Have some time to kill and looking for things to do in Innsbruck, Austria? Do you dream of exploring hidden ruins without crowds or tons of security measures? Did you know that Innsbruck has its very own set of castle ruins from the year 1200? We didn’t! We spent hours trying to figure out things to do in Innsbruck looking for day hikes that could be accessed by public transport and that didn’t cost a fortune in travel fees or gondolas to reach and found absolutely nothing.
We decided to hop on a bus and see where it went and randomly stumbled across some AWESOME castle ruins in the village of Thaur, right outside of Innsbruck! There is virtually no information online explaining how to find these ruins, so we put together this helpful guide so others can discover this epic mountain castle with ease. If you are looking for things to do in Innsbruck, this is the perfect day trip!
First thing is first…get yourself to an E bus.
Get on the E bus in the direction of Eichat Fohrerwald. The ride out of Innsbruck is beautiful and should only take about 10 minutes.
Get off at the Thaur Mitte stop. The stop will drop you off in a little city square with a roundabout. If you go to far, don’t worry! The next stop is close and you can walk back to the square. This is where you start your hike from. There are only three directions from the roundabout…you are going to want to take the road that goes directly up into the mountain. There is only one!
From the square, head to the only road that goes up the mountain.
You are currently at the yellow dot. You need to get to dot #5. Once you start walking up the road into the mountain, you will walk for about 5 minutes until the road forks. You are going to want to take the road that goes to the right. After winding past a few houses, the road turns from cement to dirt. When you reach a dirt road you know you are on the right path! Out of all the things to do in Innsbruck, this one is going to take you on a little adventure.
When you reach the dirt road, you are doing great!
The castle ruins share a hiking path with a catholic church. You will begin to see Stations of the Cross. Catholic tip: there are 14 stations of the cross. When you reach the 14th one, you are getting closer!
Follow the stations of the cross.
Once you reach the 14th station, you will see a gorgeous archway, which is the entrance onto the church property.
Once you reach the church, continue on the main gravel road up the mountain.
In a couple hundred meters, you will see a fence opening on your left, and a bit of the ruins rising above it.
Congratulations! You found Innsbruck’s hidden castle!
Be careful, and have fun exploring these ruins from the 1200’s. You might not be able to read any of the interpretive panels or understand the plaques, but you will get some awesome photos and have the chance to explore castle ruins without crowds or security breathing down your neck. The best part? It is 100% free! Perfect for budget travelers searching for things to do in Innsbruck!
What are your favorite things to do in Innsbruck? Let us know in the comments!
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