Innsbruck is Tyrol’s capital and Austria’s most alpine city: the Nordkette mountain ridge rises directly above the main street and is reachable by cable car in 22 minutes. The Goldenes Dachl, Emperor Maximilian I’s gilded oriel built in 1500, anchors the medieval Altstadt. The Hofkirche contains one of the most remarkable funerary monuments in Europe: 28 oversized bronze ancestors surrounding Maximilian’s tomb. Two Olympic Games (1964 and 1976) added the Bergisel ski jump and permanent winter sports infrastructure. About 2 hours from Salzburg by train, 1 hour 45 minutes from Munich. Two to three days covers the city well.
city
Innsbruck
The Nordkette, a 2,334-meter mountain ridge, is visible from the Innsbruck city center and reachable by cable car in 22 minutes. This single fact explains Innsbruck's appeal: it is a functioning city with Habsburg architecture, good restaurants, and a university, and the moment you step outside you can see exactly where the mountains begin.