Discover Merano with all its beautiful facades, buildings and more.
Discover Merano: countryside, city, people and culinary delights – I spent two nights in Merano a while ago and instantly fell in love with this beautiful and sunny city (Read more hereSo my joy was all the greater when it was recently time to pack my bags and head to Merano again – a city with over 300 days of sunshine a year, stunning nature and architecture, friendly people, and – of course! – plenty of excellent restaurants. My travels included a visit with the Merano Tourist Board, which, founded in 1855, is the second oldest tourist board in Europe. I discovered many things, visited various places, and I want to take you along on my journey in five separate articles.
Wine, ham, cheese, bacon – South Tyrol offers the best specialties.
Discover Merano
Merano can't be discovered in a day. Not even in two. In other words, even after several days in this city situated at 324 meters above sea level, you'll never get bored, as Merano, with its nearly 50,000 inhabitants, offers a very diverse range of activities for tourists and locals alike. Merano is the ideal destination for anyone who loves events and culture, nature, fine dining, and the blend of tradition and modernity. The locals are friendly, open, and helpful. Italian and/or German are spoken. From the Grape Festival (more on that soon), the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle with its 80 botanical landscapes, to various restaurants, walking trails (such as the Sissi Trail), museums, and historical monuments, to the enormous Merano Thermal Baths with 25 pools, and various other events (such as the "Merano Autumn Delights," numerous concerts, Merano Christmas, etc.), there's a comprehensive program of events throughout the year. To the north and east, the city is protected by high mountain ranges, the climate is wonderfully mild, and countless Mediterranean and subtropical plants thrive here. Looking out over the mountains and valleys, one vineyard follows another, and a stroll through Merano's old town almost makes you feel like you've stepped back into the Middle Ages. Whether you prefer to wander along the approximately 400-meter-long arcaded street, sample the Alpine-Mediterranean cuisine, enjoy sports in the picturesque Merano countryside, or experience a combination of everything, one thing is certain: you will thoroughly enjoy your time in Merano.
Sweeping views of the vineyards of Merano offer the eye a welcome respite.
A piece of Merano's history
Anyone familiar with Merano – nestled in a valley basin where the Vinschgau, Adige, and Passeier valleys converge – knows that Merano played a significant role long before the rise of tourism, serving as an important route for soldiers, merchants, and pilgrims traveling north. Merano was granted city rights in 1317, and in 1809, its popularity surged as traveling merchants and minstrels from across Europe began crossing its borders. By 1836, Merano had definitively established itself as a major tourist destination. Within a short time, it transformed into a spa town of international renown, becoming a favorite destination for Central European nobility. Empress Sissi of Austria visited Merano four times, thus initiating the creation of the still-popular Sissi Trail. Over time, new roads, hotels, leisure facilities, and spa and park areas were added. After World War I, Merano was almost completely destroyed, and it wasn't until after World War II that it experienced a renaissance as a spa town. Today, more than ever, Merano serves not only as a backdrop for countless events but also as the go-to destination for spa treatments, art, and culinary delights of all kinds. Merano is also characterized by the openness of its inhabitants towards tourists.
Perfect for nature lovers.
Merano culinary
Looking at this South Tyrolean city with a focus on "culinary delights and enjoyment," things never get boring. Besides the numerous restaurants located within the city, there are also regular culinary highlights and seasonal food-focused events. For example, since the end of August (and continuing until the end of November 2018), the theme "Autumn Delights" (learn moreLocal specialties, regional products, and traditional customs are showcased. Selected businesses in the Vinschgau Valley, Merano, and the surrounding area invite you on a culinary journey and tasting tour featuring seasonal and regional products. During these event days, you can consciously sample, for example, radicchio from the Deutschnonsberg region, grapes from Merano, or alpine cheese from the Upper Vinschgau Valley, as well as discover typical South Tyrolean dishes. You're sure to experience a diverse culinary scene throughout the year in Merano, whether through visits to the countless small manufacturers, bakeries, delicatessens, or roasters, breweries, and wineries. Merano is home to many restaurants serving South Tyrolean cuisine, as well as those with Mediterranean and international influences.
Merano is always worth discovering.
My Merano tour and the individual stops
During my stay, I had the opportunity to discover some of Merano's culinary hotspots. Starting with a hearty lunch at the Restaurant Brauerei Försterbräu, I also enjoyed a delicious meal at Restaurant Sigmund. Many highlights were part of my tour, including a visit to the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle with its over 80 garden landscapes and incredibly beautiful natural surroundings. A regional breakfast at the chic Restaurant Sigmund ensured a great start to each day. Hotel „Suite Seven“. Another exciting stop besides the Merano Thermal Baths was the tour of the Merano Burggräfler winery, where I tasted various South Tyrolean white and red wines and learned a great deal about the Merano wine region's climate. A definite highlight was the visit to the Michelin-starred Sissi restaurant in Merano – probably the most upscale dining experience of my stay. My companion and I also stopped by a local pizzeria ("Pizzeria Bistro Mediterraneo") – as a contrast to the fine dining. Between restaurant visits, I explored Merano's villas, parks, shops, and promenades. During my Merano tour, I also had the opportunity to visit the "Mein Beck" bakery and pastry shop and participate in the production of Italian baked goods. Fantastic! Afterwards, we enjoyed breakfast at one of "Mein Beck's" numerous cafés in Appiano. Before heading home in the late afternoon, we made a detour to Kofler Delikatessen's meat boutique in Merano for an interesting tasting of speck and salami. For one last South Tyrolean treat before the three-hour drive home, we then went to the Villa Heidelberg restaurant for lunch.
Overnight stay in Merano
As mentioned, it's worth spending several days in Merano. That means you'll need a place to stay. Merano naturally offers countless accommodation options in a wide variety of categories. From luxury 5-star hotels and numerous hotels in all star classes, to guesthouses, residences, private room rentals, mountain huts, private holiday apartments, and even farm stays for the whole family, there's definitely something for everyone. During my stay, I had the pleasure of staying at the beautiful Boutique Hotel Suite Seven and was absolutely delighted. The hotel skillfully combines understated luxury with a personal and warm welcome – you feel comfortable and at home there. You can find an overview of bookable accommodation options, for example, [here/on this website]. here.
What you can expect in the next article In my upcoming second article, I'll tell you about my visit to the Forsterbräu restaurant, my time in the beautiful gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle, and the Merano thermal baths. In the evening, I enjoyed a delicious pizza at the cozy Pizzeria Mediterraneo.
+++ This article was created in cooperation with the Merano Tourist Office. Thank you! +++
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