The Nordkette is a mountain range that is part of the largest nature reserve in Austria, the Karwendel Nature Park. The Nordkette is also called the Jewel of the Alps, as it provides gorgeous 360° views of the surrounding region. It is renowned for its ski slopes, hiking trails, tall peaks, and Europe's highest zoo. Easy to reach from the Innsbruck city center via cable car, the Nordkette is where you can indulge in thrilling adventures like paragliding and snowboarding while taking in the fresh air and incredible vistas. Get your Nordkette Innsbruck tickets to discover the beauty of the Alps from a new perspective.
Innsbruck is the fifth-largest city in Austria and is known for its beauty. The charming streets, with the snowy Alps looming over them, make for quite the picture. The Nordkette offers visitors an array of experiences that cannot be replicated or found elsewhere. Be it the Nordkette skiing & snowboarding experience, visiting one of Europe's highest zoos at Alpine Zoo (Alpen Zoo), or even enjoying a warm beverage atop the top of Innsbruck at Cloud 9, guests can look forward to experiencing the enchanting Alpine beauty in a host of different ways.
Designed by renowned architect Zaha Hadid, the Hungerberg funicular stations must be seen to be believed! The sleek, modern design complements the surrounding region, and the funicular transports you close to the cable car stations in eight minutes. The Nordkette Cable Car is perhaps the most famous of these experiences, where one can travel from the base to the top while admiring the powdery white snow under them. As you reach Seegrube station, you will be able to see the raw power of nature as you are surrounded by the rocky Karwendel.
Head to the top of Innsbruck at Hafelekar, which is 2300 m above sea level. This ticket gives you access to the Hungerburg funiculars, Seegruben cable cars, and Hafelekar cable cars, and takes you to the top to admire the scenic vistas. Note that the tickets can be canceled up to 24 hours before schedule, and are currently valid for the date selected during booking.
Discover Zaha Hadid's masterpiece, the Hungerburg Funicular, with these tickets, and get an up-close look at the splendid architecture at the four Hungerburg stations. This round trip ticket only gives you access to Hungerburg Funicular. While the ticket is only valid for the day selected at checkout, it can be canceled up to 24 hours in advance.
This ticket gives you access to a round trip on the Hungerburgbahn Funicular and a visit to the Alpine Zoo. Home to over a hundred species of Alpine flora and fauna, the zoo is a must-visit when in Innsbruck! Your tickets can be refunded up to 24 hours before the schedule and are valid only for the date selected at checkout.
Children under the age of 6 can travel for free. Those aged between 6-18 years and 65+ years can avail themselves of discounted Nordkette tickets as long as they have a valid ID. Students aged 19-27 years, too, can avail of a discounted ticket provided they have a valid student ID at hand.
The best way to buy your Nordkette Innsbruck tickets is to get them online. This offers you the safety and convenience of a cashless experience, lets you pick a date of the visit of your choice, and also allows you to avail of numerous deals and discounts offered by third-party ticketing websites.
Visitors of all ages will find that hiking is the best way to soak in the views of the pristine Alpine forests and mountains. With a range of trails with varying difficulties, you can take your pick and get walking! The new Seegrube circular panorama hiking trail is a 25-minute hike that offers exhilarating views of Innsbruck.
The Hungerburg Funicular, designed by renowned architect Zaha Hadid, opened to the public in 2007. Its four stations — Congress, Löwenhaus, Alpine Zoo, and Hungerburg —are inspired by the surrounding regions of ice and snow. The modern design resembles icy glaciers in the heart of the city.
The Nordkette cable car (Nordkettenbahn) is, without a doubt, the biggest highlight of the region. It gets you between stations and gives you a clear view of the stunning vistas. Also visit the Cable Car Railway Museum in the lower station of the Nordkette to learn about how the cable car and funicular systems came to be.
Arguably the most famous experiences at the Nordkette, skiing and snowboarding are a must-try when visiting the region! There are a total of six levels of varying difficulty, of which Hafelar Run is one of Europe’s steepest skiing slopes.
Indulge in a host of activities like parasailing and hand gliding, where you can take off from the Seegrube (1905 m) or the Hafelekar Peak (2300 m). Get a bird’s eye view of the surrounding region and its winding valleys.
Get a 360-degree panoramic view of Innsbruck from 2300 m above sea level. Hafelekar Peak’s viewing point is just a 15-minute walk from the Hafelekar Station.
One of the top highlights in the region, the Alpine Zoo is 750m above sea level, making it the highest zoo in Europe. It houses 150 species of animals like bears, lynx, wolves, fish, birds, and more.
Nordkette Innsbruck opening hours are 8 AM - 7 PM. The following is the schedule of the Nordkette Cable Car stations, which depart every 15 minutes:
Hungerburgbahn
Weekdays: 7:15 AM - 7:15 PM
Weekend + holidays: 8 AM - 7:15 PM
Seegrubenbahn
Daily: 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Hafelekarbahn
Daily: 9 AM - 7 PM
To get to the top of Innsbruck it is recommended you take the cable car from Congress Station, which is a 5-minute walk from the Golden Roof.
You can use the bus service to get to Hungerburg Funicular Congress Station. You can either take Bus H (to Schutzengelkirche or Wohnheim Saggen) to Congress/Hofburg, Bus M (to Mentlbergsiedlung) to Museumstraße, or tourist bus line TS from Hauptbahnhof Station.
The best time to visit Nordkette is between May end and August. This is typically when the summer season is in full swing. While there may be more visitors, the weather is pleasant, making it perfect for a visit.
If you want to avoid the crowd and then head to the venue during the winter season which is typically between November and February.
Visitors can pick from three options when it comes to dining facilities:
While Nordkette has a host of activities for you to enjoy, there are also a number of things to do and sights to see around Nordkette and Innsbruck, such as:
Nordkette Innsbruck has a number of safety measures in place such as the compulsory use of masks, the regular disinfection of all surfaces, and the mandatory negative COVID tests for those who want to go skiing, among others.
Yes, Nordkette Innsbruck tickets can be purchased online and at the venue. However, it is encouraged that you make the purchase of your Nordkette tickets online for a safe and contactless experience.
Yes, if you cancel 24 hours in advance, you can get a full refund on your tickets.
Yes, the entire premises of the Nordkette is wheelchair-friendly.
Usually, the frequency of each Nordkette cable car is of 15 minutes.
Depending on the ticket, you can either reach the top of Innsbruck and return or get to the Hungerburg station and back. Should you opt for a combo ticket you can also visit the Alpine Zoo along with the Hungerburg station.
Children under the age of 6 can travel for free. Those aged between 6-18 years and 65+ years can avail themselves of discounted Nordkette tickets as long as they have a valid ID. Students aged 19-27 years, too, can avail of a discounted ticket provided they have a valid student ID at hand.
Kids will enjoy the Alpine Zoo, and activities like magic carpet rides on the ski slopes.
Families will enjoy the cable car and hiking experiences, both of which provide stellar views of the Alpine region.
Thrill seekers will enjoy hand gliding, parasailing, skiing on Europe's steepest slope, and snowboarding.
When you take the funicular and cable car, you will spend about 20 minutes getting from Innsbruck to Nordkette.