Innsbruck in Austria is a lovely small city nestled in the Austrian Alps. Although it’s small, there are plenty of things to do for a fun-filled day. Here are the best things to do in Innsbruck in the summer.
Updated: February 2025
Innsbruck is a beautiful small city in the heart of the Austrian Alps. Innsbruck is a great day trip from nearby mountain resorts such as Kitzbuhel. It can be a great option for a day trip if the weather isn’t nice enough for hiking high in the mountains. Or you can visit Innsbruck on a beautiful sunny day to enjoy the town and the views. Innsbruck in the summer is a lively, beautiful city.
Innsbruck is fairly small, so you can see all of the main sights in Innsbruck in a day. This makes it a great day trip. Or you can stay overnight in Innsbruck to enjoy the more peaceful side of this small city after the day-trippers have left. There’s a great variety of bars and restaurants in Innsbruck so it’s worth staying overnight so you can enjoy these in the evening.
Innsbruck in the summer can have very varied weather. The weather in summer can often be hot and humid, with strong sunshine. But, like anywhere in the Austrian Alps, the weather can be unsettled. You can also get cloudy or rainy days, or frequent thunderstorms. Make sure you check the weather forecast before your trip to Innsbruck in the summer, and always make sure you’ve got a waterproof coat with you.
Innsbruck has lots of free and cheap things to do. You can easily enjoy a day in Innsbruck without spending too much money. So here are the top things to see and do in Innsbruck in the summer.
1. Explore the Altstadt – Innsbruck’s Old City Centre
Innsbruck has a gorgeous old city centre with colourful buildings, some dating back hundred of years. The Aldstadt is the old centre of Innsbruck, and it’s the best place to spend most of your day. This is the heart of the small city, where most of the city’s life is. It’s completely free to walk around Innsbruch’s old city centre and soak up the atmosphere.
As well as the beautiful, colourful buildings, there’s lots more in Innsbruck’s Aldstadt as well. There are lots of cafes and restaurants, where you can enjoy a coffee or some traditional Austrian food. In Innsbruck in the summer, a lot of these cafes and restaurants offer outdoor seating. So if the weather is nice, you can sit outside and people-watch, watching all the people in the city as you enjoy your food and drink.
2. Walk along Innsbruck’s river, the River Inn
The city of Innsbruck is built around the River Inn. This means you’re never too far from the river in Innsbruck.
The River Inn is a lovely river, with a huge amount of water, especially in the spring and early summer when the snow melts from the mountains and adds water to the river. The river is a great place to go for a lovely, peaceful walk. You can walk along by the river, enjoying the sound of the water gushing and also the views. There are more pretty, colourful buildings in Innsbruck by the river.
Walking along the river can also give you a great view of the mountains that surround this city – depending on the weather! I visited Innsbruck on a cloudy day, so a lot of the tops of the mountains were obscured by clouds. But on a sunny, clear day the views of the mountains above the river would be lovely. Walking along the River Inn is another completely free thing to do in Innsbruck in the summer.
3. Marvel at the Goldenes Dachl – Golden Roof
One of the most famous sights within Innsbruck’s old city centre is the Goldenes Dachl, or the Golden Roof. Dating back to the 16th century, Wikipedia informed me that the roof is decorated with 2,657 copper tiles (I didn’t count them) for Emperor Maimilian I to celebrate his wedding. Subsequently, the balcony was used by the Emperor to watch events in the square below.
It’s a really impressive part of the building. On a sunny day, the golden tiles shine brightly in the sunlight. Again, it’s completely free to visit the Goldenes Dachl in Innsbruck, as you can get a great view of the Golden Roof from the street below. It’s nice to be reminded of the history of Innsbruck, and how this city was once used thousands of years ago.
4. Visit Innsbruck Cathedral
A day in a European city wouldn’t be complete without visiting the city’s Cathedral. Like so many other European cities, Innsbruck Cathedral is a beautiful building and definitely worth visiting.
Innsbruck’s baroque Cathedral dates back to the 18th century. It’s impressive from the outside, but the interior is even more stunning. It’s so decorative and ornate inside the Cathedral. Visiting Innsbruck Cathedral was definitely a highlight of my visit to this small Austrian city.
5. Take the Nordkette cable car up into the mountains
Innsbruck is situated in the heart of the Austrian Alps. So it’s a great place to enjoy some stunning Alpine mountain views. Visiting Innsbruck in the summer is the perfect time to get into the mountains and enjoy the views and the fresh mountain air.
For the best views of the mountains surrounding Innsbruck, head up the Nordkette cable car. In just 8 minutes you’re in stunning mountain scenery, and if the weather is nice you can take advantage of one of the many hiking trails in the fresh mountain air. Visit the website for opening times and ticket prices.
Enjoy your visit to Innsbruck in the summer! If you’re looking for more places to explore in the Austrian Alps, you can go hiking in Kitzbuhel in the summer, or try e-biking in Alpbach in summer. Or you can relax by the beautiful lake in Zell am See in summer. If you’re looking for another Austrian city to explore, you can relive the The Sound of Music in one day in Salzburg, or head to vibrant Vienna.
I never heard of this city before! How cool that you are in such close proximity to the mountains so you can combine it with other activities! saving this!