car hire innsbruck
Pick up your hire car at Innsbruck airport and dive into Tyrol's zesty capital, where alpine glaciers and chic ski resorts are just a short drive away Book car hire innsbruck airport now
the 60-second guide to innsbruck
in its own head
"We're the capital of the Alps! From medieval lanes to urban shopping, city life to the great outdoors, our city has something for everyone, all a stone's throw from the slopes."
but more realistically
It may be be a paradise for those dedicated to life on-piste, but its Christmas-card charms make it a desirable destination whatever your skiing aptitude.
the vibe
If cuckoo clocks and wooden clogs get the sap rising, you're in luck. The cutesiness might be exaggerated to please the tourists, but walking through Innsbruck is like being taken back in time.
the natives
Okay, so they're not all pig-tailed lasses yodelling from the mountaintops, but there's many a rosy-cheeked maiden to welcome you in from the cold. And if you ask nicely, perhaps she'll sing you a tune.
the weather
Chocolate-covered gingerbread. But you'll find a host of sweet delights behind the city's numerous candy counters.
the local speciality
Well, it wouldn't be much of a ski resort without mounds of sumptuous snow. Don't forget the sunblock, though: all that white stuff can give off quite a glare.
the celebrity
Douglas Adams was apparently inspired to write The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy during a visit to the city, where he lay stoned in a field looking at the stars.
did you know?
You'll be happy to hear that Innsbruck is home to the global HQ of one of the largest makers of cochlear implants.
they say
"It's my first win in Innsbruck, which makes me really happy. I had two perfect runs." - Armin Zoeggeler, Italian double-Olympic champion luger
5 to see in town...
"The Golden Roof" sits atop a balcony built in 1500 as a royal box for the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I of Habsburg. More than 2,000 copper tiles shimmer over a Gothic window overlooking the city's main square.
where to park?
At Herzog Friedrich Strasse.
5 to see in town...
Built in celebration of the luxury lead-crystal glass, this fascinating multimedia museum, curated by the international artist André Heller, features artworks by Dali, Warhol and Brian Eno.
where to park?
There is a visitors' car park.
5 to see in town...
The Bergisel is a hill to the south of the city where you'll find the Bergiselschanze, a daunting ski-jump built for the 1964 Winter Olympics. The tower has a welcoming restaurant with panoramic views.
where to park?
There is an on-site visitors' car park.
5 to see in town...
This imposing church was built by Archduke Ferdinand I in the 1500s to commemorate his grandfather. As well as housing a cenotaph dedicated to a beloved granddad, it boasts an impressive collection of Renaissance sculptures.
where to park?
There are parking spaces on nearby Burggraben.
and 4 to drive to...
The jewel in Tyrol's skiing crown, the breathtaking Stubai glacier has numerous resorts dotted around it where you can get your slope on.
how to get there?
It's a 20-minute drive. Head south on the Brenner Autobahn for four miles, then take the B183 for two miles.
and 4 to drive to...
This picturesque region provides everything you could want from an Austrian excursion: quaint mountain villages, limpid mountain lakes and the chance to buy leather shorts.
how to get there?
It's an hour-and-a-quarter away. Head west on the Inntal Autobahn for 40 miles, then take the B120 south for eight miles. At Prutz, take Kaunertalerstrasse for two-and-a-half miles, Kauns for two miles and Kaunertaler Gletcherstrasse for five miles.
and 4 to drive to...
The Sellrain Valley is a beautiful, peaceful part of Austria. Follow mountain trails to awesome glaciers and fields full of alpine roses.
how to get there?
Head west on the Inntal Autobahn for five miles and take exit 87 (Zirl-Ost) for Seefeld/Kematen/Garmisch. Take Sellrainer Strasse for one mile, Weichenofen for two miles and Sellrain for three miles. It's a 40-minute drive.
and 4 to drive to...
This majestic mountain range is one of the smaller sections of the Alps, but it's still a favourite with extreme-sports enthusiasts, having been twice home to the Winter Olympics.
how to get there?
The ski resort of Zillertal is a 45-minute drive east of Innsbruck. Take the E60 for 20 miles, then the B169 for six-and-a-half miles.
ask a innsbruck cabbie!
Local taxi driver Gerhard Zeitung on car hire in Innsbruck: "Driving in Innsbruck is not a big problem. Like all Austrians, local drivers are fairly civilised. There are rush hours, but they never get really bad. You need to buy a ticket called a 'vignette'. You can get it for a whole year, two months or 10 days. Austrian police are strict in traffic matters - they notice everything! Be careful of some of the narrow roads, as they're curvy and sometimes slippery. If you stop at an intersection where you have the right of way, you lose it. Also, no honking within the city limits."