Are you ready to explore the Austrian Alps? If you're planning to visit Innsbruck, you'll find yourself at the heart of it all. The city is not just beautiful, thanks to all the mountains surrounding it, but also rich in history, beautiful architecture, and an array of awesome things to do.
From exploring the city's medieval Old Town to taking in the breathtaking views from the top of the Nordkette mountain range, here are the 13 best things to do in Innsbruck for solo travelers:
- Innsbruck Itinerary Map
- Where to Stay in Innsbruck?
- Quick Summary: Things to do in Innsbruck
-
13 Best Things to Do in Innsbruck
- Hike Around the Top of Innsbruck
- Visit Alpenzoo
- Explore Innsbruck Old Town
- Admire the Beauty of the Golden Roof
- Check Out View of the Old Town From Stadtturm
- Check Out Dom zu St. Jakob
- Visit Innsbruck Hofburg
- Relax in Innsbrucker Hofgarten
- Take Photos of the Colorful Houses of Innsbruck
- Check Out Triumphpforte
- Visit Swarovski Kristallwelten
- Explore Ambras Castle
- Hike the Picturesque Olpererhütte
- More Innsbruck Activities
- Where to Eat and Drink in Innsbruck?
- Further Reading for Austria
Innsbruck Itinerary Map
| ❤️ Must Visit: | Top of Innsbruck |
| 🥘 Place to Eat: | Cafe Central |
| 🏛️ Best Museum: | Ambras Castle |
| ☀️ Great Day Trip: | Olpererhütte Hike |
Tips: Get the Innsbruck Card to save money on tourist attractions. The card includes all public transportation, most museums, tourist attractions, and the Nordkette cable cars, which in itself costs almost as much as the Innsbruck Card.
Quick Summary: Things to do in Innsbruck
- MEININGER Hotel Innsbruck Zentrum (Budget)
- Motel One Innsbruck (Mid-Range)
- STAGE 12 Hotel by Penz (High-End)
- Top of Innsbruck: Roundtrip Cable Car Ticket (1 day)
- Tyrolean Evenings Family Gundolf in Innsbruck (1.5 - 3 hours)
- Innsbruck: City Card Including Public Transport (1 day) 🏅 Top Pick
13 Best Things to Do in Innsbruck
1. Hike Around the Top of Innsbruck❤️ Must Visit
We first start off this travel guide with the best attractions in Innsbruck, and hands down, my favorite out of all is the Top of Innsbruck, an alpine nature park located on the top of Hafelekar mountain. It is a 2,334 m (7,401 ft) high mountain peak that offers an impressive 360° view over Innsbruck and the Austrian Alps.
Dubbed "The highest city stroll in the Alps", the Top of Innsbruck offers visitors a chance to escape the bustling city and dive deep into the alpine wilderness. With a funicular and a cable car, you can travel from the historic city center to the heart of the Austrian Alps in just 30 minutes.
While you are up there, you will be able to see some of the best scenery in the Alps with a panoramic view of Innsbruck and its surroundings, as well as the jagged peaks and rock formations of the Alps from the other side, right at your fingertips.
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From the viewing platform, there are also tons of hiking opportunities with varying difficulties and durations for you to tackle, many of which will take you even higher and deeper into the Alps.
I spent almost 3 hours up here, just exploring some of the hiking trails and viewpoints that seem to get better and better the further I go. There are many viewpoints up here, so be sure to spend some time and find the best spot to relax at.
At the cable car station, there is also a restaurant and a café where you can relax while looking at the incredible views of the Alps. Whether you are a climber or just a traveler, there is something for everyone up here.
This is my favorite place out of all the places I visit in Innsbruck. It almost felt like visiting another location when I stepped out of the cable car. And to think that you can reach this place in just 30 minutes from the city center is still mind-blowing to me.
To get to the top of Innsbruck, you will first have to get to Congress Hungerburgbahn Station, a funicular station that will take you to the Nordkette Cable Car Station on the mountainside of Hafelekar mountain.
There are many stops along the way, including the Alpenzoo, which we will discuss later on. But for now, take the funicular all the way to the last station. Once you have arrived at the Nordkette cable car station, you can then take the cable car all the way to the Top of Innsbruck.
The whole ride should take no more than 30 minutes, easy peasy. That said, the cost of the funicular and the cable car to the Top of Innsbruck is pretty expensive, starting at a whopping 42 EUR per person.
For those of you who are planning to visit other tourist attractions in Innsbruck and are looking to save some money, I highly recommend you get the Innsbruck Card, a tourist pass that will get you free access to public transportation, museums, all tourist attractions I list here, and best of all, includes the roundtrip ticket to the Top of Innsbruck, all at a price of around 52 EUR.
If you are planning to visit the Top of Innsbruck and one other tourist attraction in the city, you are already getting your money's worth with the Innsbruck Card since the roundtrip cable car ticket is already 80% of the price of the Innsbruck Card. That's a steal in my book.
The funicular operates between 07:15 AM and 7:15 PM every day, whereas the cable car operates between 08:30 AM and 5:30 PM every day, and they both leave every 15 minutes. Definitely one of the best things to do in Innsbruck.
Where to Stay in Innsbruck?
2. Visit Alpenzoo
On your way down from the Top of Innsbruck, you can also stop by Alpenzoo, an alpine zoo considered to be one of the highest zoos in Europe. It accommodates over 2,000 animals across more than 150 species, many of which are native to the Alps and not so easy to see.
The zoo is located on the slope of the Hafelekar mountain, with lots of footpaths to explore each section of the park where you can observe the animals. There are quite a lot of ups and downs, so be prepared to hike if you want to see all the rare animals they have here.
The zoo is divided into different sections by animal types, from the reptile and amphibian room, full of frogs and snakes, to a little aquarium, full of rare fish, all of which are present in the Alps.
There are also other rare animals, too, like wolves, bison, and the best one of all, the lynxes. Many of these animals, I have never seen them before up close, so it was actually very eye-opening for a grown adult like me, haha.
The zoo is pretty big, and it will take you more than an hour to see them all, so be sure to prepare accordingly. The zoo is open from 9 AM to 5 PM every day, and the ticket is included with the Innsbruck Card if you have one, or you can pay the entrance ticket for about 19 EUR per person.
3. Explore Innsbruck Old Town
Innsbruck Old Town is the historic old town of Innsbruck, set against the Alps, with the copper-tiled Golden Roof, Imperial Palace, and a ton of lively cafes and restaurants where you can indulge yourself.
Located along Maria Theresien Street, you will be surrounded by all the colorful houses Innsbruck is known for. On a nice clear day, you can see the beautiful alpine mountains looming in the background, making it one of the most photogenic town squares I have ever seen.
If you are not sure where to begin exploring Innsbruck, this is the best place to be. The Old Town and Maria Theresien Street are connected to all the other tourist attractions in the city center, such as the Golden Roof, the Hofburg, and the Old Town Hall, which we will be discussing next.
Innsbruck Old Town is also an awesome place for you to hang out with a ton of nice outdoor cafes, restaurants, and bars where you can relax. The place is especially lively in the afternoon when the sky is often clear, revealing the mighty Hafelekar mountain and the Austrian Alps, all in your vicinity. So be sure to drop by here while you are in Innsbruck.
Tours & Tickets You Might Like
Looking to save some costs on your travel? Why not join a shared group tour from Innsbruck? Here are some activities in which you might be interested:
4. Admire the Beauty of the Golden Roof
The Golden Roof is probably the most recognized landmark in the city. Adorned with the iconic 2,657 glistening golden tiles, the Golden Roof was an ornate Habsburg residence since it was constructed in 1420, and it has been turned into a museum charting the history of Innsbruck.
Emperor Maximilian I and his wife often used the balcony of the Golden Roof to observe festivals, tournaments, and other events that took place in the square below. Hence, it was lavishly decorated to stand out from the other historic buildings in the area.
Within the museum, you will be able to see old sections of the building preserved inside, as well as some artifacts found here. The exhibition inside will tell you about the reign of the emperor and the history of Tyrol, the name used to refer to this part of Europe during the Middle Ages.
For Innsbruck Card holders, you can enter the Golden Roof Museum for free. For those without the Innsbruck Card, the entrance fee is approximately 5 EUR per person. The Golden Roof Museum is open from 10 AM to 5 PM every day.
5. Check Out View of the Old Town From Stadtturm
If you are looking for the best viewpoints in Innsbruck Old Town, I highly recommend climbing up to the top of Stadtturm, an old town hall tower and one of the most important landmarks in the city.
The tower was built in the 15th Century in the Gothic architectural style, and it is located right at the heart of Innsbruck Old Town, making it great for you to visit after you admire the beauty of the Golden Roof.
With the narrow spiral staircase, you will have to climb about 148 steps to get to the viewing platform. Once you arrive, you will be greeted with the sight of Innsbruck's incredibly colorful cityscape set against the mighty Austrian Alps.
You can see Innsbruck and its surroundings in all directions from here, and it will really make you appreciate just how pretty Innsbruck is even more.
Stadtturm is open from 10 AM to 8 PM every day, and if you hold the Innsbruck Card, you are free to skip the line and enter. If not, the entrance fee for a regular ticket is around 5 EUR per person, and you can buy the ticket online from here.
6. Check Out Dom zu St. Jakob
Dom zu St. Jakob or St. James' Cathedral is another important landmark in the city that you should definitely check out while you are exploring Innsbruck Old Town. The cathedral is said to have been built in the 10th Century and has been towering over the roofs of Innsbruck for centuries until it was damaged in the earthquakes in the 16th and promptly renovated into what we see today.
The cathedral is known for its high baroque ceiling frescoes, stucco work, and most famous of all, the Madonna and Child in the Alps paintings that were originally from Dresden but were gifted to Innsbruck Archduke Leopold V in 1650.
The cathedral stands tall over Innsbruck's historic town square, and it will be hard for you to miss it as you explore the Old Town. The church is open from 10:30 AM to 6:30 PM every day except Sunday, which opens from 12:30 PM to 6:30 PM.
7. Visit Innsbruck Hofburg
For those who are interested in the history of Innsbruck and the Habsburg reign, there is no better place to visit than Innsbruck Hofburg, a massive all-white imperial palace that is considered to be among the three most important cultural buildings in Austria.
The palace is massive and consists of many buildings containing around 5 museum areas: Maria Theresa's Rooms, Empress Elisabeth's, a Furniture Museum, an Ancestral Gallery, and a Painting Gallery. These areas are all designed to illustrate various aspects of the political and cultural history of the imperial palace.
Innsbruck Hofburg is also home to one of the most magnificent banquet halls in the Alps. Unfortunately, taking photos of the room was not allowed, so you will have to trust me on it.
Innsbruck Hofburg is open from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM every day with the last admission at 4:30 PM. With the Innsbruck Card, you can enter the entire museum for free, but for those who have yet to buy the card, the entrance fee to the imperial apartment section is 9.50 EUR, the Maximilian section is 7.50 EUR, or you can buy the combination ticket for 15 EUR.
8. Relax in Innsbrucker Hofgarten
Innsbrucker Hofgarten is a collection of royal palace gardens located just on the opposite side of Innsbruck Hofburg, which dates back to the 15th Century. Within the park, you will find a beautiful pavilion, a butterfly house, and a ton of green space for you to relax in.
The place is considered the green heart of Innsbruck, and it is often a place for locals to escape the bustling city and be with nature. Even the Habsburg Empress Maria Theresa often comes here to relax and even does some gardening herself.
The garden is open to the public for free, and it is open 24/7. If you are looking for a place to relax and have a picnic in Innsbruck, this is the place to be.
9. Take Photos of the Colorful Houses of Innsbruck
If you are looking for a nice viewpoint to take photos of Innsbruck, I highly recommend you check out Marktplatz, a town square located right by the riverbank where you will be able to see the famous colorful houses of Innsbruck just across the river, set against the Austrian Alps in the background.
It is a short walk from the old town, which makes it a great stop while you are exploring Innsbruck. There are many benches and shaded areas along the river, perfect for relaxing and escaping from the heat during the day. Be sure to drop by and take that iconic photo before you leave Innsbruck.
10. Check Out Triumphpforte
While you are in the Old Town, be sure to drop by and check out the Innsbruck version of the Triumphal Arch, the Triumphpforte, one of the best-known landmarks of Innsbruck.
The triumphal arch was built in 1765 to commemorate the wedding of the second son of the emperor. However, due to unexpected circumstances, the emperor died before it was finished. Therefore, if you look at the arch, you will see motifs of the wedding of the young couple as well as the commemoration of the death of the emperor on each side.
The arch is especially beautiful from the southern side as you will see the old town street behind it, as well as the Austrian Alps looming behind. If you are in Innsbruck Old Town, be sure to check out Triumphpforte.
11. Visit Swarovski Kristallwelten
If you are interested in the world of the high-end crystal brand, Swarovski, you can visit Swarovski Kristallwelten, the Crystal World. This attraction was created by André Heller for the crystal glass manufacturer Swarovski and consists of a park, art museum, retail area, and restaurant.
The park was opened in 1995 in Watten, a town not too far from Innsbruck, where the company was founded and still has its headquarters. It is a popular half-day trip to make from Innsbruck if you are interested in learning more about the beginning of one of the most luxurious brands in the world.
To get there, you can take 4125 regional buses or S4 trains and then either walk to the Crystal World or take one of the RegioFlink shuttle services. You can also pay 10 EUR for a roundtrip shuttle service from Innsbruck that runs 4 times a day starting from 10:20 AM to 4:40 PM. For a more recent shuttle schedule, you can check the official website.
Again, if you hold the Innsbruck Card, the entrance fee to Crystal World is included, while if you do not, the ticket will cost you about 23 EUR per person. You can get the ticket online from here.
12. Explore Ambras Castle🏛️ Best Museum
Ambras Castle is a Renaissance castle located on the outskirts of Innsbruck. It was built in the 16th century by the Habsburgs and has now been turned into a museum where you can visit and see what the Habsburgs were able to acquire throughout their reign.
The castle is made up of two main parts: the Lower Castle and the Upper Castle. The Lower Castle includes the Court of Honour, the Court of the Lions, and the Court of the Maidens, along with galleries. The Upper Castle includes the Habsburg personal Portrait Gallery and the Spanish Hall, which is one of the main attractions of the castle.
If you are a history buff, you are going to love Ambras Castle. The castle is a beautiful and well-preserved example of a proper Renaissance castle, offering a glimpse into the lives of the Habsburg dynasty, who were some of the most powerful rulers in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries.
The Spanish Hall, in particular, is quite a sight to behold, featuring a large and ornately decorated room built in the 16th century, originally as a ballroom. The hall is named after its intricate Spanish-style frescoes and decorations, which were inspired by the courts of the Spanish Habsburgs.
Even if you do not enjoy history as much as I do, the castle is surrounded by a vast, beautiful park and garden with many walking paths that are open to the public. It is a great place to relax and take in the beauty of the surrounding landscape.
To get to Ambras Castle, you can take bus line C, drop off at Luigenstraße, and from there, you will have to hike up to the castle for 1.2 km, which should take about 15 minutes. Once you are there, you can either enter for free with the Innsbruck Card or you can buy the ticket for 12 EUR per person. The castle is open from 10 AM to 5 PM every day, and you should expect to spend at least 1.5 hours here.
13. Hike the Picturesque Olpererhütte☀️ Great Day Trip
Last but not least, if you have a day to spare in Innsbruck, I highly recommend that you get out of the city and explore more of the incredible Austrian Alps by hiking to Olpererhütte, one of the most picturesque hiking trails in Austria.
Olpererhütte is a mountain hut located high up in the Alps, overlooking Schlegeis Stausee, a beautiful reservoir surrounded by mountain peaks. The hut is located more than 90 km away from Innsbruck, and getting there with public transportation requires a bit of effort, but what you will see here is out of this world.
Olpererhütte is well known for the incredible view over Schlegeis Stausee as well as the famous floating suspension bridge that you often see on Instagram. This incredible viewpoint is what attracted me to the hike in the first place and what made me power through all the buses and trains to get to the trailhead.
To get to the trailhead, you are going to have to take one of the morning regional trains from Innsbruck Central Station to Jenbach Train Station. From Jenbach, you have to switch to a Zillertalbahn train, which is a local mountain train that will take you to Mayrhofen.
For Zillertalbahn, you have to buy a different ticket as it is not the same operator as the regional train. You can buy the ticket directly from the conductor on the train. For the train schedule, you can check the official website.
These two legs of the journey should take about 2 hours. Once you arrive at Mayrhofen, you will then have to take local bus #4102 that leaves right in front of Mayrhofen train station to Schlegeis Stausee. The bus leaves every 1 - 2 hours from 7:55 AM to 6:10 PM every day. For the latest bus schedule, check the official website.
The journey should take about 1 hour, and you can, again, buy the ticket directly from the bus driver. It's best to have a bit of cash in hand as the card reader might not work sometimes.
The entire one-way journey should take about 3 hours before you reach the Olpererhütte Hike trailhead. The buses and trains should cost no more than 30 EUR, one way. Once you reach the trailhead, you will have to hike up the steep trail for about 1.5 hours until you reach Olpererhütte.
The trail is all uphill and mostly consists of well-marked gravel paths. As long as you take it slowly, you should reach the mountain hut in no time. I took the second train out from Innsbruck at 6 AM, arrived at Schlegeis Stausee by 10 AM, and reached Olpererhütte at about 11:20 AM. This gave me more than enough time to take photos up there.
After you arrive at Olpererhütte, you can continue uphill a bit more and you will arrive at the famous suspension bridge where you will be able to get the same photo as I did. Depending on when you arrive, you might have the whole place to yourself or there will be a long queue waiting for the Instagram-perfect photo. The life of a modern traveler, am I right? 😅
Once you are done at the top, it's another one-hour hike down before you have to catch the bus back to Mayrhofen. Keep in mind that they do not have buses running at 12:55 and 14:55, so be sure to plan your arrival carefully to avoid waiting for 2 hours for the bus back. I was able to catch the 1:55 PM bus back in time and got back to Innsbruck by 5 PM, which was pretty good timing.
Since you will be spending an entire day traveling and at least 3-4 hours hiking, be sure to pack breakfast and lunch, as well as enough water to hike up. At Olpererhütte, there is a restaurant where you can have lunch and a spring where you can fill up water for free. Please also wear shoes with good grip, as well as lightweight clothes, and pack extra layers in case it gets windy and cold up there.
Other than that, you are going to have a hell of a time hiking to Olpererhütte. It is still one of my favorite memories in Austria, and if you are looking to do some hiking in the Austrian Alps, be sure to check out Olpererhütte. Definitely one of the best things to do in Innsbruck.
Where to Eat and Drink in Innsbruck?
Eat at Cafe Central
If you are looking for a nice and cool place to eat, I highly recommend you check out Cafe Central, a cafe and restaurant located in this stunning decades-old coffeehouse equipped with vintage furniture and tables that will make you feel like you are dining in the 19th Century.
The restaurant is not all just about the atmosphere, but they also serve a Menu of the Day that costs about 8 EUR, which is pretty affordable for a city like Innsbruck.
The restaurant is located right in the city center and is open from 7 AM to 8 PM every day. If you are not sure where to eat here, make sure to drop by Cafe Central.
That is it for the 13 Wonderful Things to Do in Innsbruck for Solo Travelers. Have we missed anything? Have you found the guide useful? Let us know in the comments below!
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to plan your trip to Innsbruck, Austria! Here are some resources to help you get your trip going:
Are you planning to travel to Innsbruck, Austria independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Austria
I hope you found this Austrian travel guide useful. If you want to read more about Austria, here is a selection of articles you might like:
- Looking for a complete itinerary for Austria? Check out: 2 Weeks Backpacking Austria Itinerary.
- If you are visiting Austria, you cannot afford to skip Vienna. This city is jam-packed with beautiful sights and some of the prettiest landmarks in Europe. To help your visit, here are 16 Best Things to Do in Vienna.
- For a complete Vienna itinerary, check out: 3 Days in Vienna Itinerary.
- Probably one of the most picturesque towns in Europe, Hallstatt is so much more than just getting that perfect Instagram photo. Here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Hallstatt.
- Popularized by the classic movie, "The Sound of Music," Salzburg is one of the most beautiful cities to visit in Europe with a ton of things to do. Here are the 15 Best Things to Do in Salzburg.
- Want to visit Salzburg for 3 days and are looking for the perfect itinerary? Check this out: 3 Days In Salzburg: An Itinerary For First Timers.
- One of the best hikes you can do in the Austrian Alps is the Olpererhütte hike, and you can do it all in one day from Innsbruck. Here is A Complete Hiking Guide to Olpererhütte from Innsbruck.
- Not convinced by my words? Here are 125 photos that will inspire you to visit Europe.
- To see all the articles about Austria, visit the Austria Travel Guide page.
- Traveling in Europe can be cheap, really cheap. These are the 12 Cheap European Countries to Visit.
- Looking for more travel guides for Europe? You can find more on my Europe Travel Guide page.
- Or if you want something more specific to the region, visit our Western Europe Travel Guide, Central Europe Travel Guide, or Eastern Europe Travel Guide pages.
- For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.