Merano (Meran) is one of the most charming towns in South Tyrol: a Belle Époque jewel set in a sunny basin, where the mild climate grows palms and cypresses beside apple orchards and vineyards. It is the town of the spa and the promenades, of medieval arcades and lush gardens, loved by empresses and poets — from Sissi to Kafka — who came here to take the cure and to rest. But Merano is also the centre of a rich territory, the Burgraviato, dotted with castles, villages of vines and apple orchards, overlooking Val Venosta and the mountains. Here you’ll find where to stay best, with the small addresses we choose one by one, never by hearsay.
It pays to pick your base according to what you’re after: Merano centre to have the spa, the promenades, the shops and the restaurants on foot; Scena (Schenna) and Tirolo (Dorf Tirol), the panoramic villages above the town, for the quiet, the castles and the view over the vineyards; Lagundo (Algund) and the villages towards Val Venosta for the greenery, the apples and the walks. Let’s look at the areas one by one, and then the spa, the gardens, the wine and the seasons.
Merano centre
Merano centre is the choice for those who want to experience the town on foot: the elegant Terme Merano, the Kurhaus and the medieval arcades, the promenades along the Passirio and the many cafés, restaurants and shops are all within reach. It is the ideal base for a holiday of relaxation and culture, with the refined atmosphere that made Merano famous. Here you’ll find historic hotels, charming villas, well-kept garnis and B&Bs of every style.
The addresses we recommend in Merano:
Villa Eden – Leading Hotels of the World
A luxury five-star set in a private park, a temple of wellness and aesthetic medicine, with an exclusive spa and refined cuisine. The intimate atmosphere and the exceptional services make it a destination in itself, for a getaway devoted to self-care. Ideal for those seeking an exclusive, restorative stay in the greenery of the town.
Villa Tivoli
A four-star surrounded by a Mediterranean garden, with a pool, a spa and a quiet yet handy position for the centre and the Tappeiner promenade. The lush greenery and the careful cuisine make it an elegant, relaxing retreat. Ideal for couples and wellness lovers seeking quiet a stone’s throw from the town.
Maison Valentina
A much-loved bed and breakfast in the centre of Merano, prized for its warm welcome, its well-kept interiors and its quality breakfast. The very central position lets you experience the spa, the arcades and the promenades on foot. Ideal for couples and travellers after charm and convenience with a personal touch.
Guesthouse diWINE
A wine-themed guest house in the heart of Merano, with design interiors, attentive hospitality and a special eye for the world of wine. The central position and the considered style make it a perfect base for discovering the town. Ideal for couples and enthusiasts after an original, handy stay.
All the properties in the town: all hotels in Merano →
Scena (Schenna)
Scena (Schenna) is the panoramic village par excellence, perched among the vineyards on a sunny terrace overlooking Merano and the basin. It is a lively, well-kept village, dominated by Scena Castle and the mausoleum of Archduke John, with a long-standing tourist vocation and a splendid view. It is the choice for those who want quiet, good air and views, staying just minutes from the town. Here you’ll find wellness hotels, family addresses and small charming properties.
Prunner Luxury Suites – Adults Only
An adults-only four-star in Scena, with elegant suites, a spa and an enchanting view over the vineyards and Merano. The refined style and the intimate atmosphere make it an ideal retreat for a couple seeking relaxation and views. Perfect for a getaway for two, between wellness, quiet and South Tyrolean good living.
Family Hotel Gutenberg
A four-star designed for families in Scena, with spaces and services for children, a wellness area and a splendid panoramic position. The warm management and the attention to little ones make it an ideal base for a family holiday between nature and relaxation. Perfect for those seeking comfort and tailored services with a view.
All the properties in the village: all hotels in Scena →
Tirolo (Dorf Tirol)
Tirolo (Dorf Tirol) is the village that gave its name to the whole region: here stands Tirolo Castle, the ancient seat of the counts and today the historical museum of South Tyrol, overlooking the Merano basin. It is an elegant, quiet village, among the vineyards and the trails, with the famous Tirolo Castle promenade and a magnificent view. It is the choice for those seeking atmosphere, history and quiet a stone’s throw from Merano. The properties here range from wellness hotels to small panoramic garnis.
Hotel Gartner
A refined four-star in Tirolo, with a panoramic spa, a pool and a spectacular view over the Merano basin and the vineyards. The care of the interiors and the excellent cuisine make it an elegant base for those who love wellness and views. Ideal for couples and relaxation lovers seeking style and quiet above the town.
Small & Beautiful Hotel Gnaid
A compact, well-kept four-star in Tirolo, with a spa, a panoramic pool and an intimate atmosphere immersed in the greenery. The small size and the attention to detail make it perfect for those seeking personality and quiet. Ideal for a couple who want wellness and a view over the orchards a few minutes from Merano.
Vinea – Suites
A charming bed and breakfast in Tirolo, with elegant suites set among the vineyards and an open view over the valley. The considered design and the attentive welcome make it a special address for a romantic getaway. Ideal for couples seeking intimacy, style and the charm of the South Tyrolean countryside a stone’s throw from the town.
All the properties in the village: all hotels in Tirolo →
Lagundo and Val Venosta
Lagundo (Algund) is the green village at the gates of Merano, set among the orchards and crossed by the famous Lagundo promenade, and the gateway to Val Venosta (Vinschgau). Climbing along the valley you meet Naturno, with the thousand-year-old frescoes of St. Proculus, Parcines and its spectacular waterfall, and the apple orchards that stretch as far as Lake Resia. It is the choice for those seeking nature, cycle paths and quiet, while staying handy for Merano. Here you’ll find hotels with a Mediterranean touch, adults-only addresses and small family pensions.
Nutzhof – Mediterran Flair Hotel
A four-star with a Mediterranean touch in Lagundo, with a garden, a pool and a spa set among the orchards at the gates of Merano. The sunny atmosphere and the care of the interiors make it a relaxing base for a holiday of wellness and walks. Ideal for couples and nature lovers seeking quiet and comfort near the town.
Avidea – Adults Only
An adults-only five-star in Lagundo, with an exceptional spa, contemporary design and ample spaces immersed in the greenery. The high-level wellness and the exclusive atmosphere make it a perfect destination for a restorative getaway. Ideal for those seeking luxury, quiet and self-care a few minutes from the Merano spa.
All the properties in the village: all hotels in Lagundo →
The spa and the promenades
The heart of Merano is its wellness. The modern Terme Merano, in the town centre, offer indoor and outdoor pools, saunas and treatments in a large park, open all year round. Around them wind the famous promenades: the Summer Promenade and the Winter Promenade along the Passirio, shaded and flowered, and the panoramic Tappeiner Promenade, one of the finest in Europe, climbing among Mediterranean plants with a view over the town. It is a town made for walking, between medieval arcades, gardens and glimpses of the river.
Merano is the capital of South Tyrolean wellness: for a stay devoted to relaxation, see our selection of hotels with spa and thermal baths in Trentino-Alto Adige. The town is also a handy base for discovering the rest of the region, from Bolzano to Bressanone.
The Gardens of Trauttmansdorff and the castles
Just outside the centre, the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle are Merano’s symbol attraction: a spectacular botanical garden that cascades down the hillside, with plant landscapes from all over the world, awarded time and again as the most beautiful in Italy. It was here that the empress Sissi stayed, and today the castle houses the Touriseum, the museum of tourism. All around, the Burgraviato is the land of castles: Tirolo Castle and Scena Castle on the heights, Castel Fontana (where Ezra Pound lived) and dozens of manors among the vineyards, many visitable along the famous “castle trail”.
Merano’s territory is also a land of wine and apples: the terraced vineyards produce the famous Meraner and Vernatsch, and the apple orchards of the Adige valley and Val Venosta yield some of the most famous apples in Europe. In autumn the grape cure and the Törggelen, with the new wine and the chestnuts, are a ritual not to be missed. Those who love walking can follow the trails of the Waalweg, the ancient irrigation channels that cross orchards and vineyards on the level, among the finest and easiest paths in the whole basin, ideal in spring and autumn too.
Just south of the town, the villages of Lana, Marlengo and Postal are the heart of the Burgraviato’s fruit-growing, with farm stays, wineries and farmstead after farmstead immersed in the greenery: a busy, hospitable countryside, perfect for those seeking authenticity and more affordable prices while staying a few minutes from Merano and its spa.
When to go
Merano is a destination for all seasons, thanks to its mild climate. Spring is perhaps the most magical time: the blossom of the apple trees and the gardens turns the basin into a riot of colour, with a gentle climate ideal for the promenades. Summer is warm but never muggy, perfect for the spa, the gardens and trips up high towards Merano 2000 and the surrounding mountains. Autumn is the season of wine, apples and Törggelen, with the warm colours of the vineyards and the great food-and-wine events such as the Merano WineFestival: see also what to do in South Tyrol in autumn.
Winter has its highlight in the Christmas market along the Passirio, one of the most elegant in South Tyrol, with the lights on the water and the atmosphere of the spa: see the guide to Christmas markets in South Tyrol. For snow lovers, the small Merano 2000 ski area, reachable by cable car from the town, is perfect for families and gentle skiing; for summer ideas, see what to do in Trentino-Alto Adige in summer.
Getting there
Merano is reached by car from the Brenner motorway (A22): you exit at Bolzano Sud and continue on the MeBo expressway (Bolzano-Merano), fast and convenient. By train you arrive at Bolzano on the Brenner line and continue with the frequent, scenic Bolzano-Merano regional railway; from Merano the beautiful Val Venosta railway also runs as far as Malles. The nearest airports are Bolzano, Verona, Innsbruck and Bergamo.
Once in town, Merano is easily explored on foot and by bike, and an efficient bus network links the centre with Scena, Tirolo, Lagundo and the villages of the Burgraviato. With the local guest card, often included by the properties, public transport is even better value. A car remains handy for exploring Val Venosta and the castles. For the full picture on motorway, trains and airports of the region, see the guide how to get to Trentino-Alto Adige.
This guide is part of our grand journey through the region: discover all the destinations and areas in Where to Stay in Trentino-Alto Adige.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions we’re asked most often about where to stay in Merano.
Which is the best area to stay in Merano?
It depends on what you’re after. Merano centre is the handiest choice for experiencing the spa, the promenades, the arcades and the restaurants on foot; Scena and Tirolo, the panoramic villages above the town, offer quiet, castles and a magnificent view over the vineyards; Lagundo and the villages towards Val Venosta are ideal for nature, cycle paths and orchards. They are all close and well linked by bus, so the choice is above all a question of atmosphere.
Is Merano a good destination for wellness?
Yes, it is one of the capitals of wellness in Italy. The Terme Merano, in the heart of the town, offer pools, saunas and treatments all year round, and a great many hotels in the area, from the luxurious to the small addresses, have spas and wellness centres. The mild climate, the promenades and the gardens complete an experience designed for relaxation. It is a perfect destination in every season, even for short restorative stays.
What to see in Merano and around?
Don’t miss the Terme Merano, the promenades along the Passirio and the Tappeiner Promenade, the medieval arcades and the Kurhaus in the centre. Just outside, the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle are a botanical masterpiece awarded as the most beautiful in Italy. Around, the castles of the Burgraviato — Tirolo Castle, Scena Castle — and the villages of Scena and Tirolo among the vineyards. To the west opens Val Venosta, with Naturno and the Parcines waterfall.
What is the best time to visit Merano?
Merano is pleasant all year round thanks to its mild climate. Spring is splendid for the blossom of the apple trees and the gardens; summer is warm but airy, ideal for the spa and trips up high; autumn is the season of wine, apples and Törggelen, with the finest colours; winter brings the elegant Christmas market along the Passirio. Every season has its charm, so the choice depends on what you’re after.
Can you ski near Merano?
Yes: the Merano 2000 ski area, reachable by cable car directly from the town, offers sunny, panoramic slopes, perfect for families and gentle skiing, with a splendid view over the Merano basin. For lovers of more demanding skiing, the great Dolomite and Val Venosta areas are within driving distance anyway. Merano is therefore a base that combines town, wellness and snow.
How do you get around Merano without a car?
Very well: Merano is explored on foot and by bike, and an efficient network of town and intercity buses links the centre with Scena, Tirolo, Lagundo and the nearby villages. You arrive by train from Bolzano on the frequent regional line, and from Merano the Val Venosta railway sets off. With the local guest card public transport is good value, so a car is not essential for a holiday in the town.
