Photo Friday: Innsbruck, Austria

While I was staying at Doug’s Mountain Getaway in Fulpmes outside of Innsbruck, I went into town one day to pre-book my train ticket to Oktoberfest. Before I fell in love with classical Salzburg, my breath was taken away by the town in the foothills of the Alps. The mountains are almost distracting, constantly peeking out from beneath buildings.

Between the tram lines and bicycles, Innsbruck is one of the most easy to get around places in Austria, but I found walking to be the best way to go. Without any real plan, I walked from the tram stop towards the tourism office to get myself a map.

While it wasn’t ski season during my visit, Innsbruck was the home of not one, but two Winter Olympics. The Travel Bloggers Unite conference was hosted there a few years ago. I couldn’t make it, but seeing everyone’s pictures made me add it to my Austria/Germany itinerary.

There aren’t a whole lot of traditional tourist attractions in Innsbruck, but the Goldenes Dachl is as close as it comes. The “golden roof” was built in 1500 with fire-gilded copper tiles for Emperor Maximilian I. You’ll see tour groups gawking at the balcony at all times of day.

I looked around the Swarovski Museum for a bit but mostly just wandered around the stunning city. I also had one of the odder lunches of my life, a beef broth soup with a fried cheese curd dumpling.

I know I’m not the first person to become infatuated with Innsbruck, and I certainly won’t be the last. If you’re visiting Austria, make a stop in Innsbruck, at any time of year.

Have you been to Innsbruck, Austria?