Innsbruck in summer – is it worth visiting?
People are used to visiting Innsbruck for skiing and for the Christmas markets in the winter, but it’s also a stunning summer destination with plenty going on for every kind of visitor.
Nestled in the heart of the Austrian Alps, Innsbruck beckons with its rich tapestry of history, vibrant culture, and exhilarating outdoor activities. Whether you’re an adventure seeker or history aficionado, Innsbruck in summer offers unforgettable experiences.
Weather in Innsbruck in summer
The weather in the mountains in summer is generally fine and warm with dreamy blue skies framing the mountains. When we visited it was over 30 degrees and very warm indeed! We even had a few brief thunderstorms which cleared the air from time to time.
The Old Town (Altstadt)
Wander through the charming medieval streets of Altstadt. Admire the famous Golden Roof (Goldenes Dachl), a symbol of the city, glistening under the summer sun. Awash with history, the city has palaces, churches, and museums aplenty. Innsbruck has a very central position in the Alps and so was a desirable territory.
Innsbruck became the capital of all Tyrol in 1429 and in the 15th century the city became a centre of European politics and culture as Emperor Maximilian I also resided in Innsbruck in the 1490s.
There are a lot of nice restaurants and shops to frequent and there is always some sort of entertainment going on. It’s quite a lively, busy town centre, and a big University town. A famous son of Austria – Arnold Swarzenegger – actually studied for his economics degree at Innsbruck University.
Try a traditional Tyrolean dish – a strudel – with a nice coffee to break up your site seeing trip.
Innsbruck City Card:
To make the most of your visit, consider purchasing the Innsbruck Card. This all-inclusive ticket provides free public transportation and access to most attractions and museums. It also provides lots of local discounts at numerous establishments. You can ride on the Gondolas up the mountains or take a tram and it is definitely worth the outlay. From 23 euros it can be purchased for one, two or multiple days depending on the length of your stay.
Bergisel Ski Jump
Not just for winter, this iconic ski jump offers panoramic views of the city. The architecture itself, designed by Zaha Hadid, is worth the visit. The onsite restaurant is also perfect for a meal with an incredible view. We were able to see at close quarters where Olympic ski jumpers launch themselves down the precipitous ski run into the air at top speed. Here in the UK our most famous ski jumper was Eddie ‘the eagle’ Edwards. He battled, against all the odds, to participate as the first ever UK ski jump contender in the 1988 Olympics .
We had a privileged close up view of a real ski jumper Martin Nagiller, whizzing past us at 90km an hour. This is definitely not a sport for the faint hearted. It seems you have to have a BMI of under 21 to be an effective ski jumper, so luckily I was ruled out straight away.
The Alpenzoo
Perfect for families, the Alpenzoo showcases alpine animals in their natural habitats. From lynxes to golden eagles, you get up close and personal with the unique fauna of the region.
Innsbruck’s Alpine Zoo is Europe’s highest-altitude zoo and contains a small selection of the astonishingly diverse Alpine wildlife. It is home to just 20 species of mammal, 60 different birds, 11 reptile species, 6 types of amphibian and examples of almost all the fish species of the region. The big brown bear is a particular favourite with visitors.
In the mountains here are found wild chamois, ibex, badgers and foxes all inhabiting the region. Although rarely spotted in the wild, the brown bears recently migrated from neighbouring Slovenia.
Swarovski Crystal world
You may think of Swarovski as the manufacturer of small crystal animals popular in the seventies. However there’s a lot more to this popular crystal’s story than you may think.
Swarovski crystals are essentially cut glass with a special coating on them to make them sparkle in rainbow colours. It was originally lead crystal but this was removed when the harmful properties of lead became well documented.
Daniel Swarovski, founded his crystal-cutting company in Wattens, Tyrol, in 1895 and had a vision from the very outset – to view crystal not merely as a material, but as an inspiration. With this vision in mind, Swarovski Kristallwelten (Swarovski Crystal Worlds) was opened in 1995 for the one hundredth anniversary of Swarovski as an attraction for customers and fans of crystal. Ever since, Swarovski Crystal Worlds has been inspiring and surprising visitors.
You first meet the giant with his waterfall mouth in the grounds which is impressive enough, but there are a further nineteen chambers of wonder to explore. These showcase different artists and the most creative uses of amazing crystals anywhere in the world. There is a huge outside area to explore too with crystal forests, fairground carousels and circuses creating a surreal atmosphere. It reminded me of Portmeirion in Wales with its fantasy feeling.
The chambers of wonder
I loved the Hollywood chamber where you can see how Swarovski crystals have adorned our most beloved celebrities. Cher, Lady Gaga, Marilyn Monroe (they weren’t real diamonds in that song they were Swarovski!) Bjork and even Elton John.
One of the newest chambers at Crystal world is The Snow Room. This is chance to step into a real life Narnia. Frost glitters on the trees, the temperature plummets and real snow starts falling softly from the ceiling. Created by innovative company TechnoAlpin this is especially welcome if you do visit in the warm summer months!
Visitors reach the Swarovski Kristallwelten Store after a stroll through the Chambers of Wonder. This spacious gift shop unites many of the Swarovski product worlds in one room. It displays the diverse nature of crystal as a material and its partnership with the worlds of fashion and design.
You can easily spend a day here and there is plenty for adults and children alike. At 23 euro for an adult and 7 for a child it’s not too expensive either.
Mountain Carting
One activity which is great fun to do in Innsbruck in summer, is to launch yourself down the Muttereralm Mountain (Mother Mountain) on a mountain cart. This is a year round activity and these three wheeled go carts are very safe. You must wear a helmet and be at least 5 foot in height to take to the slope. You hurtle down a 5km track which is pretty windy and steep. It did seem to take a long time to get to the bottom but I think my hurtling was restricted by me clutching both brakes most of the way down. You can get up quite a speed if you are a little more devil may care with your steering. At just 10 Euros per person, it is definitely worth doing.
Innsbruck in summer – hiking and biking
There are numerous picturesque mountain trails you can hike in the summer. They all have spectacular mountain views and you may even come across a lake or two at the top. Hiking is a very popular pass time in these parts in the summer as is mountain biking. There are more than a dozen hikes you can do across these mountains. They have great names like the Schaflegerkogel Loop Hike or the Wolfsklamm hike. Mountain biking is equally popular with lots of routes which have been made especially for the adventurous bike riders who love the thrill of the descent.
Innsbruck in summer is definitely a good destination for the casual or more adventurous traveller. Mountains, crystals and alpine activities all make for a lovely short break choice.
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