Bolzano
Bolzano is the capital of South Tyrol, known for Ötzi, the Copper Age man in its museum, and as a base for the Dolomites.
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Bolzano, called Bozen in German, is the capital of South Tyrol in northern Italy. The city sits where the Isarco and Talvera rivers meet, with the Dolomites close by. Italian and German are both spoken here, and you will see both in street signs, bakeries and menus, from speck and strudel to espresso bars. The historic center is compact and walkable, with arcaded streets, a Gothic Franciscan church and Piazza Walther, named for the medieval poet Walther von der Vogelweide.
The South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology displays Ötzi, a Copper Age man found frozen in the Alps in 1991. Vineyards surround the city, and local reds such as Lagrein are worth ordering with a meal. Bolzano suits a two- or three-day city break or a base for cable cars and hikes in the Dolomites. Late spring through early autumn is the best time for walking in the mountains, and the Christmas market runs in December. Plan at least two full days for the town and one day trip into the mountains.
Bolzano in five
- Ride the Renon cable car up from BolzanoThe cable car to the Renon plateau takes you from the city to walking trails above the valley. Check the timetable before you go.
- Ask for the South Tyrol Guest Pass at check-inHotels that take part in the South Tyrol Guest Pass scheme give guests a pass covering local buses and trains. Ask at check-in whether your stay includes one before you buy tickets.
- Validate your bus ticket before you ridePaper bus tickets must be stamped in the validator on board, and an unvalidated ticket can bring a fine. Buy tickets at a tabacchi, the Italian tobacconist, before you get on.Getting around
- Set up an eSIM before you landMobile signal can drop in the narrow mountain valleys. Download offline maps before you take the cable car up to the plateau.Phones and eSIM
- Price the coperto before you orderRestaurants in Italy may add a cover charge per person, called coperto, to the bill. Check the receipt, since a tip on top is not expected.Money and costs
Things to do in Bolzano
See all attractions in Bolzano
Need to know
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Entry
- Schengen rules; visa-free short stays for many passports Read more
- Emergency
- 112 general emergency, 113 police, 118 ambulance, 115 fire
- Tipping
- Not expected; a coperto may be added to the bill
- Time
- UTC+1 in winter, UTC+2 in summer; daylight saving applies
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryClear7 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh6°Low-2°Cold, quietJanuaryClear
Mixed
- High
- 6°
- Low
- -2°
- Precipitation
- 43 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryClear7 rainy daysHigh10°Low0°Ski seasonFebruaryClear
Good
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 55 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Ski season
- MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh12°Low2°Spring startsMarchPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 77 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring starts
- AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh17°Low6°Mild, blossomAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 94 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, blossom
- MayRain17 rainy daysHigh20°Low10°Mild, greenMayRain
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 137 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, green
- JuneRain16 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh25°Low15°Long daysJuneRain
Good
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 118 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Long days
- JulyRain16 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh27°Low16°Hot, busyJulyRain
Mixed
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 137 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, busy
- AugustRain14 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh27°Low16°Hot, busyAugustRain
Mixed
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 138 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, busy
- SeptemberPartly cloudy11 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh22°Low12°Harvest, warmSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 107 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Harvest, warm
- OctoberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh17°Low8°Autumn colorOctoberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 124 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- NovemberPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh10°Low2°Quiet, coolNovemberPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 98 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, cool
- DecemberClear7 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low-1°Christmas marketsDecemberClear
Best
- High
- 7°
- Low
- -1°
- Precipitation
- 66 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Christmas markets
Average daily high and low in Bolzano, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Bolzano
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
0
- Feels like
- -3°
- Humidity
- 70%
- Wind
- 7 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Bolzano
09:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today12°4°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue11°5°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed10°6°13%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 13%.
- Thu12°4°5%Thursday: Partly cloudy. High 12°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Fri12°4°16%Friday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 16%.
- Sat10°6°20%Saturday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 20%.
- Sun9°5°21%Sunday: Rain. High 9°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 21%.
Updated 06:54 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Meranoabout 30 to 40 min by trainA spa town with gardens and a promenade along the river.
- Bressanoneabout 30 to 45 min by trainA small cathedral town with a historic center, easy to see in an afternoon.
- Trentoabout 1 hour by trainThe regional capital, with a castle and a cathedral in the old town.
Before you go to Bolzano
Rules for Bolzano, checked
- Declare cash above the EU threshold when entering or leaving the EU, using the customs declaration form.
- Validate paper bus tickets on board and keep them until the ride ends, since unvalidated tickets can bring a fine.
- Dress modestly in churches, including Bolzano Cathedral: cover shoulders and knees.
- Entry rules for Italy depend on your passport; check esteri.it before you book your flights.Source
Plan around Bolzano
The wider region, with its valleys, passes and towns
Read the guideGetting aroundTrains, buses, cable cars and rental cars compared
Read the guideMoney and costsCash, cards, service charges and typical daily prices
Read the guideVisas and entryWho needs a visa for Italy and what to carry at the border
Read the guideWhere to stayCompare the town center with the valley bases
Read the guideChristmas markets in EuropeAdvent markets across Europe, with Bolzano among the stops
Read the guideBolzano FAQ
Is Bolzano worth visiting?
Yes, for the old town, the Renon plateau and a base for the Dolomite valleys. Italian and German are both official in South Tyrol, so you will see both languages on signs and menus. Two or three days suit a city break.
How many days do you need in Bolzano?
Two days cover the old town, a museum or market visit and the Renon plateau. A third day lets you add a day trip to Merano or Bressanone, which are both reachable by train.
Do I need a car in Bolzano?
No, the city center is walkable and buses cover the nearby valleys. A car helps if you plan to drive to small mountain villages where buses run less often.
Do people in Bolzano speak German or Italian?
Both. Italian and German are spoken, and signs and menus often use both languages.
When is the best time to visit Bolzano?
April to May and September to October suit most trips, with mild days. December is the Christmas market season. July and August are hot and busy.