Seegrube Cable Car

The Nordkette Cable Car can whisk you from central Innsbruck into a world of spectacular views, stunning alpine trails and world-class ski fields in just 20 minutes. At one of the stops along the way, enjoy lunch or a coffee at over 6,000 feet (1,830 metres) above sea level.

The Nordkette Cable Car has been running since 1928, but has undergone several refurbishments, including a recent modern makeover. The cable car and two of its stations were designed by the award-winning architect Zaha Hadid. The curved, cloud-like shapes of the buildings are a worthy sight even without the surrounding mountain views.

The base of the cable car is located just outside the Old Town centre. The first vantage point is the Hungerberg station, which sits at roughly 2,821 feet (860 metres) above sea level. Stop here for impressive views across Innsbruck. This peak is noteworthy for being cloud-free for over 300 days of the year.

From here, climb aboard one of the new cable cars and travel to the Seegrube station, at 6,250 feet (1,905 metres). On a clear day you can see all the way to the Italian border, with valleys and ravines in between.

Stop and enjoy the views over a meal or snack. There’s a buffet restaurant and a more up-market lounge, both offering fantastic panoramas. From here, explore numerous walking trails lined with wildflowers in the summer, and some excellent skiing in the winter.

Ride the cable car to the final stop, Hafelekar, which sits at 7,401 feet (2,255 metres) above sea level. See the stark contrast of the busy valley of Innsbruck on one side and the raw nature of the Alps on the other.

The Nordkette Cable Car runs every 15 minutes, seven days a week, from early in the morning until late in the evening. There are different ticket prices depending on how high you want to go. At the base of the cable car there is free parking and a nearby bus stop.