14 best things to do in Bressanone and Vipiteno  

If you’re reading this post, chances are you’re planning on visiting Bressanone/Brixen or Vipiteno/Sterzing or both. 

Two small towns north of Bolzano in South Tyrol, both Bressanone/Brixen and Vipiteno/Sterzing make ideal day — or half day — trips. 

In this post, I’ll be listing the 14 best things to do in Bressanone and Vipiteno.

Some of the most beautiful places in South Tyrol, both towns make great additions to any Dolomites road trip itinerary. 

Unique places to add to your Italy bucket list, use this post to help plan your Italy trip. 

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Where is Bressnone/Brixen and Vipiteno/Sterzing? 

Bressanone/Brixen is a town in the province of Bolzano in the South Tyrol region of northern Italy.

It also holds the title of being the oldest city in Tyrol. Like the rest of the region, Bressanone’s architecture, language, food and culture reflects many Austrian influences given its long history. 

It's why towns in South Tyrol have both Italian and German names and the buildings follow an Alpine architectural style.  

The journey by car from Bolzano to Bressanone/Brixen can take around 47 minutes, not including traffic.

There’s also the helpful option to travel by train from Bolzano and this takes less than 30 minutes.  
Vipiteno/Sterzing is much further north, heading in the direction towards the Austrian border. By car, it’s a straightforward 27 minutes from Bressanone to Vipiteno, more or less staying on the same road. 

There is public transport that will take you from Bressanone to Vipiteno, but it involves taking a train and bus. Most journeys will range from 41 to 44 minutes. 

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14 best things to do in Bressanone and Vipiteno 

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Best things to do in Bressanone/Brixen 

1. Walk through the Old Town 

Bressanone’s Old Town is one of the prettiest I’ve had the pleasure of visiting.  

Its perfectly lined cobbled streets lined with colorful alpine-style architecture paints a pretty scene even in the grey winter light. 

The Old Town in Bressanone bears a striking resemblance to Bolzano but on a smaller scale. Exploring Bolzano’s town center is also one of the best things to do while visiting the city.  

We visited Bressanone/Brixen in the run-up to Christmas, when the Christmas lights and decorations had already been put up. Speaking of Christmas… 

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2. Visit Bressanone/Brixen Christmas market 

Alongside Bolzano, Bressanone/Brixen hosts one of the oldest Christmas markets in Italy. 

Come late November, the Piazza Palazzo Vescovile transforms into a festive scene, with traditional wooden huts filling the grounds. At its heart is a large Christmas tree complete with dazzling decorations. 

Naturally, visiting the Christmas market in Bressanone/Brixen won’t be relevant if visiting at any other time of the year. But, if you happen to visit during winter in Italy, be sure to pass by. 

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3. Step inside its Duomo 

For a town as small as Bressanone/Brixen, its grand cathedral is a pleasant, and impressive, surprise. 

The origins of Bressanone/Brixen Cathedral (Duomo di Bressanone) date to the 10th century. It was originally built in an Ottonian style but later rebuilt in a Romanesque style after a fire in 1174. 

After several renovations over time, the cathedral combines Romanesque, Gothic and Baroque elements. The cathedral houses valuable artworks and artifacts. 

Inside, the walls are adorned with frescoes depicting biblical scenes and saints, while paintings and sculptures line the interior. Personally, I was left speechless by the intricate detailing on the baroque high altar. 

Before leaving the cathedral, make sure to visit the crypt. It sits beneath the church and contains the remains of bishops and other religious figures. 

One of the best things to do in Bressanone and Vipiteno, don’t miss the chance to visit the cathedral. 

Bressanone/Brixen Cathedral (Duomo di Bressanone), Piazza Palazzo Vescovile, 1 

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4. Try one of the many cafes 

Bressanone/Brixen has several charming cafes to choose from, but there was one in particular that caught our eye. 

Pupp Café Bakery and Ice Cream Parlor is situated at the end of Via Mercato Vecchio. 

Its warm and cozy interior enticed us inside to try the locally made delicacies on offer. While my husband settled on his usual coffee, I opted for a cioccolata calda (hot chocolate) without cream. 

Creamy, rich and with the right chocolate density, it warmed me up for the remainder of our visit. 
As its name says, the bakery also doubles as an ice cream parlor. However, given that it was mid-November, both of us were too cold to try any. 

Pupp Café Bakery and Ice Cream Parlor, Via Mercato Vecchio/Altenmarktgasse, 37 

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5. Visit one of the museums in Bressanone/Brixen 

Time permitting, I recommend adding one of Bressanone/Brixen’s museums to your itinerary. From art to pharmacy relics, it’s a good activity to consider if visiting Bressanone with kids.  

The museums in Bressanone/Brixen are: 

• Hofburg Brixen Bressanone, Piazza Palazzo Vescovile, 2 
• Pharmacy Museum (Museo della Farmacia di Bressanone/Pharmaziemuseum Brixen), Via Ponte Aquila, 4/Adlerbrückengasse 4 
• Bressanone Cloisters (Chiostro di Bressanone), Piazza del Duomo, 11C 
• Bishop’s Garden of Bressanone (Giardino Vescovile di Bressanone), Via Fallmerayer, 1 

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6. Buy some local specialties 

Bressanone/Brixen is filled with independent shops selling high quality cheese and meat products.  
Many are well packaged and therefore suitable to take home in your suitcase. We bought some locally cured meats from the superb Metzgerei Thomas Fink.  

The butcher sells meat products along with freshly prepared dishes and unique condiments. I was quite surprised to see Thai products on display in such a typical Tyrolean store. 

The butcher shop sits a few steps from the restaurant from the same owner. fink Restaurant & Suites is a fine-dining restaurant that also has accommodation.  

Unfortunately, we didn’t get to try the food here, or sleep at the property. However, from the reviews and photos online, it looks like a place we’d return to on our next visit. 

Metzgerei Thomas Fink and fink Restaurant & Suites, Via Portici Minori, 4 

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Bressanone/Brixen map

7. Eat traditional Tyrolean fare 

Bressanone/Brixen is filled with plenty of excellent dining choices, the above-mentioned place being one of many. 

However, given the time of year of our visit, many places were closed for the holidays. Luckily, we came across one top restaurant that was open for dinner. 

Decantei serves the right blend of traditional and modern. Its rustic wooden setting perfectly matches the region and style of cuisine. And the menu reflects a proud tradition while also adding a modern twist.  

Take my husband’s dish. He ordered tortelli in a beetroot sauce with radicchio. I was initially taken aback by the color but was blown away by the taste. In a word it was heavenly. 

I chose a more traditional stinco di maiale (pork knuckle) with baked potato and vegetables. A gigantic hunk of meat arrived on a wooden board complete with the sides. Melt-in-the-mouth and delicious, dining at Decantei is easily one of the best things to do in Bressanone and Vipiteno. 

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8. Visit Plose 

One of the main motivations for visitors to come to Bressanone/Brixen is to visit Plose. 

Situated in the northern Italian Alps, Plose mountain has an elevation of approximately 2,562m (8,406ft) above sea level. 

In summer, Plose is popular among hikers given its various trails, from which you can enjoy panoramic views.  

Come winter, the mountain transforms into a winter sporting paradise, attracting skiers and snowboarders to test out its slopes.  

A cable car is available for visitors to reach the summit more easily, taking them from the valley to Plose.

However, the cable car is closed to visitors at certain times of year, like during the time of our visit. Check the website for the most up-to-date timetable. 

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9. Hit the ski slopes 

Bressanone/Brixen is part of the Dolomiti Superski area.  

Spread over an area of about 3,000km2 (3000000000m2) in northeastern Italy it comprises 16 ski areas spread over 12 resorts. 

The winter sports areas comprise of the slopes around Rio Pusteria to the north and Plose to the south.

The former’s ideal for skiing and snowboarding while the latter offers winter sports activities for families like sledging and snowshoeing. 

Rio Pusteria/Mühlbach is a municipality and village in South Tyrol situated about 40km (25mi) northeast of Bolzano. 

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10. Discover the Fort of Fortezza/Franzensfeste 

On the road leading to Vipiteno/Sterzing, we spotted a large fort from the distance.  

The Fortezza fort (Forte di Fortezza/Festung Franzensfeste) is an Austrian fort standing at 750m (0.75km) above sea level. 

Built between 1833 and 1838, the fortress was a military base until the mid-1990s. After it was decommissioned, the property was passed to the State Property Agency of Bolzano. 

On the lower level are exhibitions and artefacts of what life was like in the bunker. Today, the fortress hosts art exhibitions and sporting events. 

Tickets for the fort are available from the ticket office at the entrance. We gained free entry using our Brixen Card (read more below). 

Fortezza Fort (Forte di Fortezza/Festung Franzensfeste), Via Brennero 

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Where to stay in Bressanone/Brixen 

Given the number of hotels that were closed during our visit, we chose a hotel just outside Bressanone’s town center. 

Hotel Löwenhof 

Hotel Löwenhof is a modern hotel with cozy furnishings and plenty of parking for hotel guests. It’s approximately a 10-minute drive from the town center.  

While our room was very modern it was quite cramped and not very practical. 

However, we did get a good night’s sleep and filled up on the delicious breakfast selection the next morning.  

Another advantage

Another advantage of staying at Hotel Löwenhof is that we got a free Brixen Card (in the lobby).

Essentially, it provides plenty of money-saving benefits for visitors. They include: 
Free use of bus and trains in South Tyrol 

• One free return trip with the Plose lifts 
• Free entry to the South Tyrol museums 
• Benefits for guides and tastings hosted by Brixen Tourism 
• Free entry to the Acquarena pool and ice rink 

Hotel Löwenhof, Via Brennero, 60 

Grüner Baum 

Our first choice for a hotel in Bressanone was Grüner Baum but it was closed at the time. Just 3 minutes’ walk to the Duomo in Bressanone/Brixen and overlooking the river, we’d book here the next time. 

Grüner Baum, Via Stufles, 11 

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Best things to do in Vipiteno/Sterzing 

As delightful as Vipiteno/Sterzing is, the town is tiny and is one you can comfortably visit in a few hours. 

It’s one of the reasons why I suggest adding Vipiteno/Sterzing to a day trip itinerary — along with Bressanone/Brixen — from Bolzano. 

11. Explore Vipiteno’s town center 

The good thing about visiting Vipiteno/Sterzing is that it’s that small, there’s no chance of getting lost.  

Vipiteno’s town center is made up of the new part (Città Nuova) and the old part, Via Città Vecchia. Both are lined with colorful alpine-style buildings housing everything from hotels and restaurants to shops and cafes. 

And when the sun shines upon Vipiteno/Sterzing, the colors become more luminous creating the most spectacular scene. 

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12. Visit Vipiteno’s clock tower 

At the halfway point between the old and new parts is the Tower of the Twelve (Torre delle Dodici/Zwölferturm).   

For me, it’s the star attraction of Vipiteno/Sterzing. The granite clock tower with its unique facade attracts you to move closer. When midday approaches, you may want to stand slightly back. The midday bells that ring throughout the town are beautiful to listen to, just from a distance. 

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13. Sample the local cakes 

On a cold, yet sunny, November afternoon in Vipiteno/Sterzing, we stopped by a local pasticceria (patisserie) to warm up. 

Popular among locals in town and the surrounding areas, Caffè Pasticceria Prenn rarely has a quiet moment. 

Serving homemade cakes and pastries, we tried the local favorite, chestnut cake. Light, fluffy sponge filled with a delicate and not overly sweet chestnut cream, it went well with lemon tea. 

Caffè Pasticceria Prenn, Via Città Vecchia, 17/A 

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14. Take home some Vipiteno products 

The brand name, Sterzing Vipiteno, won’t mean much to anyone outside northern Italy.  

But the company produces high-quality dairy products including butter and yogurts which are wholly delicious.   

Dairy good  

And in the heart of Città Nuova is a small grocery shop of the same name. Latteria Vipiteno/Milchhof Sterzing sells its brand name products, alongside other produce, at lower prices than in the supermarkets. 

Even if you don’t plan to stock up on dairy goods, buy a yoghurt for the road. Trust me, the honey flavor is divine. 

Latteria Vipiteno/Milchhof Sterzing, Città Nuova, 18 

Where to stay in Vipiteno/Sterzing 

Staying overnight in Vipiteno/Sterzing won’t fit everyone’s itinerary. But if you’re planning on extending your stay to the surrounding region, consider booking at Hotel Restaurant Lilie. 

We spent a night here and couldn’t fault it. Our room was large, clean, rustic and homey. The hotel has a decent restaurant, and the breakfast choice was excellent too. 

Hotel Restaurant Lilie, Città Nuova, 49 

Our first choice was Steindl's B&B, which is at the other end of Vipiteno/Sterzing. 

Unfortunately, the 3-star boutique hotel was closed during our stay which is why we opted for Hotel Restaurant Lilie. 

Should we return for a second visit, we’ll definitely be booking here. 

Steindl's B&B, Via della Pineta, 2 

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When to visit Bressanone/Brixen and Vipiteno/Sterzing? 

Deciding on when to visit Bressanone/Brixen and Vipiteno/Sterzing depends on the M.O. of your trip.  

Do you plan to do winter sports or summer activities? Is your visit purely to visit the towns in South Tyrol?  

As mentioned throughout this post, we visited Bressanone/Brixen and Vipiteno/Sterzing in mid-November. It was a good time as the bitter winter hadn’t yet arrived and it wasn’t busy with visitors. 

However, we found that several hotels and services were closed at the time of our visit. It didn’t hinder our plans, but we had to make other arrangements. 

What are your thoughts on this post of the best things to do in Bressanone and Vipiteno? Do they look like two towns you’d like to visit in South Tyrol? Let me know in the comments. 

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