The Nordkette is the mountain range straight above the city: three linked rides take you from the Congress station by the Old Town to the Hafelekar at 2,256 m. The Top of Innsbruck return ticket costs €56 for adults on the current 2026 tariff (child €33.60). The cable cars run all year except two short maintenance breaks: 2 to 19 November 2026 and 26 to 30 April 2027.
The 2026/27 winter season runs from 20 November 2026 to 25 April 2027. Up top, the Nordkette is a steep, high alpine ski area with 6 lifts, 13.9 km of pistes and a fun park; it suits strong skiers and freeriders rather than beginners. Last uphill ride for skiers is 15:45.
You do not need skis to enjoy it. The ride up to the Seegrube (1,905 m) and the Hafelekar gives snowy views over the Inn valley and into the Karwendel. On every Advent Sunday there is an Advent brunch at the Seegrube from 10:00 to 13:00, and the small Hungerburg Christmas market (20 November 2026 to 6 January 2027) sits at the funicular's middle station.
The Seegrubenbahn runs late, until 23:30, on the first Friday of each month, so you can see the city lights from 1,905 m.
GetYourGuide · 4.8/5 from 1194 reviews
The one mountain trip almost every visitor should make: from the old town to 2,256 m in about 20 minutes, with the whole of Innsbruck below you and the Karwendel behind.
Departs from Hungerburgbahn station, next to Congress Innsbruck, Rennweg 3 · Valid for one day; the ride up takes about 20 minutes, allow half a day
GetYourGuide · 5.0/5 from 8 reviews
A whole day in the snow with your own mountain guide, planned around your fitness and the weather, with pick-up from your hotel.
Departs from Pick-up from your hotel in Innsbruck · About 6 hours, including about 4.5 hours on foot
GetYourGuide · 4.3/5 from 176 reviews
The quick, cheap way up above Innsbruck: 8 minutes from the old town to the Hungerburg at 860 m, through stations designed by Zaha Hadid, with the city spread out below.
Departs from Congress station, Rennweg 3, Innsbruck · Valid for one day; the ride takes about 8 minutes each way
Our take on each: Nordkette cable car tickets (Top of Innsbruck) · Private snowshoe and winter hike near Innsbruck · Hungerburg funicular tickets (Hungerburgbahn return).
Where to stay for this
Mariahilf, across the Inn from the old town, Innsbruck old town · 4 stars · 29 rooms
Riverside Mariahilf house with views up to the Nordkette; ski bus stop a few minutes' walk away
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
Old town, on the Inn, Innsbruck old town · 4 stars
Old town edge by the Inn, close to the Congress funicular station; pool open around the clock
Four-star spa hotel by the Inn at the old town edge, with a pool open around the clock; for couples and skiers.
From £231 a night
The summer 2026 season ran from 25 April to 1 November, and summer is when the Nordkette opens up for walkers. From the Hafelekar top station a wide path climbs to the Hafelekarspitze (2,334 m) in 10 to 15 minutes, with Geotrail boards explaining the rock. At the Seegrube, the Perspektivenweg (Perspective Trail by Snøhetta) gives easy viewpoints over the city.
For more ambition there is the Goethe Trail into the Karwendel Nature Park, stages of the Adlerweg, and the Innsbrucker Klettersteig, a via ferrata graded B to C with C/D passages: about 4 hours for the first section plus an hour down, or 6 hours for the full route. A full via ferrata set can be hired at the Seegrube shop for €25 a day.
From Hungerburg, easy walks to nearby huts and pastures take 45 minutes to 1.5 hours, so families can combine a short hike with the Alpine Zoo below.
GetYourGuide · 4.8/5 from 1194 reviews
The one mountain trip almost every visitor should make: from the old town to 2,256 m in about 20 minutes, with the whole of Innsbruck below you and the Karwendel behind.
Departs from Hungerburgbahn station, next to Congress Innsbruck, Rennweg 3 · Valid for one day; the ride up takes about 20 minutes, allow half a day
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 · 4.9/5 from 110 reviews
For people who want to watch the paragliders launch before their own turn, and who like the option of a longer flight.
Departs from Paraglider launch site at the Elfer mountain station, Neustift im Stubaital (reached by gondola only) · About 1 hour
Our take on each: Nordkette cable car tickets (Top of Innsbruck) · Nordkette and Alpine Zoo combi ticket (Top of Innsbruck plus zoo) · Paragliding near Innsbruck: tandem flight from the Elfer summit.
Where to stay for this
Altstadt (old town), Innsbruck old town · 4 stars · 43 rooms
Historic old town inn a short walk from the Congress valley station; good for early starts
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
Altstadt (old town), Innsbruck old town · 4 stars · 48 rooms
Characterful old town base a minute from the Golden Roof and close to the funicular
A characterful design hotel in a 15th-century old town house, a minute from the Golden Roof; ideal for couples and city breaks.
From £147 a night
Prices on the current 2026 tariff, adult first (senior or student / youth / child): Top of Innsbruck return, Innsbruck to Hafelekar, €56 / €51.50 / €44.80 / €33.60. Innsbruck to Seegrube return €50.40 (child €30.20). Innsbruck to Hungerburg return €14 (child €8.40). Top of Innsbruck plus the Alpine Zoo €61 (child €39). Separate 2026/27 winter prices had not been published on 20 October 2026, and children under 6 ride free with a parent.
The Innsbruck Card includes one ride up and one down on the Nordkette cable cars, which on its own is close to the card's price. Note that the SKI plus CITY Pass cannot be bought at the Nordkette ticket desks.
Innsbruck Card: prices, what's included and whether it is worth it
GetYourGuide · 4.8/5 from 1194 reviews
The one mountain trip almost every visitor should make: from the old town to 2,256 m in about 20 minutes, with the whole of Innsbruck below you and the Karwendel behind.
Departs from Hungerburgbahn station, next to Congress Innsbruck, Rennweg 3 · Valid for one day; the ride up takes about 20 minutes, allow half a day
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 · 4.7/5 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
Our take on each: Nordkette cable car tickets (Top of Innsbruck) · Nordkette and Alpine Zoo combi ticket (Top of Innsbruck plus zoo) · Innsbruck Card with public transport.
Everything starts at the Hungerburgbahn's Congress/Altstadt station on Rennweg, a few minutes' walk from the Golden Roof. The funicular climbs to Hungerburg (860 m) in about 8 minutes, stopping at the Alpine Zoo. At Hungerburg you change to the Seegrubenbahn, then the Hafelekarbahn for the last 2.5 minutes to the top.
The Hungerburgbahn runs Monday to Friday 07:15 to 19:15 and from 08:00 at weekends and on holidays; the Seegrubenbahn 08:30 to 17:30 and the Hafelekarbahn 09:00 to 16:45 (timetable published in October 2026). Cars run every 15 minutes, continuously when busy. IVB bus J links the Patscherkofel and the Nordkette, and line W runs from Marktplatz to the Alpine Zoo.
Getting to Innsbruck: by train from Munich, Zurich, Vienna and Verona, by air and by car
Allow half a day for the round trip to the Hafelekar with time at the Seegrube and the short summit walk. Going early pays off: the first funicular leaves the city at 07:15 on weekdays, and the last Hafelekar ride is at 16:45. Add 1.5 to 2 hours if you stop at the Alpine Zoo on the way down, and a full day for the via ferrata or a long hike.
The Alpine Zoo sits on the funicular line, so the combined Top of Innsbruck and Zoo ticket (€61 adult on the 2026 tariff) is the simplest way to do both in one day. Ride to the top in the morning while the light is clear, then stop at the Alpenzoo station on the way back down.
Alpine Zoo Innsbruck (Alpenzoo): tickets, opening hours and the Hungerburg funicular
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
Our take on each: Nordkette and Alpine Zoo combi ticket (Top of Innsbruck plus zoo) · Alpine Zoo and Hungerburg funicular combi ticket.
A Top of Innsbruck return from the city to the Hafelekar costs €56 for adults and €33.60 for children on the current 2026 tariff. A return to the Seegrube costs €50.40, and the Hungerburgbahn alone €14 return. Children under 6 ride free with a parent.
The cable cars close for maintenance from 2 to 19 November 2026 and reopen for the winter season on 20 November 2026. They close again for maintenance from 26 to 30 April 2027.
Yes. The cable cars carry walkers and sightseers all year. In winter you can ride to the Seegrube and the Hafelekar for the views; the ski runs from the top are steep and best left to strong skiers.
The Hungerburgbahn takes about 8 minutes from the Congress station to Hungerburg, then you change to the Seegrubenbahn and the Hafelekarbahn, whose final stage takes about 2.5 minutes. Cars run every 15 minutes, so allow about 30 to 45 minutes from the city to the Hafelekar including changes.
Yes. The Innsbruck Card includes one ride up and one ride down on the Nordkette cable cars, plus one return on the Patscherkofelbahn and entry to 22 museums and sights.
Sources: nordkette.com, nordkette.com, nordkette.com, nordkette.com, nordkette.com, nordkette.com, nordkette.com, nordkette.com, oebb.at, ski-plus-city.com. Checked October 2026.
