Things to Do in Merano: 14 Top Highlights & Attractions

The Most Beautiful Sights in Merano on a Map

To give you a quick overview of where everything is, we’ve marked all the top things to do in Merano on a map.

Top 5 Highlights in Merano

Old Town of Merano and the Arcades

What you need to know: Merano’s Laubengasse is almost 800 years old and forms the historic city center. At 400 meters long, the arcades are the longest in all of South Tyrol. The street is split into two shopping lanes: the Berglauben toward Küchelberg and the Wasserlauben toward the Passer River.

Is it worth it? If you’re planning a city trip to Merano, absolutely. Personally, though, we find the arcades in Bolzano and Bressanone even more beautiful.

Our tip: The old town is the perfect place to enjoy the dolce vita — linger over a cappuccino or stroll through the lanes admiring the beautifully decorated building façades.

Trauttmansdorff Castle

What you need to know: Trauttmansdorff Castle, with its spectacular botanical gardens, is the single top attraction in Merano. Even Empress Sisi visited — she stayed here twice for spa retreats. The grounds feature more than 80 garden landscapes organized into four worlds: forest gardens, sun gardens, South Tyrolean landscapes, and water and terrace gardens.

Is it worth it? Absolutely. Depending on the season, different plants are always in bloom — it’s especially beautiful in spring and fall. The Touriseum, the interactive tourism museum inside the castle, is also well worth your time. You can explore 200 years of Alpine tourism history in a really hands-on way — great for kids too.

Our tip: Don’t miss the grotto in the forest gardens — it has a cool multimedia show that’s a real highlight.

Merano Thermal Baths

What you need to know: If the weather turns during your South Tyrol vacation, head straight to the Merano Thermal Baths — one of the standout attractions in South Tyrol. There are 25 pools, a large sauna area, relaxation rooms, and a fitness area. The rooftop whirlpool in the outdoor section is a particular favorite.

Is it worth it? If you love thermal baths, relaxing, and saunas — absolutely. The Merano Thermal Baths are amazing!

Our hotel tip: The thermal baths have their own hotel, the Hotel Therme Meran — ideal if you’re after a proper wellness stay in South Tyrol.

Get tickets for the Merano Thermal Baths

Tappeiner Promenade

What you need to know: The Tappeinerweg is Merano’s most famous promenade. It starts below the Küchelberg hill and offers three kilometers of sweeping panoramic views over the city. Along the path you’ll find a lovely mix of plants — olive trees, pines, aloes, agaves, and cork oaks.

Is it worth it? Definitely! The path is stroller-friendly too, with very little elevation change.

Our tip: A standout along the Tappeinerweg is the Powder Tower — a medieval fortification that once stored gunpowder and is now a viewing platform. Climb more than 100 steps for a breathtaking vista over Merano and the surrounding mountains.

Restaurant tip: For a meal along the way, try Ristorante Saxifraga. For coffee and cake, Café Unterweger is a great stop.

Merano Waal Loop

What you need to know: The Waal trails are easy walking paths that follow a Waal — an artificially constructed irrigation channel. The countryside around Merano is crisscrossed with them, making them some of the best options for hiking in South Tyrol. Eleven of these trails together form the Merano Waal Loop, totaling over 80 kilometers.

Is it worth it? Yes. Our personal favorites are the Algund Waal Trail, the Schenner Waal Trail, and the Mais Waal Trail.

Our tip: You can find all the details about the various Waal trails on the official website.

Promenades in Merano

Gilf Promenade

What you need to know: The Gilf Promenade is our personal favorite of all the promenades in Merano. It sits just outside the historic center and connects with the Tappeinerweg. Along the way you’ll spot many subtropical plants and a small waterfall.

Is it worth it? Yes — it’s one of our absolute must-sees in Merano.

Our tip: The Gilf Promenade is great for families with kids. There’s so much for little ones to discover, and the path is easy underfoot.

Promenades along the Passer

What you need to know: Beyond the Tappeinerweg and the Gilf Promenade, Merano has four more promenades: the Kur-, Summer-, Winter-, and Passer Promenades. The Kur- and Summer Promenades run along the south bank of the Passer River, while the Winter- and Passer Promenades follow the north bank.

Is it worth it? Absolutely. All of them are wonderful for a stroll. The Kur Promenade is lined with colorful flower beds, and along the Summer Promenade you’ll find a statue of Empress Sisi.

Our tip: Walk along the south bank from the Merano Thermal Baths to the Eiserner Steg bridge, then loop back along the north side — it’s a lovely round trip.

Beautiful Buildings in Merano

Kurhaus

What you need to know: The Kurhaus sits right in the heart of Merano and regularly hosts concerts and events. Built in the Art Nouveau style, it looks absolutely stunning — especially at night when it’s bathed in golden-yellow light.

Is it worth it? Yes — it’s right on the promenade and the view from here is lovely. The only downside: you can only see the interior during events.

Our tip: Also take a look at the Stadttheater next door. It’s the only historic theater in all of South Tyrol and really worth a visit.

Parish Church of St. Nicholas

What you need to know: The parish square and the Church of St. Nicholas sit at the upper end of the Merano arcades. It’s a purely Gothic structure from the 14th century, filled with beautiful frescoes, late Gothic stained glass windows, and sculptures.

Is it worth it? Yes — the three-aisled hall church is one of seven parish churches in Merano and well worth stepping inside. Entry is free.

Our tip: Behind the church, away from the buzz of the arcades, the Steinach quarter begins — Merano’s oldest medieval neighborhood and a real local favorite!

Princely Castle

What you need to know: The Princely Castle stands in the center of Merano — honestly, it looks more like a Mediterranean manor house than a castle. It was, however, once an actual princely residence. The city had it completely restored, and today it houses a museum about medieval life.

Is it worth it? It’s so-so — the castle itself is fairly unassuming. That said, the museum is genuinely interesting if you’re into the Middle Ages.

Day Trips from Merano

You can comfortably cover the main things to do in Merano itself in one or two days. But the surrounding area has so much to offer that we’d recommend staying for a week — that way you can really dig into all the great day trip destinations.

Tirol Castle

What you need to know: Tirol Castle is located in the village of Tirol, reachable via the Tappeinerweg in about 40 minutes on foot — or you can take the chairlift. Alongside an annually changing exhibition, the castle has a dedicated Children’s Castle where kids can take on different roles and experience life in the past from a really special perspective.

Is it worth it? Yes — Tirol Castle is one of our favorite spots near Merano, and it’s especially great for children.

Our tip: Don’t miss the birds of prey show at Tirol Castle — you can see owls and raptors up close, which is seriously impressive.

Restaurant tip: Between the castle and the village of Tirol you’ll find the Biergarten Tirol — the perfect spot for a bite to eat.

Village of Schenna

What you need to know: Schenna is about three kilometers northeast of Merano. The highlights are the pretty village center with Raiffeisen Square, the castle, and the mausoleum. For outdoor activities, there’s a mini-golf course, an outdoor pool, and plenty of hiking options.

Is it worth it? Yes — Schenna is one of our top recommendations in the area around Merano.

Our tip: If you want to visit Schenna Castle, we highly recommend booking an evening guided tour (every Monday and Thursday). It’s considered one of the most beautiful castles in South Tyrol.

Restaurant tips: Eisdiele Anny, the Moserhof, Pizzeria Petermann, and Mair Stub’m.

Merano 2000

What you need to know: If you’re itching to get up into the mountains, the Merano 2000 ski and hiking area is the answer. In winter you can ski, and in summer there’s a wide range of great hiking trails. It’s also brilliant for a vacation with kids — there’s a summer toboggan run, for example.

Is it worth it? Definitely — especially for anyone who loves mountain sports.

Our tip: Our personal highlight was the hike to Lake Kratzberg. Starting from the mountain station, it climbs to just over 2,100 meters and rewards you with a wonderful panorama and a small, idyllic mountain lake. With a reasonable head for heights, it’s totally manageable.

Texel Group Nature Park

What you need to know: Another superb area for hiking near Merano is the Texel Group. Standout trails include the Vellau Rock Path and the Merano High Trail with the Valley of 1,000 Steps — it’s as strenuous as it sounds, but absolutely worth it.

Is it worth it? Yes. If you love hiking and mountains, the Texel Group is paradise.

Our tip: An off-the-beaten-path option leads to the Spronser Lakes — ten mountain lakes reachable only via a demanding ascent of about 800 meters of elevation gain. Tough, but unforgettable.

Practical Tips for Merano

Here are a few helpful pointers to make the most of your visit to Merano.

Where to Stay in Merano

Merano has a fantastic selection of hotels across every price range, so you’re spoiled for choice. To make things a little easier, here are our accommodation recommendations for every budget.

Getting to Merano

You can reach Merano in a variety of ways. The most relaxed option is by bus or train. There are several connections from Germany and Austria — check the DB or ÖBB app for the best connections.

You’ll have more flexibility with a car. The fastest route is via the Brenner Motorway A13/A22 from Innsbruck. A toll of around 10 euros applies for the Brenner Pass.

Tolls also apply in Italy. The toll on the A22 to Bolzano currently costs 15.60 euros. The expressway between Bolzano and Merano, known as the MeBo, is toll-free.

For a toll-free drive with stunning scenery, you can cross via the Reschen Pass, the Jaufen Pass, or the Timmelsjoch — just bear in mind these are closed or unplowed in winter!

Also read our tips on the best time to visit South Tyrol

Getting Around Merano

Within Merano itself, you really don’t need any transport — the main things to see are all within easy walking distance.

Public Transportation in Merano

The bus network is very well developed in Merano and the surrounding area, and there are cable cars and chairlifts into the mountains. So you can easily leave the car behind. You can check connections in real time using the südtirolmobil app.

If you’re traveling by bus, the key stops are Merano Therme and Merano Train Station. From either of these you can reach virtually all day trip destinations in the area.

Tickets for Public Transit in Merano

A single ticket costs 2 euros, payable directly on the bus.

You also have additional options such as the Südtirol MobilCard (valid throughout South Tyrol for one, three, or seven days, costing between 20 and 50 euros), the Bikemobil Card, or the Museumobil Card — which covers public transit across South Tyrol and gives you free entry to 90 museums.

For cable car fans, there’s also the Meranerland Cable Car Card, which covers 14 different cable cars and chairlifts. At 80 euros per person it’s only really worth it for serious hikers — you can ride each cable car up and down once per day.

Our tip: At many accommodations in Merano, you’ll receive the MeranCard for free. With it, you can use public transit and get free or discounted entry to many sights in and around Merano — a great deal if you’re planning to see a lot.

Parking in Merano

If you’re arriving by car, there are plenty of parking options to choose from.

• Underground parking garage at the Merano Thermal Baths (€3.50/hour)
• Parking garage Parking St. Josef (€2.40/hour)
• Prader Platz parking lot (free)
• Untermais train station parking lot (free)