Feel Like Royalty at the Imperial Palace

Visiting the Imperial Palace is one of the top things to do in Innsbruck. This royal building is sometimes called the Hofburg Palace, and it’s one of the most important buildings in Austria, along with the Hofburg and Schönbrunn Palaces in Vienna. The imposing palace was completed in 1500 and, back then, included a Gothic courtyard with a covered staircase, a “Kürnstube” to house Emperor Maximilian I’s hunting trophies, and the Festival Hall, which features depictions of Hercules.

Around 250 years later, Maria Theresa visited the palace and thought it to be old-fashioned. She had it rebuilt in the Viennese late Baroque style to suit her more modern tastes. The palace was renovated again in the 19th century by Archduke Karl Ludwig. The multiple renovations and style changes make the palace a fascinating place to explore. Today the Imperial Palace contains four different museums, each of which houses a unique collection of artifacts and treasures from centuries ago.