Merano and surroundings
Merano and Surroundings is the South Tyrolean district linking the spa town of Merano with the municipalities of Lana, Tirolo, Sce...
Updated 20 July 2026
Merano and surroundings
This season · July · Summer
What to do in Merano and surroundings now
The story
The story of Merano and surroundings
Geography of a district between the Adige and the Alps
The Merano and Surroundings district lies in the western part of South Tyrol, where Val Passiria descends toward the Merano basin and meets the Adige valley and the gateway to Val Venosta. Merano sits at the confluence of the Passirio river and the Adige, sheltered by mountains that shield it from cold winds: the Texel group to the north, and the Sarntal Alps with Monte San Vigilio to the south-east. Around the city lie Lana, spread across orchards on the valley floor, Tirolo and Scena in panoramic positions on the slopes, and Naturno, gateway to Val Venosta. Val d'Ultimo opens instead to the south-west, a more secluded and forested side valley.
History and Tyrolean identity
Merano was for centuries the capital of the County of Tyrol, a role it held until 1848, when the seat moved to Innsbruck. The very name of the historic Tyrol region derives from Castel Tirolo (Schloss Tirol), the medieval fortress overlooking the municipality of Tirolo, which today houses the South Tyrolean Museum of History and Culture. In the Habsburg 19th century, Merano became a renowned spa resort, favoured by Central European aristocracy for its mild climate; the Art Nouveau Kurhaus and the cure promenades along the Passirio still bear witness to this era. Val Passiria is tied to the memory of Andreas Hofer, the Tyrolean hero who led the uprising against Napoleonic and Bavarian troops in 1809, born and raised in San Leonardo in Passiria.
Landscape and nature between spas and mountains
The especially mild climate has made Merano and its surroundings a holiday destination since the 19th century: palm trees, agaves and cypresses grow alongside apple orchards and vineyards on sunny slopes, while forests and alpine pastures begin only a little higher up. The Texel Group, north of the city, offers ridges and glacial valleys popular with hikers, while Val d'Ultimo preserves centuries-old larch woods and a wilder, more secluded character than the Merano basin. The historic town promenades, such as the Tappeiner Promenade above Merano and the Winter and Summer Promenades along the Passirio, let visitors walk through this transition from Mediterranean vegetation to alpine scenery.
Villages and places to see
Merano's historic centre, with Via Portici and the Cathedral of San Nicolò, sits alongside the modern Terme Merano spa, designed by architect Matteo Thun. Just outside the city are the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle, where Empress Elisabeth of Austria (Sissi) once stayed, which today also house the Touriseum, South Tyrol's museum of tourism. In Tirolo, Castel Tirolo (Schloss Tirol) dominates the village, while in Scena visitors can tour Castel Schenna (Schloss Schenna), once home to the family of Archduke Johann of Austria. Naturno preserves the Church of San Procolo, with early medieval frescoes among the oldest in the Alpine region, and Lana is known for its orchards and as a starting point toward Val d'Ultimo.
Food, wine and traditions
The cuisine of the Merano district blends Italian and Tyrolean influences: canederli dumplings, South Tyrolean Speck IGP and apple strudel accompany Alto Adige DOC wines such as Vernatsch and Lagrein, grown on the sunny slopes around Merano and Lana. In autumn, the Merano WineFestival draws wine lovers and producers from across Europe, while the Törggelen tradition fills farmhouse taverns with chestnuts, new wine and hearty country dishes. Apples, widely grown between Lana and the Adige valley, remain one of the area's signature products, alongside the Christmas markets that bring Merano to life in winter.
Not to be missed
- Trauttmansdorff Castle Gardens and Touriseum
- Terme Merano spa and the historic centre with Via Portici
- Castel Tirolo in Tirolo and Castel Schenna in Scena
- Val Passiria, the land of Andreas Hofer
- Val d'Ultimo, among larch forests and alpine quiet
To see
What to see in Merano and surroundings
Routes · Trovido Route
Routes in Merano and surroundings
Jobs · JobFlow
