About this route
Route overview
Innsbruck is the capital of Tyrol (132,000 inhabitants), set in the heart of the Alps at 574 m above sea level between the Nordkette range to the north and Patscherkofel to the south, the former Habsburg residence (Emperor Maximilian I 1490-1519) and the only city to have hosted the Winter Olympics twice (1964 and 1976) plus the Winter Paralympics 1984. Goldenes Dachl (Golden Roof, 1500) — Innsbrucks symbol, a balcony decorated with 2657 fire-gilded copper shingles built by Emperor Maximilian I to watch knightly tournaments. Hofburg Innsbruck — an 18th-century Habsburg residence (rebuilt by Maria Theresa 1754-73), the Imperial Memorial Chapel of Maximilian with 28 bronze statues of the Black Men (Schwarze Mander) in the Hofkirche, the Riesensaal (Hall of Giants) with portraits of the imperial family. The Old Town with Maria-Theresien-Straße, Annasäule (1706) and Triumphpforte (1765). The Bergisel Skisprungschanze — an iconic ski jump designed by Zaha Hadid (2002) with the Bergisel SKY restaurant 250 m above the city. The Nordkettenbahn — a cable car from the city centre to Hafelekarspitze at 2256 m in 20 minutes (Zaha Hadid stations). 480 km via the A1 and A12 motorways through Salzburg, 5 h - 5 h 30 min. The service runs 24/7. From EUR 1400 in a Mercedes E-Class one way, we recommend 2-3 days with an overnight (from EUR 2800).