South Tyrol - the atmosphere of Austria! Open left menu South Tyrol Cuisine and restaurants
I would like to say right away that a trip to South Tyrol should be well planned (at least several months in advance) in order to avoid wasting money. This is especially true for hot seasons (in winter: from December to March; in summer from late June to September). In the text below you will find information on how to save a decent amount.)
One of the most convenient options to get to South Tyrol is by train to Bolzano/Merano or by Flixbus (unless of course you are driving your own car). Whatever city you fly to (in the North of Italy or in Austria), you can get to South Tyrol by bus.
We flew to Bergamo and from there, with a transfer in Verona (or without it), we drove to Bolzano. You can buy tickets to Verona from 5 €, from Verona to Bolzano also from 5 €.
Prices for a direct bus to Bolzano from 10 €, if you book a month in advance, you can get to Bolzano from Bergamo airport (Orio al Serio aeroporto) for a minimum cost of 10-15 € (there are often promotions where tickets can be bought for 5 €) , but as a rule, less than 14 € is rare.
If you book a week or two in advance, the prices will increase by about 1.5-2 times (about 30-40 €) + at different departure times the prices are different (the most convenient, of course, costs the most). But this is not always the case, sometimes the day before the trip you can snatch cheap tickets.
It takes 3.5 hours to get to Bolzano by bus. The bus travels in this direction about 8-9 times a day. It won’t be very difficult to find the time you need, especially considering that there is a chic shopping center opposite the airport, where you definitely won’t get bored.
About the train. Everything is very simple here. There is a website trenitalia.com where you can buy a ticket, but I usually buy it at the station, there is no problem with that. Just please don't forget to validate your ticket. For those who didn’t know about this and the information about trains is new, I’ll tell you. This rule applies throughout Italy.
When purchasing a ticket at a ticket office (or a machine), the ticket will only be valid if you validate it at the station in a special machine (there are a lot of them everywhere); this cannot be done on the train itself. A non-validated ticket will be invalid and if checked, you will pay a fine. There are checks here on almost every train (9 out of 10). If you buy a ticket online for a specific date, you do not need to validate it, since the number is already written there. Don't forget this. Since the controllers do not make concessions to tourists. At most, you may be lucky, in the case of a non-validated ticket - you will be offered to buy a new ticket on the train with a commission (not very large), and you can return the non-validated ticket (80% of the ticket price will be returned to you) or you can travel on it again (don’t forget to compost). But you shouldn’t count on this; it’s much easier to do everything right and enjoy your vacation.
You can get from Bergamo to 18 €, but the journey takes 4.5 hours and 2 transfers. Therefore, I advise you to travel by bus.
Further, in South Tyrol itself, you can travel by commuter buses and trains (again, only to Merano), and of course by car, but I will not consider this option, since I am not very familiar with it)
Perhaps one of the most important cities in South Tyrol. This is an amazing place that is definitely worth visiting, strolling along the picturesque embankment, and then laying out a blanket and enjoying the delicious cheese bought a couple of hours ago at the local market in the center of the old town and watching the cheerful Tyroleans. But this is of course if you come in the warm season.
In May it is already quite warm and the sun is so hot that if you forget to take sunscreen, your nose will certainly become redder and peel off)) Therefore, a piece of advice - do not forget to take sunscreen sprays and creams to the mountains!
Be sure to visit the ski lifts. The most beautiful views open from, but I will make a separate post about this. The photo above is from there!
Second must-see: Alpine resort - Merano, with its famous thermal springs!
The Mediterranean town, in the heart of the Tyrolean Alps, will not leave anyone indifferent. It is incredibly green and picturesque. You simply can’t cross it out of your itinerary. Just look at the small alpine village with its centuries-old history and castles.
The city is famous for its thermal springs. I believe that visiting the thermal baths is an important (although not the main) point when planning a trip. You will relax and have a 100% rest, especially after an eventful walk through this amazingly green city. I’ll definitely tell you more about the thermal baths and give advice in a post about Merano, because there’s a lot to talk about there)
Castelrotto, Siusi, Fie allo Sciliar, Ortisei, Santa Maddalena, Cortina d'Ampezzo... The list of cities is endless.
The main thing you need to know is that there are excellent transport links between all cities. The only negative is that getting to the city (to the lake), which seems to be 20 km away, can be more difficult than to getting to the city which is 50 km away. Of course, it's all about the mountains, not all roads are equipped with tunnels, and of course you have to go around many mountains. For this reason, we could not get to the famous lakes Braies (Lago di Braies) and Dobbiaco (Lago Di Dobbiaco) from the village where we lived for 5 days. It takes 4 hours to travel one way, it was such a pity to waste a whole day. that we decided to leave them for later. Therefore, keep the “range” in mind and do not forget about the time.
But in the nature park (which is located quite close to the main road of South Tyrol) there is another wonderful lake - which is visited by tourists much less often. To be more precise, there are two lakes here, in the photo there is a lake for fishing. Wonderful place and wonderful town.
Buses in South Tyrol run very frequently and on schedule. Don't forget that South Tyrol is more Austria than Italy. Therefore, you can forget about delays in public transport. In any tourist center you can find a book with the schedule of all buses in your region. You will need it.
How to save a decent amount of money? You can buy a transport pass, it will make moving around easier and cheaper. You can buy it at any information center, it’s called Mobilecard. Gives you the right to travel throughout the region for free on buses and trains (check some directions), for example Bolzano-Merano-Bolzano, as well as visiting museums or using a bicycle (your choice) for 1,3 and 7 days. For 7 days it costs about 35 €. Read more on the Mobilecard website!
Buses stop running after 8 (later in large cities), and then only hitchhikers will help you, which of course is very risky. Although I will say that the people here are friendly (during the non-tourist season), and if something happens to you or you get lost, you can always contact them and they will be happy to help you.
Now I want to tell you a little more about hotels.
South Tyrol is very expensive - and it is almost impossible to find something cheaper than 50 €, and it is generally impossible to find something good for less than 50 €. If you raise the bar to 100 €, then you can relax. There will be options, although not as many as you would like. From 100 to 200 € is already more interesting, and, accordingly, above 200 € there are luxury 4* and 5* hotels.
South Tyrol is like a big village - there are not very many luxury hotels here (although there are some very chic ones), mostly these are hotels with a cozy homely environment and with an owner who inherited this house)
For example, the hotel where we lived in Bolzano. Beautiful Villa - Villa Anita Rooms. Villa Anita is located in a quiet area of Bolzano, 600 meters from the historic center and the Renon and San Genesio cable car stations. There are many more excellent options, but this one is good because it is close to both the city and nature. We highly recommend this hotel)
Parkhotel Laurin is a very pleasant hotel in the heart of Bolzano, 200 meters from the cathedral, surrounded by a beautiful park where you can dine on a warm summer evening.
Or maybe you want to live in a 15th century castle? Hotel Schloss Englar is a Gothic castle surrounded by vineyards and orchards on a hillside in Appiano sulla Strada del Vino, 23 km from Merano. The hotel even features a Rittersaal common room with an open fireplace, and a garden with an outdoor pool and terrace. Amazing place.
A cozy hotel Hotel Rosalpina Dolomites in the ski resort of Plancios, 20 km from the city of Bressanone. It offers panoramic views of the Dolomites, and there is a wellness center and restaurant on site.
Or maybe you are a golf fan? Although no, it doesn’t matter that you don’t have to love it to live in such an amazing hotel. Golfhotel Sonne is located 1 km from the village of Siusi allo Sciliar, in the heart of the Dolomites. Which I will tell you about very soon! By the way, the prices for rooms in this hotel are very small for this region.
And Hotel Valentinerhof, surrounded by the Dolomites, is a very cozy place in Siusi.
I prefer to book all hotels on Booking.com; it’s convenient and there’s almost always the option to cancel in case of an unexpected emergency. The second option is on Airbnb.com. And if you are not registered on it yet, then get a discount on your first booking. There is also a cancellation option, but as a rule it is not always convenient.
I really hope that you liked my post and that you will use at least some of my advice. If you liked it, don't forget to like it. If you have any questions, you can always leave a comment)
Have a nice day and see you soon))!
South Tyrol (German: Autonome Provinz Bozen - Südtirol, Italian: Provincia autonoma di Bolzano - Alto Adige) is one of two autonomous provinces of the picturesque Trentino-Alto Adige region in Italy. Other names for this multilingual region located in the very north of the country are Bolzano or Alto Adige and Bozen or Südtirol. Such a number of names for a fairly small territory is associated with a complex and even tragic history in which several European nations were involved. Today, the past is reflected in the presence of bilingual road signs, menus in restaurants in Italian and German, and media broadcasting in several languages.
More than half of the people living in South Tyrol speak German. This is the only province in Italy where this phenomenon occurs. For the rest of the inhabitants, the native language is Italian, and in the eastern part it is Ladin.
In addition to cultural attractions in the form of numerous castles, ancient abbeys, architecturally rich cities, cozy Alpine villages in the valleys, there is one of the most important national parks in Italy. Beautiful lakes and mountain peaks create a picturesque landscape, carefully protected by the state. The local slopes are also popular with ski resorts. The world-famous Dolomites near the Austrian border are a destination for winter sports fans.
The Dolomites are a mountain range in the Eastern Alps, named after the discoverer of the rock from which they are composed. This is a popular holiday destination in Italy with the wonderful resorts of Cortina d'Ampezzo, Ortisei, Rocca Pietore, Alleghe, Auronzo Cadore, Falcade. Also near the mountain peaks are the regional capitals of several provinces - Bolzano (province of South Tyrol), Trento (province of Trento) and Belluno (province of Belluno).
Counties and cities
South Tyrol is divided into eight districts. The first is called Bolzano or Bozen, in honor of the administrative center of Bolzano, the capital of the province and the largest settlement, located in this part. The second district - Burgraviate with its center in the resort of Merano (Meran) - is a beautiful corner of nature with a number of wonderful castles. The valley of the Isaac River, the second largest waterway in South Tyrol, is another district famous for its vineyards and the cultural riches of the city of Brixen (Bressanone). The Pusteria Valley is a ski paradise with its administrative center in Brunico (Bruneck). Venosta is a unique valley with ski resorts in the summer and the tallest church tower in Tyrol in the town of Silandro. Other districts are no less attractive areas with wonderful vineyards and picturesque valleys.
South Tyrol
How to get there
The only international airport in the province of South Tyrol is located in the capital Bolzano and serves flights from all over Europe.
Story
Archaeological excavations show that people lived in these territories back in the Stone Age. Being a strategically advantageous area, the province at different periods was part of the Roman Empire, a place of settlement for barbarian tribes, was ruled by France, was divided into separate regions, until, in the end, it fell into the hands of the Tyrolean counts, who took control of all the surrounding lands.
The next difficult stage in the history of South Tyrol was a long-lasting property conflict of sorts between the Bavarian Wittelsbachs and the Austrian Habsburgs, who claimed power in these places. The Habsburgs turned out to be stronger, and in the 19th century South Tyrol became part of Austria-Hungary. However, after the end of the First World War, in which the Austrians were defeated, the lands went to Italy. Thus, the Tyroleans turned into an ethnic minority, they were forbidden to use their language, all German names were replaced with Italian ones. Long years of suppression of any manifestations of Tyrolean culture did not stop after World War II.
Only by 2001 was the issue of the national identity of the population living in these territories resolved. Alto Adige became South Tyrol, and German became an official language like Italian.
Cuisine and restaurants
Despite belonging to Italy, local cuisine was greatly influenced by its former “owner” Austria. Almost all dishes refer to traditional Austrian gastronomy. The most popular recipes among the local population are goulash, strudel and dumplings. All kinds of soups with the addition of vegetables, smoked loin; meat dishes in the form of bacon, various kinds of sausages, sausages; A potato stew with meat and onions called gröstl is a delicious highlight of South Tyrol.
Various types of bread are a distinctive feature of the local cuisine. Schuttelbrot is a flatbread made from rye flour, prepared only in South Tyrol and deserves the same attention as herbal cheeses made from cow's milk.
Among drinks, wine is the most popular. Numerous vineyards produce mainly red wine. You can also find the famous Italian grappa and grape vodka in restaurants and bars.
Guides in South Tyrol
Popular hotels in South Tyrol
Entertainment and attractions in South Tyrol
Stelvio National Park was founded in 1935. This is the largest nature reserve in Italy, which borders many other similar protected areas, in particular the Swiss National Park. A visit to it will be interesting for fans of wildlife.
To get acquainted with the cultural richness of the province, you should definitely visit the capital Bolzano, as well as the cities of Brixen and Brunico. Numerous monasteries are located both within cities and outside. So, in Bolzano, for example, you can see the Abbey of Muri-Gris and the Church of St. Augustine. Marienberg Abbey, founded in the 12th century, is located near the administrative center. The Novacella Abbey near Bressanone has served as an educational institution for centuries. For thousands of years, monks have been passing on their knowledge to the younger generation. The abbey now houses a secondary school. The Zeben Monastery is located on a rock and is an active convent.
Locks
Other cultural sites that deserve attention are castles. Sigmundskron Castle is one of the symbols of the entire province of South Tyrol. It is located on the banks of the Adige River, towering above the surrounding lands. Fontana or Brunnenburg Castle was built in the 13th century and is also of interest. Klebenstein Castle is located inside the city of Bolzano, as are the castles Marec, Rafenstein and Runkelstein. In addition, it is worth seeing Kurburg, next to the Marienberg Abbey, Prösels, located in the Dolomites, Salorno and Tyrol.
But first things first. You can start your trip to Tyrol from Vienna to feel the royal spirit of Austria and see the contrast between the country's urban and rural atmosphere.
Ceremonial Vienna looks like a court lady - majestic and a little mysterious.
You want to spend your day in Vienna like a real aristocrat: after breakfast at the luxurious Grand Hotel Wien, go for a leisurely walk (the hotel is very conveniently located in the very heart of Vienna, close to all the main attractions), go to the museum, where most likely some interesting exhibition is taking place.
But don’t rush - it’s still impossible to visit all the museums in Vienna in one trip. So you can relax, order a coffee with Sacher or strudel and watch the city life in full swing around you.
In the evening, after visiting parks, palaces, cafes, return to the hotel and, after changing clothes, visit the opera or the Vienna Konzerthaus, the largest center of classical music in Austria. After all, Vienna is one of the main capitals of music in the world.
Province of South Tyrol - information about hotels, cities, main attractions of the region. Photos and reviews from tourists who visited South Tyrol.
Province of South Tyrol is an autonomous province in the region of northern Italy in the Alps. In each language, the region has its own name, the Germans and Austrians call it Bozen or Südtirol, and the Italians call it Trentino-Alto Adige. In these places, the stories of several European peoples intersected at once - German, Italian and Austrian, each of which at one time fought for dominance. As a result, a Solomonic decision was made - the region is endowed with autonomous rights and is part of the Italian state, but the overwhelming majority of the population speaks German - 70%. Both languages are considered official, so all inscriptions, road signs and street names are duplicated here. South Tyrol and are the only provinces where this phenomenon can be observed. The indigenous people of these lands are considered to be Ladins - descendants of the Rhets, Romanized by the Romans in the first centuries of our era, who prefer to speak their native language - Ladin. The total number of Ladins is 30-35 thousand people.
In addition to cultural attractions represented by numerous castles, abbeys and monasteries, this region is among the top tourist attractions. The country's largest national landscape park, Stelvio, occupies a special place. Picturesque lakes and meadows, bordered by a mountain range, create a most picturesque landscape. The slopes here are dotted with ski resorts. The world-famous Dolomites, on the very border with Austria, are a favorite destination for ski and snowboard fans from all over the world.
The Dolomites are a mountain range in northern Italy. This is a world-famous and popular holiday destination; there are numerous ski resorts here, including Cortina d’Ampezzo, Ortisei, Rocca Pietore, Alleghe, Auronzo Cadore, Falcade. In the vicinity of the Alpine peaks, the regional administrative centers of several provinces at once - (South Tyrol) and Belluno - spread out their streets.
Administrative division
South Tyrol is administratively divided into 8 districts. Among them are Bolzano, Burgraviate, the Isaac River Valley - a district famous for its untouched nature, the Pusteria Valley - a paradise for skiers and Venosta - a high mountain valley, ideal for a summer ski holiday.
How to get there
What to do in South Tyrol?
Stelvio, the largest landscape park in Italy, was founded here back in 1935. The park attracts with its richness of flora and fauna, as well as its pristine virginity. The closest major city to the park is Trento.
In order to get acquainted with the cultural and architectural diversity of the province, you should not avoid Bolzano itself, here are the Abbey of Muri-Gris and the famous Church of St. Augustine - Bolzano's oldest attractions. To get acquainted with the architecture, visit the city and Brunico. South Tyrol's monasteries and abbeys are scattered throughout its territory. The medieval Abbey of Marienberg, also known as Monte Maria, is located in the town of Mals. Within the walls of the Novacella Abbey near Bressanone, various educational institutions have been located for many years. Today it houses the local high school.
Bolzano and nearby cities host magnificent events.
Medieval castles
Castles deserve special attention from tourists. One of the oldest castles, Sigmundskron, is located 6 kilometers from Bolzano and is considered a symbol of South Tyrol (Alto Adige). Its location gives it a special charm - the castle stands on a hill on the banks of a mountain river. Another medieval beauty - Fontana Castle or Brunnenburg - is located a little further, 35 kilometers from the capital. It was erected in 1241. In 1889, the mayor of Tyrol received Archduke Franz Ferdinand here, whose assassination 25 years later became the reason for the outbreak of the First World War. Another Klebenstein castle is located in Bolzano itself, along with the castles Marec, Rafenstein and Runkelstein.
What is interesting about Tyrol? What to see in one of the 9 federal states of Austria? Mountains, rivers, waterfalls, alpine chalets! As well as photos, reviews, Tyrol on the map of Austria.
You always want to spend a long-awaited vacation in such a way that you can remember wonderful moments for a long time, look through photographs and dream of returning to “that ideal place to relax.” At the same time, it would be nice to combine the impossible: plunge into wild, untamed nature and touch the wonders of civilization, climb into the wilderness of the countryside and experience the highest level of service, warm up after endless sitting in the office and experience the bliss of relaxing in a warm pool with thermal water.
And who said that this is impossible? There is a place where putting all this together is absolutely possible. And this place is Tyrol - one of the 9 Austrian federal states.
Where is Tyrol?
Landscapes of Tyrol from an airplane flight
Located in the west of Austria, Tyrol borders Italy, Switzerland, the German Bavaria, and is connected to all of these countries by an excellent network of autobahns, railways and international airports. The most popular city for starting a trip to Tyrol is the capital of Bavaria - the city of Munich, or more precisely, Munich Airport. From it even to the most remote points of the rather vast land of Tyrol is no more than 200 km.
It’s nice to drink a cup of coffee in a cozy cafe, equipped like a “Viennese” one, and, watching the local residents, feel like a real Tyrolean, at least for a short time.
Where to go and where to stay in Tyrol? It all depends entirely on your preferences. No matter what area you come to, you will find hotels of various levels, guest houses and private apartments to suit every taste and budget.
Under the carved wooden roof of an Alpine chalet, which gives the building a pastoral look, there can be a modest family hotel, or a five-star Deluxe Hotel & Spa Resort with a variety of steam rooms, thermal pools and gourmet cuisine. But no matter where you stay, the attentive and polite attitude of the staff to your wishes and the ideal cleanliness of the rooms will remain unchanged.
What is interesting about Tyrol?
It's time to start relaxing. What does Tyrol offer us? First of all, it is a unique nature: gorges, mountains, waterfalls, lakes and rivers. And all this is best prepared for a visit: handrails and awnings are equipped, lifts are built and signs are placed, special routes in the mountains are laid, divided by difficulty level, and special maps are compiled for independent walks, available at any hotel.
If you want something unusual, you can fly over the Tyrolean Alps in a hot air balloon or a private jet with a pilot, or you can go rafting on a wild mountain river. An adrenaline rush is guaranteed.
What to see in Tirol?
The best ski resorts in Austria are located in this land
As a bonus, many hotels in Austria offer their guests special tourist cards, which allow free use of local buses and ski lifts, as well as visits to nearby museums and castles at a significant discount or without payment.
By the way, there are a huge number of castles and museums in Tyrol. From small local history books of local significance to unique and even one of a kind. Take the Swarovski Museum, which is located 20 km from the capital of Tyrol - Innsbruck. You can easily spend a whole day in Innsbruck itself, there is something to see, something to eat, and where to “go shopping”.
What does Tyrol offer us? First of all, it is a unique nature: gorges, mountains, waterfalls, lakes and rivers.
But not the only worthwhile place in the region. Other ancient cities are also of interest, the population of which often does not exceed 5,000 inhabitants.
It’s nice, at the end of a day spent in nature, to stroll through the quiet narrow streets of such a town along beautiful medieval facades. And then, slowly, drink a cup of coffee in a cozy cafe, equipped like a “Viennese” one and, watching the local residents, at least for a short time feel like a real Tyrolean, leading a calm and measured life surrounded by wonderful mountain scenery.
The Alpine chalet is one of the main decorations of Tyrol!