Things to Do in Trentino-South Tyrol, Italy: City Guides

Trentino-South Tyrol is an Alpine region in northern Italy shaped by Roman, Austrian and German-speaking heritage, as well as a distinctive system of self-government. Its towns, fortifications, languages, food and vineyards make it a rewarding destination to explore beyond the mountains themselves. Neywo offers free audio guides for 3 cities in Trentino-South Tyrol, with 227 narrated places in total.

A short history of Trentino-South Tyrol

The region’s history is layered. Rome conquered the area, and it later became part of the Holy Roman Empire. The prince-bishops of Trent and Brixen held both religious and temporal power before the Counts of Tyrol became dominant. The territory subsequently passed to the Habsburgs.

For much of the nineteenth century and into the early twentieth, the region formed part of Tyrol within the Austrian Empire and later Austria-Hungary. The Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye transferred it to Italy after the First World War.

That history still influences daily life. Italian and German remain central languages, alongside Ladin and smaller language communities. An agreement in 1946 and a special statute established a framework for self-government, while the 1972 settlement transferred most powers to the autonomous provinces of Trentino and South Tyrol. The region is therefore not simply one centralised territory: it is two self-governing provinces connected by a shared Alpine past.

Language, identity and everyday life

Language is one of the clearest ways to understand Trentino-South Tyrol. Nearly 1.1 million people live in the region. Italian is the mother tongue for most residents, while German is spoken by a substantial part of the population and is the majority language in South Tyrol. Ladin, Mòcheno and Cimbrian are also part of the linguistic landscape, together with languages brought by immigrant communities.

The region’s names reflect this variety, as do its public institutions. In Bolzano, RAI produces services in Italian, German and Ladin. Regional media also include German-language and Italian-language newspapers.

Trentino lies to the south and South Tyrol to the north. Even the regional symbol expresses this relationship: it combines a black eagle for Trentino with a red eagle for South Tyrol. The regional assembly alternates between Trento and Bolzano every two years, another visible sign of the connection between the two provinces.

What to see and do in Trentino-South Tyrol

Explore Trento

The regional capital is a natural starting point for a Trentino-South Tyrol travel guide. Trento’s history brings together the region’s Alpine, Italian and Central European influences.

Among Neywo’s narrated places are Forte Bus de Vela, Cesare Battisti’s mausoleum, Trento Cathedral and Forte Roncogno. Together, they introduce different parts of the city’s story, from defensive architecture to religious and civic history. Discover Trento through its historic places and fortifications.

Visit Riva del Garda

Riva del Garda lies at the northern end of Lake Garda and offers another perspective on the region. Its narrated places include Forte San Nicolò, Werk Tombio, MAG Museo Alto Garda and Reptiland.

The forts point to the strategic importance of the area, while the museum offers a way to explore local history and culture. With 27 narrated places available, Riva del Garda is one of the region’s useful bases for combining a lakeside setting with historical discoveries. Explore Riva del Garda at your own pace.

Discover Pinzolo and the mountain heritage

Pinzolo provides access to a distinctly Alpine part of Trentino-South Tyrol. Neywo’s selection includes the Museo delle guide, San Vigilio, Madonna di Campiglio and the Our Lady of Europe church.

The Museo delle guide reflects the importance of mountain guides to the area, while San Vigilio and Madonna di Campiglio connect the town with its religious and mountain-tourism heritage. Pinzolo has 9 narrated places to discover. See Pinzolo’s sights before setting out.

Taste the region’s Alpine cuisine

Food is another of the best things to do in Trentino-South Tyrol. Canederli, or bread dumplings, strudel and sauerkraut show the strong influence of Austrian cooking. Speck, the region’s smoked cured ham, is another typical product, while spaccata is a local bread.

The valleys also produce fruit, dairy products and wine. Winemaking here reaches back to before the Roman period, and local growers cultivate varieties not usually associated with other parts of Italy. These include Müller-Thurgau, Vernatsch, Lagrein, Sylvaner and Gewürztraminer.

The contrasting valleys shape the wines. In the Adige Valley, a Mediterranean climate reaches as far as Meran and supports a wide variety of red and white wines. The harsher conditions of the Vinschgau and Eisacktal favour white wines. Regional examples include Teroldego Rotaliano, Lagrein, Trentino Müller-Thurgau, Alto Adige Pinot Bianco and Trento white sparkling wine.

Explore Trentino-South Tyrol with Neywo

Neywo has free audio guides for 3 cities in Trentino-South Tyrol, covering 227 narrated places in total through 7 walking tours. Narration is available in 11 languages.

Choose a city, start walking and let the app guide your visit. Each story plays as you reach the place it describes, at your own pace, with no group and no schedule. It is a simple way to add context to forts, churches, museums and other landmarks while you explore Trento, Riva del Garda and Pinzolo.