If the Golden Roof is Innsbruck’s postcard, Maria-Theresien-Straße is its living room. This broad, gently curving street runs south from the edge of the old town toward the Triumphal Arch, and it was laid out centuries ago in what used to be the New Town outside the medieval gate. Aristocrats later built townhouses here, and many of them grew into Baroque palaces: Palais Gumpp now houses the Tyrolean government, and across the way Palais Trapp has an inner courtyard and a café that makes a good break. In the middle of the street rises St Anne’s Column, a slender monument topped by a figure of the Virgin Mary that commemorates the withdrawal of invading Bavarian troops in the early 18th century. At the southern end the Triumphal Arch, built in the 18th century for a royal wedding, marks the transition from the elegant boulevard to the outskirts. The street became a pedestrian promenade with granite paving, benches and brass-and-wood street lights, so it is a relaxed place for walking, window-shopping and watching the light change on the mountains.
How to visit
The street is free and open at all hours, and it is a natural link between the main station area and the old town, a walk of a few minutes at a relaxed pace. Shops open on typical European hours, and most close on Sunday, so use the street for sightseeing and a coffee then, rather than for shopping.
The cafés and outdoor restaurants spill onto the pavement when the weather allows, and in winter many stay open with heaters and blankets. Two indoor shopping centres, the Kaufhaus Tyrol and the Rathauspassage, offer shelter if the weather turns.
What to expect
The best-known view from the street is a pair of contrasts. Look north from St Anne’s Column and you see the Golden Roof end of the old town with the sheer wall of the Nordkette rising behind it, while looking south you see the Bergisel ski jump standing in front of the Serles and Habicht mountains. It is a rare experience to have snow-capped peaks at both ends of a shopping street.
The Chapel of St George in the Tyrolean parliament building and the Triumphal Arch are small stops for history fans, and the Spitalskirche and other churches nearby are worth a quick look inside. Experience Tirol is housed in the department store on the street, which makes the boulevard a convenient base for a rainy-day plan.
Making the most of it
Walk the whole length from the Triumphal Arch to the old town at the end of the afternoon, when the light on the mountains is best, and finish with coffee and cake in a courtyard café. At dusk the street lamps come on and the Nordkette is often lit pink by the last sun, a moment worth planning around. In Advent the street is part of the Christmas market atmosphere, with lights and seasonal stalls, and in summer it hosts events and open-air concerts.
Because it lies halfway between the station and the Golden Roof, it is a convenient place to meet friends, and with its wide, flat paving it is easy for pushchairs and wheelchairs. Treat it as a stroll rather than a sight, and give it half an hour to an hour with a stop for refreshments.
What to expect
The experience
A free stroll along a Baroque pedestrian boulevard with cafés, shops, a famous column and mountain views at both ends.
Best time
Late afternoon, when the Nordkette catches the last light, or after dark in the cold season when the street is lit.
How long
Thirty minutes to an hour, longer with coffee or shopping.
Tips
Shops are generally closed on Sundays, so use that day for a walk and a coffee, and duck into a shopping centre if rain starts.
Quick picks
- Best for
- A free, easy introduction to the city that links the station area with the old town.
- Families
- Wide, flat and car-free, with plenty of cafés and a friendly atmosphere for children.
- Couples
- Walk it at dusk and finish with coffee in the courtyard of a Baroque palace.
- Pair with
- The Golden Roof, a few minutes’ walk north, and Experience Tirol on the street itself.
- Time needed
- Under an hour.
Good questions
What is St Anne’s Column?+
A monument in the middle of the street, topped by a figure of the Virgin Mary, that commemorates the withdrawal of invading Bavarian troops in the early 18th century.
Is Maria-Theresien-Straße pedestrian only?+
Yes, it became a pedestrian promenade with granite paving and benches. Trams and buses cross at the ends.
What can you see from St Anne’s Column?+
To the north you look past the old town toward the Nordkette, and to the south you see the Bergisel ski jump in front of the Serles and Habicht peaks.
Are the shops open on Sunday?+
Most shops close on Sundays, but cafés and restaurants stay open. It is a good day for a walk rather than shopping.
How far is it from the Golden Roof?+
The street ends at the old town, so the Golden Roof is a walk of around five minutes from the northern end.
