We thought we would have liked exploring the surroundings of Bolzano. Still, truly we didn’t imagine we were going to enjoy so much to spend one day in Bressanone in the South Tyrol of Italy’s Trentino-Alto Adige region.
A beautiful cathedral, interesting museums, and a lovely town to stroll around are only some of the things you will manage to do in Bressanone in a day. For us, Bressanone was a day trip from Trento and we didn’t even stay for the night so we spent there no more than eight hours and yet we saw plenty.
We visited Bressanone in August and there was a local event for which the whole city center was covered with market and food stalls. We have never been there around the winter holidays but its Christmas market is legendary.
What to do in one day in Bressanone
Stroll around town
The historic center of Bressanone is extremely picturesque. The typical German-influenced architecture with half-timbered houses and majestic towers and bell towers make for a lovely stroll.
Walk across via dei Portici Maggiori and via dei Portici Minori lined up with shops and restaurants, and from where you can see important buildings such as the colorful facade of the Pfaundler Goreth house named after the noble who commissioned it in the 16th century, Sebastian Goreth, and the person who bought it later.
Due to the proximity to the Dolomites, Bressanone is a popular destination in winter, but it can be very cold, with temperatures getting close to 0°C (32°F). This means that in summer, it’s lovely. We went in August and it was a very pleasant break from the heat of the other cities.
Anyhow, strolling around the city center is something you can easily do and that I recommend in any season.
Visit the Bishops Palace (Hofburg)
This was one of my favorite landmarks in Bressanone. Located in the historic center, this huge mansion was the residence of the prince bishop and then of the bishops of Bressanone’s diocese from the 13th century to 1973.
It might take you an hour or two but I suggest visiting the Hofburg even if you have only one day in Bressanone because it’s extremely interesting to see the luxury the prince bishops lived in and it certainly is a pivotal piece of the local history.
Since 1973, it’s been the diocese museum but you can still see the private apartments of the former dwellers, the internal church, as well as the public offices and an internal courtyard.
- Where: Piazza Palazzo Vescovile 2.
- When: Every day 10 am-5 pm, in summer until 6.30 pm. Closed on December 24th and 25th and Easter Sunday.
- How much: 10€ single ticket, 8€ for over-65, free for children younger than 6 years old.
- Website.
Duck into the gorgeous Cathedral
Devoted to Santa Maria Assunta and San Cassiano, Bressanone’s Duomo is absolutely stunning. The first thing that will catch your attention from the outside is the two bell towers, even though the facade is generally quite austere-looking.
Inside, however, the whole ceiling, walls, naves, and columns are finely carved, painted, and decorated in plain Baroque style with 33 different types of marble. Even though it was inaugurated in the 18th century, the origins of its construction date back to the 10th century.
Inside the cathedral is a cloister beautifully frescoed in a pre-Romanesque era and style. The whole complex went through different phases of new decorations and the last one was an important reconstruction in Gothic style that included also the cross vault and frescoes with religious themes and moments of medieval life.
Even if you have very limited time in Bressanone, I strongly recommend you don’t miss this important piece of local art and history.
- Where: Piazza Palazzo Vescovile 1.
- When: Every day from morning to 6 pm.
See San Michele Church and White Tower
The church of San Michele is close to Bressanone’s Duomo and was built in Romanesque style in the 11th century even though the current look is Baroque and dates back to the 18th century. Its Gothic choir and bell tower were built in the 15th century.
Inside its distinctive white bell tower is a small museum that explains the importance of the tower for the city and for the parish. You can also see the miniature of the bells and of the clocks of the tower. Every day at 11 am, you will hear the sound of the carillon of the tower.
- Where: Piazza Duomo 12.
- When: Every day 8 am-7 pm.
- How much: 5€ for the White Tower Museum.
Visit the Pharmacy Museum
This museum devoted to traditional drug-making and pharmaceutical tools opened its doors in Bressanone in 2002. Some of the instruments you are going to see include pill organizers, molds for suppositories, tablet presses, and a great collection of jars of any type.
This is a very interesting exhibition whether you are an expert in the pharmaceutical field or not. I suggest seeing this landmark after visiting the other major monuments of the city because one day in Bressanone might not be enough for everything.
- Where: Via Ponte Aquila 4.
- When: All year open on Tuesday and Wednesday 2-6 pm, and on Saturday 11 am-4 pm. In July and August open Monday to Friday 2-6 pm, and on Saturday 11 am-4 pm. Exceptional openings during the Christmas holidays every Advent Sunday, closed on December 25th and 26th, and open on the first week of January 2-6 pm.
- How much: Adult 5€, free for younger than 10, 4€ up to 18 years old and over 65.
- Website.
Got more time? Go on a day trip to the Dolomites!
Bressanone is a fantastic base if you are interested in exploring the Dolomites, whether you want to go for a hike, for skiing, or just to take in the breathtaking views.
If you can stay more than one day in Bressanone, you can book a full-day tour of the most famous Dolomite destinations of the area and see places like Cortina d’Ampezzo and the stunning Braies Lake.
Where to eat in Bressanone
Even if you are staying only one day in Bressanone, you will need at least one meal. If you are the type who likes to sit and relax when eating, you can grab a table at one of the central restaurants serving traditional dishes.
All along Via dei Portici Maggiori and Via dei Portici Minori and in the backstreets there are many restaurants such as Traubenwirt, Finsterwirt – Oste Scuro, and Kutscherhof.
How to get to Bressanone (Brixen)
By train
You can easily reach Bressanone with a half-an-hour train ride from Bolzano. The trains Bolzano-Bressanone are very frequent every day. You can check out schedules and prices on Trenitalia or Omio.
The train station in Bressanone is very close to the historic center, but if you don’t feel like walking, you can catch a local bus.
We spent one day in Bressanone as a day trip from Trento so from there we changed train in Bolzano.
By car
If you want to get to Bressanone by car, you need to take the Brennero highway (A22) and take the Chiusa exit coming from the south or Bressanone if you come from the north.
There are several parking options in Bressanone, but if you are visiting during the high season, it’s recommended to check the traffic situation here.
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