The region of Tyrol in Northern Italy and western Austria is one of my favorite spots in Europe because of the grand mountain landscapes and it’s culture. We never stayed overnight or took advantage of the many ski resorts in Innsbruck, but this beautiful city was always a pit stop on our way to other cities if traveling to Germany or elsewhere.

I’d recommend a day to spend wandering the streets of Innsbruck, and make it a point to be in the city when the Christmas Market begins around mid-November. You’ll find traditional dishes, Christmas designs, and beautiful gifts. The smell of roasted nuts, mulled wine, and doughnuts laced with sauerkraut (known as “Kiachln) will have you in the Christmas mode in no time. This is a great stop if you’re headed on to more Christmas Markets in Bavaria.

Innsbruck is both colorful and quite picturesque. I enjoyed sitting in the Old Town center at a local restaurant enjoying Fladlesuppe (a German pancake soup) while people watching. Fladlesuppe is an easy and tasty soup for the winter that I make each season. Here’s a recipe I recommend: Easy Fladlesuppe Recipe.

Innsbruck hosted the Olympics in 1964 and in 1976. The sports complexes at Olympiaworld are still in use today and a tourist spot to watch ice skating, ice hockey, and sometimes music concerts. Whether you’re just driving through, looking for an excellent summer hiking destination, or a winter ski site, Innsbruck is a magnificent city to discover.