Innsbruck On a Budget
Innsbruck, Austria
Innsbruck's high altitude and distance from the coast mean it has a continental climate with cold and snowy winters and warmer summers. During the summer months temperatures can reach 30 degrees Celsius and the weather is quite dry. Weather can also be unpredictable though, so temperatures may drop suddenly and unexpected rainstorms are not uncommon. Even during the summer months the night time temperature is cool and can even fall below 10 degrees Celsius.
Sights
There are some great sights around town which include churches and cathedrals like the Cathedral at Saint Jacob, memorials such as Goldenes Dachl and Annasaule, and museums like the Bell Museum, Hofburg, and the Folk Art Museum. Most sights are concentrated in the Old Town area and can be reached on foot. A day or two is sufficient to see the most popular sights.Neighborhoods
Innsbrucks historic old town was established in 1180 and became a town in 1239. Most of the city's famous sights are in the Old Town area and it is a great place to spend some time exploring. Hungerburg, also called "High Innsbruck" is where you can catch the Hungerburgbahn which takes you out of the city into the mountains. The cable car goes along the north chain to Seegrube and Hafelekar.Activities
There are many activities to do in and around Innsbruck. The Tiroler Abend with the Gundolf Family is a show that lets you learn more about the traditional Tyrolean culture. There are many winter sports, and skiing or snowboarding are the most obvious activities.Food and Dining
Restaurants and hotels around town can be somewhat expensive and the more budget options usually fill up quickly. You will find you can stretch your dollar farther if you travel to Innsbruck during the low season or in the shoulder season when their are less tourists and winter sports enthusiasts. Prices will be lower and your options will be more plentiful and available although you may miss out of the more interesting events and activities.Transportation
The best prices for buses and trains in Austria can be found on Omio (formerly GoEuro). They let you search across all train, bus, and plane routes throughout Europe.Many people spend one or two days in Innsbruck and choose to walk around the town as opposed to taking public transportation. The Old Town is easily walkable and pleasant to explore on foot. A great route to take is to start at Hauptbahnhof and head to the city center. It takes about 10 or 15 minutes. As you leave the train station, go across the street and turn to your right. Take the street on your left and follow it until you reach Maria-Theresien Strasse. Then turn right toward the city center. You'll reach a pedestrian zone and the Golden Roof.
If you plan to stay in Innsbruck for a more extended period of time you would likely benefit from familiarizing yourself with the bus and tram systems. There is a bus line, TS or The Sightseer, that connects the major attractions including Schloss Ambras, Bergisel and Alpenzoo to the downtown area. This line is more expensive though and may not be the most efficient option for you. There's a tram that connects Innsbruck with the mountain village of Igls. The views are great and the landscape is beautiful. Another tram line connects Innsbruck with several villages in the Stubaital Valley.
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