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[title]Sitting in a sun-kissed valley surrounded by rolling vineyards, with the jagged peaks of the Dolomites beyond, Bolzano has a charming core lined with townhouses in shades of peach, butterscotch and sky-blue. Once a medieval market town, it became part of the Habsburg Empire in the 14th century and, to this day, breathes a distinctive Central European air.
This year, all eyes are on the wider province of Bolzano for the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics 2026 – meaning more people will likely be discovering this underrated spot than ever before. Found right at the edge of the Dolomites, the entire province will play a key role in the Games, with South Tyrol hosting all Biathlon events from February 8-21. But Bolzano, its capital, is well worth a visit – especially as your first gateway into exploring the Dolomites. So if you’re here anytime soon, don’t miss it. Here’s our ultimate guide.
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What to do in Bolzano
At the heart of Bolzano lies Piazza Walther, lined with pavement cafes and buzzy restaurants. Start here to get a feel for South Tyrol’s capital city, admiring the piazza’s elegant Habsburg buildings. In the surrounding cobbled streets, you’ll discover no shortage of delis and historic bakeries selling local specialities. Pop into Hurtig to try schüttelbrot, the region’s much-loved thin and crispy rye flat bread, or make for Pur Südtirol to stock up on regional produce including cheeses, dry-cured meats and jams – perfect gifts for foodie friends back at home.
Get stuck into history
Bolzano’s premier tourist attraction is Ötzi the Iceman, a late Neolithic mummy discovered by hikers in the remote Val Senales glacier in 1991 on the border with Austria. Thought to be over 5300 years old, Ötzi’s body was preserved naturally in ice for millennia, with his clothing and tools also found near intact alongside him. Housed in the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology, his mummy is stored in a specially created cold chamber – you can queue up to take a look at his body – while a life-size silicone replica gives an excellent idea of what Ötzi once looked like. As well as informative videos, the museum displays Ötzi’s possessions including his bearskin hat, loincloth, and bows and arrows.
Views for days
Make sure you spare some time to visit Colle, the highest point in the city, connected to the city centre via the Funivia del Colle, the oldest passenger cable car in the world. Once at the top, you can take in a bird’s eye view of the city as you savour South Tyrolean specialities on the terrace of Kohlern, an Art Nouveau restaurant and hotel that was transformed into an alpine inn by Josef Staffler, the man responsible for funding the construction of the cable car.
Hit the slopes
Bolzano is within striking distance of several ski resorts, including Reinswald and Obereggen, the latter connected to the vast Dolomiti Super Ski area, offering over 1200km of runs through some of Europe’s most breathtaking alpine landscapes. Both resorts are about 30-40 minutes’ drive from Bolzano, with fun sledging opportunities offered too. On Tuesdays and Fridays you can ski at night in Obereggen, while on Thursday evenings mountain huts remain open in Reinswald, meaning you can ski tour up to a mountain hut to dine on the slopes before heading back to your hotel in Bolzano.
Where to eat in Bolzano
One of the best places to get a feel for Bolzano’s Habsburg past is Vögele, a charming wood clad restaurant with several dining rooms set out to resemble stubes, traditional living areas of alpine homes. Try the canederli, the region’s exquisite dumplings that come beautifully presented on a wooden tray as a trio of spinach, cheese and beetroot. The ravioli filled with spinach, chive butter and Grana Padano are a signature favourite and well worth trying too, as is the beef goulash with Tyrolean dumplings. For a more contemporary take on local dishes, make for Restaurant 37, which serves the likes of handmade tagliatelle with venison ragù, and crunchy chickpea pralines with creamy sweet potato and pak choi.
Where to stay in Bolzano
If you’re looking to stay in the very heart of the city then look no further than Hotel Greif, located in Piazza Walther. Interiors marry maple wood furniture and antiques with vibrant works of modern art, with airy rooms exuding a touch of Biedermeier style. A five-minute walk away is La Briosa, a sustainable family-run boutique hotel made with locally sourced timber, constructed using wood-joining techniques that do not use screws or nails.
More on Italy in 2026
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🇮🇹 Time Out’s ultimate guide to Italy