Innsbruck between the Old Town and the Nordkette

Innsbruck combines a complex urban history with a striking mountain theme: Baroque and Rococo houses shape the Old Town, while the Nordkette offers opportunities for hiking, climbing and other activities. Other highlights include a monumental circular painting, the Bergisel Ski Jump designed by Zaha Hadid, and historic rooms in the Imperial Palace. You can therefore tailor your trip to culture, architecture or mountain experiences—or include these different sides of the city in your plans.

Old Town: façades, bay windows and history

Innsbruck’s Old Town is characterised by richly decorated houses in the Baroque and Rococo styles. One example is the Helbling House on Herzog-Friedrich-Straße. Another striking building is the Golden Roof: this ornate oriel window is located in the heart of the Old Town and is decorated with 2,657 gilded copper tiles, as well as frescoes and reliefs. Emperor Maximilian I commissioned it between 1497 and 1500. Building façades, bay windows, paintings and reliefs offer different architectural details of the Old Town’s history; the Golden Roof’s gilded tiles add a particularly distinctive feature. If you are interested in architecture, you can look beyond the names of the sights and notice the variety of their designs.

Historical stories and architecture

The Giant Circular Painting at TIROL PANORAMA, which houses the Kaiserjäger Museum, depicts the third “Battle of Bergisel” of 1809 and is considered Tyrol’s largest painted work of art. Bergisel is also associated with the Tyroleans’ struggle for freedom under their leader Andreas Hofer around 200 years ago. These two details highlight different aspects: the circular painting depicts a specific event, while Bergisel’s historical connection focuses on the struggle for freedom and its leader.

The Bergisel Ski Jump also combines history and design. The facility, remodelled in 2001, is described as an architectural work featuring an inrun, tower and tower head; the design was by Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid. At the Imperial Palace, by contrast, the focus is on the Giant Hall, where full-length portraits of Maria Theresa, Francis Stephen of Lorraine and their 16 children can be seen. Another historical subject awaits you at St. James’s Cathedral, which is part of the medieval Way of St. James, an important Christian pilgrimage route. The cultural themes thus range from architecture and court portraits to the history of pilgrimage.

City and Nordkette: different travel highlights

The Hafelekar on the Nordkette is within Innsbruck’s municipal area and stands 2,300 metres high. The Nordkette Cable Cars take you from the city centre to “Top of Innsbruck” in about 30 minutes; actual journey times may vary depending on operations. Visitors to the Nordkette can ski, snowboard, freeride, hike and climb. Activities are subject to seasonal operation. When planning, it is therefore helpful to consider whether you are mainly interested in the city’s cultural attractions or would also like to include mountain activities. If you plan to travel to “Top of Innsbruck”, check the timetable and allow for the approximate journey time.

The Hofgarten offers a different highlight: located in the heart of Innsbruck, it adds a green dimension to the city’s history. When choosing a holiday apartment, you can start by asking which themes you want to focus on during your trip—Old Town and culture, mountain activities, or a mix of both. The sights and experiences mentioned offer different options; when planning, consider which ones you would like to include in your stay.

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