Innsbruck City Guide

Altstadt, Nordkette & Bergisel

From Maria-Theresien-Straße with the Anna Column and its mountain backdrop into the old town to the Golden Roof and the Court Church with the Black Men. On to the colourful houses by the Inn, up to 2,256 metres with the Nordkette cable cars in a good 20 minutes, and in the afternoon by tram to the Bergisel ski jump.

1. Maria-Theresien-Straße – The walk starts on the broad boulevard that gives Innsbruck its postcard shot: the Anna Column of 1706 stands in the middle, and at the far end the Nordkette rises above the rooftops like a 2,000-metre wall. Baroque façades and cafés line the street, with the Triumphal Arch at its southern end.
2. Golden Roof (Goldenes Dachl) – 2,657 gilded copper shingles gleam above the ornate oriel that Maximilian I had added to his town house around 1500 - from here the emperor watched the tournaments on the square below. The oriel can be seen from outside at any time; behind it a small museum tells the story of Maximilian and his age.
3. Stadtturm – The city tower stands right beside the Golden Roof and was the town's watchtower in the 15th century: from up here, watchmen looked out for fires and enemies. 148 steps lead to the gallery a good thirty metres up, and the climb pays off because you get the all-round view you never have down in the lanes. On one side the jumbled old-town roofs and the Golden Roof seen from above, on the other the Nordkette shooting up right behind the city. The green onion dome was only added in the 16th century; before that it had a pointed Gothic roof.
4. Court Church (Hofkirche) & the Black Men – Inside the Court Church, 28 larger-than-life bronze figures stand guard around the tomb of Maximilian I - ancestors, relatives and heroes, known to locals simply as the "Schwarze Mander", the black men. The emperor isn't actually buried there; even so, the empty state tomb is one of the most impressive Renaissance monuments north of the Alps.
5. Colourful houses of Mariahilf – The city's most photographed view lies on the far bank of the Inn: a row of narrow houses in pastel yellow, pink and turquoise, with the grey rock walls of the Nordkette behind. Shoot it from the bank by the Marktplatz, ideally in the late morning when the façades catch the light.
6. Nordkettenbahnen – From the Congress valley station in the middle of town, the Hungerburgbahn pulls you up the slope through Zaha Hadid's flowing stations, then two cable cars carry on to the Hafelekar at 2,256 metres. In a good 20 minutes you go from the old town to high alpine terrain and look almost straight down on Innsbruck. Allow a good three hours - and bring a jacket, it's markedly colder up there. Afternoon tickets cost less.
7. Bergisel Ski Jump – To finish, Zaha Hadid's ski jump high above the city: a lift takes you up the tower, where a panorama terrace and restaurant sit above the in-run with the Inn valley and the mountains all around. Honest heads-up: you can't see the take-off table from the viewing deck - for that you need the restaurant one level down.