mountain pass
Mendel Pass
A pass above Bolzano with a historic funicular alongside, looking out over the Adige valley vineyards.
13 km · about 25 min drive
EuropeItalyTrentino-Alto Adige
Bolzano
Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy · Europe
About Bolzano
Bolzano works well as a base: 5 minutes from San Giacomo, 20km from Lago di Carezza.
Bolzano is in Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy, with about 110,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is San Giacomo, about 4 km away.
Bolzano, also known as Bozen (see § Names), is the capital city of South Tyrol, officially the province of Bolzano/Bozen, in northern Italy. The city has a population of 108,245. Bolzano is the largest city in South Tyrol and the third-largest in historical Tyrol. The greater metro area has about 250,000 inhabitantsRead more
and is one of the urban centres within the Alps.
Bolzano is the seat of the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, where lectures and seminars are held in Italian, German, and English. The city is also home to the Italian Army's Alpini High Command (COMALP) and some of its combat and support units. In the 2020 version of the annual ranking of quality of life in Italian cities, Bolzano was jointly ranked first for quality of life alongside Bologna. In 2023, the city was named a UNESCO City of Music, joining UNESCO's Creative Cities Network.
Along with other Alpine towns in South Tyrol, Bolzano engages in the Alpine Town of the Year Association for the implementation of the Alpine Convention. The Convention aims to promote and achieve sustainable development in the Alpine Arc. Consequently, Bolzano was awarded Alpine Town of the Year 2009. Bolzano is considered a bridge between Northern Europe and Southern Europe due to the three spoken languages in South Tyrol (Italian, German, and Ladin) and the confluence of the Italian and German-Austrian cultures.
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Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Bolzano.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Bolzano?
Within an hour or so of Bolzano: Mendel Pass (13 km), Gampen Pass (Passo delle Palade) (18 km), Passo di Lavazè (19 km), Lago di Carezza (20 km).
Are there any good drives near Bolzano?
The nearest famous roads are Mendel Pass, Gampen Pass (Passo delle Palade) and Passo di Lavazè.
Where is Bolzano?
Bolzano is in Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy, about 4 km from San Giacomo.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 107,436
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Italy
- Region
- Trentino-Alto Adige
- Timezone
- Europe/Rome
- Coordinates
- 46.4907, 11.3398
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Italy
ACI roadside assistance: 803 116. ZTL (limited traffic zones) in city centres are camera-enforced.
Full driving guide for ItalyTags
Worth the detour from Bolzano
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
mountain pass
Gampen Pass (Passo delle Palade)
The wooded pass linking Merano's valley to the Val di Non, a quiet and consistently graded climb.
18 km · about 20 min drive
mountain pass
Passo di Lavazè
A gentle forested pass between the Val di Fiemme and the Val d'Ega, with the Latemar massif rising ahead.
19 km · about 20 min drive
natural wonder
Lago di Carezza
A tiny jewel-toned lake reflecting the Latemar peaks, framed by spruce forest beside the Great Dolomites Road.
20 km · about 25 min drive
famous road
Grosse Dolomitenstrasse (SS48)
The Great Dolomites Road from Bolzano to Cortina over the Costalunga, Pordoi and Falzarego passes.
21 km · about 25 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Passo di Costalunga Latemar Viewpoint
A roadside outlook on the Karer Pass road with the Latemar towers reflected in the woods below.
22 km · about 25 min drive
natural wonder
Alpe di Siusi
Europe's largest high-altitude alpine meadow in the Dolomites, offering sweeping views of the Sassolungo and Sciliar massifs.
23 km · about 25 min drive
mountain pass
Passo di Costalunga (Karer Pass)
The 1,745 m western gateway of the Great Dolomite Road, climbing from Bolzano past the emerald Lago di Carezza with the Latemar and Rosengarten walls towering overhead.
23 km · about 25 min drive
Driving roads near Bolzano
27 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 60km.
- Right hereMendel PassA pass above Bolzano with a historic funicular alongside, looking out over the Adige valley vineyards.
- 18 kmGampen Pass (Passo delle Palade)The wooded pass linking Merano's valley to the Val di Non, a quiet and consistently graded climb.
- 19 kmPasso di LavazèA gentle forested pass between the Val di Fiemme and the Val d'Ega, with the Latemar massif rising ahead.
- 21 kmGrosse Dolomitenstrasse (SS48)The Great Dolomites Road from Bolzano to Cortina over the Costalunga, Pordoi and Falzarego passes.
- 22 kmPasso di Costalunga Latemar ViewpointA roadside outlook on the Karer Pass road with the Latemar towers reflected in the woods below.
- 23 kmPasso di Costalunga (Karer Pass)The 1,745 m western gateway of the Great Dolomite Road, climbing from Bolzano past the emerald Lago di Carezza with the Latemar and Rosengarten walls towering overhead.
Driving in Italy
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.82/litre
- Motorway tolls
- ~€8.50/100km
When to drive here
April to October
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