remains a striking part of Innsbruck’s architecture and culture in the city centre. If you’re interested in seeing more of the city you can buy a cheap day ticket for the tram and bus system, or walk if you’re feeling up to the challenge – while in Innsbruck is packed with life it is a relatively small city, so you can walk to most places with very little effort. Strolling along the river is a beautiful way to fall in love with Innsbruck, watching the crystal clear mountain water wind it’s way through the city, with the spectacular backdrop of the Austrian Alpes and the tops of Innsbruck’s old city buildings.
For an interesting way to spend your afternoon you could also take a small trip up to the Bergisel, the famous ski jump that still hosts World Cup Ski Jumping. It is home to one of the craziest sporting atmospheres I have ever witnessed, and if you’re lucky you might even be able to pick up tickets while you are there (adult standing tickets start around 15 Euros). Looking both up and down the jump is truly gut wrenching, and the panorama restaurant at the top not only offers top class local dishes, but the opportunity to sit by the window and stare straight down the jump from a bird’s eye view.
Axamer Lizum
A mere 45-minute bus ride from the centre of Innsbruck you will find the ski resort of Axamer Lizum. It isn’t somewhere that most skiers would have even heard of, but was home to several events when Innsbruck hosted the Winter Olympics in 1964 and 1976.
While the skiing may not be particularly extensive, there is enough for experience skiers to be challenged and for beginners to find their legs. Unlike many bigger resorts across France and Austria, every single run is perfectly sculpted, there are no bottlenecks, or little roads through the trees, you get wide sweeping runs. Because the resort is so unknown, it is home during week days to a few locals and some tourists
It is a resort that has resisted the expansion and modernisation of many mountains, leaving the ski huts that are dotted around the mountain in the hands of some friendly and welcoming locals. To get a true taste of Austria try the Pleisenhutte for Gluhwein (mulled wine) that warms your very soul, or perhaps some traditional home-made schnapps – Blueberry comes highly recommended, but the Pepper is not for the faint-hearted!
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