bolzano tourist card

The Ultimate Guide to Bolzano: Italy’s Gateway to the Dolomites

UPDATED: January 3, 2024

Bolzano, Italy embraces you with a seductive medley of culture and history topped with mountains of soul-mending dolce vita. Here’s your step-by-step guide to an unforgettable time in South Tyrol’s most cosmopolitan city.

With the snow-dappled Dolomites boldly calling beyond its vine-drenched hillsides, you may be tempted to breeze through Bolzano. What a foolhardy mistake that would be.

A visit to Bolzano — or Bozen as it is also known — envelopes you in contrasting wonders on par with the Alpine glory in the wild blue yonder. Its lively streets and squares immerse you in centuries of German, Italian and Austrian influences not to mention a riveting history that surpasses ancient Rome by 3,000 years. Often referred to as “The Gateway to the Dolomites” , this vibrant capital of South Tyrol crystalizes why the region is one of the must-see hidden gems of Europe.

Tucked between Innsbruck to the north and Trento to the south, Bolzano boasts a quality of life that ranks at the top in Italy. No surprise considering it balances all the perks of a youthful city with old-world charm and sensibilities — all amid jaw-dropping natural splendor.

You could arrive in Bolzano without an itinerary and still come away enchanted. Its Dolce Vita vibe is wholly infectious. But if you like having a plan in your back pocket, we have you covered. Dive into our list of things to see and do in Bolzano. We show you how to go about discovering its treasures, as well as share where to eat, stay and hike.

⇒ Plan Your Bolzano Visit: Grab our South Tyrol + Dolomites Travel Guide

CONTENTS OVERVIEW

#1 Meet Bolzano’s Poetic Heart

#2 walk the via dei portici, #3 savor an authentic south tyrolean lunch, #4 journey 5000+ years back in time, #5 amble along the piazza delle erbe, #6 encounter the legend of st. francis…and dracula, #7 explore the wines & castles of bolzano, #8 dine & sip the evening away, additional sights & activities while visiting bolzano, where to stay in bolzano, getting to bolzano, parking in bolzano, book a private tour of bolzano, book a tour from bolzano to the dolomites, personalized bolzano itinerary, how to spend a day visiting bolzano.

Begin your day early by heading to the city’s historic center. Known as the Waltherplatz or Piazza Walther, it has been the “living room” of Bolzano for more than 900 years. This elegant piazza is also home to Italy’s largest Christmas market.

Ease into the morning with a hot chocolate or cappuccino at one of the many sun-kissed cafes bordering the town square. One of our favorites on the piazza is Loacker Café . It is perfectly situated for soaking in the rays as you watch Bolzano bustle to life.  Plus, it is a gold mine of deliciousness. As you may have guessed, it is owned by the South Tyrolean wafer and chocolate company of the same name.

If you are in the mood for a sweet, consider ordering freshly baked krapfen. This Bolzano favorite is a decadent doughnut-like pastry filled with cream or marmalade. Be careful, as one may turn into two.

After your last morning sip, set off to see some of Bolzano’s historic sights. The first one lies just steps away.

At the center of the Waltherplatz is a remarkable statue of Walther von der Vogelweide, a renowned poet and Minnesinger from the Middle Ages believed to have been born in South Tyrol. He was the Jim Morrison of the medieval age. Sculpted in 1889 from South Tyrol’s revered Lasser marble, the statue stands on an impressive fountain encircled by flowers.

From the square, it’s impossible to miss the Gothic-Romanesque cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, which is the largest Gothic church in South Tyrol. The cathedral was originally constructed in the 12th century and took on its Gothic form in the 14th century.

Crowning the cathedral is an ornately patterned roof matching the vibrancy of the square. The stonework of its steepled bell tower is especially striking.

Two weathered lions guard its main entrance and form the base of two columns supporting an archway. A massively forged door with curious carvings of the Isarco river and the Dolomites welcomes worshipers.

Inside, lovers of medieval art can admire frescoes from the 1300s and marvel at the cathedral’s pulpit. It is a masterful work of Gothic art sculpted in 1507. While studying its details, see if you can spot the hunter and fox lingering within its chiseled scene.

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Leaving the cathedral, head to the Via dei Portici (also called Laubengasse) just north of the square. This street was the first to ever run through Bolzano. A pulsating center of trade for nearly 1,000 years, it is undoubtedly one of the most enthralling places to walk in all of South Tyrol.

Shady arcades line both sides of the Via dei Portici for as far as the eye can see. Built in the 13th century, the arcades protect shoppers and promenaders from intense sunlight in summer and rain and snow in winter.

You can simply walk along appreciating the many storefronts, but the real gems are inside. You’ll find everything from traditional crafts and attire to artwork and designer clothing. Even if you don’t intend to purchase any goods, be sure to peek into a few shops. Many walls still feature ancient frescoes revealing age-old market scenes.

While the shops are fun to explore, the colorful facades lining the Via dei Portici really bring your imagination to life. They exhibit a variety of architectural styles and are decorated with murals, carvings and other artistic expressions vividly showcasing Bolzano’s harmonic blend of Italian and German heritage.

Along Via dei Portici, you’ll also find the Mercantile Museum and Mercantile Palace founded by Claudia de‘ Medici. This is the only Renaissance-style building in Bolzano. It once served as a court of justice for the Mercantile Court. Today, the museum tells the fascinating story of Bolzano’s economic importance through the centuries.

⇒ YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: The Top 7 Things to Do in Merano

After consuming so much history, art and architecture it’s only natural to settle in for a long lunch. Experience a true South Tyrolean meal with a glass of the region’s celebrated wine at Wirtshaus Vögele .

A cultural gem of Bolzano, the establishment was first mentioned in 1277 and held secret gatherings in World War II. Gaining entrance to these meetings required whispering “Vögele”, which means “little bird”.

Wirsthaus Vögele is a member of Sudtiroler Gasthaus ,   an organization dedicated to carefully preserving South Tyrolean restaurant culture and quality. The restaurant conjures a cozy atmosphere with a winding assortment of dining rooms each offering its own ambiance .

If you’re visiting Bolzano during asparagus season in April or May, be sure to try a dish with “spargel”. Our asparagus risotto was as good as a sweetly sung melody from Walther von der Vogelweide himself!

Another excellent choice for lunch is the Stadt Cafe & Restaurant which sits along the edge of the Waltherplatz. A well-thought-out menu offers the type of lunchtime fare that will please you whether you desire Italian or traditional South Tyrolean dishes . The desserts are extravagant here so pace yourself.

After lunch, venture west on Via dei Portici. You’re about to go back in time…way back. You’ll eventually come to the home of Bolzano’s most famous resident at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology .

At the age of 5,300 years old, Ötzi the Iceman is an astonishingly well-preserved corpse. Mummified naturally by glacier ice, he’s the oldest intact human body ever found. His discovery by two hikers in 1991 shook the world. They found him high up on a mountainside in the Ötztal Alps above Val Venosta — a valley in South Tyrol famous for its sunken bell tower of Curon .

Analysis of his body indicates an arrow cut Ötzi’s life short. Fortunately, that type of hospitality has long left South Tyrol.

If Ötzi were alive today no doubt he would be the leader of a biker gang. Scientists discovered 61 tattoos across his body. We highly recommend buying your tickets online before you go.

⇒ YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE:  Ötzi the Iceman: An Interview 5,300 Years in the Making

When you’re through visiting Ötzi, you may be craving a mid-afternoon snack. Walk back to the city center to the Piazza delle Erbe, a beaming outdoor marketplace that cannot be missed.

Established in 1295, this colorful corner of Bolzano was a vital center for trade between Northern and Southern Europe during the Middle Ages. Based on the throngs of people you encounter here, you can safely conclude it still is.

Spend time browsing the stalls overflowing with fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers and other specialties such as regional meats, cheeses and baked goods. Nearly all of the produce is from local farmers.

If you walk away without picking up a tasty delight or two, you’ll be insulting a 700+ year tradition on the streets of Bolzano. A welcoming town like Bolzano is not the place to ignore such a lovely custom.

Also located on the Piazza delle Erbe is a famous fountain of Neptune. Stern in demeanor, the bronze God of the Sea brazenly keeps a sharp eye on all the patrons roaming the marketplace.

Erected in 1777, it is considered among the 100 most impressive fountains in Italy. Pigeons seem to agree. We have yet to admire the work of art without the feathered adornments.

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From the market, wander north along the Franziskanergasse to the Franciscan Friary. Founded in 1221, the friary contains a Gothic church, chapel and cloisters with frescoes dating back to the 14th century.

Taking time to decipher the haunting scenes as you walk under the cloisters is a rewarding experience for anyone curious about medieval history. 

It is believed Saint Francis partook in Mass in the Chapel while visiting Bolzano with his cloth merchant father who was in town on business.

Another legend also enshrouds the friary albeit one much more nightmarish in nature. The great-grandson of Vlad the Impaler, better known as the inspiration for the legend of Count Dracula, is entombed within its walls.

His name was Petru Schiopul, but he was known as “Peter the Lame”. He died in 1594. His remains are sealed with a stone bearing the carving of a bull’s head, the traditional symbol of Moldavia as well as a carving of the devil.

If your day has not been consumed by the old-world charms of Bolzano, you can either hop back in your car or rent a bike for a 25-minute ride to the Messner Mountain Museum Firmian located within Sigmundskron Castle. Just 4 miles southeast of Bolzano’s city center, this museum explores the relationship between man and mountain as inspired by the legendary climber Reinhold Messner (check out this piece about why Messner is the world’s great living man ).

Next, you can climb up to the ancient ruins of Schloss Rafenstein , which watch over the city. Enjoy some of the South Tyrolean treats you picked up earlier as you take in the views.

Then race over to Castel Roncolo (Schloss Runkelstein) , also known as the Painted Castle (note: the castle is also accessible from the Talvera-Promenade in the city center or the line 12 shuttle bus from Waltherplatz). This well-preserved 12th-century castle is literally illustrated. An abundance of frescoes graces its walls providing an eye-popping window to medieval life.

If you’re feeling inclined to embark on a wine tasting, Bolzano will enchant you with the exquisite Alpine wines of South Tyrol. More than 300 hectares (700+ acres) of vineyards encircle Bolzano. In fact, a saying you might hear while visiting is “Venice may swim on water, but Bolzano swims on wine.”

An unforgettable place to explore this truth is a winery located deep within a mountain on the northern end of town. Intrigued? Read more about our tasting at Kellerei Bozen. Making a trek to this 100+-year-old icon of wine while visiting Bolzano is a must for wine and architecture lovers alike.

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There is no shortage of exceptional evening dining options in and around Bolzano. Our recommendation is to voyage back to the city center to dine at the much-celebrated Restaurant Laurin located in the Parkhotel Laurin. Here, you can let the culinary magic of head chef Manuel Astuto dazzle your senses in an Art Noveau setting beautified with palm trees.

He is a master of fusing South Tyrol’s Mediterranean heart with the soul of the surrounding mountains.  Some of the world’s biggest movie stars have come to crave his South Tyrolean creations. So much so that they fly him around the world to prepare meals at their private parties.

No matter where you choose to eat, be sure to order a glass of Lagrein as you’re in the home of this robustly flavored, but smooth wine. 

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If conquering castles is not your thing, consider acquainting yourself with the natural beauty around Bolzano. One option is to catch the Renon (also known as Ritten) cable car. It whisks you high above Bolzano to the Renon high plateau.

From up here, you can hike a variety of trails and consume wide-open views of the Dolomites’ Rosengarten and Schlern massifs. You can also trek to the surreal 25,000-year-old Earth pyramids . These odd natural formations look like stone thorns steeping the mountainside.

The San Genesio cable car offers a climb to even more hiking paths. This is the ancestral home to the Haflinger horse which is a blonde horse breed born in the mountains of South Tyrol. Visit nearby stables and book a horseback ride or let someone else take the reins and enjoy the views from a horse-drawn carriage. Numerous alpine huts dot the trails allowing you to stop for a meal and a drink. 

If you would like to squeeze in a visit to the Dolomites while in Bolzano, consider making the short trip to Lago di Carezza (also known as Karersee). Known as Italy’s “Lake of Rainbows”, Lago di Carezza sits in a hollow beneath the mighty Latemar and Rosengarten massifs. From Bolzano, you be standing on its shore in 30-40 minutes by taking the Great Dolomites Road.

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You will not find a sterile, cookie-cutter place to stay in Bolzano. Like the city itself, the accommodations available are captivating and unique in character. Whether you are seeking an opulent old-world gem or an intimate bed and breakfast, there is a hotel to suit your tastes and budget. Here are two we recommend.

Parkhotel Laurin – As we noted above, Parkhotel Laurin is tucked in the heart of Bolzano making it ideal for exploring every lovely corner of the town on foot. Built in 1910 in stunning Art Noveau style, the hotel is a feast for the eyes inside and out. It is surrounded by a gorgeous garden enveloping you in nature and history all at once.

⇒ BOOK A STAY AT PARKHOTEL LAURIN HERE

Il Battente 1862 Bed & Breakfast – Il Battente 1862 is an elegant Bed & Breakfast located in an 18th-century building that was a former residence of the Teutonic Order. It is located just minutes away from the Waltherplatz while also allowing you to quickly reach the Renon and San Genesio cable cars to visit the surrounding mountains.

⇒ BOOK A STAY AT IL BATTENTE 1862 HERE

If you’re holidaying in other northern Italy destinations such as Verona, Venice, Lake Garda, Trento or even Lake Como, consider visiting Bolzano. The city is easy to fit into your trip plans. It’s just 1 to 3 hours away by car, bus or train.

The Bolzano train station (Stazione di Bolzano / Bozen Bahnhof) is one of the most conveniently located in Europe. In less than 5 minutes, you can walk from the station to Bolzano’s main square, the Waltherplatz, highlighted above. In addition, there is a bus stop located next to the station.

For those who prefer the independence of having their own automobile, you will be rewarded with one of the most scenic drives in Italy. Arriving in Bolzano by car is utterly gorgeous. Whether you come from the north or south, you will drive by a treasure of historic marvels clinging to the mountainsides. Check out our guide on driving in Italy to ensure you’re ready to handle the Italian roads.

Like every other major city and town in Europe, parking in Bolzano can be challenging. As Bolzano is very walkable, we recommend parking on the outskirts of the city center to avoid congestion.

The Parcheggio Mareccio is a convenient parking lot located off  Via Claudia de’ Medici with the 13th-century Maretsch Castle as its backdrop. The castle is now an event center, but tourists can visit when events are not taking place. Its tower boasts one of the best views of Bolzano.

From this Bolzano parking lot, you can easily be in the city center within a 10-minute walk. On your way back to your car, opt for a scenic stroll along the “Meadows of Talvera”, a beautiful park set along the river Talvera.

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We embarked on a private tour on our first visit to Bolzano. In addition to seeing the sights we highlighted above, a private tour will give you a deeper dive into Bolzano’s riveting history, culture and cuisine from the unique perspective of a local. Furthermore, a local tour guide will be able to share the best things to do in Bolzano based on the month and season of your visit.

From our experience, one of the best ways to truly appreciate a destination is through its culinary traditions. You can enjoy such a mouth-pleasing adventure with the Bolzano Street Food Tour . This 3-hour outing begins at 10:00 a.m. and includes multiple stops where you’ll indulge in local specialties such as bread, sausage, sweets, as well as historical nuggets shared by your tour guide.

In addition to spending time strolling Bolzano’s cobblestoned avenues, consider booking a tour of the Dolomites. The below tours depart from Bolzano to the Dolomites providing an affordable and convenient way to experience the jaw-dropping natural beauty of South Tyrol.

If you would like us to craft a personalized itinerary for your trip to Bolzano and South Tyrol, check out our trip planning services. We will help you embark on an amazing adventure in the region, tailoring sights and activities to your interests, as well as share insider tips on how to enjoy more unforgettable “WOW” moments.

The  Ötzi photos are provided courtesy of the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology.

About KATE & vin

Kate and Vin are South Tyrol + Dolomites travel specialists and the founders of Throne & Vine. They're dedicated to helping travelers discover and visit the most beautiful region in the Italian Alps.

50 thoughts on “The Ultimate Guide to Bolzano: Italy’s Gateway to the Dolomites”

Beautiful region! I love the mix of German and Italian culture…not to mention the beautiful mountains! I shall be back!

Great to hear you loved Bolzano! Thank you for commenting.

How lovely this place is! I really love how beautiful an colorful the culture and some touch of the history as you discover Bolzano. I am really stunned how majestic the mountains are and how beautiful autumn is in Bolzano. I love all of the pictures!

You had me at Dolomites!!! But I truly hadn’t heard much about this area before. Bolzano has such charming streets indeed. Ahhhh so many places in Italia that keep making me want to just move there and live out my days

Gosh, I want to go to Bolzano now to see Otzi. And the square and eat Krapfen. It looks exactly like the type of town I like, historic and beautiful, and what a fabulous setting.

The iceman has a striking resemblance to people of today. Fascinating!! What a gorgeous and idyllic town. I don’t know much about Tyrol and the Italian Dolomites, and it seems like a place I need to explore. Great read and wonderful introduction to the region.

I was in a Tyrolean Ski town end of last summer. But this place looks amazing and not a bit like the town I wen to. I dare say it is because of the mixed culture dominated by Italian.

One of my favorite countries to discover and get lost! Still didn’t have a chance to reach Dolomites, but I would like to have a nice coffee break for at least 3 hours with a nice view!

A wonderful town for having coffee while enjoying the beautiful views of the mountains. It is so interesting to know the combination of Australian and Italian culture that’s why I really enjoyed your post. Thank’s for sharing this post!

What a place!! And such a comprehensive post – you wrote about everything! I’m pinning it for the future – if I’m ever around I will have some useful tips:)

This looks like such an amazing place! Your photos and write-up really captures it well. Thanks for sharing

This city is gorgeous!!! It is a gem indeed. =) I am always looking for new places to explore, and Bolzano is going on my list. Wow! Those views of the alps are stunning, and I LOVED learning about the city’s architecture and history. This is such a fabulous post. Now I am anxious to travel.

Wow! It looks like such a beautiful place filled with history and culture. Thanks for sharing!

Northern Italy is the only part of Italy we have not spent a lot of time in. We are going to Switzerland this year and will get very close to this Dolomite area. Your blog post makes me wish we had planned a little more time to wander in the Dolomites. We will definitely look at the Bolzano Bozen Card. A food tour sounds like a great way to start. And would give me the energy to head up the San Genesio cable car.

Hope you can find the time to visit South Tyrol on your trip to Switzerland. The Swiss Alps are amazing but the Dolomites are other worldly!

It all looks beautiful. I’m in the process of scheduling to attend a yoga retreat and I think I’ve chosen one in Italy.

Your pictures are gorgeous! They made me want to know more about the place and plan a visit soon 🙂

I’d love to get to Bolzano during asparagus season. Spring seems like an ideal time to get to Northern Italy. One question: What’s a krapfen?

Spring is a lovely time to visit! Krapfen is a delicious jelly filled pastry.

Some of those photos look like they’re straight out a fairy tale! What a beautiful destination!

That looks so beautiful! A charming town surrounded by green hills, mountains, and a clear sky, excuse me while I go day dream!

I’ve been thinking about hiking in the Dolomites and this looks like a perfect stop before/ after! Also, I love that there’s an app to guide you around the city. Thanks for sharing!

I love the idea of the old and the new(er!) so eclectically mixed together, it looks beautiful! I wish I had seen your post before our trip to Venice and I would have added this on- but now it gives me a perfect excuse to go back!

Hope you can make it back Hazel! Bolzano and South Tyrol are easy to get to from Venice. We recommend renting a car. It is a beautiful drive plus you’ll have the freedom to go where you please.

Oh I am so in love. It’s on my to do list to make a month long trip along all the different ski towns along Austria and Germany. I think I will def add this to that list!

Okay, SOLD! This place looks beautiful. The whole area is on my list to visit but I’ve never researched the specific places! Once I’m back in Europe this is probably going to be first on the list!

Wow, it looks so beautiful! Italy is on my bucket list. Hope to make it there next summer. Great photos!

Such beautiful pictures. I love all the architecture. My husband has been talking about going to Italy forever. Neither of us have ever been.

Bolzano looks magical. Your photos makes me wanna book a flight! I can’t wait to explore it myself.

It’s been sooo long since I’ve been in Italy and Bolzano looks so gorgeous. I am adding to my bucket list. Gorgeous photos by the way 🙂

What an absolutely beautiful and gorgeous place to be able to visit!! It looks absolutely enchanting!!!

This is going on my list of must sees when I go to Italy!

That is such a beautiful city. I need to go there when ever I get a chance to travel. Beautiful photography as well.

First of all, this is a BEAUTIFUL blog! I’ve never been to the Dolomites, but I’ve been thinking about it for a family trip. Your photos make it seem like such a great place to explore!

certainly, an awesome destination to go for travelling. i love the photos. thanks for sharing your journey 🙂

Never heard of this place but it looks and sounds cool! The Bolzano pass seems awesome and I like to just sit back and people watch. Look at the world go by.

Never heard of Bolzano but it sounds like a very charming little town in South Tyrol. A street food tour sounds like something that is right up my alley! I am so intrigued to read about Otzi being mummified naturally by glacial ice!

Glad we could introduce you to this amazing place! Hope you get a chance to visit someday. You will fall in love with “Italy of the North”!

Italy is my absolute favorite! We were there in January; I loved visiting during the winter months (the hot chocolate is everything). We didn’t make it to Bolzano, but I need to next time. I definitely want to to go to the Castel Roncolo!

Wow such a hidden gen gem of Italy. I wish I knew of this place during my 11 days tour of Italy. The mountain top castle is so magical. The old streets are so charming. Hope I get a second chance to visit Italy just to visit this town.

What a lovely place! really love all your photos. Need to make a stop there next time I go to Italy

Thank you Serena! We hope you get to Bolzano on your next visit!

This definitely looks like my kinda place! What a gorgeous destination in Italy. Sounds like the Bolzano Bozen Card really pays off and offers tremendous opportunities. I would want to visit the castles you mentioned and try out the yummy cuisine.

Oh I love the look of Bolzano. I’ve visited Riva Del Garda and the surrounding area a few times – the other side of the Dolomites, but not so far. Now I want to go to Bolzano too and pay my respects to Ötzi the Iceman!

Darcee spent a little time in Tyrol in Innsbruck and Mieders last year and absolutely loved it. Between the old cities and the beautiful outdoor activities along the mountains we were in heaven. Wish I had heard of Bolzano while we were there because this part near the Dolomites looks amazing. Love all the old town streets and buildings of Bolzano. I bet the food there was off the hook cause we loved the Food of Tyrol.

Hope you guys can get back to the area. The town is a foodie’s treasure chest! Bring your appetite!

I’m a total history nerd so I would go there just to see the ice man! And then stay to eat krapfens and drink wine! Haha! But seriously, Bolzano looks amazing and like such a charming town. I’d love to visit when I return to Italy.

Wow! And here I thought my fave things about Italy were the great food and cute streets- didn’t even realize you could also enjoy all that with a mountain backdrop as well!!! Great post.

Thanks Tamara. This part of Italy has some of the most amazing mountains in the world. Nothing else like it on the planet!

I love mountain towns! I was in Mestia, Georgia, last year, and the scenery in Bolzano is equally stunning!

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• 1 Districts
• 2.1 History
• 2.2 Culture
• 2.3 Climate
• 2.4 Orientation
• 2.5 Tourist information
• 2.6 Passes and discounts
• 2.7 Magazines, events calendars
• 3.1 By plane
• 3.2 By train
• 4.1.1 By bus
• 4.1.2 By train
• 4.1.3 Cableway
• 4.2 By taxi
• 4.3 By bike
• 4.4.1 Parking
• 4.4.2 Other possibilities
• 4.4.3 Rent-a-car
• 5.1 Museums and galleries
• 5.2 Churches
• 5.3 Palaces and castles
• 5.4 Squares and memorials
• 5.5 Parks and promenades
• 6.1 Festivals
• 6.2 Theater, opera, and music
• 6.4 Concerts
• 9.1 Shopping streets
• 9.2 Markets
• 9.3 Christmas markets
• 10.1 Budget
• 10.2 Mid-range
• 10.3 Splurge
• 11.1 Beer & wine gardens, halls & cellars
• 11.3 'Konditoreien', cafés & 'gelaterie'
• 11.4 Discos
• 12.1 Low budget
• 12.2 Budget
• 12.3 Mid-range
• 12.4 Splurge
• 13 Stay safe
• 16.1 Post office
• 16.3 Diplomatic missions
• 16.5.1 DVD rentals
• 16.6 Health

Bolzano (Italian) or Bozen (German), (Ladin: Balsan , Bulsan ) is the capital city of South Tyrol , the German-speaking region in the northern part of Italy . Bolzano is the largest city in the region. Its archaeology museum is famous worldwide as the home of the alpine iceman "Ötzi". It is also known as the Italian Capital of Christmas thanks to its characteristic Christmas market. Bolzano's population is around 100,000 (140,000 including the metropolitan area). 25% of inhabitants speak German as their mother tongue; the population of German-speakers is much higher in the non-urban parts of the province (up to more than 90% in some areas), making the city and province officially bilingual.

Together with Innsbruck , Bolzano is the capital of the Alps because the seat of the Alpine Convention [dead link] is there. The world-famous Museum of Archaeology with the Iceman and the Messner Mountain Museum's main seat make Bolzano a world city of mountaineering history and culture.

Districts [ edit ]

The city is administratively composed of 5 districts (City Centre - Bozner Boden/Piani di Bolzano-Rentsch/Rencio, Oberau/Oltrisarco-Haslach/Aslago, Europa-Neustift/Novacella, Don Bosco, Gries-St.Quirein/San Quirino). Alternatively, for tourism it can be divided into 6 areas:

• City Centre (Historical Centre-Altstadt-Dorf/Villa-Zwölfmalgreien/Dodiciville-Runkelstein Castle) Here there are the most important things to see, museums, theatres, restaurants, hotels and stores. The heart of the City Centre is Walther square .
• Rentsch-Rencio (Rentsch-Rencio/St. Magdalena-S. Maddalena/Bozner Boden-Piani di Bolzano) This is the most German part of the city with St. Magdalena on the hills with its vineyard and the nice Rentsch district centre. Behind the rail station isn't the Bozner Boden district. There are a lot of nice hotels, restaurants and guesthouses.
• Kohlern-Colle Bozen's/Bolzano's home mountain, is a terrible mountain resort.

• Gries (Gries historical centre/Fagen-Fago/Guntschna-Guncina/Moritzing-San Maurizio/north-western Bozen's/Bolzano's countryside) Culture, art, nature and wine paradise in a small area. Gries was a "Kurort" (health resort) during the Habsburg's Empire.
• New City or West Bolzano (St.Quirein/Europa - Novacella-Neugries/Don Bosco with Kaiserau/Bivio countryside and Sigmundskron/Firmian Castle) The Italian Bolzano is here. A lot of restaurants.
• South Bolzano/Bozen (Oberau/Oltrisarco-Haslach/Aslago-Pfarrhof/Maso della Pieve-St Jakob/San Giacomo) Oberau is a nice districts built in 1900s with good restaurants. In Bolzano South area there is the airport and the fair.

Understand [ edit ]

History [ edit ].

First inhabited by the Rhaetians, the area was settled by the Romans in 15 BC, by General Nero Claudius Drusus, who gave his name to the first settlement in the area (an army camp with a bridge by the river Eisack-Isarco). The village founded nearby was called Bauzanum. The region of South Tyrol was historically settled by ethnic Germans and Ladins.

Bolzano has been a trading point since its foundation owing to its location between the two major cities of Venice and Augsburg. In 1262 it was elevated to a Stadt ( city ). In 1363 Bolzano became part of the Habsburg monarchy as part of the county of Tyrol. Four times a year a market was held and traders came from the south and the north. The mercantile magistrate was therefore founded in 1635. Every market season two Italian and two German officers (appointed from the traders who operated there) held this office. The city was a cultural crossroads at that time.

In 1919, after World War I, Bolzano was annexed by Italy against the will of the native population who had chosen to join the new German Republic of Austria. Starting in 1926, after the rise of fascism, the region's ethnic Germans were subjected to a policy of forced italianization. The fascist dictatorship encouraged the moving of many ethnic Italians to the city from other parts of Italy (primarily from Northern Italy) in an attempt to italianize the whole region. After World War II Bolzano was again assigned to Italy but this time the German-speaking population demanded self-determination and afterwards accepted the autonomy statute, which is ensured internationally. After decades of tension, particularly in the 1950s and the 1980s, which included minor terrorist plots, Bolzano is now a multilingual European city open to the future, hosts students from all over the world and therefore hosts a lot of interesting cultural events. For this reason Bolzano sought to become European Capital of Culture in 2019.

Culture [ edit ]

Bolzano is constantly among the top-ranked cities in Italy when it comes to quality of life. It has one of Europe's lowest unemployment rates, excellent services and a wonderful landscape. Many Italians say they would like to live in Bolzano. However it is recognized that the city is quite expensive compared to Italian standards.

Bolzano has many special features: it's an Italian city with Austrian flair. In the city centre you will mostly hear people speak German or Austro-Bavarian. Nowadays, however, Italian- and German-speaking people are living together in bilingual Bolzano. Generally "Bozner" or "Bolzanini" are friendly and helpful. Most German-speaking people can speak Italian but Italian-speaking people are unlikely to be able to speak German. Nevertheless many young people can also speak English and a few can speak French too. In South Tyrolean schools the learning of the second language (Italian for German-speakers and vice-versa) and of English is compulsory.

Climate [ edit ]

Local tourist guides often say that Bolzano has an incredible Mediterranean climate. That is not true. Bozen's/Bolzano's climate is continental, with very hot summers and very cold winters. In autumn and spring the Föhn often blows from the northern Alps. Whereas in Innsbruck it is a warm wind, in Bolzano there are moments when it's relatively warm and strong, and then the temperature may fall suddenly. The coldest month of the year is January (min -6.2°C/20.8°F, max 5.0°C/41.0°F, average 0.0°C/32.0°F), the warmest is July (min 15.1°C/59.2°F, max 29.4°C/84.9°F, average 22.0°C/71.6°F). The annual average is 11.6°C/52.9°F. The maximum and minima are -17°C and +40°C.

Orientation [ edit ]

The city of Bolzano is in the Bolzano bowl at the confluence of three rivers (Talfer, Eisack, Adige) and extends about 6 km north to south and the same west to east and it's 3/4 surrounded by mountains. The historical centre is in the north-east in triangle formed by the Talfer in the west, the Eisack in the south-east and Mount Hörtenberg in the north-east. The modern areas (including the commercial and industrial area) are to the west and south. Most of the towns and villages of the metropolitan area are south of the city where the Bolzano bowl extends further. The River Adige flows through the westernmost suburbs.

Tourist information [ edit ]

• Bozen Tourist Office , Waltherplatz 8 , ☏ +39 0471 307000 , [email protected] . The Bozen's Tourism Board has an information office right in the Walther square on the right. You can get information about the city and the neighbouring areas and also take some free brochures and maps of the city (ask also for the free cityguide ). The tourism board's web site provides a lot of useful information. On the web site is possible to download some brochures and the city map.  

The web site of the Bolzano Surroundings Tourist Association has information about the city and Southern South Tyrol (the holiday region is promoted in English under the name 'South of Südtirol' on logos and 'South of South Tyrol' on written publications).

Passes and discounts [ edit ]

Those who stay three or more nights in a hotel in Bozen or Jenesien mountain village receive a free Guest Pass with a free guided tour of the city and some discounts in museums, castles and swimming pools.

If you want to visit all Bozen's museums and the Runkelstein Castle you can buy the MuseumCard (€2.50), with which you have discounts in all the entrances (you can save up to €16.50).

If you want to visit Bolzano and discover the surrounding area of Southern South Tyrol you can get the South of Südtirol Card for €1.50 and you will have discounts in visiting museums or in sport activities.

Magazines, events calendars [ edit ]

BM - Bolzano Bozen Magazine the Tourism Board publishes this trilingual (English, German, Italian) magazine with a lot of information about the city. You can find it in the tourism office, in the railway station and hotels. Free.

Inside - Events in South Tyrol bilingual (German, Italian) pocket calendar with all events in Bozen and in South Tyrol. The index is written in English. You can find it everywhere. Free. Also online available.

The South of Südtirol Magazine is published yearly by the tourist association of the Bolzano metropolitan area which useful including events also in the surrounding area. You can find it in tourism offices and in hotels for free.

Everyday local newspapers in German ( Dolomiten , Neue Südtiroler Tageszeitung ) or Italian ( Alto Adige , Corriere dell'Alto Adige ) publish all the events, theatrical performances, films at cinema and other useful (if you understand German or Italian) information.

Get in [ edit ]

Bolzano is on the crossroads between Northern and Southern Europe, just south of the Brenner Pass . It is well-connected, possessing a small international airport and forming a major hub of the railway system in Central Alps.

By plane [ edit ]

Airports within reasonable distance from Bolzano with scheduled flights include those in Innsbruck , Verona and Venice . Munich and Milan Malpensa are the nearest airports with intercontinental connections.

There are no direct transport links with the city apart from taxis. Buses 10A and 10B stop 1 km north of the terminal. A rapid-transit system is planned, which will connect the airport to the city centre.

By train [ edit ]

All trains from Germany and Austria and other parts of Italy stop at 46.4966 11.3584 2 Bolzano Central Rail Station . There are connections with several cities. Useful websites are that of Trenitalia (Italian Railway Company), Österreichische Bundesbahnen (Austrian Federal Railway Company) and Deutsche Bahn (German Railway Company). Once a week there is a train connection to Moscow Belorusskaya and Nice operated by the Russian Railways (with stops also in Minsk, Warsaw, Katowice, Vienna, Milan and other places en route). There is a left-luggage office run by a private company on the main platform.

By bus [ edit ]

Bolzano is very well connected by bus with Central Europe . Bus connections are frequent from/to Germany , Poland , Czechia , Slovakia and Romania . Traveling by bus is cheaper than by train, especially from Eastern Central Europe. Gross organizes up to 22 bus connections every month between Bolzano and Munich (one-way ticket for €20). Almost every important city in Poland is connected with Bolzano through international bus connections - normally arrival is in Genoa . If you are coming from Romania your reference could be the Romanian CentroTrans travel agency which has also offices in the United Kingdom. Coaches from Romania stops in Bolzano but also in Brixen . On the Romanian website about bus stations [1] , you can find arrivals and departures from Romania/to South Tyrol at the Bolzano bus station. Connections with the Czech Republic are operated by the Tourbus agency (web site also in English available) with buses from Prague or Brno and other places. Prices are cheap - a return ticket from Brno to Bolzano costs €94. Tourist connections are also available from Germany - this connections are operated by the German travel agency Südtirol Tours .

Bolzano is also the major regional bus hub and all the main regional bus routes terminate in the capital. For information about regional connections check on the regional bus company SAD web site (in Italian and German).

By car [ edit ]

Highway A22 ( Autostrada del Brennero/Brennerautobahn ) from south and from north lead to Bolzano, however they get congested during the Christmas market and especially during the ski season. Highway has two exits in Bolzano, normally if you're coming from the north it's better to choose the Bolzano Nord/Bozen Nord (North) exit, while from South it's better the Bolzano Sud/Bozen Süd exit. Follow the direction on the signs in order to reach the city centre or your accommodation. If you're coming from Meran you the better way is taking the MeBo freeway - there are two exits in Bolzano (Eppan/Appiano exit for West Bolzano and Gries, and Bozen Süd/Bolzano final exit for Bolzano South and the city centre). For day trips to Bolzano it's probably better to leave your car in the Parking "Centro BZ Mitte". Normally every hotel has its own parking.

Get around [ edit ]

The city centre is not big and so it can be discovered on foot. The best way to discover every corner of the city is on foot but in order to reach other areas inside the city using the public system is a good idea - also because the public transport system is efficient and the means of transport run on time and are clean.

By bus, train and cableway [ edit ]

Bolzano has an excellent public transport system , which includes buses, cableways and commuter rail. Within Bolzano, you can get a single trip ticket (including a second trip, if within 45 minutes after the printing) for the bus for €1.50. If you want to use the bus many times and/or with other people, you can buy the "Value Card" ("Wertkarte" or "Carta Valore") for €5, €10 or €25. In city buses the trip will cost just €1.20 and you can use this card on all types of transport system in South Tyrol: on the interurban buses, on the cableways of the SAD System, on the "Mendelbahn" and on all the trains from Innsbruck to Trento and on all urban buses in 14 other towns ( Meran , Brixen , Schlanders , Bruneck , Laives / Bronzolo / Vadena , Mals , Toblach , Kaltern , Algund , Lana , Eppan , Neumarkt , Sterzing and Sand in Taufers ) and in Innsbruck (here you have to stamp your ticket at the green stamping machines at the train station). Tickets can be bought at the ticket machine directly on the bus, which sell single trip tickets and €5 value cards. It accepts coins only if you are likely to buy a value card - and bus drivers will not change banknotes for money. Ticket can be bought also in a few tobacco and newspapers shops throughout the city.

The South Tyrolean Transport and Fare System offers a 7-day travel card called Mobilcard for €18 and a 3-day travel card for €13 which allows the free use of all city buses in Bolzano and the entire South Tyrol transport system.

There is also a 7-day travel card for one of three areas for €15. South Tyrol is divided in a western, a central and an eastern area, but the Bolzano bus network is included in all of them. If you are also planning to visit the metropolitan area, the Mobilcard for the Central area is the best option. There is a 50% young person's discount.

For all information about costs and tickets on the South Tyrolean Integrated Transport and Fare System web site (also complete in English). About timetable and bus maps of Bolzano's/Bozen's city transport service on the SASA web site (Italian and German) and of South Tyrol region on the SAD web site (in Italian and German).

In Bolzano there are 17 bus lines (generally 06:00-21:00) and three of them have also a night service (bus lines 153 -journey of the day lines 1, 5 and 3-, 2 and 10A) from 21:00 until 01:00. Buses pass very frequently - you will not wait more than 10–15 minutes between two buses of a single line. Buses run always on time.

Stamp your ticket at the start of its first use (there are green - on new buses yellow - stamping machines on the buses or near the entrances to the stations). You have to stamp your ticket also if you are buying it at the ticket machine. You have to buy another ticket if you stop and you catch a bus after 45 minutes after the printing (only with single trip ticket or spent value card). Payment is by the honor system and inspectors check for valid tickets. If you don't have one, it's an instant €25 fine (plus the fare you were supposed to have paid). All timetables and bus maps you can find free in the tourist offices or in the bus station.

All urban buses stops are request stops (except end of the line): If you want to get off press the red (in some buses blue) button, while if you want to get on a bus you have to wave your hand. Especially if you are alone at the bus stop or generally in South Bolzano (Fair Quarter) and in the night you should signal well in advance.

Bolzano also has two small urban rail stations (Bolzano South-Fair Quarter and Sigmundskron-Ponte Adige). Also here you can use the "Value Card". A single trip ticket from the Central Station to the Bolzano South-Fair Quarter costs €1.50 (€0.65 with value card).

You have to stamp your ticket in the rail station's entrance at the green stamping machines.

Cableway [ edit ]

Bolzano is also connected with three mountain villages around the city by three cableways. If you want to go to Ritten/Renon or Jenesien/San Genesio you can use the "Value Card": a one-way ticket for Ritten costs €2.50 (€2.28 with Value Card) and for Jenesien costs €2 (€1.90 with Value Card). On the Ritten there is also a trolley car which brings from Oberbozen at the cableway station to Klobenstein which is the main place on the plateau. A one-way ticket from Bolzano to Klobenstein (cableway+trolley car) costs €5 (€3.90 with Value Card).

If you want to go to Kohlern-Colle you have to buy an extra ticket - trips every 30 minutes from 07:00 until 19:00 in winter and 07:30 in summer during the week (08:00-19:00 in winter and 08:00-19:30 in summer with a break 12:00-13:30 in winter and 12:00-13:00 in summer).

By taxi [ edit ]

In Bolzano taxis are not so common, and sometimes at night getting a taxi can be difficult because there is no bus service and everyone will use them. There are taxi ranks in front of the railway stations, on Walther Square, Gries Square and other major squares and places. Taxis are only on call available. Bozen's taxi service is powered by Radio Taxi Funk [dead link] 24-hr ☏ +39 0471 98 11 11 . Taxis in Bolzano can be very expensive (airport to city centre about €30).

By bike [ edit ]

In Italy the city has one of the most developed network of cycle paths with about 30 km composed of 8 main routes. Guided tours are available. Maps are available in tourist offices and online [dead link] .

Rentals are available in the following places:

• Station avenue ( Bahnhofsallee/viale Stazione ) close to Walther square
• main square of Gries

The service [2] [dead link] is available from 4 April until 31 October 07:30-20:00 (October until 19:00) and is very cheap: €1 for 6 hours, €2 for more than 6 hours. Deposit €10.

Cycles can be rented all year round from Bolzano Tourist Board for €5 a day.

In the fahrradfreundliches Bozen/Bolzano città della bicicletta ( bike friendly Bozen, the bike's city ) there are specific road signs that help the city biker. A lot of big table maps are placed in many parts of the city. On the bike trail #1 after crossed the Talfer river direction city centre is placed an electronic table which obtains the number of passed bikes. On the city website [3] [dead link] there is a map which can be helpful for reaching specific places.

Driving inside the city makes no sense - the public transport system is more than enough for traveling inside Bolzano. In the rush hours traffic is intense. However the main streets for car circulation are ring road along the Eisack river in the South, the Drusus road from West to the centre, the Italy avenue, the Freedom avenue, and the Rome street in the new city.

Driving in the historic centre is forbidden and the city centre is forbidden for the EURO 0 cars. In winter (from November to March) the whole city is forbidden for the EURO 0 cars in order to prevent air pollution. In cases of high concentration of polluted substances the streets are forbidden also for EURO 1 cars. On the website of the City of Bolzano there is a map of the areas concerned [4] [dead link] and other infos (only in German and Italian).

Parking [ edit ]

There are a lot of pay car parks in the city and car parks for people with disabilities have special signs. However in Bolzano parking on white-striped streets is only for residents in that area with a special permit. Non-residents may park their cars there free only from 13:00 on Saturday until 08:00 on Monday. Fares for covered car parks are around €1 per hour. If you are coming from the surrounding areas it's better to park on the outskirts - parking, e.g., in the Milan street (only €0.30 per hour) or in the Fair Quarter.

Other possibilities [ edit ]

In Bolzano car sharing is also a possibility for long stays in the city. The annual fee is of €150 and in addition to this one hour costs €1.80 and every kilometer €0.34. There is a web site [5] (Italian only). For car pooling check the web site [6] with the offers (German and Italian).

Rent-a-car [ edit ]

Car rentals like by Hertz , Europcar , Sixt or Maggiore which are all at the Airport (Maggiore has a branch also in the Garibaldi street, 32), and Buchbinder in the Schlachthofstraße, 29 . Other local rentals also throughout the city. The average price for a day rental is about €60 for the cheapest car.

See [ edit ]

Museums and galleries [ edit ].

• 46.50114 11.35706 4 South Tyrol Museum of Natural Science . It explains the geological origins of the region and organizes a lot of interesting temporary exhibitions. €5 (reduced €3, children up to 6 years free) .  
• 46.4998 11.34905 5 Municipal Museum . The oldest museum in South Tyrol.  
• City Gallery . important temporary art exhibitions.  

Churches [ edit ]

• Cathedral Gothic-Romanesque building dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption built between the 13th and the 16th century with a lot of important frescoes and sacred arts. It's supposed that the church was built over a Roman basilica. It was partly damaged during World War II, and was renovated after the war.
• Dominican's church The first Gothic building in South Tyrol contains frescoes of the Giotto School.
• St Augustine Church The church located in Gries is one of the most important examples of baroque in South Tyrol. Before the secularization it was a church of the Augustinian order - now it belongs to the Order of Saint Benedict from Muri in Aargau, Switzerland. Valuable paintings of local painter from Wipptal Martin Knoller. It forms a single complex with the annexed older Abbey of Muri-Gries.

Palaces and castles [ edit ]

• 46.49947 11.35417 8 Mercantile Palace . Built between 1708 and 1716 by the architect Francesco Pedrotti from Verona , it's an important piece of Baroque architecture. It holds the Mercantile Museum.  

Squares and memorials [ edit ]

• 46.49832 11.35475 9 Walter Square / Monument of Walther von der Vogelweide . Walther Square is called the gute Stube or salotto buono ( good parlour ) is the most famous square of the city. The square is surrounded by buildings in Austrian style. At centre of the square is situated the statue of Walther von der Vogelweide. The square was built in 1808 during Bavaro-Napoleon's domination. The square changed name five times: Maximilan square dedicated to the King of Bavaria (1808-1815), Johannes square dedicated to the Kaiser's brother Archduke Johann (1815-1901), finally Walther square (1901-1925). During the Fascist period the name was changed and the square took the name of Victor Emmanuel III of Italy. In 1946 the name changed for the last time ( Our Lady square ) before becoming Walther square in 1947. Walther came back to the Walther square only in 1984. In 1985 the first McDonald's in Italy opened on Walther square, in the place of the current Stadtcafé (a more modern McDonald's is now located in South Bolzano/Bozen).  
• 46.50047 11.34496 10 Victory Monument and Square . A controversial monument on the other bank of the Talfer river and was built by the Fascist Italy in 1928 as a nationalist symbol and for celebrate the Italian victory during World War I. On the front, written in Latin, is a sentence which affirms the Italic superiority over the Germanic people. During the 1960s and 1970s some South Tyrolean activists attempted to damage the monument but without effects. In 2002 the city administration wanted to reconcile the population of the two ethnic groups changing the name to Peace Square . The majority of the Italians didn't appreciate the gesture and opposed. The Italian right-wing parties (for the name dedicated to the Italian victory during World War I) wanted a referendum which was won by the old name. Now the tables display the name Victory Square (formerly Peace Square). Now the monument is under protection of the Italian state. There is a table on the way from the Talfer Bridge that explains how the City of Bozen feels about the monument. The Italian Ministry for Conservation of Ancient Monuments would not allow the city to post the tables on the grilles in front of the Monument.  

Parks and promenades [ edit ]

For more parks and promenades see district articles

• Talferwiesen / Prati del Talvera are the green lung of the city and extends on both banks of the Talfer river. In summer it's full of people and also during the cold winter people like to go around the promenades.
• Ducal park is a nice park in the Gries area.
• Eisackufer/Lungoisarco Park is a big park on the right hand side of the Eisack river.
• Henry's promenade the Heinrichspromenade is known also as Guncina promenade and is the oldest promenade of Bozen in the former Kurort of Gries. There is a lot of flora.

Do [ edit ]

Festivals [ edit ].

• Bolzano Festival Bozen . Concerts of the Gustav Mahler and European Union Youth Orchestra in Concert Houses and in the squares of the city, the International "Ferruccio Busoni" Piano Competition and the shows of Antiqua (Renaissance and Baroque music). Every summer.  
• Transart . A regional event of contemporary music and arts.  
• Bolzano Danza - Tanzsommer Bozen . A dance/ballet event in summer.  
• Südtirol Jazz Festival ( International Jazz Festival Bolzano-Bozen ). An important summer jazz festival.  
• Wintermezzo . A Richard Strauss festival held in January.  
• Upload - Music Contest + Festival . A song contest with participants under 26 held in May/June.  

Theater, opera, and music [ edit ]

• New City Theatre ( Stadttheater Bozen / Teatro Comunale di Bolzano ), Verdiplatz, 40 , ☏ +39 0471 053800 , fax : +39 0471 304140 . Box office: Tu-F 10:00-13:00 and 15:00-19:00; Sa 10:00-13:00. Tickets are to be bought almost one day before the show . It is the biggest theatre of the region in importance and activity. It shows a lot of plays, opera, ballets and musicals. Plays in German and Italian. Maximum €72, minimum €13, students €10 .  
• Konzerthaus Bozen ( Auditorium Bolzano ), Dantestraße 15 / Via Dante, 15 , ☏ +39 0471 301789 , fax : +39 0471 304140 . The concert hall holds classical music concerts. In summer it has a big activity with the EUYO, Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra and the International.  
• Kulturhaus Walther von der Vogelweide ( Waltherhaus ), Schlernstraße 1 , ☏ +39 0471 319200 , fax : +39 0471 313888 , [email protected] . It is the biggest German-speaking theatre of South Tyrol. It shows a lot of plays in German Maximum €25-38, Minimum €8-15 .  
• Cristallo Theatre , Dalmatienstraße 30 , ☏ +39 0471 202016 , fax : +39 0471 504339 , [email protected] . It is a new theatre with plays and festivals in Italian language  
• Municipal Theatre of Gries , Telser Galerie 13 , ☏ +39 0471 262320 , fax : +39 0471 271598 . It shows plays in German and Italian.  
• Carambolage , Silbergasse 19 , ☏ +39 0471 981790 , +39 0471 324129 , fax : +39 0471 328710 , [email protected] . It is a very small theatre (99 places) but it's important for the large number of plays and cabaret in German, Italian and other languages.  
• Theater im Hof , Obstmarkt 37 , fax : +39 0471 980756 , [email protected] . Theatre with just 70 places in a courtyard behind the fruit market and well, the German name means Theatre in the Court . It shows plays mainly in German and in Italian.  

Fairs [ edit ]

Bolzano has a long fair tradition and it host an important and modern fair quarter, which is in South Bolzano.

• Fair Bolzano , Messeplatz 1 , ☏ +39 0471 51 60 00 , fax : +39 0471 51 61 11 , [email protected] .  

During the year there are 18 fairs and a lot of meetings, having a congress centre and a four-star Sheraton Hotel.

Here the most important trade fairs are listed:

• Arredo (specialized trade fair for interior design)
• Prowinter (specialized in winter sports)
• Alpitec (specialized in mountain and winter technologies)
• Tempo Libero/Freizeit (specialized in sports, hobbies and leisure)
• kunStart (specialized in modern and contemporary art)
• Herbstmesse/Fiera d'Autunno ( Autumn Trade Fair , since 1947)

Concerts [ edit ]

The Showtime Agency is the most important events organizer in the region - every year Bolzano host a big number of concerts with groups or singers from Italy, Austria or Germany and internationally known artists. For tickets information please contact the agency.

If you want to go to underground concert (Alternative-Punk-Indie-Metal), Poison For Souls is the right choice for you!

Cinema [ edit ]

In Bolzano there are 3 movie theatres with a total of 11 screens:

• Cineplexx Bolzano Bozen , Schlachthofstraße 53/A , ☏ +39 0471 054550 , [email protected] . Last screening: M-F 08:00-20:45, Sa Su 23:00-23:15 . Multiplex (7 screens, 1,500 capacity) with movies in German and Italian. €8, under 14 €6, under 18 & students under 25 €7, Wednesdays €6 .  
• Filmclub (Capitol) , Dr.-Streiter-Straße, 8d , ☏ +39 0471 974295 , +39 0471 059090 (for ticket reservations) , fax : +39 0471 974472 , [email protected] . Small multiplex (3 screens, 417 capacity) movies in German and Italian. A lot of essay movies or in original language with subtitles (generally German, Italian or English). Movies for kids. €6.50, students and over 60 €5, on Tuesday €4 .  

Tours [ edit ]

• Contact the Bolzano Tourist Board for information about city guided tours, excursions on the mountains or in the surrounding area or for bike tours.
• Passepartour . Organizes tours in order to discover Bolzano and surroundings by bike.  

Sport [ edit ]

• Skiing . South Tyrol is full of ski resorts. The more 'Bolzanian' ski resorts are the Rittnerhorn (20 km from Bozen) and Reinswald (30 km). Both web sites are in English available. Other nearby ski resorts are Carezza (25 km), Meran 2000 (30–35 km) or the very well known Val Gargena (40 km) which is part of the Sella Ronda ski circuit.
• Ice hockey . Home sport of Bolzano is ice hockey. HC Bolzano/Bozen Interspar Foxies is the local professional hockey club in Bozen and winner of the Italian hockey season 2007/2008 (it plays in the Italian premier league and it won 17 times the national championship - Italian record). They play at the Eiswelle/Palaonda ice palace.
• Soccer . The most important football team of the region plays in the 'Serie C2' and its name is FC Südtirol Alto Adige and plays in the Drusus stadion . In July/August test matches with renowned team such as the Internazionale Milan, Monaco, Stuttgart and others.
• Ice rinks . In Bozen there are four ice rinks: one near to the Runkelstein castle, one in the Genua street ( Via Genova/Genuastraße in the Don Bosco district/ New City ), one in the Sport City in the area of Pfarrhof/Maso della Pieve in the Oberau-Haslach/Oltrisarco-Aslago district/ South Bolzano/Bozen and one on the Talvera promenade.
• Swimming . In summer the Lido in the Trieste street is the favourite place of the people: open-air swimming pools and a big park with bar and restaurant. Admission €5. In winter there is the swimming & fitness centre Karl Dibiasi just behind the Lido. Admission €4.50/5.20.

Learn [ edit ]

Bolzano is the ideal place if you want to study German and Italian, or German or Italian after having studied one of the two.

• Free University of Bozen-Bolzano International trilingual (Italian, German, English) university. It's ranked as one of the best no statal universities in Italy. It is a private university but it's financed by the Autonomous Province.
• Claudio Monteverdi Provincial Academy of Music Like the university it is ranked as one of the best academies of music in Italy (in Italy academies of music are considered at university level). It is controlled by the Autonomous Province instead of the State and it is expecting a big development because of that.
• European Academy
• ZeLIG School for Documentary, Television and New Media
• Claudiana Province College for Health-Care Professions [dead link]

Work [ edit ]

Bozen is a congress, financial and business centre. School of languages and institutions could look for English teachers/speakers and new minds are requested in some technical sectors. If both German and Italian are known everybody can find a job in a restaurant, shop or hotel if it had some job experiences.

• Convention Bureau South Tyrol [dead link]
• Techno Innovation South Tyrol
• Bolzano Trade Fair
• Autonomous Province of South Tyrol - Office for Bilingualism and Foreign Languages. It has also a library with books, dictionaries and language courses on book, CD, DVD and a lot of films in German, Italian, English, French, Spanish, Russian, Arab and Portuguese in the Capucin's street ( 28, Kapuzinergasse/via Cappuccini )
• Job finder powered by the Autonomous Province of South Tyrol [dead link] - Job service

Buy [ edit ]

For single shops see district articles

Every district has its own shopping area but the shopping paradise is the historical centre. Bolzano is the city in which the small ceramics sculptures Thun are made. You can find Tyrolean and Italian fashion in the same place and local delicatessen have to be chosen.

Shopping streets [ edit ]

• Arcades (Lauben): One of the most famous shopping streets in Italy with both traditional and international chains.
• Greif Center : A modern and luxurious gallery near Walther square.
• Dr Streiter Lane : It's the opposite and parallel street of the Arcades (Lauben) with traditional chains.
• Arcades of Freedom's avenue : The Corso is composed by the 'Italian' arcades.

Markets [ edit ]

• Saturday market Every Saturday in the Victory square and border streets.
• 46.49973 11.35252 1 Fruit market . It is one of the oldest squares of Bozen and now like in the past holds the fruit market.  

Christmas markets [ edit ]

The 'Christkindlmarkt' takes place every year from the last Friday of November to 23 December in the Walther square with 80 stands. A second Christmas market called 'Winterwald' ( Winter wood ) takes place near Walther square in Palais Campofranco's yard with 14 stands. In the same period in the historical centre take place other markets too: the 'Handwerksmarkt' in the Municipal square and the Christmas market of solidarity in some streets of the historical centre. Occasionally there are smaller 'Christkindlmärkte' or Advent markets in other parts of the city.

Eat [ edit ]

For more places please see district articles.

You can find all kinds of restaurant - cuisine, typical, Italian, international, ethnic specialties - and fast foods - typical Würstlstandln (hot dog stands), döner kebab, sliced pizza, Chinese take-away, sushi, or McDonald's and Burger King.

In the following list are included some of the most known traditional or important restaurants in the city center .

South Tyrolean cuisine is typically Austrian (Tyrolean) with Mediterranean influences but also Italian and other international specialties have to be found. Typical South Tyrolean products include Speck (a kind of smoked ham), a lot of sorts of bread, strudel, apples and a lot of pastries. During Christmas typical cakes are Bozner Zelten and Christstollen.

Entries include specialties such as Herrengröstl (potatoes, beef, onions, speck), Kaiserschmarrn (omelette with raisin and sugar), Gulaschsuppe, Schlutzkrapfen (a kind of dumpling with spinach or other ingredients), Spätzle (a kind of spinach dumpling), Knödel (bread balls with speck or other ingredients), pork roast with sauerkrauts.

Budget [ edit ]

All these are in the Old Town:

• 46.498889 11.353616 1 Trattoria Filo d'Olio , Vicolo della Parrocchia, 2A . ( updated May 2022 )
• 46.500304 11.351564 2 Muflone Rosa , Via della Roggia, 22 . Pizza ( updated May 2022 )
• 46.500303 11.351596 3 Drago D'Oro , Via della Roggia, 7 . Chinese cuisine ( updated May 2022 )
• 46.497262 11.353374 4 La Vecchia Bolzano , Piazza della Parrocchia, 22 . ( updated May 2022 )
• 46.496656 11.355 5 Pizza Pazza Zargul , Via Alto Adige, 23 . ( updated May 2022 )
• 46.500056 11.349612 6 Spizzico , Museumstraße, 54 . Everyday open. Fast food with sliced pizza of a South Tyrolean chain . ( updated Feb 2023 )

Mid-range [ edit ]

• 46.500996 11.356838 7 Weißes Rössl ( Cavallino Bianco ), Bindergasse, 6 , ☏ +39 0471 973267 . Saturday at dinner & Sunday closed. The White Little Horse is an excellent Gasthof with Tyrolean specialties and atmosphere. Reasonable prices. It doesn't accept reservations. It's possible (and common) to share your table with other people . €20-30 . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 46.499647 11.352421 8 Torgglhaus (Casa al Torchio) , Museumstraße, 2 , ☏ +39 0471 978109 . Saturday closed . Famous restaurant near the fruit market with Tyrolean and Italian specialties and pizza. Credit cards accepted. €10-20 . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 46.501279 11.357372 9 Batzen Häusl (Ca' de Bezzi) , Andreas-Hofer-Straße, 30 , ☏ +39 0471 050950 , fax : +39 0471 050951 , [email protected] . €20-30 . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 46.499069 11.352427 10 Restaurant Vögele , Goethestraße 3 , ☏ +39 0471 973938 , fax : +39 0471 325750 , [email protected] . Typical Tyrolean/Austrian-style . €20-30 . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 46.498901 11.354493 11 Stadt Cafè Città , Waltherplatz 21 . A small snack or a full meal. ( updated Feb 2023 )

Splurge [ edit ]

• 46.498051 11.357103 12 Laurin Belle Époque (Parkhotel Laurin) , Laurinstraße, 4 , ☏ +39 0471 311000 , fax : +39 0471 311148 , [email protected] . Open everyday. It's considered as the top restaurant in the city. Very elegant. Local and international cuisine . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 46.498458 11.353522 13 Zur Kaiserkron' , Mustergasse, 1 , ☏ +39 0471 970770 . The restaurant to the Emperor's crown has one of the most prominent cooks of South Tyrol. Very elegant. Local and international cuisine . €60-70 . ( updated Feb 2023 )

Drink [ edit ]

Bolzano is an important wine producer in South Tyrol - it's included in the South Tyrolean Wine Road . Typical drink in South Tyrol is beer too - the most famous brewing company is Forst which is produced near Meran. A pub in the historical centre produces its own beer. Very popular soft drinks are Spezi (pronounce: "sh-peh-tzi") which is a cola-lemonade mix and Spuma which is an aromatic soda. If you like coffee you can drink Italian espresso or cappuccino but also Viennese or German (American) coffee.

Beer & wine gardens, halls & cellars [ edit ]

• Cantina Bolzano - Kellerei Bozen www.cantinabolzano.com , Piazza Gries, 2, ☏ +39 0471 270909 . The classical wines of Bolzano: Lagrein, St.Magdalener, Pinot Bianco, Gewuerztraminer.
• Forsterbräu Central Goethestraße, 6 ( ☏ +39 0471 977243 )

South Tyrolean Forst Brewing company runs a really nice restaurant with outdoor seating right in the Altstadt (Historical Centre). Good beer and food and the prices are reasonable. Try the Sixtus ale, goes right to your head. €10-20.

• Paulaner Bräuhaus Bozen Silbergasse / Lauben-Portici (Arcades) (two entrances). Bavarian Paulaner Brewing company's first Bräuhaus in Italy. Good beer and food. €10-20
• Hopfen & Co Wirtshaus & Brauerei Obstplatz, 17 (Fruit market) ( ☏ +39 0471 300788 , [email protected] )

Here you can drink the original Bozner Bier (Bozen's beer) and eat typical Tyrolean food. €10-20

Pubs [ edit ]

Pubs are mainly full on Saturday night - the Red Bull with Vodka mix is called here Flieger and it can be red (with red vodka), black or white (€3.50-5). Many people drink an aperitif also in the night - the most common drinks are Veneziano with Aperol and white wine (€1.50-2.50) and Estivo with sparkling water and white wine. Prices are generally not more than €5 for a drink.

• Temple Bar Genuine Irish Pub , Piazza Domenicani 20. Irish-owned pub with that traditional style of an Irish pub found throughout the small villages of Ireland. Large beer garden on the square ideal for people watching while sipping a pint of Guinness, Sky Sports, live music and karaoke. Open Tu-Su 10:30-01:00. Monday closed. ☏ +39 471 324631 or email [email protected]
• Pogue Mahones Vicolo Erbe 10 ( ☏ +39 471 978339 ) Very nice Irish pub in the historical centre and also oldest Irish pub in town (est. 1964). Local and foreign beers, paninis, and toasties, smoking area inside, Open M-Sa 17:00-01:30. Sunday closed.
• New Pub Freiheitsstraße 54 ( ☏ +39 471 263695 ) One of the oldest pubs in the city. Under the arcades of the New City's central area.
• Dublin Pub Negrellistraße 13 ( ☏ +39 347 8810382 ) Irish pub with restaurant in the Bolzano South area. Sky Sports & darts. Cheap.
• Café Schubert . Silbergasse 18 pub & restaurant in the historical centre. Mid-range .  
• Blue Moon Silbergasse Very popular meeting point for aperitivo . It's also a dinner bar.
• Cafè Latino Via Marconi Nice bar-pub with special evenings near the historical city centre, crowded on weekends. Mid-range.
• Birreria Romagnola Piazza Matteotti in the New City. Local and foreign beers, very good pub food, Sky Sports, darts. Open daily 07:00-01:00. Cheap.
• Murphys Pub Via Milano Nice Irish pub in the New City. Cheap
• Assenzio Laubengasse 30 One of the few places in Italy in which you can drink (true) absinthe. Mid-range.
• Nadamas Obstplatz 43/44 Nice pub-bar-restaurant. Spkurfe.

'Konditoreien', cafés & 'gelaterie' [ edit ]

• Stadtcafé Waltherplatz 21 ( ☏ +39 0471 975221 ) Viennese-style café with original Sachertorte.
• Café Theiner Museumstraße 62 ( ☏ +39 0471 971893 ) In front of the Talfer bridge. Delicious ice-creams.
• Bar Walther Waltherplatz 2 Modern-style café. Sunday closed.
• Aida Café Konditorei Pfarrplatz 3 Austrian-style 'Konditorei'. Seats also in Walther square.
• Monika Konditorei Goethestraße 13 Austrian-style 'Konditorei' with Italian style 'Gelati'.
• Gelateria Eccetera Weintraubengasse 23 Around 60 ice cream flavours.
• L'Oasi del Gelato Museumstraße Big ice-creams and 'granatine'.
• Gelateria Avalon . Freiheitsstraße 44 in the New City. House-made waffle cones. ( updated Jul 2022 )
• Pasticceria Stofner. Corso Italia 27. Excellent cakes and pies.

Discos [ edit ]

Before the beginning of the 21st century, Bolzano was known as the 'Sleeping Beauty', but in the meantime it has been transformed in the regional capital for nightlife so much that also young people from neighbouring Trentino come to Bolzano on Friday and Saturday night and the Bolzano's nightlife is known as the 'movida bolzanina', which was reported also in Italian national magazines. Now on weekend nights the historical centre is full of young and less-young people and pubs are crowded.

Look also on South Tyrol's portal for fun and night-life [7] .

• HALLE28 Via del Macello. Local and international DJs, within walking distance from the city center. Entrance: €12-20 (1 drink included)
• Okey , Via Gilm . Club within 10-minute walk from the historical city centre. Crowded on weekends. €3 .  
• Martini Club , Vicolo Erbe. Club in the City Center of Bolzano. Local DJs, live music and special events, no admission, drinks from €4-8.
• Mirò , Dominikanerplatz, 3b . Club in the heart of the city. €8-14 (1 drink included) .  
• Life Club , Marie-Curie-Straße 13 . From 20:00 . Special guests, entertainment and dj music. The disco is in the South Bolzano area.  
• Alumix , Voltastraße, 9 . Entertainment, sometimes live music, alternative. The disco is in the South Bolzano area. €9 (1 drink included) .  
• Après Club , Hauptstraße, 20, Gargazon/Gargazzone ( 15 km out of Bozen, in the small village of Gargazon, between Bozen and Meran , on the statal road ). Special guests, entertainment, events. Free entry . ( updated Jul 2022 )
• Keope Disco Club Brennerstraße, 6, Steinmannwald/Pineta di Laives. Entertainment, DJ music and Cuban dance. In the outskirt of Bozen on the statal road.
• Baila Discopub [dead link] Boznerstraße, 5a, Eppan/Appiano. Entertainment, special guests and dj music. The disco is in Eppan near Bozen. One of the most crowded places to go on weekends. Entrance: €8 (1 drink included).
• Zentis Discopub Tannstraße, 12, Ritten/Renon. Discopub, live music, DJ music. The discopub is in Klobenstein/Ritten near Bozen.

Sleep [ edit ]

The city and its metropolitan area are well developed for tourism and you can find all kinds of accommodation: luxury, international, typical, big, small, cheap hotels, B&Bs, apartments, youth hostels, campings and you can spend your holidays also in a farm in the surrounding countryside. Tourist offices can help you in finding your ideal accommodation. During the Christmas market period accommodations are full in fast all the region - advanced reservation is required.

In the following list are included some accommodations in order to make an idea about hotels and others. Category is given in stars and the service corresponds in all cases to the category.

Low budget [ edit ]

• Youth Hostel Bolzano , Rittnerstraße, 23 , ☏ +39 0471 300865 , fax : +39 0471 300858 , [email protected] . The hostel is near the city centre and the Central Station. €20.50 group room, €24 single room .  
• Kolpinghaus Bozen , Adolph-Kolping-Straße, 3 , ☏ +39 0471 308400 , fax : +39 0471 973917 , [email protected] . In the city centre. €50-60 single room, €80-90 double room .  
• Best Western Hotel Alpi , Südtirolerstraße, 35 , ☏ +39 0471 970535 , fax : +39 0471 971929 , [email protected] . In the city centre €92-114 single room, €130-170 double room .  
• Hotel Post Gries , Freiheitsstraße, 117 , ☏ +39 0471 279000 , fax : +39 0471 285424 , [email protected] . In the Gries district centre. €55-70 single room, €90-120 double room .  
• Stadthotel Città , Waltherplatz, 21 , ☏ +39 0471 975221 , fax : +39 0471 976688 , [email protected] . In the heart of Bolzano. €90-104 single room, €125-190 double room .  
• Four Points by Sheraton , Bruno-Buozzi-Straße, 35 , ☏ +39 0471 1950000 , fax : +39 0471 1950999 , [email protected] . Business and tourist hotel in the fair quarter. €120-150 single room, €150-190 double room .  
• Hotel Greif , Raingasse, 28 , ☏ +39 0471 318000 , fax : +39 0471 318148 , [email protected] . Small five-star hotel in the heart of the city. No restaurant - it's a so-called garni hotel. €132-350 single room, €170-350 double room .  
• Hotel Laurins , Laurinstraße, 4 , ☏ +39 0471 311000 , fax : +39 0471 311148 , [email protected] . In the city centre. €112-280 single room, €170-280 double room .  
• Palast Wellness Hotel , Via Farber 1 - Colle Isarco , ☏ +39 0472 632433 , fax : +39 0472 632405 , [email protected] .  

Stay safe [ edit ]

Bolzano is one of the safest cities in Italy and generally tourists don't have problems. Beware of African migrant vendors in the streets: most of the merchandise they sell is imitation luxury goods. You can get a very high fine in Italy for purchasing imitation goods.

Stay away from the area around the central railway station and the surrounding area (Via Garibaldi, Piazza Verdi, Viale Trento) at night. Especially in the Station Park and the Garibaldi Street - drug dealers, homeless people and illegal immigrants are often seen. However, common sense should be enough when you will stay in Bolzano safely. Pickpocketing is not common.

Beware of groups of youths in the areas of South Bolzano and the New City but also in the City Center (especially on Piazza dell'Erba where most of the pubs, bars and clubs are - especially on week-ends, when pub-fights can break out, and young drunks can bother you. People usually will not harm you when they see that you are not from Bolzano.

Respect [ edit ]

Bolzano is officially a bilingual city - That means there is most likely a German and Italian name for everything! Some tourists could have problems understanding the city's unique character. Guests interested in the (recent) history of South Tyrol are appreciated, but try to stay neutral discussing this with locals and always avoid asking the German-speaking people to explain why German is official language in a region belonging to Italy, and definitely don't say things like 'But this is Italy!' Bolzano/Bozen is an international model of bilingualism and multicultural understanding, and major ethnic tensions are a thing of the past.

Connect [ edit ]

There are a lot of telephone boxes in which you can use Italian and international phone cards. Call centres also exist, although these are used more by migrants than tourists. Cell phone coverage in the city is excellent. A lot of hotels offer wireless connections. The area code is 0471 (that of Italy is +39) while the postcode is I-39100.

Internet cafes are scarce, with virtually no open Wi-Fi connections in the city centre.

Cope [ edit ]

Post office [ edit ].

In Bolzano there is at least one post office in each district. The two main post offices are open from M-F 08:00-18:30 and Sa 08:00-12:00 - on Sunday closed. Other post offices are open from M-F 08:00-13:30 and Sa 08:00-12:30. The post office at Fair Quarter is open from M-F 08:00-14:00.

• Main Post Office Bolzano, Pfarrplatz/Piazza Parrocchia, 13 In the city centre near the Cathedral.
• Post Office, Duca-d'Aosta-Straße/Via Duca d'Aosta, 104 In the new city in front of Hadrianplatz/Piazza Adriano.

Bank [ edit ]

There are above 60 bank branch offices. The most important banks in South Tyrol are the Südtiroler Sparkasse (Savings Bank), the Südtiroler Volksbank (People's Bank), the Raiffeisen Bank and the Bank für Trient und Bozen (Bank of Trento and Bolzano). The offices are open normally 08:05–12:55 and 14:45-16:00/16:30. Banks are closed on Saturday and Sunday (a few banks are open on Saturday). At every bank and other places you can find simply an ATM.

Diplomatic missions [ edit ]

The majority of consulate generals are in Milan and other nearest consulates are in Verona or Innsbruck.

• Honorary Consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany , Dr.-Streiter-Gasse 12. ☏ +39 0471 972118
• Honorary Consulate of the Russian Federation , Dr.-Streiter-Gasse 20. ☏ +39 0471 974075
• Consulate General of the Republic of Austria - Office of Bolzano , Silbergasse 6. (Mercantile Palace) ☏ +39 0471 970394 .

United States of America , Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand all have their Consulate General in Milan.

Gym [ edit ]

Most of the fitness centres are outside from the city centre. A lot of hotels have fitness centres too - notably that at Sheraton Hotel.

• Centro Fitness 2Fit , Pacinottistraße 4 . Very large fitness centre (2,000 m 2 ) in South Bolzano. Open 24 hours a day and 365 days a year.
• Energym , Reschenstraße 84 . Very known gym in the new city in the Don Bosco district.
• Eden 2000, Cesare-Battisti-Straße 25 . Equipped fitness centre in the new city.
• TrainToSmile, Wangergasse 77 . Fitness centre in the city centre.

Computer assistance [ edit ]

Here some address for computer assistance in Bolzano:

• Ma-Ko [dead link] , Drususallee, 189. Store in the Drusus road on the New City side.
• Mitas , Einsteinstraße, 1. This international distributor and producer of PCs housed in South Bolzano has an assistance centre.
• Computer Center, Hörtenbergstraße, 1/C. Store in the city centre.
• Computer 3000, Lancia-Straße 10. Store located in South Bolzano.

DVD rentals [ edit ]

Considering that most of DVDs are American movies and that they offer the language selection, you can virtually consider to rend a DVD. Pay attention only to the fact that the European system is different from the American (U.S. & Canada) one (if DVDs show the regional code 2 for Europe they don't work on American PCs or DVD recorders).

• Freiheitsstraße 16 - in the New City
• Vigilstraße 62 - in the Haslach area in South Bolzano
• Brennerstraße 29 - in the Zwölfmalgreien area near the City Centre
• Sassaristraße - in the Don Bosco area in the New City
• Blockbuster [dead link] , Turinstraße 94 - in the New City (open Su-Sa 09:00-23:00)

Health [ edit ]

• Bolzano Central Hospital , Lorenz-Böhler-Straße, 5. ☏ +39 0471 908111 or dial 118 for emergency phone assistance (in German and Italian).
• Marienklinik , Claudia-de-Medici-Straße, 2. ☏ +39 0471 310600 . It's a smaller hospital without emergency assistance.
• Pharmacy Service . An online service provided by the Autonomous Province of South Tyrol lists all the pharmacies in South Tyrol including the pharmacies which are open during the night or in non-working days. There are 25 pharmacies throughout the city.

Go next [ edit ]

• South Tyrol , a lot of towns, valleys and mountains have to be visited
• Innsbruck , Austria , is an easy day trip from Bozen. 120 km (1hr 15min)
• Verona is an easy trip from Bozen. 150 km (1hr 30min)
• Lake Garda the famous lake with mediterranean climate is not far from Bozen. Nearest centres: 100 km (Riva del Garda) - 135 km (Lazise) (1hr 20min-1hr 40min)
• Munich , Germany , if you have a few days to spare, this is the perfect trip, it can be also a day trip. 250 km (3hr)
• Venice , if you have a few days to spare, this is the perfect trip, it can be also a day trip (by train). 250–300 km (3hr 30min)

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How to Plan the Perfect Trip to Bolzano, Italy

This city in Northern Italy is known as the gateway to the Dolomites — with outdoor adventure, an archeological museum, and traditional Alpine food.

Lindsay Cohn is a writer, editor, and avid traveler who has visited 45 countries across six continents — and counting. She contributes to Travel + Leisure, Hotels Above Par, InsideHook, Well+Good, The Zoe Report, and more.

Best Hotels and Resorts in Bolzano

• Best Things to Do in Bolzano

Best Restaurants in Bolzano

Best time to visit, how to get there.

• How to Get Around

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Travelers flock to Italy for its rich culture, incredible gastronomy, and stunning landscapes. While tourism darlings like Florence, Rome, and the Amalfi Coast habitually wow, the boot-shaped nation also has some less obvious locales that fall outside the regular tourist route and deserve a spot on your itinerary, like historic Ravenna . Another destination worth the detour? Bolzano.

This city in the South Tyrol province of northern Italy, not far from the Austrian border, is known as the gateway to the Dolomites and the departure point for many outdoor activities and excursions through the Italian Alps. Besides providing access to the most beautiful mountains in Europe, this cross-cultural alpine escape puts on a show for visitors with art, architecture, and history galore. The South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology houses an ancient mummy named Ötzi, also called the Iceman. Other significant sights include Bolzano Cathedral and Runkelstein Castle. Many consider Bolzano to be the Italian capital of Christmas due to its holiday markets and festive atmosphere. And foodies will be impressed by the delicious traditional cuisine.  

Scroll on for the best things to eat, see, and do in Bolzano, Italy,  according to local experts. 

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Parkhotel Laurin

Established in 1910, Parkhotel Laurin is a historic home base in the heart of the city that’s upscale and very close to the train station. “It also has an excellent restaurant that’s well regarded for its fantastic interpretations of Mediterranean and South Tyrolean mountain cuisine,” says ToursByLocals’ Bolzano-based guide Alessandro Scacchetti . 

Castel Hörtenberg

Regarded as an exclusive retreat set inside a renovated Renaissance castle, Castel Hörtenberg appeals to luxury lovers with an elegant atmosphere, exemplary service, and a mix of historic and modern refinement that reads as regal yet discreet. “The sleek spa offers saunas and treatments ranging from hot stone massages to wine facials,” adds Scacchetti. 

Hotel Greif

Travelers rave about the welcoming ambiance, aesthetically pleasing rooms, and wonderful breakfast at the family-owned Hotel Greif , a member of Design Hotels. The artsy interiors blend tradition and contemporary creativity. That looks like custom-made Italian fabrics paired with bespoke furnishings from different eras. Plus, you can’t beat the walkable location right by Piazza Walther.

Parkhotel Luna Mondschein

ToursByLocals’ Bolzano-based guide Gianlucca Crocco recommends checking into the Parkhotel Luna Mondschein , a boutique hotel in the center of the city. “You will have a pleasant stay in a great location that tenders many possibilities for sightseeing, dining, and shopping.”  

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Best Things to Do in Bolzano 

South tyrol museum of archaeology .

History-loving visitors to Bolzano should bucket ample time to explore the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology . “The most fascinating and famous artifact on display is the preserved body of Ötzi, a mummy that’s believed to be older than the Egyptian pyramids,” reveals Scacchetti. 

During the spring, summer, and fall, the forested mountains surrounding Bolzano beckon travelers to lace up their boots and go for a hike. There are trails of varying difficulty, from nature walks for families with young kids to intense high-altitude treks with a payoff of eye-popping alpine panoramas. 

When the snow falls, the Dolomites and the Ortler Ski Region transform into a winter sports destination. The Province of Bolzano has dozens of ski resorts within poles’ reach — that means tons of fresh power and shreddable terrain. Arguably the most popular, Val Gardena boasts runs for every skill level and the longest ski slope in South Tyrol. 

Runkelstein Castle

One of the most important attractions in South Tyrol, Runkelstein Castle is a splendid medieval fortification that’s situated on a rocky outcrop on the outskirts of Bolzano. “I highly suggest visiting to see the largest secular fresco cycle of the Middle Ages,” says Scacchetti. 

Christmas Markets

Bolzano wears its “Italian capital of Christmas” moniker with pride. From November to January, the city gets into the yuletide spirit when Piazza Walther transforms into a fairy-tale winter wonderland complete with twinkling lights, decorations, bands playing festive music, and a holiday market where vendors sell everything from strudel and mulled wine to crafts from inside traditional wooden houses.

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Vögele is considered an institution in Bolzano. “Diners can sample elevated local dishes, such as roast and homemade pasta, as well as wine from the region while enjoying the backdrop of traditional Biedermeier-style furnishings,” explains Scacchetti. 

In Viaggio - Claudio Melis

Acclaimed fine-dining restaurant In Viaggio - Claudio Melis earned a Michelin star for its creative, contemporary tasting menus with five, seven, or nine courses that delight diners' eyes and taste buds in equal measure. The artful plates spotlight seasonal ingredients from the Alps and look almost too pretty to eat. And the quiet, upscale setting lets the gastronomy shine. 

Franziskanerstuben

Have a hankering for traditional Tyrolean fare? Sink your teeth into crispy schnitzel, dumplings, and apple strudel at Franziskanerstuben . The friendly service and cozy vibe match the comforting cuisine. It all feels very warm and homey — exactly what you’d want in a meal after a day of skiing or trekking through the mountains.  

Castel Flavon

Castel Flavon supplies stunning views and superb food. Crispy pork belly, homemade tagliatelle with fresh chanterelles, and saltimbocca are just a few of the standout menu items. (Though, keep in mind the gourmet offerings change with the season.) The fine selection of wines elevates the experience. 

Konditorei Klaus Pasticceria

Craving something sweet? Crocco favors the pastries and desserts that are made from scratch every day at Konditorei Klaus Pasticceria, a local favorite pastry shop. “You can really taste the love in the decadent cakes, croissants, carnival donuts, and panettone.”

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April through June is prime for outdoor adventures in the Dolomites. Wine lovers are partial to the fall harvest season. Snowbirds flock to Bolzano in the winter for skiing. And, of course, the “Italian capital of Christmas” shines as a yuletide destination during the holidays. 

The most convenient way to reach the “gateway to the Dolomites” from within Italy is by rail. Trenitalia operates daily services between Rome, Florence, Bologna, Verona, and Bolzano. Travelers coming from other European destinations or the United States will need to fly into Valerio Catullo Airport (VRN) outside Verona and then either drive 90 minutes or hop on the shuttle to Verona Porta Nuova and take the train from there. 

How to Get Around 

Because Bolzano is such a compact, pedestrian-friendly city, it's easy to get around by walking or biking.

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Tourist Information Bolzano Bozen

The Tourism Board Bolzano Bozen welcomes you to South Tyrol. Ask our team if you need help looking for accomodation or if you are interested in visiting the town and its environments.  

The Mobilcard, Museumobil card, hiking maps and souvenirs are available at the Tourism Board.

Coordinates

Recommendations nearby.

Tunnels and bends A road bike tour along the bending roads of the Isarco Valley.

To the AlplFrom Bolzano via Fiè allo Sciliar to the Hof Alpl

WadlbeisserSteep mountain bike tour via Seit and Kohlern back to Bolzano.

With a view of the SchlernFrom Bolzano via Fiè allo Sciliar to the Hofer Alpl at the foot of the Schlern. Then via Breien back to the starting ...

Through an army of apple treesThe cycle path between Bolzano and Merano is almost complete, now you can easily use it for a bike tour through the ...

Nearby Points of Interest

• Teatro Comunale Bolzano/Stadttheater Bozen
• Bus station Bolzano
• Passepartour
• Bus station
• Trienbacher Consulting

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Accommodations in Bolzano

Safe holidays : here you will find all the information on the safety measures adopted by the accommodation.

From luxury hotels to holiday farms and B&Bs... Bolzano offers accommodation to meet every need, with a high standard of welcome and hospitality.

The accommodation list lists all the accommodation facilities in Bolzano. The price list for the current year can be downloaded here. We recommend that you also consult the holiday offers .

Tourist tax - prices 2024:

• € 2.70 for all 4 stars, 4 stars Superior and 5 stars accommodations,
• € 2.20 for 3-star and 3-star Superior establishments, 5 sun, 5 flower,
• € 1.70 for all other 1–2-star, 1-4 sun and 1-4 flower establishments

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from the Bolzano tourist guides association

Are you looking for a city guide, tour guide, tour leader, tourist guide, travel or tour guide, i.e. a professional who will show you the city of Bolzano? Then you've come to the right place!

Guided city tours in Bolzano

One of the best ways to get to know a foreign city is on a walking tour. A guide or tour leader will accompany you on a tour of the historic city centre and tell you - in an entertaining way - about the differences between the Italian and German way of life, history, culture, art and architecture.

Find a city guide