AT
Innsbruck
The Tyrolean capital, with a medieval old town and a cable car from the centre to the high Alps
The Tyrolean capital, with a medieval old town and a cable car from the centre to the high Alps
Built around 1500 for Emperor Maximilian I, the late-Gothic balcony is covered with more than 2,600 gilded copper tiles. A small museum inside covers his life.
Photo: Wilfredor, CC0
A funicular with stations designed by Zaha Hadid, followed by two cable cars, rises from the city to Seegrube and the Hafelekar summit station at about 2,256m.
Go early on clear days for the best views.
Photo: Asurnipal, CC BY-SA 4.0
This court church holds the tomb of Maximilian I, surrounded by 28 larger-than-life bronze statues of royal figures.
Photo: Wilfredor, CC0
The ski jump tower, designed by Zaha Hadid and opened in 2002, has a lift to a café and viewing platform overlooking the city.
Photo: Dan Heap, CC BY 2.0
Try Tiroler Gröstl (fried potatoes, meat and egg), Käsespätzle (cheese noodles), Speckknödel (bacon dumplings) and apple strudel.
Traditional inns are found in the old town; mountain huts serve hearty meals on the hiking trails.
Innsbruck Airport (INN) is a short bus ride from the centre. Trains connect Innsbruck with Munich (about 2 hours), Salzburg, Vienna and Italy via the Brenner Pass.
Buses run to the ski areas in winter. Austria is in the Schengen area. Non-EU visitors are registered in the EU Entry/Exit System on arrival, and visa-exempt travellers will need an ETIAS travel authorisation once it launches, expected from late 2026. Drivers need a motorway vignette (digital or sticker), sold by ASFINAG and at petrol stations. Check current rules before you travel.
Austria uses the euro. Prices are similar to Germany; museums and concerts are moderately priced, and city cards can save money on transport and entries.
The Innsbruck Card covers the Nordkette and museums.
Old town and mountains.
See the Golden Roof, the Hofkirche and the Imperial Palace, then walk along the Inn to see the colourful houses.
Take the Nordkette up to Hafelekar in the morning and visit the Bergisel ski jump in the afternoon.
🛂 Entry rules: EES and ETIAS
Austria is in the Schengen area, which has two EU border systems for non-EU visitors.
EES (in force): since 10 April 2026 the EU’s Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors’ passport details, fingerprints and a photo the first time they enter the Schengen area, replacing passport stamps. Allow extra time at the border on your first trip; later crossings are quicker. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens are not registered.
ETIAS (not yet running): a €20 online travel authorisation for visitors who don’t need a visa, such as UK, US, Canadian and Australian citizens. It hasn’t started and no start date has been confirmed, so nobody can apply yet; ignore websites that offer to “pre-register” you for a fee.
Visa-free visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area, not per country.
Official information: EU: Travel to Europe (EES & ETIAS) · Reviewed September 2026
Several ski areas are reached by free ski buses with a ski pass.
Weather changes fast at altitude; bring warm layers.
The Innsbruck Card includes the Nordkette and public transport.
The old town holds a Christmas market.
Quick answers for planning time in Innsbruck.
To the Hafelekar station at about 2,256m.
A late-Gothic balcony built around 1500 for Emperor Maximilian I, covered with gilded copper tiles.
Yes, several ski areas, including the Nordkette, are reachable by bus or cable car.
About two hours by train.
June to September for hiking, December to March for skiing.
German is spoken; English is widely understood in tourist areas.
Free
Planning a wider trip? Our Austria travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.