Innsbruck

December to March is ski season, and the Christmas markets run in Advent. June to September is best for hiking and cable car trips. Spring and autumn are quieter but can be wet. Winter days are short and cold. Summer days are warm, with afternoon storms in the mountains.

• Altstadt is the compact medieval centre with colourful houses and arcades.
• Golden Roof Museum covers the Golden Roof, the gilded balcony that is the symbol of the city.
• Herzog-Friedrich-Straße is the main old-town street, lined with cafes and shops.
• Maria-Theresien-Straße is the wide shopping street that leads south to the Triumphpforte, with mountain views at the end.
• Triumphpforte is a triumphal arch built in 1765.
• Kaiserliche Hofburg is the former imperial palace, with state rooms and portraits of Maria Theresa.
• Hofkirche holds the tomb of Emperor Maximilian I, guarded by large bronze statues.
• Stadtturm is the old city tower. Climb it for views over the roofs.
• Bergisel is the ski jump hill above the city, with a tower viewpoint.
• Nordkette is the mountain range right above town, reached by funicular and cable car from the centre.
• Schloss Ambras is a Renaissance castle on the eastern edge with a famous art and armour collection.
• Alpenzoo shows alpine animals on the slope above the city.

• Ride the Nordkettenbahn from the centre up to the Hafelekar for alpine views.
• Ski one of the nearby areas on a day pass, with a shuttle from town.
• Hike a mountain trail from a cable car station.
• Visit the Christmas markets in December.
• Walk along the Inn at sunset for views of the coloured houses.

• Seefeld is a cross-country skiing and hiking plateau, about 30 minutes by train.
• Mayrhofen is a Zillertal resort with ski and hiking areas, about 1 hour 15 minutes by train.
• Kitzbühel is a famous ski town, about 1 hour 15 minutes by train.
• St. Anton is a big-name ski village, about 1 hour 15 minutes by train.
• Sölden is a glacier ski area in the Ötztal, about 1 hour 15 minutes by car.
• Swarovski Crystal Worlds in Wattens is about 20 minutes away by bus.

• Seefeld, Mayrhofen and Kitzbühel are the closest Tyrolean resorts.

• By air: Innsbruck Airport is about 4 km from the centre. Bus F and a local bus run to the main station in about 20 minutes. Munich and Salzburg are the larger alternatives.
• By train: Innsbruck is on the main line between Munich and Verona. Munich takes about 1 hour 45 minutes, Salzburg about 2 hours, Vienna about 4 hours. Check times on ÖBB.
• By car: The A12 Inntal motorway and the A13 Brenner motorway meet here.

The old town is small and best on foot. Trams and buses cover the rest of the city. The main station is about 10 minutes' walk from the old town. The Nordkette cable car starts near the centre. A Welcome Card for visitors covers local transport. In winter, ski buses run to nearby ski areas.

You do not need a car in the city. A car helps for the side valleys and ski areas. Winter tyres or chains are required in snow. Motorways in Austria need a vignette. The Brenner motorway to Italy has additional tolls. Parking in the old town is limited.

Tyrolean food is hearty. Try Tiroler Gröstl, fried potatoes and meat with egg, and Kasspatzln, cheese noodles. Kaiserschmarrn is a popular dessert. Many inns serve local beer and schnapps. Mountain huts serve simple dishes in summer, and cafes in the old town sell strudel and cakes.

Innsbruck is very safe. Mountain weather changes fast, so check forecasts and carry layers when going up. In winter, follow marked ski runs and avalanche warnings. Tap water is clean and safe to drink. The emergency number is 112. The mountain rescue number is 140.

Innsbruck means 'bridge over the Inn'. It became an important trade stop on the Brenner route in the Middle Ages. Emperor Maximilian I made it his court seat around 1500, and the Habsburgs left many monuments. It later hosted the Winter Olympics in 1964 and 1976.

Quick practical facts for Austria at a glance: