Nordkette Innsbruck
The Nordkette in Innsbruck is a must-see. A train and two cable cars take you to the Hafelekar, and from the Hafelekarspitze you have a fantastic view of the city of Innsbruck. But that's not all.
Nordkette
On the northern side of Innsbruck is the Nordkette with the Hafelekarspitze. The ideal location for a good view of the city. If you decide to visit the Nordkette, do so on a day when the weather is either very nice or semi-overcast. If it is completely cloudy, there is unfortunately no point, as you will have no view.
The base station of the Hungerburgbahn for the ride to the Nordkette is located right in the centre of Innsbruck, next to the congress centre. Just follow the Nordkette signs and you'll get here automatically. To get all the way to the top, you need to buy a return ticket to the Hafelekar. A return ticket without discount costs €47 but trust me, this is worth it. What I personally loved already was the train ride. When the little train enters, you have the idea that this is a very normal train. As soon as the train leaves the station, however, it turns out to be a very special train that can ride up the mountain in a special way. The first part doesn't take very long, because before you know it you are on the Hungerburg. There you have to change to the cable car. There is nothing spectacular about this, just a simple ride to the middle station.
At the middle station, the Seegrube, you once again have to transfer to a cable car that is already waiting. Again, this is a short ride. The biggest surprise for me actually started at the very top. No not the amazing view you now have of Innsbruck (when it's not cloudy). You have to walk from the top station to the little hut you see a few metres away. If all goes well, from here you have a view of the valley on the other side of the mountain. And that view is spectacular! This is definitely worth it. The tops of the mountains here consist purely of rock, there are no trees growing here. Below you now see a green plateau, an area made up of lots of trees. If it's slightly cloudy with the sun on top, you get a great effect as the clouds drift over the forest. The shadows of the clouds, combined with the blue skies, the grey rocks and all the green below make the whole thing a fantastically beautiful picture.
If you still feel like hiking, you can walk to the top of the Hafelekarspitze. If you are an experienced hiker, you can also choose to do the hikes from the mountain station to the middle station. For this you really need to have hiking poles with you and hiking boots on, otherwise do not even start. On the hike down, you have a chance of encountering real Alpine ibexes!
I think the Nordkette is Innsbruck's biggest surprise.
