Two nights. One day. Basically, the 24 hour guide to exploring and enjoying Innsbruck, Austria.
I have a few friends that wonder how I travel so much. How is it that you visit these places you’ve never been to before? It’s simple really. I commit.
Buy the transportation ticket and reserve a place to stay.
My friends and I opted for train tickets using the OEBB SparSchiene. This website offers cheaper train tickets than the main website. And we rented a bedroom in a shared flat on airbnb. So far, I’ve loved airbnb for it’s accessibility, character, and fun options.
If you haven’t signed up for airbnb yet, click on this link to receive 22 euros in credit!
That’s the first and most critical step. It’s the thing that will make you pack your bags even though you’re tired, feeling uncertain, or just want to stay home in your pajamas for the weekend. You spent money. All the other details will fall into place whether or not you researched ahead of time.
Purchase the Innsbruck Card.
Sometimes I want to steer away from the things that the city already provides to you, but this isn’t one of them. We purchased the 24 hour card for 33 euros, and we asked for it to begin it’s use at 10 am on Saturday. The card not only gives access to the city transportation, but it also permits free entrance into many museums and other attractions. You can read more here.
Ride the cable cars to the mountain top.
Within 20 minutes, you can be transported from city center to mountain top with Innsbruck’s cable car system. With windows all around, the view is stunning or terrifying depending on your fear of heights. Follow the skiiers when changing cable cars. This trip is included on the Innsbruck Card.
photo by Erin Heizelman
Visit Swarovski World.
Catch the green-you-can’t-miss-it bus to Swarovski World from the train station. Check out the shuttle timetable here. Enjoy 25 minutes of Innsbruck scenery. Once at Swarovski World, be sure to show your Innsbruck Card to the ticket office. They will give you a free pass to the art exhibit located behind The Face. Swarovski offers many different options for amusement, but we only stayed on location for about an hour before hopping back on the shuttle.
Hop on and off the sightseeing bus.
At the train station and various other locations around Innsbruck, you can board the sightseeing bus with your Innsbruck Card. The bus is red. You can’t miss it. Bring your own headphones because the buses are outfitted with language-specific audios at every seat. This bus tour was a nice rest for my feet, and I may have spread out across the five seats in the very back (Someone has to be that kid).
Hop off the bus and explore Schloss Ambras.
Present your Innsbruck Card at the ticket office to receive your ticket to explore the castle armory museum and then the main building itself. Strolling peacocks in the garden make for fun photo opportunities, too. But, what I found most interesting at Schloss Ambras was the portraits of hairy people and the secret marriage of Ferdinand II to Philipine Welser.
Stroll through the city and visit the Inns River.
Innsbruck is just gorgeous so make sure you build some time into your schedule just to explore by foot. One of my favorite views was definitely on the Inns River. See the infamous Gold Roof.
For our meals, we ate at…
Der Bäcker Ruetz – This chain is throughout Innsbruck, and it offers tasty options for breakfast and even lunch if you so desire. I opted for some filled donuts or krapfen.
Ludwig, Das Burger Restaurant – These burgers were every bit as delicious as they appear from the window. It’s a hipster-like place with cool decor and sweet potato fries. Definitely a win. Website here.
And we ate at one other restaurant that was just around the corner from the Gold Roof, but I naturally have forgotten the name of the place nor can I find it on Google currently. I really need to remember to take pictures of the places I eat at!
Reminder: If you travel on Sunday or want to sight see on Sunday, remember that most shops and stores will be closed. Make sure to plan around this. We bought food from a grocery for our Sunday train on Saturday.
Leave a Reply