Innsbruck Greeter: Free Tours with Flair

Sometimes, the most difficult part of visiting a new city is knowing what you’re looking at as you’re strolling through town. Have you ever taken a stroll somewhere new and thought, ‘that building is pretty, I wonder what it is?’ Same. Well, Innsbruck has got you covered. An organization called International Greeter provides FREE private walking tours with a local. What better way to discover the wonderful city of Innsbruck than with a local showing you the ropes! Whether it be a majestic street in the old town, the best coffee in town, or the history of that beautiful building: A local guide is the best option, hands down!

International Greeter is made up of volunteers, ensuring they are showing you the sites for all the right reasons. Your tour is not just a paycheck, but done with passion. They are enthusiastic and pleasant, happy to show new people the ins and outs of the town. I went with my besties, but it is perfect for families, small groups (up to six people), individuals, and it’s free!

Whether you are visiting Innsbruck for the first time or looking for hidden gems of the city because you have been here before: Innsbruck has so much to offer, the normal tourist only scratches the surface, a local can dive deeper, showing you ‘their’ Innsbruck. Considering everyone sees the world a little differently, a new perspective might just be the ticket!

My guide was Rudolf Wiener, the “founder” of the Greeters in Innsbruck. Since October he has led over 20 tour groups around the city. People from Australia, Ecuador, Myanmar, and many more chose to explore Innsbruck with Rudi. It was a little strange at first, taking a tour of Innsbruck, considering I have lived here for over 15 years, but Rudi shared so much history. Even my friend who grew up in Innsbruck learned something new! Things I walked past everyday, and never gave a second thought to, hold so much history!

There are several different tours available, catered to the needs of your group. There is even a tour focusing on the popular book series/movie “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”. Innsbruck inspired the author, Douglas Adams, to write the book. I love that book and had no idea! I learned so much on my tour, showing there is always something about Innsbruck to be learned.

The Greeter network is global, start in Innsbruck and take a tour, what have you got to lose? 

Cover Photo: © Innsbruck Tourismus / Christof Lackner