Innsbruck Information

Apres-ski

Being a university town as well as a city and a major tourist destination, it's no surprise that Innsbruck has a buzzing nightlife, with around 200 bars and pubs spread across the city.

With so many establishments trying to build a reputation, the variety of fun après-ski in Innsbruck is vast. For example, there's Brazilian nightlife at Arcos (tel: +43 512 582 423) and an Irish theme in Arthur Bailey (tel: +43 512 251 541).

If you're after a more local flavour however, Theresien Brau (tel: +43 512 587 580; www.theresienbraeu.com) serves locally-produced ales to a friendly regular crowd.

Eating out

With more than 300 different restaurants in Innsbruck and its surrounds, the enormous choice means that pretty much every taste, style and budget is catered for somewhere in the city.

One of the most popular in town, remarkably considering the Austrian love of meat dishes, is Chez Nico (tel: +43 650 451 0624; www.chez-nico.at), a small vegetarian establishment ran by Nicolas Curtil. The restaurant creates dishes using the finest ingredients and has a French theme, with Mr Curtil having mastered his trade at restaurants in London and Paris.

However the elegant Europastüberl restaurant in the 5-star Grand Hotel Europa (tel: +43 512 5931; www.grandhoteleuropa.at) retains the prize for critics' favourite gourmet option in the resort. The multi award-winning restaurant has been decorated in typical Tyrolean style.

Those on a budget should head down to the Breakfast Club (tel: +43 512 307 959) for the best breakfast in town, or the much-loved Strudel-Cafe Kroell (tel: +43 512 574 347), for delicious sweet and savoury offerings of the signature dish.

Resort Information

Beyond the slopes

Given its scale, it's no surprise that there are a multitude of things to do in Innsbruck besides skiing and boarding, so much so that the resort is one of the best choices for mixed-interest groups that include both skiers and non-skiers. Innsbruck's Guest Card gives visitors free or reduced access to some attractions and services in the city, including a popular lantern-lit hike.

Among the activities and attractions in Innsbruck are sports centres, swimming pools, cinemas, a concert hall, theatre, galleries, a casino, no less than 24 museums, and an Alpine zoo. There are also excursions organised to Salzburg, Munich and famous Bavarian castles.

The city's Olympic winter sports heritage is very much alive, with many other winter sports (besides skiing and boarding) staging world-class competitions throughout the season. In many cases it's possible to have a go. Ski jumping, bobsleigh, ice skating and hockey are all popular, while the brave can ride down the bobsleigh run as a passenger.

Family fun

The city has lots of activities and attractions for families – the competition between establishments and the low season effort to attract business results in visitors being given a higher standard of accommodation, dining and entertainment than the ski resort norm.

The downside, as for all beginner skiers, is that families with young children will face getting to the slopes by bus, which may not be the ideal start and end to a day on the slopes.

It therefore may be less stressful – efficient though the service is – to stay on the mountain at Igls itself (or another of the more family-friendly areas such as Mutters or Oberperfuss).

Retail therapy

With 400 shops in Innsbruck, the resort is arguably the world's best ski destination for those who like to shop as much as ski and board. As would be expected, there's a vast choice, from quirky historic backstreet shops to boutiques and giant shopping centres such as Kaufhaus Tyrol (tel: +43 512 901 115).

The Christmas holiday season is particularly popular for shopping with its magical ambience, advent concerts and a giant Christmas tree at the heart of the Christmas market.

Splashing out

Anyone aged 12 and over can take a trip down the Olympic bobsleigh run in Innsbruck (tel: +43 512 3383 8221; www.olympiaworld.at) – assuming there's no competition or training taking place during the time of visit. Passengers will hit speeds of over 100km/h (62mph) on the 1,210m (3,600ft) track in Igls, taking in 14 turns in just one minute.

Hotels

There is a wide choice of accommodation, from apartments and guesthouses to hotels in Innsbruck; and as a result, there is something to suit all budgets and tastes.

Luxury

Moderate

Cheap