Day Trip to Innsbruck

I'm one of the Grinches about Innsbruck. It is where I go to to get fuel for the car because it is cheaper than in Germany and cheaper than up the hill.

As for Innsbruck itself I have never found anything special there. I don't care for the golden shed (the considerably IMHO over-rated Golden Roof) nor for much in the town.

I much prefer to be up the hill in Seefeld in Tirol, easily reached by train from both Innsbruck and GaP, and I prefer GaP and Oberammergau to Innsbruck. They both are genuine towns in beautiful scenery, if both and Seefeld in Tirol get their fair share of visitors, and I find Innsbruck just busy working city.

It is kind of cool that the airport is right in the valley, and it is fun to see the airport from above as you descend into Innsbruck from the mountains and Seefeld in Tirol. Red Bull sports is based near there.

I'm sorry I am a curmudgeon.

I love Salzburg but it may be too far for you to go....

Yeah I would love to go to Salzburg but the hubby said he's not driving that far for the day haha
What would you recommend in oberammergau?

While maybe not spectacular, it's an agreeable city.
Well worth a visit is the Schloss Ambras, if only for their portrait collection. According to their website http://www.schlossambras-innsbruck.at/en/ they're open.

We spent an overnight here in July and I'm with Nigel. The old part and the gold roof are nice enough, the highlight I think is the funicular / tram up the north mountain since it is an engineering marvel. Clear weather is spotty in the Alps, unlike the Rockies which are usually visible in the summer (and look exactly the same). I am not a fan of portrait galleries, but will say the paintings at Ambras have the largest noses I've ever seen. There is an enormous local Muslim population also. You are more far likely to see burqas than lederhosen.

Love Innsbruck and the area. Have stayed 5 times, 18 nights and look my o return.

Schloss Ambras. The peacocks roaming the grounds, the armor collection, Spanish Hall, etc.
Hofkirche.
Nordkettenbahn trip.
There is one Christmas market open until Jan. 6 on Maria Theresa Street.

Paul

If tram #6 is running, a tram trip through the woods to Igls. You can go back to Innsbruck by the same tram or, faster, on bus J from the village center. Urban tram ticket valid.
Ambras Castle has a nice courtyard and gardens, the Spanish hall is incredibly fine and the portrait collection nice - even if a bit hard to understand if you have not studied the deepest mysteries of European history.
The Imperial Palace has been renovated recently and is very much like the Imperial palaces in Vienna on a smaller scale. The main hall is imposing and the black chapel in memory of Francis I is chilling.
On lighter note, the Maria Theresien Strasse has a couple of interesting renovation projects - it is difficult to see antique and modern architecture matched so well. The Rathaus (Town hall) has been turned into a commercial gallery with a Baroque facade (also interesting, on its back, the new Penz hotel in black glass reflecting an ancient palace). The Kaufhaus Tyrol, in front of the Rathaus, is an example of building a brand new building in the middle of historic ones - and it works well. The first floor of Dorotheum (an action house in Vienna) has often old used jewels in attractive 19th and early 20th century styles, sometimes you can find very original and not so expensive pieces.