05 Top-Rated Attractions & Things to Do in Innsbruck

1. Catch a Concert at Innsbruck Cathedral

Located on Domplatz, Innsbruck Cathedral (Innsbruck Dom) – also known as St. James’s Cathedral – was granted cathedral status in 1964. Notable for its west facade with twin towers and high dome above the choir, it was built in 1964. The Baroque style was fully revived in 1724 and after the Second World War.

Interior highlights include its ceiling paintings, notably the Exaltation of St. James, its rich stucco work by the Assamese brothers, and a rich 18th-century pulpit. Among the Baroque marble high altar paintings from 1732 is the famous Virgin Mary Helf from 1530.

In the north aisle is a fine monument designed by Hubert Gerhard dedicated to Archduke Maximilian, Grand Master of the Teutonic Order.

2. Get Your Art Fix at the Tyrolean State Museums

Innsbruck is home to a number of world-renowned museums, particularly those under the umbrella of the Tyrol State Museum. A must-see is the Tyrolean Folk Art Museum (Tyroler Volkskunstmuseum) adjacent to the Hofkirche in the New Abbey (Newssteif).

Here, you’ll admire an extensive local art collection representing a variety of Tyrolean features, along with replicas of the traditional brick houses with oriel windows from the Upper Inn Valley. Other exhibits include a rich collection of costumes, traditional furniture, tools, glass, pottery, textiles, and metalwork.

Also worth a visit is the Tyrol Landsmuseum Ferdinandeum, which has collections on Tyrolean history and art. Highlights include many works from the Gothic period. There is also a fine gallery of Dutch and Flemish masters and collections from the Early and early historical periods.

Other notable museums worth a visit include the excellent Armory Museum (Museum im Zeughaus), which houses collections of weapons and armor, and the fascinating Tyrol Panorama Museum. The latter is centered around a large panoramic painting of the city and the region.

3. Stroll along Maria-Theresien Strasse

Lined with elegant 17th- and 18th-century houses and numerous shops, bustling Maria Theresien Strasse is backed by stunning views of the mountains to the north. It is a pleasure to discover and should be a ‘must see’ on your Innsbruck itinerary.

In the middle of this wide old street, in front of the Town Hall (Rathaus), stands St. Anne’s Column (Annasäule). It was built and climbed on St. Anne’s Day 1706 to commemorate the evacuation of Bavarian forces three years earlier. St. Anne stands on a plinth near St. George, the patron saint of Tyrol, and other saints, with a statue of the Virgin Mary.

Altus Landhaus is also noteworthy. Built in 1728, this massive Baroque palace has an impressive, clearly defined facade. It now has a county council and a county government (Landesregierung).

Other highlights include the 14-meter-high War Memorial. the Alpine Club Museum (Museum Alpenvierien), with its extensive collection of Alpine art and historic climbing equipment; and the Servite Chapel, built in 1615 with a fresco of the Holy Trinity.

The Triumphal Arch (Triumphpforte), located at the southern end of Maria Theresienstrasse, was built in 1765. It was built to celebrate the marriage of his son Leopold (later Emperor Leopold II) to the Spanish Infanta Maria Ludovica.

4. Explore the Hofburg District

In addition to the imperial palace and church, the area around the Hofburg offers several sights worth visiting. Of particular interest is the Silver Chapel, built in 1587 as the burial chapel of Archduke Ferdinand II and named after the silver image of the Virgin and the silver inscription on the altar.

Other highlights include the old university (Alte Universität), founded as a Jesuit college in 1562, as well as the university library and Jesuit church (Jesuitenkirche). The church is famous for its 60-meter-high dome, which was built in 1640.

The Capuchin Abbey (Kapuzinerkloster) was built in 1593 and is famous for its altar chapel with a painting of the Virgin by Lucas Cranach the Elder from 1528. The Tyrolean Provincial Theater (Tyroller Landestetter Innsbruck), built in 1846, hosts music, dance and theatrical performances. Also worth a visit is the Hofgarten, with its art and concert pavilions.

5. Grosmere Bell Foundry & Museum

For a truly remarkable experience, be sure to add the Grosmere Bell Foundry and Museum to your Innsbruck itinerary. One of the world’s leading manufacturers of church bells, it was founded in Austria over 400 years ago.

Now 14 generations later, it is the oldest family-owned business in the country. Also impressive is the fact that company bells are rung in more than 100 countries around the world, and eight religions use them.

One of the highlights of the tour is seeing the old casting hall. Here, you’ll see one of the original furnaces, which are over 200 years old and still in use and capable of melting 10 tons of bronze. A tour will take you behind the scenes, and on the day the casting takes place, you may be lucky enough to see the most advanced furnace used to cast the 37-ton bells.

Livestreaming only happens once a month, so try to plan accordingly. An on-site museum displays the evolution of church bells and their role in Western culture.