Holiday · Brixen and Surroundings · South Tyrol · 40 minutes from Bolzano Airport
First mentioned in the records in 901, a bishop's seat for centuries, and still small enough to cover on foot. Add to that an abbey that has been making wine since 1142.
Departure airport
Destination
Travel period
Travellers
Direct flight on the SkyAlps network to Bolzano (1–2 hours) + hotel in Brixen + 40-minute transfer. Tyrol's oldest town combines a former bishop's seat, Novacella Abbey and its winery, and the Plose — the local mountain rising to 2,545 metres and forming the northern edge of the Dolomites.
- Direct flight to Bolzano
- Best price guarantee
- EU-protected package holiday
- Just 40 minutes' transfer from Bolzano
Why Brixen?
What makes Brixen special as a destination?
Brixen is Tyrol's oldest town, home to Novacella Abbey — one of the region's most important wineries — with the Plose (part of the Dolomites) as its house mountain.
Brixen (Bressanone in Italian) lies at 560 metres in the Val d'Isarco and was first mentioned in records in 901. For centuries the town was a bishop's seat, and it shows: the cathedral with its Gothic cloister, the Hofburg palace, the White Tower and the Portici (Lauben) arcades. For a town of around 23,000 inhabitants, the density of monuments is unusually high.
Three kilometres outside town lies Novacella Abbey (Kloster Neustift), founded in 1142 by Bishop Hartmann and still today Tyrol's largest monastic complex. Its winery is one of the world's oldest active vineyards; the whites of the Val d'Isarco grow on slopes between 600 and 900 metres. Highlights include Riesling, Sylvaner and Kerner varieties.
The mountain is close too: seven kilometres out of town, in Sant'Andrea (St. Andrä), a gondola climbs to the Plose — the northernmost peak of the Dolomites. The middle station sits at 2,050 metres, and the Pfannspitz cable car runs on to 2,545 metres. In summer the family trail WoodyWalk starts there; in winter the Plose offers 43 kilometres of pistes with sweeping views onto the Sass de Putia (Peitlerkofel) and Odle (Geisler) groups.
901
first documented mention
since 1142
Novacella Abbey winery
2,545 m
Plose, highest point
What is there to do in Brixen?
Brixen is small enough for short walks and varied enough for a full week. The old town can be covered in half a day, Novacella Abbey fills another half. The Plose is reached in a quarter of an hour, and for rainy days there is the Acquarena. What makes the town particularly appealing is the mix: culture, wine and the Dolomites in one place, without the crowds of the more famous valleys.
Old town and Novacella Abbey
Location560 m
ScopeCathedral, Hofburg palace, abbey winery
LevelAll walkable
Suited toCulture, wine, quiet evenings
Tyrol's largest monastic complex, library with around 90,000 documents
Plose (Dolomites)
Location2,050 – 2,545 m
ScopeGondola from Sant'Andrea, 15 mountain huts
LevelEasy trails from the mountain station
Suited toFamilies, hikers, skiing in winter
WoodyWalk family trail, panorama over Sass de Putia and the Odle group
Which flights are available to South Tyrol (Bolzano)?
SkyAlps flies direct to Bolzano from Berlin, Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Copenhagen, Warsaw and London — flight time 1h 15min – 2h. All prices are per person and include return flights plus nights at the booked hotel.
When is the best time to visit Brixen?
The town works year-round; the Plose cable car does not. The summer season runs from late May to early November, followed by the winter operation. May and June are mild and quiet, July and August warmer and busier. October is Brixen's most interesting month: mild temperatures, grape harvest and Törggelen — the traditional autumn stops at farmhouses. In late November and early December, one of South Tyrol's most atmospheric Christmas Markets opens in the cathedral square.
May
Mild, cable car opens
Jun
Warm, long evenings
Jul
High summer
Aug
High summer, busy
Sep
Best hiking
Oct
Törggelen, grape harvest
Nov
Quiet, Advent begins
Dec
Christmas Market
Jan
Quietest month
Feb
Skiing on the Plose
Mar
Spring begins
Apr
Between the seasons
Peak season
Recommended
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Yes.
The complex is open year-round, and around 50,000 visitors take part in the abbey tours each year. On the tour you'll see the Late Baroque abbey church, the Gothic cloister, the Pinacoteca and the abbey library with around 90,000 documents. In the abbey cellar the wines can be sampled directly on site. Novacella's Sylvaner and Kerner are among South Tyrol's best whites; guided tastings usually run four wines and last about 45 minutes.
Ready for your Brixen holiday?
Direct flight to Bolzano, a hotel in Brixen and Surroundings and the transfer – all in one booking. Book online now, securely, flexibly and at the best price.