A family summer in South Tyrol: 7 easy days in Schenna and Merano
A family summer holiday should not feel like a timetable. Children want to swim, play and discover. Older children and teenagers need movement, variety and a little adventure. Parents look for moments to breathe. And when grandparents come along, the day should work for them too.
That is exactly why Schenna, just above Merano in South Tyrol, is such a good place for a family holiday. Here, Mediterranean warmth, mountain air, gardens, alpine pastures and small adventures all come together. At Hohenwart, the day can begin very simply: with breakfast on the terrace, a swim in the pool, a look towards the mountains and the freedom to decide what kind of day it should be.
These seven ideas are not a fixed itinerary. They are a way to imagine a family week at Hohenwart: one day by the water, one day in Merano, one day in the mountains, one day in the gardens, one day with animals and stories, one day with more action, and one slower day when everyone needs a pause.
Day 1: Arrive, swim and settle in
The first day does not need a big plan. Arrive, unpack, take off your shoes, find the swimwear and head for the water.
At Hohenwart, children can splash and swim in the FamilySpa, enjoy the indoor pool or spend time outside in the garden. The 25-metre outdoor pool adds space for swimming, playing and cooling down. For younger children, water and the playroom are often enough to feel instantly on holiday. For school-aged children, the pool soon becomes a place for races, diving games and new holiday friends.
Parents do not have to organise much on this first day. They can join the children in the water, sit in the garden, arrive slowly on the terrace or later find peace in the adults-only VistaSpa.
Meals are easy too. With Hohenwart’s ¾ board, breakfast, dinner and the afternoon Marende, South Tyrol’s much-loved afternoon snack, are part of the holiday. Less planning, less searching, more time together.
Day 2: Walk to Merano along shaded paths
Merano is part of a stay in Schenna, even in summer. With children, however, it does not have to mean a long day in the heat. The nicest way to enjoy Merano in summer is to make the walk there part of the experience and keep the town as the easy reward at the end: gelato, coffee, a short walk by the Passer river or a stroll through the arcades.
One of our hiking guide Hubert’s favourite family tips is the route via the Via Riffiano and then on to the Maiser Waalweg trail towards Merano. A Waalweg is one of South Tyrol’s historic irrigation-channel trails. Here, the walk becomes greener, cooler and more playful: water along the path, shaded sections, meadows, woodland and gentle views towards Obermais, Merano, Schenna and Tyrol.
For children, this feels less like walking into town and more like a small summer adventure. Once in Merano, a simple plan is enough: an ice cream, a drink, a short walk and then back to Schenna by bus 231. With the Südtirol Guest Pass Schenna, the return is easy to plan.
Hohenwart tip: Think of Merano as a light summer outing, not a full city day. Walk down through shade and greenery, enjoy something cool in town and return to Hohenwart for the pool.
Day 3: Head into the mountains with children
When the valley feels warm, families often look upwards. A mountain day brings fresher air, views and movement without turning into a demanding hike.
Merano 2000 is especially versatile for families. There are easy paths, mountain huts, views and child-friendly attractions such as the Outdoor Kids Camp near the mountain station or the Alpin Bob. Haflinger horses also belong to this landscape. Around Hafling, Vöran and Merano 2000, children may spot these gentle horses with their light coats and blond manes: a very South Tyrolean holiday moment.
For younger children or for a smaller outing, the Taser Alm is also a good choice. The cable car already makes the day feel special, and once at the top there are short walks, nature and a large adventure playground.
Another special tip from Hubert is the Matatzer/Ulfaser Waalweg Trail in the Passeier Valley. Start with an easy ascent from the car park Kratzegg to the Ulfaser Alm, a section that Hubert confirms is doable even with an all-terrain pushchair. From the hut, the actual Waalweg trail begins, offering a shaded, flat walk along the gently flowing water through beautiful spruce and larch woods.
In high summer, this is a gift. Altitude, woodland and flowing water make the walk feel fresh. Children who love playing by water will find plenty of small discoveries.
At Hohenwart, families are well prepared for days like this: hiking maps, rucksacks, hiking poles, child carriers, all-terrain pushchairs and buggies can be borrowed. Our team is also happy to help with personal recommendations.
Day 4: Discover Trauttmansdorff Gardens
The Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle are not a classic children’s excursion, and that is exactly what makes them so valuable. They work for several generations at once. Children discover paths, water, viewing points and hidden stations. Parents enjoy the garden landscapes. Grandparents can walk at their own pace and plan little pauses along the way.
For children, Trauttmansdorff becomes exciting when it is not presented as “looking at gardens”. It is about discovery: the Botanical Underworld, the Forbidden Garden, water, animals, views and small surprises along the paths. The Lovers’ Garden also invites curiosity and conversation. Those who wish can add a short visit to the Touriseum.
In summer, it is best not to rush the visit or plan it for the hottest part of the day. Start calmly, take breaks and leave enough time. And afterwards? Back to Hohenwart: to the pool, the FamilySpa, the afternoon Marende or the terrace.
Day 5: Small South Tyrolean adventures
Not every family day needs a big plan. Sometimes one simple idea is enough: animals, a castle, birds of prey, mini golf or a step back into the Stone Age.
At Tyrol Castle, Gufyland and its birds of prey show become a special experience. Eagles, falcons, owls and other birds fascinate children and adults alike, especially when they circle above the castle hill.
At Rainguthof near Tisens, families find an easy animal experience in a former mountain farm setting. Goats, deer, llamas, emus and many other animals can be seen at close range, some of them moving freely around the grounds.
The archeoParc in the Schnalstal Valley is a good choice for families who like history, nature and hands-on discovery. From making fire to baking bread or trying archery, children can experience the world of Ötzi in a playful way. A dugout canoe ride is one of the highlights.
And if there is a free afternoon, mini golf in Schenna is an easy option close to Hohenwart. No long drive, no big plan, just a small shared moment that everyone can join.
Day 6: Action for older children and teenagers
Family holidays change when children get older. What is enough for younger children may feel too quiet for teenagers. They want speed, movement and experiences that do not feel like children’s entertainment.
Pfelders in the Passeier Valley is a strong destination for this. With mountain carting, the day begins calmly with the lift up, before the ride down on three wheels brings curves, fresh mountain air and plenty of speed.
The trip to Pfelders can also be combined with Spider Park, a high ropes park among the trees. Depending on age, height and confidence, children climb, balance and move through different elements. Older children and teenagers may be drawn to the zip-line, while younger siblings have their own net course.
Water can also become an adventure in summer. Rafting on the Etsch or the Passer lets families experience the river from a new perspective: not from the bank, but right in the middle of it.
And then there is biking. Around Schenna and Merano, active families will find many options for days on two wheels. At Hohenwart, E-mountain bikes can be hired, and there is a lockable bike room, personal advice and a guided E-bike tour in the weekly programme.
The important thing is that not everything has to be planned in advance. A day with teenagers can happen spontaneously: mountain carts today, pool tomorrow, biking one day, Merano or a quiet hotel day the next.
Day 7: When the weather changes or everyone needs a pause
Even in summer, there are days when it rains, feels too hot or everyone simply needs a slower rhythm. For families, a good plan B matters.
Train World in Rabland/Rablà is a classic for young and older explorers. Trains, miniature landscapes and countless details make it a good choice for children who like to look, search and marvel.
The South Tyrol Museum of Fruit-Growing in Lana fits beautifully with the region. Children can discover how apples, farming and the landscape of the Merano area are connected. It is calm, family-friendly and especially useful on a rainy day.
For children and teenagers who need movement indoors, Rockarena in Merano is a good option for climbing, concentration and a little courage. For younger children, Wanda Indoorplay in Burgstall offers a simple indoor play option when they need to move.
But the most important slow-day place remains Hohenwart itself. While children enjoy their own holiday moments in the supervised summer programme, parents can breathe: with a book in the garden, a massage, a quiet moment in the VistaSpa or the warm saltwater pool with views over Merano.
This is not about “dropping off” children. It is about balance. Children have their own holiday. Parents get space. And later the family comes back together: in the pool, at the afternoon Marende, at dinner or on the terrace.
Sometimes that is the best holiday day of all.
A family summer that works for everyone
A week with children in Schenna and Merano can take many shapes. One day begins in the water. One leads down to Merano. One goes up into the mountains. One is spent in the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle. One brings animals, castles or small adventures. One offers action for older children. One stays close to the hotel.
That is the beauty of Hohenwart: families do not have to choose one single kind of holiday. Children, parents and grandparents may all need different things. Here, there is water and peace, mountains and town, play and good food, small moments of independence and time together.
And in the evening, everyone finds their way back to the same place: dinner, the terrace, the garden and the view over Merano.
Seven holiday days do not become seven things to tick off.
They become memories that last.
In the place that lasts.