We have lost count how many times we visited South Tyrol (see more from all our South Tyrol trips here), but until now we never traveled to South Tyrol in winter. 2025 was finally the year this changed! It was a long time coming, especially since South Tyrol is famous for its skiing resorts, winter hikes and alpine chalets.
If you’re like us and are finally planning that winter trip to South Tyrol this travel guide will help you as we share our experiences from 7 days in between Brixen and Bruneck – from skiing to alpine wellness, culinary treasures and mountain hideaways.
Sustainable winter holidays in South Tyrol: A mindful adventure
Before we share our 7-day South Tyrol itinerary and travel guide we want to mention a few tips how to make your trip to South Tyrol more mindful. Winter in South Tyrol is nothing short of mesmerising, and traveling intentionally in this alpine paradise makes the experience even more rewarding. From eco-conscious accommodations to locally sourced cuisine and slow explorations, here’s how to enjoy a responsible winter getaway in this breathtaking region.
Sustainable Travel Tips for South Tyrol
Most sustainability guides focus on the journey to the destination, but sustainability is more than just traveling by train. If this part is important to you, let us mention that there are convenient direct train connections from Vienna to Bozen (Bolzano), the largest city in South Tyrol. Personally we travelled by (rental) car this time, as we had all our skiing, snowboarding and winter hiking gear, as well as our photography equipment with us – making it more convenient to drive by car. In winter we would recommend a car with 4-wheel drive, as some mountain roads might become quite snowy. But if you come by train South Tyrol offers a well-developed public transportation network and with the South Tyrol guest card (offered by many of the hotels) you can use it for free – including the ski busses directly to the slopes.
Yet, we believe a more holistic approach to sustainability includes not just the transportation, but also social, cultural and ethical aspects. So here are a few more detailed tips:
- Book (certified) sustainable & eco-conscious hotels: In South Tyrol you can find hotels that carry the “South Tyrol Sustainability Label”, with Level 3 being the highest level. This certificate is based on the criteria of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and includes factors such as sustainable management practices, fair working conditions, resource and energy management, as well as preserving cultural heritage, using local products, and collaborating with regional artisans.
- Support local businesses: Dining at family-run restaurants, who source their products from local farmers and producers, as well as shopping from artisans in the region keeps the local economy thriving. South Tyrol is famous for its high quality small-scale farm products, organic bakeries, local cheese manufacturers and wood products. The local tourism board always provides brochures and guides with tips for local businesses and I always browse through those before walking through a city, so I don’t miss a small shop, farmers market or boutique.
- Stay longer: One of the best ways to compensate your journey is to stay longer at a destination. We’ve stayed in South Tyrol for 7 days and could’ve easily stayed even longer 😉 There’s so many different regions to explore, beautiful hotels to stay for more than just a few nights and just enjoy a bit of a slower pace. This will not make up for the carbon footprint of the journey of course, but going on longer holidays will always be less carbon heavy than many short trips.
Our 6-day winter travel guide for South Tyrol
During this trip we stayed in South Tyrol in 3 different regions:
- 2 nights in Brixen/Bressanone
- 2 nights at Rodenecker-Lüsner Alm up at 1,700 meters
- 2 nights close to Bruneck/Brunico
Personally we love a good mix of a few days in a town and a few nights somewhere up in the mountains, to combine the cultural and natural aspects of a South Tyrol holiday. Each of these places are only about a 30-45 minute drive away from each other and can be easily combined to make the most of your winter trip.
Day 1: Arrival in Brixen
After arriving in Brixen, we head straight to our first place to stay called “fink”, a boutique hotel with only 9 suites that blends historic charm in a building from 1450 with contemporary design and monastic cuisine. Our first evening is all about food. We kick off the South Tyrol with a delicious dinner at the hotel’s own restaurant fink, where the regional “Eisacktaler wine soup” is a must-try. The whole menu is dedicated to plant-based cuisine (with meat only being offered as extra) and inspired by the monastic traditions. Products are sourced locally and you can tell how much thought goes into the development of the very creative and unusual menu (think spruce tip risotto with locally foraged organic king oyster mushrooms).
Day 2: Skiing, Wellness and Culinary Delights
Our first morning begins with a wonderful locally sourced à la carte breakfast at hotel fink before we’re heading to Plose, Brixen’s famous ski resort known for its stunning views of the Dolomites and excellent slopes. It’s just a 15 minute drive from the city center to the cable car that brings us up the mountains, where we enjoy a few hours of skiing and snowboarding.
At noon, we enjoy a hearty lunch up at Restaurant La Finestra, located directly at the mountain station of the cable car (our tip: order the “Window of dumplings”). Returning to the hotel in the afternoon hours we take time to unwind at the “Thermae”, the hotel’s own roman-inspired spa with warm and cold baths, sauna and steam room.
The evening brings another culinary experience at Decantei, a local restaurant and wine & beer tavern, that serves traditional South Tyrolean delicacies with a modern twist. If you want the full experience don’t miss the “Kartoffelblattln with Sauerkraut” and the “Knödeltris”, a combination of beetroot, spinach and cheese dumplings served with loads of melted butter.
Day 3: From Brixen to Rodenecker-Lüsner Alm
Day 3 starts with an exploration Brixen’s old town. We also get the chance to visit two brand-new hotels putting Brixen on the map for art and architecture aficionados. Hotel Badhaus is an interesting architectural concept in a completely new building in the city centre of Brixen, while Arthotel Lasserhaus celebrates a baroque art collection in a historic building, that is combined with contemporary art installations and artist residency projects.
Lunch at Alter Schlachthof feels a bit like Berlin in Brixen, yet with classics like beetroot risotto on the menu. By 3pm we drive to Rodenecker-Lüsner Alm, checking into Oberhauserhütte up at 1,700 meters above sea level. Finally we are greeted by thick flakes of snow, that envelop us and promise a winter wonderland the next morning. We settle with a hearty 4-course alpine dinner at the hut.
Day 4: Winter hike at Rodenecker-Lüsner Alm & wellness at Oberhauserhütte
After a very casual and late breakfast we embark on a winter hike across the Rodenecker-Lüsner Alm, one of the most beautiful alps in South Tyrol. We’ve been here before in summer (see here), but it’s equally magical in winter, where the snowy landscapes create an unforgettable experience. You can also go snowshoe hiking, tobogganing or cross-country skiing up here.
A lunch stop at Naturhotel Runa lets us savor traditional local dishes like “Tirtlan” (crispy fried dough filled with spinach) with Sauerkraut, before heading back to Oberhauserhütte for an afternoon of relaxation. The highlight being the barrel sauna with mountain views and our private infrared cabin in our suite. At 7pm dinner is served at Oberhauserhütte before we fall into our comfy beds listening to the masses of new snow sliding down the tilted facade of the triangular shaped addition of the hut, where our modern room is located.
Day 5: Sunrise Hike and off to Bruneck
With about 30 centimetres of fresh snow that had fallen at night and a very crisp and clear morning we decide to go for a sunrise hike at around 7am. The cleared paths for the winter hikes are untouched and we enjoy the sun appearing behind the mountains all by ourselves. A perfect start into the day! Back at Oberhauserhütte we warm up during breakfast before checking out.
Then it’s time to head to Bruneck, where something very special awaits. But first we check into our incredible suite at Castel Maurn, a historic residence first mentioned in the year 990, making it over 1,000 (!) years old. The castle has been meticulously renovated to preserve its original character while offering modern luxury. It now serves as an exclusive retreat featuring nine fully furnished luxury suites, each uniquely designed to blend historical charm with contemporary comfort.
We relax a little here, checking out the Finnish sauna, and then get ready for the evening. At 7pm we arrive at Atelier Moessmer for an exclusive dinner at the 3-Michelin star restaurant by famous ethical chef Norbert Niederkofler. His “Cook the mountain” philosophy revolves around sourcing only local and seasonal ingredients and preparing the dishes in traditional ways using fire as the focal point. We could write a whole article just about the dinner experience, but let us mention one thing: If you ever get the chance make sure to choose seats at the open kitchen for a truly immersive journey into the restaurant’s philosophy.
Day 6: Kronplatz skiing & Alpinn lunch, Lumen and Messner Mountain Museum
At Castel Maurn the day starts with breakfast in bed. Well, or at least in the suite. Breakfast is delivered to the room on a wooden tray (after guests made their order the day before). For us it’s time to hit the slopes once more. The weather is glorious up in the mountains, while a layer of clouds is covering the valleys. Once we traverse through the clouds we arrive at sunny Kronplatz (Plan de Corones), one of South Tyrol’s premier ski areas. Over 20 cable cars lead up the mountain, but we decide to opt for the chairlifts for a quicker way to get up without having to take off the skis.
But we’re not up here just for skiing. A special gourmet experience awaits us. AlpINN, a restaurant known for its breathtaking panoramas and artistic cuisine, is another one of Norbert Niederkofler’s culinary temples. We’re here at the first day when “The View” is introduced, a brand new tasting menu concept, that is served at the best tables of the floor-to-ceiling glass cube. The signature dish is the “Graukäse Risotto” (grey cheese risotto), which is a must have when at AlpINN.
Kronplatz also is home to two very unique museums. First we visit LUMEN Museum, dedicated to mountain photography (tip: don’t miss the mirror room!) and then we hop over to Messner Mountain Museum in a building designed by the late Zaha Hadid – an organically shaped concrete structure caressing the mountain top. Both offer deep insights into alpine history, mountaineering and the contemporary art and architecture and elevate the mountain experience.
Day 7: Departure with a Heart Full of Memories
It’s time to conclude our trip with one last breakfast at Castel Maurn before we check-out and say a heartfelt goodbye and hope to see you again soon to South Tyrol. This journey has been a reminder that sustainable travel isn’t just about minimizing our footprint—it’s about immersing ourselves in the local culture, supporting responsible tourism and sustainable businesses, while truly appreciating the beauty and fragility of nature.
Conscious traveling is about being mindful and intentional, while still enjoying a holiday experience. And in South Tyrol that’s easily accomplished!
Where to stay in South Tyrol
Here’s the full list of the hotels we got to know during this trip:
- fink Restaurant & Suites, Brixen: https://www.fink1896.it/en
- Boutique Hotel Badhaus ****, Brixen: https://badhaus.it/
- Arthotel Lasserhaus ****s Garni, Brixen: https://lasserhaus.it/
- Oberhauser Hütte, Lüsen: https://www.oberhauserhuette.com/
- Castel Maurn, St. Lorenzen: https://www.maurn.it/
Further reading
If you’ve now gotten a taste for South Tyrol you can find our other posts about South Tyrol here to learn more:
- Tips for the region from Meran to Bozen
- 5 tips for an autumn escape to Lana
- Our itinerary for 5 summer days in South Tyrol
- 2 very special hideaways & design hotels in South Tyrol
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