Innsbruck, Austria hosted the 1976 Winter Olympics and still maintains the Bergisel Olympic ski jump. This lovely town at the foot of the Austrian Alps provides a picturesque place for skiers and visitors alike to thrill to the steep downhill ski events. In deciding to keep the ski jump that’s built into the forested hills above Innsbruck, officials called for construction of a platform and enclosed viewing building so everyone could marvel at the scenes from the top. We’ve all just enjoyed the 2018 Olympics, so it’s a good time to get a close-up look at a historic Olympic ski jump.
You can walk up or you can ride the polka-dot cable car. (I think the dots are actually supposed to be snowflakes.) 
Here’s the dizzying view looking straight down the ski jump from the top. The first ski jump here, built in 1927, was a simple wooden platform from which brave skiers (aka “daredevils”) flew through the air. The latest version is a state-of-the-art platform. During the winter, it is covered with 30 cm of packed snow. Get this: Within 4 seconds of launching off here, a skier reaches speeds of more than 90 km an hour!
Here are closer views of the lookout building that allows visitors to be inside and take in the views of the ski jump, the stadium, Innsbruck, and the Alps. 
And the views down into town and across to the Alps are spectacular. 
A healthy forest lines the side of the ski jump. A glass walkway is embedded, which looked like a fun activity for next time. 
You can explore around the top of the ski jump from different levels. Here it is from underneath, an unusual angle. 
If the weather cooperates, you can see for miles around from outside. Even on a pleasant day it was windy, though. I’m sure many visitors take advantage of the indoor viewing.
The original stadium is still intact and different events are held here in the different seasons. In the summer, water is run down the track for lubrication. This Olympic ski jump is also used for training and competitions year-round.
You can see the markings along the ski jump when there’s no snow. 
A small visitor center at the bottom of the jump tells about the Olympics and the history of this arena. A photo shows the ski jump during the 1976 Olympics. 
Tickets to the Bergisel SKY tower are 9.50 Euros for adults, with a variety of group and season tickets. You can enjoy a meal or snacks at the restaurant at the top. Check the Bergisel Olympic ski jump official website before you go so you can plan around closures due to events or weather.
If you are near Innsbruck, you’ll want to make your way to this spectacular, historical ski jump!
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36 Comments
Oh my goodness!! So cool to see that in person!
We went to Inssbruck to celebrate our engagement. Such a great city and we saw the ski jump.
As always, Sharon, your photos are awesome. Things are so tall and high and far away, yet accessible, if one is willing. 🙂
Beautiful tour and views, I always enjoy your taking me on an excursion
Oh my – the heights are dizzying! Beautiful images.
Enjoyed having you stop by https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2018/02/preparing-for-next-exhibit.html
Can you even imagine how they learn to jump that? THe first time must be terrifying….
You make it clear what an impact the Olympics make on a city! Phenomenal images, Sharon! The stunning surroundings of the mountains must have been very welcoming to the guests back then:) Appreciate you faithfully linking up to All Seasons! Am in this mood, because snow is falling as we speak:)
That would be wonderful to see! Sure would have made the Winter Olympics more real…. those athletes (most of them) make it all seem so easy — just to stand up there and see in person what they have to do would be amazing.
Brave or mad to jump off there. Not quite sure but the views are fabulous.
Oooh wooow! That’s is so high! And I get dizzy looking at it directly like that 🙂
I am even more impressed by Olympic athletes having seen these photos … they demonstrate such courage, and make it look easy!
Such a great location!
Ohh looking down that slope made my legs feel wobbly
Mollyx
Oh my! I have seen the Innsbruck ski jump from a distance once or twice, but from up close it looks so interesting and slightly terrifying!
#WanderfulWednesday
Wow, those are some amazing views! What an awesome experience. Those athletes are amazing.
Oh wow 90km is sooo fast and from those views definitely quite dizzying! I could never do that! #WanderfulWednesday
Just looking at that view makes me a little scared! I don’t think that I could even imagine skiing down this ski run! It would still be really cool to check out though!
I’ve never visited the ski jump – the views from the top look fantastic – I will have to put it on the list of places to visit #FarawayFiles
I’m in awe of those winter olympians – I get vertigo just looking at that ski jump! Thanks for sharing on #farawayfiles
Don’t think I’ll ever be a ski jumper-the view down the chute looks terrifying! Innsbruck is absolutely gorgeous though! #FarawayFiles
That would be so cool to see in person. I love watching ski jumping in the Olympics, though when the camera angle turns to the skier’s view, I always have to close my eyes because just looking down the slope makes me dizzy. #FarawayFiles
Standing up there and looking down on Innsbruck is so impressive, isn’t it? I could never imagine jumping down there though 😀 #FarawayFiles
I’ve been here as a kid but I can barely remember anything. Thanks for bringing back some memories – the city sure is amazing and the view from the ski jump is incredible!
Absolutely incredible views and great pics, thanks for the info! 🙂
Wow, that is impressive! As good as it looks, I would be terrified to use the run. I watched several events of the Olympics (on TV) and some of those sports where very extreme. So many jumps and speed! #feetdotravel
I’m sure it would be spectacular to watch the events from there!
(By the way, I love your caption for my daughter’s drawing. Just perfect!)
Amazing (and a bit terrifying ) view! I’ve been to Innsbruck but unfortunately didn’t make it to Bergisel.
#TheWeeklyPostcard
I’m not keen on heights but I’ve been to the top of the ski jump in Lake Placid and Park City. I even ziplined down the one in Utah so I can say that I had fun visiting them – and I would love to visit the one in Innsbruck. Such a different perspective from up top.
It must have been very interesting to visit this Olympic site in Innsbruck. I always wanted to go there and ski, but it’s kind of far from California. Looking straight down that ski jump seems really scary. I wonder what goes through the mind of those skiers when they are up, at the top. #TheWeklyPostcard`
Really interesting to see the ski jump from so many different angles. It really is very high. I enjoyed watching the ski jumpers during the Winter Olympics. Glad women are finally being represented at the event too – they only opened ski jumping for women at the winter Olympics in 2014! #citytripping
Wow, those views are incredible! I must admit that some of the photos of the jump itself gave me a bit of vertigo! This would be so cool to experience!
I’ve always enjoyed watching the ski jumping at the Olympics, but until recently, never considered just how high up they are at the start. That’s pretty impressive! (Or terrifying, if you’re afraid of heights!) Those views are phenomenal. We agree that we’d love to go up there and take it all in. But we also agree to taking the cable car back down. Noooo ski jumping for us! 😉 Thanks for linking up with #TheWeeklyPostcard!
I LOVE ski jumping. I enjoyed reading about your visit a lot. I’m so sorry I didn’t get to see the Bergisel ski jump when I was in Innsbruck. I would love to attend 4-hills tournament event held there. It is usually one of the best events in the ski jumping world cup. Hopefully one day… 🙂 #FarawayFiles
Wow, love the views from the top of the Olympic Ski Run. I have been to Innsbruck but missed the chance to visit the top of the ski run. I will put this on my list to visit and get some awesome photos. Great photos and thanks for sharing! #feetdotravel
I love everything Olympics and have just visited a ski jump from 1980 Olympics in Lake Placid, US and it was also a lot of fun! Love your pictures! ours were taken in the beginning of winter and it is fun when green!
Beautiful pictures and commentary on the Innsbruck jump. I was there in 1981 to visit and it was spectacular. In addition I believe beyond the landing zone at the bottom exists a huge Innsbruck cemetery, which makes the jump site even more scarily intriguing.