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Innsbruck has many amazing suburbs, from picturesque Hötting to the urban O-Dorf. But no suburb is quite as beautiful or diverse as the wonderful Wilten. Located on the south side of the city, this suburb is packed full of awesome things to see, whether you’re after stunning architecture, progressive culture or simply a great coffee.

Here are 5 things you shouldn’t miss on your visit to Wilten.

1. WILTENER PLATZL

The Wiltener Platzl is the cultural heart of Wilten. This little square, located on Leopoldstrasse, is not just a favourite meeting spot for Wilten’s residents. It’s also the centre of Innsbruck’s hipster cultural scene. Think funky coffee shopsvintage furniture stores and street food restaurants (also for takeaway). Not to mention the farmer’s market on Saturday mornings, which offers some of the best regional produce around. Fresh eggs for brunch? Yes, please!

2. BASILIKA WILTEN

Back in the day, Wilten was one of the richest parts of Innsbruck. Therefore, it has not just one magnificent church, but two! The Basilika Wilten (the yellow church) and the neighbouring Stift Wilten (the red church) are both beautiful examples of ornate baroque architecture, complete with gold altars, classical murals and onion dome towers. Aside from the usual religious services, the churches host many concerts throughout the year and their huge bells chime out magical melodies every hour. Which brings us to our next point…

3. GRASSMAYR BELL MUSEUM

A bell museum?! What is there to see in a bell museum? Actually, quite a lot. The Grassmayr family have been forging bells in Innsbruck since 1599, including the majestic ones in the Stift Wilten. In their family museum, you get a chance to see how these huge 10-ton bronze bells are painstakingly crafted over months, and my word it’s impressive. Their gift shop also has the largest collection of Tibetan singing bowls in Innsbruck.

4. COFFEE KULT

Watching bells being made is thirsty work. It’s time for a break at one Innsbruck’s most famous coffee shops: Coffee Kult. Master barista Cem Korkmaz pours heart and soul into every stage of the coffee process, from selecting the right beans, roasting them correctly and brewing them for optimal deliciousness. A visit to the Coffee Kult roasting house in the Leopoldstrasse is a must for every coffee lover in Wilten.

5. BERGISEL SKI JUMP

But if there is one building that defines Wilten, it is the Bergisel ski jump. This dramatic building, created by renowned architect Zaha Hadid, stands proudly on the south side of Wilten and its restaurant offers fabulous views of the majestic Nordkette mountains and the city down below. Come on the right day and you can see local ski jumpers in training, and marvel at the skill and elegance as they fly through thin air.

If that isn’t enough to whet your appetite for this intriguing district of Innsbruck, my fellow Innsbruck blogger Ichia put together two different ‘Art and Architecture Treasure Hunts’ in Wilten – check out Part 1 HERE and Part 2 HERE.

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