definitely tried making the trek on foot. I did try to walk a little bit without spikes but it was too difficult and felt a bit dangerous in some areas so I didn’t make it too far.
Buying tickets for Nordkette Cable Car
I highly recommend at least taking the cable car up to see the views from the Top of Innsbruck and if the weather allows, hike around as there are tons of trails. Tickets can be bought at a small counter station right by the parking lot. I had received an Innsbruck Welcome Card in an email the day after I checked into my hostel. This Welcome Card gave me a 20% discount on the roundtrip ticket for the Nordkette cable car. There are also several additional discounts that come with the card including free use of public transportation in and around the city. More information on the Welcome Card can be found here.
Taking the Nordkette Cable Car
Take the cable car to Seegrube, where you will have to switch to a different cable car to take you to the top. Seegrube also offers a nice view of the city below and a fairly good view of the surrounding mountains. There are also a couple hiking trails that go through the Nordkette mountain range from here that seem worth checking out. After passing through Seegrube, you will come out to the top station at Hafelekar where there is a small viewpoint where you will see the city below. If you keep walking around the station, you will see a breathtaking view of the mountains and a better view of the city below. It is absolutely spectacular to see the mountains, almost feeling like I’m floating on cloud 9.
Other Hikes to check out next time
- Schaflegerkogel Loop
- Kemater Alm
- Reither Spitz
- Kellerjoch Loop
Skiing in the Alps
Skiing in the Austrian Alps is a fabulous experience, especially in the Tyrol region. The city of Innsbruck, known as the capital of the Alps, provides easy access to the alpine wonders. Innsbruck locals and visitors alike can take the Nordkette funicular directly from the city center to the Nordkette ski area, with a breathtaking 360° view of the snowcapped mountains on one side and the city below on the other. The funicular takes you through the largest nature park in Europe, the Karwendel Nature Park, to the top station at Hafelekar, where you can marvel at the panoramic view. The slopes for skiing and snowboarding can be found at the Seegrube and Hafelekar stations. The ski jump at Hungerburg is also a must-see for sports enthusiasts.
Some other popular nearby ski areas are:
- Patscherkofel
- Axamer Lizum
- Obergurgl (2 hours from Innsbruck)
Wander the City Center
Innsbruck is a beautiful, picturesque town with the coolest alleyways and shops at every turn. Wander around the old town and explore the restaurants. Walk along the Inn River and snap some photos of the cute colourful houses right along the water. Enjoy the breathtaking views of the mountains directly from the old town. The whole area is so stunning, you’ll be hesitating to leave.
Where to Next?
While you’ve visited the active city of Innsbruck, also visit Salzburg, Austria. Just a short train ride away, Salzburg is another beautiful city in Austria filled with a myriad of outdoor activities as well as culture and food.
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