The City Part of PlanetSKI’s Innsbruck Stay Continues

8th April 2024 | James Cove, Innsbruck, The Tirol.

Last modified on April 14th, 2024

We’re here in Innsbruck in the Tirol for a month or so – the ultimate Ski + City location in the Alps. 13 ski areas around the city with 23 attractions off the slopes – all on one pass. UPDATED

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No rolling blog about Innsbruck can be posted without mention of its airport.

It is a proper old-school mountain airport – and about 15 minutes out of town.

Most important is the approach.

As the Alps appear over the horizon the anticipation for the skiing ahead builds.

Flying into Innsbruck. Image © PlanetSKI

Pilots need a special certificate to land here due to its tightness to the mountains and the cross winds.

It is simply spectacular on approach.

Spotting the peaks and ski resorts.

That’s Germany’s highest mountain the Zugspitz and the resort of Lermoos over the border in Austria to the right.

Flying into Innsbruck. Image © PlanetSKI

Then getting up close and personal with the mountains as the plane descends below the peaks.

Flying into Innsbruck. Image © PlanetSKI

Many a landing gets aborted and the plane has to divert to Munich with is a 2-hour drive from Innsbruck.

And then the landing… do stay tuned for the surprise at the end.

It’s not often in the 21^st century in Europe that the passengers applaud the pilot.

Welcome to Innsbruck.

Flying into Innsbruck. Image © PlanetSKI

And coming from the other direction it is a treat to fly over the city itself, especially after a snowfall.

PlanetSKi flew in at the beginning of the season in December 2023.

And it was rather snowy as we left too a week or so later.

Innsbruck airport. Image © PlanetSKI

Earlier:

Well, it’s fortunate we had a Ski+City Pass for last weekend, as skiing didn’t seem so attractive an option as the temperatures shot up.

Record early April temperatures in the Alps as the mercury hit +30c in places.

We have reported on it in detail elsewhere on PlanetSKI: April Heatwave in the Alps.

Innsbruck, the Tirol. Image © PlanetSKI

So, we opted to enjoy a few ‘city activities’ instead of skiing.

First the Alpenzoo.

It is on the way down from Nordkette back to the city at an altitude of 750m.

It is one of the highest elevation zoos in Europe.

Innsbruck Ski+City. Image © PlanetSKI

It has more than 2000 alpine animals from 150 species: :

20 mammals, of the 80 mammal species in the Alps
60 bird species
11 reptile species
6 amphibian species
Almost all the fish species present in the Alps

It starts with the animals to be found in water.

Innsbruck Ski+City. Image © PlanetSKI

Then the snakes – including an Aesculapian snake.

Innsbruck Ski+City. Image © PlanetSKI

And then this fellow – an Ocellated Lizard no less.

Innsbruck Ski+City. Image © PlanetSKI

There are the less exotic alpine farm animals.

Innsbruck Ski+City. Image © PlanetSKI

Plus wolves, pine martens and the northern bald Ibis – all in their natural setting in the mountains.

Innsbruck Ski+City. Image © PlanetSKI

The Alpenzoo was established in 1962 by the Austrian zoologist, Hans Psenner.

It’s a non-profit association with the majority of the funding coming from entrance fees.

It receives additional money from the city of Innsbruck and the Tirol government.

There is also financial participation from the society ‘Freunde des Alpenzoo’, sponsors and animal adopters.

Next up on our tour of city delights was one of our favourite attractions in the city of Innsbruck and an absolute must-visit: The Hofkirch (court church).

Its entrance gives little indication of what is behind the wooden door.

Innsbruck Ski+City. Image © PlanetSKI

Wow!

Innsbruck Ski+City. Image © PlanetSKI

It was originally built as a burial church for Emperor Maximillian I, but he never found his last resting place here.

He was instead buried in the castle in Wiener Neystadt south of Vienna.

The tomb was his idea and apart from being built for his memory the tomb was intended to preserve the glory of the House of Habsburg.

Lining the empty sarcophagus are 28 larger-than-life bronze figures.

They are Maximilian ancestors, religious figures, role models and others.

The one on the left represents the mythical King Arthur of England who is often seen as an idealised knight.

Innsbruck Ski+City. Image © PlanetSKI

And don’t forget to go behind the figures to admire the craftsmanship.

Innsbruck Ski+City. Image © PlanetSKI

Rudolph 1 of Habsburg, has an admirable cod-piece on display.

It is part of the armour, and is made of metal with padding on the inside.

It has faded to its basic bronze as it has been touched so much by visitors down the centuries.

Innsbruck Ski+City. Image © PlanetSKI

The figures, male and female, are simple stunning.

Innsbruck Ski+City. Image © PlanetSKI

In an adjoining building is the Volkskunst Mueseum – Regional Heritage Museum.

It is a treasure trove of Tirolean artefacts and houses the most important collection of cultural heritage items from Tirol’s rich history.

Innsbruck Ski+City. Image © PlanetSKI

Its main focus is on arts and crafts, religious folk art, and traditional festive costume.

Then there are the panelled parlour rooms.

After an hour or so in the museum soaking up the the history of the Tirol we just went for an amble in the centre of Innsbruck.

The city is quite simply one of my favourite places in the Alps.

As the heat of the day dropped it was a joy just strolling round the city.

As the evening drew in the temperatures registered a very welcome fall, with the sunset setting off the city’s trademark coloured riverside buildings rather well.

We will shorty, as promised, be reporting on the ski touring options around Innsbruck.

There are many.

Axamer Lizum, Innsbruck. Image c/o PlanetSKI

Do check back for our update on one of the fastest growing past-times on snow: ski touring.

Since arriving at the beginning of March we’ve visited Stubai, Kuhtai, Axamer Lizum, Muttereralm, Oberperfuss, Glungezer, Nordkette, Schlick 2000, St Anton and Ischgl.

Read all about it in our blogs:

Innsbruck Ski + City, Patscherkofel. Image © PlanetSKI

See here for more details of the Innsbruck Ski+City Pass.

INNSBRUCK SKI+CITY INFO:

On the Ski+City Pass there’s the high-altitude glacier resort of Stubai, the ever-popular resort of Kuhtai + the hidden gems of Axamer Lizum and Schlick 2000.

Then some little-known ones off the beaten track:

Patscherkofel
Glungezer
Bergeralm
Muttereralm
Hochetz
Oberperfuss
Serles
Elfer
Nordkette

13 ski areas with 296 kms of slopes, 50km of ski routes and all served by 111 lifts.

They are all within an hour of the city, some are under half an hour away and one, Nordkette, has its base lift station in the centre of Innsbruck itself.

It’s a 5-minute walk from the front door of the apartment PlanetSKI has rented.

Nordkette is situated at an altitude of 2,000m with some gentle beginner slopes and a super steep descent on the ‘Karinne’ – it’s a 70% gradient and for experts only.

You wouldn’t want to be in some of the resorts for a week-long holiday, but you don’t have to be on the Innsbruck City and Ski Pass – just a day will do, thank you very much.

Then there’s the 23 attractions on the Pass including the Bergisel ski jump, The Imperial Palace, Ambras Castle, the Golden Roof museum, the Alpenzoo, the Swarovski Crystal World in Watten, the Hofkirche and many, many more.