When looking for what to do in Innsbruck, Austria, it’s important to know that what you can do here in the summer is vastly different than in the winter. This post focuses on all the lovely things to see and do here in the summer months.
Innsbruck makes for a great day trip from places like Munich or Salzburg, but is also worthy as a destination in and of itself. Its manageable size will provide you with a relaxing couple of days in a beautiful setting. Enjoy!
Map of things to do in Innsbruck
This map contains all the things to do in Innsbruck I mention in this post (plus restaurants, hotels, and logistical concerns). To save this map: Click on the star ⭑ next to the map’s title to save in your Google Maps. To use this map: When you get here, open Google Maps on your phone, click “Saved” at the bottom, then click “Maps.”
Tips for visiting Innsbruck + travel guide
Here are the best tools and resources to help plan your trip so you’re sure to have an awesome time in Innsbruck:
Getting to Innsbruck
You can get to Innsbruck fairly quickly from some of the area’s other best destinations. It’s well-connected and easy to get here by train, car, or bus. Personally, I drove here from my visit to Füssen and Neuschwanstein Castle, and then over to Zell am See afterwards.
Driving to Innsbruck
You can drive to Innsbruck from several great cities in just a short amount of time. This makes it an excellent day trip from Munich or the perfect way to unwind after Oktoberfest. The drive to Innsbruck is:
Rent a car here if you need one.
Where to park in Innsbruck
When you get here, there are some convenient and affordable parking garages right in the downtown area. You can also find some great hotels that have their own parking too. See the Where to Stay section below for my hotel recommendations.
My go-to parking garage in Innsbruck is the “Innsbruck Altstadtgarage.” (On the map above) It’s in the perfect location downtown and super easy to get to. More info here.
Taking the bus to INNSBRUCK
Getting to Innsbruck by bus is easy too and Flixbus offers several trips per day from Munich and other cities. The trip from Munich to Innsbruck is direct with zero stops and takes just over two hours. You can also get to Innsbruck via the Flixbus from Salzburg in about two hours.
See all Flixbus schedules, routes, and rates here.
Taking the train to Innsbruck
Taking the train from Munich to Innsbruck is faster than driving and is the easiest and most cost-effective way to get here if you’re not planning to drive. You can take the direct Railjet (RJ) train direct from Munich to Innsbruck in about 1.5 hours.
You can also take the Railjet Express (RJX) to Innsbruck from Salzburg in about 1 hour 50 minutes.
Check out train schedules, routes, and rates here
Getting around Innsbruck
For most of the things you’ll want to do in Innsbruck, you’ll be able to get around by either walking or taking public transportation. If you have your own rental car, you’ll also be able to drive to a few of the things yourself if you’d prefer.
Everything located in the city center is easily walkable. To get up to the Top of Innsbruck, you’ll be able to take a funicular and cable car. And to get to places like Swarovski Crystal Worlds and Ambras Castle, you can either drive or take the train (but driving will take half as long).
Get the Innsbruck Card
For seeing all the best stuff in Innsbruck, I highly recommend picking up an Innsbruck Card. This pass costs just one small fee and includes free entry to the sites I mention in this post and many other discounts and benefits.
But the other great thing about it is that it also includes free travel on Innsbruck’s public transportation network. With this pass you won’t have to deal with train or bus tickets at all; just show up and hop on.
Pick up your Innsbruck Card here.
Where to Stay in Innsbruck
There are tons of great hotels in Innsbruck and the surrounding areas; here are some quick recommendations:
See all available Innsbruck hotels here.
Where to eat & drink in Innsbruck
Because Innsbruck has such a walkable Old Town, there are tons of great places to eat and drink here. Here are some of my favorites:
Pro tip: Innsbruck’s restaurants in the summer fill up fast. You should either plan to eat early (like 5-6pm) or you’ll definitely need to make a reservation somewhere ahead of time.
What to do in Innsbruck
This list of what to do in Innsbruck, Austria in the summer contains all the best things to see and do here plus some of the best tours, must-do activities, and more.
1. Head to the Top of Innsbruck at Nordkette Mountain
When in an alpine city like Innsbruck, you gotta go see the Alps! And the Top of Innsbruck is the perfect place to do so.
From the center of Innsbruck, you can take a modern funicular known as the Hungerburgbahn up the mountain a little way. From here, you’ll switch to the Hafelekarbahn–a large cable car that will take you to the top of Innsbruck’s highest peak.
At 7,402 feet elevation (2,256m), the views from up here on the top of the Nordkette Mountain are incredible. You can see snowy mountain peaks for miles and the entirety of Innsbruck down in the valley. There are also several walking paths to explore and the Seegrube restaurant which has incredible views. (Just watch out for the hungry and shockingly fearless birds.)
This activity is free with the Innsbruck Card. Otherwise, get your round-trip Top of Innsbruck tickets here.
Tips for visiting the Top of Innsbruck
2. Explore Swarovski Crystal Worlds
Swarovski Crystal Worlds (Swarovski Kristallwelten in German) is part museum, part sculpture garden, and part art exhibit/Instagram paradise. And all of it sparkling with Swarovski crystals (a company born and headquartered not too far from here). This would be a great place to spend some time on a beautiful sunny day in Innsbruck.
If you have your own rental car, you can drive from the center of Innsbruck to Swarovski Kristallwelten in just 25 minutes. It’s also possible to get here via public transport (the 655 bus) in about half an hour. Swarovski also offers a dedicated shuttle bus that runs between the attraction and Innsbruck’s main train station (but it’s neither free nor cheap).
Swarovski Kristallwelten and the round-trip shuttle are both free with the Innsbruck Card. Otherwise, you can book your Kristallwelten tickets here.
3. Climb the City Tower for great views
While in Innsbruck’s Old Town, be sure to climb the City Tower (Stadtturm). Up here, you’ll get great views of the Old Town, the famous Golden Roof (with its shimmering copper tiles), the rest of colorful Innsbruck, and the Tyrolean Alps beyond.
The tower dates back 450 years and even served as a prison at one point. Today, it’s mostly just for visitors like us. There are 133 steps to the top and the 360° viewing platform is fully enclosed so you should be good to go if you have height issues.
The City Tower is free with the Innsbruck Card. Otherwise, it costs just a few euros to visit. More information here.
4. Take a guided walking tour of the Old Town
A guided walking tour is always the best way to get introduced to a new city. You’ll be able to see the city’s most notable highlights while gaining some cool knowledge along the way. You’ll see things like the famous Golden Roof, the medieval Old Town, Innsbruck Cathedral, the Imperial Palace, and more.
The two most popular tour options include:
A guided walking tour of Innsbruck is included with the Innsbruck Card. Otherwise, choose from the options above or see more on Viator and Get Your Guide.
5. Or take a delicious food tour
Better yet, combine a guided walking tour of the city with some delicious foods and drinks too. This walking food tour includes several great traditional Austrian/Alpine/Tyrol dishes and has all 5-star reviews.
6. Visit the Alpenzoo
Another great way to spend a summer day in Innsbruck is to visit the popular Alpenzoo. While I’m not a fan of zoos in particular, I do like the way they do their zoos in the Alps. Besides the beautiful setting, the main reason to come here is to see tons of animals that are all native to the Alpine region.
The Alpenzoo actually has the largest number of Alpine species in the world (and is one of the highest zoos too, elevation-wise). You’ll get to see creatures you’d only get to see while trekking the snowy Alps. Animals like: ibex and chamois, lynx, marmots, wolves, eagles and owls, and tons more.
To get here, you can actually take the Hungerburgbahn funicular. The funicular makes one stop before reaching the cable car to the Top of Innsbruck, and that is at the Alpenzoo.
Admission to the Alpenzoo is included in the Innsbruck Card. Otherwise you can get your Alpenzoo tickets here.
7. Explore Ambras Castle
Just a 10-minute drive outside the Old Town you’ll find Ambras Castle which considers itself “the world’s first museum.” The castle dates back to the 1500s and is definitely unique as far as Renaissance castles go. It was commissioned by Archduke Ferdinand II who then lived here.
You’ll get to tour the castle’s many exhibits including those on armory and tournaments (actually there are like 3-4 exhibits on armory), the antiquarium, a fancy baroque glass collection, the Habsburg portrait gallery, and (my favorite) the Cabinet of Curiosities.
Admission to the castle is free with the Innsbruck City Card. Otherwise, get your Ambras Castle tickets here.
8. Visit the Imperial Palace (Hofburg)
If you’d like to see some fancy living quarters but don’t have your own car, you can stay in town and check out the Imperial Palace, also known as the Hofburg. Complete with 400 rooms, it also dates back to the 1500s and was the residence of Empress Maria Theresa and Emperor Maximilian I. You can visit tons of these rooms including the imperial apartments, the grand halls, the tower, and the wedding chapel.
Admission to the Imperial Palace is included in the Innsbruck Card.
9. Have a drink at Café 3440
If you’re looking for a half-day trip to one of the most gorgeous cafés in Austria, you can’t pass up Café 3440. (The 3440 refers to its elevation–3,440m / 11,286 feet!)
Head over to the Pitztal Glacier Express Talstation where you can take a cable car up to the top of the Pitztal Glacier. Up here, there’s actually a café where you can have your coffee with a side of the most stunning Alpine views, as if just seeing the glacier wasn’t enough. (This was closed the day I wanted to visit so I had to get my alpine views, and coffee, elsewhere unfortunately.)
The Pitztal Glacier cable car station has plenty of parking and is about a 1-hour and 20-minute drive from downtown Innsbruck. Get more information here.
10. See the Bergisel Ski Jump
Another interesting thing to see in Innsbruck is the Bergisel Olympia Ski Jump which has hosted a number of Olympic winter sports events. Besides getting to see the ski jump up close, you also can get some incredible views over Innsbruck from here.
The Ski Jump is included in the Innsbruck Card or you can get your tickets here.
More info for your Austrian Adventures
Like this post? Have more questions about what to do in Innsbruck? Let me know in the comments below. Have fun in Austria!
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