Holidaying in Alto Adige without a car?

[Mannette]

My husband and I live in Bologna, and would like to spend a couple of weeks in the Suedtirol/Alto Adige in August. We don't drive, so will have to travel on public transport. Does anyone have any advice on suitable places for us to stay? We are happy to be in a town for this first visit - I imagine it will be fairly easy to travel round on local public transport. Any advice would be very welcome. We have received some info already re Bolzano - ideally we would like to go self-catering, but most properties seem to be outside the town, and require a car for access. Any thoughts?

[giovanni]

The official website of South Tyrol

This site maybe of use. We intend to tour that area too, but we would be using a car,so i would suggest if you are dependant on public transport, really you need to look into the biggar towns like merano,and bolzano.
Alas self catering seems to be popular in the touristy areas,which will be dificult to get to without your own transport,or indeed maywell mean swopping buses 2 or 3 times.

Which makes the holiday a little more hectic.

good luck.

[Noble]

Two friends from Perugia have been to the following hotel several times. They travel up by train and find the hotel staff charming and the food excellent.
It's the Park Hotel Laurin, via Laurin 4, Bolzano
tel. 0471 311 000 e mail info@laurin.it Hotel Laurin Hotel Greif
Just a block from the railway station with beautiful park and small swimming pool in the garden. They have reserved for the end of June.

[TuesdaySue]

Gorgeous area. We lived in Trentino for a while, and did frequent day trips by car. That said, the area isn't as bad as the rest of Italy for public transport, so you may be able to get off at some of the medium sized places and be quite happy.

Termeno/Tramin isn't far from the main Italy-Austria trainline and is picture postcard pretty (and has great cantinas of Gewurtz-Traminer wine - try Stoan for a real treat). Lots of accommodation there from what I recall.

There's a private trainline to Cles (though that might be just south of the border??). Again pretty and full of accommodation.

But in Alto Adige, you really want to get up the mountains. And of course, that takes a long time in a bus! Canazei is a ski hub, so will probably have transport, accommodation and great views. The buildings aren't as pretty as the non-ski villages, but the landscape makes up for it.

Here's the transport site - all modes: SITI Alto Adige: Orario online

Have fun (and don't forget the German phrasebook!)!

[TuesdaySue]

PS When in Bolzano - don't forget the Utzi Iceman museum - it's amazing!

[Mount Side]

I was recently in the Corvara/Colfosco area, what a beautiful place. Although I had a car the local buses were very frequent and serviced all the local area, quite a few people seemd to be queing for them (although they never seemed full). The buses even went up to the passes, so if you were wanting to go walking in the area they would be ideal. Friends of mine have relied on the buses for doing Via Ferrata in the area.

I know there are links from either Bolzano or Cortina to get into the area

Has to be said that the local language Ladino was quite different.

Chris

[TuesdaySue]

Yeh I remember getting some surprised looks - "oh, you speak Italian!" from the Ladino speaking locals!
Very beautiful area, especially for hiking and wildlife.

[giovanni]

You know what amazes me about the area,we were there only a few weeks ago whilst the rest of Italy had indifferent weather, we had great weather,if a bit chillier in the evenings

I also recall late may/early June of 2003,being in Albenga, Liguria the weather being fine but the hottest brightest part of Italy being this region in the mountains.