Fill your summer with adventure in South Tyrol

Travel to Italy’s northernmost province to give your alpine escapades a Mediterranean twist...

Found in the heart of the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site, South Tyrol’s wide valleys and soaring peaks make for plenty of grand alpine adventures. As the northernmost region of Italy, there’s also an unmistakable influence of the Mediterranean too, infusing into its scenic landscapes, welcoming culture and sumptuous cuisine.

There’s more than 16,000km of signposted hiking trails to wander, including themed and multi-day treks that criss-cross through an everchanging landscape. There are lanes that traverse areas of outstanding natural beauty, through grape-laden vineyards and peaceful valley orchards; circuits via castles, lakes and canals; and rocky paths spiralling ever upward to those higher plateaus.

If exploration on two wheels shifts you ‘into gear’, South Tyrol boasts an extensive route network; from leisurely bike rides along the valley cycle paths to the challenging hair-pin paths of mountain passes.

No matter how you wish to explore, the temptation of tantalising food and excellent wine is never far away. Alpine huts come in all guises; some are small and rustic, others elegant and sophisticated, but all offer great cuisine. The quality of the food shouldn’t be a surprise though: this is one of Italy’s most decorated provinces for gastronomy, featuring 19 Michelin-starred restaurants too.

An annual average of 300 days of sun also means South Tyrol’s summer shines long into the shoulder seasons, helping you to enjoy a fair weather mountain adventure that’s tailored to your intrepid interests.

HOW TO GET THERE BY PLANE

The closest airports are Innsbruck to the north, and Venice and Verona to the south with many flight connections available from the UK. South Tyrol is less than two hours by car from Verona and Innsbruck.

BY TRAIN

South Tyrol has a good train network, with services available from Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB), Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) and Deutsche Bahn (DB). Once in South Tyrol, DB/ÖBB train travellers can use an Anschlussticket Südtirol ticket to travel on public transport to and from the station to their accommodation, both on their day of arrival and departure.

GETTING AROUND

Bus and rail schedules in South Tyrol are wellcoordinated, so if you’re looking for a car-free way of seeing the mountains, small towns and valleys, consider picking up a Mobilcard. This can be used on all public transportation services including public buses, Citybus, regional trains and public cable cars.