Sustainable Travel Guide to South Tyrol, Italy

Looking to book a green holiday close to nature, with beautiful views, exciting travel experiences, and some fresh mountain air? Then South Tyrol might be a great place to travel to. Located in the Northern Italy, this region is home to the UNESCO-protected Dolomites Mountains and is known for breathtaking alpine landscapes, charming villages, and a wide range of outdoor activities. Read on to learn about sustainable tourism in South Tyrol.

Sustainable Tourism in South Tyrol: Overview

Blessed with stunning natural landscapes that attract millions of travellers yearly, it is no wonder that South Tyrol is showing strong dedication to responsible travel practices and respect to nature. It strictly follows the sustainability goals of the United Nations as well as its own Climate Plan to reduce harmful emissions, develop renewable energy sources, and support the cultural heritage.

Sustainability in South Tyrol spans over four main areas:

Ecological. The northern Italian region set an ambitious goal to reduce CO2 emissions by 55% by 2030 and become climate-neutral by 2040. To do that, authorities promote wind power, hydropower, and photovoltaic systems.
Economic. South Tyrol strives to increase recycling rate up to 70% and reduce non-recyclable waste by 20% with the help of innovative technologies and better waste management. It also supports sustainable timber construction projects and circular economy initiatives.
Social. There are over 160,000 volunteers that support common good initiatives in civil defence, social work, culture, and sport. For example, volunteers participate in mountain rescue services and social services to support elderly people.
Cultural. To preserve its beautiful cultural heritage, the region introduces energy efficiency practices and develops ways to retain the historic charm of the local buildings. You will find events held in Italian, German and Austrian German.

Overall, the local authorities are taking active measures to preserve natural and cultural heritage of the region. As a result, more and more travel service providers are now offering green accommodation and transportation, sustainable tours and activities, and more.

Best Eco-Friendly Activities in South Tyrol

If you want to follow the best practices in sustainable tourism, make sure to explore the region with respect to nature. Luckily, South Tyrolian region offers numerous eco-friendly cycling and hiking trails, zero-emission tours, visits to organic farms and wineries, and more.

Hiking in the Dolomites

Here are a few trails in the UNESCO-listed Dolomites, designed to minimize environmental impact.

Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm) offers easy to moderate difficulty hiking through Europe’s largest Alpine meadow for 2 to 4 hours long.

Tre Cime di Lavaredo, also known as Three Peaks, offer moderate to challenging hiking trails with breathtaking views over the peaks of Dolomites. The hikes may take 4 to 6 hours.

Val di Funes to Adolf Loos Hut offers 3-4 hour long hikes of moderate difficulty in a calm forest and meadow environment.

Sella Pass Circuit is a great route for experienced travellers with quite challenging trails that take 5 to 6 hours.

Walderalm Trail, Val Passiria is a quite short and easy trail that can take one to two hours, which you can finish with farm-to-table dining experience.

Cycling and E-Bike Tours

South Tyrol offers extensive bike paths, e-bike rentals, and bike-friendly hotels for sustainable exploration.

Skiing

You can also take a ski trip to South Tyrol in one of eco-conscious resorts. Some of the highest-rated ones include:

Obereggen became the first resort to install environmentally-friendly lifts to allow tourists and skiers to get to the Dolomites peaks. You can get to Obereggen by bus or car from the nearby towns.
Kronplatz is another green ski resort with energy-efficient lifts and snow management in place as well as projects to protect the area’s biodiversity. You can take public transport such as train or bus from Percha.
Carezza runs on 100% green energy and implements efficient water management, for example, for artificial snow, etc. You can get to Carezza from nearby towns by bus or car.

You can find more environmentally conscious ski resorts here.

Organic Farms and Vineyards

To enhance your sustainable journey and taste regional products, consider visiting one of organic farms and vineyards. Not only will you get to try traditional South Tyrolean dishes but also learn more about the culture and history of South Tyrol from your hosts.

Another highlight of local tourism are vineyards. South Tyrol is one of the smallest yet famous wine-growing regions of Italy producing international quality wines, such as Sauvignon, Pinot Blanc, Lagrein or Pinot Noir. Overall, it boasts over 70 wineries and more than 200 different wines to try.

Wildlife and Bird Watching

Join ethical eco-tours to observe Alpine wildlife and bird species while supporting conservation efforts. If you travel with children, then visiting the Alpenzoo in Innsbruck can be a good idea.

More Platforms to Book:

You can book eco-friendly tours and experiences through:

Eco-Friendly Hotels in South Tyrol

With the region’s ongoing commitment to sustainable development, more and more hotels are implementing sustainable standards and best practices. Here are a few good places to stay.

Hotel Valserhof is a family-run hotel with pools, saunas, Alpine cuisine, guided hikes, and more on the budget side.
Excelsior Dolomites Life Resort is another family-run business with snow cuisine, elegant suites, guided travel experiences. It is slightly more expensive.
On the luxury side, there is a wellness resort Amonti & Lunaris with its panoramic sauna, rooftop bars, and much more.

You can explore more eco hotels in South Tyrol here.

Photo by Anastasiia Chepinska on Unsplash

Sustainable Transportation

South Tyrol supports green mobility and has a well-developed public transport network. You can move around in the region by train or bus and reach the Dolomite peaks by cable cars. You can check all the connection with Südtirol Mobilapp.

For cycling, you can rent a bike with Südtirol Rad. The bike sharing is available next most train stations in the area.

Sustainable Cuisine

Enjoy authentic South Tyrolean flavors in local eco-conscious restaurants that take measures to reduce food waste, minimize energy consumption, and encourage their guests to act likewise. Besides, products used for cooking are mostly locally sourced and organic.

Ristorante Voegele offers traditional South Tyrolean dishes sourced from local farms and markets.
Cervo Restaurant in San Felice focuses on slow food philosophy and uses local ingredients and mountain herbs.
Turmwirt is a family-owned sustainable restaurant in Gudon that has been serving seasonal and regional dishes for five generations.

There is also a number of Michelin-starred restaurants in the region that offer Alpine, regional, or creative cuisine and follow the sustainability standards.

Don’t miss an opportunity to shop at a local market for organic produce, such as fruit and vegetables, eggs, honey, cheese, wine, and so much more. For example, you may find farmers’ markets in Sarentino, Bolzano, Lana, and most other towns and villages. They usually open every Saturday, so if you’re traveling at the weekend, make sure to come by.

Knödel (Photo by Stefan Schauberger on Unsplash)

Conclusion

South Tyrol in 2025 is a model region for environmentally friendly travelers. With its breathtaking natural landscapes, strong commitment to resource conservation, respect for nature, and range of eco-friendly experiences, it offers the perfect mix of adventure and responsibility. Whether you’re hiking the Dolomites, sipping organic wine, or enjoying thermal baths, your trip can help protect one of Europe’s most beautiful regions.

My Green Trips

Sustainable Travel Guide to South Tyrol, Italy

Sustainable Tourism in South Tyrol: Overview