The Best Boutique Hotels in Innsbruck, Austria

Perched on the northern bank of the Inn – the river that sweeps around Innsbruck’s inner core – the dozen rooms at Faktorei have a stripped back feel with whitewashed walls, slate-tiled bathrooms and bare wood ceilings. It’s perfect for anyone who likes a splash of industrial-chic, but that’s not to say that it’s without warmth: a cosy onsite café with wedges of cake or jam-smothered toast is a homely place to unwind with a book or chat with fellow travellers.

It doesn’t get more Austrian than this restaurant with a handful of chic rooms. A white and wood-panelled exterior clad with boxy balconies; snow-capped mountain peaks in the distance. Inside, the traditional feel continues, with antique paintings, patterned curtains and carved wood chairs in the restaurant (as well as Wiener schnitzel on the menu). The rooms are where things turn a bit more international-contemporary: neutral hues, light polished woods and – to the delight of children – bunk beds in family rooms.

Wes Anderson fans will love this inner-city hotel with its advent calendar-like exterior, glowing with higgledy-piggledy windows. Set right on the main square, by photogenic St Anne’s Column, you’ll pass from old-world into striking contemporary stylings – think textured white bathroom tiling, velvet sapphire banquets and a terrazzo-lined spa with sauna and gym (complete with parquet-style floors). Rooms range from singles to family suites, but this is really for cool millennial couples or friends.

Explorers, take note: this place is right next to Innsbruck’s central train station, so enjoying the region and greater Austria is a breeze. But that’s not the only reason to book into Adlers. This modern pad – which suits business and leisure guests in equal measure – is big on floor-to-ceiling windows, so you get views out over Innsbruck’s rooftops and to the Tyrol’s snow-dusted peaks. Even the spa, which comes with multiple saunas and steam rooms, has panoramic views from its relaxation area.

Set within the Innsbrucker Hofgarten, prim palace gardens which date back to the 15th century, Hotel Schwarzer Adler is one of Innsbruck’s heritage stays. The hotel has been family-run for five generations and, as a result, they’ve had time to get things right, from the luxuriously cosy rooms to the spa (a major focus with its three-floored space, including an outdoor pool and a thermal area they’ve dubbed ‘sauna world). Dinner in the 400-year-old Tyrolean parlour is a unique highlight.

There’s a lot of great spa hotels in Innsbruck, but as an official health centre and medispa, Park Igls takes things up a notch. The FX Mayr programme at this modern build, south of the city centre, lets you detox and regenerate while making the most of the pool, thermal suites and massage loungers. Meanwhile, Kneipp hydrotherapy is on hand to improve circulation and reduce inflammation. Calming, bright and neutral rooms afford pin-up views of the Alps.

Foodies will love this resort east of the city centre, near skier’s paradise Seefeld – there’s a full roster of dining options, including celebrated gourmet restaurants, sun-drenched winter garden, cosy fireplace bar and regal Viennese-style cafe. Bedrooms come with a cosy lodge-like vibe, befitting of a resort so popular for both its winter and summer outdoors activities (expect warm woods, splashes of red). Despite the sophisticated feel, children are welcome and babysitting and kids’ club are both on tap.

Smart, modern and stylish, this hotel in Innsbruck’s centre also boasts a bit of a bohemian vibe – the hotel is named after a ‘primordial mother figure’, and quirky, bold art punctuates the space. Every room is different, from the metallic tiled walls in the aptly named ‘gold’ king-size double to the loft-style (and goat-themed) ‘climb up’. A bar turns out light bites throughout the day; a supplementary buffet breakfast is stuffed with cheeses and fruit.

Lined in glass, this modern build is a striking contrast to Innsbruck’s wedding cake-like architecture – including its immediate neighbours on this leafy park square. But what you’ll care about on a summer visit is not what it looks like at ground level, but from the top – a west-facing rooftop terrace makes the perfect spot for a sundowner in view of the Tyrolean peaks. Ask for a Penz card at check-in to get discounts on local sights, shops and restaurants.