Innsbruck with Kids: Your 2025 City Break Guide
Dreaming of a city break in Innsbruck with kids? This guide will take you through everything you need to know, including the best things to do in Innsbruck with kids, the best places to stay in Innsbruck, where to eat, and day trips!
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Is Innsbruck Child-Friendly?
Innsbruck is a gorgeous Austrian city and the capital of the Tyrol region. It is a great place to visit with kids in Europe. Whatever the season, you can explore the old city, hike in the mountains, ski, sled, or have fun at the Austrian Christmas markets.
On our family trip to Austria, the backdrop of the Tyrolean mountains, the elaborate architecture in the historical center, and the best scenery we saw made Innsbruck an unforgettable family experience.
When is the best time to visit Innsbruck?
Austria is great for kids. Whether you visit in summer or winter, there are many activities to enjoy in a city like Innsbruck.
The location is ideal for exploring the surrounding mountainous regions, taking a trip to Salzburg or Bavaria, or enjoying a family skiing break.
Innsbruck in July
Summer is a great time to visit Innsbruck. The temperature averages around 77ºF in July, making it ideal for outdoor activities in the alpine meadows and Tyrolean mountains.
A fair bit of rainfall can come out of nowhere, so best to plan for sun and rain when packing.
Innsbruck in December
This is a truly magical month to visit Innsbruck. The mountains are covered in snow, and there are breathtaking Christmas markets across the city and many ski resorts for the family to enjoy.
The kids will love the Austrian Christmas markets, which include amazing food, carousel rides, crafts, music, parades, and, of course, Santa Claus!
How to Get to Innsbruck
Getting to Innsbruck is relatively straightforward, whether traveling from within Europe or the United States.
There are no direct flights to Innsbruck from the United States, so people will typically fly into a major European hub like Frankfurt, Munich, or Vienna and then take a connecting flight or train.
The train journey from Munich or Vienna to Innsbruck is particularly scenic, passing through beautiful alpine landscapes. Additionally, the motorway runs up and down the Inn valley, making it convenient for those who prefer to travel by car.
Innsbruck Airport is located close to the city, about 3km west of the city center. You can take a bus transfer from the airport to the city, which takes about 20 minutes (€2).
A great option for a family is to buy the Innsbruck Card when you arrive. This offers free public transport, admission to many attractions, cable car rides, and more (€24 Child 6-15 years / €49 Adult).
The main railway station is about a 10-minute walk from the historic part of the city. From there, you can take the train to local villages/towns, Salzburg, Vienna, or even travel into Italy and Germany.
The motorway runs up and down the Inn Valley and over the border to Germany and Italy, so hiring a car could be a good option for a longer stay.
Where to Stay in Innsbruck with Kids
Hotels in the city center are ideal, as we found this a good base from which to explore the city and use the Innsbruck Card to get around on public transport. However, if you visit for a purely skiing holiday, you may prefer accommodation closer to the slopes.
Budget: MEININGER Hotel Innsbruck Zentrum
The MEININGER Hotel offers clean, comfortable, and well-equipped family rooms at budget prices. It is only 750 yards from the Golden Roof, and the Bergisel Ski Jump and Maria Theresien Street are very close by.
There is a convenient public transport bus stop just opposite the location.
Mid-Range: Hotel Innsbruck
Hotel Innsbruck is in the center of the Old Town and on the banks of the River Inn. It offers stunning views of the soaring mountains.
The Hungerburgbahn cable car is a five-minute walk, the Golden Roof is only 200 yards away, and many other attractions and great restaurants are close to the hotel. There is also an indoor pool which the kids can enjoy!
Luxury Splurge: Relais & Châteaux Spa-Hotel Jagdhof
This 5-star spa hotel offers a luxurious experience and great kids’ facilities. The scenic Tyrolean mountains surround the hotel, the rooms are spectacular, and the Stubai Glacier location is perfect for winter skiing.
There is an indoor and outdoor pool, kids club, children’s playground, games room, evening entertainment, and a superb restaurant.
The hotel has cots, strollers, and outdoor play equipment on request, so it is a good location if you are visiting Austria with a baby or small children.
Top Things to Do in Innsbruck with Kids
Innsbruck is one of the most beautiful cities in Austria and offers a diverse range of activities for families, making it ideal for a city break with kids.
Some activities will engage toddlers up to teenagers, ranging from active and adventurous days out to interactive museums and exploring the old city. Here are the top ten things we enjoyed in Innsbruck.
1. Old Town (Altstadt)
The old town of Innsbruck is full of charming old buildings dating back to the Middle Ages and lots of cobbled streets to explore.
Visit the iconic Golden Roof, decorated with 2,657 fire-gilded copper tiles built for Emperor Maximilian. St Jacob’s Cathedral is also impressive, with a stunning Baroque interior and a magnificent altar.
2. Swarovski Crystal Worlds
A must-see experience is the glittering world of Swarovski, just outside of Innsbruck in the village of Wattens. On arrival, ‘The Giant’ with crystal eyes embedded into the mountain greets you!
Followed by 17 rooms with wonderful crystal worlds and a huge indoor play area (minimum age 4) with slides, trampolines, a climbing net, and balance games.
Our kids loved the outdoor play area, which featured interesting art installations, a crazy maze, marble runs, and a quirky carousel.
3. Alpine Zoo
Take the Hungerburgbahn funicular, then jump on the Nordkette Cable Car for outstanding views. The zoo is a few stops later.
The zoo houses around 2000 animals. We saw wolves, lynxes, ibexes, owls, a brown bear, and alpine animals. There is also a small aquarium, playground, and café.
Get Your Alpine Zoo Tickets Here and get a Return Cable Car Ticket to the Zoo in with the Price >>>
4. Audioversum Science Centre
This is an interactive museum where you learn about the science of sound. The kids enjoyed identifying and mimicking animal sounds (involving a lot of shouting!), light-activated walkways, voice changer machines, and creating sounds for future visitors. It’s a great way to spend an hour on a rainy day.
5. Muttereralmpark
We took the cable car up to the foothills of the mountain (1400m), which has great views of the city of Innsbruck. There is a large park with walkways through the trees and play areas, a small lake, outdoor water play, and a sand play area.
The kids loved watching the cattle grazing. You can rent bikes, and it’s also a ski resort perfect for families with a handy rental shop on site.
6. Aquadome
Aqua Dome is spectacular. It is expensive but out of this world in terms of the setting. Surrounded by the Tyrolean mountains, it offers steam baths, indoor and outdoor pools, a kids’ pool, slides, and a play area.
There is a hotel on-site, or you can take the day pass option.
7. Bergisil Olympic Ski Jump
Visit the Bergisel area for a trip to see the Olympic Ski Jump, an iconic venue in the world of winter sports. You can take a tram or Sightseer bus to Bergisel and take the funicular to the top of the ski jump.
This location has hosted several Winter Olympics events and is particularly famous for ski jumping competitions. It is a wonderful experience for both sports enthusiasts and tourists alike.
There is a 360° viewing platform above the 50m ski ramp and a café at the top where you can watch jumpers practice.
You can take in breathtaking views of the surrounding area from the platform.
8. Ambras Castle
Originally a medieval fortress, Ambras Castle was transformed into a Renaissance castle in the 15th century by Emperor Ferdinand I. The castle is spectacular from the outside, with gardens overlooking the River Inn.
Inside the castle, there are many interesting exhibits for children, notably the knight’s armory, and wonders cabinet.
Get Your Tickets Here for Skip the Line Entry!
9. Maria-Theresien-Strasse
The main shopping street in Innsbruck is a beautiful place to wander around, with great food, drinks, shopping, and gelato.
There are many street artists and entertainment to enjoy, and you can also see the majestic Triumphal Arch to the South of the street.
10. Hofgarten
There are many parks across Innsbruck that the kids can enjoy. Hofgarten is located near the old part of the city and has open grassy areas, children’s play areas, ponds with ducks, chess games, and a lovely restaurant to enjoy some food
11. Adventure Sports for Older Kids
Innsbruck, located in the heart of the Tyrol region, is a paradise for adventure seekers. Older kids and teenagers will find many adventure sports to indulge in.
From skiing and snowboarding in the winter to mountain biking and hiking in the summer, there is something for every adrenaline junkie.
The Nordkette mountain range, easily accessible from the city center, offers thrilling activities such as paragliding, rock climbing, and via ferratas.
The surrounding Tyrolean mountains provide the perfect backdrop for a day of rafting, canyoning, or zip-lining.
12. Shop for Souvenirs
Souvenirs: Innsbruck, being a city rich in culture and tradition, offers a wide range of souvenirs to take back home.
Many shops in the old town sell traditional Austrian souvenirs, such as Mozartkugeln (chocolate-covered marzipan balls), schnapps, and hand-painted Christmas ornaments.
For something uniquely Tyrolean, consider purchasing a piece of traditional Tracht, like a Dirndl or Lederhosen. Swarovski Crystal, founded in the nearby village of Wattens, also makes for a sparkling souvenir.
Local crafts, Tyrolean mountain honey, and regional specialties are popular choices.
Where to Eat in Innsbruck with Kids
Austrian food for kids is delicious. Kasspatzln are tasty dumplings coated in cheese and then baked. Grostl is like an English fry-up with bacon, onion, potatoes, and a fried egg, and Kiachl is a tasty Austrian doughnut with sweet fillings.
Café Central is the oldest café in town, serving Austrian/European breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Extremely child-friendly, the café will accommodate special requests from the menu. We tried the schnitzel, apple strudel, and chocolate torte, which were fabulous. View on TripAdvisor >>
Fischerhausl is one of the best Innsbruck restaurants, serving Austrian, German, and European dishes and having a lovely courtyard. The menu has plenty of choices, from goulash and grostl to homemade burgers and tasty desserts. View on TripAdvisor >>
High Panorama Café is at the top of the Bergisel ski jump, where you can watch the skiers practice their jumps. We enjoyed some cake and drinks as they were quite expensive.
How to Spend 2 Days in Innsbruck
In the summer, we visited Innsbruck for a European city break with the kids and then traveled to Italy. There are plenty of things to see and do, but on our first trip, time was limited. The following are the highlights of our trip and what the kids enjoyed.
Day 1: One Day in Innsbruck with Kids
Morning: Take a city tour of Innsbruck to see the Altstadt (Old Town). Enjoy the Golden Roof and learn about Emperor Maximilian in the museum, climb the Stadtturm watchtower and admire the view, then visit the magnificent St Jacobs Cathedral and Triumphant Arch.
Why not book onto this Innsbruck walking tour?
Afternoon: Visit Maria-Theresien-Strasse from the Triumphant Arch for lunch, gelato, shopping, and to enjoy live music and street artists. Hofgarten is a great city park for the kids to play in, and there are many other parks around the city. Fischerhausl restaurant is close to Hofgarten, so head there for dinner later.
Day 2: 48 Hours in Innsbruck with Kids
Morning: Swarovski Crystal Worlds is heaven for kids! It’s quirky, wild, wonderful, and very child-friendly, so it’s definitely worth a visit. You could easily spend four hours here seeing the Rooms of Wonder, and the kids can enjoy the amazing indoor/outdoor play areas and art installations.
Afternoon: Take the tram and funicular up to the Bergisel Olympic Ski Jump, then relax and enjoy the amazing views. The kids will love the trip up to the top of the ski jump, which overlooks Innsbruck. Visit the High Panorama Café for lunch and cake while watching the athletes practice on the 50m ski ramp.
3 Days in Innsbruck
We really enjoyed the Alpine Zoo, and the Nordkette Cable Car trip made this a memorable experience. The kids loved seeing the different animals and enjoyed the play area. Then we headed back into Innsbruck to Café Central for a great lunch.
The Aqua Dome was a real treat for adults and kids in the afternoon. It’s a breathtaking place, and you can get an evening pass if you want to stay later to enjoy the pools, slides, children’s play area, and an evening meal in the restaurant.
Day Trips from Innsbruck for Families
Innsbruck is in the perfect location in Europe to explore Austria, Germany, and Italy. Beautiful towns and villages are nearby, and they are accessible by train. You can drive to Italy in 30 minutes!
Salzburg
The city of Salzburg is stunning and takes 1 hour 40 minutes via direct train from Innsbruck. When you arrive, there are lots of options for families. You can explore the picturesque old city, visit the Hohensalzburg Fortress (castle), experience the Mirabell Palace and Gardens from The Sound of Music, or see the animals at Salzburg Zoo.
Neuschwanstein Castle
Built by King Ludwig II of Bavaria, this medieval fairytale castle is the most visited in Europe. Disney modeled their Cinderella’s Caste on Neuschwanstein, a truly magical experience.
Kids will love this private full-day tour of the castle, which features many movies and famous cartoons by Disney.
Get Your Neuschwanstein Castle Tickets Here >>>
Stubai Glacier
The largest glacier in Austria, the Stubai Glacier, offers skiing from October until June. The glacier is about 40 minutes from Innsbruck by car, or you can take the bus from Innsbruck’s central station (Line 590).
The Big Family Ski Camp offers ski lessons to children from four; the kids will love the 30m deep Ice Grotto and the fantastic view from the ‘Top of Tyrol’.
Getting Around Innsbruck with Kids
Innsbruck boasts a well-organized public transportation system, making getting around and exploring the surrounding areas easy.
The best way to get around Innsbruck is on foot. It’s a compact city with many of the top attractions in the old town or within walking distance of one another. If you have the energy, there are plenty of hiking opportunities in the mountains!
You can use the Sightseer bus, trams, funicular, and cable cars to travel around the city and to the higher mountainous areas. Hiring a car is another option to explore the surrounding areas.
The Innsbruck Card offers free public transport, including trams, buses, and even the Sightseer bus, which takes you to the city’s main attractions. It also includes a one-time ascent and descent on each cable car operating in the Innsbruck region.
Public transportation in Innsbruck is child-friendly, with discounted fares for children between 6-15 years and free travel for those under 6.
The central railway station in Innsbruck provides excellent connections to nearby towns, cities, and even neighboring countries like Germany and Italy.
Book Your Train Tickets Here. I always use RailEurope
About the author: This article was originally written by Sylvie Simpson and has been edited by Kirsten Maxwell.