Walking along the Zirbenweg trail in the mountains overlooking Innsbruck I felt as if I had stepped into a fairytale. Lustrous greenery, towering pine trees, carpets of wildflowers and a thick quiet only broken by the soft whirring of cable cars and the ringing of an Alpine cow’s bell - it was the perfect way to end my trip. Many will head to the Tyrolean capital to enjoy its skiing and famous Christmas market but the city is much more than its winter season and offers a wealth of history, arts and delicious food as well as wonderful walking opportunities and exhilarating outdoor activities.
Escape to the mountains for stunning views (Image: The Argus) I was completely enamoured by the Austrian city. To kick off the trip I wandered through the brightly coloured medieval streets of its centre, marvelled at The Goldenes Dachl (the golden roof) in the Altstadt (old town) and visited the Hofburg (Habsburg Palace) where I learned more about one of the royal dynasty’s most famous members, Maria Theresa. A full day can be had just admiring the city’s picture-perfect architecture, a mix of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque, and perusing the abundance of interesting shops.
The Goldenes Dachl (Image: The Argus) I then reached new heights by taking the Nordketten Cable Cars to the very top of Innsbruck. The funiculars, which climb up to 2,256m, are something to marvel at with futuristic stations. The view of Innsbruck from a funicular (Image: The Argus) A quick pitstop to have a pic.