Before you go

Your trip to Bolzano.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Bolzano – Trentino-Alto Ádige Destination Dolomites

How to get there

Aeroporto di Verona Villafranca Valerio Catullo (VRN) Verona · 160 km
Aeroporto di Venezia Marco Polo (VCE) Veneza · 260 km
Bolzano/Bozen 1 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

Confirm before buying. The most used international airport is Verona (VRN); from Verona Porta Nuova the train reaches Bolzano in about 1h30 to 2h. From Milan or Venice, trains generally change in Verona. Bolzano/Bozen station is a 5-minute walk from Piazza Walther.

How many days

One day is enough for the centre, the Ötzi museum and one castle. With two days you can take the Renon cable car and little train up to the plateau and see the earth pyramids, or visit Castel Roncolo and Castel Firmiano at a relaxed pace. Many people use Bolzano as a base for day trips to Val Gardena.

When to go

From April to June and from September to October the temperatures are mild. July and August are hot in the valley floor, but that’s when Renon and the mountains have everything running. From late November to early January Piazza Walther usually hosts the Christmas market. In winter, December to February, it’s cold but the city remains open.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

No. The centre is walkable, the Renon cable car is a 10-minute walk from the station and local buses go to Castel Roncolo and Castel Firmiano. The historic centre has a ZTL (limited-traffic zone): if you arrive by car you should leave it in a car park outside the centre. A car only makes a difference if you want to combine several valleys in one day.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Bolzano

Morning
Ötzi at the archaeological museum
Start at the Museo Archeologico dell'Alto Adige, right at opening, to see Ötzi, the Iceman, and the clothes and weapons found with him. Book a timed ticket to avoid queues. The museum is closed on Mondays, except in July and August: check before you go.
Afternoon
Portici, Piazza delle Erbe and Domenicani
Have lunch in the centre and walk along the Via dei Portici to the Piazza delle Erbe, with its fruit and vegetable market. Continue to the Chiesa dei Domenicani to see the frescoes of Giotto’s school in the Cappella di San Giovanni.
Late afternoon
Piazza Walther and Duomo
Finish at Piazza Walther, the city’s living room, and enter the Duomo, with its 65-metre Gothic bell tower. In low light the surrounding mountains take on colour.
Evening
Tyrolean dinner
Dine in the historic centre. Menus mix Italian and Tyrolean cuisine: knödel (bread dumplings), speck (the region’s smoked ham), and Alto Adige wines such as Lagrein, a grape typical of Bolzano.

2 days in Bolzano

Day 1

Morning
Ötzi museum
Start the day at the Museo Archeologico dell'Alto Adige, with a reserved ticket. A relaxed visit to the Iceman and the finds takes about 2 hours.
Afternoon
Historic centre on foot
Have lunch near the Piazza delle Erbe and walk along the Via dei Portici. Then visit the Chiesa dei Domenicani and the Duomo, a few blocks from each other.
Late afternoon
Walk to Castel Roncolo
Follow the riverside path of the Talvera on foot to Castel Roncolo, about 30 minutes, and see the medieval frescoes. The castle is closed on Mondays and the last entry is late afternoon: check the opening times.
Evening
Piazza Walther at night
Return to the centre and dine near Piazza Walther. At the end of November and in December the square usually hosts the Christmas market.

Day 2

Morning
Renon cable car and little train
Take the Renon cable car near the station and ride up in 12 minutes to Soprabolzano. There, board the Renon little train to Collalbo, through fields and woods with views of the Dolomites.
Afternoon
Earth pyramids
From Collalbo, walk or take a bus to Longomoso to see the Renon earth pyramids, clay columns topped by a stone. Have lunch in one of the plateau’s inns.
Late afternoon
Castel Firmiano
Descend to the valley and go to Castel Firmiano, on the southwest outskirts, for Reinhold Messner’s mountain museum. The season usually runs from March to November, with Thursdays closed: check in advance.
Evening
Alto Adige wine
End with a dinner in the centre. Order a local wine, such as red Lagrein or white Gewürztraminer, from the Alto Adige Wine Road south of the city.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

Why do Bolzano's signs have two names?

Because Alto Adige was part of the Austrian Tyrol until World War I and German remains official alongside Italian. Bolzano is Bozen, Piazza Walther is Waltherplatz and Via dei Portici is Laubengasse. In Val Gardena signs also include Ladin.

How to get from Verona to Bolzano?

By train from Verona Porta Nuova in about 1h30 to 2h, depending on the type of train. Bolzano/Bozen station is a few minutes' walk from the centre. Validate the regional paper ticket before boarding.

Can you visit Val Gardena from Bolzano?

Yes. Ortisei is about 35 km away, and bus line 350 connects Bolzano with Val Gardena. Leave early to make the most of the cable cars, which usually operate from May or June to October in summer and from December to March or April in winter.

Do you need to book the Ötzi museum?

Booking is not mandatory, but the museum itself recommends it to avoid queues at the entrance, especially in July, August and on public holidays.

Is there a tourist tax in Bolzano?

Yes. As in the rest of Alto Adige, it is charged per person per night and paid at the accommodation.

Back to Bolzano