Calm amid the Chaos
We set off bright and early from Liège to Munich, fueled by caffeine and daydreams of adventure, only to find ourselves switching trains faster than a magician juggling flaming swords trying to reach Innsbruck. Just when we thought we were cruising along smoothly, the train decided to pull a fast one—right at the platform in Munich, our train service vanished like a magician’s rabbit! Talk about a plot twist that would leave even the best stand-up comedians scratching their heads!
Travelling with a seasoned pro like my mother makes a delay or service cancellation feel like just a quirky episode of a sitcom. With the calmness of a yoga instructor, she continued waiting as if the service cancellation was merely a minor holdup caused by the driver taking an extended bathroom break – you know, just a little “me time” situation!
Here I was, drenched in cold sweat, feeling like I’d just run a marathon in a sauna dressed as a penguin, even though Europe’s early Spring was colder than a polar bear’s igloo. Meanwhile, my mother stood there calmly twiddling her thumbs, looking like she was planning our dinner menu, while we both stared at the billboard, anxiously waiting for it to spill the beans on the train schedule to Innsbruck, as if we were contestants on a reality show where the grand prize was simply catching our train and not having to live in the train station!
What a relief to find out we weren’t about to plunge straight into the wild re-booking circus—thank goodness! This whole escapade feels like I’ve accidentally enrolled in a reality show where wandering around cluelessly is the grand prize. I guess the secret to survival here is to avoid guzzling too many fluids—unless I’m looking to make new friends in the local wildlife while I desperately search for a restroom!
Journey to Innsbruck
The train journey from Munich to Innsbruck was amazing. It felt like walking into a museum of snow-capped mountains around us.
The view of the snow-capped mountains are so captivating that I sometimes forget to hit the shoot button.
I seriously doubt I could ever get sick of those snow-capped mountains—unless they start launching snowballs at me! I mean, who wouldn’t want a cozy little house on a hill, staring at these majestic peaks while daydreaming of a glamorous life as a mountain hermit? Just imagine me, lounging in my PJs, sipping coffee or tea like a true connoisseur, while casually admiring the glorious mountains and typing away on my blog—maybe even having serious chats with my houseplants about their latest mountain escapades!
Innsbruck Card
We were fortunate that the landlord of our accommodation gave us free Innsbruck Cards to cover the duration of our stay at his place. We were given access to the links prior to our travel to Innsbruck.
Information
- Innsbruck card covers for 24hrs, 48hrs or 72hrs.
- Free travel on public transport and Sightseer Hop on-Hop-off bus
For updates on the Card, click here for Inns’bruck Official Site.
What I love most is that the Innsbruck card can be downloaded as a PDF or use as a mobile card for direct use on the mobile device.
Old Town of Innsbruck
We stayed in an apartment in the heart of the Old Town (Altstadt) section of Innsbruck. This part of the Old town stands a famous and significant landmark of the city, the Goldenes Dachl (Golden Roof).
Goldenes Dachl
The Goldenes Dachl was completed in 1500 with the roof decorated with 2,657 fire-gilded copper tiles for Emperor Maximilian I (the Holy Roman Emperor) to mark his wedding to Bianca Maria Sforza. The newly wed used the balcony to observe the festivals, tournaments and events taking place in the square below.
I read an interesting fact about this balustrade being decorated in eight sculpted reliefs, six facing the square and two flanking panels depicting various images associated with Maximilian’s life.
Look closely and note that there were strange characters on the banderole running behind the figures across all frames are a coded message.
To protect the sculptures from damage, the City had the originals replaced by copies in 1952. Originals of the six reliefs can be seen in the Golden Roof Museum.
A historian Erhard Maroschek interpreted the text as “EGO SUM LUX MUNDI QUI SEQUITUR ME NON AMBULABIT IN TENEBRIS SED HABEBIT LUCEM VITÆ DICIT DOMINUS”.
I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in darkness, but he will have the light of life, says the Lord.
Gospel of John chapter 8, verse 12.
Information
- Opening days and time: Monday to Sunday 10:00hrs to 17:00hrs; Closed on Mondays during the months of October to April
- Entry charge: EUR5,50 (Standard); EUR2,90 (Reduced admission for Seniors, Students, JUFF/Ö1 members)
- Free admission: School classes; Children under 6 years; Visitors with disabilities; Austriaguides & journalists with press card; Owners of an IVB annual ticket, leisure ticket, an Innsbruck Card, a culture pass or ICOM card.
For more updates, please click here to visit Inns’bruck Official site.
4 hours of Wandering around Innsbruck Old Town
After checking-in to our accommodations, I went for a walk after dinner. It might be hard to believe this but even though it is rather cold in Innsbruck in April, the days got longer.
With sunset much later, I get more extra hours of light shooting photos. I was out for 4 hours and it was sufficient time for me to wander around the Old Town and the bridge.
How to get the Old Town
- Exit Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof
- Take Tram line 3 from H platform
- Alight at 4th stop Maria-Theresien-Straße.
- Cross the road to Herzog-Friedrich-Straße to come face-to-face to the Golden Roof
For more updates or public transport details, click here to Official site of Innsbruck Transport Company and Stubaitalbahn GmbH
Top of Innsbruck
Top of Innsbruck reminds me of Top of Europe in Jungfraujoch, Switzerland. The mountains standing majestically high with snow covering its top.
A colleague recommended that I should visit Top of Innsbruck while I am in Innsbruck. I have never been to Innsbruck but it seems like a good idea.
The ride starts at Congress station in Innsbruck. The funicular will take us to Innsbruck Station Hungerburg. All passengers will alight and head for Nordkette station on foot.
Nordkette station is diagonally across the road, Höhenstraße. The cable car awaits at Innsbruck – Nordkette station to take passengers to Seergrube. Seegrube is 1,905m or has an altitude of 6,250 ft.
Jausenstation is the Top of Innsbruck. It was quite disappointing that the cable car to Jausenstation was not operating. However, I just have to count my blessings that our trip up the mountain was 26th April not 25th. We were chatting with other travelers and heard that the funicular and cable cars did not operate on the 25th.
The credit for capturing the cable car goes to my mother. It would have been challenging for me to remain this still.
Information
- Opens: Summer season 2024 from 27/04/2024 to 03/11/2024; Winter season 2024 from 22/11/2024 to 06/04/2025
- Tickets ranging from EUR26,00 to EUR51,00 depending on package
- To avoid queues, tickets can be purchased online and can be saved on mobiles to be shown as evidence of purchase.
- Bring camera, sunglasses *even though there is snow.
- If traveling to Top of Innsbruck in late April, the mountain is still covered with snow.
For updates and more packages, please click here to visit Innsbruck’s highest point Official site.
Trains Warning
Most travelers would prefer taking trains with least changes. Innsbruck to Venice, I believe only OBB has no changes.
- If traveling by OBB Economy, it is only best to make reservations for your seats. Alternatively, make reservations for first class when long journeys are concern.
- From the platform, there is no markings to advise travelers where is car 1 or car 8.
- You only get to sort it out while onboard and with everyone squeezing their way through.
- Avoid bringing Large or Extra Large luggage (luggage between 70cm to 90cm is not ideal).
- Overhead compartments might not or barely fit it in.
- Difficult to move around in the trains and will end up making lots of enemies for a long journey to Venice.
- Those traveling light and are not concerned about squeezing, Class 2 economy will be sufficient.
- If reservation is for a seat on the train but someone is sitting there comfortably, BE FIRM that it is your seat and request that they move. Some travelers will try to make a stand that the seat belongs to them by not responding. Best to ask for ticket and you will see them moving off.
Local Snack
Leaving Innsbruck? Never leave Innsbruck without trying some pretzels.
The pretzels! These are not just normal pretzels but it is so delicious that even Milan or other parts of Italy can never bake with perfection. For EUR1,35, the pretzel is affordable and lovely.
Where to buy?
- Brezes costs EUR1,35 each.
- Der Bäcker Ruetz – Hauptbahnhof
- Opens daily 5:30hrs to 20:00hrs
Traveler’s Tale of Innsbruck
Despite our stay in Innsbruck being brief, I could hardly fault anything about Innsbruck. The public transport was convenient and bus drivers were amazing. Even at Seegrube, I believe those chairs outside the restaurant was meant for patrons enjoying their beer in the sun. They left the chairs on a first come first serve basis. Just for all to enjoy the sun and the view.
Those intending to visit Innsbruck, I would suggest checking out the Old Town first. During my stay, it appears that the City was resurfacing the tiles on the square below the Golden Roof. The works were extended Ottoburg.
I will definitely be back to visit Innsbruck in the near future to visit the other villages nearby. 
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