In a nutshell
- South Tyrol is shaped by a whole network of main and side valleys — and this guide breaks them all down in a clear, easy-to-follow way.
- We’ve put together overview maps for each region so you can see exactly what’s where, plus the top highlights to look out for.
- We also share our personal picks for the most beautiful, crowd-free valleys in South Tyrol — including hotel recommendations for each one.
Valleys in South Tyrol at a Glance
South Tyrol is dominated by high mountain ranges, carved up by a network of valleys. Most of the region’s larger towns and cities are tucked into these valleys.
That’s why locals and visitors alike tend to talk in terms of valleys: “I’m vacationing in the Ultental“, “Today we’re heading to the Ahrntal“, and so on.
If you’re new to South Tyrol, this can get confusing fast — so let’s break it all down.
South Tyrol has several main valleys where the major cities are located and the main roads run through. Branching off from these are all kinds of side valleys.
For clarity, we’re dividing the South Tyrol valleys into five major regions:
- Vinschgau
- Meraner Land
- South Tyrolean South
- Eisacktal
- Pustertal
Overview Map of the Valleys in South Tyrol
Vinschgau
The Vinschgau (“Val Venosta” in Italian) runs from Lake Reschen to Naturns. The valley is often split into the Upper Vinschgau and the Lower Vinschgau.
The stretch from Lake Reschen to Laas is roughly the Upper Vinschgau, while the area between Laas and Naturns is the Lower Vinschgau.
Side valleys in the Vinschgau
- Schnalstal
- Langtauferer Tal
- Martelltal
- Münstertal
- Trafoital
- Suldental
Top Highlights in the Vinschgau
Since there are no large cities in the Vinschgau, most of the side valleys and villages stay refreshingly untouristy. That makes it a perfect choice if you’re after peace and quiet in nature.
That said, the Vinschgau still packs in some seriously impressive sights: most famously, Lake Reschen with its submerged village and the lonely church steeple poking out of the water.
The Stelvio Pass with its breathtaking panoramic road and South Tyrol’s highest peak, the Ortler, are also right here in the Vinschgau. The valley’s largest town is Schlanders.
Meraner Land
The Meraner Land covers the entire area surrounding Merano. To the west lies the Vinschgau, to the northeast the Passeiertal branches off, and to the southwest you’ll find the Ultental.
The valley from Merano to Bolzano is also known as the Etschtal, since the Adige River flows through it — originating at Reschen in the Vinschgau. The Etschtal continues all the way into Veneto. The Adige Cycle Path follows the river the whole way.
Side valleys in the Meraner Land:
- Ultental
- Passeiertal
Top Highlights in the Meraner Land
The standout sights in the Meraner Land are Trauttmannsdorf Castle near Merano and Tyrol Castle near the village of Tirol.
The spa town of Merano itself is a real highlight — especially its famous thermal baths. And there’s no shortage of gorgeous hikes, mountain pastures, and alpine lakes in the surrounding area.
South Tyrolean South
The South Tyrolean South covers the area around Bolzano stretching down to the border with Trentino — the region directly south of South Tyrol. Most of it follows the Etschtal, which runs through South Tyrol from Merano all the way to Salorno.
Side valleys in the South Tyrolean South
- Sarntal
Top Highlights in the South Tyrolean South
The undisputed star of this region is Bolzano, with its charming historic center and the famous Laubengasse. The South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology — home to Ötzi the Iceman — is another genuine must-see.
On the nature side, Lake Caldaro and the wine region of Appiano are both hugely popular and well worth your time.
Eisacktal
The Eisack is a river that rises near the Brenner Pass and flows into the Adige at Bolzano. The valley from the Brenner all the way down to Bolzano is therefore called the Eisacktal (“Valle Isarco” in Italian). It’s one of South Tyrol’s most varied valleys, with a huge number of side valleys branching off it.
Side valleys of the Eisacktal
- Eggental
- Grödnertal
- Villnössertal
- Lüssnertal
- Schalderer Tal
- Jaufental
- Ratschingstal
- Ridnautal
- Pflerschtal
- Pfitschtal
Top Highlights in the Eisacktal
Because the Eisacktal stretches so far, it’s home to an incredible concentration of top attractions in South Tyrol — including the Seiser Alm and Seceda in the Grödnertal, and Lake Carezza in the Eggental.
Sterzing and Brixen are also both located here — two really lovely, atmospheric towns that are well worth exploring.
Pustertal
The Pustertal (“Val Pusteria” in Italian) covers the eastern part of South Tyrol. You’ll sometimes hear a distinction made between the Upper Pustertal and the Lower Pustertal.
The Upper Pustertal is the higher-elevation, eastern section — home to the Three Peaks in the Dolomites — while the Lower Pustertal is the lower-lying western section of the valley.
Side valleys of the Pustertal
- Tauferer Ahrntal
- Reintal
- Lappachtal
- Pfunderer Tal
- Gadertal
- Antholzer Tal
- Sextner Tal
- Höhlensteintal
- Gsieser Tal
Top Highlights in the Pustertal
The two absolute showstoppers in the Pustertal are Lake Braies and the Three Peaks — both seriously stunning.
The valley’s largest city is Bruneck, where you’ll also find Kronplatz, one of the region’s most popular ski resorts.
Our Insider Tips for Secluded Valleys in South Tyrol
To wrap things up, here are our personal picks for beautiful South Tyrol valleys that haven’t been overrun by tourists yet.
#1 Tauferer Ahrntal
The Ahrntal sits north of Bruneck in the Pustertal and is honestly one of our favorite under-the-radar spots in all of South Tyrol. The hiking here is gorgeous — think trails up to the Speikboden or the Rauchkofel with sweeping views of snow-capped Austrian peaks.
On top of that, accommodation prices are comparatively low. We had a really affordable stay in South Tyrol when we based ourselves in Sand in Taufers.
Families with kids will love the Reinbach Waterfalls and Taufers Castle — both are fantastic.
Our hotel pick for the Ahrntal: Garni Zimmerhofer
#2 Schnalstal
The unspoiled Schnalstal in the Vinschgau leads up to Lake Vernagt — a truly beautiful alpine lake that’s far less famous than Lake Reschen. The valley is also a great place to stay overnight in South Tyrol if you want to escape the crowds.
Near the lake you’ll find a fun high ropes course and an open-air archaeological museum about Ötzi — both worth a stop.
And of course there’s hiking, skiing in winter, and plenty of nature to soak up — making it a perfect base for your South Tyrol trip.
Our hotel pick for the Schnalstal: Hotel & Chalets Edelweiss
#3 Sarntal
The Sarntal is located just north of Bolzano, and the hiking highlights in South Tyrol just keep on coming here. One of our personal favorites is the hike to the Stoarnen Mandln.
Villanderer Berg is also absolutely worth the detour — and if you’re already in Bolzano, you can hike directly from the city up to Jenesien.
Our hotel pick for the Sarntal: Hotel Bad Schörgau
