44904AUS
Innsbruck
Excursions
Wattens possibly a visit of the Swarovski Kristallwelten
Innsbruck Orientation tour of Innsbruck with TM
Visit inside Hofkirche with TM
Visit Wilten Basilica and ski jump.
- You need cash/ACIS card for entrances to the Hofkirche/Kristallwelten
- NB: Only certified Austria guides are allowed to guide in Innsbruck city centre. There are heavy penalties for breaching this rule. You should therefore do all of your commentary and historical introductions on the bus and simply point out buildings you have spoken about as you pass. This you are permitted to do.
- Check the opening times of the Hofkirche, particularly on Sunday mornings (it is closed until 12.30pm)
Orientation includes:
- Hofkirche inside visit
- Hofburg old town
- Golden Roof
- Directions are from Kitzbühel, but you may be staying in Seefeld or Obsteig, which are closer to Innsbruck – west of the city.
Opening days/times, entrance fees, etc. listed in Yellow Pages.
09.00 Departure from Kitzbühel. Take the 161 towards Oberndorf and from there the 40 to Wörgl, where you join the A12 to Innsbruck. Take the Wattens exit and follow signs to the Kristallwelten.
10.15 Arrive at the Kristallwelten. Set down on the bus park and make a rendezvous for departure at 11.45. Go to the ticket office next to the Giant and get the tickets. Take the group to the entrance. Prepare them for the fact this is not a factory visit or a traditional museum; it is more like a somewhat surreal modern art gallery with a showroom/shop at the end and there will be no explanations about manufacture etc.
11.45 Departure from the Kristallwelten. Take the A12 into Innsbruck.
12.00 Arrive in Innsbruck.
PROCEDURE – ORIENTATION TOUR
Park in the coach park behind the Hofgarten and make a rendezvous for departure. Either arrange a meeting point (eg Golden Roof) or tell the group that they should return to the coach on their own; the path through the garden is clearly marked with blue bus signs. An alternative parking place is on the corner of Marktgraben by the pedestrian zone. (3 spaces for coaches – will not be able to wait so tell driver your rendezvous time).
Walk them through the garden and pause to point out the front of the Hofburg. Take them next to the Hofkirche to see the tomb of Maximilian I. There is now an excellent included multimedia introduction show to the Hofkirche. as well as free toilets.
When the group has finished in the Hofkirche lead the short distance into the heart of the Old Town, pointing out the turning to the right for the Hofkirche entrance and Cathedral, and finish in the square in front of the Golden Roof.
There are lots of restaurants in the old town and less expensive places on Maria-Theresienstrasse. The old town is full of souvenir shops. There are more everyday shops on Maria-Theresienstrasse, Marktgraben and Burggraben.
FACTS AND FREE TIME SUGGESTIONS
Tourist Information office and: Burggraben 3 (Changes money on Sundays!)
Money exchange facilities also include:-
Post office: Maximilianstrasse 2. Open 24 hrs.
There are several banks and ATMs in the old town.
Swarovski Store (if you weren’t in Wattens!): Herzog-Friedrich-Str 39
There is a new Hard Rock Café at Maria-Theresien-Str 16, close to the Annasäule. It is a 5 minute walk in a straight line from the Golden Roof.
THINGS TO DO
- Climb the city tower (Stadtturm).
- Visit the Hofburg. State apartments and Habsburg portrait gallery (guided tours only).
- Olympic Museum. Exhibits of the Winter Olympic Games of 1964 and 1976. In the Golden Roof building.
- Visit St James’ Cathedral (Dom). Famous Lukas Cranach altarpiece.
- Tyrolean Folk Art Museum. Folk costume, furniture, Christmas cribs, etc. Behind the Dom.
- Fiacres (Horse Carriages) for hire at the Hofburg.
15.00 Departure from the bus park. Take the Leopoldstrasse to the Wilten Basilica, where you stop for a quick visit (be warned that it may be shut!) Continue up towards the Brenner, and after about 500 yards, don’t miss the sharp left-hand turn signpost to Bergisel.
15.30 Arrive at the ski jump. Set down behind the statue of Andreas Hofer (they’ve also seen him in the Hofkirche) and lead the group up towards the ski jump. There is an entry fee if they want to visit the Ski-jump arena and viewing platforms (they pay). There is now the new Tirol Panorama museum with exhibitions on the history of Tyrol as well as the giant Tyrol Panorama painting. (Entry fee – they pay.)
16.00 Departure from Bergisel. Take the same route back to Kitzbühel.
17.30 Arrive in Kitzbühel.