Bressanone and Val di Funes day trip from Bolzano or Dolomites or Merano
A day trip to Bressanone (Brixen) and the Val di Funes from Bolzano, Merano or the Dolomites: Neustift Abbey in the morning, the arcaded old town, the cathedral and its frescoed cloister and the Hofburg of the prince-bishops, then late-afternoon light on the Odle peaks at Santa Maddalena and the little church of San Giovanni in Ranui. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
Bressanone and Val di Funes in 1 day
Day 1
Neustift Abbey
Augustinian monastery founded in the twelfth century just north of town, with a Baroque church, a rococo library and its own vineyards and wine cellar.
Historic centre of Brixen (Portici Maggiori)
Old town of arcaded streets, painted houses and shop signs, with cafes and inns in the lanes round the cathedral.
Brixen Cathedral and cloister
Baroque cathedral with twin towers on its broad square, next to a Romanesque cloister painted with Gothic frescoes.
Hofburg Brixen (Prince-Bishops' Palace)
Renaissance palace of the prince-bishops round an arcaded courtyard, now the diocesan museum, famous for its collection of Christmas cribs.
Santa Maddalena (St. Magdalena), Val di Funes
Small village of farms and a white church in the Val di Funes, below the jagged Odle peaks, with paths over the meadows.
Church of San Giovanni in Ranui
Tiny Baroque chapel alone in a meadow against the Odle peaks, one of the most photographed views in the Dolomites.
Getting there
Brixen is on the Brenner railway, about 30 minutes by train from Bolzano; from Merano change at Bolzano, about an hour and a quarter. Neustift Abbey is a short walk or drive north of the town. The Val di Funes is about half an hour from Brixen by car or local bus.
Staying in Bolzano or Dolomites or Merano? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Bressanone and Val di Funes
Summer and early autumn are the best seasons for the Val di Funes, with open paths and green meadows; autumn adds golden larches and harvest time at Neustift. Brixen's Christmas market runs from late November to early January. In winter the valley is under snow, and some sights keep shorter hours.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Bressanone and Val di Funes on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Bressanone and Val di Funes on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Bressanone and Val di Funes on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Bressanone and Val di Funes
- The Hofburg is open every day in season, with different hours in winter, when it shows its Christmas crib collection: check before you go.
- Neustift's library and art collection are seen on guided tours, which do not run on Sundays and holidays.
- The meadow round San Giovanni in Ranui is private: take the classic photo from the road and the path above it, and don't walk in.
- Use a car or the local buses for the Val di Funes; light on the Odle peaks is best late in the afternoon.
- Taste the abbey's own white wines at Neustift, and try speck, dumplings and apple strudel in Brixen's inns.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Brixen Cathedral and cloister: Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Church of San Giovanni in Ranui: Einaz80, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Historic centre of Brixen (Portici Maggiori): Oliver Abels, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Hofburg Brixen (Prince-Bishops' Palace): Rolf Kranz, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Neustift Abbey: DXR, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Santa Maddalena (St. Magdalena), Val di Funes: This Photo was taken by Wolfgang Moroder. Feel free to use my photos, but please mention me as the author and send me a message. This image is not in the public domain. Please respect the copyright protection. It may only be used according to the rules mentioned here. This specifically excludes use in social media, if applicable terms of the licenses listed here are not appropriate. Please do not upload an updated image here without consultation with the Author. The author would like to make corrections only at his own source. This ensures that the changes are preserved.Please if you think that any changes should be required, please inform the author.Otherwise you can upload a new image with a new name. Please use one of the templates derivative or extract., CC BY-SA 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
