Much of the town’s activity is centered around the old city, especially at Piazza Walther. This Piazza is the historical center of the city and has two churches in its vicinity. The town’s Duomo, built between the 12th and 14th centuries, is here. It ordinary interiors are made up for by the beautiful but weathered frescoes and an elaborately carved pulpit.

There is another church in town that warrants a visit. It is the Chiesa dei Comenicano, lying to the west of the Duomo. The main attractions here are a couple of 13th century frescoes that are the biggest artistic treasures of the region. Other frescoes in the church include a 15th century work depicting court life and a 14th century religious themed work called the Triumph of Death. These frescoes are important to Italy’s artistic history as the elements used in them, such as perspective and foreshortening, influenced the later Renaissance artists. This church is open to tourists from Monday to Saturday between 9:30 am and 6 pm. You can also visit the church on Sundays, however, only for service.

If you head northwards from Piazza Walther, you’ll reach Piazza dell'Erbe. It is a long, wide street that used to be Bozen’s fruit and vegetable market for many centuries. It is still a lively, bustling market and you can buy locally made bread, cheese, strudel, wine, and other similar delicacies here. It is the best place to meet the friendly locals.

Heading north from Piazza dell’Erbe you’ll reach the Bozen’s most important shopping street the Via dei Portici. This street is lined with beautiful houses built in the 15th century and is a pedestrian zone.

Across Via dei Portici is Via Francescani, on which is the church, Chiesa dei Francescani. This Gothic church has a beautiful 14th century cloister that is frescoed and vaulted and an exquisitely carved alter from 1500. The church is open for visitors from Monday to Saturday between 10am to 6 pm, closing for lunch between noon and 2:30 pm. The church is open on Sundays for service alone.

Bozen's biggest crowd puller is the Museo Archeologico dell'Alto Adige. Better known as Ötzi's House, it is located on Via Museo at Via Cassa di Risparmio. A big renovation project was undertaken in 1998 to make room for the mummy of a 5,300-year-old iceman, along with the remnants of his clothing, flint dagger, copper ax, and a quiver with flint-tipped arrows. The mummy was discovered in 1991 by German hikers on to Tirol mountains. This discovery has sparked a lot of interest and studies are still being carried out. It isn’t clear whether he was from the Alpine region or was he just passing the Alps. Although he was found here experts doubt he was originally from this region as his equipment indicates that he was probably from the region around Verona.

In 2001 forensic analysts found out that an arrow shot in his shoulder before he died this was immediately followed by a reconstruction of his final moments before dying. These studies were published 2003 and concluded that he was killed in a battle and was later carried off and the arrow removed.

You can see this mummy at the museum from Tuesday to Sunday between 10 am and 6 pm. The admission fee is 8€ adults, 5.50€ students under 28 and seniors over 65, or 16€ for a family card (two adults plus kids under 14). It may be helpful to pick up an audio guide for 2€.

When you cross the River Talvera you reach the newer, more Italian section. After this region became part of Italy Mussolini encouraged people from other parts of Italy to come and settle here. All along Corse Libert you will see huge imposing structures put up during the Fascist regime.

Walking down the Corso will bring you to Gries. This is the most beautiful neighbourhood in town and is also home to a Benedictine abbey known as Abbazia dei Benedettini di Gries, a Benedictine abbey. Visitors aren’t usually allowed to enter the abbey but you are welcome to enjoy the beautiful gardens and vineyards that envelop it. Further down is the parish church of Vecchia Parrochiale di Gries. Inside you will find a 12th century crucifix and an intricately carved alter from the 15th century. This church is open from Monday to Friday from 10:30 am to 4 pm, closing for lunch between noon and 2:30 pm. It remains shut between November and March.

If you want to do a bit of hiking or biking, Gries has a charming 5-mile trail. It is covered in trees and interesting plants in addition to a belvedere, a waterfall and the Talvera River.