A family summer holiday in Innsbruck starts in less than two hours from the UK. Public transport is free with the Welcome Card this year, and you get two holidays rolled into one.
View of Innsbruck from surrounding mountains ©Innsbruck Tourismus/Markus Mair
Summer in Innsbruck might be the best value holiday you’ve had in a while, not least because you actually get two different types of holiday rolled into one.
For a start there’s the incredible city of Innsbruck, which is packed with child-friendly attractions along with being inescapably historic and simply beautiful.
Then, just 20 minutes from the city which sits at the foot of the Nordkette mountain range you have summer’s best outdoor adventure holiday in the Austrian Alps: a magnificent natural playground packed with soaring mountains, swimming lakes, hiking trails and seemingly endless family activities.
The public transport all around the region is exceptional too, and the cable car network, that makes Innsbruck a go-to for family ski holidays, translates perfectly to summer for hikers and cyclists and lovers of mountain hut terraces: one of the best places for lunch in the sun. Speaking of sun, there’s no shortage of that either in June, July and August with average daytime temperatures ranging from 20° to 25°.
Mariahilf, Innsbruck ©Innsbruck Tourismus/Kathrin Baumann
Stay 2 nights or more and get a free Innsbruck Welcome Card
Plus, this summer, public transport, including cable cars, is free with the Welcome Card, which you receive free when you stay for two nights or more at partner hotels or guesthouses in the Innsbruck region. You also benefit from great discounts on all sorts of family attractions with the Welcome Card, and you can enjoy a range of experiences available only to cardholders this summer.
City Tower, Innsbruck ©Innsbruck Tourismus/Kathrin Baumann
Family-friendly city fun for your summer holiday in Innsbruck
Sunny days exploring the city are reason enough to plan a summer holiday in Innsbruck with your kids, but being able to easily mix the urban and outdoor adventures in one summer holiday is what’s really extraordinary here. That said, there’s a lot to see and do in Innsbruck itself, so you might want to pace yourself. With that in mind here’s a quick guide to the city’s must-sees this summer.
Top things to do in Innsbruck this summer
- It’s a good idea to start your visit at City Tower, not only will you need plenty of energy to climb the 133 steps to the top, the viewing platform there gives you an overview of Innsbruck that lets you get your bearings before hitting the city streets.
- Set aside a few hours to visit Swarovski Crystal Worlds. With 18 Chambers of Wonder to discover, as well as the famous garden giant and the incredible Playtower, not to mention the James Turrell installations, there’s a lot to take in here.
- Wandering around the medieval old town is another experience you want to take your time over. Linger in elegant squares like Maria-Theresien and make space for coffee (or lunch) on pedestrianised Herzog-Friedrich Street – also a good spot for shopping.
- The interactive Audioversum ScienceCenter is another must-do with kids, not least because it’s home to the world’s only Sound Labyrinth.
- When you’re in the mood for something wild, the Alpine Zoo has that covered just outside the city. Home to over 2,000 animals from 150 different species, it’s the highest themed zoo in Europe and the place to see mountain natives like brown bear, golden eagles and wolves.
Imperial Palace, Innsbruck ©Innsbruck Tourismus/Kathrin Baumann
Child-size history lessons that are all fun
- The famous Golden Roof is in the old town too and once you’ve done admiring its glow, head to the beautifully curated Golden Roof Museum to find out about its history.
- For a true treasure trove collection, more grandeur and a captivating love story, you want Ambras Castle, which isn’t only enchanting, it’s also the oldest museum in the world.
- Innsbruck’s 16th century Imperial Palace also happens to be one of the most important buildings in Austria, so prepare to be impressed. The hour-long Palace Highlights tour works well for older kids. There’s also a Family Sunday every week with child-size tours, activities and even the chance to be a prince or princess for the day.
Family hiking, summer holiday in Innsbruck ©Innsbruck Tourismus/Kathrin Baumann
Hikes with rewards your kids will be more than happy to walk for
Innsbruck has got the art of walking with children mastered, and it all comes down to incentives. The trick is to make promises you can keep and here that means playgrounds and water fun, enchanted forests and fairy tales. With these rewards in sight, kids will stride out without a second thought and literally walk for miles on a summer holiday in Innsbruck. Though, walking for miles isn’t necessary on most Innsbruck family hikes, and they’re handily graded in order of difficulty too.
Fairy tale hikes for younger kids
Hike from puzzle-to-puzzle on the Legend Trail Oberperfuss where kids get a thrill from ‘tree beards’ – upside down spruce trees with carved faces that tell tales at the push of a button – and earn little prizes by solving clues. Apart from all that motivation, the walk is easy and only 2km long, and it starts with a gondola ride, for a little extra sense of adventure.
Kids love a circular hike, especially if it comes with lots of rest stops and plenty to see. Walk the Alpenrosensteig Trail in June and you’ll never forget the views of the magnificent Inntal Valley or the glorious abundance of alpine roses in full bloom. Make use of all the benches along the way to drink in the beauty and get kids to look out for the spring water fountain on-route. The impressive reservoir on this hike makes for another good place to stop and catch a breath.
Summer mountain hut terrace, Innsbruck ©Innsbruck Tourismus/Kathrin Baumann
Great summer hikes for adventurous kids
To give slightly older kids a great sense of achievement, tackle the 6km hike to the summit of Patscherkofel. Graded medium difficulty, it’s not too challenging if you take it at your own pace (or the pace of the shortest legs in your family). Plus, you get spectacular views of the Inntal and Stubai Valley to motivate you, and they really are worth all the legwork.
Mountain huts are one of the many joys of spending summer in Innsbruck, so you’ll have no trouble convincing your children to hike round a few of them on the Mountain Hut Tour. This walk comes in an easy or more challenging version so you can tailor it to the ages of your kids.
At just over 6km and taking roughly about three hours, this family hike in the Senders Valley is made for teens, or tweens if you build in plenty of rests. It’s another one that fits lunch at a sunny mountain hut into the route and takes you up to the summit of Sonntagsköpfl (Sunday Mountain) where you have jaw-dropping views of the Kalkkögel mountain range.
Natterer See, summer holiday in Innsbruck ©Innsbruck Tourismus
Forget the seaside try a lakeside summer holiday in Innsbruck
The number of beautiful swimming lakes and outdoor pools to enjoy in Innsbruck is testimony to how good the summer weather can be. So if you’re worried about your kids missing out on a beach break, let’s just put your mind at ease on that.
Lake Mieming has plenty of space to laze in the sun or shade, as well as gentle, child-friendly banks. But if your kids are up for something more active, it’s also the lake with a water trampoline, floating docks and a beach volleyball court.
Beach lovers will adore Natterer See which mixes sandy shores with pretty green lawns for lounging. A children’s bathing bay is a big attraction for families with non-swimmers and younger kids, and average water temperatures of 22° in summer suit everyone from the smallest water babies upwards.
Look forward to full-on fun at Mutters Leisure Centre which combines the excitement of a waterpark with a range of tennis courts, a large children’s playground and the delightful ‘dwarf garden, as well as a beach volleyball court and a great family restaurant. If you want to make a day of water play, this is definitely the place for that.
Start planning your summer in Innsbruck now with Innsbruck Tourism