Innsbruck is located at a natural crossroad in the Alps. The East to West axis of Innsbruck is home to strategic Inn Valley while to the South is the Brenner Pass linking Italy to the rest of Europe. The city’s history dates as far back as the Roman Era so it’s not surprising that it has a rich cultural heritage or that its university founded in 1669 is still. Innsbruck can be likened as the architectural and intellectual and cultural capital of the Alps, a city where Hapsburg imperial buildings are shadowed by glacial mountain tops, and where a world-famous architect (Zaha Hadid) made art out of a ski jump. Boarders and skiers alike can hope to have a refreshingly different holiday experience from a regular ski resort.
If you arrive at the airport in the morning, a 15-minute drive will get you to your accommodation and you can spend the afternoon skiing. Rather than the usual apres-ski, you could tour the city, visiting its churches, art galleries, high end shops, historic center, and of course traditional beer keller before ending up in any of its exclusive restaurants. To get the most of the skiing experience, it’s best that you have early nights because there’s so much of the skiing to keep you entertained throughout your time here.
Stubai deserves a distinct entry in the Ultimate-Ski guide as one of the best glacier resorts in the world. Schlick 2000 is on the way to Stubai and is often bypassed if care is not taken. The closest ski zone to the city is Nordkette and it’s so close you can walk to its base station from some parts of the city. There are gentle north facing slopes here preferred for free riding. There is also freeriding at The Axamer Lizum Olympia Park and Kühtai also have freeriding slopes but their resorts are modern and high-altitude, with mostly intermediate friendly pistes. For children and novices, the Oberperfuss/ Rangger Köpfl and the Muttereralm Playground are perfect and safe zones. The Patscherkofel and Glungezer resorts are small and quiet with few lifts and runs.
Source: https://www.ultimate-ski.com/ski-resorts/austria/innsbruck/.
Flying to Innsbruck
Innsbruck Airport (innsbruck-airport.com/en) is about 5km west of the city, a 15-minute ride by taxi (about €20), a 20-minute ride by Bus F (€2.90; free with the Innsbruck Card).
Getting around Innsbruck
Innsbruck is a small city with a car-free heart, so walking is easy and a pleasure. Linking all the main central attractions is The Sightseer, a hop-on, hop-off bus that circulates constantly; buy a 24-hour ticket on the bus, at your hotel or a tourist information office (€15; family ticket: 2 adults, three children, €45; innsbruck.info/en). If you want to join locals on the buses and trams, buy tickets from machines and at tourist offices, or at a slightly higher price on board, and validate at the start of your journey. Single tickets cost: €2.30 (€2.90 if purchased on board); over 62s, students, children/teenagers 6-19, €1.70 (€2.40 if purchased on board); under 6 years go free with an adult.
The Innsbruck region has the perfect accommodation for every different desire, budget and taste. From fully-equipped hotels with regal ambience and top-class food, via homely bed and breakfasts, to hostels and rooms for the smallest purse, everything is possible in Innsbruck whether for a luxury trip or even backpacking. Find more on https://www.innsbruck.info/en/destinations/accommodation.html
The family-run Hotel Sonnenhof Bed & Breakfast is 5 km away from the city of Innsbruck, a 5-minute walk from the centre of Igls, and 10 minutes from the Patscherkofel Cable Car and Lanser Lake. All rooms have a balcony overlooking the Tyrolean Alps, and free WiFi and free private parking are available.
Hotel Innsbruck is located at the bank of the Inn River in the heart of the Old Town, only a 5-minute walk away from the Congress Centre and the Hungerburgbahn Cable Car. Free WiFi is available in all areas. The panoramic spa area (nude area) over the roofs of the Old Town includes panoramic windows, a bio , a Finnish sauna, an infrared cabin, and a sun terrace.
The Rolling Stones, Sting, Queen Elizabeth II and the Prince of Monaco have all stayed at the Grand Hotel Europa in Innsbruck. Modern furnishings are characteristic of all rooms. Most units have a marble bathroom, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, air conditioning and Wi-Fi. Large windows with views of the surrounding Alpine landscape are featured in many.
For more amazing locations visit hotels.flyus.com.
What to experience
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10 Beginner Skiing Tips First Timers Need Before Hitting the Slopes
Coming skiing for the first time is a great idea whatever your age. Learning to ski as an adult can be daunting, but is also extremely accessible with just a small amount of fitness. We want to make sure you get the most out of your first time, so we’ve got a few tips for first-time skiers, to make that it’s a good one.
- Do Some Research Before You Depart.
- Arrive Early.
- Don’t Overextend Yourself.
- Ski Clothing Works Best When You Dress in Layers.
- Rent Your Equipment.
- Pack Fluids and Snacks.
- Get in Shape Before the Ski Season.
- Protect Yourself from the Sun.
- Take professional lessons
For more information visit https://www.theadventurejunkies.com/skiing-tips-for-beginners/
* Pricing and availability are subject to change. All itineraries/tours/guides are based on airlines, travel agencies, hotel, tour policies, schedules and operational conditions at the time of booking.