In a nutshell
- Want to experience South Tyrol from its authentic side? This article shows you exactly how.
- We share five cool ideas for exploring South Tyrol differently — beyond the standard wellness or hiking trip. Our top pick: a bike tour through South Tyrol.
- Plus our five best hidden gems in South Tyrol — quieter spots that most visitors completely miss.
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South Tyrol off the beaten path: 5 cool ideas
South Tyrol is a hugely popular travel destination — especially among mountain and hiking enthusiasts. No wonder, since the region is simply stunning. That’s also why the top attractions in South Tyrol are always packed.
Not your thing, and you’d rather explore South Tyrol off the tourist trail? Then we’ve got five really cool tips for you.
Take a bike tour through South Tyrol
Bicycle tourism is seriously on trend — and South Tyrol is no exception. Still, only a small fraction of visitors think to explore the region by bike, which makes a cycling trip one of the most authentic and unhurried ways to discover the area.
The region is crisscrossed by countless beautiful bike paths with stunning views of South Tyrol’s mountain ranges and valleys. The most well-known is the Adige Valley Cycle Path, which runs from Lake Reschen all the way to Verona.
Whether you prefer an e-bike, road bike, or mountain bike — every cyclist will find something to love here.
Read our tips for cycling in South Tyrol
Exploring South Tyrol in October
We honestly wouldn’t have believed it could be so easy to experience South Tyrol without the crowds — until we traveled there in October.
October falls right between summer and ski season, so the region is significantly quieter during that time. It’s no longer warm enough for a swim in the lakes, but the temperatures are ideal for hiking.
For a brief window in October, many cable cars are shut down, which means the hiking trails higher up are nearly deserted — most people simply don’t want to hike all the way up on foot.
Also cool: October falls right in the middle of Törggelen season — a traditional food custom in South Tyrol. Many typical dishes are served and the whole thing is celebrated in festive style.
Read our tips on the best time to visit South Tyrol
Spend your vacation on a farm
One of the best-kept accommodation secrets in South Tyrol is a farm stay. You get to sleep in a rustic farmhouse and experience South Tyrolean rural life up close.
It’s especially great for kids, who get to play with animals and run around on the playgrounds.
Another big plus: farm stays are far more affordable than many boutique hotels in South Tyrol or wellness hotels in South Tyrol.
Read our tips on farm vacations in South Tyrol too
Traditional hay bathing
Yep, you read that right. Hay bathing is an ancient tradition from the Völs area of South Tyrol, and if you’re looking for a different kind of relaxation beyond the standard wellness vacation, this is it.
There are even dedicated hotels that offer hay bathing — for example, the Hotel Heubad, located right in Völs at the foot of the Seiser Alm, which also makes a fantastic base for a South Tyrol vacation.
3D archery
A truly unique activity in South Tyrol is 3D archery — you get to try out a new sport while soaking up an amazing view at the same time.
As a beginner, you’ll start with a short introduction to archery. If you already know your way around a bow, you can jump straight in. Instead of shooting at regular targets, in 3D archery you aim at animal figures placed along a trail.
There are several spots in South Tyrol where you can give it a go — for example in Ritten at RiArco or at Venostarc in the Vinschgau valley.
Our 5 best insider tips for South Tyrol
Here are five of our favorite south tyrol hidden gems and activities — the kind of places you won’t find in every travel guide.
Ahrntal
The Ahrntal (Valle Aurina) is a side valley off the Pustertal, lying north of Bruneck — close to the border with Austria. We once spent a summer vacation in South Tyrol here, and the prices for accommodation were noticeably cheaper than in the rest of the region.
Also check out our article on affordable wellness hotels in South Tyrol — we have tips for the Ahrntal there too.
The hiking trails in the Ahrntal aren’t very busy either. You can hike up to Speikboden, for example, and enjoy sweeping views of the high mountains — a real under-the-radar pick among the valleys in South Tyrol!
Spronser Lakes
The Spronser Lakes sit high in the mountains of the Texel Group near Merano and are one of our favorite off-the-beaten-path picks near Merano. The hiking here is fantastic, and even though it’s easy to reach from Merano, the trails stay refreshingly quiet.
We set off from the basket lift up at Leiter Alm and headed uphill to reach the lakes. You can take various routes — your best bet is to look up a tour on Komoot.
Stop for a bite at the Oberkaser Alm near Grünsee — one of the ten Spronser Lakes. Seriously worth it.
Forst Brewery
South Tyrol is best known for its wine, but the region brews excellent beer too. The most famous South Tyrolean beer is Forst, and the brewery’s headquarters are located near Merano — in Algund, to be precise.
The Forst Brewery offers guided tours that you can book online in advance. Or just drop in spontaneously at the brewery’s restaurant — you’ll find not only great beer but also really good food.
For more details, visit the Forst website. You can also stay overnight at the affiliated hotel.
Also read our hotel tips for Merano
Book Hotel Schlosswirt Forst
Stoanerne Mandln
The Stoanerne Mandln are a fantastic hiking destination in South Tyrol — specifically in the Sarntal valley. They consist of a collection of stacked stone cairns perched on a summit ridge.
From the top, you get a beautiful panorama of the Dolomites and the Sarntal. There are several different hikes leading up to the Stoanerne Mandln, and none of them are particularly difficult. You can start in Mörten or Hafling, for example.
From either starting point, you’ll hike first to the Möltner Kaser Alm — which, by the way, serves excellent dumplings. From the hut it’s another 1.5 kilometers of steep uphill hiking — that’s the most challenging stretch of the trail.
Watch a soccer game
South Tyrol is primarily known for mountain and winter sports, but soccer is part of the local fabric too. The region’s only professional soccer club is based in Bolzano and is called FC Südtirol.
The Stadio Druso sits right in the center of Bolzano, and if you time it right, you can catch one of the club’s games during your trip.
Don’t expect top-tier soccer or the atmosphere of a London football club, but the view from the stadium — with the mountains as a backdrop — is something really special.
