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Table of Contents:
How to get to Trento from Verona
How to get to Trento from Venice
How to get to Trento from Milan
When to travel to Trento
Trento is an elegant Italian town, which is rightfully considered to be the “gateway” to the famous Dolomites region. Trento will surprise you with its exceptional architecture and enchanting natural landscapes. Most often, Trento is the starting point for traveling to the ski resorts of Italy, but Trento can be an independent travel destination, since the town is a real “pearl” of the Northern Italy.
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 Trento. 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 Trento.
You can visit Trento any time of the year. In winter you will be pleased with the landscapes of snow-capped peaks, and in spring and summer you will be charmed with green meadows at the foot of the mountains. Autumn is also a nice time to visit the mountains as the area becomes incredibly colorful and vibrant. In addition to the fact that Trento is the “gateway” to the ski resorts of Northern Italy, it is also an excellent starting point for exploring the Dolomites, including mountain lakes, alpine meadows and fantastic mountain landscapes – it is everything that the region is so famous for.
How to get to Trento
Where do you fly into to get to Trento? The good news is that Trento has its own train station, which means you can get here by public transport. In addition, travelers can use a taxi or a rented car. The nearest major cities are Verona, Venice and Milan. All three cities have international airports. You can check the flight timetable to Verona or Venice or Milan via specialized online services such as Aviasales and others. I use this online service regularly to check out available flight options and I can say it has a great search with a lot of helpful filters to narrow down the results. I have bought tickets via Aviasales many times and I am always satisfied with their services.
How to get to Trento from Verona
According to my map research, the distance between Verona and Trento is 100 km. You can take a train, a bus or a car to get from Verona to Trento.
By public transport: There are two main options for getting from Verona to Trento by public transport – you can use either the train or the bus. If you choose a train, direct trains run 2-3 times per hour throughout the day. The travel time is 1 hour. Departure takes place from the main station of Verona called Verona Porta Nuova. You can view the current train timetable at the Raileurope booking service. I often use this service as it helps me to compare different railway options and to choose an optimal one.
The second option is a bus. Flixbus buses operate along the route. More than 10 buses per day depart to Trento; you can check the schedule on the Flixbus website. The travel time is a little over an hour. Buses also depart from Verona railway station. As I know Flixbus is a pretty popular bus service in Europe and designed for cheaper trips with affordable prices. I should say that both options – a train and a bus – are fairly fast and inexpensive ways to get from Verona to Trento.
By rented car: In addition to public transport, you can also rent a car in Verona. You can find rental offices at the airport or in the city center. This option is especially relevant if you are going to actively move around the Dolomites region. You can book a car in advance via specialized online services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and others. Verona and Trento are connected with highway No. A22/E45. The travel time is a little over an hour (see on the map). 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 Trento from Venice
As I did some map research, I can confirm that the distance between Venice and Trento is 200 km. You can get from one city to another by train or by rented car.
By public transport: Trains run between Venice and Trento with a change in Verona. The total travel time is about 3 hours. Trains run twice an hour throughout the day. You can check the current train timetable for your dates at the Raileurope booking service. Departure takes place from the main station of Venice called Santa Lucia.
By rented car: You can also use a car to reach your travel destination. This option is quite popular in Venice. To rent a car you need to have a passport, an international driving license and a bank card to pay for the services. You can also book a car for renting in advance via various online services, for example, via Discover Cars, Economybookings and others. Venice and Trento are connected with highways #A4/E70 and #A22/E45 via Verona. The travel time is from 2 to 3 hours, depending on traffic (see on the map).
How to get to Trento from Milan
After some map observing, I figured out that the distance between Milan and Trento is about 200 km. You can get from Milan to Trento by train or by rented car.
By public transport: Trains run between Milan and Trento with a change in Verona. The total travel time is approximately 3 hours. Trains depart from Milan Central Station twice an hour throughout the day. You can check the current train timetable at the Raileurope booking service. I really like this online service and it has helped me many times when I was looking for optimal railways options for my upcoming trips.
By rented car: You can go to Trento on your own by car. The car rental option is very popular in Milan. You can rent a car at Milan airport or at numerous offices in the city. You can also book a car in advance via specialized online services. These could be Discover Cars, Economybookings and others similar. Milan and Trento are connected with highway No. A22/E45. The travel time is about 3 hours (see on the map). Based on my experience, I can recommend both online services for renting a car.
Where to stay in Trento
Trento has a well-developed hotel infrastructure, so tourists can stay in numerous hotels of various star categories, or rent apartments. The town has both local hotels and international chain hotels.
NH Trento 4* – the hotel is located 1 km from the town center. There is a bar and a restaurant on site, as well as a gym. Guests can stay in double or triple standard or junior suite rooms. Some rooms have a terrace. Breakfast may be included in the price or paid additionally. The rooms are equipped with a minibar, a safe, air conditioning, and TV. Wi-Fi is provided free of charge. A parking area is also available. As online booking services provide tourists reviews, I found out that the front desk offers luggage storage, currency exchange and bicycle rental services;
Boutique Exclusive B& B 4* – this hotel is located close to the main attractions, on the banks of a picturesque river canal. It offers a restaurant, a bar and a billiard room. You can stay in one, two, three or four-bed rooms. Breakfast is included. All rooms are equipped with a safe, a minibar, air conditioning, and TV. Wi-Fi is provided free of charge throughout the hotel. Bicycle rental services are available at the reception;
Hotel America 4* – the hotel is located in the town center and offers its guests a restaurant, a bar, and a gym. You can stay in rooms of various categories, some of them have a balcony. Some room types also include breakfast. Inside the room you can find everything you need for relaxation, including a safe, a minibar, air conditioning, TV, and free Wi-Fi. A parking area is also available. Luggage storage services can be found at the front desk;
B& B Hotel Trento 3* – this hotel is located 5 km from the town center and is perfect for road travelers due to its location and available parking places. Guests can stay in two, three and four-bed rooms. The rooms have everything tourists need, including a safe, air conditioning, a hairdryer, TV, etc. Luggage storage services are available at the front desk;
Hi Hotels- Wellness & SPA 3* – the hotel is located near the town center and the railway station. The hotel has a spa, a swimming pool and a gym. Guests can stay in different categories of rooms and apartments. Some room types include breakfast. The apartments have a kitchen area. Air conditioning, TV and a hairdryer can also be found inside the rooms. The hotel has a parking lot and a large terrace for relaxation. Luggage storage and bicycle rental services are available at the front desk.
What to see in Trento
Trento is a small but surprisingly picturesque town with many architectural attractions. Elegant squares and palaces are mixed with severe-looking fortresses and castles, and the look of local towers is softened by fancy fountains. Of course, the surroundings of Trento also attract the attention of tourists. You can go hiking and see turquoise mountain lakes, waterfalls and, of course, gorgeous Dolomites mountains.
One of the main squares of the town is Piazza Duomo. This is a well-preserved medieval square with a magnificent Neptune Fountain and the basilica of San Vigilio. The basilica was built in the 12th-13th centuries. There is also a chapel near the basilica, which, however, was built later, in the 17th century, in an elegant Baroque style.
- The basilica is open to the public daily from 10.00 to 12.00 and from 14.30 to 17.00.
What else is worth seeing in Piazza Duomo is the Fountain of Neptune, which was built in the 18th century in the neoclassical style; as well as the houses of Balduini and Catsuffi, which were built in the Middle Ages and have preserved their authentic decor, including paintings and frescoes.
The Palace of the Praetors is also located at the Duomo square. Its construction dates back to the 13th century. The building is decorated with battlements along the entire perimeter, and on the left side there is a tower. There is a historical museum with unique exhibits from the Council of Trent, including icons, paintings, manuscripts, costumes, jewelry, and tapestries. The famous series of Flemish tapestries “The Passion of the Christ” by Pieter van Aalst are exhibited here. I did some research to collect practical information for visiting and here it is:
- The museum is open to the public every day, except Tuesdays, from 10.00 to 13.00 and from 14.00 to 18.00;
- The entrance ticket costs 7 euros;
- Visiting the tower of the palace is only possible as part of a 1-hour group tour.
Walking through the town center, you can also come across several palaces that once belonged to noble families of the Trentino region. For example, on the central streets of the town you can see palaces of Roccabruna, Geremia and delle Albere. All of them have preserved authentic architecture.
One of the main attractions of Trento is the Buonconsiglio Castle. It is located a little further from the central Duomo square, but it is definitely worth getting to. The building was once the residence of the ruling bishop. The castle was built in the 13th century, in the Romanesque style, and is decorated with a tower. Unique paintings with biographies of the castle owners have been preserved inside. At the moment, the National Museum of Trento is located within the walls of the castle. I found out detailed information for visiting the castle:
- The museum is open to the public every day from 09.00 to 18.00, except Mondays;
- The entrance ticket costs 10 euros; climbing the tower costs 2.5 euros.
Another great way to see Trento from above is to take the funicular to the observation deck on Mount Sardana. Departure starts from the lower station, which is called Funivia-Sardagna. The station is located to the left of Piazza Duomo, right next to the river and the bridge across it. It only takes a few minutes to get up, but it’s worth it. On a clear day, Trento’s landscapes, surrounded with hills, are simply stunning.
Where to go from Trento
As it has been said before, Trento is a convenient starting point for traveling around the Dolomites. The surrounding area is home to many natural attractions, including lakes, waterfalls and amazingly shaped mountains. For example, just 25 km from the town there is a Monte Bondone range, which can be admired from the botanical garden located at its foot. The garden is called Giardino Botanico Alpino Viote. You can get there from Trento by bus #B202 or by car along the road no. SP85 in about 40 minutes (see on the map).
Lake Cavedine is located a little further. It is amazingly picturesque and surrounded by mountains. If you like lakes such as Garda, Como or Maggiore, then Lake Cavedine will not disappoint you. Here you can take a walk on your own, or you can stay in one of the resort towns for a longer time. There are buses # B205 running to Lake Cavedine; the travel time is approximately 1 hour 40 minutes. You can also get there by car along road No. SP84 (see on the map). This road is extremely scenic and passes such attractions as the Calavino waterfall, the Madruzzo castle, and the medieval town of Lasino. All together these attractions can make an excellent itinerary for a day trip from Trento.
To my mind, one of the most popular destinations for tourists from Trento is the Val Gardena valley. In winter there are ski slopes here, and in summer you can use lifts to go hiking along the numerous trails in the mountains. You can read more about Val Gardena resorts here.
Lake Carezza
Lake Carezza (Lago di Carezza) is the well-known attraction of the Dolomites. Travelers are especially impressed by its turquoise water surface and mysterious circles at the bottom of the lake. The closest major town to the lake is Bolzano, but you can also get to the lake from Trento. The distance is about 85 km. If you travel by public transport, firstly you will need to take the train to Bolzano. Based on my research, direct trains run several times an hour throughout the day. The travel time is approximately 40 minutes. Next in Bolzano you need to take bus #180, which goes directly to the lake. If you travel by car, then follow road No. A22/E45 to Bolzano and then road No. SS241 directly to the lake (see on the map). Please note it is prohibited to swim here, but there are designated hiking trails around the lake and a variety of viewing points.
Lake Braies
Lake Braies (Lago di Braies) is considered to be one of the most picturesque places in the Dolomites. The lake is large enough for swimming and boating, and its waters reflect the surrounding mountains. Lake Braies is located 160 km from Trento. If you travel by car, then you need to take a road No. A22/E45 to Bolzano, and then to take a road No. E66 through Bressanone and Brunico to get directly to the lake. As I found out, for a one-way trip you need to spend about 2 hours 20 minutes (see on the map). If you choose public transport for travelling, then you can take the train to the town of Brunico (this is the closest town to the lake with a train station) with a change in Bolzano. The travel time from Trento takes approximately 2 hours. Then in Brunico you need to take an electric train to the village of Niederdorf-Prags, from where direct buses No. 442 depart to Lake Braies.
Tre Cime de Lavaredo
Another iconic landmark of the Dolomites is the three closely spaced dolomite mountains called Tre Cime di Lavaredo. You can get here from Trento only by car via Bolzano following the route No. A22/E45 (see on the map). According to my map research, the distance is approximately 180 km, and the travel time is about 3-4 hours.
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: Michela Simoncini
Julia is an experienced traveller, BA in International Relations and Languages and true lover of planning trips in advance. Learn more about the author…