20+ Inspiring Photos of South Tyrol & the Dolomites in Autumn

Autumn has a way of transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary and nowhere is that more true than in South Tyrol and the Dolomites. As the season settles in, golden larch forests ignite the mountains, vineyard slopes blush with ripening grapes, and the air grows rich with the scent of woodsmoke and spiced wine. This is Europe’s best-kept fall secret — a place where Alpine drama meets harvest warmth in every breathtaking moment.

Autumn is an especially beautiful time of year no matter where you travel in Europe. Whether trekking old-growth forests ablaze with fall colors or reveling in centuries-old harvest festivals, every turn offers you another enchanting way to savor the season.

However, there is one European destination we think you should etch on your fall travel wish list above all others: South Tyrol.

Why? This mountainous jewel enviably sits in a rare corner of the world where Alpine wonders crash into boundless Mediterranean beauty. Such a surprising contrast of landscapes produces arresting scenery in every season. But the vibrant kiss of autumn elevates the medley from stunning to utterly jaw-dropping.

Scroll on to discover why fall is South Tyrol’s most alluring season.

Of Mountains & Awe – The Dolomites in Autumn

Our photo journey begins with one of the most celebrated mountain ranges in the world: the Dolomites. Comprising 18 peaks and 350,000 heavenly acres, the Dolomites’ jagged peaks storm above unspoiled valleys that sweep from one stone giant to the next. Hiking, biking or simply driving leisurely through this UNESCO World Heritage Site in autumn is a must for every mountain lover.

In this series of photos, we highlight the iconic Geisler peaks from Seceda and Val di Funes, as well as showcase Lake Braies (also known as Pragser Wildsee) and the crescent of massifs crowning Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm), Europe’s largest Alpine prairie.

A hike in Alpe di Siusi that is especially bewitching in autumn is to the “Witches’ Benches”.  Countless legends tell of a coven of witches performing rituals centuries ago amid the fang-toothed peaks of Schlern mountain.

Adventuring through the Dolomites you will encounter wayside shrines as shown below. These shrines take on an almost angelic pose in the golden rays of autumn. Take a moment to admire them when they welcome you on a trail.

Val di Funes

Tucked beneath the jagged teeth of the Geisler peaks, Val di Funes is where fall paints its quiet masterpiece. This valley whispers instead of shouts, its forests glowing amber and crimson while wisps of mist cling to its sleepy farms and steeples.

Whether you’re following the Adolf Munkel Trail to the foot of the mountains or simply pausing near the St. Magdalena Church to take it all in, fall in Val di Funes offers offers a sense of peace that’s hard to describe and even harder to leave behind.

Lake Braies (Lago di Braies)

If there’s a lake that could make autumn stop and admire itself, it’s Lago di Braies. Set beneath a fortress of limestone peaks in the Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park, this mountain jewel mirrors the season’s every shade with cinematic stillness.

In fall, the crowds thin, the larches blaze gold, and the wooden boats bob quietly in waters as clear as breath. Whether you walk its shoreline trail or simply pause on the dock, Lago di Braies offers one of the most spellbinding autumn scenes in the Dolomites.

Seceda

High above Val Gardena, the knife-edged spires of Seceda slice through the sky like ancient battlements. Reaching this natural cathedral in autumn feels like stepping into a dream suspended between fire-colored meadows and snow-brushed summits.

The hike to its panoramic ridge rewards you with a sweeping amphitheater of peaks blazing in larch gold and late-season alpine light. Up here, the silence of fall carries weight and every step feels like a secret well kept… especially when the peaks are at their moodiest.

Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm)

Alpe di Siusi stuns in every season, but autumn brings a hush that heightens its magic. The meadows — Europe’s highest — glow with amber grasses, and the jagged silhouettes of Schlern and the Sassolungo group stand like ancient guardians above it all. Mornings arrive in mist and gold, while evenings melt into fiery alpine alpenglow.

Whether you’re hiking to panoramic lookouts like the Forcella Denti di Terrarosa or following legends to the Witches’ Benches, fall reveals a quieter, more intimate side of this vast high-altitude plateau. It’s a place where folklore, raw nature, and seasonal stillness intertwine inviting you to slow down and simply be.

⇒ SEE MORE: Take advantage of our detailed guides to hike these treasures of the Dolomites by visiting our “Hikes in the Dolomites” section.

Harvesters of Stone – South Tyrol’s Castles in Autumn

If there is a rival to the magnificence of the Dolomites, it is South Tyrol’s castles. Nearly 800 fortresses rise from valleys and mountainsides across the region, their weathered stone walls echoing centuries of power, protection, and pride. These medieval strongholds transport you to a time when stone shaped the world.

While castles here are picturesque in every season, autumn casts them in a light that feels almost otherworldly. Draped in golden foliage and standing watch over harvest-laced hills, they seem to whisper the legends of the land with every falling leaf.

⇒ SEE MORE: The Can’t-Miss Castles of South Tyrol

Kindled Gold – The Vineyards & Orchards of South Tyrol

Few things set all your senses afire like the autumnal vineyards and orchards of South Tyrol. The bountiful valleys ignite with golden and crimson hues while the peaks radiate brushes of white hinting of winter’s first lashing.

Grapes, apples and other fruits fragrantly animate every breath as you wander through leafy arcades that are no doubt Bacchus’s most cherished halls.

Voyaging along the South Tyrolean Wine Road in autumn is not to be missed. You can breeze along Italy’s oldest wine road by car or bike, as well as embark on hikes to castle ruins perched high above the fruit-riddled foothills.

⇒ YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Visiting Merano in South Tyrol

Fall into Revelry – South Tyrol’s Festivals & Feasts

Autumn in South Tyrol also brings numerous celebrations such as Törggelen, Almabtrieb, Speckfest and the Merano Grape Festival in the third week of October as shown below. This three-day festival showers Merano with decorative parade floats, traditional South Tyrolean music and locals dressed in ancestral attire. The festival dates back to 1886 and gives thanks to the season’s bountiful grape harvest, which in time results in some of the most celebrated wines in the world.

Törggelen is a celebration spanning much of autumn. The event extols the season’s wine harvest with a hearty trek followed by an even more hearty evening filled with South Tyrolean cuisine at a traditional farmhouse or tavern.

Revelers dine on roasted chestnuts, dumplings, speck, and smoked sausages while washing it all down with the new wine and grape must called “Nuier”, “Suser” or “Sauser”.

⇒ SEE MORE: Enjoying Törggelen – Your Guide to South Tyrol’s Most Treasured Fall Tradition

Make Your Autumn Bountiful with Adventure

Like spring, autumn is a season of unrivaled contrasts. It’s only fitting then that a land born from such opposing forces of nature is where those seasons shine the most.

From wild-hearted treks to soul-mending walks to endearing cultural excursions, experiencing an epic autumn in South Tyrol is as certain as the leaves changing colors.

So if you’re ready to begin planning your fall escape, we’re here to help. Our Travel Guide makes South Tyrol trip planning practically as easy as plucking a ripe grape.