Discover Ritten: Holiday Apartment, Mountain Views and Railway History

Ritten invites you on a journey where mountain landscapes, unusual natural formations, historic sites and trails for different interests exist side by side. When choosing a holiday apartment in Ritten, you can therefore first ask yourself whether train rides, easy family activities, scenic hikes, water or history should set the pace of your stay.

Getting around by train and cable car

The Ritten narrow-gauge railway operates year-round and connects Klobenstein, Oberbozen and Maria Himmelfahrt. It opened in 1907 and is the last of its kind in South Tyrol. A ride on the Ritten railway takes 18 minutes. The Ritten cable car connects Bolzano with Oberbozen in 12 minutes. These specific connections provide a clear framework for your planning without tying your days to a single means of transport.

Trails between vineyards and mountain views

The extensive hiking areas between the sunny vineyards and the 2,260 m-high Ritten Horn are accessible via hiking trails, e-bike routes and mountain promenades. From Ritten Horn, there are sweeping views of the Dolomites UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, the Sarntal Alps and the Stubai Alps. The Ritten earth pyramids can be visited at three locations in Lengmoos, Oberbozen and Unterinn. At Corno del Renon, the Sentiero Panoramico is an easy 2,863 m-long trail with 99 m of elevation gain and a walking time of 45 minutes; it is also suitable for strollers.

Easy trails for days together

For days spent together with children, the Sentiero selvaggio delle meraviglie above Soprabolzano is a good choice: an easy family trail about 3.6 km long, with stations and games about wild animals on Ritten. From the center of Oberbozen, Trail No. 15 leads to Lake Wolfsgruben in about 30 to 35 minutes. There, you can enjoy a leisurely walk around the lake; swimming in Lake Wolfsgruben is possible in summer, while in winter you can ice-skate on Lake Wolfsgruben. The “Il mondo favoloso di Toni” trail on Corno del Renon is an easy circular route of about 2 km starting from the Cima Lago Nero mountain station. In addition, the Ritten speed-skating rink is an outdoor rink where visitors can ice-skate while enjoying views of the Dolomites.

History and culture on Ritten

Culture, too, can be translated into specific discoveries. Plattner Hof is 600 years old and is considered one of the oldest farmsteads on Ritten. Next to Plattner Hof, there is a nature education trail where visitors can experience the world from a bee’s perspective. The history of the Lengmoos Commandery dates back to the 12th century. At that time, it was built as a hospice for pilgrims traveling along the Imperial Road and soon became a rural branch of the Teutonic Order. From May to October, concerts, exhibitions, symposia and lectures take place in the historic rooms of the Lengmoos Commandery. The Ritten Traditional Costume Collection provides insight into more than 130 years of traditional costume history on Ritten. The “Rebe” Trail is an artistically designed wine education hiking trail from Signato on Ritten to Rencio in Bolzano.

When planning your holiday apartment in Ritten, you can take these differences into account: train connections, trails, lake experiences, mountain views and historical excursions each set different priorities. The varying lengths and walking times help you compare day-trip ideas and determine the desired mix of activity, discovery and relaxation.

For the overarching travel overview: Salten-Schlern.