Family holidays in South Tyrol
Exploring the mountains together, spotting wildlife, swimming, playing or trying skiing for the first time: a family holiday in South Tyrol can take many different forms. Which region, accommodation and activities are best suited depends primarily on the children’s ages, the time of year and your personal holiday preferences. From the Dolomites to the Meran region, and from swimming lakes to alpine pastures, families will find plenty of opportunities for shared experiences whatever the season.
Selected accommodations for family holidays
- Surrounded by nature beneath the majestic peaks of Latemar
- Just a stone's throw from the ski slopes of Ski Center Latemar
- Wellness area with indoor pool and saunas
- Generous breakfast buffet, 4-course dinner and children's menu
- Gym & tennis courts
- Flats in a beautiful location above Brixen
- Panoramic view
- Indoor wellness area with sauna and relaxation zone
- Possibility of using the swimming pool at the nearby Hotel Torgglerhof
- Garden with sun loungers and children's playground
- Elegant, Alpine-style Apartments
- At the foot of Kronplatz
- Ski, boot and bike storage with small workshop
- Trust bar with drinks and food available all day
- Lots of activities for every season in the environs & Südtirol Guest Pass
- One hotel, endless possibilities
- 2000 m2 wellness area
- Excellent cuisine and themed evenings
- Perfect location and unrivalled flair
- Not far from Mt. Kronplatz
Holidays in South Tyrol with children
On the picturesque high alpine pasture in the Dolomites, there are many family-friendly hiking tours.
Laurin Moser - Seiser Alm Marketing
Families will love staying in Naturns near Meran.
PhotoGrünerThomas - Tourismusverein Naturns
Farm with outdoor swimming pool.
Frieder Blickle für Bauernbund / Roter HahnThe requirements for a holiday with toddlers are different from those with school-age children or teenagers. For families with young children, short distances, easy walks, playgrounds and easily accessible destinations are particularly practical. As children get older, hikes can be longer and the experiences a little more adventurous – from high-rope courses and mountain bike tours to a day’s skiing.
South Tyrol offers a wide range of destinations for the whole family and various types of accommodation. Hotels specialising in family holidays often feature swimming pools, play areas or childcare. A holiday flat offers plenty of flexibility and space, whilst campsites and farm stays provide a completely different holiday experience.
Which region in South Tyrol is best suited to families?
Children have lots of fun on the lake with a raft.
Internet ConsultingThe right holiday region depends on what a family wants to do. Exploring the Dolomites with children is particularly well-suited to families who prioritise the mountains, hiking and experiencing nature. The Pustertal Valley and the Seiser Alm also offer numerous opportunities for an active holiday. Around Meran, easy hikes, family-friendly destinations and swimming can be easily combined, whilst South Tyrol’s south scores highly with its lakes, cycle paths and mild temperatures.
Those looking primarily for peace and quiet and nature on a family holiday will find ideal conditions in the Ahrntal, Ultental or parts of the Vinschgau, for example. As well as the region, the location of your accommodation should also be taken into account: short distances to mountain railways, hiking trails or day-trip destinations can make everyday family life much easier.
The best activities for families
Pfelders ski area offers family-friendly slopes and dreamlike views.
Tourismusverein Passeiertal - AlexFilz
Ice rink with skate rental in Dorf Tirol
TV Dorf Tirol - Benjamin Pfitscher
Spring is the perfect season for cosy walks and hikes across flowering fruit orchards.
IDM Südtirol - Alex Filz
In South Tyrol, there is a great variety of hiking and walking paths for the whole family.
Tourismusverein Natz-Schabs - Hannes NiederkoflerSouth Tyrol offers families plenty of flexibility when planning their days. In summer, child-friendly walks lead to alpine pastures, mountain lakes and adventure trails. Those travelling with young children will also find numerous paths suitable for a stroll with a pushchair. Families with older children can go cycling, climbing or visit an adventure park together.
In winter, as well as skiing, tobogganing, ice skating and swimming are on the agenda. Many smaller ski resorts are particularly well-suited for those first attempts at skiing. And if the weather isn’t on your side, museums, swimming pools and other attractions for rainy days provide plenty of variety.
Summer highlights for families
- Hiking with strollers
- Ideas for rainy days with children
- The most beautiful playgrounds in South Tyrol
- Bike tours for the whole family
- Holidays with children at the lake
Winter highlights for families
- Fun on the slopes in the family-friendly ski areas
- Tobogganing excursions for young and old
- Whizzing across the ice
- Swimming fun in South Tyrol's swimming pools
- Visit child-friendly restaurants
Adventure parks & playgrounds
There is also a mud area and sand games.
TG Castelfeder, TV Trudner Horn / Thomas Monsorno
The wooden tree houses stand imposingly in the clearing in the forest.
Internet Consulting
Natural bathing pond with raft, ideal for splashing around in summer.
Internet Consulting
The playground nearby the centre of Luttach in Tauferer Ahrntal offers fun and entertainment for children.
Internet Consulting - Benedikt TrojerFor children who want to aim high, South Tyrol’s adventure parks and high-rope courses offer trails at various heights and levels of difficulty. At the Kaltern Adventure Park, you navigate obstacles amongst the trees, whilst Skytrek in Sterzing combines climbing elements and zip lines. Depending on the park, there are different activities on offer for children, teenagers and adults – so age, height and safety requirements should be checked before visiting.
For younger children, there are plenty of playgrounds to choose from. The spa gardens with their Motorikpark in Niederdorf, for example, combine play facilities with plenty of space in the countryside. In towns and villages, you’ll find classic playgrounds as well as nature-based play areas, adventure zones and themed trails. This makes it easy to combine a visit to a playground with an outing or a walk.
Culture and bad-weather tips for families
In the Museum of Archaeology in Bozen, visitors can see the original findings and hsitorical details about Ötzi.
Südtiroler Archäologiemuseum - Oskar Verant
Visiting the Museum of Nature in Bozen allows you to learn more about the flora, fauna and geological evolution of this region.
Naturmuseum Südtirol - Andreas Tauber
Visiting the Museum of Nature in Bozen allows you to learn more about the flora, fauna and geological evolution of this region.
Naturmuseum Südtirol - Andreas Tauber
In the Museum of Archaeology in Bozen, visitors can see the original findings and hsitorical details about Ötzi.
Südtiroler Archäologiemuseum - Oskar Verant
In the Museum of Archaeology in Bozen, visitors can see the original findings and hsitorical details about Ötzi.
Südtiroler Archäologiemuseum - Oskar Verant
Visiting the Museum of Nature in Bozen allows you to learn more about the flora, fauna and geological evolution of this region.
Naturmuseum Südtirol - Andreas Tauber
Visiting the Museum of Nature in Bozen allows you to learn more about the flora, fauna and geological evolution of this region.
Naturmuseum Südtirol - Othmar SeehauserNot every day of your holiday has to be spent outdoors. South Tyrol’s museums and cultural attractions for families bring nature, history and technology to life in a vivid way and are also a great alternative when it rains.
Museums that children will love:
- Museum of People trough Time in Kurtatsch
- Museum of Nature in Bozen
- Museum of Archaeology in Bozen
- DoloMythos adventure museum in Innichen
- Folklore Museum in Dietenheim
- Fortress Franzensfeste
- Planetarium in Gummer
- Train World in Rabland
In addition, there are numerous events for families throughout the year, where you can combine shared experiences with South Tyrolean culture, nature and tradition.
Planning a family holiday well
When choosing accommodation, it’s worth paying attention not only to family-friendly offers but also to practical details. If you’re travelling with babies and toddlers, a cot, high chair, kitchen or washing facilities may be important. For older children, a swimming pool, play facilities and leisure activities in the surrounding area become more important. The distance to mountain railways, restaurants and places of interest can also be a deciding factor.
When it comes to planning your day, the rule is: with children, less is often more. One major activity per day leaves plenty of time for breaks and spontaneous discoveries. Before setting off on an outing, you should check the current opening times, the weather, the condition of the paths and, where applicable, any age or height restrictions. This leaves enough scope for a Plan B.
Freedom, space to play in nature and animals close up make the farm the perfect place for a family holiday.
SBB/Roter Hahn - Benjamin PfitscherRed Rooster: Family holidays on the farm
A family holiday on a Red Rooster farm means nature, adventure and real experiences for young and old. While children help feed the animals, collect fresh eggs or play in the vast meadows, parents can enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and the warm hospitality of their hosts. Here, a holiday becomes a shared experience – far away from the stress of everyday life and in the heart of South Tyrolean nature.
Whether pony rides, farm playgrounds or exciting insights into farm life – every farm offers unique experiences that will make children's eyes light up. The combination of healthy air, regional cuisine and authentic encounters makes a stay at a Red Rooster farm an unforgettable break for the whole family.
Images
Small and big horse lovers have many possibilities to practice their favourite hobby in South Tyrol and to discover the magnificent natural landscape.
IDM Südtirol/Alessandro Trovati
Freedom, space to play in nature and animals close up make South Tyrol the perfect place for a family holiday.
IDM Südtirol-Alto Adige/Patrick Schwienbacher
The well-tempered Haflinger horses are perfectly suitable for riding newbies and for children.
Reiterhof Sulfner des Waldner Norbert
Target shooting at SummerPark la Crusc in Alta Badia
Seggiovia Santa Croce – La Crusc in Alta Badia
Running, climbing, balancing, jumping, discovering, touching... Mountain adventures for kids at Meran 2000
Meran 2000 - Florian Andergassen
Family hike in Ultental
Tourismusvereinigung Ultental - Frieder Blickle
Holidays for the whole family in the environs of Meran
Tourismusvereinigung Ultental - Frieder Blickle
Family adventures at Fanes pasture in the Dolomites near St. Vigil in Enneberg
TG San Vigilio-San Martin - Alex Filz
Snowpark at Nonsberg
TV Deutschnonsberg
Spring is the perfect season for cosy walks and hikes across flowering fruit orchards.
IDM Südtirol - Alex Filz
Lake Kaltern is a paradise for swimming and practising your most favourite water sports.
IDM Südtirol - Helmuth Rier
Be it cosy walks in the forest or exciting hikes in the mountains – South Tyrol offers a vast range of family-friendly hiking and walking paths.
Thomas Grüner - Suedtirol Marketing GmbH
The magical, snow-covered landscape is perfect for hikes, sleigh rides and snowball fights.
Alessandro Trovati - Suedtirol Marketing GmbH
On the family-friendly ski runs of Meran 2000 ski area, beginners and kids will feel like in paradise.
Meran 2000 - Manuel Kottersteger
Family on chairlift
Dolomiti Superski/P. RipkeFrequently asked questions
Which region in South Tyrol is best suited for families?
That depends on the children’s ages and the planned activities. The Dolomites, the Pustertal Valley and the Seiser Alm offer plenty of opportunities for hiking and active days in the mountains. Around Meran and in the south of South Tyrol, you can easily combine day trips, gentle walks and swimming. Those who prefer a quieter holiday will find plenty of nature in the Ahrntal or Ultental valleys, for example.
Is South Tyrol suitable for a holiday with a toddler?
Yes. Many holiday resorts offer easy walking routes, pram-friendly walks, playgrounds and places to visit for young children. Accommodation in a central or easily accessible location, with short distances to cover, is particularly practical. For mountain walks, the elevation gain, terrain and weather should always be adapted to the children’s age.
Family hotel, holiday flat or farm – which is best?
Family hotels often offer facilities and services tailored to children, such as play areas, swimming pools or childcare. Holiday flats score highly for their space and flexible mealtimes. On a farm, the focus is on nature, animals and rural life. Which type of accommodation is best depends on the children’s ages and on how much service or independence you’re looking for.
What can you do with children in South Tyrol when the weather is bad?
Even rainy days offer plenty of options. Families can, for example, visit the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology or the Natural History Museum in Bozen, the Railway World in Rabland, the DoloMythos in Innichen or the Planetarium in Gummer. Water parks and indoor swimming pools are another alternative for days when longer outdoor activities aren’t possible.
When is the best time to go on a family holiday in South Tyrol?
South Tyrol is ideal for a family holiday at any time of year. Spring and autumn are particularly well-suited to day trips, walks and hikes at lower altitudes. In summer, the focus is on the mountains, alpine pastures and lakes for swimming, whilst winter offers skiing, tobogganing and other snow-based activities. The best time to visit therefore depends primarily on the activities you wish to enjoy.
