Innsbruck
Tirol's capital has all the cultural diversity!
All important aeras – from the Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance to the kk monarchy – take the visitors on a journey back in time. Lovers of modern art will find plenty of galleries and special exhibitions here for a rewarding visit. It’s the diversity that makes Innsbruck interesting.
Innsbruck was two-time host of the Olympic Winter Games (1964 and 1976) and has a history of 800 years. The city offers art treasures and is famous for buildings such as the Golden Roof, the Hofburg and Ambras castle. It combines tradition and modernity: city strolls and mountaineering, Baroque operas and folklore music,Tuxedos and Lederhosen.
TYROL
Tyrol is among Austria’s most popular areas, because this is where many of the big ski resorts are. The high-society’s choice is Kitzbühel, which is also famous for its ski races. The Arlberg area with legendary ski resorts like St Anton, St. Christoph or Pettneu is famous for more serious skiing. The Tyroleans have a strong sense of regional identity, which is expressed in many distinct features: their accent, cuisine and life-style. Many ancient traditions were preserved in the mountain valleys, which turned into important trade routes between Italy and Central Europe as early as at the time of the Roman Empire.
Further from the capital, you will find plenty of pretty market towns, such as Schwaz or Hall. The Lake Achensee is an important recreational centre and considered to be the "Sea of Tyrol". In the other direction, Imst is a good base for exploring the Eastern mountains of Tyrol. South of Innsbruck you find the dramatic Stubaital and the popular town Neustift - ideal for glacial summer skiing.
The villages in remote areas of Tyrol can be very scenic. Rattenberg and Alpbach (where the famous European Forum takes place every year), Reutte and Ehrwald are such villages.
In Eastern Tyrol, Lienz is probably the most attractive town. Seefeld claims to be the Austrian capital of hiking and mountaineering. Even just outside Innsbruck you can find charming mountain huts. The Zillertal is an entire valley full of pretty places, most prominently Mayrhofen.
Top Attractions of Innsbruck & Tyrol
- Golden Roof & Old Town of Innsbruck
- Zillertal Valley: Quintessential Tyrol
- Kitzbühel: The jet-set skiing town
- Lienz: Capital of Eastern Tyrol, access from Carinthia
- Lake Achensee, the sea of Tyrol
- Rattenberg, Alpbach & Alpbachtal Valley
- Schwaz & Hall, rich Renaissance mining towns
- Kufstein: Picturesque town with mighty fortress
- Reutte & Ehrwald: Hiking & skiing off the beaten track
- Stubaital Valley, Neustift ski resort & glaciers