Apart from Innsbruck and Hall in Tirol there are quite a few other destinations that can be easily reached and are worth a visit, like Swarovski Kristallwelten in Wattens, where modern art made of shiny and sparkling crystals is on display all year round. And if that wasn’t enough, the views over the Nordkette are equally magnificent.
Talking about the Nordkette: A trip up to Seegrube, which lies nestled in the majestic peaks high above Innsbruck, is always worth the while, even if you are not into hiking. From up here you have views across the entire Inntal and even all the way to the Brenner, while Innsbruck itself is quite a view to behold. There is a restaurant up here as well as a playground to keep the little ones entertained.
On the opposite side of the valley you will see the Bergisel with its iconic ski jump that has been designed by renowned architect Zaha Hadid and is one of the four venues of the annual Four Hills Tournament. If you come up here you can enjoy Innsbruck from a different perspective and also visit the Tirol Panorama, which is a giant cyclorama depicting the history of the Tyrolean struggle for freedom anno 1809 on more than 1,000 m2. You are hardly likely to get a more vivid lesson in history.
If history and culture are what you are after, a visit of the mint, the Münze Hall in nearby Hall in Tirol might be interesting. There, you can also take part in a guided walking tour that takes you through 700 years of the town’s history. In medieval times, this used to be the most important trading hub, not only thanks to the mint but also to the local salt mine. The town’s historic wealth is still visible in the well-preserved historic townscape.
In case you feel like exploring beyond Tyrol’s borders, you can reach both the German-speaking part of northern Italy and Bavaria in no time. Irrespective of which direction you choose to take, you can look forward to a scenic drive that in itself is worth the trip.