About Innsbruck

Nestled in the Inn Valley and surrounded to the north and south by magnificent snow covered mountains, Innsbruck is an internationally acclaimed ski resort and one of Austria's most popular tourist destinations. It is the capital of Western Austria's federal state of Tyrol and, in 2009, boasted a total population of 112,500. It's average elevation is 576 and the city covers 41 square miles.
The picturesque Sill River (also known as the Wipptal) winds it way through the city itself and provides access to the Brenner Pass about 30 miles to the south of the city. Innsbruck literally takes its name from its geography as, with "bruck" meaning "bridge", "Innsbruck" can be translated as "the bridge over the Inn".

Show sights

The main attraction the city offers during the winter months is its many skiing and ski hire facilities. No trip to the skiing (and ski hire!) capital of Austria is complete without visiting an Innsbruck ski hire shop, trying on those skis and then trying out the nearest slope. And when snow is scarce, the adventurous tourist can make mountaineering his favorite sport...if only to check out those elevations in preparation for the next winter skiing season! When you are ready to take a break from skiing, why not take a stroll through the various exhibition buildings that comprise the Tyrolean State Museum, marvel at the butterflies flittering around the Schmetterlingshaus, walk through the medievel Old Town (Altstadt) or try not to break anything at the Swarovski Crystal World (an interactive three dimensional adventure museum whose exhibits combine light, sound and, of course, crystals).

Show destinations

A large number of ski resorts are located within easy driving distance of Innsbruck, including Vent, Aldrans, Igls and also Nordkette, which can boast both a cable-car system and chair lifts. A further nearby resort is Stubai Valley where skiing can take place during both the winter and summer months due to the valley's unusual glaciated snow formations. Yet another neighboring resort, Ischgl, is known not only for its superb skiing facilities but also for its rock concerts. The set up is ideal for a tourist to stock up on equipment at one of the many ski hire shops in Innsbruck and then to take a drive to a nearby resort for a day of sun, fun and snow.