Trento Italy Recommendations
This is by no means a comprehensive guide to everything there is to do in Trento. These are just the things I have done or plan to do on my next trip. For your convenience I’ll put a hyperlink glossary here so you can click and skip the intro and go to the section of interest.
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Introduction
Trento, nestled between the allure of Lake Garda and the towering peaks of the Dolomites, is the capital of the northern Italian region of Trento-Alto Adige (or Trentino Südtirol), which borders Austria. It’s a charming town both old and modern, and offers a great combination of Italian and Austrian culture, making it a unique addition to your Italy itinerary.
Getting to Trento
Trento is located on the train line between Bolzano and Verona, very close to the famous Dolomites. For arrival by train, you will navigate to Trento Station.
- From Milan: you can take high speed trains, with a change in Verona, and arrive in about 2 hours and 45 minutes (buy tickets for this route here).
- From Venice: Venezia Santa Lucia to Trento, approximately 2 and a half hours (buy tickets for this route here).
My suggestion for buying train tickets in Italy is to skip the line at the machine and buy the tickets on Trainline. Please check out my post, Essential Resources for Italy Travel.
Transportation in Trento
Trento is fairly small, so you can get around most of it on foot. For longer trips, you can use a bus (local company Trento Trasporti – ticket info here).
Where to Stay In Trento
On my trip to Trento, I stayed at Hotel Buonconsiglio. It was basic and simple, had a friendly staff, and was about an 8 minute walk from the center and 5 minutes from the train station. Breakfast was available for an additional fee.
For booking accommodations in Trento, I suggest Booking.com because it has everything from hotels to private rooms, and everything in between.
Some hotel options to consider:
Here are some hotels I would stay in based on location, reviews, and amenities.
- Hotel Buonconsiglio
- Lainez Rooms & Suites
- Torrione Trento
- The Place – Only Self Check-in – No Reception
Things to Do in Trento
Trento is a great city to just walk around – one of my favorite travel activities. Here’s some other things you should do while in Trento.
Visit Buonconsiglio Castle and Aquila Tower
Beautiful inside and out and with great panoramic views, the castle is one of the highlights of Trento. It showcases a mix of Romanesque and Gothic architecture along with Renaissance frescoes (Google Maps location).
The castle garden is free, but to see the inside of the castle you’ll need to buy a ticket (10 €), with an additional fee (2.50 €) to see the inside of the Tower. Official website here.
Cable Car up to Sardagna
You can take the cable car (funivia) up to Sardagna for a great panoramic view of Trento and the surrounding mountains. It’s worth it for the view, but there’s not much else to see in Sardagna. The trip costs 5€ round trip. If you’re staying in a hotel, it may include a guest card which gives you free access to public transport, including the cable car. The cable car starts here (Google Maps link).
Visit to Parco Naturale del Doss Trento
For a small nature escape, walk up to the Parco Naturale del Doss Trento (Google Maps location). If you’re walking, be prepared for a 15 minute climb.
The Cesare Battisti Mausoleum (shown below) honors the Italian patriot Cesare Battisti. Be sure to also check out the remains of the Basilica Paleocristiana.
Visit Trento’s Monumental Cemetery
Trento’s Monumental Cemetery is serene, picturesque, and has a beautiful backdrop. It’s worth taking 30 minutes to walk from the center and take a short stroll around.
Visit the Christmas Markets!
If you’re in Trento between mid-November and the first week of January, you definitely won’t miss the Christmas markets! These were the highlights of my visit. They’re filled with vendors selling gifts, local treats, drinks (Vin brulé!), and typical Trentino dishes. I also loved it because of the shared high-top tables, making it easy to chat with bundled-up locals, which is a rare thing to happen in Italy.
Visit the Trento Cathedral (Duomo di San Vigilio)
Combining Romanesque and Gothic elements, the Cathedral of Saint Vigilius is right in the center and worth a visit during the day, and a walk-by at night.
Visit Piazza di Piedicastello
This small piazza has just a few shops and restaurants, but it’s very quant and picturesque and offers an architectural change from the rest of the city.
What to Eat and Drink in Trento
The food in Trento is pretty much unlike any “Italian” food we’re used to back in the States. This is largely due to its location, in northern Italy near Austria.
Some notable dishes from Trento (or at least from its region of Trentino-Alto Adige) are:
Canederli (Knödel): Bread dumplings mixed with ingredients like speck, cheese, and spinach, served in broth or with melted butter.
Strangolapreti Trentini: Spinach and bread dumplings seasoned with Parmesan and nutmeg, often served with melted butter and sage.
Torta di Fregoloti: A crumbly almond cake made from almonds, flour, butter, and sugar.
Carne Salada e Fagioli: Thinly sliced, cured beef served with beans and a dressing of olive oil and vinegar.
Polenta: A versatile dish that can be creamy, fried, or grilled, often served with cheese and mushrooms.
Trentino Gulash: A regional variation of the classic stew, made with beef, onions, paprika, and spices, reflecting the area’s Austro-Hungarian influences.
Best Restaurants in Trento
Forsterbräu Trento is a great spot for typical Trentino food. My usual method of asking locals where to find the most typical Trentino food resulted in at least 5 separate people telling me to go here. It’s big, very busy, requires a reservation, and as such not typically the kind of place I would like – but I was more than satisfied.
Beef goulash, canederli, and a beer flight at Forsterbräu. We’re not in Naples anymore.
If Forsterbräu doesn’t appeal to you (or you can’t get a reservation), some other options for typical Trentino food are Patelli Restaurant, Ristorante Ca dei Gobj, and Il Cappello.
IBRIS Pizzeria and Drink made news a few years ago for being a successful African-owned pizzeria in a largely traditional (i.e. prejudice) culture. I stumbled across it sort of by accident, and recognized some of the news headlines posted on the wall. Most importantly, the pizza-by-the-slice did not disappoint.
If you are in Trento during the Christmas season, the previously-mentioned Christmas Markets are the best places to get local food.
Bars & Aperitivo
Bar Pasi is a really great bar for aperitivo and cocktails, but also morning coffee.
L’Angolo dei 33 is a great spot where locals hang late at night for beer and live music. Small snacks available too.
Accademia del Gin di Linda is a cool, hip (does that word make me sound old?) cocktail bar, where the owner Linda has what seems like every gin on the planet in stock, plus some of her home made versions. It’s a really cool spot, ideal for couples or small groups.
Want to take some local food with you, or get some gifts to take home? Check out Lunelli Specialità Alimentari (Google Maps location).
That’s All For Now
I sincerely hope you found value in this article. If you have recommendations of your own or have suggestions on what else you would like to see covered here, please write in the comments below. You can subscribe to my newsletter to stay in the loop on latest articles and travel tools, or get to know me a little better by following me on Instagram.
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