Innsbruck
The capital of Tyrol Province, Innsbruck (elevation 573 meters) is one of Europe's most beautiful cities. Innsbruck has long been a center of commerce and traffic, as the city lies at the junction of two important trade routes across the Alps. In the eastern Alps, Innsbruck is about 30 minutes drive distance from the Italian border and 45 minutes from the German border.
Nestled in the wide valley of the Inn River and protected from the coldest winds of the Alps by the enormous rock wall of the 2200 meters high Nordkette (Northern Range), Innsbruck was the site of the Olympic Winter Games both in 1964 and 1976. Meanwhile, the city is welcoming amateurwinter sports fans to its many winter sports facilities and services - 100 kilometers of prepared ski runs and trails as well as 36 cableways and ski lifts, all a short ride from Innsbruck's historic city center; free shuttle buses to skiing areas.
Maria-Theresien-Strasse, Innsbruck's main street, goes through the heart of Innsbruck from north towards south and is a great start to begin exploring Innsbruck. It's fascinating even just to watch the passersby, especially when they're in Tyrolean traditional dress. Once the Maria-Theresien-Strasse was traversed by wayfarers travelling over the Brenner Pass from Italy to Germany. Today many 17th and 18th century houses line on the Maria-Theresien-Strasse.
On the south end of the Maria-Theresien-Strasse, a Triumphpforte (Triumphal Arch), spans the shopping street. Maria Theresia ordered this Triumphpforte to be built in 1765 for 2 purposes; to honor the marriage of her son, the Duke of Tuscany and to mourn the death of her beloved husband, Emperor Franz I. From this arch southward, the street is called Leopoldstrasse.
Traveling north from the arch along the Maria-Theresien-Strasse, you'll see Annasaule (St. Anna's Column), a popular touristic attraction of Innsbruck. Standing in front of the 19th century Rathaus (City Hall), the building was built in 1706 to celebrate the withdrawal, in 1703, of invading Bavarian armies during the War of the Spanish Succession.
Not far north of the Annasaule, the wide street narrows and becomes Herzog Friedrich Strasse, running through the Altstadt (Old Town). This street is arcaded by a number of well maintained burghers' houses. Most buildings here are overhung with protective roofs to guard them against heavy snowfalls of Innsbruck.
Innsbruck - Transportation
Visitors should be aware that there sometimes are bus line letters/numbers that split up into different destinations (the bus line O, for example), and so it's important to pay attention to the destination displays (outside and inside) and the spoken announcements. Tickets are 1.60 euro in the city center, which you can pay to the driver. Regardless of the door you enter, go to the driver and pay, exact change not necessary. Daily tickets are 3.60 euro and weekly tickets a bit more than 7. Buy these from the machines at some bus stops (just outside of Hauptbahnhof for instance) or at a tobacco shop. You must validate the ticket when you get on your first bus or tram. The special bus line "TS" ("The Sightseer") connects the major sights like Schloß Ambras, Bergisel and Alpenzoo to downtown.
The Innsbruck Card offers free entrance to all of Innsbruck's sights, free use of public transportation (including the TS line). It also includes a one-time ascent&descent to Nordkette, Patscherkofel and Axamer Lizum and free entrance to Swarovski Kristallwelten in Wattens. The Innsbruck-Card is valid for 24/48/72 hours and costs 23/28/33 EUR.
Innsbruck - Where to eat?
Dining is never a problem in Innsbruck, as this alpine town has more than 200 restaurants, inns, and cafes, some of which offer evening entertainment. If you're going to be in Austria for only a short time, we suggest that you stick to original Tyrolean specialties. However, if that doesn't suit you, there are restaurants serving international cuisine. A few interesting choices would be genuine Tirolese, classy Italian or authentic Asian. And after sampling some of the finest food in the world you´ll be ready to kick your heels up at one of Innsbruck´s hottest clubs and bars. The Europastüberl on the Brixnerstrasse, the Hirschen-Stuben on the Kiebachgasse and the Restaurant Ottoburg (a cheaper alternative) on the Herzog-Friedrich-Strasse are nice restaurants in Innsbruck.
Innsbruck - Main attractions
Alpenzoo - From the Alpenzoo, which lies on the southern slope of the Hungerburg plateau, you'll get a magnificent panoramic view of Innsbruck and the surrounding mountains. The most important feature of the Alpenzoo is that animals that live in the Alps live in their natural surroundings in the Alpenzoo.
Hofburg Imperial Palace - The Imperial Palace was erected by Archduke Siegmund the Rich in late Gothic style around 1460. Hofburg (imperial palace) of Emperor Maximilian was rebuilt in the baroque style between 1754 and 1773 on orders of Maria Theresia.
Swarovski Kristall Welt - Only 15 minutes drive distance to the Innsbruck city center (taking the Wattens bus from the Busbahnhof, next to the Hauptbahnhof), you come to a fantasy world, a man made hill where you'll see a huge face spouting a crystal waterfall.
Basilika Wilten - Maybe the most impressive church of Innsbruck in Rokoko style, the Wiltener Basilika is situated at the southern extremity of the city centre of Innsbruck.
St. Jacob Cathedral - St. Jacob Cathedral was built in 1718 with design of the Baroque architect Johann Jakob Herkommer and restored after the heavy damage of the Second World War.
Bergisel Ski-Jump - To the south of Innsbruck rises the hill known as the Bergisel (750 meters, a 15 minute walk from Wilten). On the Bergisel hill there are various winter sports facilities; the Olympia ski-jump (known as the "Bergiselschanze"-Bergisel Ski-Jump, constructed in 1964 for jumps of up to 104 meters) and the Olympia Ice Stadium with sprinting lane and the Olympia artificial ice rink.