If beer courses through your veins and you consider yodelling an actual music genre then Innsbruck is the place for you. The capital city of Tyrol (in German: Tirol) is surrounded by mountains. Makes you think “holy shit, I would not want to be here when an avalanche hits”. Tourists usually land in Innsbruck and get driven straight to a ski resort. The city is often overlooked as a destination on its own. I understand that it’s hard to beat the natural wonders of the Alps. Everyone skis here, just ask some of the older people. Turns out even the grannies venture out into the mountains three times a week. They say there are 900 villages around Innsbruck, many of them swallowed up by resorts. Naturally, it was host to the Winter Olympics. Even twice. You can even have a meal at a restaurant on top of a ski jumping platform. Modern sports such as snowboarding and skateboarding are also popular here. It was one of the “ground zeros” of the snowboarding boom of the 90s. The subculture is still very active here. Snowboards, skateboards, longboards, all kinds of boards are everywhere.
The Goldenes Dachl (Golden Roof), marking the marriage of Emperor Maximilian I and Bianca Maria Sforza in 1494, is Innsbruck's symbol and most famous landmark
Innsbruck is a university city with a youthful crowd and vibrant nightlife. That can often mask the traditional nature of these parts. Connect with the roots of Tyrol in its famous Folk Museum. Some of the stuff is really weird, like masks you’d expect to see in a temple in India. Go see it. It’s in the middle of the Old Town. Everything is a landmark once you’re there. The Imperial Palace (Hofburg) might be one of the most iconic ones. It’s a church, built as a mausoleum for Emperor Maximilian I. He probably suffered from severe dementia and was a bit obsessed with the concept of memento mori. He designed his tomb while he was still alive. His vision involved a procession of statues of his imaginary ancestors like King Arthur. The Emperor died before the project was finished. In fact, he doesn’t even rest there; the grave is empty.
The Goldenes Dachl (Golden Roof) is the symbol of Innsbruck and is also connected to “Mad (Emperor) Max”. He ordered that alcove to be built to celebrate his marriage. The name comes from 2657 tiles that look golden, but they’re actually made out of fire-gilded copper. I’m sure it’s very important for Austrians, but it’s just a nice balcony from a bystander's point of view. St. Anne’s Column, or Annasäule in German, is another important site for the people of Innsbruck. It commemorates the War of the Spanish Succession and the day the Bavarian military got chased out of Tyrol. The cool thing about the monument is the statue that stands on top. It represents Mary as the Woman of the Apocalypse; it’s such a metal name. I love it.
St. Anne's Column, or Annasäule as the locals call it, commemorates the day when the Bavarian army was expelled from Tyrol on St. Anne's Day (26 July) during the War of the Spanish Succession
One of the coolest things you can do in Innsbruck is to take the Hungerburg funicular. Board one of its high-tech carts and it’ll take you straight into the mountains. Once there you’ll see the amazing view of the valley and the border with Italy. The ride is the most entertaining part of that trip. Imagine passing through all these tunnels, among all those wild forests. An unforgettable experience. All that Hungerburg probably got you…hungry (ha!). The funicular will take you back to the city centre, from there you have several options. You can do more sightseeing, check out the Hofburg, the Cathedral, or relax in the Court Garden (Hofgarten).
Personally, I would go see one of the popular folk shows. There’s nothing more Tyrolian than munching on a schnitzel while watching grown men in lederhosen dancing and yodelling. Wash it down with a few cold ones and you’re set to conquer Innsbruck’s nightlife. The city is overflowing with students from all over the world. Bars and clubs are packed with young kids playing pool and beer pong. 5th Floor hidden in the Penz Hotel is one of the more popular spots. It’s my kind of place with a wide wooden bar, casual atmosphere, and jazz music. On the other side of the spectrum are the exclusive cocktail bars with leather couches, cigars, and crystal chandeliers. Look no further than the famous Advokat Bar on Maximilian street if you’re into that.
No one commented yet. Be the first.