Welcome to Innsbruck, the capital of the Alps. Squeezed between the Nordkette mountain range and the Patscherkofel, centred on the River Inn and crowned by the famous Golden Roof, the city mixes 800 years of Habsburg history with a young, outdoorsy student vibe. Walk its compact Old Town, and you'll pass imperial palaces, pastel-coloured riverside houses, cosy coffee houses and, at the end of almost every street, a mountain.
Innsbruck sits in the Inn valley in western Austria, on one of Europe's main north–south Alpine crossings. You can fly directly to Innsbruck, arrive by train from all directions (including night trains), or drive in on the A12 and A13 motorways.
The city is served by Innsbruck Airport (INN), only 4 km from the center.
It offers year-round connections (e.g. Vienna, Frankfurt, London) plus many seasonal winter routes — February is high season for Alpine travel, so there are more direct flights than usual, but book early.
If Innsbruck itself doesn't work for your route, nearby alternatives are:
Bus line F runs every 15 minutes between the airport and the city centre / main station; the trip takes about 15–20 minutes and a single ticket costs a few euros. A taxi to the centre costs roughly €15–€20 and takes about 10 minutes.
Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof is a hub of the ÖBB railway network:
If you plan to come from Vienna airport, the ticket price is around €70 oneway if you buy it at the counter. If you plan ahead, you may find discounted tickets at the Oebb.at website. Please add an extra €3 for the seat reservation, as trains in Austria are often quite full.
Flixbus and other long-distance coaches connect Innsbruck with Munich, Verona and many
other European cities, often at lower prices than train.
Innsbruck lies on the intersection of the A12 Inntal and the A13 Brenner motorway, linked to Germany via the Kufstein and to Italy via Brennero.
Remember:
Innsbruck has a very good public transport network, including buses and trams. The IVB website has a route planner and ticket information. A single ticket costs €3.30, a 24-hour ticket €7.30, and a weekly ticket is €28.40.
An alternative to public transport is renting a bicyle. There are many pickup and drop-off points for these bikes. The first 30 minutes are €1.30. You can find more information on the website Nextbike / Stadtrad. If this is an option for you, install the Nextbike app on your phone.
Innsbruck's centre is compact — most sights, cafés and both conference venues are within a 20-minute walk of the Golden Roof, and the river, the Old Town and the main station are all close together. When you do need to cover distance (or climb a mountain), buses, trams and cable cars have you covered.
Walking is the simplest way to get around. The centre is largely pedestrianised, and the two conference venues are about 15 minutes apart along the River Inn. In February, expect ice in the mornings — bring shoes with grip.
A dense city network run by IVB, with tickets in the IVB app or at machines at every stop. Bus line F connects the airport to the centre in 15–20 minutes.
The Nordkettenbahnen start right in the city centre, at Congress station, and climb through Hungerburg and Seegrube to Hafelekar at 2,269 m — city to summit in around 30 minutes. On the south side, the Patscherkofelbahn serves Innsbruck's local ski mountain.
Stadtrad city bikes are available at stations across town year-round, and the riverside paths along the Inn are flat and scenic. Watch for ice on winter mornings.
Ranks at the main station and around the Old Town; a trip across the city typically costs €10–€15. Ride-hailing is limited here — locals just call a taxi.
S-Bahn Tirol services run along the Inn valley to Hall, Wattens (Swarovski Crystal Worlds) and beyond — useful if you are adding a day trip.
You won't need one. The centre is largely pedestrianised and parking is scarce; if you do drive in, use one of the central garages such as Congress or Markthalle.
