Holidays in South Tyrol: great expectations

Whether city or country, South Tyrol is full of special flair. During holidays in South Tyrol, you enjoy delicious Italian espresso in our café as well as hearty speckknödel (local dumpling dish) or kaiserschmarrn (sweet sliced pancake dish) in one of the many alpine cottages in the mountains, while listening to Italian or South Tyrolean folk music. Enjoy the pleasant Mediterranean climate in Merano and environs and breathe in the fresh spicy mountain air. Walk under palmtrees and admire the edelweiss in the mountains. South Tyrol is a country with many facets and many contrasts – and it will take your breath away, every time anew.

During your holidays in South Tyrol, you will soon notice that the region is something truly special. Here you experience century-old living tradition, passed on from one generation to the next. Every part of the region has its own traditions: Val Gardena/Grödnertal has woodcarving, Valle Aurina/Ahrntal has lacemaking, and then there are all the traditional celebrations and events such as the patronal feast day celebration, the Christmas market or the fire of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Immerse yourself in the traditions of the Fugger town and the rest of the region during your holidays in Vipiteno/Sterzing in South Tyrol.

If you are planning an active holiday, you have come to the right place. This unique mountain world is ideal for a variety of sports activities. A summer holiday in South Tyrol is great for leisurely mountain walks and challenging high mountain tours as well as all sorts of bike tours – no matter MTB or cycling. A winter holiday in South Tyrol is equally full of possibility; the region is a real eldorado for skiers and snowboarders. The slopes offer something for everyone, no matter beginner or a pro. Winters in South Tyrol are blessed with lots of snow, which makes it a popular destination for downhill and cross-country skiers. The local tracks are perfectly prepared and allow for unforgettable views of this wonderful winter wonderland.

Beside a wide range of sports offers, South Tyrol also boasts many cultural highlights with a variety of museums, churches and castles. Top destinations are the South Tyrol Museum of Archaelogy in Bolzano/Bozen, the Messner Mountain Museums, the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle in Merano and environs, Lake Resia/Reschensee in Val Venosta/Vinschgau or Tyrol Castle in Tirolo/Dorf Tirol.

What would a holiday in South Tyrol be without tasting the savoury South Tyrolean and light Mediterranean meals? Here you get to enjoy traditional delicacies such as knödel (local dumpling dish), schlutzer (South Tyrolean type of ravioli) or gulasch alongside with gnocchi, spaghetti or pizza. Finish off your meal with a sweet dessert such as kaiserschmarrn (sliced sugary pancake) or apple strudel. Alternatively, try the irresistibly delicious abricot or plum dumplings, and not to forget the many variations of krapfen (traditional farmers’ doughnuts) with or without filling. An absolute must when on holidays in South Tyrol in the lovely town of Vipiteno/Sterzing are the Sterzinger krapfen with a delectable filling of apples, curd and poppy seed.