The Altstadt is the historical nucleus of Innsbruck — a small area of medieval lanes and arcaded streets that can be crossed in ten minutes but takes much longer to absorb properly. The Herzog-Friedrich-Strasse is the main spine, running from the Golden Roof south past the Stadtturm and the Helblinghaus, a Baroque facade of extravagant stucco work applied to a Gothic building. Everything of historical significance in Innsbruck is either in or immediately adjacent to this quarter.
The Altstadt connects directly to the Hofburg and Hofkirche to the northeast and to the Maria-Theresien-Strasse and the Triumphal Arch to the south. In summer the lanes fill with café tables and the square around the Golden Roof with tourists. In winter, after the Christkindlmarkt closes in the evening, the old city has a genuine quiet that makes it easy to understand why this small valley town managed to hold the attention of three generations of Habsburg emperors.