What is the Hofburg in Innsbruck?
The Hofburg is a former Habsburg palace in Innsbruck and one of Austria‘s three most significant cultural buildings (alongside Vienna‘s Hofburg and Schönbrunn Palace). Originally completed in 1500 under Emperor Maximilian I, it owes its current appearance to Empress Maria Theresa, who had it rebuilt in Viennese Rococo style between 1750 and 1770.
The palace complex spans about 400 rooms across roughly 5,000 square metres. It’s been a favourite Habsburg residence for over 450 years and served everyone from Maximilian I to Empress Elisabeth (Sisi). Today it’s a museum that tells the story of Austrian imperial power, political marriages, and personal tragedies — all wrapped up in Rococo splendour.
What to see at the Hofburg Innsbruck
The Giants’ Hall at the Hofburg, Innsbruck
The Giants’ Hall (Riesensaal) is the most important banquet hall in western Austria. Despite the name, it’s not called that because of its size but rather for the former wall paintings depicting giant scenes. Those are long gone — today the walls display portraits of Maria Theresa, her husband Franz Stephan of Lorraine, and their 16 children. Yes, 16. The portraits demonstrate both the fertility and political power of an exceptional monarch who married her children off across Europe’s royal houses.
The hall features gilded chandeliers, ornate frescoes, and shining marble floor tiles. This was where the wedding banquet for Maria Theresa’s son Leopold (later Leopold II) was set up in 1765 — and where Franz Stephan was later laid out after his sudden death during those same celebrations. Rather puts a dampener on a wedding, that.
The Guard Hall at the Hofburg, Innsbruck
The Guard Hall (Gardesaal) served as the reception room for the Giants’ Hall and was considered part of the “men’s side” of the palace. Large battle scenes depict Charles V of Lorraine during the Ottoman Wars — he was the Imperial General and first Governor of Tyrol, married to Eleonore von Habsburg, and grandfather to Franz Stephan.
Hofburg Innsbruck Imperial Apartments
The Imperial Apartments on the second floor include a salon, beauty salon, study, dressing room, and several bedrooms, each decorated in different colours with furniture from the second half of the 19th century. These rooms were luxuriously furnished for Empress Elisabeth (Sisi) in the mid-19th century by Archduke Karl Ludwig.
The silk fabrics are of rare quality, and the colour scheme is genuinely extravagant — one room pink, the next blue, each more showy than the last. The high-quality toilet furniture and single bed refer to Sisi’s cult of beauty and her individuality. She only actually stayed here four times, but the rooms remain a testament to her particular tastes and the lengths the Habsburgs went to accommodate her.
The Hofburg Chapel
After Franz Stephan’s sudden death during Leopold’s wedding celebrations, Maria Theresa had the anteroom where he died converted into the Hofburg Chapel in 1766. The chapel features high Baroque sculpture and remains a memorial to her beloved husband. At least once a year, a memorial service is still held dedicated to him.
Maximilian I exhibition at the Hofburg, Innsbruck
The first floor houses a permanent exhibition about Emperor Maximilian I‘s life and times, created in 2019 for the 500th anniversary of his death. Using modern technology and digital media, it brings the late Gothic period to life. You’ll learn about his tournaments (the man loved a good joust), his political manoeuvring, and his vision for Habsburg power.
The exhibition includes a fascinating 3D reconstruction of the castle and surrounding area showing what life was like in a medieval castle. There’s also information about the Kürnstube (home to Maximilian’s hunting trophies), the Silver chamber (treasury), and the Festival Hall with its depictions of Hercules.
The Gothic Cellar at Innsbruck’s Hofburg
The reception area from Maximilian’s time survives as the “Gothic Cellar,” built as a large hall with columns and vaults. It exudes a palpable atmosphere of mystery and history with its ribbed vaulting — a complete contrast to the Rococo splendour upstairs.
Andreas Hofer connection
During the Napoleonic Wars, after the Habsburgs ceded Tyrol to Bavaria in 1805, the Hofburg became a residence of King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria. In 1809, Andreas Hofer led an uprising against the occupying Bavarian administration, and following the successful Third Battle of Bergisel, Hofer moved into the Hofburg for two months as the leader of Tyrol. A grand hall now bears his name.
Visiting the Hofburg in Innsbruck: practical information
Hofburg Innsbruck opening hours and admission
Opening hours: Daily 9.00am to 5.00pm (including national holidays).
Last admission: 4.30pm.
Important note: The palace occasionally closes for events, maintenance, or restoration work. Check the official website for specific closure dates.
Admission:
- Combined tickets for Imperial Apartments and Maximilian I exhibition cost €15 for adults and €10 for concessions. For the Imperial Apartments only, it’s €9.50/ €7. For the Maximiliian I exhibition only, it’s €7.50/ €5.
- Reduced rates for people with disabilities, students (with ID), and seniors.
- Free for children and young people up to age 19.
- Free with Innsbruck Card.
Audio guides: Included with admission, available in multiple languages.
Photography: Strictly prohibited inside the palace — yes, you can roll your eyes, but they’re serious about it. Copyright restrictions apply.
Special admission: Ukrainian citizens displaced by the war can visit free of charge with documentation.
Why book the Innsbruck Card for sightseeing and transport?
- Free access to top attractions: Visit museums, historic sites and landmarks in Innsbruck without paying individual entrance fees.
- Free public transport included: Use buses and trains within the city at no extra cost, making it easier to get around.
- Flexible duration options: Choose a 24-hour, 48-hour or 72-hour pass to match your travel schedule.
- Save time and money: One pass covers many things — great for first-time visitors wanting convenience and value.
- Easy digital format: Use the card on your phone — no need to print any tickets or vouchers.
Getting to the Hofburg, Innsbruck
Address: Rennweg 1, 6020 Innsbruck
From train station: 15 minutes on foot.
From Golden Roof: 3 minutes on foot.
From airport: 20 minutes by taxi/bus/car.
Public transport:
- Bus/Tram: “Museumstraße” stop.
- Bus line F: “Congress” stop.
- The Sightseer: “Congress/Hofburg” stop.
Hofburg Innsbruck accessibility
The Hofburg has been awarded the ‘Golden Wheelchair’ seal of quality. Wheelchair users can enter via the disabled entrance in the Great Courtyard (ring the bell). The first flight of stairs is accessed via stair lift, then lifts lead to exhibition rooms. Barrier-free toilets are on the ground floor and 2nd floor. Locks for lifts and toilets use the Eurokey system.
Five great things to do in Innsbruck
- 🚵 Explore the Alpine villages on an ebike tour.
- 🍽️ Take a traditional food tour and indulge in classic Tyrolean dishes.
- 🪂 Fly over the Stubai Valley on a tandem paragliding adventure.
- 🏰 Take a private day tour to the fairytale Neuschwanstein Castle.
- 🎶 Embrace the cheese at a Tyrolean folk show.
How long to spend at the Hofburg
Minimum visit: 1 to 1.5 hours for the main highlights.
Recommended: 2 hours to properly explore both the Imperial Apartments and Maximilian I exhibition.
Don’t rush through the Imperial Apartments — each room has been carefully restored and decorated in period style, and the colour schemes alone deserve attention.
Hofburg Innsbruck: Nearby attractions
- Hofkirche (Court Church): Immediately adjacent — Gothic church with Maximilian I’s cenotaph surrounded by 28 larger-than-life bronze “Black Men” statues and the Silver Chapel.
- Tyrolean Folk Art Museum: Next door — traditional Tyrolean folk art, costumes, and Christmas cribs.
- Hofgarten (Court Garden): Adjacent — free 10-hectare park with palm house (1,700 plant species), music pavilion, outdoor chess, and lovely old trees.
- Golden Roof (Goldenes Dachl): 3-minute walk — Innsbruck’s most famous landmark with 2,657 fire-gilded copper tiles.
- City Tower (Stadtturm): 5-minute walk — medieval watchtower with 360-degree views from 51-metre height.
- Dom zu St. Jakob (St. James’ Cathedral): Short walk — baroque cathedral with Lucas Cranach the Elder’s Maria Hilf painting and Asam brothers’ frescoes.
- Maria-Theresien-Straße: 5-minute walk — main baroque shopping street with Triumphpforte arch and mountain views.
Dining near the Hofburg
Café Sacher Innsbruck: Branch of the famous Vienna café, located on-site or nearby. Perfect for a slice of Sachertorte after your visit.
Tips for visiting the Hofburg Innsbruck
- Buy tickets online or arrive early to avoid potential queues during peak season.
- The Innsbruck Card offers excellent value if visiting multiple attractions.
- ÖBB Plus Ticket offers reduced-price entrance if you’re travelling by train.
- Audio guides are included — use them, as the written explanations can be succinct.
- Remember: no photography inside. Leave your camera in your bag.
- Visit on a Sunday if you’re a family with children — families with one child or more (along with parents or grandparents) have free admission.
- Combine your visit with the adjacent Hofkirche for a full Habsburg history experience.
- Don’t miss the Hofgarten afterwards — it’s free to enter and genuinely lovely, with 10 hectares of landscaped gardens, old trees, a pond, music pavilion, outdoor chess area, and palm house with approximately 1,700 plant species.
- The palace is occasionally used for high-profile events, so check for closures.
- Allow time to appreciate the restoration work — 15 years of effort went into restoring the rooms to their historical appearance.
Why visit the Hofburg Innsbruck?
The Hofburg offers an intimate look at Habsburg power and family life that you won’t get from the grander palaces in Vienna. Whilst Schönbrunn and Vienna’s Hofburg are undeniably impressive, Innsbruck’s Hofburg tells more personal stories — Maria Theresa’s grief over Franz Stephan’s sudden death, Sisi’s particular tastes and cult of beauty, Andreas Hofer’s brief moment of triumph, Maximilian’s sporting obsessions.
The combination of late Gothic history (Maximilian’s era) and Rococo splendour (Maria Theresa’s makeover) shows you two distinct periods of Habsburg rule in one palace. The Imperial Apartments are genuinely stunning, with each room decorated in different colours and fabrics — the attention to detail in Sisi’s rooms is extraordinary.
What makes it particularly worthwhile is that it’s one of Austria’s three most important historical buildings, yet it’s often less crowded than Vienna’s palaces. You get world-class Habsburg history without fighting through tour groups. The free admission for under-19s and the Sunday family offer make it accessible for families, whilst the barrier-free access ensures everyone can experience these magnificent rooms.
The location in the heart of Innsbruck, steps from the Hofkirche and Golden Roof, makes it easy to combine with other attractions. And honestly, walking through rooms where Maria Theresa mourned her husband whilst surrounded by portraits of her 16 children is rather moving — you get a real sense of the personal cost of imperial power.
Just remember: absolutely no photos inside. They’re quite serious about that bit. We’ll just pretend I didn’t sneak that photo of the Giants’ Hall.
More Innsbruck travel
Other Innsbruck travel articles include:
- Is the Bergisel ski jump in Innsbruck worth the entry fee?
- The incredible range of strudels at Innsbruck’s Kroll café.
- A practical guide to the Innsbruck Alpine Zoo.
- Visiting the world’s oldest existing museum at Schloss Ambras.
- What to expect at Swarovski Crystal Worlds.
