Igls

Igls is an alpine town in the Inn Valley just south of Innsbruck in North Tyrol, Austria.

Understand
As a town between Innsbruck and the Patscherkofel mountain, Igls is most appreciated as a haven of quietness just south of the regional capital city. It is popular with tourists in summer because of its archaeological heritage and hiking opportunities, and in winter for the ski facilities on the.



History
The history of Igls is largely a mystery, although row graves were uncovered within its administrative boundaries, and the nearby Goldbichl hill to the south is an important archaeological site for Tyrol. There is discussion over the name of Igls, which is either said to originate from an 11th century monastery at the Tegernsee, which had possessions in Igls.

Igls developed from a rural village into a summer resort for the Innsbruck upper class in the 19th century, and with it came the construction of the first hotels in the town.

Igls rose to international fame through the Olympic Winter Games of 1964 and 1976 being organized on the slopes of the Patscherkofel. An ice bobsleigh track and Olympic ski run were constructed, and these facilities are still in use for international sports competitions such as the Youth Olympics of 2012.

Igls is a victim of global warming: snowfall is diminishing year after year. Lack of snow has resulted in the closure and decommissioning of the Patscherkofelbahn base station which used to offer skiers a direct ascent onto the Patscherkofel from the heart of Igls. The new base station straddles the mountain a few km to the south-east, and with skiers passing through the town by bus instead of visiting, the future of the tourism sector in Igls is uncertain. Restaurants and night life have reduced their opening hours to compensate for the lack of patrons, but travellers with a keen eye can profit from the reduced demand for accommodation as hotel prices have also dropped significantly.

Orientation
Igls is a town of ca. 2450 inhabitants, on the heights south of the Inn Valley, and south of regional capital city Innsbruck to which it administratively belonged until 1961. It lies in the shadow of the Patscherkofel mountain, popular in summer for hiking and in winter for skiing.

Climate
Igls has an alpine climate, characterized by cold winters and mild but wet summers. In winter, because of its altitude, much of Igls precipitation falls as snow. From November to March, Igls is often covered in a picturesque snow layer ranging from a few cm up to almost 1 m. Snowfall on the Patscherkofel usually lasts until April or May.

By tram
Tram connects  to  in Innsbruck. The route is very scenic, as the tram meanders through the pine forests and offers travelers a great view over Innsbruck. Bergisel is a 2-min walk away from.

By bus
Bus passes through Igls on the way to the Patcherkofel Talstation. Get off at. Alternatively, take bus 4141 and get off at.

Get around
Igls is small enough to get around by foot. To get to the, take bus direction Igls Patscherkofel and get off at the terminus station where the entrance of the Patscherkofelbahn is to your left.

Do
Igls is best known for its Olympic facilities for alpine skiing and bobsleigh competitions. With 18 km of slopes, it also has a lot to offer to casual skiers who can explore the Patscherkofel mountain ski area with the brand new Patscherkofelbahn ski lift.

Winter sports
Igls is most popular to travelers as a ski resort in winter, thanks to the Patscherkofel mountain in close proximity. With 18 km easy and intermediate slopes, the Patscherkofel ski area is ideal for beginners. Igls had its own gondola cable car up to the Patscherkofel summit until 2017 when it was replaced by a new aerial tramway with a higher capacity. It unfortunately no longer has a station in Igls itself, skiers must take a bus to the new base station about 20 min away from the Igls centre. Usage of the bus is free with a Patscherkofel skipass.
 * {| class="wikitable"

!Name||Tel.||Altitude|| / / || /  /
 * Patscherkofel|| +43 512 377234 ||900 - 1.960m||8 Lifts: 1 / 2 / 5|| 18 km Pistes: 10 / 8 / -
 * }
 * }

Stay safe
Igls is generally a very safe town. During the winter ski season, drunk tourists are known to cause trouble in bars and nightlife venues, where some warm up with excessive alcohol consumption after enjoying the Patscherkofel slopes on skis or snowboard.

Igls' locals are reserved but helpful, so should anything happen to you, do not hesitate to ask for assistance. There is adequate mobile reception in the entire town and most arts of the Patscherkofel.

Go next

 * — federal state capital of Tyrol and one of the largest cities in the Alps
 * — known for its 13th century salt mine
 * — home of Swarovski crystals
 * — home of Swarovski crystals