Innsbruck Attractions - Top 10 Popular Attractions

Our number one spot on the list of the top 10 most beautiful sights in Innsbruck is Ambras Castle, which should not be missed on any sightseeing tour in the city.

Ambras Castle sits picturesque on a hill amidst beautiful gardens. Archduke Ferdinand II, the ruler of Tyrol at the time, acquired this beautiful Renaissance building in 1564 and had it transformed from a fortress into a palace.

Historical armor and valuable paintings

The interior of Ambras Castle will also enchant you. Fascinating objects are on display here. The centerpiece is the dazzling collection of armor and the paintings by Velázquez and Van Dyck.

The second place is housed in a monumental building built in the 19th century in the Neo-Renaissance style: the Tyrolean State Museum Ferdinandeum. Here, impressive treasures of Tyrolean history and art are exhibited.

The following permanent exhibitions can be found at the Tyrolean State Museum Ferdinandeum:

Address:

Museumstraße 15, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria

Opening hours:

daily from 09:00-17:00

closed on Mondays.

Third place also goes to a museum and is a lovely excursion destination if you are visiting Innsbruck with children. The Tyrolean Folk Art Museum is located in the former Franciscan monastery next to the Innsbruck Hofkirche, in close proximity to the old town. This makes it easy to incorporate into your sightseeing program.

Interesting folk art

At the Tyrolean Folk Art Museum, both young and old can admire fascinating Tyrolean folk art. The extensive and diverse collection showcases carnival masks and cow bells as well as intricately hand-carved horse sleighs and nativity scenes from the 18th century to the present day. The Tyrolean way of life comes alive and can be touched here.

Address:

Universitätsstraße 2, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria

Opening hours:

daily from 09:00-17:00.

Golden roofs only exist in fairy tales? No, you can also see one at our number four spot on the list of the top 10 attractions in Innsbruck. One of the most popular activities in Innsbruck is visiting the Golden Roof Museum.

Innsbruck's golden wonder and the emblem of the city immediately captivates you with a late Gothic bay window on the facade of the museum. Rich with decorations such as the glittering fire-gilded copper shingles, it was built for the Roman-German Emperor Maximilian I (1459-1519).

Did you know? The inscription on the building reportedly reads: 'Seize every moment, miss no dance in life, you can't take anything with you.'

Museum interior

The splendor also continues inside the Golden Roof, built for the Roman-German Emperor Maximilian I (1459-1519).

For current information on exhibitions and opening hours, visit the museum's website: Museum Golden Roof.

Our next recommendation also ranks among the best activities in Innsbruck, especially for families with children. For our sixth spot in the attractions of Innsbruck, you must ascend to 750 meters above sea level.

The Alpine Zoo Innsbruck is one of the highest zoos in Europe. But don't worry, you can reach it after just a 10-minute mountain walk or also conveniently by bus or car.

150 animal species from the entire Alpine region

On an area of about 4 hectares, you will get a good impression of the diverse wildlife the entire Alpine region has to offer. A unique collection of 150 animal species, including golden eagles, ibexes, and chamois, awaits you during an exciting visit.

With its bright white facade and mighty domes, the Innsbruck Hofburg takes our seventh place. A visit - both inside and out - should not be missed during any Innsbruck vacation.

A tumultuous history

Walk through the halls and corridors of the Innsbruck Hofburg on a royal path. The present-day magnificent building was originally constructed in the 15th century as a castle for Archduke Sigmund the Coinrich, structurally enlarged by Emperor Maximilian I in the 16th century, and redesigned in the Baroque style by Empress Maria Theresa in the 18th century. The centerpiece of the Hofburg is a 31-meter-long festivity hall adorned with beautiful portraits of Maria Theresa, her husband, and their 16 children.

For history enthusiasts: One of Maria Theresa's children was the famous and later French Queen Marie Antoinette.

The seventh spot on our top 10 attractions in Innsbruck is an unconventional attraction - but actually not so unusual given that Innsbruck is located in the Alps.

You will venture to lofty heights when visiting the Bergisel Ski Jump, a ski jump located on the 746-meter-high Bergisel. The glass and steel jump impressively rises above Innsbruck.

View via stairs or elevator

You must climb 455 steps to enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view over the Nordkette, Innsbruck, and the entire Inn Valley from the 50-meter-high observation platform. Alternatively, you can reach the observation platform and the viewing restaurant via a two-minute ride on an inclined elevator.

Our next recommendation also ranks among the best activities in Innsbruck. The Innsbruck Cathedral was first mentioned in 1180. Since then, it has risen majestically above the rooftops of the city. The Cathedral of St. James is part of the most important pilgrimage for Christians - the Camino de Santiago.

Innsbruck Peace Bell

Every day at noon, the powerful bell tower plays the Innsbruck Peace Bell Carillon, featuring 48 bells.

Baroque building with an artistic interior

Repeatedly destroyed by earthquakes, the cathedral was rebuilt in the 18th century in the Baroque style as we can still admire today.

But don't miss the interior of the Cathedral of St. James either. Inside, you will find the tomb of Maximilian III, intricately decorated Solomonic columns, and ceiling frescoes with beautiful Baroque illusionary painting. Be sure to also look at the elaborately gilded pulpit of the cathedral during your tour.

Our next recommendation counts among the best activities in Innsbruck, especially for families with children. For our tenth spot in the attractions of Innsbruck, you must ascend to 750 meters above sea level.

The Alpine Zoo Innsbruck is one of the highest zoos in Europe. But don't worry, you can reach it after just a 10-minute mountain walk or also conveniently by bus or car.

150 animal species from the entire Alpine region

On an area of about 4 hectares, you will get a good impression of the diverse wildlife the entire Alpine region has to offer. A unique collection of 150 animal species with 2,000 animals such as golden eagles, ibexes, and chamois awaits you during an exciting visit.

Innsbruck, the capital of Tyrol, is an unforgettable experience. Its late medieval old town is a unique highlight, dominated by the great Habsburg castle and the Baroque Innsbruck Cathedral.

But at the latest after a visit to the viewing platform of the Olympic ski jump, with its magnificent view of the mountains, it becomes clear that the surroundings of Innsbruck have so much more to offer. If that doesn't make you want a vacation in Austria!

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