Innsbruck, Austria- Half-Day Adventure to the Nordkette & Alpenzoo
We spent two of our eight-night summer vacation in Innsbruck, Austria. This was our first time in the Tyrol region, and we knew the easiest way to see all of the highlights was to use the Innsbruck Card for the 48 hours we were visiting the town. For €204 Euro total (2 adults / 1 kid) we were able to use all public transportation and visited 8 of the 20 offered attractions with admission included in the card. It also included 20% off tickets to the iconic Tyrolean evening with the Gundolf family.
In early July the temperatures in town averaged a high of 85°F during our visit, so we were happy to escape to cooler and higher altitudes for half of a day. With more time, we easily could have stretched it into a full day, with more dining options at each stop, a longer zoo experience, or hiking around the Nordekette.
HOW TO GET THERE
This stop was reachable with just €14 on the Hungerburgbahn, and was good option for visitors who want to get to this point for an affordable scenic overlook of Innsbruck without the more expensive Top of Innsbruck experience. Without the Innsbruck Card the combined Hungerburgbahn and Nordekette-Top of Innsbruck would have cost €51.40.
Nordekette-Top of Innsbruck
SEEGRUBE
From Hermann-Buhl-Platz we transferred to the first Cable Car to continue up to the 1,905 meter high Seegrube. We spent the most time at this location, with lunch in the restaurant. It offered both indoor and outdoor seating. Other groups brought their own food and picnicked on the ground or in the seating around the adjacent playground.
I have an aversion to heights unless I’m secured to something or have an obvious barrier between me and the drop to certain death, so I stuck to the paved overlook and trails that led to some small sloping hill paths. Sheep casually grazed on the mountainside and took up residence in unused ski stations.
TOP OF INNSBRUCK
Another cable car took us to the 2,300 meter-high Hafelekar. From this stop it was a short easy climb to a lookout toward the Italian border and braver travelers could hike a bit further to reach a ridge with 360-degree views.
The Alpenzoo
Families with children could easily make a full day of the trip up to Hafelaker with a stop at the AlpenZoo. The zoo is home to animals that are found across the Alps. I was particularly surprised to learn how many venomous snakes are hidden in the rocky crags and forests, leaving me with an added reason to fear I may fall off of a mountain.
The walking loop around the zoo stretches up pretty steep paved paths between exhibits, and I was impressed by the families that were navigating uphill and downhill with strollers. There were lots of creative play and interactive learning spaces spread throughout the exhibits.
A climb all the way to the top rewarded us with comfortable lounge chairs and swings and great views of Innsbruck below.
Our 8-day Itinerary for Salzburg & Innsbruck, Austria & Bavaria, Germany
Day 2- Full Day in Munich, Germany
Marienplatz 
Munich Residence 
English Garden
Day 2- Full Day in Munich, Germany
Deutsches Museum 
Nymphenburg Palace 
Botanical Garden Munich-Nymphenburg
Day 3- Munich to Salzburg, Austria
Friedhof St. Peter, Salzburg 
Fortress Hohensalzburg 
Stiegl, Old Town, Salzburg
Day 4- Salzburg, Austria
Residenz, Salzburg 
Salzburg Zoo Hellbrunn 
Hellbrunn Palace
Day 5-Day trip to Königssee and Berchtesgaden, Germany from Salzburg
Lake Königssee, Germany 
Berchtesgaden, Germany 
Mirabell Gardens, Salzburg, Austria
Day 6-Salzburg to Innsbruck, Austria
Hause Dur Natur, Salzburg 
Tyrolean evening with the Gundolf family, Innsbruck 
Train Station, Innsbruck
Day 7- Innsbruck & Wattens, Austria
Nordkette, Top of Innsbruck 
Alpenzoo, Innsbruck 
Swarovski Kristallwelten, Wattens
Day 8- Innsbruck & return to Munich
The City Tower, 
Old Town 
The Court Church
Read more blog posts about travel to countries outside the USA:
This is a personal travel blog. All views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are my own and do not reflect those of any organization or employer I may be associated with. The content provided is for informational and entertainment purposes only. I do my best to keep all information on this blog up to date and accurate, but travel conditions (prices, opening hours, safety information, etc.) can change frequently. Please double-check with official sources before making any travel decisions based on the content from this website. All photos, text, and other content on this blog are my own unless otherwise stated. Please do not use anything without permission or proper credit.
You May Also Like
CHILDREN’S GARDEN OF THE US- The West
Animal Kingdom Lodge & Kidani Village at Walt Disney World Resort
