Is Innsbruck Europe’s New Summer Fun Capital?

28.04.2024 - 18:53 / forbes.com / Winter Olympics

Hosting the Winter Olympics in 1964 — and again in 1976 when Denver backed out after originally securing the games — transformed Innsbruck into a superstar for snow and ice sports.

It’s still a great place to downhill and snowboard, ski touring through the backcountry, fly off the end of the colossal ski jump, attempting a figure skating spin on a local ice rink or — if you dare — flying off the legendary Bergisel (“Ice Mountain”) ski jump.

But over the past few decades, the Austrian city has emerged as a summer fun capital too, one of the best places in Europe for hiking, biking, climbing, river sports, and even motorized off-roading.

Here are a few ways to get your adrenaline pumping this summer in and around Innsbruck.

Those who want to hike Innsbruck are confronted with a huge problem. Not the altitude or the steepness of some paths, but deciding exactly which trail you’re going to follow. The choice is mind blowing.

The popular AllTrails hiking app describes and maps 55 trails in and around Innsbruck and more than 400 walking routes in the surrounding region.

A great way to start is riding the double Nordkettecable cars to the summit of Hafelekar mountain (a.k.a. the “Top of Innsbruck”), where a short walk from the top station leads to panoramic views of the Inn Valley and the Austrian Alps, with southern Germany and northern Italy in the hazy distance.

From there you can continue along the Goetheweg trail along the crest of the Nordkette range to the Pfeishütte mountain hut, a roundtrip of roughly 8.4 miles (13.5 km).

The Goetheweg forms a small part of three far more challenging hiking routes that you can hop onto from Innsbruck: the new Karwendel High Trail (43 miles/70 km) through the Alpine wilderness north of Innsbruck and the epic Europe E4 hiking path that runs more than 7,500 miles (12,090 km) from southern Spain all the way through the Alps and the Balkans to Greece.

The iconic walk south of the Inn Valley is the 70-mile (120-km) Stubai Hohenweg trek through the Alps between Innsbruck and the Italian border.

Whether you’re a leisurely biker or an adventurous cyclist, Innsbruck offers two-wheel choices for just about everyone.

Regular and e-bike rentals for road and off-road cycling are available at numerous outlets in and around the city. Routes range from flat, easy bike paths on both sides of the River Inn in the city center to marathon Innradweg road cycling route that meanders 320 miles (520 km) through the Alps.

Once the snow melts, Bikepark Innsbruck takes over the Muttereralm snow sports area on the valley’s south side. The park features seven forest and mountain trails, a pump track and dual slalom course, a special area for kids and beginners, and access to a 13-mile (21-km)