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 Brunico. I figured out how to get to Brunico, where to stay & what to see there. I really hope this detailed information will help you plan your trip to this truly charming town.
Table of Contents:
How to get to Brunico from Verona
How to get to Brunico from Venice
How to get to Brunico from Milan
When to travel to Brunico
Brunico (also known as Bruneck) is a picturesque medieval town located in Northern Italy, on the border with Austria. Brunico is an interesting place to visit due to its preserved architecture. For example, there is a castle, as well as many churches, the City Hall, medieval gates and, of course, extensive park areas for walks along a mountain river, surrounded with picturesque mountains. In addition, Brunico is the gateway to the Kronplatz ski resort, which is only 25 km from the town, as well as to the travel points of the Dolomites. For example, the famous Lake Braies is located just 25 km from Brunico.
According to my thorough research, tourists can visit Brunico at any time of the year. The architecture of the town is beautiful any season you will choose to visit it. In winter, Brunico is most often the starting point for the resorts of Kronplatz, and in summer it is the starting point for trips to the Dolomites, including Lake Braies and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo mountains.
How to get to Brunico
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Where do you fly into to get to Brunico? The nearest major cities with international airports are Verona, Venice and Milan. This is where travelers fly to go to Brunico and other resorts in the Dolomites. You can check the flight timetable to Verona or Venice or Milan 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. Then you can get from Verona, Venice or Milan to Brunico either by public transport or by rented car. There is a train station in Brunico.
How to get to Brunico from Verona
Based on my map research, the distance between Verona and Brunico is 225 km. You can get from one city to another by train or by car.
How to get to Brunico from Verona by train
You can get to Brunico by train from Verona in approx. 3 hours. Please, note, that you need to make one or two changes along the route (in Bolzano and Fortezza). Trains depart from Verona every hour; departure takes place from the main station of Verona called Porta Nuova. 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.
How to get to Brunico from Verona by car
You can also go to Brunico on your own by renting a car. This is a great idea if you plan to travel a lot in the Dolomites. Rental offices can be found both in Verona and at the airport. Some of them operate 24 hours a day. You can also book a car in advance via various online services, for example, via Discover Cars, Economybookings and others.
Use the A22/E45 motorway to go directly to Brunico from Verona. The travel time by car is about 2 hours 40 minutes (see on the map). To my mind, both online services mentioned above have a decent search with a lot of useful options so I can definitely recommend using both of them and compare available car rental opportunities. Anyway, a car is considered to be one of the most convenient ways of how to get to Brunico.
How to get to Brunico from Venice
After some map research, I figured out that the distance between Venice and Brunico is about 340 km. You can get there by public transport or by rented car.
How to get to Brunico from Venice by train
You can get from Venice to Brunico by train, but you need to make several changes along the way – in Verona, Bolzano and/or Fortezza. The total travel time is more than 4 hours. Trains depart from Venice main station 1-2 times per hour throughout the day. You can check the current train timetable at the Raileurope booking service. I use Raileurope regularly to check out the current train timetable throughout the whole of Europe and I can definitely recommend it as it has a very convenient search.
How to get to Brunico from Venice by car
Besides public transport, you can also use the services of car rentals and get to the resort on your own. Rental offices in Venice operate both in the city and at the airport. Since the car rental option is quite popular in Venice, it is recommended to book the desired class of a car in advance. This can be done via international online services, for example, via Discover Cars, Economybookings and other similar ones. Venice and Brunico are connected with motorways No. A4/E70 and A22/E45. The travel time is 4 hours (see on the map). To my mind, a car is a comfortable and quite fast way of how to get to Brunico and then travel around.
How to get to Brunico from Milan
The distance between Milan and Brunico is about 350 km. You can use public transport (train) or rent a car to get around.
How to get to Brunico from Milan by train
It takes you about 5 hours to travel from Milan to Brunico. You need to make 2-3 changes along the route (in Verona, Bolzano and/or Fortezza). Trains run 1-2 times per hour during the day. Departure takes place from Milan Central Station. You can check the current train timetable at the Raileurope booking service. In my opinion, this online service is very helpful as it has a lot of various filters to sort the results and find out the best available railway options.
How to get to Brunico from Milan by car
In Milan, you can rent a car and travel around the region on your own. There are a lot of rental points in Milan; they can be found in almost any district of the city, as well as at the airports of Malpensa, Linate or Bergamo. You can book a car in advance at any rental point using various online services, such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and others.
Milan and Brunico are connected with highway No. A22/E45. The travel time is approximately 4.5 hours (see on the map). Based on my experience, both online services are good. In my point of view, both online services are very helpful when planning a holiday to the ski resorts and towns in the mountains.
Where to stay in Brunico
After you have already decided how to get to Brunico, it is the time to find out your accommodation opportunities. I did some research and I can confirm that tourists can stay in Brunico at hotels of various categories. Besides, you can rent apartments here. Brunico is an excellent starting point for radial trips, so tourists often choose Brunico as their main destination to stay in. For a longer stay you can also choose the neighboring resorts of Kronplatz.
Falkensteiner Hotel Kronplatz 5* is located in Brunico, 2 km from the town center. The hotel has a restaurant, a bar, and a spa center with a sauna and a gym. Guests can stay in rooms of various categories. Breakfast is included in the price. Wi-Fi is available free of charge throughout the hotel.
Some rooms have balconies with mountain views. Inside the rooms you can find a safe, a minibar, TV, a kettle, and a hairdryer. Free parking is also available, if needed. It is important to have a parking place in case you choose a car as a way of how to get to Brunico. The front desk is open 24 hours a day and provides luggage storage services.
Hotel Blitzburg 3* is located in the center of Brunico. It features a restaurant, a bar and a steam bath where you can relax after a busy day. You can stay in double rooms of the comfort category. Breakfast is included in the price. The rooms are equipped with everything you need, including a safe, TV and a hairdryer. As online booking services provide tourists reviews, I found out that the guests have access to a terrace where they can sunbathe in summer and enjoy local views in winter. Parking is provided for the guests.
No-star hotels
Hotel Post is located in Brunico, near the castle. The hotel has a restaurant and a bar. You can also visit a sauna and a massage room. Free parking area is available. Guests can stay in rooms of various categories; breakfast is included in the price. In the rooms you can find a safe, a minibar, free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, TV. Luggage and ski storage and bicycle rentals are provided at the reception.
Hotel Rommisa is located 3 km from the center of Brunico – so you can be closer to nature. The hotel has a restaurant and a bar. Wi-Fi is provided free of charge. A parking lot is also available. It is especially useful in case you choose a car as a way of how to get to brunico and move around. You can relax in the spa area with a sauna and table tennis opportunities. You can stay in double rooms. Breakfast is included in the room rate. Inside the room you can find a safe, TV, and a hairdryer. You can also find a relaxation terrace, a children’s playground and a children’s playroom at the hotel area.
B& B Am Schloss is located in the town center. There is a bar in its area. Wi-Fi is provided free of charge. Guests can stay in double rooms of various categories. The rooms have a safe, TV, air conditioning, and a hairdryer. Luggage storage and bicycle rental services are available at the front desk.
What to see in Brunico
Brunico is a wonderful small town in Northern Italy. Its charm is determined with the authentic architecture, preserved here since the Middle Ages, and the amazing mountain landscapes. Brunico is located in the picturesque Pustertal valley, surrounded by the Dolomite Mountain ranges.
The dominant feature of the town is the Brunico Castle. It is located on a hill, close to the historical center. The castle was built in the mid-13th century and you can easily notice its early medieval features in architecture. The castle is also decorated with a tower and a chapel. Brunico Castle is open to the public; today within its walls there is the Messner Museum, which tells about the culture and life of the highlanders. After some research, I discovered the following practical information:
- In summer, the museum is open from 10 to 18.00, while in winter is open from 12.00 to 18.00.
- The entrance ticket costs 14 euros.
Historical attractions
Of course, it is worth walking through the picturesque streets of the historical center of Brunico. Here you can see many elegant buildings and colorful houses lining the cobbled streets. A large number of authentic churches have been preserved in Brunico. So, it’s definitely worth visiting the Ursuline Church, built in the 15th century. Inside, medieval frescoes have been preserved. The church is made in the Gothic style and is open to the public daily from 8 am to 8 pm. No less interesting is the Church of the Holy Spirit. Baroque motifs can be easily noticed, and the onion-shaped roof makes the church recognizable among many other churches. The original altar has been preserved inside the building.
- The church is open to the public daily from 8 am to 8 pm.
Also, near the historical center, on the river bank you can find the Church of St. Catherine. Its roof also has an onion-shaped form. The church was originally built in the mid-14th century, but then in the 17th century it finally took on its current appearance, in which baroque elements can be easily found.
- The building is open to the public daily from 10 am to 7 pm.
Churches & Museums
At the western side of the town there is also the very picturesque Church of St. Lawrence. Surrounded by mountains, the building is particularly beautiful. Different parts of the building were designed at different times – from the 13th to the 16th centuries inclusive. The famous painting “Madonna with Little Jesus Holding Grapes” by Michael Pacher is kept inside, and his frescoes are kept in the attached chapel.
- The church is open for viewing daily from 8 am to 7 pm.
While walking around the town center, you will probably have to pass through the medieval painted gates several times. These are the Raintor gate and the Floriani gate. They are both painted by famous masters. For example, the Floriani gate was painted by Rudolf Stolz.
Another attraction it is definitely recommended to visit in Brunico is the South Tyrol Folklore Museum. Here you can see a noble residence built in the 17th century, farm houses and craft workshops, as well as peasant houses. In total, the museum is located on 3 hectares of land and is decorated with beautiful landscaped gardens. Inside the residence you can explore the landowner’s chambers and preserved authentic household items. I did some research to collect practical information for visiting and here it is:
- The museum is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm, except Mondays;
- Entrance ticket costs 9 euros;
- The museum is located 2 km from the center of Brunico; its address is Herzog-Diet-Str. 24.
Earth Pyramids of Platten
Of the natural attractions located in the surroundings of Brunico, you should definitely visit the earth pyramids of Platten. They are located just 12 km from Brunico, on the outskirts of the town of Perca, and represent a unique natural landscape. In fact, these are pointed sand mountains that were formed here with constant winding. You can get here by car or by local bus No. 432. From the stop you can walk along a specially laid path directly to the observation deck.
Where to go from Brunico
It is also impossible not to mention the two main attractions of the Dolomites called Lake Braies and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo mountains, which are located in the immediate surroundings of Brunico. In my opinion, both places are must-see in the Dolomites. The Tre Cime di Lavaredo mountains are located 55 km from Brunico. You can only get here by car; the travel time is a little over an hour.
Lake Braies is located only 30 km from the town. In summer you can try swimming and boating here. There is a train from Brunico to Niederdorf – Prags station, where you need to take a local bus # 442 directly to the lake. The travel time is also a little over an hour.
One of the main destinations from Brunico remains the Kronplatz ski resort, where you can learn alpine skiing in winter and enjoy mountain scenery while hiking in summer. The resort of Kronplatz is just 25 km from Brunico. Overall, there are a lot of places to visit from Brunico and it is especially easy to do it in case you choose a car as a way of how to get to Brunico and then to travel around the whole region.
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: Simon Bierwald
Julia is an experienced traveller, BA in International Relations and Languages and true lover of planning trips in advance. Learn more about the author…
