Merano 2000

Meran 2000 ski resort is a perfect winter and summer destination for families. It's not a big plateau area but it has a lot on offer: 40km of ski slopes, winter walks, a natural sledge run and the Alpine-Bob. Apparently, it's the longest one in Italy.

If you prefer walking to taking the cable car, you can follow the footpath
from Falzeben (1680m) towards Pfiffinger Koepfl (1980m) . The walk takes about 45 minutes. If you plan to use sledges on your way back, it is better to rent them at Falzeben, near the cable car station. The only reason is that they always have sledges available here, whereas you won't always find them on top of the mountain.

An information point listing all the restaurants and the time to get to them.

In our case, we set off from Falzeben and took a cable car up to Pfiffinger Koepfl. We had lunch at a nearby restaurant and we followed a well sign-posted path towards Malga Waidmann/Waidmannalm. The walk was very easy and not very long. We passed on our way other families with small children and buggies. It was definitely worth going a bit further off the busiest area near the cable car station. All we could see was white mountains dotted with ski slopes and mountain huts. It was much quieter and tranquil. We wanted to avoid going back the same way so we followed the path towards Rotwandhuette/ Rifugio Parete Rossa to the start of our sledge run. This path doesn't take you to the exact beginning of the sledge run, but a bit further down the slope. It is also narrower in places so not suitable for buggies. If you get to Malga Waidmann with a buggy, you would be much better off going back the same way.

How to get there: 

By car from Trento: follow the A 22 towards Bolzano/Bozen, take the Bolzano sud exit and then follow the Merano-Bolzano superstrada. Exit at Merano Sud and follow the indications for Meran 2000. The journey takes about 1 hour 20 minutes. You can either leave your car at the cable car station in Falzeben or near the cable car Naif, which lies a little before Falzeben. Both cable cars take you to Pfiffinger Koepfl.

Sledge run and walks: easy;

Duration: 1 day;

Restaurants:

Falzeben restaurant (0473 279423), Halbweg/Mezzavia: Zeughuette (0473279408), Waidmannalm (0473279461;

Useful links:
http://www.meran2000.net/uk/start.php

Reinswalder Wiesn sledge run

Reinswald is situated in the beautiful Sarentino valley and it is only 1 hour drive from Trento. Reinswald boasts one of the longest sledge runs in South Tyrol: 4.5 km long Reinswalder Wiesn. We liked the place a lot and we want to return there this summer to explore more.

We went there last Sunday. It was very busy and we left our car at the free of charge car park and took the shuttle bus to the cable car station. It was all very well organised. From there you can decide if you want to follow a well signposted path (1.5 hour walk) towards Malga Pichlberg or take the cable car. Either way, you have to remember to rent your sledges at the cable car station in the valley.
Once up there we didn't want to go down right away so we decided to walk a bit towards Gedrumalm (it is a 50 minute walk from the cable car station). After about 15 minutes, the path got narrower and it continued towards the valley, which meant we would have had to come back up again. The views were worth it, though. It was also quieter than at the Pichlberg restaurant.

Going down with our sledges was very thrilling, and at times we were going very fast. As already mentioned, it felt crowded so we wouldn't say that we enjoyed it as much as the other sledge runs in South Tyrol. We stopped for a moment at malga Sunnolm, but, as it was packed as well, we decided to carry on towards the cable car station.

To sum up, it is a beautiful part of South Tyrol with one of the longest sledge runs but if you can, avoid weekends. As for the easy winter walks, we didn't feel it had such a big choice like, for example, Renon. We haven't explored it all, though.

How to get there: 

By car from Trento: follow the A22 towards Bozen/ Bolzano, take the exit at Bozen Nord/ Bolzano Nord and follow the indications for Sarntal/ Val Sarentino. 


For alternative means of transport please see the following website:
http://www.reinswald.com/cms/en/the-quickest-way-to-your-winter-fun.html

Duration: whole day;

Sledge run level: easy to intermediate, 

Refreshments and toilet facilities: cable car station, Malga Pichlberg and Malga Sunnolm

Useful websites:

http://www.reinswald.com/cms/en/sportarten/rodeln.html

Puflatsch, Seiser Alm/ Bullaccia, Alpe di Siusi

Seiser Alm, Alpe di Siusi in Italian, is our favourite winter destination in South Tyrol. It's got everything: a variety of wide ski slopes, miles of winter paths, breathtaking scenery and lots of places to stop for a meal or a hot drink. The area is so vast that somehow everyone finds a place for themselves and it never feels crowded. 

Puflatsch, Bullaccia in Italian, is known for the witches' stories. (See our older posts on Alpe di Siusi.) It is a perfect place to admire the panorama; from here you can see all the surrounding mountains, including: Schlern (Scillar) and Saslonch (Sassolungo) and even Marmolada in the distance. The panorama viewing point is not far away from the restaurant Puflatsch Bullaccia. Turn right near the restaurant and follow the path going up to the viewing point.

We got up there using the cable car Puflatsch/ Bullaccia where we also rented our sledges free of charge. From the ski lift/cable car Puflatsch/ Bullaccia at 1870m above the sea level you get to Puflatsch at 2119m.

If you prefer walking, you can follow a well sign posted path but don't forget to get your sledges first at the Puflatsch cable car station. The walk takes about one hour. We stopped at the restaurant and then took our sledges down. It was relatively easy, although the ice in some places made us go very fast. 

How to get there: 

By car: From Trento follow the A22 towards Bozen Nord/ Bolzano Nord, follow the indications for Seiser Alm/ Alpe di Siusi. The road leading to the Alpe di Siusi Nature Protection Reserve is blocked from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. (exception for guests of facilities located on the Alpe di Siusi) so you need to leave you car at the free of charge car park and then take the cable car to Kompatsch/Seiser Alm. The cost for a family of 4 is about 27 euros (a return ticket), children under 5 go free of charge. You have to add the tickets to go up to Puflatsch from Kompatsch. (3.50 euros per adult, children under 6 go free)

For bus and train travel we refer you to the following website:

http://www.alpedisiusi.net/en/alpe-di-siusi/arrival.html

Duration: whole day

Sledge run: medium level; it's 1,8km long

Refreshments and toilet facilities: restaurant Puflatsch/ Bullaccia; toilets available at the cable car station as well. Since it is South Tyrol, all places have baby changing facilities.

Renon Plateau- Bolzano

We have discovered another great place for families and not only; it is very good for both, winter sports and winter walks. 

Renon is just above South Tyrol's capital Bozen/ Bolzano, so it's like what Monte Bondone is for Trento but it offers much more than Bondone in terms of walks and sledging; and it takes only about 50 minutes by car to get there from Trento.

We went there on a Sunday and it was not too busy. We had a great day with a bit of walking first and sledging afterwards. The kids were happy because we took the cable car and we stopped to have a meal at the restaurant.

We parked at the free of charge car park near the cable car station  of Rittner Horn at Pommern (1541m above the sea level). We got our tickets for the cable car and rented out a pair of sledges from the nearby rental service. (You pay for it when you get your ticket for the cable car.)

We took the cable car to the Schwarzseespitze at 2070 m above the sea level and we found ourselves in a sort of winter paradise. It was what we like: tranquil and breathtaking, with lots of winter paths to choose from. Seeing all this we did not want to go straight down with our sledges and we decided to walk first. To be honest we were unprepared as to where to go but we asked somebody and they advised us to do the Panorama walk. Of course, we are sure, you prefer to be much more prepared than us, so here is the website where you will find all the winter walks around Renon: http://www.ritten.com/en/active/snowtrekking/

The Panorama walk is very easy, by all means suitable for families and indeed, we saw some buggies on our way. We followed a very well sign posted path, passed by a round panorama table with an info point and a splendid view of the surrounding mountains, including Seiser Alm/ Alpe di Siusi. After about one hour of a leisurely walk we were back to our starting point. We went to have lunch in the restaurant and then set off towards the valley. The sledge run was icy in places and we were going very fast at times.

All in all, we had a great time and we'd love to go back there not only in winter. 

How to get there: 

By car from Trento: take the A22 towards Bozen/ Bolzano, take the exit at Bozen Nord/ Bolzano Nord and follow the indications for Renon. 

For alternative means of transport, including the Ritten cable car from Bolzano please go to the following website: http://www.ritten.com/en/active/snowtrekking/

Duration: whole day;

Sledge run level: easy to medium; it's 2.5km long;

Refreshments and toilet facilities: at the cable car station in the valley and at the Schwarzseespitze. Baby changing facilities are also available.

Useful websites: 

http://www.ritten.com/en/

Winter Tuffalm/Malga Tuff

Tuffalm/ Malga Tuff lies in the breathtaking and beautiful Seiser Alm Nature Park/ Scillar Nature Park. You will be spoilt by a choice of many  hiking paths for every family.

We usually leave our car near the lake of Voels am Schlern/ Fie' allo Scillar at 1.036m (last time we've been there it cost 3 euros per day). 
The sledge slope starts near the car park and is very well sign posted. You will find that all the paths are well maintained even in winter and good walking boots will suffice.

The slope is 1.5 km long and it takes about 45 mins to get there. It is possible to hire a horse carriage to get there. You'll find it near the lake at the start of the path. 

The difference in altitude level is 214m and the path difficulty is described as medium. 

You can get the sledges free of charge at Malga Tuff, although we were once asked to pay.

Beware of the fact that Tuffalm is only open from the 26 of December until the beginning of March. For more information visit their website below, although it's only in German and Italian for the time being.

At the end of your walk/sledge ride you can go ice skating on the lake, but you must bring your own skates.

How to get there:

From Trento take the A22 towards Brennero, take the exit Bolzano Nord/Bozen Nord towards SS12, then turn into SP24 towards Voels am Schlern/ Fie' allo Scillar. Park at the car park near the lake where you will find the Nature Park info point as well.

Duration: it depends on you, from half a day to a whole day trip.


Level: easy to medium;


Refreshments and toilet facilities: the restaurant near the lake and Tuffalm.

Useful websites:


http://www.pitschlmann.it/tuffalm/



http://www.voels-am-schlern.com/

Florian in Seiseralm/Alpe di Siusi

Seiseralm/Alpe di Siusi is the largest mountain plateau in Europe, very popular with tourists both, in summer and in winter. We've been there in winter on many occasions and we loved it because it's very well organised and they have great facilities for families.

 

The starting point is at the ski lift Florian. You have the option of either taking your own sledges/toboggan or renting them out when you buy your tickets (you can pay at the ski lift down in the valley station in Saltria and you get them on top of the Florian mountain (2100m above the sea level). Here's the website of the Florian ski lift in English with all the prices etc.  

From Williams Huette follow the indications for the toboggan slope and go down towards Tirler where you can stop for tea/coffee and then follow further on towards Saltria. Leave your sledge near the Hotel Roasalpina.

How to get there:

Not having a car here is both a blessing and a curse. No cars obviously means cleaner air, little traffic, unspoilt landscapes. But getting here by cable car is quite expensive. You can, however, get a bus to Kompatsch or Saltria or you can come here by car but only within certain hours (before 9 a.m. or after 5p.m). If you are staying at one of the hotels in Seiser Alm, you'll get a speciall pass to allow you to drive up to Seiser Alm/ Aple di Siusi.

By car: From Trento follow A22 towards Bozen/ Bolzano, take the exit Bozen Nord, follow the indications for Seiseralm/ Alpe di Siusi.

By bus or train: For how to get there by bus or train please sea the link below.
http://www.seiseralm.it/en/service/arrival/

By bus and cablecar: For the link for timetable for bus connections and the cable car from Seis am Schlern/ Siusi allo Sciliar to Seiseralm/ Alpe di Siusi please see the link below.
http://www.seiseralmbahn.it/en/arrival/

Level: easy

Refreshments and toilet facilities: in various malghe (alpine mountain huts), for example: Williams Huette, Zallinger or Tirler;

Useful websites: 

http://www.seiseralm.it/en/

http://www.florianlift.it/en/chairlift-florian/

Brixen/ Bressanone Christmas Market

Brixen is a charming small town in South Tyrol that is worth a visit not only at Christmas time.

We went there on the night of the 5 December when they celebrate the visit of S. Nikolaus. Having seen what they do on that day, we would think twice before taking our children to see it again. Nevertheless, it was very interesting and funny, maybe just not suitable for our sensitive munchkins.

We saw a group of teenagers running and screaming. They were followed but those goat like creatures with the devilish faces covered in black soot. They would pretend (I hope) to beat up teenagers and adults and cover their faces with black paste. They were followed by the carriage of S.Nikolaus and another carriage with loud devilish music and red lights. It looked like a picture from Hell.

Brixen Christmas Market is open from 25th November 2010 to 6th January 2011. 

It's closed on 25th December and 1st of January. 

Opening times:  10am-7.30pm weekdays

9.30am - 7pm Sundays and holidays

Bozen/ Bolzano Christmas Market

It is probably the most popular of Christmas Markets in South Tyrol and Italy.

You'll find here all the things you'd expect to see at a Christmas Market: Christmas decorations, traditional food, live music etc. 
What's new this year is an additional stand where mums can breastfeed in privacy and in a warm place, or change their little ones. We've been to 7 other Christmas Markets in Trentino and South Tyrol this year and we havent' seen anything like it anywhere else so well done Bozen!

The Bolzano Christmas Market is open from 26th November to 23rd December 2010.

Mon to Fri: 10 am to 7.30 pm

Saturdays: 9am to 8pm

Sundays: 9 am to 7 pm

Sterzing/ Vipiteno Christmas Market

It's definitely one of our favourite ones, shame it's quite far away from Trento.

You'll find here all the usual Christmas crafts and specialities. 

Here's the website with the opening times (German and Italian only):

http://www.weihnachtsmarkt-sterzing.com/