Your family summer holidays in South Tyrol from A to Z

Header image: Thomas Grüner, © IDM

Finally it‘s here… summer! And with it also the family summer vacation. Travelling with the little rascals is usually quite easy in the warm season and means above all: spending many hours with outdoor activities and having one or the other idea for activities in case of bad weather in mind. South Tyrol offers families countless opportunities, some of them we have collected in our Summer Tips. Enjoy the experience!

Adventure Parks

High rope course Terlano, Foto © Peer

Climbing high above the ground, balancing on beams, swinging from platform to platform. This is possible in the South Tyrolean Adventure Parks! Of course high rope courses are offered at different levels of difficulty – so that all family members have fun!
Mines

Adventure Mine Monteneve Passiria, Foto © Peer

The train ride in the tunnel and gold digging are usually the highlights of a visit to a mine for children. Equipped with boots, helmet and headlamp the whole family listens to the stories from the centuries-old mining history, e.g. in the Mining Museum Monteneve in Passiria, in the Mining World Ridanna Monteneve, in the Show Mine of Predoi or in the mine of Villandro.
Castel Coira

Visiting a castle and feeling like a knight or a damsel, that is also part of summer. About 800 castles and palaces can be found in South Tyrol, so the choice is quite difficult. There is nothing wrong with the decision for the Castel Coira at Sluderno in the Val Venosta valley. It is one of the best preserved castles in South Tyrol and its impressive armoury will surely be remembered by the children for a long time.
Dolomites

Catinaccio, Foto © Pixabay

Reinhold Messner, extreme mountaineer, calls them “the most beautiful mountains in the world”. Young and old alike enjoy the pale mountains, which turn reddish at sunset. The Dolomites captivate with the change of rugged rocks with gentle alpine pastures and can be discovered on countless hiking trails.
Bicycle tours

A bicycle tour together is a great experience. Whether your children are still riding your bike or whether you are almost unable to catch up with them, South Tyrol offers countless Cycle Paths and Routes in various levels of difficulty. Maybe you’ll discover a new favourite tour this year?
Geocaching

Do you love geocaching? Of course, you can also continue the world’s largest treasure hunt in South Tyrol and thus perhaps motivate less active family members to go on a hike. For all those who don’t know geocaching yet, there is e.g. weekly in Val Gardena a Geocaching: the modern treasure hunt – of course with practical implementation.
Observing the sky

Observatory, Foto © Peer

Looking into the stars or following the shooting stars on August 11 – you can do that anywhere, but nowhere better as in the Astronomical observatory Max Valier in Collepietra .
American Indians

We don’t know if it’s the tipi, the campfire, or the headdress of feathers – but to play Indians is still very popular among children. A real tepee, for example, can be found at the Taser Mountain Hut above Merano. Not only little Indians feel at home here, the children can expect a real outdoor play paradise.
Climbing

You know this: a big stone next to the hiking trail becomes a climbing scaffold for the small kids and the big children can try their luck already in one of the Climbing Gardens. Because climbing is simply fun, but of course also wants to be learned, the mountain guides in Gitschberg Jochtal, for example, will show your little ones how to handle ropes, hooks and carabiners correctly:

Peer.tv: Cribble Crabble Climbing
Labyrinth Garden Kränzel

Kränzelhof, Foto © Peer

A place that fills adults and children equally with joy: the Kränzelhof in Cermes with its Labyrinth Garden. Here children discover something new around every corner while the grown-ups enjoy a good glass of wine.
Mills

Kids love water. Water that runs through mills, even a little more. In South Tyrol there are in different places still old Mills, which can be discovered during a walk.
Night Hikes

At night the forest looks so different and one hears completely new noises. A night hike is a special summer experience! Brave night hikers can, for example, discover the mystical magic forest in Sesto at night. Don’t forget your headtorch!
Ötzi the Iceman

Sie haben Ötzi im Archäologiemuseum in Bozen bereits besucht und möchten nun genauer wissen, wie der Mann aus dem Eis gelebt hat? Dann sind Sie im archeoParc im Schnalstal richtig: in Unser Frau erwarten Sie Ausstellungen, ein Baumlehrpfad, Hütten wie zu Ötzis Zeiten, ein Bogenschießstand und eine Besucherwerkstatt mit Brotbackhaus.

You have already visited Ötzi in the Museum of Archeology in Bolzano and would now like to know more about how the Iceman lived? Then the archeoParc in Schnalstal is the right place for you. You will find exhibitions, an educational tree trail, huts like in Ötzi’s time, an archery stand and a visitors’ workshop with bread bakery.
Bird Care Center

Bird Care Centre at Castel Tirolo, Foto © Peer

Here come injured wild birds, who are nursed back to health and then released back into the wild – 250 per year. Visitors can see the birds in the “Gufyland”, the bird care centre at Tirolo Castle in large aviaries and experience them live at the popular flight shows!
Source of inspiration

You would like to get more inspiration for your family summer holiday in South Tyrol? Under suedtirolerland.it you will certainly find it! Just take a look and let yourself be inspired!
Knight Games

Medieval Knight Games South Tyrol, Foto © Peer

You can dive into the Middle Ages in Sluderno when the South Tyrolean Medieval Knight Games take place on a weekend in August. Knight tournaments and stunt scenes keep the spectators in suspense and the little ones can try archery and hay jumping. The big procession and the medieval specialities as well as live concerts make this event a highlight of the South Tyrolean summer.
Swimming

Lake Issengo, Foto © Peer

Jumping into the cool water seems to be the only real activity on a hot day? Go ahead! South Tyrol offers many family friendly swimming pools and bathing lakes!
Rainguthof farm

If animals are particularly popular with your children, then you have to visit the Rainguthof farm in Caprile near Tisens.
Ursus Ladinicus

Museum Ladin Ursus Ladinicus, Foto © Peer

Years ago bear tracks were found in the Conturines cave in Alta Badia. When it turned out that this bear was a special one, a museum was dedicated to the cave bear. In San Cassiano you can visit the Museum Ladin Ursus Ladinicus to follow the footsteps of the bear.
South Tyrolean Folklore Museum

Discover how our ancestors lived and what work they did – the South Tyrolean Folklore Museum in Teodone is ideally suited for this. More than 20 farmhouses spread over an open area invite families to a journey of discovery into the past.
Waterfalls

Hiking with children is not always easy, sometimes the motivation is missing. The prospect of a waterfall at the end of the trail usually provides the little ones with the necessary energy boost, e.g. in Barbiano or in Campo Tures.
Events

Countless events for families take place in South Tyrol in summer. Simply enter in our Event calendar as theme “Kids & family” and filter by location and period!
Lakes

Lake Gioveretto, Foto © Peer

These two lakes are ideal for a picnic, which is usually very popular with children. Walk along the shore of Lake Gioveretto in the Val Martello valley or Lake Zoccolo in the Val d’Ultimo valley, enjoy nature and make yourself comfortable in a nice place. Relaxation for the whole family!