Innsbruck
Our Experience
My partner and I were longing for a few days away from the madness of December and we decided on a snowy Christmas market break in Innsbruck!
With Easyjet flights from London Gatwick to Innsbruck only £150 return with extra leg room seats and two cabin bags we jetted off to snowy Austria!
Coming into land we were treated to stunning views of the snowy mountains as we landed into the valley. Hopped onto a bus into the centre, 10 minutes ride and then we walked to find our hotel.
We found Hotel Heimgartl on Booking.com and look how cute! By the way, tourists ride the bus for free!!
The rooms were small but cosy and the breakfast was a traditional Austrian spread of pastries, breads and homemade jams.
We couldn’t wait to explore so as soon as we had freshened up we ventured out into the centre of the Christmas market area, Gluwein and Bratwurst all around us. We bought some marzipan chocolates and found a cosy bar to settle in to with delicious german beer and live music!
The owner of our hotel told us about the Innsbruck card – 63 euros for all the excursions you could wish for! Including the cable car up to the Nordkette Mountain range! (Which costs 44 euros alone!)
Each excursion/attraction could be visited once, within 48 hours. So we made the most of it!
The Nordkette mountains are reachable by cable car ride from the city centre. The cable car ride itself is an experience as it takes you from the bustling city to the serene mountain landscape.
Ascending higher and higher with breaktaking views of Innsbruck and the surrounding valley. At the top there are various hiking trails catering to different skill levels. For the more adventurous there is paragliding and mountain biking!
The day we visited there was heavy snowfall and low visibility so we didn’t get to enjoy the view from the top however we enjoyed some snowy activities and met a gorgeous Bernese mountain dog called Marci!
Obviously a fantastic opportunity for ski and snowboarding which we really want to come back to do next winter! There is a cosy restaurant offering hot soup and wine while you take in the views.
We visited the Alpenzoo, a fantastic place however these is lot of walking, up hill and steep as the wildlife attraction heads up into the mountain, Alpenzoo is Europes highest zoo! Home to many native animals to the Alps and other mountain regions. We saw wolves, Elk deer, mountain goats and brown bears! As well as otters, foxes and wild cats! One of the highlights is the panoramic view if you are lucky enough to visit on a clear day you will enjoy breathtaking views of Innsbruck. There is a café and a gift shop to enjoy. The zoo plays an important role in conservation efforts for alpine wildlife and is definitely worth a visit!
Next we took the free bus to the Swarovski Krisallwelten Store. An immersive experience in the dazzling world of crystals!
The Swarovski Crystal palace is a mesmerising display of art and design created in collaboration with renowned artists. It showcases the exquisite beauty and craftsmanship of these crystals in a unique way. The installations, light fittings and sculptures incorporate the brilliance and sparkle of Swarovski crystals. A magical experience so if you are captivated by beauty definitely give them a visit!
We visited the Tyrolean Provincial museum, also known as Tiroler Landesmuseum, which showcases the rich history and culture of the region through various exhibits and artefacts. Various collections span different periods and themes. From prehistoric times to the middle ages! The highlight of this museum is the Golden Roof! The golden roof is dedicated to Emperor Maximilian I. Housing a collection of his personal belongings, armour and other treasures.
Overall we thoroughly enjoyed our 3 night break to Innsbruck, Austria! A perfect mix of vibrant city with traditional Christmas markets and the serenity of the snowy mountain tops!
We definitely want to return to Austria next winter! Hoping to fly direct to Salzburg from East Midlands airport next time. Please read our post on Vienna from mine and Steph’s trip 8 years ago!!