Should i visit salzburg or innsbruck

It sits on a hill overlooking the city. It is now a museum about his life. Mirabell Palace was built in and was featured in the film The Sound of Music.

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Salzburg is a beautiful Catholic church on the west side of the river. Aussicht Kapuzinerberg is a look out area on the east side of the river that has panoramic views of the city with the mountains in the background.

The Goldenes Dachl is a historic building that is known for its fire-gilded copper tiles. The Hofburg , or the Imperial Palace, is the one of the most significant cultural buildings in Austria. Ambras Castle is a castle and palace built in the 16th century. It is one of the most. The Riverfront is a beautiful sight and is a must if you come here.

The Nordkette is a system of cable cars that will take you to the top of the mountain. Salzburger Nockerl is a dish that originated in Salzburg. They are basically sweet dumplings served as a dessert. Kasnocken is another Austrian dish that is popular in Salzburg. It is sometimes referred to as Austrian Dumplings filled with cheese and onions. The dish is typically topped with caramelized onions. The Bosna is a type of sausage in Austria that is most commonly served as a fast-food meal.

It supposedly originated in Salzburg as spread throughout the region. There are quite a few foods that you can try that originate in Tyrol. Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Innsbruck are as follows:. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget. Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Salzburg:. Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Salzburg:.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Salzburg and Innsbruck, we can see that Salzburg is more expensive. And not only is Innsbruck much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Innsbruck would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Innsbruck and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities.

The same level of travel in Salzburg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Salzburg than you might in Innsbruck. By signing up for our email newsletter, you will receive occasional updates with coupons and discounts, plus travel tips and advice from experienced budget travelers! Some of the links on this website are sponsored or affiliate links which help to financially support this site.

By clicking the link and making a purchase, we may receive a small commission, but this does not affect the price of your purchase. Budget Your Trip. Innsbruck for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons. Should you visit Salzburg or Innsbruck? Salzburg Prices. Innsbruck Prices. Average Daily Cost Per person, per day. Nearby is the 16th-century Golden Eagle Goldener Adler , an old inn once as popular with emperors as it was with writers like Goethe.

Also worth visiting is the meter-high Stadtturm. This impressive medieval watchtower was built in the 14th century along with the adjoining Old Rathaus. Be sure to check them out for their great views of the Old Town. Other interesting landmarks include the Ottoburg , a residential tower built in , and the Deutschordenshaus House of the Teutonic Order built in Also worth seeing is the Burgriesenhaus Castle Giant's House , built in for a court giant.

The Nordkette. Whether you're looking for fun things to do in winter or summer, you'll find it at the Nordkette, the closest mountain to Innsbruck. The best way to get to the top of the mountain is by riding the city's Hungerburgbahn funicular. Designed by architect Zaha Hadid, this modern funicular railway begins in the very heart of the city and crosses the River Inn before heading up to the Innsbruck suburb of Hungerburg, a journey of just eight minutes.

From here, a short stroll takes you to the platform of the Nordkette Cable Car. This must-do attraction takes you farther up to Seegrube and on to 2,meter-high Hafelekar for degree views — a thrilling and scenic experience, whatever the weather. Restaurants and viewing platforms are situated at each stopping point, and several hiking trails take off across the mountains.

The ride is included with the purchase of a handy Innsbruck Card, an affordable pass that allows entrance to all the city's most important attractions. Another great way to enjoy these two attractions is by purchasing a "Top of Innsbruck" cable car round-trip ticket. This handy pass includes fares on both the funicular and cable car, and allows you to explore the mountain at your own pace. Official site: www.

The Court Church Hofkirche. Innsbruck's spectacular Court Church, the Hofkirche , was completed in in the local Late Gothic style. This three-aisled hall-church, with its narrow chancel and off-center tower, holds many notable interior features, in particular its 18th-century high altar and side altars, and a choir screen from the 17th century.

The most important part of the church, however, is the spectacular Tomb and Museum of Emperor Maximilian I. Built in the 16th century, it's widely considered to be the finest work of German Renaissance sculpture.

Conceived as a glorification of the Holy Roman Empire, the central feature of the monument is its massive black marble sarcophagus with a bronze figure of the Emperor from , surrounded by a wrought-iron screen and 24 marble reliefs depicting events in the Emperor's life. Also of note are the 28 bronze statues of the Emperor's ancestors and contemporaries. Handy multi-media guides are provided with admission. The Golden Roof. The arcaded Herzog-Friedrich-Strasse, lined with handsome old merchants' houses, enters the Old Town quarter from the south and makes straight for the famous Golden Roof Goldenes Dachl.

This magnificent Late Gothic oriel window, roofed with gilded copper tiles, was built in to commemorate Maximilian I's marriage to Bianca Maria Sforza and served as a box from which the court watched civic festivities in the square below. Made up of 2, gilded copper tiles, the Golden Roof's lower balustrade is richly decorated with coats of arms, while the open balcony above shows ten figural reliefs.

The house behind, the Neuer Hof, was a former ducal palace rebuilt in The Hofburg. Innsbruck's old Court Palace, the Hofburg — a former imperial palace originally built in the 15th and 16th centuries — was remodeled in Baroque and Rococo style in the 18th century upon instructions from Empress Maria Theresa. The palace has now been set up as a museum, and is best viewed on a guided tour available in English , which includes its luxurious apartments with their fine painted ceilings.

Particularly memorable is the Giant Hall Riesensaal. This spectacular grand hall consists of polished marble and is decorated in white and gold, with three large ceiling frescos from It is also home to a fine collection of portraits of the Imperial family.

Innsbruck Cathedral. James — was granted cathedral status in Notable for its imposing twin-towered west front and the high dome over the choir, it was built in Baroque style in and fully restored after World War II. Interior highlights include its ceiling paintings, particularly the Glorification of St. James, its rich stucco work by the Asam brothers, and a richly-carved 18th-century pulpit. The High Baroque marble altars from feature a famous image of the Virgin, Maria Hilf , from The cathedral hosts regular concerts that are open to the public.

Innsbruck Cathedral Map Historical. Innsbruck is home to a number of museums of international repute, particularly those that fall under the Tyrolean State Museums umbrella. Here, you'll enjoy viewing an extensive local art collection representing a variety of Tyrolese themes, along with replicas of traditional brick-built houses with oriel windows from the Upper Inn Valley.

Other exhibits include a rich store of costumes, traditional furniture, tools, glass, pottery, textiles, and metalwork. Also worth seeing, the Tyrolean State Museum Tyroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum features collections relating to the history and art of Tyrol. Highlights include numerous works from the Gothic period.

Immediately I was enchanted. After spending three days in Salzburg I was anxious to compare which city is better Innsbruck or Salzburg. The three days in Salzburg and in Lienz made it obvious Austria was going to exceed every expectation I had. How would Innsbruck stack up? The city of Innsbruck sits nestled in a valley surrounded by Alps. Every building in the city seems so small in comparison to the rugged ridge line surrounding the city. The mountains vary from jagged grey mountains to green sloping ridge lines.

The effect is absolutely beyond belief. Our first night in Innsbruck was spent at the Adler Hotel where we had dinner and drinks on the rooftop deck. Sitting in the natural surrounding of these glorious mountains we watched planes navigate into the small valley to land at the local airport.

There is a beautiful contrast between the mountains, the old and new architecture, the funicular and the modern train lines all coming together in a natural paradise. The most important thing to J. So, on our first day that is exactly what we did.

The ride up was spectacular. We rode through grass covered mountains where hikers and bikers pushed their physical limits to reach the unbelievable peaks. From there the cable car took us to the top peaks where we stood in snow, passing mountain goats along the way.

Unfortunately for J. I did break into a rendition of The Lonely Goatherd multiple times. How could I resist with the adorable mountain goats of Austria watching our ascent? As we stood in Hafelekar Peak I grew quiet, reflecting on how far I have come in my life, how lucky I am to experience these gobsmacking places, and how small I am in the scope of the world.

Standing in shorts, shivering in the snow, avoiding goat poop, I was completely humbled by the beauty that exists in this world and the pure joy that comes from experiencing it. I definitely had this image of the grandeur of the architecture in Austria. It was based on what I had seen in movies and photos over the years. In fact, no matter how beautiful the buildings are, how charming the small streets lined with shops, cafes and restaurants are on their own they become more so due to the location inside the gorgeous valley.

We spent many of our days wandering the streets admiring the ironwork of the signs, the colorful buildings and picturesque neighborhoods. There is a real contrast in Innsbruck of small streets winding through the historic downtown and then a wide open promenade.