E5, the European trail that crosses Bolzano

In recent years, long-distance multi-stage hiking routes have been gaining increasing popularity among trekkers. Not everyone knows that one of Europe’s most important itineraries—from Pointe du Raz in Brittany (France), passing through Switzerland, Germany, and Austria—reaches Italy at the Passo Rombo and continues through Bolzano Bozen before heading on to Trentino and Veneto, all the way to Venice.

This is the E5 trail, a well-marked route that allows hikers to cross the Alpine region in an area particularly rich in charm and history. It follows paths once used by smugglers in more recent times and, even earlier, by prehistoric hunters.

In the section closest to the regional capital, the E5 runs through the Merano 2000 area, continues across the Avelengo plateau, and passes through Verano and Meltina before reaching San Genesio. While remaining at altitude, the route is accessible year-round and offers magnificent views of the Tessa mountain group, the Sarntal Alps, and the Dolomites.

Descending from the San Genesio plateau, hikers pass through the center of Bolzano; from the lower station of the Kohlern cable car, the E5 continues toward Kohlern before reaching the Totes Moos biotope. In a charming alternation of forests and meadows, hikers eventually arrive in Nova Ponente. From there, the route continues through the Bletterbach—a UNESCO World Heritage Site—before entering Trentino.

Image: Bolzano, courtesy Clemens Zahn IDM