Grand Boulevard in the Old Town of Innsbruck
On this page, I’ll show you the beauty of Maria-Theresien-Straße in Innsbruck. It’s the city’s grand boulevard and the most visited promenade in the city center. Here you’ll find the most beautiful houses in the old town, and you have the famous view of the Karwendel mountains. The street is named after Empress Maria Theresa . She would surely have been delighted by the splendor and spaciousness of this pedestrian zone! Churches with imposing towers, venerable palaces, and numerous oriel windows adorn Innsbruck’s most famous street. Since 2006, the entire street has been a protected historical monument , ensuring that this beauty remains visible for future generations. Maria-Theresien-Straße has become one of Innsbruck’s most photographed landmarks , undoubtedly due in part to the alpine backdrop. While you look north towards the Nordkette mountain range in the Karwendel, at the other end of the street you’ll see the Serles mountain. To the left and right, Maria-Theresien-Straße forms a wide, sweeping street canyon. All the houses have colorful facades and proudly display their magnificent oriel windows. Read my post and then explore this location yourself!
The most beautiful street in Innsbruck
No other street in Innsbruck’s old town combines all these elements in such beauty: magnificent facades, mountain views, a wide street for strolling (for seeing and being seen), numerous shops with display windows, cafes, and seating in the pedestrian zone. Add to that its location: Maria-Theresien-Straße is not only in the heart of Innsbruck’s old town, but also at the center of the city’s attractions .
Maria-Theresien-Straße connects sights.
Anyone taking a stroll through Innsbruck’s sights will inevitably pass through Maria-Theresien-Straße. At the end of this grand boulevard stands Innsbruck’s famous triumphal arch, the Triumphpforte. In the middle of Maria-Theresien-Straße stands the Annasäule, which is actually called the Marian Column.
…or a tourist attraction in its own right?
Actually, that’s more accurate; Maria-Theresien-Straße is a tourist attraction in itself. Today, around 30,000 pedestrians are counted daily . This makes Innsbruck’s Maria-Theresien-Straße one of the most attractive shopping streets in Austria. But it wasn’t always like this. Around the turn of the millennium, many Innsbruck residents were dissatisfied with “their” grand boulevard. So, in 2006, a competition was launched to beautify the city center. The redesign of Maria-Theresien-Straße was completed between 2009 and 2011. Since then, the northern section has once again been a pedestrian zone. Visitors to Innsbruck are grateful! The new Maria-Theresien-Straße has received many likes on TripAdvisor. The beauty of the shopping street is also appreciated in winter. A huge illumination is set up, and one of Innsbruck’s Christmas markets takes place on this famous street.
EXPERIENCE TYROL ON MARIA THERESIEN STREET
Experience Tyrol is a unique attraction on Maria-Theresien-Straße in Innsbruck. This one-of-a-kind destination offers visitors an exciting, immersive journey through the history, culture, and nature of Tyrol. With VR experiences, holograms, and interactive installations, you’ll delve deep into Tyrolean traditions and breathtaking landscapes. Experience Innsbruck from a new perspective, discover Tyrol, and enjoy a relaxing hour after your stroll:
–> that’s what awaits you at Experience Tyrol
This used to be the new town
Around 700 years ago, Maria-Theresien-Strasse wasn’t even part of the city center. The old town ended where the moat is today. The nobility built their townhouses in the new town – outside the medieval city walls. Parts of these can still be seen today, such as the Palais Trapp and the Palais Lodron. If you have a little time, it’s worth taking a stroll through the courtyards of the palaces. Some are open to the public. You can also visit the baroque Thurn & Taxis Palace . It boasts a magnificent facade, behind which the post office used to be. Today, the Taxis Palace houses the Kunsthalle Innsbruck art gallery and offices of the Tyrolean state government.
The St. Anne’s Column in Maria Theresien Street
I find the large statue of Mary in the heart of the city particularly beautiful. A 13-meter-high marble column adorns Maria-Theresien-Straße in the old town and is one of Innsbruck’s landmarks. The marble, by the way, comes from Tyrol, from the town of Kramsach, about 50 kilometers away . There, you could hike through two gorges, following in the footsteps of the marble. But that’s another story. You can read about the beautiful gorges and natural wonders in my post about the most beautiful places in the Alpbachtal holiday region. But now back to the magnificent marble column in Innsbruck:
–> here you’ll find more information and pictures of the Annasäule (St. Anne’s Column).
The Triumphal Arch on Maria Theresa Street
A few minutes’ walk further along the grand boulevard, you’ll see the next magnificent structure in the distance. It’s a large gate, modeled after the Arc de Triomphe in Paris: the Triumphal Arch in Innsbruck. It stands at the end of Maria-Theresien-Strasse. The Triumphal Arch is also connected to the Austrian Empress Maria Theresa and a noble wedding. You can read about the connection here:
–> all about the Triumphal Arch
My personal recommendation:
If you have enough time, you can walk through the Triumphal Arch and continue along the street. Further on, you’ll reach one of Innsbruck’s most visited sights. Beyond the city center, cross the Innsbrucker Ring, where you’ll arrive at Bergisel. The Battle of Bergisel was fought here. You’ll find the enormous Andreas Hofer statue there. The Bergisel is dominated by the modern Bergisel Ski Jump . Every January, it hosts the Four Hills Tournament. What many don’t know: The Bergisel Ski Jump is not only a sports venue but also a popular destination. A small funicular railway takes you up to the jump. There, you can enjoy panoramic views of Innsbruck from the viewing platform – or experience this magnificent vista while enjoying a delicious breakfast. In summer, you can even watch the ski jumpers. Here are some pictures from our excursions:
–> the Bergisel Ski Jump
The hospital church
It’s the church in the heart of the city. It enjoys a special place in the hearts of the locals, feeling more personal and approachable than Innsbruck Cathedral . The Hospital Church was built around 1700 and is richly decorated with stucco. If you visit, take note of the ornate bronze sculptures – especially noticeable on the door handles. Inside, you can pause for a few minutes of quiet reflection – the hustle and bustle of the city stays outside.
Maria Theresienstraße Innsbruck parking
You can park in the upper section of Maria Theresienstraße. From the Triumphal Arch to Anichstraße, there are some parking spaces for cars. These are subject to a fee and have time limits. Furthermore, there aren’t many spaces, so you won’t always find a spot. Be aware: Maria Theresienstraße is a pedestrian zone with no parking from Anichstraße to the Annasäule and to the Golden Roof. I recommend parking in the underground car parks in the city center, where you’ll usually find plenty of free spaces without having to search for long. Free parking spaces in the city center are nonexistent anyway .
Maria Theresien Street Innsbruck Shops
I always park in the underground car parks at Landhausplatz; it’s very convenient. From there, I’m right by the shops in the old town. They’re lined up one after the other: from the Tirol Shop near the Triumphal Arch to the Kaufhaus Tyrol department store (with dm, Douglas, Saturn, etc.) and the Rathausgalerien shopping center, with lots of smaller shops in between. It’s a great place to stroll and shop in Innsbruck. Banks and insurance companies like Bank Austria and Generali are also located here.
Bank Austria Maria Theresien Straße Innsbruck
The Bank Austria regional office is located at Maria-Theresien-Straße 36. Here you’ll find an ATM available 24/7. There’s also free Wi-Fi in the self-service lobby, an ATM with a mobile phone prepaid card dispenser, and a cash management system with a mobile phone prepaid card dispenser. During opening hours, you can visit the bank and speak to a bank advisor. Bank Austria’s opening hours at Maria-Theresien-Straße 36 in Innsbruck are Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
dm Maria-Theresien-Straße
The dm drugstore in the city center is also frequently searched for. It’s “hidden” inside the Kaufhaus Tyrol department store, at Maria-Theresien-Straße 31. dm’s opening hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, Monday to Saturday. It’s closed on public holidays. For more shopping tips in Innsbruck and where to find various shops – from regional fresh produce to shopping arcades and malls – see this article about shopping in Innsbruck:
–> regional shopping in Innsbruck
Innsbruck and its mountains
Whenever I stroll down Maria Theresien Street, I’m overwhelmed by the mountain panorama. The mountains around Innsbruck are so close. Behind the Triumphal Arch, the striking Serles mountain, with its pointed peak, immediately catches the eye. Further back, the Nordkette mountain range rises. And up there is the Hafelekar. It’s the top of Innsbruck . Want to explore the beautiful mountains alongside the urban life of Innsbruck? There’s no better place to do so in a city than here. The mountains surround Innsbruck, reaching 2,000 meters and higher. Which peaks offer particularly scenic views, where easy hikes with panoramic vistas lead, and which challenging hikes are worthwhile – I’ll show you all of that in this article about the recommended mountains around Innsbruck.
My personal recommendation:
The quickest way to reach the Nordkette mountains from Maria Theresien Street: Right behind the famous Golden Roof, you can take the Nordkette cable car up into the mountains. The funicular and gondola will whisk you to the alpine scenery of the Karwendel range in just a few minutes. There, you can simply enjoy the view after shopping – or, with the right hiking gear, go for a hike:
–> Nordkette cable car
Frequently asked questions about Maria-Theresien-Straße in Innsbruck
Maria-Theresien-Straße is a magnificent main street in the old town of Innsbruck, the capital of Tyrol in Austria. It is named after Empress Maria Theresa, one of the most influential monarchs of the Habsburg Monarchy. The street stretches for approximately 500 meters and forms the heart of Innsbruck’s shopping and pedestrian area.
Maria-Theresien-Straße is known for its distinctive architecture, historic buildings, magnificent facades, and central location. It is one of the most visited streets in Innsbruck’s city center, attracting thousands of visitors daily. Furthermore, it offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, particularly the Nordkette range of the Karwendel mountain range.
Yes, Maria-Theresien-Straße is a lively shopping street with a wide variety of shops, boutiques, and restaurants. Here you can find both international brands and local specialties. It’s a popular place to stroll, shop, and enjoy culinary delights.
