CHAT│HOPE 2026

Guide to Innsbruck

1 How to get to Innsbruck

2 How to get around Innsbruck

3 Where to stay in Innsbruck

How to get to Innsbruck

Innsbruck is nestled in the heart of the Alps. Getting here is easier than you think:

Map of the Region Tyrol, showcasing important surrounding Airports and their train distance to the city of Innsbruck

By Train

Innsbruck is well connected to the European rail network. Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof (Innsbruck Central Station) lies on the major Vienna–Zurich and Munich–Bologna–Rome lines and is served by international long-distance and regional trains.

There are frequent direct services to:

  • Vienna and Salzburg (every hour)
  • Munich (7 daily connections)
  • Zurich (7 daily connections)
  • Bologna/Venice (2 daily connections)

Approximate travel times:

  • Vienna: 4.25 hours
  • Munich, Salzburg: approx. 2 hours
  • Zurich: approx. 3.5 hours

Innsbruck Central Station is within walking distance of the city centre and a ca. 25 min walk from the conference venue.

For arranging your train journey, it is best to consult the ÖBB Scotty App. It provides information for international and national connections provided by the national rail agency ÖBB and its international partner agencies (DB, SBB, etc.) but also information on the Vienna-Salzburg-Innsbruck connections offered by the private rail company Westbahn.

Tickets have to be bought on the platforms of the international providers you wish to travel with, or from the national providers in Austria (ÖBB, Westbahn).

If you arrive by plane in Vienna or Salzburg and then travel to Innsbruck via train, please note that there are connections provided by the national rail service ÖBB and the private operator Westbahn. Tickets bought from ÖBB for ÖBB trains are not valid for Westbahn and vice versa. For international connections to Innsbruck, e.g. from Zürich, Bologna or Munich, tickets can be bought from the ÖBB or the national train companies from the countries you are arriving from. It is worth checking ticket prices with each of the providers, since prices can vary for the same train significantly:

By Air

Innsbruck Airport (INN)

Located approximately 4 km from the city centre (10–15 minutes by car), Innsbruck Airport offers regular national and international connections. Direct flights operate several times daily to major hubs such as Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Rotterdam, and Vienna. In addition to scheduled services, seasonal charter flights are available.
The city centre can be reached quickly by taxi or public bus (Line F).

Munich Airport (MUC)

Situated about 160 km from Innsbruck, Munich Airport is a major international hub and a popular gateway to Tyrol. From Munich, Innsbruck can be reached by rental car, regular long-distance bus services (e.g. FlixBus), private airport transfers, or direct train connections operated by Deutsche Bahn and ÖBB within 2,5 to 3 hours.

Salzburg Airport (SZG)

Located about 180 km from Innsbruck, Salzburg is a convenient option for those arriving from within Europe. After a short bus ride (Line 2) from Salzburg Airport to Salzburg Main Station, the journey to Innsbruck is straightforward by train, with direct services departing every hour. High-speed trains connect Salzburg Main Station to Innsbruck in just under 2 hours.

Zurich Airport (ZRH)

As a major international hub roughly 280 km away from Innsbruck, Zurich is often the preferred choice for transatlantic travelers. Trains from Zürich Airport to Zurich Main Station leave every couple of minutes. There are frequent train connections from Zurich Main Station to Innsbruck, most conveniently the direct ÖBB Railjet Express which takes approximately 3.5 hours and runs 7 times a day.

Vienna International Airport (VIE)

For those wanting to connect their CHAT-participation with some extended visit to Austria, flying via Vienna is certainly a great option to also put Austria’s beautiful capital on the travel itinerary. Vienna Airport serves as the primary international gateway to Austria and a key hub for Central and Eastern Europe. Direct Railjet Express trains depart from Vienna Airport to Innsbruck every two hours, reaching Innsbruck in approximately 4 hours and 40 minutes. Travelers starting in the city centre can board at Vienna Main Station or Vienna Westbahnhof for a slightly shorter journey of about 4 hours and 15 minutes.

By Car

Innsbruck is easily accessible via major motorway connections which provide convenient access from all directions. Coming from Italy, the A13 Brenner motorway (north–south) brings you directly to the city. The A12 Inntal motorway connects directly to Germany/Bavaria, and via the Arlbergtunnel and the Fernpass you get here from the West (Switzerland, SW-Germany, Vorarlberg) enjoying fantastic mountain views.  

Please note that Austrian motorways require a valid toll sticker (“vignette”), which can be purchased online via 14 days in advance (online vignettes via https://www.asfinag.at/maut-vignette/vignette/) or at any gas station at the border. We recommend the 10-day vignette for 12,8 €.

Also note, that parking is not free of charge in most areas of the city. For on-street parking, there are different parking zones in terms of duration and pricing (Information on parking management and pricing, city map with parking zones). For prices in garages please check individually. Hotels usually provide parking options in garages (please check with your hotel for availability and rates).

If you require an accessible parking space at the conference venue, you will find designated parking lots directly in front of the venue on the main street. Please note that to use an accessible parking space, you must hold an official disability permit. This permit must be displayed clearly and visibly behind the windshield of your parked vehicle at all times.

How to get around Innsbruck

How do get to the conference venue?


Venue:
University of Innsbruck
Innrain 52
6020 Innsbruck, Austria

Photo of the venue: The Building at Innrain 52, 6020 Innsbruck

The conference will take place at the University of Innsbruck, located at Innrain 52, close to the city centre and easily accessible by public transport. Most presentations will take place in the Aula of the main university building, located on the second floor.

If you are arriving at Innsbruck Main Station, you can reach the venue conveniently by tram or bus. Please take one of the following lines: R, F, 5, 404, or 461. The journey takes only a few minutes. If you are coming from the city centre, you can take tram or bus lines C, M, or 2.

Please get off at one of the following stops: “Innsbruck Klinik/Universität” or “Innsbruck Chirurgie.” From there, the university building at Innrain 52 is just a short walk away.

For detailed route information, please refer to the attached map or IVB’s website (https://www.ivb.at/en/).

Public transport

Innsbruck’s public transport network has three main elements: buses, trams and bikes. It is run by an organisation called the “Innsbrucker Verkehrsbetrieb”, or IVB for short.

The easiest way is to use the IVB’s website (https://www.ivb.at/en/) or their app, IVB-Scout. Type in any two stops, addresses or points of interest and the IVB will show you the fastest route between them using public transport.

How do I buy a ticket?

In Innsbruck, you must have a valid ticket before you get on the bus or tram.

Tickets can be purchased in three ways: at ticket machines located at many major bus and tram stops (card payment available, but not every stop has a machine), at IVB ticket offices throughout the city (https://www.ivb.at/en/passenger/tickets/pre-purchasing-tickets/) or online via the IVB ticket shop (https://tickets.ivb.at/en/ticket) or app, which is the easiest option.

To help you find your way around, we have highlighted the conference venue as well as nearby supermarkets, cafés, restaurants, and a selection of bars for the evening. The map is available at the following link:

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1NCyPYdva-ehvcAUxpmRFeg09kcHz6OQ&usp=sharing

Where to stay in Innsbruck – Accomodation for CHAT 2026

We have arranged a deal with the Hostel at Landessportzentrum Tirol (Olympiastraße 10a, 6020 Innsbruck) for reserving 18 of their budget-friendly rooms for conference participants. In the sense of solidarity, we ask participants with a good and stable income to arrange accommodation with another hotel so those with tight budgets can profit from the low-cost rates of the Landessportzentrum.

Availability: until May 1, 2026 18 rooms are reserved for booking for conference participants (rooms are provided on a first-come-first-serve basis)

How to book: Please send an email to chat2026.innsbruck@gmail.com for more Information

Pricing at Landessportzentrum:

  • Twin or triple room incl. buffet breakfast per person: € 36,50
  • Single room incl. buffet breakfast per person: € 46,40
  • Surcharge for short stays of up to 3 nights € 4,70
  • Parking fee per car at the hostels parking lot, per night: € 7,00
  • All prices stated are per person, per night incl. local tax and statutory VAT.

Innsbruck has plenty of additional accommodation options for all budgets, most easily searchable via platforms such as booking.com or BnB-sites.

This list provides some inspiration for “low” and “mid”-priced accommodation:

Streetscape of Innsbruck with alps hiding under clouds in background