Old town, museums and city tours
Rated 4.6 out of 5 by 253 GetYourGuide reviewers
Book this if you like history, art or simply curious things: Archduke Ferdinand II's castle holds one of the earliest museum collections anywhere, with armour, oddities and over 200 Habsburg portraits. Allow at least an hour, plus time for the free park. The castle is closed throughout November.
Starts inInnsbruck (Amras)All year
Schloss Ambras sits on a wooded hill on the south-east edge of Innsbruck. Bus M stops at Schloss Ambras, and bus 540 from the Hauptbahnhof takes about 10 minutes; trams 3 and 6 also come close, but leave you with a steep walk. The castle opens daily from 10:00 to 17:00.
Most visitors start in the lower castle with the armouries: tournament armour, ceremonial suits made for court festivals, the armour of famous generals and Ferdinand II's Turkish Chamber.
Next comes the Chamber of Art and Wonders, the heart of the visit. Ferdinand gathered the knowledge of his age here: coral and ivory pieces, scientific instruments, objects from distant countries, games, unusual musical instruments and portraits of people his court considered marvels.
In the upper castle, the Habsburg portrait gallery hangs more than 200 paintings, including works by Cranach, Arcimboldo, Rubens, Van Dyck and Velázquez. Finish with a walk in the castle park, an English landscape garden that is free to enter.
In winter
The castle is closed in November and reopens in December, daily from 10:00 to 17:00. The Habsburg portrait gallery is only open from 1 April to 31 October, so a winter visit focuses on the armouries and the Chamber of Art and Wonders, which suits a cold afternoon well.
In summer
Summer is the best time for Ambras: the portrait gallery and the Gothic sculpture collection are open (1 April to 31 October) and the park is at its greenest for a stroll after the museum.
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This ticket costs the same as the castle's own online price (€16) and less than the €18 charged at the door, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before. If you are buying an Innsbruck Card anyway, Ambras is among its included sights.
Checked against the GetYourGuide listing on 20 October 2026. Prices and options change: the calendar shows the current ones.
Ambras closes for the whole of November, and the portrait gallery is open only from April to October.
What to do. Visiting in early winter? Come in December or later, and expect the armouries and the Chamber of Art and Wonders rather than the gallery.
No. The castle closes for the whole of November. It is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00 the rest of the year.
Children and young people under 19 enter free, so you only need tickets for the adults.
Bus M stops at Schloss Ambras, and bus 540 from the Hauptbahnhof takes about 10 minutes. Trams 3 and 6 stop nearby but involve a steep walk. Parking is limited.
Many visitors think so, as it explains what you are looking at in the Chamber of Art and Wonders. It costs €5 at the castle.
No. The Habsburg portrait gallery is open from 1 April to 31 October only.
GetYourGuide · 4.7/5 from 576 reviews
The best-value way to see Innsbruck if you plan a full day or two of sightseeing: the Nordkette cable cars, Swarovski Crystal Worlds with its shuttle, the museums and all the city buses and trams on one card.
Departs from Innsbruck Information, Burggraben 3, at the entrance to the old town
GetYourGuide · 5.0/5 from 97 reviews
A private, 90-minute walk round Innsbruck's best sights with a licensed guide who works to your interests, for one price per group of up to 10.
Departs from Your hotel in central Innsbruck or an agreed meeting point · About 1.5 hours
Sources: getyourguide.com, schlossambras-innsbruck.at. Checked October 2026. Photos: GetYourGuide.