City of Innsbruck

Due to its location between high mountains, Innsbruck serves as an ideal place for skiing in winter, ski-jumping and mountaineering in summer. There are several ski resorts around Innsbruck, with the Nordkette (map) served by a cable car and additional chair lifts further up. Other ski resorts nearby include Axamer Lizum (map), Muttereralm (map), Patscherkofel (map), Igls, Seefeld in Tirol (map), Tulfes (map) and Stubai Valley (map). The glaciated terrain in the latter makes skiing possible even in summer months.

⇒ Travel tips • Sightseeing • Hiking

Innsbruck became the capital of Tyrol in 1429 and in the 15th century the city became a centre of European politics and culture as emperor Maximilian I moved the imperial court to Innsbruck in the 1490s. Many old buildings from the Middle Ages and modern times survived in the heart of old town.

The classic walk into old Innsbruck follows. From the main station Hauptbahnhof (map) to the city center is a relatively short and enjoyable 10 to 15 minute walk. Walk out of the Hauptbahnhof, cross the street at the train station cross walk, turn to your right, and go down to the next street to your left. Walk on this street until Maria-Theresien Strasse (map), then turn right toward the city center. Taking this street all the way leads to the pedestrian zone and the Golden Roof.

Tram line nr. 6 connects Innsbruck and the mountain village *Igls, which is worth a visit. The line passes the uplands with vast forests and gives some spectacular prospects for travellers either on Innsbruck or on the lovely landscape between Aldrans and Igls. It provides stops immediately near Schloß Ambras and the bathing-lake Lansersee (ice skating in Winter is also possible there). The terminus Igls lies within the city fare zone, so no additional ticket is needed.

Salzkammergut – the region is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site as “Salzkammergut Cultural Landscape“. Lower Austria, Wachau — inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000 with the towns *Melk, *Spitz, *Dürnstein and Krems. Salzburg (state) – the most important forms of income are tourism and agriculture.

Tyrol – is a multi-national historical region in the heart of the Alps. South Tyrol, despite its German-speaking majority, has been part of Italy since the end of World War I. It makes up the northern portion of the alpine Italian autonomous province Trentino-Alto Adige with its capital in Bolzano / Bozen.

Vorarlberg – the state is almost entirely mountainous and enjoys one of the highest standards of living and income levels in Austria due to its proximity to Switzerland. It is also is home to an Alemanic alpine culture, quite different to the rest of Austria making it a special place in the country even to other Austrians.

IVB | VVT

Public local traffic (4 tram-lines, and a dense network of buses) is operated by Innsbrucker Verkehrsbetriebe (IVB) and a couple of private operators. All public services are organized in Verkehrsverbund Tirol (VVT), which means that tickets are valid in every public transport line (including buses, trams and trains).

⇒ Getting There & Around (austria.info) • Information about bicycles > radlobby.at.