Innsbruck is the provincial capital of Tyrol in Austria. It is located in the Inn Valley between high mountains of the Alps and the Inn River. The name of the city is German. ”Bruck” means bridge, so the city is named “the bridge over the Inn’. Innsbruck is an alpin ski village and it attracts many American winter visitors. The city has a population of over 100 thousand people.

Innsbruck is a popular winter destination and one of the finest ski resorts in the world. The city hosted two modern Winter Olympics in 1964 and 1976. The high mountains are the Nordkette in the north, the Patscherkofel and the Serles in the south. These are 7,657 feet, 7,369 feet and 8,917 feet high. The Nordpark offers several ski routes, as well as the Patscherkofelbahn in the south. Winter sports fans can use the Innsbruck-Card for one free ascent & descent. In the summer tourists can go hiking or mountain bike.

Although many tourists come to Innsbruck for skiing and other winter sports, the city has more to offer. It has a rich historical environment. Innsbruck knew two “golden” ages, one in 1500 and the second in the mid-1700′s. You will come across historic churches, palaces and buildings, monuments, museums and galleries. The focal point is the renowned Gold Roof. Visit the Ambras castle with its good art collection, the Gothic church Hofkirche, the palatial estate Hofburg Innsbruck, the Goldenes Dachl and many other beautiful buildings.

Travelers to Innsbruck require a valid passport. American citizens and other nationalities can stay in the country without a visa for no more than 3 months. Winters are cold and snowy. In summers hot and dry days are quite common, as well as days with cool and rainy spell, but nights can be cool. The people of the city are unpretentious and friendly. If you had enough of sports and sight seeing, you can relax at the riverside lounge bars, brewpubs and beer gardens.