Sissi's Path

This scenic route, known as the Sentiero di Sissi in Italian and the Sissiweg in German, leads to the areas of town most beloved by Empress Elisabeth of Austria, better known as Sissi. The charming Habsburg sovereign stayed in Merano several times in the second half of the nineteenth century, and was enchanted by its charm. This path dedicated to her connects the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle with the city centre; it passes through eleven stages along the way, each with a story to tell. From the castle that majestically dominates the botanical gardens, Sissi’s Path winds its way past Pienzenau and Rubein Castles, the Reichenbach Residence, Piazza Fontana (Brunnenplatz), Rottenstein Castle, and the Bavaria Hotel; it then continues down to the river, crosses the Roman Bridge, skirts the Wandelhalle and finally pays homage to the empress in the park dedicated to her. The park is on the edge of the Summer Promenade and there is a statue erected in Sissi’s honour. Obviously, the trail can be followed in either direction.

The Sissi Path is generally accessible to wheelchairs and strollers, but it does have an overall elevation change of about 90 metres. For this reason, it is recommended to take the path from the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle down towards Merano, in order to have a predominantly downhill route. The tour is well-suited for older individuals and families with children. On the promenades and Brunnenplatz square, there are some benches where you can pause and rest.

There is no tactile guidance system or other aids for the blind on this tour.

You can easily reach the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle by bike by following the Sissi Path via the Summer Promenade. Please note that cycling is not allowed on the Winter Promenade. The Summer Promenade is a gravel path, but from Kirchsteig onwards the route is paved. Some lanes are narrow, so please ride slowly and carefully. The path is shared by both cyclists and pedestrians, so please be mindful of others.

There are a total of 10 free parking spaces for people with disabilities at the parking lot P1 of the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle. If there are no free spaces, ring the bell at the barrier to gain access. 

In the city centre there are reserved parking spaces for people with disabilities in Galileistraße and in the upper Freiheitsstraße. Please note that both streets are a traffic-calmed zone. Entry to this zone is only permitted if you have deposited your disabled parking permit and your car's licence plate number with the local council Gemeinde Meran in advance. We would also like to note that the Merano Market occurs in the upper Freiheitsstraße on Saturdays until 2 pm (from March to October), making parking unavailable during this period.

Bicycle parking stands are located at the Visitor Centre of the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle. Bicycle parking spaces in the city centre are located in Thermenallee, Freiheitsstraße at the junction with Sparkassenstraße and in Galileistraße in front of the town hall. Take care not to park bicycles and e-rollers carelessly. They can pose a danger to blind and visually impaired people as they create obstacles to safely walking along paths and finding entrances. People in wheelchairs and parents with pushchairs can also be hindered by carelessly parked bicycles. Please use the bicycle parking spaces provided.

Please note: Sparkassenstraße and Galileistraße up to the Princes Castle are exclusively pedestrian zones from 10 am to 6.30 pm - bicycles must be pushed. 

We recommend travelling by public transport. You can reach the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle by taking bus line 1A (or 1 on Sundays and public holidays) or 4 - get off at the ‘Trauttmansdorff’ stop. 

Alternatively, you can take the city bus lines 1, 4 or 5 to the ‘Theaterplatz’ stop. From there it is only a 5-minute walk to the Kurhaus, the starting point of the Sissi Walk in the direction of Trauttmansdorff Castle.

We suggest opting for comfortable footwear and bringing along a reusable water bottle, easily refillable at the fountains conveniently placed along the route. Water flows in the drinking fountains from spring to autumn. Depending on the weather and temperatures, the fountains are in operation from the beginning/middle of April to the middle/end of October.