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    Meran (Merano)

    Italy

    Meran (Merano)

    CityCulture

    Meran lies in a valley basin in the Etsch Valley, into which the Passeier Valley flows from the north. Its mild climate allows not only wine but also palms, cypresses, holm oaks, and Lebanon cedars to grow.

    by Felix Gillen

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    7. Südtirol
    9. Meran (Merano)
    Meran lies in a valley basin in the Etsch Valley, into which the Passeier Valley flows from the north. Its mild climate allows not only wine but also palms, cypresses, holm oaks, and Lebanon cedars to grow.Spa TownMeran has been a spa town since 1855. The Kurhaus on the Passerpromenade consists of a historicist wing (1873/74) and an Art Nouveau wing (1912-1914). The Therme Meran, opened in 2005, continues this tradition.Old Town and SurroundingsThe Laubengasse is the Old Town's main axis; the Parish Church of St. Nicholas stands on Pfarrplatz. The Tappeinerweg runs along the slope of Küchelberg; on the city's eastern edge lie the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle, and north is Dorf Tirol with its namesake castle.

    Sights in Meran (Merano)

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle
    Castle

    1Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle

    Botanical Garden on the city's eastern edge, about twelve hectares, on a slope with a 100m elevation difference. Four areas present forest, Mediterranean sun, water, and terraced gardens, plus South Tyrol's landscapes. In the castle, where Empress Elisabeth was for a cure in 1870 and 1889, the Touriseum displays the history of tourism.
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    Passer Promenade
    Park

    2Passer Promenade

    Riverside promenade along the Passer with the Kurhaus, whose Art Nouveau wing from 1912 to 1914 opens to the promenade with columns and balconies.
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    Tappeinerweg
    Attraction

    3Tappeinerweg

    The Küchelberg Promenade, about 3 km long and over 100m above the valley, with few inclines. Running from Gratsch in the west to the Pulverturm on Zenoberg, with predominantly Mediterranean flora and views over the Burggrafenamt. Several access points link it to the Old Town; closed to cyclists.
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    City Parish Church St. Nicholas
    Church

    4City Parish Church St. Nicholas

    Late Gothic three-aisled hall church on the Pfarrplatz with a 78-meter-high tower and a ten-meter-high Saint Christopher fresco above the south portal. East of the church stands the Saint Barbara Chapel.
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    Castle Tirol
    Museum

    5Castle Tirol

    Ancestral castle of the Counts of Tyrol at Dorf Tirol near Merano, birthplace of the County of Tyrol, princely residence until the 1420s. Since 2003, home to the South Tyrol Museum of Cultural and Regional History; known for its frescoes and Romanesque portals.
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    Princely State Castle
    Castle

    6Princely State Castle

    Small town castle, built in the 15th century by Duke Sigmund and used as the residence of the Princes of Tyrol in Meran.
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    City walks in Meran (Merano)

    Curated walking tours through the city's highlights, handpicked by experienced travel journalists.

    Experiencing Meran: From the Belle Époque to Old-Town Flair

    Discover Meran on this two-hour walk that leads you from Belle Époque elegance through winding old-town lanes. Experience the Mediterranean-alpine atmosphere, historic buildings and lovely promenades. A perfect mix of culture, history and picturesque views.

    ~2 Std.
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    Stops (7)

    Dining & Drinks

    1

    Sissi

    Upscale restaurant near the Princely Castle with multi-course menus and wine pairings. Dine in an Art Nouveau dining room.
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    2

    Forsterbräu Meran

    Forst Brewery's inn on Corso della Libertà, offering South Tyrolean dishes, beer, and a beer garden.
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    Food and Drink

    The cuisine of the Burggrafenamt is South Tyrolean cuisine, featuring plenty of local fruit and wine.

    Vernatsch

    Grape variety for light, fruity red wines, one of the typical South Tyrolean varieties.

    Dumplings and Schlutzkrapfen

    Classic South Tyrolean dishes: Knödel made from bread, Schlutzkrapfen, ravioli-like pasta pockets, usually spinach-filled.

    Chestnuts

    Roasted chestnuts are part of Törggelen in autumn, when you taste the new wine at the winemaker's.

    Locale

    Meran was the capital of the County of Tyrol until 1420, formally even until 1848, its ancestral castle, Tyrol Castle, located in the nearby village of Tirol. Afterwards, the city lost its leading position to Innsbruck until it revived as a spa town in the 19th century. Empress Elisabeth took winter cures in Meran and at Trauttmansdorff Castle in 1870 and 1889.Its spa history shapes the cityscape with its Kurhaus and promenades. The Touriseum at Trauttmansdorff Castle tells the history of tourism. Races have been held at the horse racetrack in Untermais since 1935.

    Nightlife

    1

    Vicolo Cafe Aperitivo Vino

    Small bar in a side street of the Lauben for aperitifs, wine, and cocktails.
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    Traveling

    You can reach Meran from Bozen by regional trains, with the Vinschgaubahn continuing to Mals. You can access the nearest airports via Bozen.You can explore the city centre on foot.

    Accommodations in Meran (Merano)

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    Campgrounds in Meran (Merano)

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      • 1Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle3 days
      • 2Passer Promenade4 days
      • 3Tappeinerweg5 days
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    Nearby

    Bozen

    Bozen

    Nestled in a valley basin at the confluence of the Talfer and Eisack, Bolzano is the capital of South Tyrol. The city is bilingual; unlike the rest of South Tyrol, the Italian language group is in the majority here: In the 2024 language census, about three-quarters of the inhabitants declared themselves part of the Italian language group and about one-quarter part of the German language group.Old TownThe heart of the Old Town features the over 300-meter-long Lauben (arcades) with their merchant houses, the Obstplatz (Fruit Square) with its market, and the Waltherplatz with the Gothic cathedral. Gothic frescoes are preserved in the Dominican Church, while the Franciscan Church boasts a winged altar and a cloister.MuseumsThe South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology exhibits the glacier mummy Ötzi. Additionally, there is the Museion for modern and contemporary art and the Messner Mountain Museum Firmian at Sigmundskron Castle.SurroundingsCable cars lead up to Ritten and Kohlern.
    Südtirol

    Südtirol

    South Tyrol is Italy's northernmost province, bordering the Austrian states of Tyrol and Salzburg, as well as the Swiss canton of Graubünden. Together with Trentino, it forms the autonomous region of Trentino-South Tyrol. The majority of residents speak German, just over a fifth Italian, and about four percent Ladin.LandscapeThe highest mountain is Ortler at 3905 meters. To the east lie the Dolomites, featuring Val Gardena, Alpe di Siusi, and Lake Braies.CitiesBolzano is the regional capital; its Archaeological Museum houses the glacier mummy Ötzi. Merano developed early on as a spa town, while Bressanone was a bishopric for centuries and is now one of the two cathedral cities of the Diocese of Bolzano-Bressanone. Castles such as Tyrol Castle, Runkelstein, and Sigmundskron shape the valleys.WineTypical red wines include Vernatsch and Lagrein, while Gewürztraminer is a characteristic white wine.
    Seiser Alm

    Seiser Alm

    The Seiser Alm (Alpe di Siusi) is a wide high plateau at roughly 1,680 to 2,350 meters with an area of about 56 square kilometers, and is considered the largest high alpine meadow in Europe. Administratively it is a fraction of the municipality of Kastelruth. Its southern parts belong to the Schlern-Rosengarten Nature Park.SummerA dense network of trails, alpine pastures and huts makes the Alm a destination for families and leisurely hikers. The tours up the Schlern are more demanding.WinterIn winter the Seiser Alm is a ski area with about 60 kilometers of slopes, part of Dolomiti Superski and connected to St. Ulrich in Gröden by a gondola lift.AccessThe road from Seis to Compatsch is closed to private traffic uphill between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., while you may drive downhill at any time. Since the end of June 2026, an online reservation is mandatory for the parking lots P1 Spitzbühl and P2 Compatsch. The easiest way is to take the cable car from Seis to Compatsch. Guests of accommodations on the Alm receive an access permit from their host. You can find the current rules at Seiser Alm Marketing.
    Trento (Trento)

    Trento (Trento)

    Trento lies in the Etschtal, directly on the Adige, and is the capital of the Autonomous Province of Trento and the Trentino-South Tyrol region.Council CityFrom 1545 to 1563, the Council of Trent met here intermittently. Several solemn sessions took place in the Cathedral, including the opening in December 1545.AttractionsThe central points are the Piazza Duomo with the Cathedral of San Vigilio and the Castello del Buonconsiglio, the former residence of the prince-bishops. Remains of the Roman Tridentum are accessible, among other places, in the underground S.A.S.S. and beneath Palazzo Lodron. In the Le Albere district, you'll find the MUSE natural history museum by Renzo Piano.SurroundingsA cable car leads across the Adige up to Sardagna; west of the city rises the 2091-meter-high Monte Bondone. The sparkling wine Trentodoc is produced in the surrounding area.
    Innsbruck

    Innsbruck

    The capital of Tyrol is located in western Austria right in front of the Alps. In the Old Town, the Golden Roof shines with its 2,657 gilded copper shingles; from there, the Hungerburgbahn, designed by Zaha Hadid, takes you up to the Nordkette.

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