When It Gets Hot: Tips and Places to Cool Off

Many people associate Innsbruck with winter, snow, and sports—and rightly so. But our Alpine metropolis also has a lot to offer in the summer: hiking, sightseeing, culture, and a vibrant culinary scene attract numerous visitors every year. However, the truth is also that: Even Innsbruck isn’t spared from the heat. If temperatures rise above 30 degrees for three consecutive days, it’s considered a heat wave. In recent years, such heat waves have become increasingly frequent, last longer, and present new challenges for both locals and visitors.

Staying Cool in Innsbruck

To counter these trends, Innsbruck is implementing a wide range of measures—from more green spaces and shade to freely accessible drinking water stations, free sunscreen giveaways, and so-called “cooling zones.” Innsbruck is doing a lot to protect its residents and visitors and ensure they enjoy a wonderful summer despite the heat.

Staying Active Safely Despite the Summer Heat

Innsbruck and sports just go hand in hand. Whether it’s hiking, running, biking, or rock climbing —hardly any other city offers so many opportunities to be active right on your doorstep. That’s exactly why it’s important to know how to protect yourself properly on hot days. I asked Christine Schermer asked from the City Climate and Environment Department for her top tips for mountain and recreational athletes: “It’s important to start early and plan your trip well. Drink plenty of water, and don’t forget sun protection— a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen are a must. It’s also best to pack a second T-shirt. Many people, especially young and athletic ones, overestimate their abilities. They take on too much, don’t listen to their bodies, don’t drink enough, and in the worst-case scenario, end up in the emergency room.” In line with this, the state of Tyrol has printed a brochure specifically for mountain and recreational athletes. Take a look—it’s worth it!

Sunscreen on the Go: Simple, Free, and Convenient

But you shouldn’t just protect yourself from the sun when you’re hiking or exercising—you should also do so while sightseeing, strolling around, or simply relaxing at a café. It’s no secret that intense sunlight and heat pose health risks. We all know this—and yet, in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, we often forget to apply enough sunscreen before leaving the house. That’s exactly why the State of Tyrol, the City of Innsbruck, and the Innsbruck-Tyrol Alpine Zoo have come up with something really great: Starting this year, there are free sunscreen dispensers at three heavily frequented locations in Innsbruck. The modern dispensers are located at Landhausplatz, at Innsbruck’s Marktplatz , and on the grounds of the Alpine Zoo, offering both locals and visitors easy and free access to effective sun protection.

“The sunscreen dispensers have been really well received,” Ms. Schermer says proudly. “I’ve seen people using them as they walk by, and I’ve also seen many posts on social media where people are speaking very positively about the initiative.”

Free Drinking Water Through the "Water Drop" Campaign 

But we don’t just need to protect ourselves from the heat on the outside. It’s just as important to stay hydrated—and as we all know, water is the best thirst-quencher. So it’s great that the city of Innsbruck has launched another heat-mitigation initiative: the “Water Drop” campaign. If you spot a sticker shaped like a water droplet at a store or restaurant , you’ll know right away: Here, you can fill up your water bottle with fresh tap water for free.

Innsbruck’s Finest Drinking Water—Always Within Reach

It’s a great privilege to have fresh, top-quality drinking water flowing from our taps. But we can count on it not just at home: There are more than 160 public drinking fountains throughout the city of Innsbruck . Thirsty while sightseeing? No problem—you can fill your water bottle with the best drinking water Innsbruck has to offer in the blink of an eye. And it’s not just the fountains in the city center that offer refreshment: numerous trail fountains along hiking trails and in the forests are also available to walkers and athletes. Our Innsbruck water is something truly special: It comes from deep within the Alps, seeps through the rock over many years, and finally reaches us crystal-clear, rich in minerals, and delicious. You can find all drinking water stations in Tyrol on the State of Tyrol’s drinking water map —so you’ll always know where the nearest refreshment is.

Cooling Zones – Cool Places to Take a Breath

I think most of us know the feeling: A heat wave sweeps through Innsbruck, and suddenly it gets uncomfortably hot in your own apartment or hotel room. So you want to get out—but where to? It’s precisely for situations like these that the city of Innsbruck has launched so-called Cooling Zones. These are cool, easily accessible, and consumption-free indoor spaces that offer seating, information, usually a restroom, and access to drinking water—for example, in the “ ISD ” dormitories, shopping centers, or the city library. Of course, in the summer we love to meet up with friends at a café or restaurant. But it’s just nice to know that there are places where you don’t have to buy anything—you can simply show up, cool off, and linger for a bit.

INN-Oases – Even More Cooling

The indoor cooling zones are complemented by the so-called INN-Oases, which were launched by the “ Caritas ” initiative and are managed through the volunteer network. While the Cooling Zones primarily offer cool indoor spaces, the INN-Oases provide additional outdoor retreats and special spots throughout the city. These include gardens, parks, and cool areas in churches or businesses that invite people to linger and cool off. Visitors will find seating, plenty of drinking water, and helpful information on how to cope with the heat. Fans are also available to help provide some relief on hot days. The “ INN ” oases are recognizable by the folding chairs bearing the City of Innsbruck’s branding—just take a seat, take a deep breath, and enjoy the cooler moments.

Quick Fixes – Quick Solutions to Beat the Heat

These were just a few examples of the measures the city of Innsbruck is taking to provide more relief from the heat. But the list goes on. The term “Quick Fixes,” various short-term and flexible heat protection measures are grouped together that can be implemented wherever a quick improvement is needed. “For example, we make sure there’s enough shade. On playgrounds, we achieve this with sun sails; in public spaces, with so-called ‘mobile trees’—that is, trees in planters that are set up wherever they’re needed,” explains Ms. Schermer.

Cooling Comes from Above

But mist is also a good cooling agent. Anyone who has ever been Sparkassenplatz or inside Ing. Etzel-Park has surely noticed the fine, cool mist of water coming from above. On hot days, it provides a welcome refreshment and makes spending time outdoors much more pleasant. Even in the market square, some restaurants rely on this simple yet effective way to offer their guests a little relief from the heat on warm summer days.

Climate-Resilient for the Future

In addition to all the short-term measures , medium- and long-term strategies are needed above all to make Innsbruck sustainably climate-resilient. These include, for example, green roofs and facades, climate-resilient plaza and street designs, the Superblock project, and the tree-row concept—a strategic planning measure that specifies where and how new trees can be planted in the urban area in the future. “Climate change adaptation is a cross-cutting issue that many departments and divisions are working on—we have several projects in the planning stages,” reveals Ms. Schermer.

With all the great measures Innsbruck has in store for hot days, remember: the best way to keep a cool head is to not forget the simple things. So: drink plenty of fluids, pack a hat and sunscreen, and enjoy the warm summer days in Innsbruck!

More information on the City of Innsbruck’s heat-related measures and a list of cooling zones