Would like to take a side trip from Austria for 2 days in the Alto Adige area. Will be traveling by train. Any romantic towns you could reccomend,(with a train station).

One told us about Bolzano and you can reach by train. Also looking for small3/4 star hotel..

thanks, jb

We stayed in Klausen - just a couple of stops closer to Austria and a few meters higher in elevation than Bolzano - and really enjoyed it. It's a much smaller town, but with the essentials, a place with much character located in the pretty Eisack River gorge. We had a private B&B next to the River and maybe 100 yards from the Klausen Railway station, but there are some hotels there too. We daytripped from Klausen into Bolzano by train and up to Castelrotto and the Dolomites (Alpe di Siusi, or "Seiser Alm&quot by bus. This area was one of the real highlights of our trip.

Great Information, Thanks

Russ, Is there a city center in Klausin for shopping and dinning? Would Bolzano be worth 2 days for street walking and eating?? Which would you think is more for Pedestrians..

Klausen is quaint. It has a small cobblestoned main plaza near the spot where another stream crashes down into the Eisack; a couple of streets with stores and shops shoot off from the plaza. The plaza itself has several eateries, an inn or two, a fountain, and a few shops. It's a very appealing spot, but choices are not infinite. We ate outdoors one evening on the plaza and listened to a Tyrolean folk group.

Bolzano is a large town; Klausen is more of a village. We spent about 3 hours in Bolzano - had a meal and a stroll around town - and felt this was enough (had we been daytripping to Klausen, this surely would have been more than enough!) There are quite a few more dining and shopping choices in bolzano, of course; although it's a lot bigger than Klausen, I can't imagine spending 2 days just to see the town, but maybe others who have spent more time there can help you with your time there.

It's easy to get into town on foot from both train stations.

I'm one of the people that love Bolzano. It is a fairly big town, a college town, lots of stores and places to eat. There are many gondolas to take, the tourist office has a great little book with about 10 walks/hikes. It is easy to get to on the train. I think that it is such a beautiful city, right in the middle of the mountains. We usually stay at the Hotel Hanny, which is outside of town on a winery, an easy walk along the river into town...15 mins, they also have a wonderful restaurant.
http://www.hotelhanny.it/