A drive of just a few miles takes you to the lively, colorful main city of the Val Pusteria-Pustertal valley, Brunico-Bruneck. And by heading not too many feet up in elevation, a good many mountain peaks are already in reach. And then just a few minutes by foot will bring you to the fantastic natural and cultural wonder of the unique “green valley”.
Even though the entire splendor of the mountains is always in view, and dense woods call out for tours of discovery, even though the renowned Kronplatz is just around the corner for the wintertime and the Laghetto d’Issengo-Issinger Weiher pond is beckoning for a swim in nature in the summertime, it turns out to not be so easy to get up and leave Chienes.
It is the quiet and the sun that do a soul good and put a reflective smile on the faces of visitors to the village. The crisp mountain air that wafts through the lungs of every mountain sports enthusiast or leisure cyclist also definitely makes its contribution, too. And perhaps so do a good many old tales that are told about the villages of Casteldarne-Ehrenburg, Masi-Hofern, S. Sigismondo-St. Sigmund, or the small village of Chienes itself. Visitors suddenly find just the right balance between being active and idleness – the precondition for enjoyment.
And those who are the most successful are the ones who taste a Tirtl or crunch into a Kirschtakrapfen, both types of local fritters. In the end, the old recipes are still the best – in the alpine refuges and meadow cabins around Chienes, everyone is fully aware of this.
But on top of that, the time-honored traditions are still lovingly lived out. Such as at the Church Festival, when the mannequin Michl is auctioned off for charity.
Arriving from Bolzano-Bozen and points south
Take the A22 Brennero Autostrada to the Bressanone/Val Pusteria-Brixen/Pustertal exit for state route SS49-E66 (30 km/19 miles from the highway exit to Brunico-Bruneck, 42 km/26 miles to Valdaora-Olang, and 43 km/27 miles to San Vigilio-St. Vigil).
Arriving from Venice and points beyond
Take the A27 Alemagna Autostrada and continue past Treviso until it ends, then continue on state route SS51 Alemagna toward Tai di Cadore. Continue on the SS51 to Cortina and then to Dobbiaco-Toblach, then take route SS49-E68 to Brunico-Bruneck (63 km/39 miles from Cortina to Brunico).
Arrival from the Brenner Pass, Innsbruck, Austria, and points north:
Take the Autostrada Brennero-Brennerautobahn (A22) to the Bressanone/Val Pusteria-Brixen/Pustertal exit, then continue along the main highway (SS49-E66) into the Val Pusteria-Pustertal valley. The western gateway to the Kronplatz region is located in S. Sigismondo-St. Sigmund near Chienes-Kiens.
Arrival from Lienz, Austria and points east:
You can also reach us from Lienz, Austria and points beyond. You will cross the Austrian-Italian border between Arnbach, Austria and Prato alla Drava-Winnebach, Italy (route B100-E66 in Austria ) and continue on route SS49-E66 in Italy into the Val Pusteria. The eastern gateway to the Kronplatz region is located in Monguelfo-Welsberg.
Important notes:
- In Italy, the autostrada motorway is a toll road.
- Every year from November 15 to April 15, cars and trucks traveling during snowfall, over snow-covered roads, or when there is ice on the roadway are required to use winter tires or snow chains.
Positioned in the heart of Europe, South Tyrol has a good train network, with connecting trains from the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB), Italian Trenitalia, as well as Deutsche Bahn (DB).
Once in South Tyrol, DB/ÖBB train travelers can use the ‘Anschlussticket Südtirol’, a ticket that allows travelling with public transportation to get from the train station to their accommodation and vice versa on their day of arrival/departure.
International railway connections are offered as far as Fortezza-Franzensfeste in South Tyrol-Südtirol. Change there for the local rail line to the Val Pusteria-Pustertal valley.
A train station is located in Casteldarne-Ehrenburg.
With Flixbus you can reach South Tyrol via Munich, Innsbruck or Verona several times a day.
►"Südtirol Transfer" – comfortably to your holiday accommodation
If you arrive by train or bus in South Tyrol you can use the "Südtirol Transfer”, a region-wide connection shuttle for the last few kilometres to your accommodation. You can get to your holiday accommodation from the train stations in Bolzano/Bozen, Meran/Merano, Mals/Malles, Brixen/Bressanone, Bruneck/Brunico or Innichen/San Candido, as well as from the ‘Flixbus’ bus stops in Bolzano, Meran or Klausen/Chiusa and after your holiday you will be brought back to the de-sired stop. The group transfer to the South Tyrolean accommodations can be booked online on http://www.suedtiroltransfer.com/en/.
► Book your shuttle
Travellers who are interested in using an individual shuttle service or airport transfer, have the possibility to make a reservation via the new booking platform "Book your shuttle". This way the individual transfer from and to, as well as in South Tyrol, can be booked online easily and quickly.
South Tyrol’s only airport is located in the southern outskirts of Bolzano-Bozen. Beyond South Tyrol the nearest international airports are in Innsbruck (Austria) and Munich (Germany) in the north and Venice, Treviso, Verona and Bergamo in the south.
Driving distances from and to Brunico-Bruneck in kilometres/miles:
Airport Innsbruck - INN 105 km 65 mi
Airport Munic - MUC 302 km 188 mi
Airport Verona - VRN 223 km 139 mi
Airport Bergamo - BGY 326 km 203 mi
Airport Venice - VCE* 205 km 127 mi
Airport Treviso - TSF* 195 km 121 mi
Different shuttle services guarantee the connection from these airports to the respective train stations. From there you can travel to South Tyrol with the trains of Italian Trenitalia, Deutsche Bahn DB as well as Austrian Federal Railways ÖBB.
From the airports of Innsbruck, Munich, Verona and Bergamo Alto Adige Bus offers a shuttle service for the onward journey to South Tyrol. This airport shuttle to South Tyrol includes a large number of stops throughout South Tyrol.
Please note that all transport services must be booked in advance and 48 hours before you set off at the very latest.
Alto Adige Bus - Südtirol Bus
Book your shuttle
* There are currently no transfer services offered by these airports.
