You ask yourself: Is Trento worth visiting? What can one do in Trento? This blog post might give you the answers you are looking for. It also includes helpful links. As you will see there is much more to do than just strolling through the old town center (even though that´s also something I can recommend). Through my work as a tattoo artist, I meet many people and they often ask me for Trento-recommendations. I thought, why not summarize them in a blog post? So here we go, 10 things to do in Trento recommended by a local.
1. Walk behind a waterfall – Ponte Alto
Fun fact: Many locals have never been there as it is only accessible with a guide,. Locals don´t like to pay for it. Well, they miss out and it´s only 6€ which is a steal for this great 45minutes walking tour. Many tourists describe this as their Trento sightseeing highlight. You will see two large waterfalls which originated from ancient hydraulic works and walk trough an awesome canyon. You can book a guided walking tour here.
2. Drink like the locals – Apertitivo
People in Trento LOVE to go for aperitivo. If you are not familiar with the concept, well let me explain. You go to one of the many bars, order an Aperol Spritz, Hugo, Negroni, or any other beverage of your liking – and you enjoy it with tasty snacks. Well and then you sit there in the cozy streets of Trento and enjoy the atmosphere. Sounds pretty good, right? Here are a few places I can recommend:
Bar La Vi En Rose - Unusual interior & special atmosphere. Great food, great drinks, great mood. Most weekends they have live music.
Plan - Always a great mood and you will meet many locals.
Uva e menta - Start with aperitivo and follow up with delicious pizza.
TJ Bar - Good cocktails in a cozy street.
Bar Caffe Portici - Touristic, but for a good reason. You will have the best view on the dome while enjoying well made drinks.
3. A culinary journey for your palate – the best restaurants in Trento
This one is an obvious one as your in Italy, but it can´t miss the list. Go out for dinner to one of the many great Trento restaurants. Even though this point deserves its own blog post, I tried to keep it short. Here are five of my favorite restaurants in Trento, with a short description, so you know what to expect.
Il Libertino – They have an excellent wine selection, very friendly and welcoming staff, and (of course) great local food. I can recommend their Risotto! If you plan to go during the weekend, book in advance as it´s a rather small place.
Locanda Morgan – Feeling fancy today, have something to celebrate? Go to Locanda Morgan. Number one on TripAdvisor for a reason, this Micheline star restaurant serves superb food in a superb location. I can promise it will be a unforgettable culinary experience.
Korallo – Fancy Naples-style pizza a, then this is the place to go. More casual than the ones above but definitely a spot worth checking out. Especially if you love pizza. They offer quite extravagant toppings, and they serve gluten-free Pizza too!
Forstbräu Trento – Authentic Trentino cuisine and great beer in a nice location. That pretty much sums it up.
Green Tower – From local specialties to tasty pizza. I can promise there is something for everyone. They are known for their thin crusted Pizza and truffle beef tartar. I am a big fan of their deserts. If you go, read the story of why they are called Green Tower – quite interesting Trento history.
4. A night out in Trento
After aperitivo and a dinner out, you are most likely in a pretty good mood. Would be a shame to go to bed directly. Trento has a pretty good nightlife! There are awesome student parties, follow @trentinoeventi on Instagram to find out if there’s something going on while your in town. One of the most popular clubs is definitely ARTE Club. You find more live events on trentotoday.it, this page covers everything from cultural events to nightlife.
5. The Weather is bad or you just crave some culture? Go to MUSE
Well not only if the weather is bad, but it´s generally recommended. The museum of natural science is beautifully located, not far from the city center, and focuses on the geology of the Alps. Well, that´s one of the many things to explore and learn about. Highlights are definitely the many hands-on experiences. Great with kids. If you don´t believe me, MUSE has more than 16.000 Google reviews, with a 4.6-star average. Pretty stunning for a museum. The entrance is 10 € and if you have the Trento Card it´s for FREE!
6. How to make your Trento stay unforgettable? Get a spontaneous tattoo
How to make your holiday in Trento unforgettable? Get a spontaneous (or long-planned) tattoo. At Tattoo Giovanett we fulfill travelers' tattoo dreams. A tattoo of a small wine glass to be remembered of all the good vino you drank in Italy? A cute couple tattoo together with your loved one or travel buddy? Only your own imagination sets the limitations. Conveniently our studio is located in the heart of Trento. If you want a spontaneous tattoo, we recommend you call us directly or stop by. Here´s how to contact us. You are also welcome to stop by and just say hi. :)
7. Enjoy the best view of Trento - FUNIVIA DI SARDAGNA
Take the cable car, located only a few minutes from the city center, and enjoy extraordinary views of Trento and the valley. For the active once amongst you, I recommend renting a mountain bike, taking the cable car, and enjoying the adrenalin-fueled ride down the mountain. For those that are in holiday-chill mode, take a short walk and enjoy a refreshing drink with a few.
8. This one is for all the Adrenalin seekers
The river “Noce” is known as one of the top European rivers to go rafting. Well lucky you, the rive is only a couple minutes drive from Trento. There are different levels depending on your experience, including family friendly adventures. Here´s a link to a pre-filtered list that shows you some of the rafting experience providers. Many also offer pick-up from Trento.
9. Cool down by the lake(s)
Well not directly in Trento, but only a short drive away you can find beautiful lakes. The closest lakes are the well know Lago di Caldonazzo & Lago di Levico, but I would recommend exploring the less known (at least less touristic) lake Lago di Lamar. The watercolor is breathtaking, there´s a great cliff-jumping spot and a rope from which you can swing yourself Tarzan-style like into the water. If you don´t have a car, take the bus 206 from Trento´s center bus station. The ticket costs only 4.40€. The perfect summer day trip.
10. Go to A Live concert
Last but not least, enjoy yourself at one of the many live concerts. This is also the best way to get to know locals. You can ask them for even more good Trento recommendations. To find concerts, visit Musica Trento´s Facebook page, TrentoTodays website, or for bigger concerts check out Ticketone.
I hope you enjoyed the read and I wish you a lovely stay in Trento. You can find more recommendations on the official Trenino tourist website which covers activities in the whole region. Would be awesome to see you at our tattoo studio, for your next tattoo, or just for a chat about things to do in Trento 😉