38 Best Sights in Innsbruck, Tirol, and Vorarlberg, Austria

The Pfänderbahn cable car takes you up to this 3,491-foot peak overlooking Bregenz, one of the most famous lookout points in the region. From here, you can see four countries—Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland—and almost 240 Alpine peaks. It's a breathtaking view, with the city directly below on the shores of the Bodensee and the lake stretching for 64 kilometers (40 miles) into the hazy distance. On your left lies the Rhine valley, and you can see the hills of Liechtenstein and Switzerland in the distance. Just across the water from Bregenz you'll notice the ancient and fascinating German island-city of Lindau in Bavaria, once a free state (a status it lost in 1802). The restaurant at the top is open throughout the summer, while children will enjoy the Alpenwildpark, a small outdoor zoo with Alpine ibex, mouflon, and wild boar that's open year-round.

Sweeping along the southeastern shore of the Bodensee, this peaceful lakeside promenade is the perfect place for a stroll any time of year. It runs all the way from the Festspielhaus to the harbor and is lined with charming cafes, hip bars, and tree-shaded benches all the way. As well as enjoying sweeping lake views in one direction, there are also city landmarks to see in the other, from the Neoclassical Post Office, to the glass-cube Kunsthaus, to the local mountain Pfänder. If you want to wander even farther, the Pipeline promenade continues northward from the harbor all the way to Lochau, near the German border. Or, in the other direction, the lakeside gets more natural with some lovely picnic and swimming spots.

If you're driving from Hall in Tirol to Zell am Ziller, this impressive gorge hike is the perfect stop along the way. Exhilarating and spectacular (but very safe), the climb starts in the village of Stans, follows walkways hewn from the mountainside and across bridges spanning the tumbling river and beside waterfalls—all protected by railings—and finally reaches the Benedictine monastery of St. Georgenberg. The whole thing takes about 90 minutes and features 354 steps. At the top, the monastery's sumptuously decorated Baroque church, precariously perched on a rocky peak, is worth a few minutes of your time. There is a decent restaurant, too, with a terrace dizzily located above a sheer drop of several hundred feet.

Eagles and other birds of prey demonstrate their prowess in free flight May–September at 11 and 2:30.

Following an avalanche of catastrophic proportions on February 23, 1999, which took 31 lives and destroyed many centuries-old homes and guesthouses, the community of Galtür undertook a massive building project. The result? The Alpinarium; a memorial, museum, conference center, café, indoor climbing hall, library, and, most significantly, a 1,132-foot-long wall built of steel and concrete designed to prevent such an accident from occurring again. On summer Saturdays, 10–4, the Bauernmarkt (farmers' market) sets up in front of the Alpinarium, bringing produce, cheese, meat, and specialty products.

Take the cable car up the Kitzbüheler Horn to this lovely garden at 6,500 feet. Amid glorious mountain scenery you will see hundreds of varieties of Alpine flowers in their native habitat, including varieties from other parts of the world. Guided tours are offered daily at 11 am from June to early September.

Amble on along Martinsgasse to Graf-Wilhelm-Strasse and the brightly shuttered Altes Rathaus, the old town hall. The ornate half-timber construction was completed in 1622.

St. Anne's Column, erected in 1706, commemorates the withdrawal of Bavarian forces in the war of the Spanish Succession on St. Anne's Day (July 26) in 1703. Along with the Triumphal Arch, it is one of the two most important sights on Maria-Theresien-Strasse. From here there is a classic view of Innsbruck's Altstadt (Old City), with the glorious Nordkette mountain range in the background.

From the hill outside the church there is a wonderful view of the southwestern wall of the Old City, including the Beckenturm, the 16th-century tower once used as a prison and named after bakers imprisoned there for baking rolls that were too skimpy for the town fathers.

This ski-jumping stadium towers over Innsbruck with a gloriously modern, concrete-and-glass observation deck and restaurant designed by world-celebrated architect Zaha Hadid. It opened in 2003, replacing the old stadium that no longer complied with modern requirements for ski jumping and crowd safety. There's a café at the base area, and if you're lucky you can have a beer while watching ski jumpers practice, even during the summer when they heavily water the slope (so they can still ski despite the lack of snow).

Built to protect the salt mines and trade on the River Inn, Burg Hasegg was enlarged into a showpiece castle by Duke Siegmund and Emperor Maximilian I. Meanwhile, the first silver coin in Tyrol, the thaler—say it quickly and you'll realize it was the root of the modern word, dollar—emerged from the Münze (mint) in the center of Hall. In 1567, Ferdinand II moved the mint to Burg Hasegg, and thereafter the fortunes of the mint and the castle became intertwined. In the 18th century, 17 million Maria Theresa thaler were minted here and became a valued currency throughout the world. Today, you can visit the mint museum where you can even mint your own coin, as well as climb to the top of the Mint Tower for splendid views.

Built around 1350, this historic church houses a Gothic winged altar dating from 1515. Kitzbühel is also blessed with several other beautiful churches, including St. Andrew's (1435–1506) with its lavish Rococo chapel, and Christuskirche (1962) with its striking white bell tower.

Remains of the ancient city wall are to the right of the tower on Martinsgasse. The coats of arms of several noble Bregenz families can still be seen on the house standing next to the wall's remains.

Archduchess Magdelena, sister of Ferdinand II, founded the Damenstift Abbey, home of the silent order of Carmelite nuns, in 1567–69. While the abbey was abolished in 1783, the order survived, and today the remaining (mostly elderly) nuns can be found praying in the Collegiate Church (Herz-Jesu-Basilika) at the top of Eugenstrasse. A tiny plaque on the dramatic church facade—an example of the transition from the Renaissance to the Baroque style—confirms its links to the historic Damenstift. Sit quietly at the back of the church and witness the silent and extensive devotions of the nuns amidst the glorious interior of wood, marble, and gold.

Innsbruck's cathedral was built between 1717 and 1724 on the site of a 12th-century Romanesque church. Regarded as possibly the most important Baroque building in Tyrol, its main attraction is the painting of the Madonna by Lucas Cranach the Elder, dating from about 1530 and displayed above the high altar. The tomb of Archduke Maximilian III, Master of the Teutonic Knights, dating from 1620, can be seen in the north aisle.

This state museum with a striking Florentine Renaissance Revival--style facade houses Austria's largest collection of Gothic art and 19th- and 20th-century paintings, including works by Rembrandt, Brueghel, and Klimt. There are also musical instruments and medieval armor, along with special exhibitions. Here you'll find the original coats of arms from the Goldenes Dachl balcony. Chamber music concerts are offered throughout the year.

Behind the Altes Rathaus on Eponastrasse stands the former Gesellenspital; remnants of a fresco still visible on its wall depict St. Christopher, St. Peter, and a kneeling abbot.

A visit to this 400-year-old bell foundry includes a tour of the foundry and a fascinating little museum, which will give you an idea of how bells are cast and tuned. There's also a sound chamber where you can try your hand at bell ringing. Guided tours in English can be arranged.

Located at the top end of Bergmannstrasse, the twin red-brick towers of the neo-Gothic Herz-Jesu Kirche are visible from far and wide. Built between 1905 and 1908 and entirely funded by the people of Bregenz, it is particularly notable for its bright and colorful stained-glass windows by Martin Hausle.

One of Innsbruck's most historic attractions is the Hofburg, or Imperial Palace, which Maximilian I and Archduke Sigmund the Rich commissioned to be built in late-Gothic style in the 15th century. Center stage is the Giant's Hall—designated a marvel of the 18th century as soon as it was topped off with its magnificent trompe-l'oeil ceiling painted by Franz Anton Maulpertsch in 1775. The Rococo decoration and the portraits of Hapsburg ancestors in the ornate, white-and-gold great reception hall were added in the 18th century by the Empress Maria Theresa. Look for the portrait of "Primal" (Primrose)—to use the childhood nickname of the empress's daughter, Marie Antoinette. Skip the 3D show at the end.

Close by the Hofburg, the Court Church was built as a mausoleum for Maximilian I (although he is actually buried in Wiener Neustadt, south of Vienna). The emperor's ornate black-marble tomb is surrounded by 24 marble reliefs depicting his accomplishments, as well as 28 larger-than-life-size bronze statues of his ancestors (real and imagined), including the legendary King Arthur of England. Freedom fighter Andreas Hofer is also buried here. Don't miss the 16th-century Silver Chapel, up the stairs opposite the entrance, with its elaborate altar and silver Madonna. The chapel was built in 1578 to be the tomb of Archduke Ferdinand II and his wife, Philippine Welser, the daughter of a rich and powerful merchant family.

Visit the chapel for picture taking in the morning; the blinding afternoon sun comes in directly behind the altar.

The tiered Krimml falls plunge down in three stages, with a total drop of 1,247 feet, making it the highest waterfall in Austria and one of Austria's most popular natural attractions. A path ascends through the woods beside the falls, with frequent viewing points. By car or bus, it's 35 minutes from Zell am Ziller over the Gerlos Pass.

Vorarlberg has had its own modern art museum since 1997, and it sits right in the heart of Bregenz. This eye-catching, steel-and-concrete building with etched-glass panels was designed by Swiss architect Peter Zumtho, and is now used to showcase a series of ever-changing contemporary art exhibitions, with a big focus on video and multimedia (there's no permanent exhibition). The design is striking, with each room/floor lit by sunlight that enters through the translucent glass all around, but is not always easy to navigate; good luck finding the staircase on your first visit.

Owned by the princely Thurn und Taxis family until 1915, this building, erected in 1848, now contains a modern art gallery. The park surrounding the house is one of the largest public gardens on the Bodensee, with a host of rare trees and plants from around the world.

The late-Gothic secular building that now houses the Zeughaus Museum was once the arsenal of Maximilian I. Today, displays include cartography, mineralogy, music, hunting weapons, coins, aspects of Tyrol's culture, and the province's wars of independence.

Stroll along the Kornmarktstrasse and you can't fail to notice this distinctive circular chapel. Built in 1757 to serve the city's fishermen and sailors, the Chapel of St. John of Nepomuk has a richly decorated high altar and several paintings in the rococo style.