Car Rental in Innsbruck

Why rent a car in Innsbruck?

Innsbruck is a great place to visit. Most famous for its Alpine scenery and great winter sports opportunities, it is a historic city with impressive castles, churches, and museums. From here, you can explore the rest of the Alps and Austria as well as drive to nearby Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, and Italy.

Top ways to enter Innsbruck

• Innsbruck Airport: Also known as Kranebitten Airport, Innsbruck Airport serves more than 1 million travelers every year. Operating since 1925, it is especially active during the winter season. The city center is 5.6km (3.4 miles) northeast of the airport and is very easy to reach by car.
• Salzburg Airport: Also called Salzburg W.A. Mozart Airport after the city’s most famous son, the second-busiest airport in Austria serves almost 2 million travelers every year. The airport is about 177km (110 miles) northeast of Innsbruck.
• Munich Airport: Located in neighboring Germany, Flughafen München is among the 10 busiest airports in Europe and offers countless flights to and from destinations in Europe as well as other parts of the world. Munich Airport is about 200km (125 miles) north of Innsbruck. To travel from Munich to Innsbruck by car, you have to cross an international border, so remember to first ask your rental car provider if they permit it.
• Zurich Airport: Serving the largest city of Switzerland, Zurich Airport sees more than 30 million travelers every year. The airport is about 290km (180 miles) west of Innsbruck. To come from Switzerland to Austria, you’ll have to cross an international border, so remember to first ask your rental car provider if they permit it.
• Vienna Airport: Among the 25 busiest airports in Europe, Vienna Airport hosts more international flights than all other Austrian airports combined. You’d have to cross nearly the entire country to go from Vienna to Innsbruck, a trip that takes about 5 hours, but flying to Vienna is often still the best way to reach the city. 

City facts

• Like many other cities of the Alps, Innsbruck has a humid continental climate with cold winters and warm, wet summers. The average temperature is 18.1°C  (64.6°F) in July and -1.7°C  (28.9°F) in January, making Innsbruck one of the coldest cities in Austria. The city is located quite high in the mountains at an average elevation of 575 m (1,885 ft).
• Innsbruck is divided into nine city boroughs that are further divided into wards. Innsbruck center and the Old Town are part of the Innsbruck Inner City borough. The most-populated borough is Hötting while the least-populated one is Vill. In 2018, Innsbruck had nearly 133,000 inhabitants, making it the fifth-most populous city in Austria and the largest in the state of Tyrol. 

Top sights and activities

• Ambras Castle. Built in the 16th century as the private residence of Archduke of Tyrol in the nearby mountains, the castle offers amazing views of the city below. The castle is as impressive from inside as it is from outside thanks to the large Spanish Hall as well as the monarch’s art collection that it still houses.
• Innsbruck Armoury. Known as Zeughaus in German, the armory was built in the early 16th century to strengthen the city’s defenses as the risk of invasion was quite high at the time. The armory continued to house soldiers and store weapons like cannons until 1918. Nowadays it is part of the Tyrolean State Museum, and its spacious courtyard is often used to house different cultural events.
• Alpinist Association Museum. Tyrol is alpinism heaven and many famous mountain climbers who have conquered peaks like Everest and Kilimanjaro have hailed from the area. This museum, located in the Habsburg Palace of Hofburg, does its best to honor this heritage and was named one of Europe’s best museums in 2010.
• Hofkirche. Arguably more impressive from inside than outside, this Roman Catholic church is known for its spectacular engravings, nave, and altar. The final resting place of the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I also features the large black bronze statues of former kings and lords. Nowadays, Hofkirche also provides a home to the Tyrolean Folk Art Museum.
• Swarovski Crystal World.  Experience the sparkling shopping experience and the breathtaking crystal art installations in the Swarovski Kristallwelten in Wattens near Innsbruck. 
• Nordkette. See Innsbruck from high above by taking the Nordkette train, starting in the city center, and then a cable car all the way to 2,256 meters above sea level. From there, you can enjoy a 360-degree view of Innsbruck and the surrounding mountains, as well as the Karwendel range.
• Bürgerstraße. A central thoroughfare of Innsbruck, Citizen Street is where many of the city’s colorful facades, as well as its best-known landmarks, can be found. Stretching north to south, the street is also where some of Innsbruck’s best restaurants, as well as bakeries selling delicious Austrian pastries, can be found. 

Traffic and parking

• Unless specifically indicated otherwise, the speed limits are 130km/h (80mph) on highways, 100km/h (62mph) on country roads, and 50km/h (31mph) inside populated areas.
• During winter, some smaller high-altitude roads and passes are blocked by snow. It is a good idea to have snow chains in your car. Ask your car rental car provider about the possibility to get them for your vehicle.
• During the year’s warmest months, July and August, it is not uncommon to experience traffic jams on national highways, especially during weekends, as this is when most Austrians go on vacation.
• The legal alcohol limit is 0.05% for experienced and 0.01% for novice drivers. Exceeding the limit can lead to large fines, an EU-wide license ban, or even imprisonment.
• Proof of insurance and the car’s documentation need to be in it whenever you’re driving.
• When driving,  you need to have your passport or ID card with you at all times.
• The emergency number, like elsewhere in the EU, is 112.

Toll roads

To travel on many motorways and other roads in Austria, you need to purchase a special highway vignette or toll sticker. An Austrian Highway Vignette can be purchased for three pre-limited periods of time - 10 days, two months, or one year. As a visitor to the country, you’ll most likely choose the first option.

You can buy the Austrian highway vignette in many of the gas stations and stores that are located along highways in Austria. If you arrive in Austria by car from another country, make sure to purchase the Austrian highway vignette at the border, otherwise, you’ll have to pay a fine. Once purchased, it is important to place the vignette inside your vehicle’s windshield. 

Many rental cars in Austria will already come equipped with a highway vignette. The price of the vignette will be included in the full rental price and an additional service fee may be charged. To find out more, get in touch with your car rental provider in advance.

In addition to the required purchase of a highway vignette, there are specifically designated toll roads in Austria, many of them tunnels and alpine passes. Most of these have toll booths and the payment can usually be made either by cash or a credit card. The exact fee will depend on the specific road. Find out more about the toll roads and the fees of using them in Austria on the European toll road website and on the Austrian toll road website.

Ideas for day trips

• Eng. Located at an altitude of 1,227m (4,025ft), Eng has the largest highland pastures in Europe. This is where local farmers let their cattle graze in the summer, later making the famous Tyrolean cheese in winter. Part of the Karwendel Nature Park, Eng is just a short ride away from Innsbruck, but its remoteness and the Alpine scenery can make it feel like true wilderness.
• Schwaz. A small city in the Lower Inn Valley, Schwaz is best known for its silver mine. Now closed for industry and functioning as a museum, it provided the precious metal for 500 years. You’ll have to take a miner’s train to get inside the mountain. After getting back to daylight, don’t miss out on the city’s planetarium, another fascinating place to visit. Just 30km (18.6 miles) east of Innsbruck, Schwaz can be reached by car in about 35 minutes.
• Karwendel Nature Park. One of Europe’s oldest protected nature areas, Karwendel is characterized by jagged peaks, meadows full of orchids, and even some highland fens. Parts of the park are accessible by car, but it’s also worth going on one of the hikes available — you might even spot a wild ibex. The drive from Innsbruck to Karwendel takes less than 30 minutes.
• Salzburg. Salzburg is the fourth-largest city in Austria, but in all honesty, that’s the least impressive of its titles. With its impressive fortresses and cathedrals, the mountain scenery of the Salzach River, and nearby alpine lakes, Mozart’s birthplace is considered by many to be one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Located about 185km (115 miles) northeast of Innsbruck, Salzburg can be reached by car in a little more than two hours.
• Stubai Valley. Stubaital is one of the most famous alpine valleys in Austria. Located only a 30-minute drive from Innsbruck, it's a must-visit spot. It is a famous winter and summer ski destination as skiing on the Stubai glacier is possible year-round. A myriad of hiking trails accessible with short gondola rides away offers a great outdoor experience to tourists visiting Stubai valley
• Seefeld & Leutasch. Located on a high plateau, just 30 minutes away from Innsbruck, Leutasch and Seefeld are a cross-country skiing paradise, with over 200 kilometers of groomed classic and skating trails from beginner to advanced levels. 
• Sölden and Oetztal. The little town of Sölden, whose population only amounts to 3,500 people, is the third-most-visited destination in Austria, with two million per year. Thanks to its extensive ski network with over 146 kilometers of skiable terrain and countless hiking and biking trails, Soelden is an outdoor paradise. One of the biggest attractions of Sölden is the James Bond Elements high altitude alpine galleries built on the summit of Gaislachkogel, specifically. It was one of the filming locations for the movie Spectre.

Most popular cars

The most popular rental car in Innsbruck is the Suzuki Swift, followed by the Fiat Punto and the Ford Focus. The most popular rental car type is a mini, but many travelers also go for economy and compact vehicles.

Further destinations

• Munich. With the Frauenkirche cathedral, the Neues Rathaus city hall, the Maxvorstadt art district, and, of course, Oktoberfest, Munich certainly doesn’t lack famous landmarks and attractions. However, the biggest quality of the capital of Bavaria is its unique atmosphere that you won’t find anywhere else. Dive into it by simply walking along its streets, eating in its restaurants, or driving to nearby natural areas. Munich is 163km (101 miles) north of Innsbruck, and you’ll have to cross a national border to travel between the two, so first ask your rental car provider if they permit it.
• Venice. Full of history, amazing architecture, and world-famous art, the sinking city remains one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. Visit its famous landmarks, but also take time to explore the narrow side streets, enjoy gondola rides, and travel to less crowded nearby islands like Burano and Mazzorbo. The Adriatic coast, on which Venice is located, might feel like a world away from the Alps, but it is actually only 390km (242 miles) southeast of Innsbruck and can be reached in about four hours. Ask your rental car provider in advance if they allow the rental car to be taken across the border with Italy.
• Vienna. Vienna is a former imperial capital with everything that comes with it - impressive boulevards, immense fortresses, and opulent cathedrals. More than just that, it is often labeled one of one of the nicest places to live in the world and is a hotspot for innovation in art, culture, and technology. The capital of Austria is 475km (295 miles) east of Innsbruck, and the long trip is definitely worth it. 
• Liechtenstein. Squeezed in between Austria and Switzerland, the Principality of Liechtenstein is one of the smallest countries in Europe. Known not only for its extremely high quality of life (when it comes to income per capita, it is about 2.5 times wealthier than Switzerland), it also has some truly spectacular alpine scenery and is an otherwise unique destination that’s worth a visit if you’re in the neighborhood. Although like Austria, Liechtenstein is a member of the Schengen area, you’ll be visiting another country, so ask your rental car supplier in advance if they permit it. The drive from Innsbruck takes about 2 hours and 30 minutes.
• The  Dolomites. Innsbruck airport is a great place to fly into if you would like to visit the Dolomites in Italy. Puster valley — a great starting place for many popular day hikes in the Dolomites, is a mere two-hour drive away. 
• Bolzano. Located on the other side of the border, the Italian city of Bolzano is a picturesque place and can be visited on the way to the previously mentioned Venice. Bilingually Italian and German-speaking, it provides not just a stunning Alpine scenery, but also a well-preserved historical center, historical vineyards, and the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology where visitors can see Ötzi the Iceman, a Copper Age mummy whose body was found in the surrounding mountains. The drive from Innsbruck to Bolzano takes about two hours.

Car rental prices in Innsbruck

• Vans - from $176 per day
• Small cars - from $31 per day
• Medium cars - from $32 per day
• Station wagons - from $43 per day
• Large cars - from $36 per day
• SUVs - from $48 per day
• Premium cars - from $109 per day

Money-saving and other tips

Try these tricks to get a good car rental deal in Innsbruck:

• Compare the rates of different rental car providers
• Book your rental car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit during the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Innsbruck is the cheapest in November when renting a car is an entire 70% cheaper than the yearly average.