Photo: Guillaume Briard / Unsplash
Dolomites
Big mountain days and some of Europe's best hiking.
Big alpine hikes reachable by bus and cable car from Bolzano, with mountain huts for cheap lunches.
Places to see
Ötzi & the Archaeology MuseumMuseum · The 5,300-year-old 'Iceman', seen through a small window into his cold cell, plus his…≈ A$23
Earth pyramids of RenonHike · Odd clay pillars, some capped with a boulder, rising out of a forested gully.≈ A$28
Puflatsch loop, Alpe di SiusiHike · Europe's largest high-alpine meadow, rolling green pasture dotted with huts, with the…≈ A$53
When to go
- Jan6° / -5°Mostly dryBusy
- Feb9° / -3°Mostly dryBusy
- Mar15° / 1°Some rainBusy
- Apr18° / 5°Some rainQuiet
- May23° / 10°Often wetQuiet
- Jun27° / 13°Often wetBusy
- Jul29° / 15°Some rainVery busy
- Aug28° / 15°Some rainVery busy
- Sep
Staying and getting around
Good areas to stay
Bolzano old town. Arcaded streets, the fruit market and the Ötzi museum, at the transport hub for the valleys.
Val Gardena (Ortisei). The valley under Seceda and the Seiser Alm: lifts from town, dearer beds.
Flying in
Verona Villafranca (VRN): Airport bus to Verona Porta Nuova, then a train to Bolzano, about 2 h 15 min, ≈ A$30.
Innsbruck (INN): Bus to Innsbruck station, then a train over the Brenner Pass, about 2 h 30 min, ≈ A$44.
Flewaway's estimate for the usual budget way into Bolzano; check times and fares before you fly.
Getting around
You'll need buses or trains. A single ticket is ≈ A$4. Bolzano itself is walkable. Buses and trains to the valleys share one South Tyrol ticket system; the big mountain lifts are paid separately.
Mobilcard (3 days) (≈ A$53, 3 days): Buses and regional trains across South Tyrol and a few lifts; many places to stay give a free guest pass instead, so ask first.
Tourist tax
South Tyrol's tourist tax: usually about €2–3 a person a night in hostels and B&Bs, more in hotels; under-14s don't pay. Paid at check-in (check).
