Let’s get Quizzical! Quiz nights in Innsbruck

Being a bit of a nerd (especially when it comes to music), I love a good quiz, but then, I'm certainly not the only one. Pub quizzes are very popular in Innsbruck. And with good reason; enjoying a few drinks and interesting conversations with friends (conversion often sparked by the questions) is an excellent way to spend an evening. Most Innsbruck quizzes are in English too, making them more friendly to international visitors (don't worry, you're unlikely to get questions about Austrian politics!) Here's a little guide:

Every Monday at 7pm

This is the Daddy of Innsbruck Quiz nights really. With over thirty teams and around two hundred people regularly taking part it's also hugely popular.

It wasn't always so. When I first moved to Innsbruck in the autumn of 2009, me and my partner Johanna had been out for a walk in the city and at the end of Kaiserjägerstrasse on the route back home passed The Galway Bay. There was a chalkboard outside: 'Tonight, Quiz night - in English', so I said, 'shall we join in?' As there were only the two of us, we joined forces with another couple who were sitting at the bar. These people turned out to be Drew and Victoria, now good friends of ours. Quick humblebrag - we finished second! (this, despite there only being 4 of us - you can have up to 6).

Nowadays, a similarly high-scoring performance following such a mega-casual approach would be unlikely given the night's popularity. As the Galway Bay's website states, 'for most teams their pride is important and many of our regular teams are there to win!'

These people compete in the so-called “Freaks” division, while those who treat it more as a bit of fun are in the “Lovers” division.

It's a maximum of 6 people per team and registering as in advance as possible is recommended.

5 Rounds of Questions

The first round of ten questions is always general knowledge, 2nd, 3rd and 4th rounds vary weekly from History, Geography, Science & Nature, Music, Names, Sports, Movies, Art, Literature and others. The fifth round is always a picture round with different weekly topics.

The Galway (as it's known to regulars) is a proper, authentically Irish pub and whiling away an evening inside it's cozy environs is one of the most pleasurable ways to spend a winters night in Innsbruck (in summer it's pretty good too!)

In ENGLISH

Every Sunday at 7:30pm (except for summer break)

Moustache is a bar/bistro right in the heart of the old town. It has 'coffee house charm with a breeze of jungle in the heart of the Alps' according to the website which feels like an accurate description to me. The food is excellent and there's a great selection of craft beers, while it's long-running quiz night is also very popular.

Most Sunday quiz nights are fully booked so if you want to make sure of getting a spot, send a DM to the official Moustache page on Instagram or Facebook (NOT the unofficial pubquiz group on Facebook) and try and make your reservation as early as possible.

You can have a maximum of 9 people per team so it's the place to go if there's a large group of you who want to take part.

There's no entry fee and prizes are free drinks for those who finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd (and last!)

There are 6 rounds of 10 questions each, including a picture round and a film round.

In ENGLISH

Monthly - check the website for dates

This is the quiz for those who fancy themselves as masters of music, and it's one - full disclosure - that me and my good friend David Cook sometimes host.

A maximum of 4 people per team, 1€ per person solidarity contribution. You can book your place via the website.

Prizes include vouchers for Bäckerei events, rounds of shots and a bottle of Berliner Luft for the losers!

I've loved compiling and hosting it and people tell me it's been fun to take part (perhaps they're just being polite?!)...

It's been sporadic thus far but the plan is to make it a monthly event. So watch this space!

In ENGLISH

First Sunday of the month at 7pm

The Shakespeare - as you may have guessed by the name - is an English pub. But their monthly quiz is in German. So if you fancy sipping a cider or guinness while testing your trivia knowledge auf Deutsch this is the one for you.

Situated on the Bogen (the local nickname for the arches formed by the railway line as it approaches Innsbruck's main station) it used to feel a little bit out of the way and forgotten. But as it's directly underneath Innsbruck's newest train station - Innsbruck Messe - it now bustles with life.

Up to 5 players per team, they usually have around 12 teams take part with prizes for the top 3 teams.

The next one will be on Sunday December 1st 2024.

In GERMAN

Every Tuesday at 7pm

Also on the Bogen, a bit nearer to the centre of the city than The Shakespeare, Brennpunkt is a coffee shop rather than pub so this is the quiz night for those who aren't bothered about booze. Their coffee is superb and the atmosphere inside very pleasant.

I have to admit I haven't been able to get down there on a Tueday to experience a quiz night yet but I will, as I'm told they have a 'buzzer' round and it seems intriguing!

In GERMAN

Happy quizzing!

Header photo: Thomas Hester