In a nutshell
- South Tyrol is a wonderful summer destination — expect plenty of sunshine, great hiking, and all kinds of outdoor activities.
- Our favorite spots for a summer vacation in South Tyrol are Lake Caldaro and the neighboring wine region of Appiano. Top hotels with a pool include Im Zeitlauf and the Appius Design Suites.
- Want inspiration for the region’s best highlights and things to see? Check out our separate guide: the 22 top highlights in South Tyrol.
Lies auch:
Where to Go in Summer in South Tyrol?
In general, you can have a great vacation anywhere in South Tyrol in summer. There are a few things you should keep in mind, though.
For one, the towns in South Tyrol sit at different elevations, and there are significant temperature differences. While it can get very hot down in the valleys of South Tyrol in summer, it can be quite cold up in the mountains.
We’d suggest avoiding the extremes — don’t stay right down in the valley floor or way up at altitude.
On top of that, South Tyrol is a seriously popular destination, and many places get overcrowded in summer. So we wouldn’t book a place to stay right next to the region’s top attractions.
The Most Beautiful Places for Your Summer Vacation in South Tyrol
To start, here are our top 5 picks for summer — spots with pleasant temperatures and plenty of great outdoor activities.
Lake Caldaro
- Elevation: 216 meters
- Summer daytime temperature: usually 77–86°F (25–30°C)
The area around Lake Caldaro is a fantastic spot for a summer holiday in South Tyrol — warm enough to feel like summer, but thanks to the elevation, it rarely gets unbearably hot.
The best part? Lake Caldaro is a proper swimming lake. You can cool off wonderfully here, and some hotels even have direct lake access.
You also have the village of Kaltern right nearby — a charming spot with delicious wine — and you can reach Bolzano and Appiano super quickly.
Our Hotel Recommendations for Lake Caldaro
A lovely hotel right on Lake Caldaro is the Seehotel Ambach, with lake access and an outdoor pool set in beautiful gardens.
The Im Zeitlauf – life with nature sits a little above Kaltern, surrounded by vineyards. With only 9 rooms, the service is wonderfully personal — and from the terrace with its infinity pool, you can look all the way down to Lake Caldaro.
Appiano
- Elevation: about 400 meters
- Summer daytime temperature: usually 77–86°F (25–30°C)
Appiano is a wine region bordering Kaltern. It sits a bit higher and the temperatures are just about perfect for a summer holiday.
Appiano has two lovely swimming lakes — the Montiggler Lakes — which are far less touristy than Lake Caldaro. Also really cool are the Eislöcher, a natural phenomenon where the surrounding area stays noticeably cooler than normal.
From Appiano you can reach Lake Caldaro, Merano, and Bolzano super quickly — making it a genuinely great base for a summer vacation in South Tyrol.
Our Hotel Recommendations for Appiano
The Appius Design Suites are a small hotel with a pool in South Tyrol featuring fresh, modern rooms. The value for money is excellent!
For something truly special, Schloss Freudenstein lets you stay in a historic castle — expect stunning views and plenty of luxury.
Read all our tips for Eppan:
Castelrotto & Alpe di Siusi
- Elevation: 1,600–2,400 meters (Alpe di Siusi), 1,000 meters (Castelrotto)
- Summer daytime temperature: usually 59–68°F (15–20°C)
The Alpe di Siusi is one of the most well-known places to visit in South Tyrol — in winter and summer alike. It’s the largest alpine meadow in Europe and the hiking trail selection is enormous.
There are also many hotels and great mountain huts up on the Alpe di Siusi. That said, be aware that it draws lots of tourists and prices tend to be quite high.
Our under-the-radar pick is the village of Castelrotto — a lovely spot below the Alpe di Siusi. Nearby you’ll also find St. Valentine’s Church, which makes for a seriously great photo subject.
Our Hotel Recommendations for Castelrotto and the Alpe di Siusi
If you’d like to stay right on the Alpe di Siusi, we recommend the Hotel Schmung — a small, personal hotel that offers excellent value for money given its fantastic location.
A lovely place to stay in Castelrotto is the Aparthotel Kaiser Seiser Alm — affordable apartments that are great for the whole family.
Val Venosta
- Elevation: About 500–1,500 meters
- Summer daytime temperature: usually 64–77°F (18–25°C)
Val Venosta is a valley in the far west of South Tyrol. With no large cities and only a handful of major highlights, it’s a place where you can really enjoy nature in peace and quiet.
The elevation differences in Val Venosta vary greatly, so you’ll find the full range of temperatures depending on where you are.
High up near the border with Austria lies Lake Resia — perfect for cycling and walking. The panoramic road over the Stelvio Pass is also a true standout.
And if you feel like a city trip, Merano is just a quick drive away.
Our Hotel Recommendations for Val Venosta
We love the Seehotel Panorama Relax on Lake Resia. The views are stunning, the decor is super modern, and the breakfast and dinner are absolutely delicious.
A great family hotel in South Tyrol in Val Venosta is the Hotel Bella Vista. With an outdoor pool, kids’ club, and family suites, it’s perfect for a vacation with kids.
Val Gardena
- Elevation: about 1,000–1,500 meters
- Summer daytime temperature: usually 64–77°F (18–25°C)
Val Gardena is a fantastic base for a summer holiday in South Tyrol — you can reach so many of the region’s top highlights really quickly from here. From Ortisei, for example, cable cars run up to the Alpe di Siusi and Seceda.
You’re also right in the heart of the Dolomites and close to Bolzano. Thanks to the elevation, it never gets truly hot in Val Gardena, and the hiking conditions are excellent.
Besides Ortisei, we also really recommend Selva di Val Gardena as a base in the valley.
Our Hotel Recommendations for Val Gardena
The Chalet Hotel Hartmann is a lovely adults-only hotel in South Tyrol, in a very peaceful spot in Ortisei with a wonderful wellness area.
In Selva di Val Gardena, we recommend the Linder Cycling Hotel — stylish, modern, and extremely well-equipped!
The Best Day Trips in Summer in South Tyrol
A good rule of thumb: if it’s too hot, take a trip up into the mountains; if it’s too cold, head down to a valley.
Lake Carezza and Lago di Braies
Lake Carezza and Lago di Braies, with their intense colors and the Dolomites as a backdrop, are among the most popular day trip destinations in South Tyrol.
Since both sit at about 1,500 meters above sea level, it never gets truly hot here. On sunny days you can take stunning photos and head out on a hike.
Do keep in mind that during peak season in July and August it gets very, very busy. Your best bet is to go early in the morning or late in the evening.
The Dolomites
The Dolomites are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an absolute must on any summer vacation in South Tyrol. There are several mountain massifs; the most famous are the Three Peaks of Lavaredo with their unmistakable silhouette.
Other beautiful Dolomite areas include the Rosengarten with the Schlern — great for hiking and just a quick trip from Bolzano.
One of our personal favorites that doesn’t get nearly as much attention is the mountain Sassongher. It rises above the village of Colfosco, which is also the starting point for the challenging hike to the summit.
- Also read our tips for the Three Peaks of Lavaredo
- Also read the 10 most beautiful sights in the Dolomites
Cities in South Tyrol
If the weather isn’t cooperating and it’s cold, a day trip to one of South Tyrol’s cities is a great call. Our favorite is Bolzano, with its wonderful historic center and arcaded walkways.
Bolzano is also home to the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology — where you can see the famous Ötzi the Iceman mummy — plus many impressive churches and castles.
The second-largest city in South Tyrol is Merano, home to the well-known Trauttmansdorff Castle. If you love wellness, don’t miss the Terme Merano.
A very personal recommendation from us is Bressanone — we love the alleyways with their beautiful building facades and the relaxed small-town atmosphere.
- All our tips for Bolzano
- Our insider tips for Merano
- Our recommendations for things to see in Merano
- All our tips for Bressanone
Activities in Summer in South Tyrol
While South Tyrol is mainly known for skiing in winter, there are so many great things to do in summer. Here’s what we recommend.
Cool Off in Swimming Lakes
If you’re spending a summer holiday in South Tyrol, you should jump into a mountain lake at least once — not just because it’s so wonderfully refreshing, but also because the scenery is always absolutely stunning.
We’ve already covered some swimming lakes above — here’s a quick overview of what we consider the 5 most beautiful swimming lakes in South Tyrol:
Hiking & Cycling
Hiking is the number one outdoor activity in South Tyrol in summer — and the conditions are truly perfect at that time of year. The weather is usually sunny and gorgeous, and up in the mountains it’s pleasantly cool.
After a hike, you can treat yourself at an alpine hut with a cold apple spritzer and Kaiserschmarrn — all with a breathtaking mountain panorama. Honestly, it doesn’t get much better than that.
If hiking isn’t really your thing, cycling is a great alternative. South Tyrol is an incredibly bike-friendly region with numerous cycling routes, and at many hotels you can rent bicycles and e-bikes.
Also read our experience report on the Etschtal Cycle Path
Gelato & Spritz
In summer, there’s nothing more delicious than gelato — especially here in Italy.
Here are our picks for great gelato shops in South Tyrol:
- Eisdiele by Nicolas (Bolzano)
- Eisdiele Avalon (Bolzano)
- Felicità (Terlan)
- Eisdiele Sabine (Merano)
- Eisdiele Pradetto (Bressanone)
- Konditorei Eisdiele Marlù (Brunico)
Our favorite summer drink in Italy is a Spritz — and it comes in all kinds of variations. The most well-known is Aperol Spritz, but you’ll also find Campari Spritz, Limoncello Spritz, and plenty more.
And so you don’t wilt in the summer heat, a Spritz is always served with a few small snacks like chips or breadsticks.
Where you sit down to enjoy it really doesn’t matter — it tastes great pretty much everywhere in South Tyrol. Just steer clear of spots right at the main tourist hotspots, where the value for money often isn’t great.
Frequently Asked Questions About a Summer Vacation in South Tyrol
How warm does it get in South Tyrol in summer?
It really depends on where you are, since elevations vary so much across the region.
Down in the valley, temperatures can climb above 86°F (30°C) at the height of summer. Higher up, it’s closer to 68–77°F (20–25°C) — much more comfortable for hiking.
When is the best time to visit South Tyrol?
For a summer vacation in South Tyrol, we recommend July — or even better, September, when the crowds thin out and the weather is still lovely.
