INNSBRUCK - GETTING AROUND
Walking
There are several major attractions in Innsbruck that are within easy walking distance. From Innsbruck city center or Innsbruck Tourismus the Golden Roof, Tirol Folk Museum are all within easy walking distance. There is a free guided walking tour daily for Innsbruck Card holders. There are a few hiking trails as well for nature lovers.
By Public Transportation
Public transport in Innsbruck is operated by the Public Transport Authority of Innsbruck or the Innsbrucker Verkehrsbetriebe (IVB). The main transports in and around the city area are buses and trams.
Bus: There are over twenty bus lines that serve Innsbruck throughout the day reaching out to almost every part of the city. Eleven night-liner routes operate from 11:00 pm to 5:00 am at an interval of 1 hour. The regional bus services are operated by VVT to connect the suburbs as well as other parts of Tirol. There are few private operators as well. There is a hop on hop off bus line known as TS which is a good option for sightseeing tours. It covers different attractions like Schloss Ambras, Bergisel and Alpenzoo from city centre area. Innsbruck Card holders can ride free.
Trams: There are four tramlines that operate in and around Innsbruck city. Line 1 and 3 operate within the city area. Line 6 starts from where line 1 ends at Bergisel. This line has been operating since 1900 and popularly known as the `Forest Tram`. It will take you to the mountain village Igls passing through the uplands covered with vast forests and offering wonderful scenic views. It has stops near Schloss Ambler and near the lake Lansesree. From Igls take a walk for 10 minutes to reach Patscherkofel Ropeway. Igls falls within the city zone so no additional ticket is required.
Another line is STB line. The route length is 11 miles and it is probably the best scenic tram route of all. The line passes through a fantastic flowering meadow with mountains in the back drop, over the bridges with stunning views and through picture perfect villages up to Fulpmes in the Stubai Valley. This route also comes within the core zone (Kernzone), so no additional ticket is required. Note that there are no trams during late at nights.
S-Bahn: Verkehrsverbund Tirol or VVT operates commuter trains (S-Bahn) in association with OBB (national railway) to connect different parts of Tirol with Innsbruck. There are 5 lines S-1 to S-5 that connect Innsbruck with Landeck, Kufstein, Kitzbuhel, Mittenwald, Brennero etc. Trains operate from early morning to late night. Frequency varies depending upon lines and time of travel.
By Bicycle
There are many bike paths in Innsbruck and you can easily rent a bike and get around the city (if you don`t mind a little exercise). The biking lanes have been improved recently, making it easier to get around by bike. There are plenty of scopes for adventure biking like mountain biking as well.
IVB has its own bike rental system known as `Stadtrad`. You need to register online or at a docking station. A credit card is required for this registration process. It costs around €1. Up to 30 minutes the rental rate is about €1, up to 1 hour is around €3, and about another €3 for every additional hour. You can visit IVB`s official site stadtrad.ivb.at/ for further information and registration.
By Taxi
Innsbruck`s metered taxis have yellow taxi signage on the roofs. Multiple companies operate taxi services in and around Innsbruck. You can find taxi stands at the important places like outside the airport or at Hauptbahnhof. You can also book a taxi over phone. The base fare is €6.25 and thereafter €2 per kilometer. Expect to pay more on Sundays and public holidays.
By Car
You need a valid driving license along with your passport and you must be 18 or above to drive in Austria. All major car rental companies are present at Innsbruck. You will find their desks at airport and offices within the city. Rental rates vary depending upon model, the minimum per day rent starts from around €20.
Parking in central Innsbruck area is restricted. You can park here for a maximum for 3 hours during shop hours. The parking is indicated by a blue line. Parking garages (such as the one under the old town) will cost around €2.50 per hour and around €20 per day. For longer visits, it is highly recommended to park off-site and use public transportation.
Tickets and Passes
There are three different transport authorities. IVB for Innsbruck, VVT for Tirol, and OBB the national railway company. All three companies offer several ticketing options. VVT tickets are valid in IVB transports as well (in Innsbruck) against a surcharge. So if you are visiting Innsbruck with plans for few trips to other parts of Tirol, a VVT ticket could be a good option. Here are the different ticketing options:
Single Ticket: Valid for one travel within the core zone of the city. A change is allowed within 30 minutes and the ticket is valid until you reach your destination. Single Ticket costs €2.40, additional €0.60 if purchased on the bus or tram. Tickets can be purchased from IVB Customer Center, ticket offices, ticketing machines, IVB Ticket Shop app or on board from the driver. Mobile phone ticket and ticket purchased in vehicle are immediately valid while ticket purchased from machine or from ticket offices get activated after validation on board. A reduced single ticket (for ages 6 to 20 years) costs €1.80 and additional €0.70 if purchased on board.
You can save up to 25% with an 8 Trip Ticket. Ticket for an adult costs €14.60, additional €6 if purchased on board and a reduced ticket is €11.60, additional €4 if purchased in the vehicle. This ticket is valid for 8 journeys in all routes within the core zone of Innsbruck. Other rules and purchase points are same as single ticket.
A 24-Hour Ticket is valid for 24 hours. An adult ticket costs €5.60 while a reduced ticket is €3.70. The ticket gets activated as soon as you validate inside the vehicle or on the date and time mentioned on the ticket. It allows unlimited rides in all lines within 24 hours and within the core zone of the city. Ticket can be bought from IVB Customer Center, ticket offices, ticket machines, online or from the mobile app.
There is also a 24-Hour 2-Plus Ticket. This ticket is for 2 adults and up to 3 children (up to 15 years age) and costs €8.10. All the rules and purchase options are same as 24-Hour Ticket. This ticket too is transferable except online and mobile app tickets.
Innsbruck Card is a great card for visitors to explore Innsbruck. It is available for 24, 48 and 72 hours. The card offers free entries to numerous attractions and museums, free rides in IVB operated buses and trams as well as in cable cars, lifts, funiculars including a ride to the beautiful Nordkette Mountain and hop on hop off buses. A 24-hour card costs €43, 48hour costs €50 and a 72hour card costs €59. The card is activated on first validation. You can easily purchase the card online at www.innsbruck.info. You can also purchase it at Innsbruck tourist offices, ticket offices at lift / cable car stations and tourist attractions, at hotels, airport and train stations.
This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
