Seegrube Cable Car

For those of us who get tired of honking cars and bustling streets, and for those of us who crave green expanses and open skies, look no further than the Nordkette cable car. Within 20 minutes you can be hiking or skiing (depending on the season), or smugly enjoying a coffee at 1900 metres above sea level.

The funicular has been transporting people up and down the mountainside since 1928, and has undergone many modifications and refurbishments in its relatively long history. The most recent of these were spearheaded by award-winning architect Zaha Hadid, who designed the new cable car and two of the stations. These new structures are impressive sights in themselves and have been likened to clouds floating high up in the mountains.

The starting point of the ride is just outside the centre of Innsbruck’s Old Town. From here it’s a steady 300-metre climb to Hungerberg, which is the first stop. The views are already staggering from here, and this locality boasts a claim to having over 300 cloud-free days per year.

This is where you can board one of the new fleet of cable cars. The pod will raise you up a further 1600m to Seegrube station where you’ll find a restaurant and a slightly higher-end lounge. With the view opening out all around, this is a great place to stop for lunch or a coffee. On a clear day you’ll be able to see all the way to Italy. Seegrube is a starting point for wildflower walking trails in the summer as well as for skiing routes during snowy months.

The final stop is Hafelekar, at 2255 metres above sea level. From here you’ll see the dense green mountains stand out against the grey urban area of Innsbruck.

The cable car runs every 15 minutes, from early morning to late evening, every day of the week. Ticket prices vary according to how far you want to travel. At the base of the cable car there is free parking and a nearby bus stop.