Maximilian followed the policy of territorial expansion through marriage and not conquests. This balcony was built to honor his second wife, Bianca Maria Sforza of Milan. Not wishing to alienate the allies gained by his first marriage, to Maria of Burgundy, he had an image of himself between the two women painted on his balcony. The balustrade on the first floor is adorned with carved coats of arms, representing Austria, Hungary, the double-headed eagle of the Empire, Burgundy and Milan, as well as Tirol and Styria. The mural paintings show two standard-bearers with the flags of the Empire and the Province of Tirol.

Since January 2003, the Golden Roof has been housing the “International Alpine Convention’s Office” which is a coalition of eight Alpine Countries united by a shared commitment to sustainable development in the European Alps. When in Innsbruck, the Golden Roof is a must see for every visitor.

Ambras Castle is a schloss here which is situated in the hills above Innsbruck and is a culturally and historically important site in the city bearing close connection with Archduke Ferdinand II. The castle was his residence from 1563 to 1595.

In the lower part of the castle there are two rooms containing arms and armor, on the first floor a valuable art collection and in the upper part of the castle, the bathroom of Ferdinand’s wife Philippine Welser. The Spanish hall between the lower and upper part of the castles is a notable example of German Renaissance architecture and is adorned with frescoes on the walls. Ferdinand II designed and used the three armouries and the chamber of art and curiosities as a museum from the beginning.

The chamber of art and curiosities at Ambras Castle contains precious objects, scientific items or toys, corals arranged in cabinet-boxes, turnery made of wood or ivory, glass figures, or porcelain and silk paintings which belong to the oldest European collections of Asian art.

The “Rüstkammer” contain very rare examples of armour from the 15th century including the armour for tournaments like the German joust or the German course, and the armour of the court’s giant Bartlmä Bon.

The Spanish Hall is one of the most important freestanding halls of the Renaissance. Today rather famous classical concerts take place in this hall.

The Upper Castle contains the “Habsburg Portrait Gallery” with about 300 portraits from the 15th to the 19th century. The portraits were painted by very well known artists such as Lucas Cranach, Anton Mor, Titian, van Dyck and Diego Velázquez.

The Ambras Castle is so popular and famous, that was the topic of one of the most famous silver collectors coins: the 10 euro Ambras Castle coin.

One of the major attractions of the city is the cathedral of St. Jakob or the Domkirche zu St. Jakob. The Baroque architect Johann Jakob Herkommer, is responsible for the creation of this great beauty, built in 1717.

The building’s main structure is composed mostly of Quaternary breccias, which comes from the slopes of the hills above the town of Hötting. Much of the building’s beauty can be attributed to this breccia.

Though pretty simple its façade can hold you awe-struck. Two towers guard its entrance while a large dome covers the transept crossing. The interior is more of an archaic style. Maria Hilf or Mary of Succor is a remarkable altarpiece by Lucas Cranach the Elder. It is one of the major reasons why people visit this place.

The zoo takes pride in its vast collection of Alpine creatures, with these animal attractions covering over 2,000 different species and including bears, bison, eagles, ibexes, otters and bearded vultures. Otters play in the water and various weird and wonderful fish types can be viewed in the extraordinary cold water aquarium of the Alpenzoo. These alpine animals live in their natural surroundings in this zoo. The park also protects endangered species and returns them to their natural habitat, the Alps.

Alpenzoo is Austria’s only “theme zoo” and children love it due to various child and animal attractions. To reach the Alpenzoo, you can either climb the hill or alternatively take a trip onboard the Hungerburgbahn train. If you purchase your ticket to the zoo directly from the Hungerburgbahn station, your journey will be free of charge.

The zoo is open daily from April to October – 09:00 to 18:00 and from November to March – 09:00 to 17:00. There are charges for admission and discounts for children and students.

Innsbruck University Botanic Garden sprawls across an area of 2 hectares and is operated by the University of Innsbruck. Standing at Hötting at Sternwartestraße 15, Innsbruck, Austria, the garden is open daily for free and its greenhouses are open on Thursday afternoons for an admission fee.

The garden was established around 1911, replacing an earlier garden elsewhere. Its first greenhouse was constructed in 1909, with three additional greenhouses added 1977-1979, a succulent house in 1993, and a sixth greenhouse for container plants built in 1997. The garden takes pride in its vast collection of about 5000 plant species which are a delight to the lovers of horticulture.

The major sections of the garden include:

• The Alpine garden: It is divided geographically and geologically, containing more than 1000 plants from all, non tropical, alpine regions of the world. It also has a specialized area for ferns, a moor, and four ponds.
• The Arboretum: It features woody plants including Gymnosperms, Angiosperms, and perennial plants.
• Cactus houses: Covering an area of 330 m², it houses about 500 cactus species.
• Cactus-Succulent-Mediterranean House: Covering an area of 280 square metres, it houses plants from the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands, the colder regions of Australia and New Zealand, as well as African succulent plants and American cacti.
• Fern house: Covering an area of 70 square metres, it houses epiphytes, climbing ferns, and water ferns.
• Fragrance and touch garden: it was built in 1999 for the sight imparied and is the first of its kind in Austria. Here all the plants are labeled in Braille.
• Medicinal, poisonous, and spice plants: It houses more than 300 plants ordered by their effective substances (alkaloids, glycocholic acid, tannins, ethereal oils, vitamins, etc.
• Orchid house
• Succulent house: It has over 550 succulent plants, mainly from South Africa, the Canary Islands, and South America.
• Systematic garden
• Tropical greenhouse

The word Innsbruck can be divided into ‘inn’ and ‘bruck’. Bruck comes from German and means bridge. Thus Innsbruck means the bridge over the Inn. It is a renowned winter sports centre and has already hosted the Winter Olympics in 1964 and 1976. It will also host the first ever Winter Youth Olympics in 2012.

Innsbruck’s year is full of all sorts of activities. Festivals and special events make its calendar ever colourful. Innsbruck has a number of festivals for which it is known throughout Europe. The Innsbruck Festival of Early Music is one such festival. The concerts prepared for this festival are performed in lavish operas and are dedicated to historic topics.

Fasnacht, celebrated once in every four years is the most noted of all its festivals. It is celebrated in February and during this time the entire city seems to come alive. A huge procession is carried out. If you are visiting Innsbruck during this time then you are in for a lifetime experience. The procession aims to depict a fight between good and evil.
Also during this time, the Maypole festival is celebrated in the neighboring village of Aldrans. This too is a wonderful sight. Dancing, traditional rituals and even partying form an integral part of the celebrations!

Frühschoppenkonzert is another fascinating festival celebrated in Igls. This is more of a music festival and as a result its celebrations feature a wide range of concerts that take place for that entire month. Musicians from different regions come together and blend their varying styles to put up one great performance!

Amenities at the Hotel:  Bar, Newspapers, Grounds, Terrace, Non-Smoking Rooms, Rooms/Facilities for Disabled Guests, Elevator, Express Check-In/Check-Out, Chapel/Shrine, Heating, Baggage Storage, All Public and Private spaces non-smoking are some of the facilities provided. Other facilities include Meeting/Banquet Facilities, Fax/Photocopying. Playground, Hiking, Cycling are provided to entertain guests. Wi-fi is available in some hotel rooms and is free of charge.

Hotel Rules:  The Check in time for the hotel is from 12.00-12:00 hours and the Check out time is until 08:00-12:00 hours. Cancellation and prepayment policies vary by room type. All children under 6 years stay free of charge when using existing bedding. All children from 6 to 10 years are charged 50 % of the room stays per night per person for extra beds. All children from 11 to 15 years are charged 75 % of the room stays per night per person for extra beds. Maximum capacity of extra beds in a room is 1. Any type of extra bed/cot or crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by the hotel. Supplements will not be calculated automatically in the total costs and have to be paid separately in the hotel. Pets are not allowed. Visa, Euro/Mastercard, Maestro are all acceptable for payment. The hotel reserves the right to pre-authorize credit cards prior to arrival.

Hotel Room Types and Rates:

Twin Room: €78
Included in room price: 10% VAT, breakfast
FREE cancellation

Amenities at the Hotel:  Restaurant, Bar, 24-Hour Front Desk, Garden, Terrace, Non-Smoking Rooms, Rooms/Facilities for Disabled Guests, Family Rooms, Elevator, Express Check-In/Check-Out, Heating, Luggage Storage, Ski Storage, Airconditioning– are some of the facilities provided. Other facilities include – Meeting/Banquet Facilities, Laundry, Ironing Service, Bridal Suite, Currency Exchange, Bicycle Rental, Car Hire, Tour Desk, Fax/Photocopying, Ticket Service, Ski Pass Vendor, Special Diet Menus (on request).. Sauna, Fitness Centre, Skiing, Solarium, Massage, Hiking, Turkish/Steam Bath, Indoor Swimming Pool (all year) – are provided to entertain guests. Wired internet is available in the hotel rooms and is free of charge. Wi-Fi is available in public areas and is free of charge.

Hotel Rules:  The Check in time for the hotel is from 15:00 -00:00 hours and the Check out time is until 06:00-12:00 hours. Cancellation and prepayment policies vary by room type. All children under 2 years stay free of charge when using existing bedding. All children under 2 years are charged EUR 10 per night per person for cots. All older children or adults are charged EUR 30 per night per person for extra beds. Maximum capacity of extra beds in a room is 1. Maximum capacity of babycots in a room is 1. Any type of extra bed or baby cot is upon request and needs to be confirmed by the hotel. Supplements will not be calculated automatically in the total costs and have to be paid separately in the hotel. Pets are allowed. Charges may be applicable.. American Express, Visa, Euro/Mastercard, Diners Club, JCB, Maestro– are all acceptable. The hotel reserves the right to pre-authorize credit cards prior to arrival.

Hotel Room Types and Rates:

Double or Twin Room: €145
Included in room price: 10% VAT
FREE cancellation

Single Room: €110
Included in room price: 10% VAT
FREE cancellation

Triple Room: €168
Included in room price: 10% VAT
FREE cancellation

Quadruple Room: €195
Included in room price: 10% VAT
FREE cancellation

Superior Double or Twin Room: €165
Included in room price: 10% VAT
FREE cancellation

Amenities at the Hotel: Restaurant, Bar, 24-Hour Front Desk, Grounds, Non-Smoking Rooms, Express Check-In/Check-Out, Safe, Heating, Baggage Storage, Ski Storage – are some of the facilities provided. Other facilities include – Sauna, Turkish/Steam Bath. Meeting/Banquet Facilities, Hair/Beauty Salon, Fax/Photocopying – are provided to entertain guests. Wireless Internet Hotspot is available in the entire hotel and is free of charge. Private parking is possible on site (reservation is needed) and costs EUR 13 per day.

Hotel Rules: The Check in time for the hotel is from 14:00 hours and the Check out time is until 11:00 hours. Cancellation and prepayment policies vary by room type. All children under 3 years stay free of charge when using existing bedding. All children under 2 years stay free of charge for cots. All older children or adults are charged EUR 45 per night per person for extra beds. Maximum capacity of extra beds/babycots in a room is 1. Any type of extra bed/cot or crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by the hotel. Supplements will not be calculated automatically in the total costs and have to be paid separately in the hotel. Pets are not allowed. American Express , Visa, Euro/Mastercard, Diners Club – are all acceptable. The hotel reserves the right to pre-authorize credit cards prior to arrival.

Hotel Room Types and Rates:

Twin Room: €127
Included in room price: 10% VAT, breakfast
Non-Refundable

Twin Room: €160
Included in room price: 10% VAT, breakfast
FREE cancellation

Business Triple Room: €199
Included in room price: 10% VAT, breakfast
Non-Refundable

Business Triple Room: €209
Included in room price: 10% VAT, breakfast
FREE cancellation

Junior Suite: €204
Included in room price: 10% VAT, breakfast
Non-Refundable

Junior Suite: €214
Included in room price: 10% VAT, breakfast
FREE cancellation

Standard Double Room: €127
Included in room price: 10% VAT, breakfast
Non-Refundable

Standard Double Room: €134
Included in room price: 10% VAT, breakfast
FREE cancellation

Business Single Room: €115
Included in room price: 10% VAT, breakfast
Non-Refundable

Business Single Room: €121
Included in room price: 10% VAT, breakfast
FREE cancellation

Superior double room: €174
Included in room price: 10% VAT, breakfast
FREE cancellation

Superior double room: €165
Included in room price: 10% VAT, breakfast
Non-Refundable

Business Double Room: €168
Included in room price: 10% VAT, breakfast
Non-Refundable

Business Double Room: €240
Included in room price: 10% VAT, breakfast
FREE cancellation

Amenities at the Hotel: Restaurant, Bar, 24-Hour Front Desk, Newspapers, Non-Smoking Rooms, Rooms/Facilities for Disabled Guests, Elevator, Safe, Baggage Storage, Ski Storage – are some of the facilities provided. Other facilities include – Meeting/Banquet Facilities, Business Center. Sauna, Skiing, Solarium, Ski School – are provided to entertain the guests. Free private parking is possible on site (reservation is not needed).Wi-Fi free of any charge is available.

Hotel Rules: The Check in time for the hotel is from 15:00 hours and the Check out time is until 12:00 hours. Cancellation and prepayment policies vary by room type. All children under 6 years stay free of charge when using existing bedding. All children under 2 years stay free of charge for cots. All older children or adults are charged EUR 25 per night per person for extra beds. Maximum capacity of extra beds/baby cots in a room is 1. Any type of extra bed/cot or crib is upon request and needs to be confirmed by the hotel. Supplements will not be calculated automatically in the total costs and have to be paid separately in the hotel. Pets are allowed on request. Extra charges may be applicable. American Express, Visa, Euro/MasterCard, Diners Club, JCB– are all acceptable. The hotel reserves the right to pre-authorize credit cards prior to arrival.

Hotel Room Types and Rates:

Double Room: €114
Included in room price: 10% VAT, breakfast
Non-Refundable

Double Room: €120
Included in room price: 10% VAT, breakfast
FREE cancellation

Triple Room: €195
Included in room price: 10% VAT, breakfast
Non-Refundable

Triple Room: €145
Included in room price: 10% VAT, breakfast
FREE cancellation