Set on the Adige and Passirio rivers, Merano is an alpine town renowned for its day spas, art nouveau buildings and the Meran 2000 ski area. The town is dotted with Italian restaurants and gelatarias, as well as engaging museums, iconic landmarks and scenic river lookouts.

Things to do

Don’t miss seeing Trauttmansdorff Castle, located just south of Merano. It houses the interactive Touriseum museum, which showcases 200 years of Alpine tourism history. You can stroll around the picturesque botanical gardens, which have art installations, interactive experience stations and offer panoramic mountain vistas.

Soak up more of Merano’s rich history within the town centre at St. Nicholas' Church, which showcases Gothic architecture. It’s a short walk from the Castello Principesco, where you can see 16th-century furnishings, and the Museo Civico, which houses reproductions of dinosaurs found in the Trentino region.

If you’re visiting Merano during winter, head to Meran 200, a popular skiing and snowboarding area with numerous runs for all skill levels, along with sledding tracks and log cabins. During summer, nature lovers can hike up Vigiljoch, a picturesque peak with a mountainside church and a cable car for those who don’t want to walk.

Indulge in delicious Italian far in the centre of Merano, from light bites and great cocktails at Caffe' Wunderbar to pizza and pasta at Giardino. You can also drink large beers and enjoy hearty German food at the Forsterbräu Meran beer hall or pick up some gelato to enjoy by the river at Crema & Cioccolato.

Getting around

Merano is best reached by catching the train from the station in Bolzano, where you can fly into Bolzano Airport. You can easily explore the town on foot but will need to hire a car or book a taxi to venture further afield.