Things to do in Innsbruck
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360°
Clean lines, cream leather and lounge music create a relaxed mood in this sphere-shaped bar beside Lichtblick. Grab a cushion and drink in 360-degree views of the city and Alps from the balcony skirting the bar.
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Olympia Bobbahn
The fast and furious Olympia Bobbahn in Innsbruck-Igls was built especially for the 1976 Winter Olympics. Taking in 14 curves, a loop and a vertical drop of 124m, the bob run is 1.2km of pure hair-raising action. Thrill seekers can join a professional bobsled driver to give it a whirl; ice makes the run slippery smooth in winter, but it’s also possible to race down in summer if you don’t mind a bumpy ride. At €30 a pop, the minute of madness doesn’t come cheap, but the buzz of whooshing down at speeds of 100km/h (miss a bend and you’ll bounce like a pinball) is worth every cent.
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Schloss Ambras
The city’s biggest stunner is Schloss Ambras. Archduke Ferdinand II acquired the castle in 1564, the year he became ruler of Tyrol, and transformed it from a fortress into a palace. He was the mastermind behind the Spanische Saal (Spanish Hall), a 43m-long banquet hall with a wooden inlaid ceiling and Tyrolean nobles gazing from the walls. Also note the grisaille (grey relief) around the courtyard and the sunken bathtub where his beloved Philippine used to bathe.
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Hofkirche
Opposite the Hofburg is the majestic Hofkirche, which shelters the empty sarcophagus of Emperor Maximilian I. Elaborately carved from marble, the tomb is one of the finest examples of German Renaissance sculpture. The twin rows of 28 giant bronze figures that flank the sarcophagus include Albrecht Dürer’s statue of the legendary King Arthur, apparently Maximilian’s biggest idol. Tyrolean hero Andreas Hofer (1767–1810) is also entombed in the church.
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Zeughaus
Emperor Maximilian’s former arsenal, the Zeughaus runs chronologically through Tyrol’s cultural history. It kicks off with geological and mineral history, including the silver that made Hall and Schwaz medieval powerhouses, but mostly concentrates on Tyrol’s much-loved historical figure, Andreas Hofer. If you’re a fan of Tyrolean music, check out the room housing over 100 CDs from the province’s musical stars.
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Hofburg
The state apartments are a rococo feast, adorned with gold swirls and chandeliers, but the real eye-catcher is the 31m-long Riesensaal (Giant’s Hall). The hall is embellished with frescoes and paintings of Maria Theresia and her 16 children (including Marie Antoinette), who look strangely identical –maybe the artist was intent on avoiding royal wrath arising from sibling rivalry in the beauty stakes.
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Grassmayr Glockenmuseum
If you’re heading for Bergisel, listen out for the bells at Grassmayr Glockenmuseum, which explores 400 years of the Grassmayr family’s bell-making tradition and exhibits some formidable Romanesque and Gothic examples. It’s a hands-on kind of place where kids can watch the casting process and make loads of noise ringing bells to achieve different notes.
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Bergisel Schanze
Rising above Innsbruck like a celestial staircase is the glass-and-steel Bergisel Schanze, the brainchild of Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid. From May to July, fans pile in to see athletes train, while preparations step up a gear in January for the biggest event on the ski jumping calendar, the Vierschanzen-Tournee (Four Hills Tournament).
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Volkskunst Museum
For an insight into Tyrolean craftwork, nip into the Volkskunst Museum. This rambling attic of a museum covers the entire spectrum of folk art, from handcarved sleighs and Christmas cribs to carnival masks and cow bells. On the 1st floor is the Gothic Stube (living room) complete with low-ceiling, wood panelling and antique tiled oven.
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Rundgemälde
The Rundgemälde is a 1000-sq-metre panorama painting depicting the Battle of Bergisel. The circular building that houses the painting also features an extremely evocative exhibition detailing epic overland trips by Austrian travel writer Max Reisch (1912–85) in the days before long-distance travel became so easy.
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Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum
A treasure-trove of Tyrolean history and art, the Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum showcases everything from Bronze Age finds to religious works and pewter creations. Highlights include brooding Dutch and Flemish masterpieces, Gothic altarpieces and famous paintings from the likes of Klimt and Kokoschka .
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Museum
A treasure-trove of Tyrolean history and art, this museum showcases everything from Bronze Age finds to religious works and pewter creations. Highlights include brooding Dutch and Flemish masterpieces, Gothic altarpieces and famous paintings from the likes of Klimt and Kokoschka.
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Kaiserjäger Museum
Kaiserjäger Museumis the site of the famous battle in 1809 at which heroic Andreas Hofer defeated the Bavarians. On display are memorials to Tyrolean freedom fighters from this and other battles, and a handful of paintings from WWI by Albin Egger-Lienz.
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Hungerburgbahn
The brand-new Hungerburgbahn is great news for powder freaks. Designed by Zaha Hadid of Bergisel fame, the sleek cable railway looks like something out of a sci-fi film and links the Congress Centre to Hafelekar (2300m) in just 25 minutes.
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La Copa
Every Thursday, flamenco fans squeeze into this vaulted bodega to see José Márquez and amigos. Guitars, tapas and copious amounts of sangria keep the tone strictly Spanish. Even Mr lightning footwork himself, Paco Peña, has performed here.
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Inntour
For adrenaline-based thrills, check out the activities at Inntour. This is the place to come if you want to white-water raft down the Inn River, bungee jump from the 192m Europabrücke (Europe Bridge) or ski on the Stubai Glacier.
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Dom St Jakob
Dom St Jakob3 is where over-the-top baroque. The Asam brothers from Munich completed much of the sumptuous art and stucco work, though the Madonna above the high altar is by the German painter Lukas Cranach the Elder.
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Café Munding
Modern art gives this 200-year-old café a contemporary kick. As well as whipping up delicious cakes – try the Mundingzopf – the family roast their own coffee and make preserves with fruit freshly picked from local farms.
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Elferhaus
Eleven is the magic number at Elferhaus, where you can nurse a beer beside Gothic gargoyles at the bar or take a church-like pew to hear live rock bands play. The haunt attracts a 20-something crowd that spills out onto Herzog-Friedrich-Strasse.
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Papa Joe’s
Toucans, waterfalls, palms, sharks…you name it, Papa Joe’s is a snippet of Mexico. This wacky party haunt has a menu packed with jumbo steaks and jambalaya, and a Caribbean bar for after-dinner caipirnhas.
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Hofgarten Café
DJ sessions and a tree-shaded beer garden are crowd-pullers at this trendy café-cum-bar set in the greenery of Hofgarten. Sip cocktails beneath the stars or gaze up at the star-studded ceiling in the pavilion.
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Dom Cafe-Bar
Flickering candles, vaulted ceilings and an HMV gramophone set the scene in this Gothic-style bar. Sink into a squishy sofa for a glass of red or a hot Waldbeerpunsch (wild berry punch) in winter.
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Lichtblick
Elegant simplicity sums up Lichtblick on the 7th floor of the Rathaus Galerien. The panoramic views over Innsbruck through glass walls are as appetising as flavours like duck breast on artichokes and nectarines.
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Krahvogel
A big black crow guards the bar at this industrial-style pub. It doesn’t make much noise, but the punters do after one too many Mind Sweeper cocktails. There are regular live bands and big-screen sports.
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Panino & Co
Blink and you’ll miss this Italian deli, where you can create your own panini with Parma ham, cheese and olives. It’s a good place to stock up on picnic supplies and the cheery owner makes a mean espresso.
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