Innsbruck Old Town (Altstadt)

The basics

Innsbruck Old Town is small and walkable, but there’s no shortage of guided tours to give you the lowdown on its landmarks. The Golden Roof, Helbing House, Imperial Palace, Maria Theresien Street, and Innsbruck City Tower are all usually checked off on private or group walking tours. You can also explore the area on photography tours or self-guided audio tours.

Things to know before you go

• The area is mostly pedestrianized—leave your car in the Altstadtgarage Innsbruck or at the Rennweg parking lot.

• There are disabled parking spaces on Rennweg.

• If you need to store your luggage, there is a City Locker Store on Marktgraben.

• There are public restrooms in Innsbruck City Tower.

• Many landmarks are considered wheelchair accessible; visit the Innsbruck Old Town tourist office for more information.

How to get there

From Innsbruck Airport, take the frequent-running Stadtbus F bus to Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof, or hop on a train. Innsbruck Old Town is 10 minutes by foot from the train station; just walk in the direction of the river and you’ll find your way there easily.

When to get there

Visit in winter for classic Innsbruck sights, although don’t expect to see snow always on the streets; Innsbruck is a gateway-to-the-mountains town, at an altitude of 1,883 feet (574 meters). Snow or no-snow, the Old Town is at its most ambient between mid-November and December 24 when the Innsbruck Christmas Market can be found in front of the Golden Roof. In the quieter summer months, music concerts take place in monuments like the Imperial Palace and the Landhausplatz.

Innsbruck Beach Event

If you’re in town towards the end of September, you might catch the Innsbruck Beach Event. This international beach volleyball tournament runs for four days in Innsbruck’s Marktplatz, right next to the Old Town. Even if you’re not a volleyball pro, the event brings late-summer excitement to the mountain town with matches, beach parties, sundowners, and after-parties for all.