The Alpenzoo is Europe's highest themed zoo, at about 750 m on the slope below Hungerburg, with about 2,000 animals from about 150 alpine species. It opens every day of the year: 09:00 to 17:00 from November to March and 09:00 to 18:00 from April to October. Adult entry is €16, and the combi ticket with a Hungerburgbahn return from the city costs €23.
The zoo stays open every day in winter, including Sundays and holidays, from 09:00 to 17:00. Alpine animals are built for the cold, so a crisp, snowy morning is a good time to see them out and about.
One stop further up the funicular, the Hungerburg Christmas market (20 November 2026 to 6 January 2027) has 10 stalls with a view over the city, with a children's story hour on Saturdays from 16:00 to 17:00. The Nordkette lifts close for maintenance from 2 to 19 November 2026; if the funicular is not running, bus W from Marktplatz still reaches the zoo.
Innsbruck Christmas markets 2026: dates, hours and where to stay
GetYourGuide · 4.4/5 from 729 reviews
The classic family half day in Innsbruck: ride the Zaha Hadid funicular up from the old town, spend a couple of hours with wolves, bears and lynx at the Alpine Zoo, and carry on to the Hungerburg viewpoint before riding back.
Departs from Hungerburgbahn station beside Congress Innsbruck, Rennweg 3 · Valid for one day; allow 2.5 to 3 hours
GetYourGuide · 4.3/5 from 70 reviews
Entry only to the Alpine Zoo, for visitors who will walk, take bus W or already have transport sorted.
Departs from Alpine Zoo, Innsbruck, at 750 m below the Nordkette · Valid for one day; allow about 2 hours
Our take on each: Alpine Zoo and Hungerburg funicular combi ticket · Alpine Zoo Innsbruck tickets (Alpenzoo).
Where to stay for this
Mariahilf, across the Inn from the old town, Innsbruck old town · 4 stars · 29 rooms
Family-run four-star across the Inn from the old town, below the Hungerburg slope
A small, family-run four-star in the painted riverside houses facing the old town; a warm choice for couples and families.
From £137 a night
Pradl, Innsbruck city centre · 4 stars · 50 rooms
Family-run four-star in Pradl with a free rooftop sauna and a tram at the door
A family-run four-star in Pradl with a free rooftop sauna and a tram at the door; for couples, families and skiers.
From £155 a night
From April to October the zoo opens an hour longer, 09:00 to 18:00. Summer is the time to combine it with the Nordkette: ride to the Hafelekar in the morning, then stop at the zoo on the way down with the Top of Innsbruck and Zoo combi ticket.
From Hungerburg, easy walks to nearby huts and pastures take 45 minutes to 1.5 hours, which suits families with younger children.
Nordkette Innsbruck: cable car tickets, prices and what to do at the top
GetYourGuide · 4.6/5 from 421 reviews
The best value full day above Innsbruck: the return ride to the Top of Innsbruck plus the Alpine Zoo, which sits on the same funicular line.
Departs from Hungerburgbahn station beside Congress Innsbruck, Rennweg 3 · Valid for one day; allow 5 to 6 hours for both
GetYourGuide · 4.4/5 from 729 reviews
The classic family half day in Innsbruck: ride the Zaha Hadid funicular up from the old town, spend a couple of hours with wolves, bears and lynx at the Alpine Zoo, and carry on to the Hungerburg viewpoint before riding back.
Departs from Hungerburgbahn station beside Congress Innsbruck, Rennweg 3 · Valid for one day; allow 2.5 to 3 hours
GetYourGuide · 4.3/5 from 70 reviews
Entry only to the Alpine Zoo, for visitors who will walk, take bus W or already have transport sorted.
Departs from Alpine Zoo, Innsbruck, at 750 m below the Nordkette · Valid for one day; allow about 2 hours
Our take on each: Nordkette and Alpine Zoo combi ticket (Top of Innsbruck plus zoo) · Alpine Zoo and Hungerburg funicular combi ticket · Alpine Zoo Innsbruck tickets (Alpenzoo).
Where to stay for this
Altstadt (old town), Innsbruck old town · 4 stars · 43 rooms
Old town inn a short walk from the Congress funicular station
A historic family-run inn in the car-free old town, a minute from the Golden Roof; for couples and first-time visitors.
From £139 a night
Pradl, near Olympiaworld, Innsbruck city centre · Hotel
Friendly good-value city hotel in Pradl with themed rooms and breakfast included
A friendly, good-value city hotel in Pradl with themed rooms, breakfast included and a small relax area; ideal for budget-minded active travellers.
From £145 a night
Zoo entry: adult €16, student or pensioner €13, child 6 to 17 €9, infant 4 to 5 €4. Hungerburgbahn return plus zoo: adult €23, child €14. Top of Innsbruck (Hafelekar return) plus zoo: adult €61, senior or student €57, youth €52, child €39 on the current 2026 Nordkette tariff. The zoo does not print a season year on its price page.
The Alpine Zoo is included in the Innsbruck Card.
Innsbruck Card: prices, what's included and whether it is worth it
GetYourGuide · 4.3/5 from 70 reviews
Entry only to the Alpine Zoo, for visitors who will walk, take bus W or already have transport sorted.
Departs from Alpine Zoo, Innsbruck, at 750 m below the Nordkette · Valid for one day; allow about 2 hours
GetYourGuide · 4.4/5 from 729 reviews
The classic family half day in Innsbruck: ride the Zaha Hadid funicular up from the old town, spend a couple of hours with wolves, bears and lynx at the Alpine Zoo, and carry on to the Hungerburg viewpoint before riding back.
Departs from Hungerburgbahn station beside Congress Innsbruck, Rennweg 3 · Valid for one day; allow 2.5 to 3 hours
GetYourGuide · 4.6/5 from 421 reviews
The best value full day above Innsbruck: the return ride to the Top of Innsbruck plus the Alpine Zoo, which sits on the same funicular line.
Departs from Hungerburgbahn station beside Congress Innsbruck, Rennweg 3 · Valid for one day; allow 5 to 6 hours for both
Our take on each: Alpine Zoo Innsbruck tickets (Alpenzoo) · Alpine Zoo and Hungerburg funicular combi ticket · Nordkette and Alpine Zoo combi ticket (Top of Innsbruck plus zoo).
Take the Hungerburgbahn from the Congress/Altstadt station on Rennweg, near the Old Town, and get off at the Alpenzoo stop. The funicular runs Monday to Friday from 07:15 and at weekends from 08:00. Alternatively, IVB bus W runs from Marktplatz to the zoo.
Getting to Innsbruck: by train from Munich, Zurich, Vienna and Verona, by air and by car
Allow 1.5 to 2 hours. The zoo is on a slope, so wear comfortable shoes; with small children, plan a little longer and a stop for lunch.
Adults pay €16, children 6 to 17 €9 and infants 4 to 5 €4. The combi ticket with a Hungerburgbahn return costs €23 for adults and €14 for children.
Yes. It opens every day of the year, 09:00 to 17:00 from November to March and 09:00 to 18:00 from April to October.
Ride the Hungerburgbahn from the Congress station near the Old Town and get off at the Alpenzoo stop, or take IVB bus W from Marktplatz.
About 2,000 animals from about 150 alpine species. It describes itself as Europe's highest themed zoo.
Yes. The Top of Innsbruck plus Zoo ticket costs €61 for adults on the 2026 tariff and covers the cable cars to the Hafelekar and zoo entry.
Sources: alpenzoo.at, alpenzoo.at, alpenzoo.at, ski-plus-city.com, nordkette.com, nordkette.com, nordkette.com, christkindlmarkt.cc, christkindlmarkt.cc, oebb.at. Checked October 2026.
