Innsbruck - the “Ski plus City” pass combines skiing and city attractions
Innsbruck is a large and attractive city surrounded by a dozen ski resorts. The city authorities have made the most of this unique location by creating an offer that combines city attractions with time on the slopes. The “Ski plus City Pass Stubai Innsbruck” gives access to 12 ski resorts and 23 city attractions.
Ski areas: Axamer Lizum, Kühtai, Hochötz
Let us start with the skiing package. There are 265 kilometres of slopes served by 108 lifts in 12 ski resorts, none of them more than an hour's drive from the city.
Axamer Lizum, with more than 40 kilometres of pistes and 9 lifts, is the largest ski resort on Innsbruck's doorstep. The new 10-seater Hoadl 1 and 2 gondolas take you from the car park to the highest point of the resort, at 2340 m above sea level, in just 6 minutes. The slopes lie at an altitude of 1,560-2,340 m above sea level, and the resort is open from 22 November to 12 April.
Kühtai is a resort that seems tailor-made for demanding skiers. It lies about 40 minutes from Innsbruck and is considered the highest ski village in Austria: its base is already at 2,020 m above sea level, and the slopes reach as high as 2,520 m. There is only one blue run, while the rest of the pistes (47 kilometres in total) are red and black. The resort offers fantastic views and sweeping vistas of wild Alpine nature. It is open from 28 November to 19 April.
Hochötz offers 41 kilometres of pistes, state-of-the-art cable cars, guaranteed snow right into spring, an entertainment programme and childcare, two viewpoints and a wide range of attractions. Thanks to its particular location, as many as 71 sunny days per season have been counted here, making Hochötz one of the 10 sunniest ski areas in Austria. Once a week it opens for night skiing.
Muttereralm, Nordkette and family-friendly slopes
Muttereralm is a small but very friendly ski resort, great for families with children and for people learning to ski. For the youngest, there are flat, wide slopes served by conveyor belts. Muttereralm offers varied pistes and good ski infrastructure while keeping an intimate atmosphere and beautiful Alpine views. Of its 15 kilometres of pistes, skiers particularly love the long blue run, reached by a comfortable gondola. The resort is just a 15-minute drive from the city centre.
Just a short walk from the historic Old Town there is a modern cable railway station designed by the acclaimed architect Zaha Hadid, from which you can ride up to the Nordkette ski area. The mountains offer a panoramic view of Innsbruck. The resort has 6 downhill runs and plenty of freeride options. Many residents of the Tyrolean capital come here to divide their time between skiing, enjoying the views and soaking up the high-altitude sun. The gondola runs from 21 November to 19 April, and the pistes open depending on snow conditions.
At the Serlesbahnen resort in the small town of Mieders, at the entrance to the Stubai Valley, families, beginners and those returning to skiing after a long break will find exactly what they are looking for: easy, wide pistes with gentle bends. The children's area, with a button lift, is right next to the base station.
Elferbahnen is located 20 minutes from Innsbruck. The resort offers experienced skiers and snowboarders scenic pistes, and tobogganers 2 runs that are floodlit at night. One feature that sets this resort apart is the largest sundial in the Alps.
Patscherkofel, Glungezer and the Stubai Glacier
Patscherkofel, rising 1674 metres above the city, is the local “city” mountain, easy to recognise thanks to its “domed” shape. Just 6.5 km from the city, it is a popular choice with residents. It has a 10-seater gondola, and its pistes can satisfy a wide range of winter sports fans. Olympic events were held here in 1964 and 1976. It has a large children's area and is open from 6 December to 6 April.
Oberperfuss - Rangger Köpfl, close to the Tyrolean capital, is perfect for a winter day out with the whole family. There are lots of very easy runs and a 10 km toboggan run, 8 km of which is floodlit. It is ideal for children and beginners, and the top station of the cable car is close to the start of the toboggan run. Night skiing and tobogganing are possible on Tuesdays and Fridays from 18:30 to 21:30.
At Glungezerbahn, a 10-seater gondola takes winter sports fans straight to the Halsmarter middle station in just six and a half minutes. From there, the Tulfein Express gondola continues up to the Tulfein mountain station.
The “Ski and the City” pass also covers the Stubai glacier area (45 minutes from the city) and the somewhat closer Schlick 2000 ski area (15 minutes from the city).
City attractions: the Golden Roof and the Alpine Zoo
In addition to the 12 ski resorts, the “Ski plus City Pass Stubai Innsbruck” offers entry to as many as 23 attractions in the city itself and the surrounding area. You can visit them before or after skiing, or when you fancy a day off, perhaps because of the weather. Such a day can also be used for recovery, as the pass includes access to a swimming pool.
Be sure to head for the old town of the Tyrolean capital, as it has a unique atmosphere. Whereas in most cities tax depended on the number of windows, in Innsbruck it was the width of the facade that mattered. The houses are therefore narrow, but they delight with their windows, often set in specially designed oriels. On one of the buildings you will spot the so-called Golden Roof. The “Goldenes Dachl” is a Renaissance balcony covered with 2657 gilded tiles (the gold was brought from Africa), built by Emperor Maximilian I at the beginning of the 16th century. It is probably the city's most recognisable symbol, and the museum devoted to it can be visited at no extra charge.
An interesting place on the outskirts of Innsbruck is its Alpine Zoo, entry to which is included in the pass. Here you can see that the Alps are not just rocky peaks, but also valleys with varied landscapes, lakes, rivers, floodplains, heathland and diverse forests. Innsbruck's zoo is home to 20 of the 80 species of mountain mammals, 60 of the roughly 200 species of Alpine birds, 11 of the 15 species of Alpine reptiles, 6 of the 21 species of Alpine amphibians and almost all the fish species found in the Alps.
The Bergisel ski jump and Swarovski Kristallwelten
Bergisel is one of the most famous ski jumps in the world, offering spectacular views and striking modern architecture. The structure's distinctive look is the result of a rebuild completed in 2002, led by the famous Iraqi-born architect Zaha Hadid. The futuristic form was achieved thanks to innovative engineering: instead of pylons supporting the in-run, an unusual “fish belly” solution was used. This suspended steel “mesh” distributes stresses and loads in such a way that pylons became unnecessary. The Bergisel ski jump is one of the four venues of the legendary Four Hills Tournament, and victory at Bergisel is considered particularly prestigious.
A little further from the city, but still covered by the “Ski plus City” pass, are the “Swarovski Kristallwelten”. This combination of an underground museum, art gallery, garden, restaurant and shop opened to the public in 1995 to mark the 100th anniversary of “Swarovski”. Inside the complex there are 16 “Chambers of Wonder”. They were designed by renowned international artists, performers and designers. These rooms combine art, sound, multimedia technology and creativity, presenting crystals in diverse and innovative ways and experimenting with colours, reflections, material textures and the geometric play of the crystals.
Ski plus City pass prices and free buses
What does the “Ski plus City” pass cost? The longer the period it covers, the cheaper each day becomes: prices start at 37 euros a day for an adult and just 26 euros for a young person under 19 (when buying a 21-day pass). Special offers are also available for children and seniors. If you manage your time well, you can visit both the slopes and the attractions in a single day. You can also set aside a day for sightseeing during your ski holiday, to add variety to your stay and recharge your batteries. If you do not want to use your own transport, you can travel free of charge on city and regional buses. If you stay for 2 days, you receive a free “Welcome Card” at your accommodation, which is accepted by transport operators in the region. Hotels provide detailed information about the key bus stops and have maps and route diagrams.
The “Ski plus City Pass Stubai Innsbruck” is one of the most comprehensive combined winter offers around: it brings together the full thrill of skiing and a wealth of culture and city attractions. One card opens the door to a variety of ski resorts while also letting you visit the main sights of Innsbruck and the region. The pass lets you freely combine an active holiday with discovering Alpine culture, history and architecture. It is the perfect choice for those who expect more from a winter trip than just fun in the snow.
