Winter in full swing: top tips for January to April in the Innsbruck region

Last updated on 17.12.2024

Christmas and New Year’s Eve may soon be over, but the best of winter is yet to come: the cold season will be in red-hot form in 2025, promising wonderful adventures both on and off the ski slopes. Exciting sporting events, cultural highlights, and the variety of the natural world around Innsbruck are all waiting to be enjoyed. Here we show you what winter can offer in the months between January and April.

January – the sporting spirit
The first month of the year begins with two sporting highlights to cheer on and for: beginning on 4 January 2025, competitors will be converging on the Bergisel ski jump as part of the Four Hills Tournament. Then, from 17 to 19 January, the masters of the luge will then be showing off their skills at the World Natural Track Luge Championships in Kühtai. The time after the Christmas holidays is meanwhile particularly recommended to those who love skiing for an active break, as the pistes in popular resorts such as Axamer Lizum, Patscherkofel or Kühtai are generally a little quieter now, yet still offer outstanding conditions. The Innsbruck Tourismus activity programme also has plenty of sporting variety up its sleeve: all you need to take part in guided snowshoe tours, taster courses for cross-country skiing, or winter hikes is the Welcome Card for guests, available free of charge from partner establishments.

February – variety in all its forms
There is something for every spectator at the region’s Carnival events. On 27 February 2025 Axams plays host to the “Wampelerreiten”, where thickly clad Wampeler [fatsos] compete against the Reiter [riders], while earlier, on 2 February 2025, the spectacular “Schleicherlaufen” in Telfs, where masked figures move forwards in precise sequences, is also well worth a visit. The capital of Tyrol also sees plenty of other movement throughout the month, for example at the second Innsbruck Winter Dance Festival, where visitors can savour the art of dance and join in one of the many side events. Those with children can also look forward to family-friendly ski resorts around Innsbruck during the winter holidays: the Muttereralm ski area, for example, has a covered magic carpet, a fairytale forest and a special practice slope, making it ideal for families. For this season, meanwhile, the Rangger Köpfl ski area in Oberperfuss boasts a new combined lift, meaning it is now child’s play to reach the easy slopes below the summit.

March – the warmth returns
If you have had enough of winter and are longing to see the sun once more, the plateaus above Innsbruck are for you. The Mieming Plateau, known for its many hours of sunshine, also tempts visitors with leisurely hikes such as the “Almenroute”, the winter pasture route from the Stöttlalm to the Moosalm. The villages of Lans and Igls, located in the mountains to the south of Innsbruck, are easily accessible from the city centre on the so-called “Waldbahn”, the forest tram, offering local atmosphere and gentle sunny walks around the Lanser See lake or in the gardens of the Igls Kurpark. And those who like it hot(ter) can indulge themselves with a spa day – perhaps at the Gasthof Walzl in Lans, at the Holzleiten, a bio-wellness hotel on the Mieming Plateau, or at the Alpenresort Schwarz.

April – the joys of spring
There are often fantastic conditions to be enjoyed on the slopes before the ski resorts close, especially in the mornings. It’s also now “figl” time on the Nordkette range, when you can hurtle down through the soft snow on special short skis, your hindquarters occasionally experiencing a soft landing. On 12 April 2025 there is all the fun of “Ugly Skiing Day” in the Axamer Lizum, when you can dress up in your ugliest ski outfit and celebrate the end of the season. The SKI plus CITY Pass Stubai Innsbruck also lets you benefit from the city’s cultural offerings following a day’s skiing: the pass not only includes twelve ski areas, including the Stubai Glacier, but also admission to numerous sights and museums in Innsbruck. And, if that’s all too much on your plate, simply take a relaxing stroll through the Easter market, held every year in April.

An insider tip for every month: special guided tours through the city of Innsbruck
A good way of getting to know the city from a different angle is a themed tour: there’s one for every taste, from discovering the culinary treasures of the old town to a tour in the footsteps of the Habsburgs, or an architectural tour through modern-day Innsbruck. New: the “Innsbruck by Night” tour is now available every Tuesday and Thursday evening during the winter months. Meet at 5 pm at Innsbruck Information: the cost is 16 euros per person – or free with the Innsbruck Card. Find out more online at https://www.innsbruck.info/en/sightseeing/d/themed-tours.html

About Innsbruck Tourismus
Innsbruck Tourismus is the official destination management organisation for the Innsbruck region, encompassing the capital of Tyrol and over 40 localities in the surrounding area, from the Inntal valley to the Mieming Plateau via Kühtai and as far as the Sellraintal valley. With almost 3.5 million overnight stays (as of 2019), the Innsbruck region is one of Austria’s largest tourism institutions – a unique symbiosis of pulsating urban space and fascinating Alpine world. The vibrant city atmosphere and sightseeing highlights are just a stone’s throw from your next biking or hiking tour, your next ski adventure or winter walk. The Welcome Card, free for visitors, is the key to the region’s boundless opportunities: public transport, usable at no cost, means that the area’s numerous highlights can be enjoyed both sustainably and comfortably. Visitor enjoyment is the focus of the thoughts and actions of each of the organisation’s 90 or so staff: they pass on their passion and enthusiasm for this alpine-urban space to guests, ensuring unforgettable holiday experiences for all in harmony with both people and nature. With a total of twelve tourist information offices, Innsbruck Tourismus can stay close to visitors, be right in the action and keep a finger on the pulse of events – a true hub for the authentic stories and personal impressions of local characters that can be found on the popular blog and social media channels at #myinnsbruck.

Further links
Blog: www.innsbruck.info/blog 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Innsbruck
Instagram: www.instagram.com/innsbrucktourism
Twitter: twitter.com/InnsbruckTVB  
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/InnsbruckTVB
Pinterest: www.pinterest.at/innsbrucktvb/_created