A beuatiful city, Olympic centre and capital of the Tyrol. Excellent guest facilities and remarkably generous ski lift pass structure taking in local and famous ski centres nearby and year-round skiing on the Stubai glacier, all with hotel pick up by bus.
Mountain
Innsbruck's seven neighbourhood ski areas are all available on the 'Insbruck Glacier Ski Pass', including as it does the glacier lifts on the Stubai, open 365 days a year for guaranteed skiing and seven other areas. The areas are scattered at distances varying from 15 to 45 minutes travel time from the city centre. Free scheduled ski buses pick up at points convenient to the main hotels and proceed via a central transfer point to all the ski areas. A single lift pass, valid for all the ski areas offers some of the best value in European skiing. The premium "Super Ski" variant from the basic lift pass throws in a day's skiing in Kitzbühel and St. Anton (Arlberg Region) including the one-hour transfer and gives Innsbruck visitors access to a total of 210 lifts serving 700km (435 miles) of downhill trails. Innsbruck has been unfairly branded a wimpy destination for skiing, although it is true that the mountains offer predominantly intermediate territory. However, only a few very skilled skiers are up to the narrow steep crétes and couloirs atop the Hafelekar, and locals can point out lots of other challenges at Axamer Lizum and Stubai. A funicular from the city center runs to the Hungerberg plateau and a two stage gondola carries on to the Seegrube-Hafelkar area on the Nordkette mountain range. Midway, the Seegrube is good beginner and intermediate terrain, favored by Innsbruckers on their lunch-break. Signs warn that only very skilled skiers should proceed to the top. The Patscherkofl is one of two Olympic ski sites extending above the plateau village of Igls, and is the location of "Kaiser" Franz Klammer's famous all-out victory in the 1976 Men's Downhill. This run is accessed by an aging two-stage gondola, due soon to be replaced by a detachable quad, and snowmaking has recently been installed. There are a few other runs mainly in the trees. The main Olympic ski site, Axamer Lizum, has a relatively modern funicular and 9 ski lifts serving a 762m (2,477 ft.) vertical. There is a variety of terrain, mainly of the intermediate persuasion, although there's some challenge in emulating the championship courses. There are two much longer runs to be reserved for day's end (not served by lifts) which end in the neighboring villages. With 1,367 m (4,442 ft.) of vertical, the Glungezer area at Tulfes is best for long cruising runs. At a peak altitude of 3,240 m (10,532 ft), the Stubai glacier area has 1,474 m (4,790 ft.) vertical spread over a broad area served by 19 lifts. In bad weather, conditions can be severe, but the area guarantees skiing in Innsbruck throughout the winter (and the summer!). Stubai offers trails for all skill levels and some challenging off-piste runs. The Schlick 2000 ski region above Fulpmes, served by a gondola and six T Bar lifts and recently added to the pass, offers varied and interesting skiing opportunities. The latest additions to the area pass are Kuhtai, with a dozen lifts anbd Koppl. The resort added a new ski jump stadium at Bergisel in September 2002. It is a state of the art facility with lifts for jumpers and visitors as well as a spectacular panorama cafe. Innsbruck's full-service ski rental is a pleasant surprise. The rental shop send a car to pick visitors up at their hotel for fitting, returning them with their equipment. When finished, they collect it from the hotel. There are 200km of cross country trails in the are and a free bus service with an instructor links the city centre with them six days each week.
Families
Although cities are rarely child-friendly, Innsbruck is better than most, with most of the busy main roads outside the city. There is plenty of parkland dotted around and trams to hop on and off. Children from age three years may attend kindergartens in Igls, Patsch, and Stubai. The ski kindergarten for slightly older children also includes lunch. Back in Innsbruck children enjoy the Alpine Zoo, where indigenous species can be seen in environments similar to their native habitats. Most are also enchanted by the Swarovski Crystal Worlds in nearby Wattens, a three-dimensional adventure of crystal, light, and sound.
Eating Out
The finest dining in Innsbruck is, arguably, in the Europa Stüberl restaurant of the five-star Hotel Europa Tyrol, although locals would head up to the Wilder Mann in the village of Lans, or possibly the Kappeller or Bierwirt in Amras. Somewhere between come Wienerwald and Pannini. At the other end of the scale, there is always MacDonald's or Burger King. The night Wurstlstands at main corners around the city are reliable and inexpensive. The Ottoburg Gasthof Sailer, Gasthof Weisses Roessl and Restaurant Goldener Adler are well known for local Tirolean specialties served in atmospheric small wood-paneled rooms.
Apres
Since most skiers return by skibus, there is no single après ski centre except in the individual hotel bars but, with its major university, Innsbruck has a student population that enlivens the evenings. The centre of activity is in the Old Town in the bars and cafés on the square and along the side alleys. Elfer House, Irish Pub and the Piano Bar are popular. There is always an active crowd for drinks, good food, and dancing at the Hofgarten Café, a pavilion in the old palace garden. Later the action moves to Theresienbräu, or one of the dozens of other hot spots. Innsbruck's ultra modern Casino offers wonderful evening mountain views and modern murals to accompany slot machines, roulette, and blackjack.
Boarding
Innsbruck has worked hard successfully to position itself as a prime 'boarding venue and is home to twice world champion Martin Freinademetz. There are fun parks at Axamer Lizum and Rangger Kopfl, a super pipe and fun park at Nordpark - Seegrube, a natural jump ride at Schlick 2000 and a half pipe on the Stubai glacier. The Seegrube is the location of the 'Skyline Bowl'. Accompanied by members of the large local student population, 'boarders find lots of on- and off-piste challenge in all the Innsbruck areas.
