The Nordkette mountain is called the jewel of the Alps range and for good reason. The ‘North chain’ (literal translation of the name) is the single most striking impression about the city. The Nordkette/ north chain is also an integral part of the Karwendel Mountains that’s the biggest nature reserve in Austria. The reigning attraction of the Nordkette area is its cable car ride (nordkettenbahn in German) that takes visitors from the belly of Innsbruck city up to the mountain.
First Part of Journey: Innsbruck Congress (560m) to Hungerburg (860m) en route Lowenhaus and Alpenzoo
The Hungerburg funicular train leaves from the Congress station near the Imperial Palace in Rennweg as a part of the first stage of the Nordkette Cable Car journey. Note the fantastic design (it’s a testimony to the Alpine glaciers) created by Zaha Hadid. Some may think that it looks like a modern underground rail station and not like a cable car station at all. However, the Hungerburgbahn or funicular runs on rail and connects the Congress centre in the heart of Innsbruck with the Hungerburg Settlement.
Keep in mind that the Hungerburgbahn is a funicular that’s larger than the Gondola like cable cars which are used in Seegrubenbahn and Hafelekarbahn.
The Lowenhaus station (next stop) is on the banks of the Inn River and it’s reached within a few minutes of departing from the congress. Look out for the journey through 445-meter long Weiherbergtunnel… it happens just after the cable crosses the Inn River. If you are lucky you will see two trains cross each other at super speed.
The next stop is Alpenzoo (Europe’s highest-altitude zoo) after which the cable car drops off guests at Hungerburg. Just before the rail reaches Hungerburg the cable crosses the remains of an ancient Hungerburgbahn (this rode from 1996 to 2005).
Many prefer to walk to Alpenzoo and Hungerburg from Innsbruck. You need to cross the bridge at Lowenhaus and then follow a clearly marked trail. You can also drive to Hungerburg and park your car there as the parking is a lot cheaper than the rate at Innsbruck. Both these options will help you save some money. The Hungerburg funicular is used by many people and not all of them are travelling to the mountain top. There are many who use the funicular to get to the Alpenzoo conveniently. Read All about Alpenzoo here.
Save 5 minutes for a good look at the square in front of the Hungerburg station that’s dedicated to Hermann Buhl (famous mountaineer who pioneered the one rope mountain climbing technique). The square in front of the Hungerburg station is an extraordinary construct in white with black lines running through it… it’s definitely Instagram worthy.
Whatever you do, don’t miss a visit to the Hitt Und Sohne that’s arguably the hotspot of this region. This is a café and store decorated in an elegant minimalistic way and it’s a magnet for the haute population of Innsbruck. Enjoy a beer or the local favourite (Inn Mule) or sample the fresh eclectic menu (changes weekly). There is a nice selection of sports stuff and lifestyle products on sale here… you will find skis, helmets and stylish yet functional clothing inside.
Hitt und Söhne Contacts:
Höhenstraße 147, A-6020 Innsbruck
Phone: +43 664 52 77 565; Email: [email protected]
Hitt Und Sohne is open from Tuesday to Sunday (10 a.m. to 10.30 p.m.)
Funicular Timings
the Hungerburg funicular operates from 7.15 in the morning to 7.15 in the evening every Monday to Friday. The funicular starts a little late i.e. at 8.00 a.m. on weekends and holidays.
TIP: for the most splendid views, it’s worth getting a room in the front compartment that’s the furthest away from the tunnel as you leave the Congress station.
Second Part of Journey: Hungerburg to Seegrube (1905 m)
The Funicular cable car which takes guests to Hungerburg arrives in a different location from the Gondola cable car station that guests have to get to in their quest to reach Seegrube from Hungerburg. As soon as guests come out of the funicular station they will notice the splendid mountain that’s visible across the Hermann Buhl square. The Seegrube Gondola station is in the large white building next to the restaurant.
There is some time to take pictures of the mountain views before standing in queue for the next cable car that will take you to Seegrube. Note that the Seegrube Gondola cable is different from the Hungerburg funicular… the former is more like a large car with standing room and tends to get full.
You can visit the Cloud 9 Igloo Bar at Seegrube… it exists only in winters (end of December to April). This is a proper igloo made of spectacularly carved ice and you can go and literally ‘chill’ inside from 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m.
The restaurant at Seegrube is more mainstream and is open almost the whole year through. Seegrube Restaurant serves snacks and a great range of hot beverages. It’s arguably the best place to dine around here and serves authentic Tyrol cuisine and local drinks. This is also the best place in this region to organise birthday parties/ weddings/ meetings etc. as there are two well-appointed spaces for functions.
If you are dining then sit on the terrace which has splendid views (weather permitting) or else grab a table beside the window. The Seegrube restaurant is the ideal place for breakfast/ lunch if you are planning on enjoying a high altitude local meal with efficient service. The hot chocolate and rum and the goulash soup are most recommended.
The restaurant is open from Monday-Sunday (from 09:15 a.m. to 5 p.m.) though hot food is only served from 11:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is a large continental/ cold Breakfast spread offered daily from 9:15 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Hungerburg Cable Car Timings
The Hungerburg cable car operates from 8.30 in the morning to 5.30 in the evening every day. In case you get some time to explore the Hungerburg, there is a small Cable Railway Museum with free entry and Theresien church. In case you visit around Christmas you will get to explore the Innsbruck Christmas Markets.
There is a special night cable car service that runs from 6 p.m. to 11.30 p.m. on Friday evening giving visitors a chance to view the jewelled night sky and spectacular sunset. After 7.15 p.m. however, there is no cable car service back to Innsbruck from Hungerburg so you must have your own car or call a cab or board a bus for the return journey.
Third Part of Journey: Seegrube to Hafelekar (2256 m)
As visitors step out of the cable car at the Seegrube station; they have two tempting options. They can either go left towards the restaurant and enjoy scenic views of Innsbruck from the terrace or go right and take the next cable car (again a similar Gondola like offering) towards Hafelekar.
Then there are other choices like a circular hike path around Seegrube or the option of taking a short walk to a huge rock nicknamed the ‘Relax Zone’. The Relax Zone is basically a stone-clad area that offers a calming atmosphere and fantastic views of Innsbruck city… it’s quite popular amongst local families and couples.
Seegrube to Hafelekar Cable Car Timings
The cable car runs daily from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
Fourth Part of Journey: Walk to Hafelekarspitze (2334 m)
The cable car rides up to 2256m above sea level but the final leg of the journey i.e. the last 78 m has to be accomplished on foot. Taking a picture at this summit cross is an Instagram worthy moment. There is a splendid 360-degree view on offer that lets guests see all the way to Italy (south) and Germany (north). Note the contrast of the barren landscape behind Hafelekar station to the fertile and lush Inn Valley and the emerald sloped in the front.
TIP: If you are a hiker then this is a paradise for you. The Hafelekar is the start of many summer hikes that include the Goethe trail that goes up to Gleirschspitze, the Gleirschtaler Brandjoch saddle, Mandispitze or Rumer Spitze.
Booking Tickets
1) Cable Car Round-Trip Ticket to the Top of Innsbruck:
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2) Cable Car Round-Trip from Innsbruck to Hungerburg (with optional Alpenzoo):
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Alternatively, you can use the manned ticket counters at Congress and Hungerburg stations. All other stations on the Nordkette route have automated ticket counters that will accept only credit/ debit cards
Parking is aplenty and available till 6 p.m. and you can park your car for free in the city and the Congress garage when you buy tickets from Innsbruck to Seegrube/ Hafelekar and Hungerburg to Seegrube/ Hafelekar. Free parking is also available with the Kombi ticket. Parking tickets have to be validated between 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and are valid only on the day of the ticket purchase.
Contacts of the base cable railway station (Congress)
Innsbrucker Nordkettenbahnen – Kongress, Rennweg 3
A-6020 Innsbruck/Austria
Phone.: +43 (0) 512 293344; Email: [email protected]; Website
NOTE
You will hear from a lot of sources that the Innsbruck cable car will take you to the top of the mountain range in 20 minutes flat… this isn’t accurate though. The most you can achieve in 20 minutes is getting up to Seegrube. You will need at least 45 minutes to ride to Hafelekar from Innsbruck. Also, don’t plan your journey on a cloudy day… you will miss the best of views.
You will find a cable car every 15 minutes approx. (the frequency is great). Start your day early and get the first funicular from Congress at 8.00 a.m. so that you have plenty of time to explore the numerous charms and fantastic activities at each stop. If you have a pet you are in luck… dogs with muzzles are allowed inside the cable cars.
It’s going to be pretty chilly so carrying woollens is most recommended. The entire Nordkette area and its underlying stations are home to winter and summer sports that include skiing, paragliding, mountain biking and rock climbing.
Top Activities in Nordkette
Hiking & Climbing
Once you reach the Nordkette climbing arena (from Seegrube station) in about 20 minutes you can choose from around 40 tours that are majorly single rope routes (difficulty level 4 to 9) i.e. suitable for both beginners and advanced climbers. For very very experienced climbers there is the Innsbruck Fixed Rope Climbing Route that is named after the mountain legends Hermann Buhl and Hannes Gasser.
To reach the climbing area, start from the back of the station building and walk to a largish gravel area that’s the starting point for a clump of rocks. Even if you are a climbing novice, do try your hand at the beginner level climbs. All routes are secured with 500 high-grade steel bolts and anchor chains by route finder and mountaineer Christain Piccolruaz… these are all single rope routes. In fact, the arena is geared towards beginners of high altitude climbs as there are 33 base climbs. All climbers will receive safety helmets and a briefing about the OAV (Austrian Alpine Association) climbing rules.
Of special interest is the beautiful Goethe trail that begins from the Hafelekar station and follows the Nordkette ridge embracing many ascents and descents and finally the Pfeishutte (at 1992m). This isn’t a very difficult trail… in fact, it’s quite flat at the beginning and hikers will enjoy the experience of walking beneath the Hafelekar, Mandi and Gleirsch peaks. Post this there is a relatively short ascent to Mandischarte and then a walk down to Pfeishutte where there is a hut providing food, comfort and overnight stays for climbers. Many opt to go back via the Arzler Scharte and Arzler Reisse and many opt to go onto Vittalm and Rumeralm before coming back to Hungerburg.
For a quick hike, you can opt for the newly established Seegrube Panorama trail that starts from the patio area of Seegrube restaurant. The trail goes west and crosses the Frau Hitt Lift and moves on with many bends to Ski and Mountain Club Monument. You can walk along the trail and appreciate the views of Innsbruck….it will take only 25 minutes.
The most challenging (and beautiful) of all trails here is the Nordkette single trail that takes hikers in high alpine terrain over splendid rooftop views of Innsbruck. The route starts at Seegrube and covers about 4.2 km but there is an altitude difference of 1030 m along with difficult terrain. Naturally, this trail is only recommended for experienced hikers.
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For hikers who want an overnight stay, the Nordkette region has many traditional and modern huts. There is a hut at Pfeishutte (alt 1922m) where hikers can rest/ stay after the Hafelekar station to Pfeishutte trail hike (takes 4.5 hours). Then there is a hut at Bodensteiner Alm (alt 1661m) which is reachable via a 2-hour hike up from Hungerburg/0.5-hour hike down from Seegrube. There are huts at Hottinger Alm, Arzler Alm, Mosl Alm Im Karwendel etc. For knowing prices and individual accessibility hours you need to visit the corresponding websites.
Skiing
Nordpark in Innsbruck is a small but breath-taking ski resort that has only 14 km of Pistes but flaunts a slope of 4595 feet of vertical descent!! There are two dedicated cable cars for snowboarders and skiers who are taken to the Hafelekar ridge (elevation 2260 meters). After that, they are free to explore one of Europe’s steepest ski routes i.e. the Karrinne couloir. Take note that the terrain around Nordkette resort is a bit challenging and is recommended for expert skiers and free riders.
If you are travelling with kids, there is a cute children’s ski and play area next to the cable car zone. This play area has gentle ski slopes, a conveyor belt lift and childcare facilities. Then there is the Skylinepark that’s famous for being the world’s only in-city natural ski park.
The skiing season starts from November mid and continues till the middle of April approximately.
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For more information about the Ski area and prices Visit this Tyrol website.
Nature watching, hikes and photography at Alpine Park Karwendel
The Alpine Park Karwendel contains almost the entire Karwendel region and this is Austria’s largest nature park besides being the largest protected area in Tyrol. The remarkable biodiversity in this region and its population of many animal species (German tamarisks, stone eagles and riverside runners) have made it a huge hit with zoologists, photographers, botanists, geologists, naturalists and almost anybody with a deep interest in nature. The park is visited by nearly 1 million people each year. Deep dark forests, wild rivers and untouched air are some of the main attractions of this huge zone that’s nearly 727 square km big.
You can access the Karwendel nature park through the upper station of Nordkette cable railways. Most people walk straight through it to reach the Hafelekar peak but you should take some time to explore. The hamlet of Hinteriss (a total of only 47 people) is the only permanent settlement in the park. Be prepared to see a lot of Alpine choughs sweeping down in giant circles… sometimes their swooshes will be the only sound breaking the eerie silences.
Cable Railway Museum
In case you start off early then you might as well invest 15 minutes in exploring the small cable railway museum that provides a fascinating dose of history. You will see a nice replica of the first cable car and lots of trivia about old Innsbruck and its transport culture. Incidentally, the museum was once a classroom that has been refurbished with metal cladding. There are lots of old pictures around and history lovers will have a gala time losing themselves in the past.
Visitors will also be able to look through a magnifying glass and see the Hafelekar panorama. There is a new cable car positioned in the centre of the room showing the progress of cable railway technology. There is also an interactive photo album about the history of the funicular and cable railways for guests to engage with. The icing on the cake is that this museum is free of any entry fee and remains open during all open hours of the cable railway.
Alpenzoo
During the first leg of the Nordkette journey, there is a good opportunity of getting down at the Alpenzoo stop and explore Europe’s one of a kind offering… one of the highest altitude zoos in Europe. The zoo spans across 4 hectares and has a profusion of birds, fish, eagles, bears and wolves… in fact over 2000 animals that belong to some 150 species.
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To know more about this spectacular zoo click here.
Shopping at Nordkette
Shopping at a high altitude cable station is bound to be a thrilling experience even for seasoned shoppers and this is exactly what the Nordkette store at Seegrube station building offers. Shop for personal care, wellness, home linen, souvenirs, unusual gift items and even gift vouchers inside. There is a Nordkette shop inside the Innsbruck old town too (Herzog friedrich strabe 22).
The Christmas market at Hungerburg (near cable station) is a must-see place if you are here in December. The Christmas market is not too big and is expensive but offers really artsy collections of woollens and knick-knacks. The icing on this cake is the stall that serves Gluhwein that is the perfect accessory for the wonderful views. The Christmas market is only open in December.
A travel addict. Still celebrating the day when he quit his high-profile corporate job to pursue his passion for travel writing.