Vacation in South Tyrol: Why Merano is the Best Destination

Palms and mountain landscapes greet you in Merano in Italy. The historic spa town is located in a basin in the South Tyrolean Alps and is known for its thermal baths and Art Nouveau buildings, as well as its outstandingly beautiful gardens and green promenades.

Those seeking relaxation make the right choice with Mediterranean Merano. 40,000 residents call this Alpine gem home, offering visitors to the city above all else: deceleration and relaxation.

Gazing upon the riverside promenade with the Kurhaus and the Alps in the background, one might wonder if Merano sprang from a fairy tale. Water is omnipresent in Merano, and each season casts its own magic upon this small town.

In spring, flowers play an important role in the city and park landscape of Merano. In summer, you can enjoy concert nights in the gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle, and various places around the city host free events as part of the Midsummer Night program. In autumn, flora-rich Merano appears as a colorful dreamscape, and in winter, the surrounding mountain world entices active vacationers.

Palms and a sea of tulips: The Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle offer an astonishing array of plant life. The estate encompasses 80 garden landscapes, with 200,000 tulips blossoming in the spring. In the summer, concerts take place at the pavilion by the large lotus pond lined with palm trees.

Sound romantic? It is. Those wishing to indulge this feeling can visit the Lovers' Garden. Here, alongside the planting schemes, verses, sculptures, and three pavilions centered around the theme of love take center stage.

The park's own observation platform, Matteo Thun's binoculars, also offers a thrill. Being 95% see-through, it lets you ascend steps into an oversized pair of binoculars and enjoy the view from above the gardens.

The Sissi Trail leads from the Kurhaus in Merano to the historic Trauttmansdorff Castle, and it's a beautiful, approximately one-hour walk. Starting at the Kurhaus, you'll traverse park paths and pass by grand villas to reach the terraced gardens of the castle, where Austrian Empress Sissi stayed during her spa visits.

While walking along the Tappeinerweg, you'll be constantly accompanied by the Mediterranean vegetation on one side and the beautiful view of Merano's rooftops and the Etschtal valley on the other. Numerous benches offer opportunities for a break.

The Marlinger Waalweg, which offers magnificent panoramas, is a longer excursion. Waalwege are paths along traditional irrigation channels, and the Marlinger Waalweg is the longest in South Tyrol at twelve kilometers. The path leads past apple orchards and vineyards, by Schloss Lebenberg with its Rococo ornamental garden, all the way to the town of Lana.

Merano is located on the Passer River, which splits the city into two halves. The riverbank offers an ideal spot for a break. The opening of the Passer terraces in 2012 created direct access to the city river, where you can dip your feet in the water and picnic with views of the shore and river.

Additionally, the Passer is flanked by promenades throughout the city, allowing for extensive waterside strolls. A particularly beautiful bridge along the way is the Stone Footbridge, also known as the Roman Bridge.

Those without a fear of heights can truly feel the power of the river on the Passerschlucht Trail. Opened in 2015, the adventurous route spans 13 kilometers via sometimes dizzying metal constructions and passes the Stuller Waterfalls. Bus 240 takes you from Merano to St. Leonard, where the trail begins.

Good food and South Tyrolean specialties are a must during a vacation in Merano. Every Friday, you can pick up groceries like bread, sausage, cheese, fish, fruit, and more at Praderplatz from 8 AM to 1 PM. From mid-March to mid-October, the Merano Market in the Upper Freedom Street exclusively offers South Tyrolean products every Saturday. Alongside groceries, you'll find natural and handcrafted goods.

For a snack with a view of the Passer, head to the slightly out-of-the-way Café Wandelhalle. Situated right by the water, you can enjoy ice cream, cake, or a light meal here. And if you're in the mood for small bites in a cozy atmosphere, head to La Bottega del Pincho's bar, where tapas are on the menu. Afterwards, you can enjoy cocktails at Gigi Bar on Passerpromenade 68.

A good two kilometers as the crow flies separates Merano from the small town of Dorf Tirol. The most original connection between the two is the Panorama Chairlift. Gliding high above vineyards, you'll enjoy the view. If you enjoy this mode of transportation, you can continue from Dorf Tirol by cable car to Hochmuth at 1,400 meters, where you can gaze over the mountain landscape, Etschtal Valley, and Merano.

In Dorf Tirol, the masters of the skies also make their home. At the bird fauna care center Schloss Tirol, you not only see injured wild birds being nursed back to health, but you also experience eagles, vultures, owls, and more during flight shows. The castle itself is worth a visit. The Knight's Hall gives a glimpse into past festive occasions, and beautiful murals can be found in the Lower Chapel.

Culture enthusiasts will not be disappointed in Merano either. One-of-a-kind in Italy is the Women's Museum, showcasing exhibits on women's lives in the 19th and 20th centuries. The charming wine museum Schloss Rametz displays antique winemaking tools and offers wine tasting.

Traveling to Merano is conveniently and eco-friendly possible by train. From Munich, you take the train to South Tyrol's capital, Bolzano. From there, you can change trains to reach Merano in about 40 minutes with the Italian railway company Trenitalia. Almost 30 trains per day connect the two places.

A direct trip from Germany is also possible by bus. For instance, Flixbus runs several times a day from Munich ZOB to Merano in four and a half hours, with ticket prices around 20 euros. The Merano Land Express also serves the route, bookable through the Merano Tourist Office, with a one-way fare of 45 euros.

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