from 230 €

Alpenpalace Spa Retreat

Exclusive well-being oasis | St. Johann in Tauferer Ahrntal

from 125 €

Hotel Waldhof

Vitalpina Hotel | Rablà near Meran

from 114 €

Green Lake Hotel Weiher

Pleasure & well-being | Issing at Mt. Kronplatz

from 429 €

Granpanorama Hotel Sambergerhof

Panorama Hotel | Villanders in the Eisacktal

from 141 €

Vitalpina Hotel Schulerhof

Active hotel | Plaus near Meran

from 120 €

Die Waldruhe

Nature holiday | Kiens at Mt. Kronplatz

from 190 €

WINKLER 5-Star Design Hotel

Design hotel | St. Lorenzen at Mt. Kronplatz

from 65 €

Landhaus Fux

Residence | Schlanders in the Vinschgau

from 122 €

Majestic – Unique Spa Resort

Wellness hotel | Reischach at Mt. Kronplatz

from 110 €

Hotel & Spa Falkensteinerhof

Wellness hotel | Vals in Eisacktal

from 95 €

Hotel Schölzhorn

Hiking and family vacation | Ratschings in Eisacktal

from 120 €

Hotel Tenz

Family-run hotel | Montan in Southern South Tyrol

from 102 €

Vita Aktiv Hotel Der Heinrichshof & Residence

Traditional hotel | Algund near Meran

from 144 €

Hotel Sand

Hiking - biking hotel | Kastelbell-Tschars

from 70 €

Alpwellhotel Burggräfler

Wellness hotel | Tisens near Meran

from 141 €

LANERHOF Relax & Active Retreat

Spa-Hotel | St. Lorenzen at Mt. Kronplatz

from 255 €

Quellenhof Luxury Resort Passeier

Sport & wellness resort | St. Martin in Passeiertal

from 480 €

Naturhotel Waldheim

Active hotel | Altrei in Southern South Tyrol

from 104 €

Hotel Vilpianerhof

Active hotel | Terlan in Southern South Tyrol

Lake Kaltern

Located in the heart of the South Tyrolean Alps, Lake Kaltern offers a holiday of superlatives. While the surrounding mountains invite you to go hiking and cycling, its crystal-clear water provides a fantastic backdrop for water sports. Its temperatures are anything but cold: up to 28 degrees are possible in this bathing paradise. Who needs the sea?

Nature hotels in South Tyrol

A lake of superlatives: facts & figures

**Lake Kaltern**
View to Lake Kaltern
Thomas Bruttel / Fotolia.com

Lake Kaltern is located at 216 metres above sea level in Italy, just 14 km from Bolzano.
Its Italian name is Lago di Caldaro.
With an area of 147 hectares, it is the largest natural bathing lake in South Tyrol
The 7.5 km circular route takes about 90 minutes.
The average depth is 4 metres, the maximum 5.6 metres.
The water temperature can reach up to 28 degrees. The bathing season lasts from May to September.

Largest natural & warmest bathing lake in South Tyrol

**View of Lake Kaltern**
The 1.8 km long Lake Kaltern is located in Überetsch between Tramin and Kaltern on the wine route.
Tourismusverein Kaltern - Helmuth Rier

Lake Kaltern was formed during the last ice age from an old riverbed of the Etsch river (Adige in Italian. Its emerald green water not only impresses with its excellent quality, but can also reach record temperatures in summer. Together with Lake Klopeiner See in Carinthia, this makes it the warmest bathing lake in the Alps.

The bathing season starts in May and ends in September.

Nature reserve on the southern shore

On the southern shore is the Lake Kaltern biotope, a habitat for birds and marshland animals. This nature reserve can be discovered on a nature discovery trail.

In spring and autumn in particular, many migratory birds make a stopover in this reed bed on their long journey to or from the south. These include ospreys, cranes and cormorants. More than a hundred different bird species have already been spotted.

Directly on the Wine Route

**South Tyrolean Wine Museum**
The Wine Museum in Kaltern lets visitors learn more about the wine growing tradition in South Tyrol.
Internet Consulting - Fabian Auer

**View to Penegal near Kaltern**
Vineyards at Lake Kaltern
TV Kaltern - Helmuth Rier

Lake Kaltern lies at the southern end of the South Tyrolean Wine Route. When visiting the area, don't miss out on a glass of Kaltern wine with the designation of origin Kalterersee Classico Superiore DOC, which is grown in the surrounding vineyards. It is made from the Vernatsch grape and has a controlled designation of origin.

If you want to learn more about the cultural history of wine, you should visit the South Tyrolean Wine Museum. After all, the proof of the pudding is in the eating, so a wine tasting at a winegrower's is a must.

Activities around Lake Kaltern

**Apple blossom**
Spring is the perfect season for cosy walks and hikes across flowering fruit orchards.
IDM Südtirol - Alex Filz

From swimming fun and hiking to sporting and cultural events, Lake Kaltern has something special to offer at any time of year. Active sports enthusiasts as well as nature and wine lovers will get their money's worth.

Mild temperatures already in spring

Much earlier than in the northern parts of Europe, the thermometer starts to climb again in South Tyrol. The best way to explore the spring awakening is on walks through the vineyards, bike tours or hikes in the countryside. The so-called Spring Valley is a particular highlight: the first harbingers of spring can be discovered there as early as February and March.

The mild climate is already favourable for major sporting events. Every year in May, the Lake Kaltern Triathlon is held, in which athletes compete in a 1.5 km swim, 40 km bike ride and 10 km run.

Water sports & (sun)bathing in summer

Sunshine galore on Lake Kaltern: summer days can be enjoyed to the full in, on and beside the water. Water sports such as sailing, windsurfing and kayaking are just waiting to be tried out. The south wind Ora offers ideal conditions for this at midday.

The water is warmer than at any other time and is perfect for swimming.

Those looking to cool off on the mountains rather than in the water don't have to break a sweat: The Mendel funicular railway takes guests up to over 1,360 metres in less than 15 minutes. The panoramic view over the Etschtal Valley and Southern South Tyrolean is breathtaking.

There is also plenty on offer culturally: For more than 20 years, the Lake Stage Performance has been attracting international and national stars to the lake stage. A backdrop that you won't forget in a hurry.

**Grape harvest**
The ripe grapes are carefully harvested and processed to exellent wines afterwards.
Günther Pichler - Tourismusverein Marling

**Vineyards in South Tyrol**
Grape harvest is almost always done on sunny days.
Internet Consulting - Patrick Kammerlander

**Grapes**
In autumn the grapes just waiting to be educated to become good wine.
Campomalo / pixelio.de

**Kaltern on the wine route in winter**
In winter, Kaltern offers a magical ambiance, a small Christmas market as well as varied activities in the surroundings.
Tourismusverein Kaltern - Helmuth Rier

Autumn hikes & grape harvest

The midsummer temperatures are over. Outdoor activities are once again more possible during the day. While the extensive network of cycle and mountain bike trails makes cyclists' hearts beat faster, hiking enthusiasts can enjoy forays through the colourful forests of the mountains. The hike along old, partly paved Roman paths in the Rastenbachklamm gorge in the Altenburg Forest is particularly beautiful, where you can explore the remains of historical ruins.

For a whole week, everything is centred around wine: the Kaltern Wine Days offer the opportunity to taste the grape juice from the surrounding vineyards.

Christmas markets

Far away from the stress, the idyllic Christmas market in Kaltern offers tradition, customs and, of course, mulled wine. The Krampus, typical of mountain regions, and a visit from St. Nicholas are a must!

Not just a bad weather programme: wellness

The region around Lake Kaltern is not only an outdoor paradise, but also a place of peace and relaxation. In Merano, about 40 minutes away, everyone can unwind in the diverse sauna and pool landscape of the thermal park. There are also many different wellness hotels with their own spa area around Lake Kaltern.

Small & individual accommodation

On the vineyards and around the shores of Lake Kaltern, there are mainly smaller and family-run accommodations. Great importance is attached to family friendliness.

Architecturally, these hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses blend unobtrusively into the landscape. For most of them, the regional connection is very important, which is also reflected in the cuisine and, of course, the wines on offer.

In addition to their own pool, most hotels also offer free entry to either a private lake access or a lido.

Other places & sights in the environs

**Bozen - Walther Square**
Walther Square, with a statue of Walther von der Vogelweide
Rüdiger Jahnke / Fotolia.com

**Runkelstein Castle near Bozen**
The medieval castle next to Bozen has many worth-seeing frescoes and is a wonderful location of cultural events in summer.
Internet Consulting - Fabian Auer

**Lido at big Montiggl Lake**
In addition to the public outdoor pool with large sunbathing lawn, the lido at big Montiggl lake offers a beautiful jetty with access to the lake.
Internet Consulting - Fabian Auer

**Seiser Alm**
View of Mt.Langkofel and Mt. Plattkofel
Laurin Moser - Seiser Alm Marketing

Bozen: discover the capital of South Tyrol, just 14 kilometres away
Runkelstein Castle: ‘picture castle’ from the 13th century
Mendelbahn: climb 850 metres in altitude on one of the steepest funicular railways in Europe
Montiggl Lakes: a natural jewel away from the tourist hotspots
Dolomites: marvel at the Three Peaks on a day trip

Frequently asked questions

Where is Lake Kaltern located?
Nestled between vineyards, forests and reeds, Lake Kaltern can be found in the South Tyrolean Alps directly on the Wine Route. It lies in a deep depression between the Mendel Mountains in the west and the Mitterberg in the east in Italy.

Is Lake Kaltern a bathing lake?
The warm water temperatures and excellent water quality make Lake Kaltern a popular natural swimming lake. Due to its shallow depth, it is very suitable for families with children.

How warm is the water at Lake Kaltern?

Average water temperature by month:

Month	Temperature
May	approx. 19 °C
June	approx. 23 °C
July	approx. 25 °C
August	approx. 24 °C
September	approx. 22 °C

Can you swim for free at Lake Kaltern?
A small wooden jetty north of the LIDO restaurant in St. Josef am See is ideal for a quick dip in the cold water. For a whole day of swimming, one of the lidos offers more comfort.

How deep is Lake Kaltern?
With an average depth of 4 metres, Lake Kaltern is one of the shallower bodies of water. In spring, however, it warms up particularly easily, making it one of the warmest bathing lakes in the Alps.

How long is the walk around Lake Kaltern?
There is a 7.5 km long path around the lake. It takes about 90 minutes to walk around the lake.

Can you hike around Lake Kaltern?
From easy to medium to difficult hiking routes: In the area between the municipalities of Kaltern and Tramin, there is a suitable hiking trail for every level.

How high are the mountains on Lake Kaltern?
The lake is located on the southern side of the Alps. In its immediate vicinity there are mountains over 2,000 metres above sea level, such as the Roen.