fink Restaurant & Suites is located in the historic centre of Brixen in the immediate vicinity of the most important sights of the prince-bishop’s town. Thanks to the manageable size of the town, many of Brixen’s most popular excursion destinations - into the mountains and nature - can be reached in no time at all.
As an Alpine town, Brixen is surrounded by a multitude of mountains and high plateaus. Traditionally, people have been drawn to the snow-covered mountains in the cold season for skiing, tobogganing or ice skating - and more and more winter sports enthusiasts prefer activities in the tranquillity of winter, cross-country skiing, winter hiking or snowshoeing.
The Plose ski area is one of the most popular destinations in Brixen in winter and is just 7 km from the historic town centre. Located right next to the Puez Geisler nature reserve, the 43 kilometres of pistes always offer a magnificent view of the Dolomites. There are other large ski and snowboard areas not far from Brixen, such as Gitschberg Jochtal and Kronplatz.
On the high Alpine pastures and in the side valleys around Brixen, there are numerous well-groomed trails for cross-country skiing at all levels of difficulty: on the Passo delle Erbe/Würzjoch in the heart of the Dolomites, in peaceful Lüsen near Brixen/Brixen or in Valles/Vals at the entrance to Val Pusteria/Pustertal. The largest cross-country skiing area in Europe is only around an hour away: Dolomiti NordicSki.
Enjoy nature in silence: the extensive natural forests and alpine pastures of the Ploseberg, where Dolomite peaks such as the Odle, Aferer Geisler and Peitlerkofel seem close enough to touch, offer quiet paths and trails through unspoilt winter landscapes away from the pistes.
The Brixen valley basin stretches between the Eisack and Rienz rivers, with the Zillertal Alps rising up behind the neighbouring low mountain ranges to the north and the World Heritage Dolomites to the east. The area around Brixen/Brixen offers a wide variety of hiking trails with ever-changing views of the most beautiful peaks in the Central Alps: on the high plateau of Naz-Sciaves/Natz-Schabs, the Valle Isarco/Eisacktal wine and apple trail or the Ark Trail to Elvas.
Brixen’s local mountain, the Plose, is one of the most beautiful and varied hiking areas in South Tyrol. A cable car runs from the Brixen district of Sankt Andrä up to 2,050 metres above sea level. The mountain station is the starting point for easy walks and challenging hikes or mountain tours through the Dolomites: a summit hike to the Plosehütte, the panoramic circular trail, the path to the Rossalm or the WoodyWalk for families. The ‘Funbob’ summer toboggan run leads down into the valley, while for bikers there are flowing trails through the forests of the Ploseberg.
The Rodenecker Alm is one of the largest high plateaus in Europe. Situated at 1,800 to 2,000 metres above sea level, the circular hiking trail with numerous refreshment stops - at the Ronerhütte, the Rastnerhütte or the Starkenfeldhütte - offers excellent views of the Zillertal Alps, the Grossglockner, the Geisler, the Brenta Group and the Ötztal and Stubai Alps. Depending on the route, the hike is 8 to 10 kilometres long and takes 3 to 4 hours.
The Eisack is the river with the most water in South Tyrol. It rises in the Stubai Alps near the Brenner Pass and flows through the Wipptal valley. From Franzensfeste near Brixen to Bozen, where it flows into the Etsch, the grey-blue, rarely quiet river gives the Eisack Valley its name. There are well-developed walks along the banks of the river, such as the almost 5 km long path from Brixen’s historic centre to Neustift monastery and back. The promenades, riparian forests and meadows along the Eisack are popular with the people of Brixen as a place to take a short break in the middle of the city.
The Keschtnweg trail runs parallel to the Eisack. Törggele hikes in autumn lead to inns that offer roasted chestnuts and seasonal specialities.
Holidays in the mountains on a mountain bike or cycle tours to the most beautiful destinations in Brixen: the mountains and valleys around Brixen/Brixen offer challenging trails as well as well-developed, mostly asphalted cycle paths with refreshment stops and rest areas. Brixen and the surrounding area have several hire and, if necessary, repair centres for bikes and mountain bikes.
The Valle Isarco/Eisacktal cycle path stretches over a total length of 96 kilometres and leads from Brennero/Brenner through the Wipp and Valle Isarco/Eisacktal valleys to the mouth of the Adige/Etsch river in Bolzano/Bozen. From Brixen/Brixen it is another 42 km downstream on the easy cycle path to the provincial capital. Along the scenic cycle path, the rugged, wildly wooded rock faces of the Eisack Valley rise up above vineyards and historical sights such as the small town of Klausen, Säben Abbey and Trostburg Castle.
The expansive local mountain of Brixen is a popular destination for mountain bikers. With circular routes and trails, bike hire and a repair workshop at the valley station and the option of taking a mountain bike up to the mountain station at 2,050 metres in the cable car, the Ploseberg is ideally equipped for tours on two wheels. Right at the mountain station, the Plose Looping offers the opportunity to do one of the world’s highest somersaults on a bike.
Pleasure tours with views of the Dolomites for mountain and e-mountain bikes lead to Rossalm, Pfannspitzhütte and Plosehütte.
For downhillers, the Bikepark Brixen was set up on the Plose a few years ago with five well-maintained trails: from the ‘green’ Jerry Line for beginners to the Sky and the Rock Line, which demand a lot of skill and experience over 5 km and 1,000 metres in depth.
A short, easy cycle tour starting in the old town of Brixen/Brixen leads over a distance of around 5 km and only 42 metres in altitude to Neustift and back. The destination of the tour - via a section of the Eisack Valley cycle path - is the Augustinian monastery of Neustift, one of the most interesting excursion destinations around Brixen.
The Dolomites region with its vast natural forests and high alpine pastures, above which the white walls and peaks of the Dolomite rock massifs rise up, is one of the most popular destinations for mountaineers, climbers and paragliders. From the mountain peaks and from the air, you can enjoy a unique panoramic view of the Alps and valleys on fine days.
Experience the Dolomites and the Isarco Valley from a bird’s eye view: Tandem paragliding flights are offered all year round on Brixen’s local mountain, weather permitting. There are three suitable take-off points near the mountain station of the Plose cable car on sloping alpine meadows at around 2,000 to almost 2,500 metres above sea level. The landing sites are located in the St. Andrä district of Brixen on large meadows.
Paragliding on the Ploseberg is offered by the Paragliding Tandem Team, Fliagn, Tandem Fly and other providers of accompanied paragliding flights.
In the South Tyrolean Alps and neighbouring regions lies the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Dolomites, which offers a multitude of designated and well-maintained routes for mountaineering and climbing at all levels of difficulty. The former coral reefs, which have risen from the seabed over millions of years and developed into enormous mountain massifs of Dolomite rock, are very popular with climbers due to their non-slip structure.
Surrounded by mountains and valleys, a holiday in Brixen/Brixen is the perfect way to combine nature and culture. Explore the surrounding mountains during the day on leisurely walks or sporting challenges, then return in the evening to a place of tranquillity in the heart of the old town - at the Hotel fink Restaurant & Suites: for a meal in the Laubenrestaurant and to relax in the thermal baths and historic suites.