Strolling Through Innsbruck: Top-8 Most Beautiful Walks

For us, going for a walk means enjoying precious freedom. There are many great walks to experience in Innsbruck. Whether in the city, on the outskirts, or high up and near the mountain peak, you are offered a unique mountain panorama.

The eight walks in Innsbruck that we present to you here are more than just a walk from the parking lot to the attraction. They are all different and you should experience all of them at least once. Bergisel, Innsbruck old town, the colorful houses, and our favorite alpine walk can be found in this overview, along with route times, difficulty information, directions, and photo tips!

All walks that we describe here can be easily reached from downtown Innsbruck by car or public transport.

Top-8 beautiful (and easy) hikes and walks in Innsbruck

1. Classic walk through Innsbruck’s old town and Marie-Theresien-Strasse
2. Very easy (and short) hike to a mountain peak: From the Nordkette to the Hafelekarspitze
3. Light hike to the city pastures: Hungerburg-Arzler Alm
4. Innsbruck Hofgarten
5. The Innsbruck Inn
6. “Innsbrucker Mittelgebirge” walk
7. Bergisel ski jump with a view of the Sill Gorge
8. Winter hike on Innsbruck’s “local mountain” (Patscherkofel)

+ Bonus tips for your Innsbruck adventure

#1 Classic walk through Innsbruck’s old town and Marie-Theresien-Strasse

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The classic walk in Innsbruck city center leads to all the famous sights: The Golden Roof, the narrow streets of the old town past souvenir shops, Flüsterbogen, court church, court garden, and Marie-Theresienstrasse. The cherry on top is the view of the colorful houses with the mountain range behind them on the market square.

How to get there: It starts at Marie-Theresienstrasse/Annasäule. Straight out to the old town, you can explore the narrow streets. It goes past the Landestheater to the Hofgarten and the Hungerburg valley station “Congress”.  From there, you go to the Inn, upstream to the market square, and back to the old town.

Difficulty: very easy

Walking time: Allow about 2-3 hours for this walk, not including a coffee break or visiting the museums, shopping centers, and shops along the way.

Starting point: Marie-Theresienstrasse/Annasäule

#2 From the Nordkette to the Hafelekarspitze

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A very easy, yet very impressive mountain hike leads to the Hafelekarspitze at 2334 meters! What sounds like a real mountain challenge can be done without any problems for most people. From Nordkettenbah, you go up to the Hafelekar.

The view up here is fantastic. On one side of the mountain, there is a steep 1500m drop to Innsbruck.

Directions: From Innsbruck center, you go to the Hungerburg “Station Congress”. Buy a ticket right here to the Hafelekarspitze. Get off at the Hungerburg terminus, enjoy the view from the panorama terrace and board the Nordkettenbahn (gondola). Change at the Seegrube station and drive to the Hafelekar mountain station. Simply walk straight out of the building and take the paved path to the visible mountain peak “Hafelekarspitze”, which is one steep uphill away. 

Difficulty: Easy. The hiking trail is very well developed, you can walk on it in your everyday shoes. Keep in mind that there are many steps to climb.

Walking time: approx. 5-8 minutes from the Hafelekar mountain station. It is best to take around 3-4 hours for the entire tour – it’s certainly worth it.

Tip: If you are not afraid of heights, then go to the Geyer-Wally-Berghütte over a narrow but safe ridge (to do this at the mountain station on the ridge along the signs).

Starting point: city ​​center (Marktplatz stop), Hungerburgbahn Station Congress

#3 The city pastures: Hungerburg-Arzler Alm

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The two alpine pastures Arzler Alm and Umbrüggler Alm are a real piece of Tyrolean mountain culture and a meeting place for many locals and visitors.

Directions: From the city center, take the bus J in the direction of Hungerburg/Nordkette, or from the Congress with the Hungerburgbahn to Hungerburg. Follow the hiking trail signs (yellow, small signs) uphill briefly on a road, then follow a forest path to the Arzler Alm. You have several options, one is a little steeper on a hiking path, and the other further on the forest path to the Arzler Alm. Both paths are signposted and there are always people on the move. From the Arzler Alm you can take the same path, or continue to the Umgrübbler Alm.

Difficulty: easy-medium – you have to overcome about 250-300 meters in altitude to both alpine pastures and you will probably work up a sweat. If it is wet, we recommend hiking shoes, but your shoes should offer good comfort.

Walking time: People who are athletic on average need around 1 hour to hike uphill. You should plan a total of 3-4 hours with a meal/drink break at the hut.

Starting point: city ​​center (Marktplatz stop), Hungerburgbahn Station Congress.

Tip: Try a Tyrolean specialty at the hut, for example, Tyrolean Gröstl or coleslaw with dumplings. The Umbrüggler Alm is very modern and a little more expensive with a modern interpretation of the ambiance. The Arzler Alm is a classic hiking alp.

Tip: Innsbruck’s mountain bikers built their challenging Arzler Alm trail on the Arzler Alm. It is not for beginners.

#4 The Innsbruck Hofgarten

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A walk in the Innsbruck Hofgarten is a little piece of paradise in the city center. Rarely crowded, but a beautiful, very well-kept old garden is popular in almost every season. You will get the notion of how the emperors and princes relaxed. You can find the Hofgarten near the old town at the Landestheater and the imperial Hofburg, which is located opposite the Congress station of the Hungerburgbahn.

The courtyard garden is not that big, you only need a quarter of an hour to walk around it. Shady and sunny places and benches, however, invite you to stay just a bit longer.

Difficulty: very easy

Time: We recommend you plan around half an hour to two hours for the courtyard garden

Tip: The courtyard garden is also a popular excursion for romantic dates

Starting point: Old Town, Hungerburgbahn Station Congress

#5 Innsbruck’s Inn

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The promenade in Innsbruck am Inn is one of our favorite places in the city center. From the old town to the airport you can stroll practically on both sides of the river.

The short walk takes about half an hour: start at the market square, over the bridge, and along the north bank up the river. At the next bridge, over the river again, at the university go left and back to the starting point.

The longer route, which is mostly occupied by joggers and cyclists, leads from the city center on the north side of the river upstream. After passing a small park you will eventually reach the end of the urban area. The airport area is now on the right. At the end of the runway, wonderful floodplains invite you to gaze and admire – and throw a perfect barbecue.

Difficulty: very easy

Starting point: Innsbruck market square

Time: The short lap lasts about 30 minutes. The walk to the Innauen takes about 1 hour in one direction from the city center, so with a one-hour break, you are about 3 hours on the road. It is a total of 10 kilometers (flat and mostly paved and dry) – joggers need around 1 hour for this route.

Tip: Take the best photo on the market square from the south bank (large yellow house) – here are the colorful houses on the other side of the river and the impressive north chain is in the background.

#6 The “Innsbrucker Mittelgebirge”

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The southern villages are located to the south of the city and on a plateau. East of the city is the Igls, Aldrans, and Lans with the Lanser See. To the west of the city are the Mutters, Axams, and Natters with the Natterer See. Many variants are conceivable here and even if you get lost, just keep walking. After half an hour or less, you will reach a bus stop or a sign that will lead you back to Innsbruck. There are many hikers, walks, families, joggers, and bikers out and about here. Nobody has been lost here yet, but watch out: the Sill Gorge lies between the two plateaus. It is reserved for whitewater kayakers.

Difficulty: easy-medium. Most of the trails are simple hiking trails or paved forest roads. With jogging shoes, it’s easy to walk and hike here.

Starting point: Various

Time: Allow about 2-3 hours for a short hike from the city center (Bergisel or Tante Gert tram station). There are several easy hikes of different lengths available here. The hikes here are similar to those in a low mountain range like the Palatinate Forest, Harz, and Siebengebirge with a maximum difference in altitude of around 300 meters.

Tip: Aunt Gert, Lanser See, Viller Kopf, Natterer Boden, Gasthof Eichhof, Natterer See are the classic destinations in this area.

#7 The Bergisel ski jump with a view of Sill Gorge

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Just an easy hike away from the center of Innsbruck. A trip to the tower, and even the walk around the sports facility alone will inspire you.

You will enjoy an impressive panoramic view of the city. You can go to a museum, dine with a view, and look into a deep mountain stream (Sill Gorge). The easy hike is free of charge, while the museum and the ski jumping hill do carry some cost.

Directions: From the Bergisel tram station (tram no. 6) follow the signs to Bergisel-Schanze and the Tirol-Panorama (museum). Past the museum, over the parking lot, there is a forest path to Bergisel. Past the viewing platform (photo spot) and go right back to Bergiselschanze. Before you go down the paved hiking trail again, take another picture from the panorama viewpoint.

If you like, you can also take the lift (for a fee) to the top of the Bergisel ski jump and enjoy a drink in the coffee shop with an impressive view of Innsbruck!

Difficulty: easy-medium

Time: The hike takes about 1-1.5 hours. You should plan at least 1 hour more time for the view at the ski jumping hill café. The Tirol Panorama (with restaurant) is also on the circuit, and you need about another hour for this visit.

Tip: You can find the best photo spot at the pavilion at the museum! Don’t miss the deep view from the platform of the Sill Gorge. You can take amazing photos from the Bergisel ski jump – right at the top.

Starting point: Bergisel tram station (Tram No. 6) – about 15 minutes walk from the city center.

#8. Winter hike on Innsbruck’s local mountain (Patscherkofel)

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Innsbruck’s local mountain is the conical Patscherkofel. It is the city limit on the southern side. On top of the mountain, you have a wonderful mountain panorama of the city with the majestic North Range in the background.

The view to the south wanders into the Stubai Valley and the Brenner (Italy) over many mountain peaks and small valleys.

For hikers beginners, there is an easy hiking path to the summit almost all year round (the mountain railway has its annual inspection in November).

Directions: From the Patscherkofelbahn mountain station, follow the signs to Patscherkofel. There are three ways to the summit. The hiking trail “Zirbenweg” to the left is recommended for the summer – here go to Boscheben and now turn right and uphill to the summit. The winter hiking trail (forest road) leads from the mountain station to the right.

Difficulty: medium

Time: The hike takes about 1-1.5 hours uphill and 1 hour downhill. Allow at least 5 hours for this walk including travel to and from the city center by bus. You are not much faster with the car.

Tip: There is a small kiosk at the summit. In winter, mountain boots or winter-proof shoes are recommended. 

Starting point: Bus J, “Peak to Peak” in the direction of Patscherkofelbahn.

Bonus tips for your Innsbruck trip

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• In spring, autumn and winter you should pay attention to the snow conditions. You can check the conditions on web cameras, too.
• The alpine pastures around Innsbruck are highly recommended destinations. We have never had bad or overpriced food and drink there.
• For those who like peace and quiet, our tip is a thermos bottle with a warm drink (tea), and a nice meal. Going for a longer walk makes you hungry.
• The “emergency chocolate”, as well as fully charged cell phone battery and headlamp, should always be with you just in case.
• Enjoy a post-hike beer in the sun on the Inn promenade!