We will be in Austria for two weeks in September , starting the trip in Innsbruck. What are the top 3 things
To see or do while there?
The next leg of our trip is Salzburg then Vienna .
I can look up things to do online but would like some opinions from those who have already been there.
Thanks in advance!
First I’d do the Nordkettenbahn trip. Done this a few times. Love it!
https://nordkette.com/de/home.html
I really liked Schloss Ambras also. Been there twice.
https://www.schlossambras-innsbruck.at/en/
Also like just strolling the old town pedestrian zone. It’s a very pretty town with a gorgeous alpine backdrop. Innsbruck is one of our favorites.
Paul
I would say visit The Cathedral of St. James (Dom zu St. Jakob). Time allowing you might consider the Stubaitalbahn (Stubai Valley Railway) to Fulpmes and back. In the Innsbruck old city I like lunch at the Altstadt-Schmankerl. For fun you might check out the Markthalle.
You may go by train (36 minutes) to Seefeld in Tirol, about 2000 ft above Innsbruck. The route is a technical masterpiece of 1912, the first fully electrified railway in Austria which set eventually the standards for electrification in Europe. Most spectacluar is the crossing of the Martinswand where the track is "leaning" against a near vertical mountain cliff.
Seefeld is a nice old, albeit touristic town which is a center for hiking, having 100+ different hiking trails.
You love it, or you hate it: Swarovski Crystal Worlds
Very often already discussed in this forum, in either way.
Mieders Alpine Coaster. It is a bus ride but easily done. https://alpinecoasters.com/mieders-alpine-coaster/
Bergisel Ski Jump. https://www.innsbruck.info/en/sightseeing/sightseeing/modern-architecture/detail/infrastruktur/bergisel-ski-jump-innsbruck.html
If you buy the Innsbruck Pass you used to get a half day free bicycle rental. Pedal over to Hall in Tyrol.
Alpenzoo. You can stop on the way down from Nordkette. After the zoo, it is an easy hike back down into town.
If this is in your wheelhouse, just ride the tram up to Igls. From there take the Patscherkofel Cable Car for lunch on the mountain.
We are back for our 4th or 5th visit to the area in May. It is one of my favorite places in all of Austria.
Agree Marc! We’ve stayed in Hall in Tirol 5 times for a total of 18 or so nights. Love Innsbruck and the entire area.
I am always astounded that nobody suggest visiting the Hofburg. It is a sort of compressed version of the imperial apartments in Vienna, almost as impressive but takes much less time to visit.
All of the other suggestions above plus OlympiaWorld. https://shop.olympiaworld.at
Check out the events, also there's bobsledding with a professional and bob rafting. The times didn't work for us when we were in Innsbruck for the day, but looked cool.
The ski jump was very cool, if you book a reservation for lunch you will get a discount on admission and there's no minimum order. We had soup and a couple of beers. Plus a table right beside the window since we had a reservation. Loved Innsbruck. We've been to Salzburg and Vienna before, also wonderful. Have a great trip.
I've always had a rental car when in Innsbruck. We love to drive up on the mountain and go from village to village. You can also go west and into Bavaria to visit Neuschwanstein--if that's your thing.
Our favorite day trip from Innsbruck is to go east to Zell-am-See and go south over the Grossglockner High Alpine Highway. You end up in the prettiest place I've ever seen just north of Lienz and the Italian border. Go west through the Dolomites and catch the A22 autobahn through the Brenner Pass into Innsbruck.
The Austrian Alps and Northern Italy is absolutely breathtaking scenery and a place I've been going since 1970.
