Trentino & South Tyrol
Trentino and South Tyrol are two Alpine provinces in northeast Italy, known for the Dolomites, valley towns and a mix of Italian and German language and food.
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Trentino and South Tyrol (Alto Adige) are two provinces in the Alpine northeast of Italy. Trento is the capital of Trentino, where Italian is the main language. Bolzano is the capital of South Tyrol, where most residents speak German and Italian is also widely used. Merano sits in a valley in South Tyrol and is known for its spa history and its promenade. The Dolomites cover much of both provinces, and their pale limestone peaks are a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Signs, menus and bakeries often use both languages, and the food mixes speck and strudel with polenta. Hikers, skiers and slow food fans get the most from the region. Summer is for hiking and valley walks, winter is for skiing, and spring and autumn are quieter. Plan at least four or five days if you want to base in one place, or a week to move between cities and valleys.
Trentino & South Tyrol in five
- Pick a valley or a city baseBolzano and Merano have trains and lifts to the mountains, while valleys such as Val Gardena put you on the trails. Decide by whether you want evenings in a city or a hut at the trailhead.Dolomites
- Ask your lodging for a guest mobility passSome South Tyrol lodgings issue a pass that covers local buses and trains. Ask before you buy tickets, and check the official regional page for the current rules.
- Use the train for Bolzano, Trento and MeranoTrains run on the Brenner line between Verona, Trento, Bolzano and the border, with a branch to Merano. Local buses and cable cars then reach the mountains.Bolzano
- Check the lifts and hut datesCable cars and mountain huts open on seasonal calendars, with summer usually from late May or June to the autumn. Check the lift operators and hut sites before you plan a hike.Hut to hut in the Dolomites
- Plan for Christmas markets in DecemberBolzano, Merano and Trento hold markets from late November. Rooms fill, so book early and expect cold evenings.
Neighborhoods
Bolzano
- Best for: First visits, rail travelers
- To airport: About 2 hours by train from Verona
- Price band: $$
- Cable cars to the Renon plateau
- Rail hub for the region
- Hot in July and August
Skip if you want a quiet mountain hamlet.
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Merano
- Best for: Relaxed stays, couples
- To airport: About 40 min by train from Bolzano
- Price band: $$$
- Thermal baths and gardens
- Mild climate in the valley
- Fewer high peaks nearby
Skip if you want dramatic Dolomite views.
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Trento
- Best for: Short stays, Garda links
- To airport: About 1 hour by train from Verona
- Price band: $$
- Castles and the MUSE museum
- Lake Garda north end is close
- Less German atmosphere
Skip if you want South Tyrol's Alpine mood.
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Dolomites
The Dolomites are pale limestone mountains in northeastern Italy, best known for multi-day walks between mountain huts.
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Things to do in Trentino & South Tyrol
See all attractions in Trentino & South Tyrol
Need to know
- Airport
- Verona (VRN), Innsbruck (INN), Munich (MUC) or Bergamo (BGY)
- Getting there
- Train from Verona to Bolzano about 2 hours; Munich about 4 hours
- Getting around
- Trains on the Brenner line, local buses and cable cars
- Best base
- Bolzano or Merano for towns; Val Gardena or Cortina for trails
- Time needed
- 4 to 7 days
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryCold, ski season
- FebruaryCold, ski season
- MarchEarly spring
- AprilBlossom, valley
- MayGreen, huts closed
- JuneHuts open
- JulyHot, hikes
- AugustHot, hikes
- SeptemberGolden larches
- OctoberAutumn, chestnuts
- NovemberCold, markets
- DecemberMarkets, snow
Right now in Trentino & South Tyrol
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
-1
- Feels like
- -5°
- Humidity
- 74%
- Wind
- 5 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Trentino & South Tyrol
09:39 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today6°-2°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 6°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue5°0°3%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 5°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Wed3°-1°25%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 3°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 25%.
- Thu4°-2°3%Thursday: Fog. High 4°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 3%.
- Fri6°-1°19%Friday: Fog. High 6°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 19%.
- Sat4°-1°25%Saturday: Cloudy. High 4°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 25%.
- Sun1°-1°23%Sunday: Snow. High 1°, Low -1°. Chance of rain 23%.
Updated 05:59 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
Before you go to Trentino & South Tyrol
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Rules for Trentino & South Tyrol, checked
- Non-EU visitors who need no visa may stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area. Check entry rules on the Italian visa site before you book.Source
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Italy, including South Tyrol.
- Cover shoulders and knees before entering churches in Trento, Bolzano and Merano.
- Look for coperto or servizio on the bill before you add a tip, since many restaurants already charge a cover fee.
- Check with the Italian Ministry of Culture before you take antiques or art out of Italy, since many cultural objects need an export licence.
All Trentino & South Tyrol guides
Plan around Trentino & South Tyrol
Trentino & South Tyrol FAQ
What is the difference between Trentino and South Tyrol?
They are two autonomous provinces: Trentino is mainly Italian-speaking, South Tyrol (Alto Adige) is largely German-speaking with Italian and Ladin too. Both include parts of the Dolomites.
Do you need to speak German in South Tyrol?
No. Hotels, shops and trains work in Italian and often English, though signs and menus are bilingual. A few German words help in small villages.
Is Trentino or South Tyrol better?
South Tyrol for German-Alpine atmosphere, spas and cable cars from Bolzano and Merano. Trentino for lakes, castles and a more Italian mood. Many trips include both.
How do you get around Trentino and South Tyrol without a car?
By train between Verona, Trento, Bolzano and Merano, then buses and cable cars into the valleys. A car helps for high passes, but parking is limited.
When is the best time to visit Trentino and South Tyrol?
June to September for hiking and huts, December to March for skiing and markets, and May or October for quieter valleys and fall color.