ÌÇÐÄvlog´«Ã½

Spend a morning or afternoon on this private tour exploring Innsbruck both on foot and by car, which gives you a chance to see more of the city and its surroundings. You’ll visit the Bergisel Ski Jump, used in the Winter Olympic Games in 1964, 1976 and 2012. From its viewing platform, you can take in far-reaching views over the city below. The stadium also contains information panels that tell you more about Innsbruck’s history and about its role in the Olympics and other winter sports competitions.

Then, with your private guide, you’ll drive down into the city for a walking tour of its Old Town. Your guide will point out key landmarks, such as the Hofkirche (Court Church) and the Hofburg palace with its Rococo architecture, all while filling you in on the history of the city, bringing facts and anecdotes to life.

Your private guide will pick you up from your hotel in Innsbruck and you’ll drive up to Bergisel Ski Jump, which opened in 1930 on the wooded slopes of Bergisel Hill. The ski jump was reconstructed in 2002 — its new sleek design was the work of Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid. This included the construction of a 47 m (154 ft) tower, which contains a viewing platform and a panoramic café for visitors. You can get an elevator to the top, where you can take in views over the city 250 m (820 ft) below and the surrounding snow-topped peaks of the Patscherkofel, Nordkette, Hohe Munde and Serles mountains.

The hill itself is an interesting site, having been the scene of several battles in 1809 during the Tyrolean War of Independence. You can find out more about its history through information panels in the stadium, as well as details on Innsbruck’s sporting heritage. Your guide can also tell you more and answer any questions you have.

You’ll then be driven down into the city, to explore the Alstadt (Old Town). Here, you’ll wander the cobblestone streets, which are lined with traditional narrow houses, as your guide tells you more about Innsbruck’s history. You’ll visit the main square, which is framed by Baroque and Rococo buildings, and pass several churches including the dazzling-white 16th-century Hofkirche, built as a memorial to Emperor Maximilian I who resided in the city in the late 15th century.

You’ll also see the Hofburg (Imperial Palace), a former Habsburg palace that was first constructed in the 15th century but underwent numerous renovations over the centuries. The building now houses museums detailing the lives of its past residents.

One of the city’s most distinctive features is the Goldenes Dachl (Golden Roof). The roof, sheltering a balcony, is made from 2,657 fire-gilded copper tiles, and was built by Emperor Maximilian I in celebration of his marriage. The ‘gold’ was meant to demonstrate how he wasn’t needing to marry for money.

The whole tour lasts approximately four hours. Once you’re done exploring, you’ll be dropped back at your hotel, or you can wander the town independently.