We didn’t know what to expect when visiting the Swarovski Kristallwelten (translation Crystal World in English) in Wattens and honestly had no idea the company had been headquartered in the town since 1895. I thought that Crystal World, which opened in 1995, to be more of a history of the development of the company and the science behind crystal manufacturing. We learned on arrival that the experience is more art and entertainment focused. In hindsight we now also know that we probably could have spent an entire day there and regretted having just over two hours to explore the huge complex.

Getting There

Our Innsbruck Card included admission to Swarovski Kristallwelten and bus transportation to/from Old Town Innsbruck or the central train station. The walk from our hotel, The Congress Innsbruck was just a 10-minute walk to the Old Town shuttle stop. We could have use public transportation with a shorter walk to a bus stop from our hotel but it would have required over an hour each way on the bus with multiple stop. The direct shuttle with Swarovski this direct option was just 45 minutes round trip, and had the added “bonus” of allowing us to pre-shop for jewelry from a setback screen.

The winter themed Chamber of Wonder, with the Silent Light crystal adorned tree at its center was the most immersive exhibit for all of the senses. At -10°C (15°F) it was both refreshing and shocking on a hot summer day.

The Art of Performance room exhibited both original and replicated versions of costumes and clothing worn by celebrities at events and in films.

Each immersive room included ample interpretation to understand the intent of the artist(s). Some were more experiential, like the Pulse Voroonoi that invited visitors to touch a sensor that added their heartbeat to a chorus of others, and the Krystal Dome that provided ample selfie opportunities.

The Entrance Park’s indoor Playtower, Maze, Carousel and outdoor Playground would provide families with young children enough entertainment to spend an entire day. We spent two hours walking through the indoor exhibit portion of Crystal World. The experience was similar to many contemporary art musuems we’ve visited, with one artist or a group of artists presenting in a singular space