One of the absolute hotspots for travellers wanting to explore South Tyrol is Merano. The city is located right in the center of the gorgeous landscape of South Tyrol, in between mountains, vineyards and orchards. This is the place to be for hiking and outdoor lovers. From April to October, you can enjoy the nature and beauty of the area. The best and probably only way to really experience Merano is by hiking. The many summits and walking trails offer endless opportunities for almost any fitness level. From 4-hour tours to the top to easy routes through the vineyards – the area has it all. Here are the Top 6 easy hikes in Merano which any traveller can do. Bring your outdoor shoes and a backpack and let´s start the adventure.
Tappeiner Waalweg and Algunder Waalweg – an easy hike from Merano
One of the easy hikes around Merano is the Tappeiner Waalweg. The popular Waalwege can be found all around the city on different routes. But what is it? It is actually a normal walking path with a small stream next to it. The stream is a man-made irrigation canal and quite frequent in South Tyrol.
The Tappeiner Waalweg starts directly in Merano and can easily be reached on foot from the city center. You will find the starting point behind the church as the way leads up on a few stairs. The Tappeiner Waalweg is perfect for an easy hike, with the whole family or just a short walk in the evening. The best thing about it: you can extend it as long as you want to. If you feel like you´ve walked enough, just turn around and head all the way back.
For the motivated travellers who cannot get enough of the stunning views, the trail leads into the Algunder Waalweg. You can continue to walk along the hill for another hour, before you reach the end of the route.
What makes this easy hike in Merano so special is that you can get some great insights into the landscape and culture of South Tyrol. You will pass traditional vineyards, old houses and get an impressive overview over the whole valley. Perfect for your first day in the area or to get a general impression about what Merano really is like.
Hochmutbahn to Mutkopf
Are you now ready for a real hike? The Waalweg is more or less just an easy walk, but this trail is a little bit more challenging (still totally possible). To reach the starting point, you need to take the gondola from Dorf Tirol. The Hochmutbahn is quite a popular way to explore the mountains around Merano and to get the ultimate panorama view. You´ll see!
From the end of the Hochmutbahn, you start to follow the signs for the Mutkopf. This is a smaller summit next to the Mutspitze (which takes about 2 hours to reach). The Mutkopf is a perfect easy hike for anybody who would like to get the views and the experience. The route leads you through a forest and some opportunities to have a break and get a drink or something to eat.
Make sure to get a return ticket as well, the way down to Dorf Tirol is quite long and exhausting and it is best to take the gondola instead of hiking. If you still have some energy left, consider hiking up the Mutspitze or combine it with the scenic Vellauer Felsenweg.
Click here to get the latest timetables in general information on the gondola.
Vellauer Felsenweg
Are you afraid of heights? If yes, you should maybe skip on the next route on the list of easy hikes in Merano. The Vellauer Felsenweg starts at the top of the Hochmutbahn and is well known for its impressive views and narrow trail along the rocks. But don´t worry, it is not that high and the trail is totally safe.
From the Hochmutbahn, the Felsenweg leads you along the rocks until you reach the forest. From here, you continue your way down the mountain again. You can either walk back to the villages of Dorf Tirol or even Algund.
Meraner Höhenweg
This is probably one of the most popular routes for an easy and yet impressive hike in South Tyrol. The Meraner Höhenweg is a panorama route which offers stunning views over the valley and the surrounding mountains. On a clear and sunny day, this is definitely one of the best things to do in Merano. To do the whole Höhenweg Trail would include an overnight stay as it is quite long, but this route shows you only A PART of it.
The best way to do this hike is the following: start your trip in Algund. The small village is located a little bit outside of Merano and can easily be reached by bus or car. From here, you take the historic chairlift and then change into the even more historic cage lift. This might already be a highlight of the whole trip, because those kinds of lifts are really rare.
From the top, you follow the signs to the Leiteralm. You can now choose between having a break first or directly starting your hike. The sign of the start of the route cannot be missed and you simply follow the way all along the mountain.
Be aware, that this is a quite popular route and it can get very busy during the high seasons. It is therefore better to arrive earlier during the morning to get a quieter experience. The route ends as you reach the huts of the Hochmutbahn. From here, you can either take the Gondola down to Dorf Tirol and take the bus back or you can as well hike the Vellauer Felsenweg back to Algund or take the chairlift for the final part of the hike.
Schenner Waalweg
Next on the list of easy hikes in Merano is the Schenner Waalweg. If you have fallen in love with the first Waalweg, make sure to put this one on your list as well. It starts, as the name already indicates in the village of Schenna, which is located about 10-minutes outside of Merano. This is as well a popular area to stay for tourists as there are quite a lot of hotels and homestays.
The Schenner Waalweg officially starts at the parking lot of the Taser Gondola, but can be accessed through multiple points. If you want to walk the full route, this is your starting point. From here, all you have to do is follow the signs. The way leads you through apple orchards, local farms and small villages. The end is the Merano 2000 gondola from where you can take the bus back to Schenna.
This really is an easy hike, or rather a scenic walk. If you have some time left in the afternoon or would like to do some outdoor activity before spending the afternoon shopping in Merano, this is a perfect choice.
Hike to the Partschinser Waterfall
There is never a bad time to visit just another waterfall. Especially if it is this impressive. The Partschinser Waterfall is located close to the village of Partschins and a popular destination for wanderer and tourists. Probably the best time to visit the waterfall is on a rainy and moody day. But even on a sunny day, you can plan a short trip to the waterfall.
You can either hike up all the way from Partschins or drive up to the parking lot close to the Birkenwald Restaurant and walk the 10-minutes to the waterfall. Short, but sweet and another one of the easy hikes in Merano.
When is the best time to go hiking in Merano?
But what is the best time to all those hikes? Hiking in South Tyrol is possible from April to October (of course, depending on the year, the times can vary). During those times you can either enjoy the blossom of spring, the warmth of the summer or the golden colors of autumn. During each phase, the area around Merano is absolutely worth a visit.
The busiest months are usually July to October. But at the same time, you have a high chance of a sunny weather during your stay. Therefore, you have the best conditions during those months. Always make sure to bring the right equipment for the outdoors. Never leave your hotel without an anorak and outdoor shoes and as well a warmer jacket. The weather in the mountains always has its own mind and your safety is important, even on those easy hikes in Merano.
Are you up for even more adventures in South Tyrol? Click here.
