Swarovski Crystal Worlds (Swarovski Kristallwelten)

Swarovski Crystal Worlds is dedicated to all things crystal. Visitors are greeted byThe Giant, a large head built into the green hillside with a waterfall cascading from its mouth. Inside the Chambers of Wonder are 16 separate installations, each built using Swarovski crystals and designed by a different artist. The verdant garden also has crystal displays including the vast Crystal Cloud, as well as a hedge maze and a playground.

You can pre-purchase a Swarovski Crystal Worlds admission ticket and make your own way to the site or go as part of a guided day tour from Munich, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, or Salzburg. Most organized day tours also include time in nearby Innsbruck.

• This crystal-themed attraction is a must for lovers of sparkle.

• Free Wi-Fi is available at the site.

• The attraction is home to Daniels Café and Restaurant and a store selling crystal creations.

• All interior exhibition spaces and most of the grounds, with the exception of the Alpine Garden, are accessible to wheelchair users.

Swarovski Crystal Worlds is located in Wattens, about a 20-minute drive from Innsbruck. A shuttle bus (also wheelchair accessible) departs central Innsbruck to Swarovski Crystal Worlds 5–6 times daily.

One of the best times to visit is during the Festival of Light, in late January and early February, when the garden is illuminated with lights after dark. Summer is also a good time to come, with extended opening hours and a Summer Festival program that includes open-air yoga classes, outdoor movie screenings, and other special events.

Among the glittering, fantastical displays of the Chambers of Wonder, there are several standout installations. Look for the Alexander McQueen–designed crystal tree in theSilent Light installation; South Korean artist Lee Bul’s mirror and crystalInto Lattice Sun; andEden, by the British avant-garde duo Fredrikson Stallard, which evokes the sounds, shapes, and sights of the forest environment.

Swarovski Crystal Worlds is a popular visitor attraction and gallery created for the crystal glass producer Swarovski. Inside you can find exhibits such as mirror installations and chambers where crystal takes center stage. The site is in Wattens, which is around a 20-minute drive from the Austrian mountain town of Innsbruck.

If you don’t have a car, you can still reach Swarovski Crystal Worlds easily from Innsbruck, using the shuttle bus service that runs five times a day from Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof station. The shuttle bus prices are reasonable and are free to holders of the Innsbruck Card.

The exhibits often change at Swarovski Crystal Worlds, but some popular examples of things to see include the Crystal Cloud—an installation of more than 800,000 hand-mounted crystals above a black mirror pool—and the Chamber of Wonders, which showcases sparkling exhibits from artists around the world.

There are audio tours available at Swarovski Crystal Worlds for a small extra fee—ask when you enter and you add it onto your admission ticket. With commentary in a choice of various different languages, the 40-minute guide gives you background on the Swarovski company history and some of the art.

Yes, there is one of the world’s largest Swarovski stores on-site at the attraction. If you’re a bargain hunter, there aren’t many discounts to be found, however, you may find exclusive products. The multilingual store staff can also arrange for your purchases to be shipped home hassle-free.

Yes, surprisingly for a place where there’s so much precious crystal around, Swarovski Crystal Worlds can work well for a family trip. There’s an on-site restaurant, a park where little ones can let off steam, and a play tower, along with dazzling exhibits that are designed to catch curious eyes.