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Innsbruck

Alpine City with the Mountains at the End of the Street

Plan this trip
2 daysIdeal stay₹10,650From / night₹3,200Food / day₹5,330Entry

Tyrol's capital on the Inn, where the Nordkette range rises straight above the old town: a funicular from the centre and two cableways reach the Hafelekar at 2,256 m in about half an hour. The old town has the Golden Roof and the Hofburg, Ambras castle sits above the city, and the Bergisel ski jump looks down the valley. The Swarovski Crystal Worlds at Wattens, 20 km east and a stop on most Indian tours, take half a day (shuttle bus from the city). Trains reach Salzburg in under 2 hours, Zurich in 3.5 and Verona over the Brenner in about 3.5. Indian restaurants in the centre.

Highlights

  • From the old town to the Hafelekar at 2,256 m in half an hour
  • Golden Roof and the painted Maria-Theresien-Strasse
  • Swarovski Crystal Worlds and their garden
  • Ambras Castle and its armour
  • Bergisel ski jump view
  • Christmas markets in the old town (mid-November to Christmas)

Things to do

  • Nordkette funicular and lifts to the HafelekarMorning · 3h 30m
  • Old town walk: Golden Roof, Hofburg and Maria-Theresien-StrasseAfternoon · 2h 30m
  • Swarovski Crystal Worlds at WattensAfternoon · 3h 30m
  • Ambras Castle and gardensMorning · 2h 30m
  • Bergisel jump tower and its view down the valleyAfternoon · 1h 30m
  • Hike from the Hungerburg on the Nordkette slopesMorning · 4h

Tours & tickets

Tours & tickets in Innsbruckvia GetYourGuideTours & tickets in Innsbruckvia Klook

Tourisma may earn a small commission if you book — it never changes your price.

When to go

Best time: May – October; December – March (snow)

Heads up

Works on the Salzburg–Innsbruck Railway

The fast Railjets between Salzburg and Innsbruck run through a corner of Germany, where the line is being rebuilt: reports in 2026 said it closes for the first half of 2027, with trains sent round by Zell am See (about 1.5 hours longer) or replaced by buses, and longer journeys before that. The dates have changed more than once: check the ÖBB timetable and its works page for your dates before booking.

  • Almabtrieb (cattle coming down from the high pastures) — From mid-September to early October herds come down from the summer pastures garlanded with flowers and bells, with village fairs on the day. Dates are set locally, often only weeks ahead.
  • Christmas markets — From mid or late November to 23-26 December: Vienna's on the Rathausplatz, at Schönbrunn and the Belvedere, Salzburg's on the Domplatz, Innsbruck's under the Golden Roof, and the Wolfgangsee's on Advent weekends. Mulled wine (Glühwein, or alcohol-free Kinderpunsch), roasted chestnuts and crafts; rooms in Vienna and Salzburg fill on Advent weekends.
  • Krampus runs — In late November and the first week of December, around St Nicholas' Day (6 December), costumed Krampus devils with bells and horns run through Alpine towns; loud and a little rough, not for small children.