South Tyrol’s bustling capital has it all
A day trip to Bolzano/Bozen is the perfect tonic to the tranquillity of the valley. With its old streets, museums, markets, cultural highlights and delicious cuisine.
10:00 Dolce Vita
Start your day in style with a quick espresso al banco at a local coffee bar or a cappuccino and cornetto pastry in a café on Waltherplatz square or in one of the city’s narrow side streets. Silbergasse and Dr.-Streiter-Gasse are two of the prettiest. Then indulge in a spot of shopping in the elegant boutiques under the arcades, on Obstplatz square or on Rauschertorgasse.
13:00 A delicious lunch
After all that shopping, there’s nothing like refuelling with a trio of dumplings in a local inn or fresh, homemade tagliatelle in a cosy trattoria. If international cuisine and modern dining are more your vibe, you’ll also find plenty to tempt your taste buds in the city’s traditional vaults and high up on its rooftops.
TAKE THE BUS
14:00 Museums and markets
After lunch, you could visit Ötzi – the world-famous 5,000-year-old glacier mummy on show at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology – or head to the Museion to marvel at contemporary art or to the Museum of Nature to learn more about Alpine flora and fauna. Or perhaps you’d prefer a guided city tour and trip to the cathedral. Or something more cultural like sampling smoky speck ham and herb cheese from a deli counter or visiting the colourful fruit market, which is popular for its vegetables, fresh herbs and flowers.
17:00 Time for an aperitivo
As the sun sinks in the sky and the locals finish work, the city’s bars fill up. Why not go for an aperitivo and watch Bolzano come to life? You could sip on an Aperol spritz in a chic spot on Waltherplatz square, nicknamed Bolzano’s living room. Or for a good glass of wine, you could try a regional variety like St. Magdalener or Lagrein in one of the city’s small wine bars. Afterwards, take advantage of the local public transport network to whisk you safely back to the Eggental valley.
Excerpt from: Eggental Magazine, 2025
Text: Edith Runer
Illustrations: KatePilko, shutterstock
Photos: IDM Südtirol
Editorial team: Exlibris, Bozen
