Innsbruck: Old Town Private Walking Tour

Start your tour by a visit to the Stadtturm, also known as the Innsbruck City Tower. It stands 51 meters high and was previously also used as a part of the Town Hall for important meetings. A viewing deck is about 31 meters high from where you will see beautiful views of the city. The Medieval tower dates back to the 14th century along with the Old Rathaus (The Old Town Hall) which adjoins it.

You will see one of the most famous landmarks of Innsbruck, the Goldenes Dachl (Golden Roof) located in the Old Town of Innsbruck. Its roof is made up of 2657 gold plated copper tiles. It was built to mark the wedding of the Emperor Emperor Maximilian I to Bianca Maria Sforza and used to watch events in the square below.

Admire the architecture of the Hofburg (The Imperial Palace). It was a royal palace that was built between the 15th and 16th centuries and further remodeled in the 18th century to Baroque and Rococo styles. It is currently a museum and houses portraits of the royal family. It is amongst the topmost important historical and cultural monuments in Austria. It took 15 years of work to restore it to what it would have looked like. The rooms of especially Maria Theresa and the Empress Elizabeth are worth a visit.

Visit the Hofkirche (the Court Church) which has a Gothic and Renaissance style. It was built in 1553 by the Emperor Ferdinand I. Here you will see the tomb of the Emperor Maximilian I along with 28 bronze statues of the emperor's ancestors and close aides.

You will have a chance to see the Dom zu St. Jakob (the Cathedral of Saint James) which is also known as the Innsbruck Cathedral. Although the Cathedral dates back to the 18th century, a Church already existed on its site as early as the 12th century. Here you will see the famous painting known as the Maria Hilf by the German artist Lucas Cranach the Elder.

Stroll on the Maria Theresia street where you will see houses dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries. Here you will find many shops offering souvenirs. You will see beautiful mountain views towards the north of the street. As you continue to stroll, famous landmarks such as the St. Anne's Column and the Triumphal Arch will be seen along the way.

Finish your tour at the Triumphpforte (The triumphal Arch) located towards the Southern end of the Maria Theresa street. It was built in August 1765 to mark the wedding of Archduke Leopold to Maria Luisa, the Spanish princess. He was the second son of Empress Maria Theresa and Francis Stephen of Lorraine. Francis Stephen died shortly after the wedding in a span of 13 days. The northern facade of the arch depicts the mourning of the emperor while the southern facade depicts the wedding.