Museums In Innsbruck
Innsbruck is a city rich in art, culture, and history. It features a wide range of museums that satisfy different interests and tastes, ranging from brilliant crystals and interactive displays to historical relics and modern technologies.
Among the best museums in Innsbruck are the Golden Roof (Goldenes Dachl), housed in a landmark building covered in gilded copper tiles that chronicles the life of Emperor Maximilian I, and the Swarovski Kristallwelten, which presents an intriguing exhibition of Swarovski crystals and artistic installations. In the
While Experience Tirol offers a hands-on experience of the natural and cultural legacy of Tyrol, Tyrolean Folk Art Museum is committed to safeguarding the traditional culture and folk art of the region. Offering insight into a turning point in Tyrolean history, the Tirol Panorama museum boasts an amazing 360-degree depiction of the Battle of Bergisel.
Visitors can also investigate the science of hearing at the AUDIOVERSUM – Science Center and the historic craft of bell making at the Grassmayr Bell Foundry. Among Austria’s oldest and most extensive museums, the Tyrolean Provincial Museum (Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum) features a vast array of objects, artworks, and natural history displays spanning the development of Tyrol from ancient times to the present. .
Both art and history buffs should visit Innsbruck because of its rich cultural legacy and varied museum collections.
Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum
Originally founded as the Tirolisches Nationalmuseum with Archduke Johann among its organizers in 1823, the Tiroler Landesmuseum Ferdinadeum, sometimes known as the Ferdinadeum, has its roots in Designed by Innsbruck master builder Anton Mutschlechner, the initial museum building was finished between 1842 and 1846. Later renovations and expansions in 1884–1886 confirmed its importance as one of the main homes of the Tyrolean State Museums.
Along with other cultural institutions including the Folk Art Museum, the Hofkirche, and the Tirol Panorama, the recently established Tiroler Landesmuseen-Betriebsgesellschaft mbH assumed operating duties including management of the Ferdinandeum in 2007. Under the direction of Peter Assmann, who also serves as the museum’s director, the association, with more than 2700 members as of 2014, has become a stakeholder and owner of the seven collections from the Ferdinandeum as well as the museum building.
Seven separate collections housed in the Ferdinandeum each add to their varied offerings:
- Providing understanding of Tyrol’s prehistory, Roman era, and early Middle Ages, prehistoric and provincial Roman collections
- Featuring works by eminent artists as Michael Pacher, Lucas Cranach the Elder, Rembrandt van Rijn, and Gustav Klimt, Older Art History Collections highlight Romanesque era art and crafts from the 19th century.
- Modern Gallery: Featuring works by Albin Egger-Lienz, Max Weiler, Oskar Kokoschka, and modern Tyrolean artists in 20th and 21st centuries.
- Graphics Collection: Comprising contemporary photography spanning the 15th century to the present, together with prints and drawings.
- Providing a summary of Tyrol from the Middle Ages to the present with an eye toward individuals like Andreas Hofer and elements like silver mining in Schwaz and Tyrolean cartography.
- Valuable instruments housed in Music Collections include ancient keyboard and wind instruments, Jakob Stainer violins, and a listening chamber highlighting Tyrolean musical innovation.
- Library: Comprising a chosen Tyrolean collection as well as the large private library of Andreas Alois Baron von Treuheim, which features the Oswald-of-Wolkenstein manuscript.
By means of these collections, the Ferdinandeum functions as a complete archive of Tyrolean history, culture, and creative legacy, therefore satisfying different interests and promoting a closer knowledge of the great legacy of the area.
Tyrolean Folk Art Museum
Originally housed close to the Innsbruck Hofkirche, the Tyrolean Folk Art Museum began with largely acquired items before to the First World War. Reflecting the wide reach of the medieval county of Tyrol, which includes South Tyrol, Trentino, and the Ladin valleys, outside of the contemporary Tyrol state, the museum keeps looking for acquisitions from these places. Beginning in the 1930s, objects mostly from rural, middle-class, and aristocratic backgrounds highlight many facets of local life including handicrafts, arts, household industry, popular piety, and traditions, most notably including a large collection of Christmas and Easter cribs.
Launched in 2009, the museum’s exhibition uses provocative elements like Lucifer from the St. Nicholas play to engage visitors through personal digital assistants, therefore generating fresh viewpoints. The “Pralles Jahr” on the first level shows a year-long cycle of church celebrations, folk customs, and labor; the second level, “Precarious Life,” looks at how past civilizations faced life’s hardships through rituals, magic, and thanksfulness. Dedicated research explores household industry, labor, belongings, and inheritance. On the theme of “Being and Appearance,” a historically rebuilt photo studio also shows the idealized makeover of peasant clothing.
Media screens entwine with the nearby Hofkirche to improve the museum’s connection with its surrounds. While the first and second levels depict paneled chambers from many historical eras, allowing insights into Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque, and Rococo styles, remaining essentially untouched since their creation in 1929, the ground floor mostly consists of cribs. Both visitors and scholars will continue to find great value in the museum’s thorough presentation of Tyrolean folk art and cultural legacy.
Museum im Zeughaus (Armory Museum)
Maximilian I built the armory in Innsbruck, currently a museum and among the five houses of the Tyrolean State Museums, between 1500 and 1505. Originally used as a military arsenal for weapons and supplies, this two-story wing construction in the Dreiheiligen neighborhood surrounds a large inner courtyard with other buildings for storage.
Innsbruck’s vital location as a transportation hub and the booming armaments business made possible by copper mining in Tyrol shaped the site choice. The armory’s importance in wartime logistics is further shown by the roughly 150 guns it kept by 1503.
Originally serving as a “army barracks” until 1918, the structure was extensively rebuilt between 1964 and 1969 and reopened in 1973 as the Tyrolean Regional Museum. Leading the rehabilitation project, Architect Robert Schuller maintained the old facade while strengthening the construction with contemporary materials to satisfy monument conservation criteria. With its narrow ribbed exposed concrete ceiling reminiscent of the original timber tram ceiling, the museum maintained its historical character despite modifications.
Flooding from the Sill River caused major damage to the armory in 1985, mostly compromising the natural history holdings of the basement. Still, efforts at reconstruction and restoration of damaged sections have never stopped.
Now housed in the armory is a portion of the Tyrolean State Museum, exhibiting a technical and historical collection spanning Tyrol’s cultural past from prehistory to the present. The inner courtyard accommodates open-air cinema and music events during the summer months, therefore enhancing the museum’s offers and interacting with the surrounding community. Special exhibitions are often presented.
Ambras Innsbruck Castle
The sole federal museum in Austria not housed in the capital city, Schloss Ambras Innsbruck is an art museum located on the outskirts of Innsbruck. Under the direction of the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien (KHM), it is situated inside the Renaissance complex of Ambras Castle consisting of the Lower Castle, the High Castle, and the Spanish Hall.
The basis of the museum is the collection of eminent Habsburg family member Archduke Ferdinand II. After ascending to King of Tyrol in 1567, Ferdinand II transported his well-known Prague treasures to Ambras Castle, where they stayed until after his death in 1595. Though ownership and periods of neglect changed later, attempts to conserve and arrange the collection started in the 19th century; restoration work finished in the 1830s.
Important events influencing the preservation and accessibility of the collections were the use of the castle as a military hospital and barracks as well as the removal of items to Vienna for security during Napoleon’s control. After Austria lost in 1805, some of the collection was on show in Vienna and Tyrol, finally serving as the core for the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.
Ambras Castle has been owned by the Republic of Austria since 1919; first under Ministry of Education’s control, Beginning restoration work in 1922, the complex reopened as a museum. After World War II, the palace administration took care of the buildings and relics; full control then passed to the Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien in 1950.
For Austria, Schloss Ambras Innsbruck is a major cultural and historical resource as evidence of the legacy Archduke Ferdinand II left. By means of painstaking preservation and continuous exhibition activities, the museum keeps presenting the rich artistic legacy connected with the Habsburg monarchy and Tyrolean history.
Tyrol Panorama Museum
Renowned for its main display, the Innsbruck massive cyclorama, the Tirol Panorama is a museum housed among the Tyrolean State Museums in Innsbruck. Covering a thousand square meter area, Michael Zeno Diemer’s panoramic painting, this cyclorama, shows the third Battle of Bergisel on August 13, 1809.
Guided via the permanent exhibit “Schauplatz Tirol,” which leads underground to the Kaiserjägermuseum, visitors to the museum enjoy layered learning. Through four subject divisions—Religion, Nature, Politics, and People—the exhibition “Schauplatz Tirol” investigates the “Myth of Tyrol.” With noteworthy aspects like a display highlighting nature featuring an ancient Muttereralmbahn cable car gondola and plush animals, the exhibition space physically divides into different sections.
The political area features items like Emperor Maximilian I’s Landlibell from 1511 and the head of the horse from the “Aluminum Duce” monument. Interactive “tree trunks” show Tyrolean styles including objects connected to former governor Eduard Wallnöfer and painter Anna Stainer-Knittel. Religious exhibits also include fresco plans by Max Weiler and a baroque pulpit.
Max Weiler’s mural “Archduke Ferdinand II and Philippine Welser at Ambras Castle” was moved to the Tirol Panorama and housed in the museum café on February 21, 2011. Previously on the dining room of the ancient Hotel Tyrol in Innsbruck, this massive 28 square meter piece weighs a ton and was split into 24 separate portions for transportation.
Tiroler MuseumsBahnen (TMB)
Tasked with preserving and recording Tyrol’s historically important municipal railways and rail carriages, Tiroler Museums Bahnen (TMB) “Tyrolean museum railways” consists on three key elements:
Built in Innsbruck at the old Stubai train station in 1985, the Tyrolean Localbahn Museum With its look into the railway history of the area, this museum has grown to be a favourite site for train buffs all around. Using the museum ticket as the shuttle ticket, a museum shuttle carries guests between the museum and the city center throughout the summer.
a car gathering kept in Innsbruck’s old Stubai Valley Railway depot. Beginning with vehicles from the Stubai Valley Railway in 1983, the collection has grown over time to include vehicles from several local lines. Parking automobiles Comprising 27 vehicles—including locomotives, sidecars, goods cars, and snow sweepers—that reflected four municipal railways and one tram operator as of 2017.
An association run by volunteers in charge of running the local railway museum, restoring and preserving vintage cars, planning excursions using running vehicles, and biannual publication of the magazine “Lyra”. These initiatives help to preserve and promote Tyrol’s railway legacy, therefore encouraging interest and involvement among both enthusiasts and the general public.
Kaiserjäger Museum
Dedicated to the history and successes of the kuk Kaiserjäger, an elite infantry regiment of the Austro-Hungarian army from Tyrol, the Kaiserjäger Museum is situated on the Bergisel plateau in Innsbrak. Having been founded in 1816, the Kaiserjäger were well-known for their marksmanship, agility, and allegiance to the Habsburg monarchy; they fought in the Napoleonic Wars and the First World War among other wars.
Closely associated with the Tyrolean Rebellion of 1809, the Kaiserjäger’s legacy entwine with Andreas Hofer, a well-known leader in Tyrolean opposition to French and Bavarian rule. Guerrilla methods and Hofer’s leadership reflect Tyrolean patriotism and opposition against injustice.
Establishing the Kaiserjäger Museum in 1880 to honor the legacy of his regiment, Colonel Knöpfler presented a varied collection of relics, weaponry, clothing, and records. Paying honor to Tyrolean martyrs and heroes, the museum also features the Andreas Hofer Gallery and the Tyrolean Hall of Honor.
Nestled on the Bergisel plateau close to the Andreas Hofer monument, the museum provides a magnificent perspective of Innsbruck and the neighboring mountains. When the monument was opened in 1893, Emperor Franz Joseph I commended the displays in the museum.
With mediaeval monasteries, Roman walls, and ancient towns, the Bergisel plateau has historical importance. Beside the museum is a park and cemetery honoring the 20,000 Kaiserjäger who lost their lives in the First World War. The grave of the unknown Kaiserjäger rests here.
Visual Museum Innsbruck
Focused on optical illusions, the Visual Museum in Innsbruck presents an original and interesting experience. Visitors can investigate the tricks that affect perception—including changing forms, sizes, and colors, chambers defying gravity, and disappearing images—by means of more than 100 exhibitions. The museum improves knowledge of how these events affect daily life by offering insights on their psychological and scientific bases.
Beyond just viewing, the Visual Museum promotes interaction and innovation. Through games and experiments testing logic, memory, and attention, visitors can touch, move, and modify displays. The museum also provides a backdrop for catching special images and recordings, therefore encouraging enjoyment among friends and relatives.
With entrance rates ranging from 8 to 12 euros, the Visual Museum welcomes daily visitors from 10:00 to 18:00 conveniently situated close to the city center. Booking via the museum website or getting in touch personally by phone or email will allow guided tours and group visits.
Combining science, art, and entertainment, the Visual Museum appeals to a varied audience looking for fresh encounters and unforgettable events. Among the magical realm of optical illusions, it presents a chance to question ideas, grow personally, and make lifelong memories.
Swarovski Crystal Worlds
For guests of all ages, the Swarovski Crystal Worlds in Wattens, Austria provide an intriguing encounter. Just twenty kilometers east of Innsbruck, this charming site boasts a magnificent garden and famous giant upon entrance.
The experience is about participatory fun for the whole family as well as appreciation of crystal beauty and workmanship. Rising walls, slides, and interactive games on the four-story play tower guarantees hours of fun. While the carousel with crystal animals treats guests, the playground, labyrinth, and children’s workshops inspire imagination and inquiry.
Inside the massive, guests can see the eighteen Chambers of Wonder, original creations created by famous designers and artists. These artworks, which highlight Hollywood history in The Art of Performance chamber and the chilling Silent Light room, use Swarovski crystals to convey different ideas and themes. Especially, the physical-meditative light experience of artist James Turrell provides a unique immersion in color and shape.
Visitors can peruse the Swarovski Store for jewelry and mementos including customized crystal items before leaving. Complementing beautiful views of the crystal garden, the café and restaurant “Daniels Kristallwelten” present mouthwatering cuisine created with fresh, local products.
From 10:00 to 18:00, the Swarovski Crystal Worlds are open daily; admission costs run from 6 to 21 euros. Additionally available are combined tickets including shuttle bus travel from Innsbruck.
Golden Roof Museum
Standing as a major sight in Innsbruck, Tyrol, the Golden Roof, covered with 2,656 fire-gilded copper tiles, enthralls visitors for almost five centuries. Designed for Emperor Maximilian I’s wedding celebrations in 1494, it was a royal box for viewing events below and features finely detailed paintings and sculptures honoring his heritage and accomplishments.
The Golden Roof Museum first opened in 2003 to provide a closer knowledge of this famous building and the emperor behind it. Comprising three levels, the museum honors Maximilian’s legacy and Tyrolean history by means of a combination of centuries-old relics and contemporary audiovisual technologies housed within the same building. From original Golden Roof artwork to interactive exhibits delving into Maximilian’s background and Innsbruck’s modern aspects including the Olympic Games and travel sector, exhibits range.
Beyond history buffs, the museum offers families and kids with interesting events including themed seminars and puzzle rallies. Through games, quizzes, and dress-up chances as knights and princesses, young guests can fully engage themselves in the emperor’s universe thereby guaranteeing an enriching experience for all ages.
Open daily except Mondays; the museum welcomes guests from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; entry rates run from 4.50 to 7.50 euros.
Glockenmuseum (Grassmayr Bells Museum)
The Glockenmuseum (Grassmayr Bells Museum) is a museum dedicated to the history and art of bell-making, located in Innsbruck, Austria. The museum is part of the Grassmayr Bell Foundry, a family business that has been producing and restoring bells for over 400 years. The museum showcases the traditional and modern techniques of bell casting, as well as the cultural and religious significance of bells around the world. The museum also features a sound room, where visitors can experience the acoustic diversity and complexity of bells, and a bell garden, where they can see and touch some of the largest and oldest bells made by the Grassmayr family.
The Glockenmuseum was founded in 1965 by Johann Grassmayr, the 12th generation of the bell-making dynasty. He wanted to preserve and share the knowledge and craftsmanship of his ancestors, as well as to educate the public about the importance and beauty of bells. The museum was renovated and expanded in 2010, with the help of the Austrian federal ministry of culture, which awarded the museum the Austrian Museum Prize. The museum also received the Maecenas Prize from the Austrian television ORF for its innovative concept and design.
The Glockenmuseum is open from Monday to Friday, from 10:00 to 16:00, and closed on Sundays and public holidays. The admission fee is € 9.50 for adults, € 5.00 for children (6-14 years), and € 24.00 for families. Guided tours are available on request, in English, French, Italian, and German, for groups of up to 30 people. The museum is located at Leopoldstrasse 53, Innsbruck, 6020, and can be reached by bus, tram, or car. The museum also offers a combined ticket with the Innsbruck City Tour, which includes a visit to the historic old town and other attractions.
Innsbruck Archaeological Museum
The Archaeological Museum of Innsbruck, established in 1869 by Karl Schenkl, boasts a comprehensive collection of casts and original artifacts from various ancient civilizations. Initially focused on Greek and Roman sculptures, the museum expanded its collection over the years, acquiring pottery, coins, inscriptions, and jewelry, both through donations and archaeological excavations.
With approximately 1000 artifacts, the museum stands as the largest collection of classical antiquities in western Austria and holds a unique position within Tyrolean museum offerings. The collection spans from the Bronze Age to the early Middle Ages and is divided between two locations: the original site in the university’s main building and the new Centre for Ancient Cultures.
The original site showcases the evolution of Greek and Roman sculpture, featuring iconic pieces like the Venus de Milo and the Laocoön group. Additionally, it houses original sculptures such as Roman portrait busts and marble sarcophagi. The new Centre for Ancient Cultures explores various aspects of ancient art and culture, including architecture, religion, daily life, and funerary customs. It also delves into the history and archaeology of Tyrol in antiquity, covering topics like the Roman settlement of Veldidena and the cult of Mithras.
Museum of Anatomy
If you are curious about the inner workings of the human body, you might want to visit the Anatomical Museum in Innsbruck, Austria. This museum is part of the city’s university and is housed in the Institute of Anatomy building. Here, you can see human specimens such as skeletons, skulls, and various models that illustrate the structure and function of different organs and systems. You can also see both moist and dry specimens, which are preserved in different ways. For example, jars containing dissected organs such as lungs, hearts, and many more are examples of moist specimens, while plastinated bodies and body parts are examples of dry specimens.
The museum provides information about the work and history of anatomy, which is the branch of science that studies the structure of living organisms. You can learn about the pioneers of anatomy, such as Andreas Vesalius, who published the first comprehensive book on human anatomy in 1543, or Joseph Hyrtl, who donated his collection of skulls to the museum in 1869. You can also learn about the techniques and methods used by anatomists, such as dissection, microscopy, and imaging.
The museum is open to the public, but visitors should be advised that actual individuals and body parts are on exhibit. Some people might find the displays disturbing or unsettling, so discretion is advised. The museum is not suitable for children under 14 years old. The museum also has a strict policy of no photography, no touching, and no eating or drinking inside the exhibition rooms.
Taxispalais - Kunsthalle Tirol
The Taxispalais – Kunsthalle Tirol, housed in the Palais Fugger Taxis, serves as the primary institution for contemporary art in Tyrol. Initially used by the Tyrolean Trade Association to showcase arts and crafts in 1911, it evolved into a prominent exhibition space for Tyrolean artists. Over the years, it underwent various transformations, from serving as a library during the French occupation in 1945 to becoming a venue for individual exhibits until 1955.
In 1963, the Tyrolean state government decided to allocate the premises to the cultural department, leading to the establishment of the Taxispalais gallery in 1964. Initially overseen by a board of trustees, the gallery showcased a diverse range of art, including hosting Austria’s first Gerhard Richter exhibition in 1973. Over time, the gallery’s focus shifted from classic modernism to contemporary art.
Silvia Eiblmayr, the inaugural director, emphasized Eastern European art and gender concerns during her tenure from 1999 to 2008. Beate Ermacora succeeded her in 2009, curating monographic shows and group exhibitions related to social and art historical themes. After Ermacora’s illness, Jürgen Tabor served as temporary manager until Nina Tabassomi assumed the directorship in 2017, with a focus on postcolonial and feminist topics.
Under Tabassomi’s leadership, the gallery was renamed “Taxispalais Kunsthalle Tirol” in 2017 to better reflect its non-profit status, marking a new chapter in its history as a vital hub for contemporary art in Tyrol.
