A winter city break in Innsbruck

Mention that you are off to the Tyrol region of Austria over the festive season and everyone assumes you are hitting the slopes for a spot of skiing.

However, the mountainous area has much to offer non-skiers, whether they want to tour the historic city of Innsbruck, walk in the Kitzbühel Alps or just enjoy the wintry scenery.

The small village of Kirchberg in the Brixen Valley is the ideal base for a coach holiday exploring the region, and can be reached in around 12 hours from the UK.

Innsbruck lies just an hour to the west by road and the famous winter resort of Kitzbühel is less than four miles east.

Visitors to Innsbruck have the chance to peer up at the most famous landmark of the state capital, the 2,738-tiled Golden Roof. Completed in the 16th century, it was used to shelter Emperor Maximilian I as he watched events in the Old Town.

In the run up to Christmas the square below is home to a seasonal market, selling local produce and handcrafted clothes and ornaments.

In a place that held the Winter Olympics in 1964 and 1976, it is impossible to ignore winter sports altogether and a trip up to the Bergisel Ski Jump stadium, with a ride on the new funicular, is a must for the best panoramic view of the city.

Just a fifteen minute drive from the Tyrolean capital is the small town of Wattens, home to the original headquarters of the luxury crystal firm Swarovski.

It is now the site of the company's Crystal Worlds visitor centre, but anyone expecting to learn of the history and manufacturing process of crystals is likely to be left disappointed.

Instead they will be treated to various rooms housing abstract works of art based only very loosely on a crystal theme, with the exhibition culminating in the largest Swarovski shop in the world.

If you travel east from here you will arrive at the birthplace of Austrian skiing, Kitzbühel. The village not only hosts World Cup skiing races, but is the venue for the Austrian Open tennis tournament and an annual festive of classic cars.

The celebrity haunt is the ideal place to just sit and relax with a coffee or beer or pay another visit to a market or exclusive boutique.

Kirchberg itself has several ski lifts, open to walkers, which lead to good vantage points for views across the mountains and cleared winter hiking paths.

Over Christmas there is also the chance to ride on a horse-drawn sleigh, across snow-covered fields and through the surrounding forest.

Opting for an organised coach trip adds a new dimension to the holiday, opening up the opportunity to take in the sights of France, Belgium and Germany on the way.

Beware however the Yuletide holiday traffic, which can add an uncomfortable couple of hours to the all-day journey between Austria and the UK.

For more information on the region go to the Kitzbuehel tourist board website.

For information on European coach holidays try Shearings.

Oliver Florence