One of Austria’s oldest and most beautiful cities, the administrative center of Tyrol, Innsbruck is renowned for its cultural, sporting, and tourist traditions. This remarkable city, filled with architectural and historical monuments, hosts annual old music festivals and has twice been the venue for the Winter Olympics and other international sports competitions.
In the appearance of Innsbruck, where legendary medieval times, European aristocracy, and modern democratic civilization intertwine, there is much to see that amazes even the most experienced tourists. A number of cultural and historical attractions captivate with their originality and beauty. Here are 20 of the most interesting attractions in Innsbruck.
Ambras Castle
The luxurious castle complex, built in the 16th century, is the work of one of the most enlightened rulers of the Habsburg dynasty, Archduke Ferdinand II, a patron of science and art in the country. The palaces, whose decoration evokes admiration, were constructed to house priceless items of antiquity, paintings, sculptures, and other types of art. Today, the Upper Castle is a magnificent gallery of portraits of the Habsburg family, painted by the most famous artists of the era, including Van Dyck, Titian, and Velazquez.
The Lower Castle houses various types of art, unusual curiosities, instruments, devices (Chamber of Art and Wonders), knightly armor, and weapons (Armory Chamber). A walk in the adjacent park is sheer delight, featuring French and English design elements, colorful flower beds, an artificial lake inhabited by waterfowl, and peacocks on the shores. Those visiting Ambras Castle in the summer can enjoy baroque music concerts.
Opening hours: daily, from 10:00 to 17:00. Ticket prices: adults – 10 €, children up to 19 years – free.
Wilten Basilica and Monastery
At the foot of Bergisel Hill (on the outskirts of Innsbruck) are the legendary sites—the Wilten Monastery and Church, built in the 13th century. According to legend, this monastery was constructed by the German giant Heimon, the dragon-slayer, to atone for killing the Tyrolean giant Tyrsus. The currently functioning monastery has not retained its original appearance, having undergone changes in the Baroque style in the 17th-18th centuries. After World War II destruction, the monastery achieved its final appearance at the end of the 20th century, showcasing its bright beauty.
Here, you can find ancient monuments, authentic ruins of Romanesque and Gothic structures, the Abbey Museum, and an impressive silver-gold statue of the giant Heimon. The grand building of the eponymous basilica, rebuilt several times, also delights with its luxurious facade and stunningly beautiful interior. Marble floors and benches, elegant lace-like stucco, highly artistic wall and ceiling paintings, and a magnificent altar with a statue of Saint Mary—everything is awe-inspiring!
Opening hours: daily, 07:00 – 19:00, except during masses, which tourists cannot attend. Free entry, donations are allowed.
Hofburg Imperial Palace
The monumental building with round towers on the sides, impressive in its grandeur, symbolizes the mighty majesty of the Holy Roman Empire and served as the residence of its rulers. Built in 1460, the palace’s dazzling white facades, decorated in Baroque and Rococo styles, and emerald-green domes impress with their external splendor. The palace’s four wings house 25 apartments, equally luxurious and splendid. The Hofburg underwent a renovation in the 18th century by order of the enlightened Empress Maria Theresa, replacing Gothic elements with Baroque and Rococo decor.
The last renovation (1990) made the imperial palace a convenient tourist attraction. There is much to see: a vast collection of classical portraits and paintings, unique furniture, tapestries, carpets, stunning mirrors, wall frescoes, and objects of artistic carving and chasing, all attesting to the immense wealth of the Habsburg dynasty. The portraits of Maria Theresa and her 16 descendants are particularly impressive.
Opening hours: daily, 09:00-17:30 (September to June); 09:00-18:00 (July-August). Entry fee: adults – 28.80€, children – 17 €. Innsbruck Card holders – free.
Maria Theresa Street
The pedestrian street, akin to Moscow’s Arbat, Maria Theresa Street is a favorite shopping and strolling spot, perfect for leisurely rest in cozy cafes with a cup of signature Austrian coffee. Like a colorful kaleidoscope, historical buildings—charming architectural monuments—line both sides of the street, captivating the eye with their beauty. Exotic dwarf trees in large pots add floral decoration against the backdrop of perfectly laid granite pavements.
Once a modest rural street, it began developing into luxurious Baroque-style palaces in the 16th-17th centuries, owned by local nobility wishing to live closer to St. Jorgen Gate. Notable buildings include the Gump Palace, housing the Tyrolean parliament, and the Trapp Palace with a cozy courtyard and cafe. Worth seeing are the Triumphal Arch adorned with gilded stucco, St. George’s Chapel, and St. Anne’s Column, decorated with elegant sculptures of the saint and angels. The picturesque shopping galleries Kaufhaus Tyrol and Rathaus Galleria will delight visitors.
Helbling House
This architectural masterpiece, an outstanding monument from the 15th-17th centuries, is located on Herzog-Friedrich Street next to another notable building—the Golden Roof House. Now a regular residential building, Helbling House features an unusual facade decor with intricate Rococo-style stucco patterns in pink and gold under the windows. The building is a true work of architecture and art in decorative plaster. Helbling House is available for external viewing at any time, but tourists cannot enter.
Tyrolean Panorama Museum
In Innsbruck, there is a sacred place for Tyroleans akin to Russia’s “Borodino Panorama.” The Tyrolean Panorama Museum, dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the Tyrolean liberation battle against Napoleon’s troops (1809), is located on Bergisel Hill. Essentially, it is a museum complex with separate exhibits depicting different moments of the decisive battle. The central part of the panorama illustrates the battle events: close combat, French soldiers’ attack, episodes of Tyrolean heroism, etc.
Visitors can learn more details through interactive screens near each section of the panorama. Sculptures of individual battle participants, renowned for their courage and selflessness, are displayed here. The adjacent park features a monument to the leader of the peasant uprising, Andreas Hofer, with the patriotic inscription “For God, Emperor, and Fatherland.” The grand exposition’s four sections illustrate Tyrol’s history in detail.
Visiting hours: Monday – Saturday, 09:00 – 18:00, Sunday – 10:00 – 16:30. Innsbruck Card holders – free.
Innsbruck City Tower
Amid the tightly packed buildings on Herzog-Friedrich Street stands the rare City Tower from the 15th century. It stands out with its height, featuring a grey pyramid crowned by a round tower with a similar dome. The tower was built as a watchtower, where heralds announced events, indicated the exact time, and warned of danger. Public executions, markets, and other mass events were held at its base.
The observation deck at a 31-meter height offers a stunning panorama of the city and the snow-capped Alpine peaks. Those interested can rent a small hall (for 15 people) and enjoy the panorama while having a delightful Austrian meal.
Visiting hours: daily, 10:00 – 20:00 (June-September); 10:00 – 17:00 (October-May). Entry fee: adults – 3€, children – 1.5 €, free with Innsbruck Card.
Tyrolean Folk Art Museum
A popular museum among tourists, the Tyrolean Folk Art Museum fully reflects the national applied art of the Tyroleans, gifted with various talents. The museum’s 22 halls are housed in the former Franciscan monastery adjacent to the Hofkirche Church. Some exhibits represent rooms with authentic medieval interiors, furnished with period furniture and household items.
Here, you can see simple and intricate craft items, jewelry, embroidered Tyrolean costumes, national musical instruments, uniquely shaped boats, samples of old weapons, and ceremonial masks. A walk through the museum’s halls provides a vivid impression of one of Europe’s most fascinating ethnic groups—the Tyroleans.
Opening hours: daily, 09:00 – 17:00. Entry fee: adults – 10 €, children – 6€.
Ferdinandeum Museum
The Tyrolean State Museum is named after Archduke Ferdinand, a famous ethnographic collector who dedicated his life to studying Tyrol’s history. The rich collection of various exhibits gathered by the archduke found its place in the oldest national museum, opened in 1823. Over the years, the Ferdinandeum Museum’s exhibits have significantly expanded, adding new items from prehistoric times to the present.
Here, you will find fossilized mammoth remains, ancient fossils and manuscripts, primitive tools, medieval household items, musical instruments, furniture from different centuries, and more. Art enthusiasts will appreciate the magnificent collection of paintings by great European artists, marble statues by renowned sculptors, and more. A walk through the museum’s halls offers a tangible sense of Tyrol’s 30,000-year history.
Opening hours: 09:00-17:00 (winter until 16:00) daily, except Monday. Entry fee: adults – 11€, children – 8€.
Golden Roof
This unique museum, known as the “Golden Roof,” is an old residence of Tyrolean rulers, built in the Gothic style by order of Archduke Friedrich IV (early 15th century). The Golden Roof House is a symbol of medieval splendor and the immense wealth of the ruling elite. Actually, only the balcony’s roof is covered with golden copper plates (2,657 pieces), from which Emperor Maximilian I enjoyed watching knightly tournaments.
In addition to the dazzling golden roof, the intricate patterns on the three balcony tiers, the exquisitely carved spires in the form of tower figures on the upper tier, and the stunning painting on the lower tier capture attention. The balcony balustrade displays the coats of arms of all the empire’s regions, including Maximilian’s imperial emblem. The museum’s exhibits tell the story of Tyrol’s significant historical milestones.
Visiting hours: daily, 10:00-17:00 (May-September); Tuesday-Sunday (October-April).
Swarovski Crystal Worlds
This unique museum, opened in the Innsbruck suburb of Wattens to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the famous Swarovski company, is located in a rock cave guarded by a stone giant with fiery eyes and a waterfall flowing from its mouth. Austrian artist Heller, who worked on the project, likely drew an analogy with Sinbad’s cave. The museum indeed resembles a magical treasure trove filled with sparkling crystals.
A glass tunnel inscribed with philosophers’ and sages’ aphorisms about crystals and glass leads to the exhibits, setting the stage for the dazzling treasures. The impressive tour often ends with a visit to the shop, where you can buy a souvenir or a unique piece of jewelry. You can reach the museum by bus, which departs hourly from the central station (platform D) starting at 09:10 AM. Shuttles run every two hours (from 09:00 to 17:00).
Museum hours: daily, from 09:00 to 18:30. Entry fee: adults – 19€, children (6 to 14 years) – 7.5 €, children (under 5) – free.
St. James Cathedral
This stunning baroque cathedral, located near the Hofburg Palace, was built in the 18th century and is rightfully considered not only one of Europe’s most beautiful churches but also an unrivaled architectural masterpiece. The high grand building of St. James Cathedral is adorned with two domed towers, round windows, and numerous elegant bas-reliefs.
The luxurious interior matches the exterior, featuring magnificent frescoes, stucco wall and ceiling decorations, and numerous stunning sculptures. The altarpiece wall is adorned with the German painter Cranach’s masterpiece “Madonna,” and other priceless works of art are also present. The cathedral’s treasure is a large metal organ, sparkling with gold.
Visiting hours: (winter) Monday-Saturday, 7:30 to 18:30, Sunday – 8:00 to 18:30; (summer) Monday-Saturday, 7:30 to 19:30, Sunday – 08:00-19:30. Free entry.
Hofkirche Church
Next to the Hofburg Palace is the majestic gothic structure built in memory of Emperor Maximilian I – the Hofkirche Church. The construction took 30 years, reflecting three architectural styles: the church’s exterior is gothic, the central portal is in Renaissance style, and the interior is baroque. The church’s luxurious decor reflects the grandeur and wealth of the Holy Roman Empire of that era. Maximilian’s cenotaph (a symbolic tomb) made of black marble is richly decorated with bronze bas-reliefs, monumental sculptures, and bronze monuments to 28 of the emperor’s ancestors.
The cenotaph in the German Renaissance style took 80 years to complete. In the old chapel, the altar of the Virgin Mary is made of high-grade silver. The remains of Archduke Ferdinand II and Tyrolean national hero Hofer rest here. The church’s pride is its two organs, one of which, in the form of a “swallow’s nest,” is half a millennium old.
Visiting hours: 09:00-17:30 (July-August); 09:00-17:00 (September-June). Entry fee: adults – 3€, students – 2€, schoolchildren – 1.5€.
Hofgarten Park
The 600-year-old park on the outskirts of the Old Center is a city recreation area, a landscape garden, and a venue for numerous events. Trees planted by Empress Maria Theresa (18th century) still grow here, and a pavilion from that era is in operation. Picturesque ponds, a palm house (with 17,000 species of live plants), and playgrounds attract locals and tourists. It is the only park where you can freely stroll on the lawns, enjoying the beautiful landscape views.
Free entry daily, Palm House visits on weekdays.
Grassmayr Bell Museum
In the grand Grassmayr Bell Museum and Workshop, you can not only see the richest collection of various bells but also learn about their manufacturing process. Fourteen generations of the Grassmayr family were skilled bell casters, known for the high quality and durability of their bells. The technological subtleties of manufacturing have been preserved to this day and remain a secret, so Grassmayr bells continue to be cast in the active workshops.
The museum’s collection of hundreds of bells, from the smallest to giant bells, impresses with its variety of shapes, sizes, and shine. Besides bells, the exhibits display various instruments, professional equipment, and all kinds of devices. Visitors can watch the production stages of creating a true masterpiece from steel and copper in the foundry workshop.
Visiting hours: year-round Monday-Friday, 09:00-17:00; from May to October, also open on Saturdays, 9:00-17:00. Entry fee: adults – 8€, children (6 to 14) – 5€, group (from 15 people) – 5€.
Triumphal Arch
Unlike the triumphal arches in other cities, Innsbruck’s arch was erected by Empress Maria Theresa not to celebrate a military victory but to mourn her deceased husband Franz. Notably, his death occurred during their son’s wedding, so the majestic structure’s design reflects two opposing emotions—sorrow and joy. The northern part is adorned with love and happiness symbols, while the southern side features mourning signs and sorrowful sculptures. Overall, the Triumphal Arch leaves a strong impression.
Alpine Zoo
The uniqueness of Innsbruck’s zoo lies not only in its high-altitude location (727 m) on the slope of Mount Nordkette but also in its narrow theme: it showcases only local fauna. The Alpine Zoo houses over 2,000 various animals and birds (150 species) in ideal conditions.
Open enclosures with through passages and transparent terrariums allow visitors to observe the zoo’s inhabitants freely and safely. The freshwater aquarium (230,000 liters) contains local fish and amphibians. A 12-meter panoramic window presents the underwater world in all its glory.
Visiting hours: 09:00-18:00 (April-October); 09:00-17:00 (March-November). Ticket prices: adults – 9€, children (4-5 years) – 2€, (6-15 years) – 4.5€; students and pensioners – 7€.
Hungerburgbahn Funicular
An incredible experience awaits as you ascend on the ultra-modern “Hungerburgbahn” funicular, named after one of the mountain peaks. In just 8 minutes from the Old Town center, you are transported to the stunning Alpine landscapes of Hungerburg Peak.
Switching to another station, you ascend to Seegrube Mountain. Alternatively, you can take a direct ride from the city to the Hafelekar observation deck (2,300 m) for a breathtaking panoramic view of Tyrol. Everything here is worthy of admiration: the avant-garde design of the funicular, the stations, the entertainment programs, and the unforgettable impressions!
Operating hours: weekdays – 07:15-19:15; weekends and holidays – 08:00-19:15; Friday evening rides – 18:00-23:00.
Ticket prices: (round trip) adults 4.4€, pensioners – 6.6€, teenagers (14-19) – 5.9€; children (under 14) – 4.1€; under 6 years – free.
Nordkettenbahn Cable Car
A dizzying journey to the Alpine summit Hafelekar (2,269 m above sea level) awaits those who take the Nordkettenbahn cable car from the “Congress” station (next to the Golden Roof). The modernized lift is exceptionally reliable and comfortable, with modern carriages and stunning views below! A visit to the “Alpine Zoo” and the “Railway Museum” will add positive emotions.
Operating hours: daily – 09:00-17:00. Ticket price: adults – from 4€.
Bergisel Ski Jump
Amid the pointed greenery of the coniferous forest on Bergisel Hill lies the legendary “Bergisel” ski jump, resembling a UFO platform. Twice it hosted the Olympic flame, and the world’s best skiers performed incredible stunts here. After the 2002 reconstruction, which made the ski jump a high-class sports facility, skiers of various categories continue to train here.
But it is also accessible to ordinary visitors, who can enjoy a good rest, sit in a cafe, stroll around, admire the surrounding views from above, and watch the training sessions. If desired, visitors can tour the “Bergisel” facilities when there are no competitions.
Operating hours: daily (except Tuesday) – 10:00-17:00 (November-May); 09:00-18:00 (June-October).
