Merano
An elegant Alpine spa town with palm-lined promenades, thermal baths, and castle gardens.
About Merano
Merano is South Tyrol's answer to Baden-Baden—an elegant spa town where palm trees and Mediterranean gardens coexist with snow-capped Dolomite peaks. The town's mild microclimate, sheltered by mountains on three sides, has attracted health-seekers since the 19th century, when Empress Sisi of Austria made it fashionable. The Terme Merano thermal baths, designed by Matteo Thun, are a sleek modern spa experience. The Trauttmansdorff Castle Gardens showcase plants from around the world in a spectacular hillside setting. The old town's porticoed streets are lined with boutiques and cafés, while the Passeggiate (promenade walks) along the Passirio River offer gentle strolls beneath magnolia trees.
Best Time to Visit
April to October. Spring brings garden blooms and apple blossoms. Autumn offers the Merano Grape Festival and Törggelen season. Summer is warm but never oppressive thanks to the mountain air.
Local Tips
- Visit the Trauttmansdorff Gardens.
These spectacular botanical gardens cascade down a hillside with 80 different environments. A local will time your visit for the lily bloom or autumn colours and show you the viewing platform where Sisi once gazed at the mountains.
- Walk the Waalwege irrigation trails.
Medieval irrigation channels carved into the mountain slopes are now gentle hiking paths with stunning views. A local knows the best Waalwege—flat, scenic, and ending at a farmhouse for speck and apple juice.
- Soak in the Terme.
The Terme Merano's 25 pools (indoor and outdoor) use local thermal water and apple-based treatments. A local will suggest the best time to visit and the rooftop pool with mountain views.