Though its name translates to "Tyrolean Folk Art Museum", the Tiroler Volksunt Museum is actually one of the finest anthropology museums in all of Europe. Set in the grand Neues Stift (New Abbey) that's attached to the Hofberg church, the museum's three floors of galleries overflow with artifacts, stuff of all sorts, that illustrate, from birth to death, what it would have been like to have lived as a Tyrolean peasant (or clergyman or nobleman) from the 16th to the 18th century. What makes that compelling are the masterful audio guides the curators have created (be sure to request one at the desk when you enter; they are free with admission). They can be used to get more information on individual pieces in the galleries—simply train your device at the ecclesiastical art, farming implements, children's toys, traditional dress, and more, to learn what it was used for and how it was made. Or you can take three overall "tours", narrated by a fictional character who weaves engaging stories about daily life, and how important the objects you see in front of you would have been to survival (both spiritual and physical). The fact that much of what you see is luminously beautiful, doesn't hurt. Among the highlights are a superb collection of Christmas mangers or cribs from the 18th century through the 1970's.

The audio guide also provides a wonderful tour of the Hofberg church (attached to the museum), so be sure to schedule enough time to see both.