Merano
Merano (Meran in German) is one of the most elegant towns in South Tyrol, set in a sun-drenched basin where the Val Passiria and V...
Updated 17 July 2026
This season · July · Summer
What to do in Merano now
The story
The story of Merano
A Spa Town with a Mild Climate
Merano lies in a basin sheltered by the mountains, at the confluence of the Val Passiria and Val Venosta valleys, in a position that gives it one of the mildest climates in the entire Alpine arc. Cold currents from the north are blocked by the surrounding peaks, while milder air rises from the plains to the south, creating an almost Mediterranean microclimate that allows palm trees, citrus plants, oleanders and other subtropical vegetation to grow in the town's parks and gardens. This particular climate, combined with the healthy air, made Merano a holiday destination as early as the 19th century, when doctors and aristocrats chose it as a place to recover thanks to its mild winters and cool summers. Even today the town combines the charm of the mountains, with the Tessa Group rising behind it, with the sweetness of an almost Mediterranean climate, making it an ideal destination in every season of the year.
The Merano Thermal Baths and Wellness
The Merano Thermal Baths are one of the most modern and popular wellness centres in the Alpine arc, a symbol of the town's long spa tradition. The building, with a contemporary design by architect Matteo Thun, combines indoor and outdoor pools, saunas, relaxation areas and a large urban park overlooking the historic centre. The water used comes from local springs and is the basis for treatments designed for physical and mental recovery, continuing a tradition of care that in Merano dates back to the 19th century, when the town became a renowned climatic and thermal resort for the European aristocracy. Today the Thermal Baths are the beating heart of the town's wellness offer, frequented by both residents and visitors seeking relaxation, and they blend seamlessly with the promenades, parks and gardens that characterise Merano, confirming the town's vocation for rest and self-care throughout the year.
Walking Along the Passirio River
One of Merano's distinctive features is its elegant promenades along the Passirio river, designed as early as the Habsburg era for relaxation and gentle exercise in the open air. The Winter Promenade and the Summer Promenade run along the two riverbanks, among century-old trees, benches and views of the historic centre, offering pleasant walks in every season. A little higher up, the famous Tappeiner Promenade winds for several kilometres along the sunny slope overlooking the town, passing vineyards, olive trees and Mediterranean plants, offering wide views over the Merano basin and the surrounding mountains. Easily walkable at a leisurely pace, it is one of the best-loved scenic promenades in South Tyrol, combining in a single route the charm of nature, the history of the spa town and the beauty of the Alpine landscape that surrounds it.
Trauttmansdorff Castle Gardens and Empress Sisi
A few minutes from the centre of Merano lie the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle, one of the most visited botanical parks in Italy and repeatedly awarded as the country's most beautiful garden. Spread over a scenic hill, the gardens bring together plant environments from all over the world, from bamboo groves to Mediterranean landscapes, up to terraces overlooking the town and mountains. The castle that gives the park its name was the summer residence of Empress Sisi, who stayed there several times in the late 19th century in search of a mild climate and peace, helping to make Merano famous as a holiday destination for the Habsburg court. Inside the historic building is the Touriseum, South Tyrol's museum of tourism, which tells the story of how the region became one of Europe's best-loved tourist destinations. A visit to the gardens and museum combines nature, history and culture in a single experience.
The Belle Époque Centre, Wine and Surroundings
The historic centre of Merano still preserves the elegance of the Belle Époque, the period between the late 19th and early 20th centuries when the town enjoyed its greatest splendour as an international health resort. Art Nouveau villas, elegant arcades and the imposing Kurhaus, a historic building dedicated to events and wellness, tell the story of that era of grand hotels and fashionable promenades. Around the town stretch vineyards and apple orchards that make Merano and its valley an area of high-quality wine and fruit production, appreciated throughout South Tyrol. For mountain lovers, Merano is also the starting point of the Meran High Mountain Trail, a multi-stage hiking route that circles the entire Tessa Group, passing mountain huts and scenic high-altitude points. A spa town, a botanical garden, a cradle of wine and a gateway to the mountains: Merano brings together many different souls of South Tyrol in a single place.
Not to be missed
- Merano Thermal Baths - relaxation and wellness in the heart of town
- Tappeiner Promenade - panoramic views over the Merano basin among vineyards
- Trauttmansdorff Castle Gardens - botanical park and the Touriseum
- Winter and Summer Promenades along the Passirio river
- Meran High Mountain Trail - trekking around the Tessa Group
To see
What to see in Merano
Routes · Trovido Route
Routes in Merano
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