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Table of Contents:
How to get to Bressanone from Verona
How to get to Bressanone from Venice
How to get to Bressanone from Milan
When to travel to Bressanone
Bressanone (or Brixen) is an elegant medieval town in northern Italy with a rich history and unique architecture. Add to this the picturesque Dolomites mountains surrounding the town, and you will get why Bressanone is definitely worth a visit. After walking along the quiet medieval streets, be sure to head into the surrounding area, where you can see beautiful vineyards, abbeys, castles, and natural attractions. One of these, by the way, is the famous Lake Braies.
After some research, I decided to put together information I have previously found out and create a complete guide on how to organize a holiday in Bressanone. I figured out how to get to the town, where to stay & what to see there. I really hope this detailed information will help you plan your trip to Bressanone.
According to my knowledge, tourists visit Bressanone at any time of the year. In winter, the town is decorated with holiday illumination, and in spring and summer you can enjoy green landscapes and sunny weather, when the architecture of Bressanone looks especially colorful. Autumn is also an excellent choice for travel, as the autumn natural landscapes in the Dolomites are attractive with their bright colors and fresh mountain air.
How to get to Bressanone
Where do you fly into to get to Bressanone? The closest major cities with international airports to Bressanone are Verona, Venice and Milan. You can check the flight timetable to these cities via specialized online services such as Aviasales and others. I often use this service as it helps me to compare different flight options and to choose the optimal one. Bressanone has its own train station, so you can get here by train. In addition, you can rent a car for travelling on your own around the region.
How to get to Bressanone from Verona
After some map research, I figured out that the distance between Verona and Bressanone is 195 km. You can get from one city to another by train or by car.
By train: There are direct and connecting trains between Verona and Bressanone (change in Bolzano, if needed). The total travel time is a little over 2 hours. Trains run along the route 1-2 times per hour throughout the day. You can check the current train timetable at the Raileurope booking service. I use this service when planning my trips in Europe in advance. It helps me to sort various available options by the duration of the trip, departure and arrival points, price, etc.
By rented car: You can also rent a car in Verona and get to Bressanone on your own. Verona and Bressanone are connected with highway No. A22/E45. The travel time is also a little more than 2 hours (see on the map). You can find car rental offices in Verona in the city center or at the airport. You can also book a car in advance via various online services, for example, Discover Cars, Economybookings and other similar ones. I can recommend both services as they have a decent search with a lot of useful options to find out the best available car rentals.
How to get to Bressanone from Venice
According to my map research, the distance from Venice to Bressanone is just over 300 km. You can also use public transport (train), or rent a car for travelling on your own.
By train: There are no direct trains between Venice and Bressanone, but you can get there with a short change in Verona or Bolzano. The total travel time is almost 4 hours. Trains depart from S. Lucia station every hour. You can check the current train timetable at the Raileurope booking service. In my opinion, Raileurope is a very convenient service, because travellers can compare different routes, duration of the train journey, prices, number of changes if needed, etc.
By rented car: You can also go on a trip by car, having rented a car in Venice. Here you can find many rental offices, including offices at the airport of Venice. You can book a car in advance via different international services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and others. This travel option is perfect for travellers who plan to actively move around the Dolomites. Venice and Bressanone are connected with motorways # A4/E70 and # A22/E45. The travel time is approximately 3.5 hours (see on the map).
How to get to Bressanone from Milan
The distance between Milan and Bressanone is about 320 km. You can also get from Milan to Bressanone by train or by rented car.
By train: There are no direct trains from Milan to Bressanone, but you can get there with a change in Verona. The total travel time is about 4 hours. Trains depart along the route every hour. You can check the current train timetable at the Raileurope booking service.
By rented car: In Milan you can also rent a car to travel around the region. In the Dolomites, the main attractions are scattered quite far from each other and it is not always possible to get there by public transport, so tourists often rent a car. Milan and Bressanone are connected with motorway No. A22/E45. The travel time is almost 4 hours (see on the map). You can book a car in advance via different online services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and others. I can recommend both online services mentioned above as they have a decent search with a lot of helpful options to sort the results as you may need.
Where to stay in Bressanone
I did some research and discovered that travellers can stay in Bressanone in hotels of various categories. Since the town is an excellent starting point for traveling around the Dolomites, tourists often choose to stop here and then make radial trips around the surrounding area. Bressanone is also a convenient place to stay if you come for skiing.
Hotel Krone 4* – the hotel is located in the center of Bressanone, close to public transport stops. F restaurant and a bar are available. There is also a spa center on site, where you can use a sauna, a jacuzzi bath and a massage room. Guests can stay in double rooms of various categories. Some of them have mountain views. In the room you can find everything you need, including a safe, a minibar, TV, and free Wi-Fi. Depending on the room type, breakfast may be included in the price or paid additionally. Paid parking is available to the hotel guests. As online booking services provide tourists reviews, I found out that at the reception you can find storage space for your luggage and skis. Bicycle rental services are also provided at the front desk;
Hotel Residence Gasser 4* – the hotel is located in the town center and offers its guests outdoor and indoor swimming pools, a spa center with a sauna and a gym, a restaurant, and a bar. You can stay in double rooms of various categories. In the rooms you can find a safe, a minibar, TV, wireless Internet. Breakfast is included in the price. Public parking is available nearby the hotel. Luggage storage services are provided at the front desk;
Hotel Elephant 4* – the hotel is located close to the center and to the main attractions of Bressanone. The hotel has a restaurant and a bar. You can also use a sauna and a gym. Guests can stay in rooms of various categories. All rooms are equipped with a safe, a minibar, TV, and free Wi-Fi. Breakfast is included in the price. Parking is located next to the hotel. Luggage storage and bicycle rental services are provided at the front desk;
Hotel Millanderhof 3* – the hotel is located 1 km from the town center. The hotel has a restaurant and a free parking area. You can also visit a gym or play table tennis. There is a barbecue area next to the hotel. You can stay in rooms of various categories. The rooms are equipped with a safe, TV and a hairdryer. Depending on the room type, breakfast may be included in the price or paid additionally. Wi-Fi is provided free of charge. Luggage storage and bicycle rental services are available at the reception;
Tourist Hotel 3* – this hotel is located close to the center of Bressanone. The hotel has a bar. Guests can stay in cozy double rooms that are equipped with a safe, a minibar, air conditioning, TV and free Wi-Fi. Breakfast is included in the room rate. Near the hotel there is a parking lot for guests arriving in Bressanone by car. Luggage storage services are available at the front desk.
What to see in Bressanone
Bressanone has preserved a surprisingly picturesque historical center with three main dominants, including the Cathedral, the Hofburg-Brixen Palace and the Church of San Michele. The construction of the Bressanone Cathedral dates back to the 10th century, but the cathedral received its modern appearance in the Baroque style in the 18th century after a large-scale reconstruction. The cathedral is located on the main square, where the main attractions of Bressanone are concentrated. Inside, the cathedral is decorated with beautiful frescoes from the 14th and 15th centuries, a beautiful altar and Murano glass lamps. The exterior of the cathedral is decorated with different-sized clock towers.
Here is also the magnificent Hofburg-Brixen Palace, now the Diocesan Museum. The palace was built in the 13th century and is considered to be one of the largest palaces in the region. The building contains more than 70 rooms decorated with medieval paintings and sculptures. It is also worth visiting the imperial wing that has been preserved here; the apartments contain original paintings, furniture and porcelain. There is some useful information for visiting that I discovered:
- The palace is open for tours daily from 10 am to 6.30 pm from June to September and until 5 pm from October to May;
- The entrance ticket costs 10 euros for an adult and 5 euros for a child.
Be sure to take a stroll around the old district of Staffels. Here you can see wonderful colorful houses located along narrow cobbled streets. Previously, merchants lived in these houses, while today these are areas for artists.
Moving a little further from the Cathedral, you can find another hidden gem of late Middle Ages architecture, namely the Church of San Michele. The church is absolutely beautiful, both outside and inside. The paintings and stucco of the interior decoration amaze tourists with its elegance, while the exterior features a 72-meter tower. You can go up to get a bird’s eye view of the historic center of Bressanone.
To the left of the Cathedral Square you can see the wonderful Hofgarten botanical garden. This is a great place to relax on a sunny day and admire the local plants and flowers species. It’s especially pleasant to walk here, realizing that the garden was founded in the 16th century. Now the garden is open to everyone.
To my mind, there are still many architectural sites in Bressanone that deserve attention. These are the town gates, the Town Hall, the Pharmaceutical Museum, and the Romanesque monastery. It is also worth a look at the confluence of the Isarco and Rienza rivers. You can do this from the historic Ponte Widmann bridge. Going a little further, deeper into the town, you can also see another bridge, called Ponte Aquilla, from which you can clearly see the picturesque historical center.
Where to go from Bressanone
In addition to the historical center, do not miss the opportunity to see the surroundings of Bressanone. For example, there are several castles and an abbey here. Let’s start with the abbey, which is called Novacella. It is located 6 km north of the town, and was built by the Augustinians in the mid-12th century. Today, the abbey, surrounded with mountains and vineyards, looks truly inspiring. On the territory of the complex there is a Gothic monastery, a Baroque church and a huge library. You can taste different sorts of wine that are produced directly here, thanks to the vast areas of vineyards around. I found out detailed information for visiting the abbey:
- You can get to the abbey by bus # 320, which departs from the Ponte Aquilla bridge. The travel time is approximately 15 minutes.
- If you travel by car, then go north of the center via road No. 12 (see on the map).
There are several castles in the immediate surroundings of Bressanone, and if you have free time and a car, do not miss to visit them. For example, 10 km south of the town you can find the castle of the prince-bishops called Velturns. The castle was built in the 16th century. The beautiful interiors and decoration of the building have been preserved to these days and are certainly worthy of attention. After some research, I discovered the following practical information:
- The castle is open from April to November from 10 am to 5 pm; Monday and Tuesday are days off;
- The entrance ticket costs 6 euros; you can buy a family ticket for 12 euros;
- You can get to the castle either by car along the road No. SP74, or by bus No. 342 in about half an hour. The bus departs from Bressanone Bus Station.
North of Bressanone, 14 km from its center, there is another castle called Rodengo. Rodengo Castle is located on a hill, surrounded with breath-taking natural scenery. In its area you can admire the outer and inner courtyards, the chapel, the armory, the garden. Besides, the wonderful frescoes have been preserved inside the castle. I found out some information which is helpful for visiting:
- The castle is open to the public from early May until mid-October;
- The entrance ticket costs 8 euros for an adult and 3 euros for a child;
- You can get to the castle by bus changing in Fortezza (firstly take a bus # 401, then change to the bus # 412).
Of course, one of the main reasons why tourists go to this region is to visit Lake Braies, which is located just 57 km from Bressanone. Lake Braies is famous for its enchanting landscapes, as it is surrounded with mountains, which are reflected in the mirror surface of the lake, creating a unique pattern on the water. Here you can stroll around and go boating. I did some research to collect practical information for visiting and here it is:
- You can get from Bressanone to Lake Braies by taking road # E66 via Brunico. The travel time one way takes approximately 1 hour (see on the map);
- It is more difficult to get there by public transport, as you have to make several changes on the route. So, first you need to get to Fortezza (by train or by bus), then change to the train to the Niederdorf – Prags station, and then take bus # 442 directly to the lake.
In winter, tourists often depart from Bressanone to numerous ski resorts in the surrounding area. These are Kronplatz, Cortina D’Ampezzo, and Val Gardena. Nevertheless, Bressanone is a tourist destination with much to offer its guests.
Take a note! When going on a trip to Italy, do not forget to take out travel insurance, which is useful for receiving a tourist visa and for solving emerging medical problems when travelling in another country. You can purchase insurance via online services, for example, via EKTA and others. You can choose from different modes, including quiet, active or extreme rest.
Photo above the article: Clemens v. Vogelsang
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Julia is an experienced traveller, BA in International Relations and Languages and true lover of planning trips in advance. Learn more about the author…