Eppan, South Tyrol: Top Attractions & Travel Tips

Where is Eppan an der Weinstraße?

Eppan (“Appiano” in Italian) is a municipality southwest of Bolzano in southern South Tyrol. The municipality sits at a slightly higher elevation than Bolzano and is very hilly.

Also read our tips for the most beautiful valleys in South Tyrol

Eppan consists of 11 districts. The largest village is St. Michael (“San Michele” in Italian). It’s sometimes referred to simply as Eppan — don’t let that confuse you.

The 11 districts in Eppan

• St. Michael
• St. Pauls
• Girlan
• Frangart
• Montiggl
• Missian
• Unterrain
• Perdonig
• Gaid
• Berg
• Gand

Eppan in South Tyrol on a map

To help you get your bearings, we’ve marked Eppan and its districts on a map. It shows you where Eppan is located in South Tyrol, along with the most important highlights.

Where to stay in Eppan

If you’re planning to spend a night or two in Eppan, check out our article on the ten best hotels in Eppan. You’ll find great options for every type of traveler.

The most beautiful attractions in Eppan

Eppan itself is already a genuine highlight in South Tyrol. Here’s a closer look at the top things to see in Eppan.

Wine Road

What you need to know: The South Tyrolean Wine Road begins in Nals and runs almost all the way to Salurn in the south. In Eppan, it winds past the villages of Frangart, Girlan, St. Michael, and Gand.

Is the Wine Road worth it? Absolutely — Eppan is famous for its wine production for good reason. You can easily stop in at a winery or cellar along the way.

Our tip for the Wine Road: The Schreckbichl winery sits right on the Wine Road, where you can taste and buy some seriously good wines.

Montiggl Lakes

What you need to know: The Montiggl Lakes are two swimming lakes in the Montiggl Forest — one small, one large. They sit at about 490 meters above sea level, so it’s never as hot here as it is down in Bolzano. The swimming season runs roughly from May to October, and in midsummer the water temperature can climb up to 25°C (77°F).

Are the Montiggl Lakes worth it? Definitely, especially in summer — they make an excellent day trip from Eppan and a great alternative to Lake Caldaro.

Our tip for the Montiggl Lakes: At the Large Montiggl Lake there’s a dedicated swimming area with sunbathing space called the “Lido” — admission is €9.50 for adults, and there’s a parking lot right there. You can reach the Small Montiggl Lake on foot via the forest trails.

Sigmundskron Castle

What you need to know: Sigmundskron is an old castle first mentioned in 945. It was once an important symbol of South Tyrol’s independence movement; today it’s home to the Messner Mountain Museum, where you can learn all about Reinhold Messner and the history of mountaineering.

Is Sigmundskron Castle worth it? It’s stunning as a photo subject — but a visit really pays off most if you’re interested in the museum itself.

Tickets: Admission to the museum costs €15.00. It’s closed on Thursdays.

Ice Holes

What you need to know: The ice holes (Eislöcher) are a rare natural phenomenon where the surrounding area stays much colder than nearby regions. It works on the wind-tube principle — cold air from the mountains flows downward through porphyry rock blocks, keeping the lower area naturally cool.

Are the ice holes worth it? Yes — they’re a real under-the-radar find in South Tyrol and especially a fantastic summer outing in South Tyrol when the heat sets in.

Our tip for the ice holes: The ice holes are located in the Gand district. From the Gand parking lot you can hike into the nature reserve.

Castles & Palaces

What you need to know: Eppan is known as the castle region — and for good reason. There really are a lot of castles, manor houses, and palaces here. Some are ruins, others have been turned into hotels, and some are still inhabited. When you go for walks and hikes around Eppan, you’ll constantly come across historic buildings. A beautiful place to stay is Schloss Freudenstein.

Are the castles worth it? Totally — they look stunning set among the vineyards. One you can actually visit is Hocheppan Castle.

Our tip for the castles: For a meal, we love the Burgschenke Hocheppan, and for a great hike, the Three Castles Hike — which we’ll tell you all about in just a moment.

The most beautiful villages in Eppan

Beyond the main attractions, Eppan is made up of several villages — though most are so small we can barely call them villages at all. Here are the three places in Eppan that we think are really worth your time.

#1 St. Michael

The main village of St. Michael (“San Michele” in Italian) is the largest in Eppan, with a really charming town center. There’s a small pedestrian zone with shops and cafés — perfect for a leisurely stroll.

Our restaurant pick for St. Michael: Restaurant Grill Pizzeria Meraner

Our hotel tip for St. Michael

#2 Sankt Pauls

Sankt Pauls (“San Paolo” in Italian) is a real local favorite in Eppan — the small village center is genuinely lovely. We’d strongly recommend stopping by the Kellerei Sankt Pauls winery.

You can do tours and wine tastings there, and pick up some excellent wine at fair prices.

Our restaurant pick for Sankt Pauls: Konditorei Peter Paul

Our hotel tip for St. Pauls

#3 Girlan

Girlan (“Cornaiano” in Italian) sits right on the Wine Road, surrounded by a huge number of vineyards. That makes it a wonderful spot to go for walks among the vines and soak up the beautiful views.

The village center itself is charming and completely untouristy — but there isn’t a lot to see. It’s simply too small for that.

Our restaurant pick for Girlan: Hotel Restaurant zum Falken

Our hotel tip for Girlan

Also read our tips for the most beautiful places in South Tyrol

The most beautiful hikes in Eppan

Here are three hikes in Eppan for every skill level.

Also read our hiking packing list

Three Castles Hike

The Three Castles Hike passes by Korb Castle, Boymont Castle, and Hocheppan Castle. It’s just under 5 kilometers long and the trails are mostly easy underfoot.

The hike starts and ends at the parking lot in Missian. Parking there is paid.

View the Three Castles Hike route on Komoot

Wilder Mann

The Wilder Mann is a small peak rising out of the Montiggl Forest. The trail goes mostly through forest, with just a short scramble over rocks near the top.

The Wilder Mann is well signposted within the Montiggl Forest, though several trails lead up to it. We’ve picked out a 6.5-kilometer loop hike starting from Girlan.

View the Wilder Mann route on Komoot

Bergner Kreuz

The hike to the Bergner Kreuz is a challenging summit tour near Eppan. The Bergner Kreuz sits at 1,779 meters, and if you start from St. Pauls, you’ll need to cover around 1,000 meters of elevation gain.

Once you’ve made it up the steep ascent, a stunning panoramic vista awaits at the top — and along the way you’ll pass through the Kematscharte, which looks seriously impressive.

View the Bergner Kreuz route on Komoot

Bonus tip: Markets in Eppan

Our absolute insider tip is the Christmas market in St. Michael. It’s tiny and charming, and honestly it feels much more authentic than the Christmas market in Bolzano.

Not visiting in December? The various farmers’ markets are well worth a stop too — you can pick up fresh, local produce straight from the region.

As far as we know, the weekly market takes place on Mondays in St. Pauls, Tuesdays in Eppan, and Thursdays in Girlan.

FAQ about Eppan in South Tyrol