"The Only Alpine City" a Innsbruck Travel Page by antistar

The electronic clock in the town center flicked over from 32 to 33 degrees centigrade, and it was still the morning. I knew then it was going to be a scorcher, and by 2pm the water I had been carrying around in the outer pockets of my backpack was hotter than a flask of coffee. The heat was surprising, here high up in the Alps, but someone suggested to me it was due to the mountains that encircle Innsbruck were reflecting the bright sunlight into the town and slow cooking it. Certainly it felt like I was being slow baked, and this wasn't helped by Innsbruck's near treeless streets.

Innsbruck doesn't have much that is truly spectacular in terms of individual sights, but it is a most impressive whole. The abundance of beautiful old buildings with the stunning Alpine backdrop make this one of the most unique cities in Europe. Innsbruck makes the claim to be the only city in the Alps, but at only just over a hundred thousand people it barely registers as such, and has a very relaxed air. It is a very affluent city, and unlike other cities I've been to in Austria it didn't have a single drunk or beggar in the streets. The lack of outstanding sights and small size mean that you can easily encompass the city in a day, but there's plenty to entertain you if you decide to stay longer.

Innsbruck has three major draws: its history, location and sport. It's history is recorded in the famous buildings around the city, like the Hofburg and the endlessly photographed Golden Roof. More spectacular than these, however, is the location. The dramatic backdrop of the mountains is wonderful, but even better are the views of the city from the mountain themselves, many of which are easily accessible by public transport. Probably more than anything Innsbruck is famous for its winter sports, and it has held the Winter Olympics twice, in 1964 and 1976, a feat shared only with St Moritz in Switzerland.

Things I Loved

The mountains, the tree covered walk up to the Hungerburg, walking the elegant streets and buildings.

Disappointments

There aren't a lot of interesting activities in the city itself.