What You Need to Know: Useful Information

High above the bustling valley city of Bolzano (Bozen), stretching across a sun-drenched alpine plateau, lies a living testament to Belle Époque engineering. The Renon Railway (Ferrovia del Renon or Rittnerbahn) is a historic narrow-gauge train that has been click-clacking through the meadows and larch forests of South Tyrol since 1907. Originally designed to carry wealthy Bolzano citizens up to their summer mountain estates, it is one of the last remaining traditional narrow-gauge lines in the entire region. Offering a nostalgic, slow-travel alternative to modern transit, the train frames the jagged, pale peaks of the UNESCO-listed Dolomites like an ever-changing picture postcard.

Riding the Rails in South Tyrol: The Historic Renon Narrow-Gauge Railway -

Getting There

By Cable Car (The Ultimate Way):

Do not drive up the mountain. Instead, head to the Renon Cable Car station in downtown Bolzano (a 5-minute flat walk from the Bolzano FS train station). The state-of-the-art cable car lifts you 950 meters skyward in just 12 minutes. The upper station at Soprabolzano sits directly across the platform from where the Renon Railway begins.

By Car:

If driving from Bolzano, follow the winding, panoramic mountain road up toward the plateau (approx. 30 minutes). Ample paid parking is available at the Soprabolzano and Collalbo station squares, though using public transit is highly encouraged.

By Bus:

Local Bus Line 165 runs regularly from Bolzano up to the main plateau villages if you prefer a standard road link.

Below you'll find the location marked on Google Maps. Click on it to open the location directly on your device's maps.

Useful Contacts

What to Bring & Pro-Tips

  • Pack a light windbreaker or jacket, even in mid-summer. Because the railway sits at over 1,200 meters above sea level, the mountain air on the plateau is instantly fresher and cooler than the hot city streets of Bolzano below.
  • If you are staying overnight anywhere in South Tyrol, ask your host for the Südtirol Guest Pass (RittenCard). This digital pass gives you completely free, unlimited rides on both the Bolzano-Renon Cable Car and the entire Renon Railway line for the duration of your stay.

The “Hidden Gem“

If you ride the train all the way to the Collalbo terminus, look for the trailhead heading toward the village of Maria Saal (Genna) to discover one of the most charming and unusual sights on the plateau: the Church of the Three Wishes (Tre Re Magi). Tucked away in a quiet mountain clearing, this small, 17th-century pilgrimage chapel hides a unique architectural surprise. Painted directly onto the external facade of the church is a large, beautifully preserved historic fresco depicting the Virgin Mary wearing a traditional Tyrolean straw hat. This endearing blend of sacred art and local rural fashion makes it a truly special, off-the-beaten-path treasure that perfectly captures the heart of South Tyrolean identity.