Nordkette Cable Car in Innsbruck

Nowhere else do urban living space and rugged mountain scenery lie so close together as here, and so the train takes you directly from the center of Innsbruck to the Hafelekar in the Nordkette at an altitude of 2,256 m in just 20 minutes. The Nordkettenbahn was planned at the beginning of the 20th century, but it was not until the late 1920s that the construction could be realized. According to the plans of the Tyrolean architect Franz Baumann, the cable car was built in two sections and finally opened in July 1928. The Nordkettenbahn quickly became a new, modern landmark of the sports city of Innsbruck and a very popular tourist attraction.

In the 1950s, extensive renovations and technical upgrades were necessary for the first time, also to increase capacity. A complete renewal of the cable car became necessary at the beginning of the 21st century. In 2004, the project of the Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid, who had already designed the new Bergisel ski jump, emerged as the winner of an internationally advertised competition.

The old Hungerburgbahn, which now runs as Section I from the Innsbruck Congress in the old town directly to the Hungerburg valley station, was completely rebuilt and re-routed. The spectacular station buildings by Zaha Hadid are masterpieces of modern architecture and attracted worldwide attention. Just recently, the international tourism news portal "tourism-review.com" ranked the stations of the new Hungerburgbahn in a ranking of the most fascinating train stations in the world in a fantastic 3rd place: a great honor for the architecture and for the Innsbruck Nordkettenbahn.

When modernizing the cable car from Hungerburg up to the mountain station at Hafelekar, aspects of monument protection also had to be considered. The interventions were carried out very carefully, and the station buildings designed by Franz Baumann in the 1920s were largely preserved. However, the technical facilities were completely replaced, and the Nordkettenbahn is now a modern panoramic train at the very latest technical level with a capacity of 800 people per hour in Section II (Hungerburg - Seegrube) and 620 people per hour in Section III (Seegrube - Hafelekar).

The view from the mountain station of Innsbruck and the Inntal, the Stubai and Zillertal Alps up to the Italian border is fantastic. But not only the panorama is unique, the Nordkettenbahn also offers a wealth of sports opportunities. In winter, there is a small ski area with practice lifts at the Seegrube station, and especially the "Nitro Skyline Park" for snowboarders and freestylers with a medium line, superpipe, and rookie line.

In summer, the cable car opens up a wonderful hiking area deep into the Karwendel Alpine Park. The Innsbruck via ferrata also begins at the mountain station, and the Nordkette single trail, one of the hottest hotspots in the European freeride scene, starts at the Seegrube station. The latest highlight is the Flying Fox right next to the Seegrube station, which gives brave guests a unique flying experience and pure adrenaline.

At the foot of the Nordkette is also the Innsbruck Alpine Zoo, which with over 2,000 animals and 150 different species is a great attraction for young and old.