Innsbruck Travel Guide
Innsbruck Travel Guide
Innsbruck is one of my favorite mountain towns ever. Innsbruck feels like a post card during every season. If you love skiing, hiking, mountain views, and/or laid back, picturesque towns put Innbsruck at the top of your list!
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- Backpacks & Bubbly – Top Picks for Drinks With A View
- Where to Stay in Innsbruck
- Best Things to do in Innbsruck
- Best Restaurants in Innsbruck
- Best Bars in Innsbruck
- Best Day Trips from Innsbruck
- Getting to Innsbruck
- How Many Days to Spend in Innsbruck
- Safety for Solo Female Travelers in Innsbruck
- Innsbruck Top Blog Posts
Disclaimer: This article contains some links where I earn commission through booking. There is no extra cost to you, and I only recommend things I’ve used and love or places I’ve stayed and enjoyed!
*Backpacks & Bubbly – Top Picks for Drinks With A View*
5th Floor The American Bar at the Penz
The 5th floor rooftop bar at the Penz Hotel was one of my favorite spots in Innsbruck, especially at sunset! Grab dinner there or just stop by for some drinks, the views are worth it!
Marktbar am Inn
The terrace at Marktbar was one of my favorite spots in Innsbruck. It was always busy, had live music/DJs and offered some of the best views over the river, colorful Innsbruck homes and the epic Alps
Where to Stay in Innsbruck
The Penz Hotel
I absolutely loved The Penz Hotel right in downtown Innsbruck. It’s right off Maria-Theresien-Straße and easily walkable to Old Town and Marktplatz. The hotel is stunning and has a rooftop bar with some of the best views in Innsbruck.
AC Hotel Innsbruck
I stayed at the AC Hotel on my most recent stay & loved it. They upgraded me to suite with the view above – so stunning! It’s close to the train station and about a 10-15 minute walk to the Old Town area. They had an amazing breakfast, and a nice bar/restaurant located in the lobby that was a great place for a nightcap!
Best Things to do in Innbsruck
Take the Nordkette to the Top of Innsbruck for the Best Views
Taking the Nordkette (cable cars) to the top of Innsbruck is an absolute can’t miss on any trip to Innsbruck & is stunning during any season.
To funicular leaves from downtown Innsbruck and has multiple stops on the way up. The first stop is the zoo (which I skipped)
The second stop is the picturesque town of Hungerburg, and it’s worth exploring. I recommend taking the next 2 cable cars all the way the top. The third stop is where you can get the ski lifts and the fourth stop is the very top of Innsbruck!
Tickets can be found here it’s $52 round trip to the very top! You can also buy them in person, but there can be lines!
Explore Aldstadt (Old Town)
Spend some time exploring Insbruck’s picturesque and colorful Old Town, highlights include the Golden Roof, Marktplatz, Dom St. Jakob Cathedral & a stroll down the Inn river.
If you’re interested in a guided tour to learn more, I’d consider something like this!
Check out the Bergisel Ski Jump
If you’re a winter sports or Olympics enthusiast, check out the Bergisel Ski Jump. You can visit the ski jump during every season, and stop by the cafe for a coffee with some great views over Innsbruck.
You can buy your tickets here for $11
Wander Maria-Theresien-Strasse
One of the main streets of Innsbruck, and home to all of Innsbrcuk’s best shopping Maria-Theresien-Strasse is one of the prettiest streets in Innsbruck to visit during your trip.
Skiing or Hiking
Innsbruck is one of the best places in the world for skiiing and hiking enthusiasts. You can find full details on skiing or hiking in Innsbruck here.
Visit the Christmas Markets
Innsbruck’s charming Christmas Markets are often overshadowed by the more popular Vienna and Salzburg markets, but if you’re in Innsbruck during the holiday season I loved the Christmas Markets here, and they were a bit less crowded!
My full Innsbruck Christmas Market guide can be found here!
(seasonal)
Best Restaurants in Innbsruck
I was overall impressed with Innbruck’s food scene & appreciated the variety (I had been in Austria and Germany for a while, so was glad to have some international food options to try.) Some of my favorite spots were:
die Wilderin
A popular spot in the heart of Old Town. die Wilderin is a farm to table spot with a menu that changes weekly, and serves local classics. You’ll often find meals like deer or lamb, but they have vegetarian options as well.
You’ll want to make reservations here!
Stiftskeller
An Innsbruck classic! This popular ale house & restaurant in Old Town is a great spot for a meal or for a visit to their beer garden (in nice weather) or their small Christmas market (in December!)
https://www.stiftskeller.eu/en/restaurant
Altstadt-Schmankerl
A great casual spot for all the Tyrolean classics – schnitzel, goulash, sausages & more!
https://www.altstadtschmankerl.at/
Trattoria-Pizzeria Due Sicilie
For a classic Neopolitan pizza spot in Innbsruck head to Trattoria-Pizzeria Due Sicilie. They were slinging delicious homemade pizzas and pastas that tasted straight out of Italy! It’s a good break from the heavier Tyrolean cuisine.
https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/139796499/due-sicilie/?hl=en
Pizza Crocodiles
For a casual spot for a pizza & beer I loved this place. It felt so laid back, and seemed to embody Innsbruck’s overall vibe to me! The perfect spot for a laid back meal.
http://www.pizza-crocodiles.at/
Die Pizzerei
Another great Italian spot I loved in Innsbruck. This place gets super busy, so make a reservation. I had to wait about an hour without a reservation, but it was so worth it!
Mamma Mia
Classic spot in the heart of Innsbruck for homemade Italian classics. They have handmade pizzas and pastas, I loved their lasagna!
https://www.mammamia-innsbruck.at/
Machete – Burrito Kartell
This local pub serving make your own burritos was one of my favorite spots in Innsbruck, It was busy with a young, lively crowd and there are no reservations available, but the food is fresh and comes fast!
https://www.machete-burritos.com/
Ludwig
If you’re looking for the best burger spot in Innsbruck, head to Ludwig. Homemade burgers with organic beef in a modern. casual atmosphere. Their fries were the real star to me, they were unreal, especially with one of the Ludwig specialty sauces!
https://www.ludwig-burger.at/innsbruck/burger.html
Woosabi Innsbruck
Another great spot for those looking to branch out from Tyrolean food. Woosabi serves a variety of Asian fusion in a very vibe-y atmoshere. Some of their options include bao buns, rice bowls, noodle bowls & more!
They also have a large cocktail menu!
https://www.woosabi.at/en/_files/ugd/99248f_7da4aabcb51c4ac4b4a7ad3b19aaace7.pdf
Best Bars in Innsbruck
Innsbruck has a fun nightlife scene. It’s a younger city with many students, so there’s no shortage of nightlife options. You’ll find laid back bars and pubs perfect for relaxing after of day of hiking or skiing, or you can opt for its more upbeat club scene.
Marktbar
I loved this spot! Marktbar is located right on Marktplatz with epic views over the river and mountains. This lively spot has live music, and people sitting outside enjoying drinks no matter the temperature!
https://www.marktbar-am-inn.at
5th Floor The American Bar at the Penz
For a lively rooftop scene with amazing views, head to the American Bar on the 5th floor of the Penz Hotel. The scene here is pretty casual during the week but gets a bit more lively on the weekends!
https://www.the-penz.com/en/5th-floor
Adlers Hotel Rooftop
If you’re looking strictly for rooftop views, head to Adlers. This classy hotel rooftop has 260 views over Innsbruck and the mountains beyond.
https://www.adlers-innsbruck.com/en/bar-rooftop/
Treibhaus
A local student haunt, Treibhaus offers cheap food & drinks in a laid back atmosphere. They have an awesome beer garden and have live music. This spot is cash only.
Liquid Diary
If you’re looking for a classic cocktail bar with a bit more of an upscale vibe and a cool aesthetic, head ot Liquid Diary right in the heart of Innsbruck Old Town.
City Pub
A popular & casual spot in Innsbruck, perfect for a laid back afternoon or evening of beers and bar food (good bar food, though!)
https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/735554424/city-pub-innsbruck
Montagu
A hostel with a bar that turns into a cluv at night? This is the backpackers dream (or someone nostalgic for their college backpacking glory days lol) This spot is definitely for a younger crowd and gets a bit rowdy!
http://www.montagu-hostel.com/
Cloud One Bar Innsbruck (Motel One Rooftop)
Another great rooftop option (Innsbruck is not lacking in them!) Motel One Rooftop is open to guests and outside visitors and has some of the best views in Innsbruck. Grab a cocktail and spot on the cozy couches and enjoy the views.
https://www.motel-one.com/en/food-and-drink/rooftop-one-bars
Best Day Trips from Innsbruck
Innsbruck is in a great location for exploring Tyrol Austria and beyond! I love stay in Innsbruck, and despite it being small it can act as a great home base for exploring nearby areas. Some of my favorite day trip options!
Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwanstein Castle is iconic, and stunning in any season. It’s in Germany, but is easily doable as a day trip from Innsbruck. It’s most famous for being the supposed inspiration for Disney’s iconic castle logo.
You can visit the inside or just admire the views from the outside (my recommendation) The best views are from Marienbrücke, a bridge that offers panoramic views. The bridge is not open in the winter unfortunately, as a heads up!
From Innsbruck you can rent a car and drive (it takes about 2 hours) I did this, but in retrospect I think a guided tour would have been easier, renting cars is time consuming and can be a hassle, it also started snowing, making the drive more complex!
This guided tour is a good option if you don’t want to rent a car! Check availability here.
Dolomites
Innsbruck is super close to the stunning Dolomite Region in Italy. I highly recommend having a car to explore the Dolomites or doing a guided tour. It’s hard to see much without a car. You can either rent a car n Innsbruck or take the train to Bolzano (gateway to the Dolomites) and rent a car there!
If you’d prefer to not rent a car, try a full day guided tour that will bring you to some of the highlights of the Dolomites & back to Innsbruck! Check availability here.
Salzburg
Stunning Salzburg might already be on your Austria itinerary, but if it’s not it’s an easy day trip from Innsbruck! The train is just under 2 hours and Salzburg can easily be explored in a day!
Explore Old Town, take the funicular up to the Salzburg Fortress for the most stunning views, try a beer at one of Salzburg’s infamous breweries (I like Augistiner Bräu)
Munich
Munich is one of the funnest cities to visit and is doable as a day trip from Innsbruck. The train is only an hour and a half. My personal recommendation would be to visit Munich for at least 1 or 2 nights, but if you’re short on time it can be done as a day trip from Innsbruck.
Getting to Innsbruck
By Train
Innsbruck is connected by train to other major Austrian cities, and larger cities in Germany to the North or Italy to the South.
- Vienna –> Innsbruck – 4 hours 15 minutes
- Salzburg –> Innsbruck – 2 hours
- Munich –> Innsbruck – 1 hour 30 minutes
- Bolzano (Dolomites) –> Innsbruck – 2 hours
By Plane
Innsbruck has an international airport, it’s conveniently located 2.5 miles from Innsbruck city center, so it’s easy to fly directly to Innsbruck.
How Many Days to Spend in Innsbruck
1-2 Days
Innsbruck is super small & you could easily explore the highlights in a day or as a day trip. If you’re looking to explore the Tyrol region of Austria or want to ski/snowboard or hike in the area it’s also a great spot for a longer trip, and a great home base for exploring the region.
Safety for Solo Female Travelers in Innsbruck
5 out of 5
Innsbruck (and everywhere else I went in Austria) felt extremely safe for solo female travel. Innsbruck has a small, mountain town feel and despite it’s fun & lively nightlife, the downtown area felt completely safe at all times of day!
