Piazza del Duomo is the most important section with regards to the history of the town. The adjoining Duomo was built in the 14th century looks less like a cathedral and more like a castle.

Castles pretty much rule the places to see list. To the west of the Duomo is a castle the size of a dollhouse. It is on Via Galilei and is called Castello Principesco or Landesfürstliche Burg. It was built in 1470 by the counts of Tirol and retains tits original design and decoration. Of special interest is the collection of armour and the musical instruments. This castle is open from Tuesday to Saturday between 10 am and 5 pm, on Sundays from 10 am to 1 pm and remains closed on Mondays. The castle is closed in January and February. An admission of 2€ for adults, 1.50€ for students and those over 60 is charged.

West of Piazza del Duomo, Via Portici is the biggest shopping area in Merano. Like in Bozen, it is lined with Tirolean houses. If you want to take a stroll you should go to any of the promenades, the most popular of which are Passeggiata d'Inverno (Winter Walk) and Passeggiata d'Estate (Summer Walk), on the banks of the River Passer.

The most important castle in the region is Castel Tirolo. It is 3 miles from Merano and you could get here by car or on foot by following Via Monte San Zeno. This was where the Counts of Tirol ruled their territory. There is also a beautiful chapel here that was built in 1330. Of particular importance is the carved wooden Crucifix. This castle will soon be a Tirolean history and culture museum and till such time it opens, much of the castle is closed to visitors. The castle is open from Easter till November and works between 10 am and 5 pm. An entry fee of 6€ for adults, 3€ for students under 28, and 12€ for a family ticket (2 adults with kids under 18) is charged. You can avail a guided tour of the castle for an additional cost of 2€.

Merano is also a fabulous place for an action and adventure packed holiday. There are two national parks here and you are free to do a bit of exploring here.

Parco Nazionale della Stelvio is a 520,000-hectare park situated in the east of Merano. The park entrance is at Silandro and many buses travel daily between Merano and Silandro.You will get to see elks and chamois in the natural habitat. This park is surrounded by rugged snow-capped mountains. There are a number of hiking trails here and the glaciers attract skiers all through the year.

There is an information desk within the park boundaries. It is open from 9 am to 1 pm and from 4 pm till 6 pm between March and November. Contact them for hiking trails and to book huts where u can stay overnight.

This Alpine wonderland surrounds Merano with a pleasant terrain of meadows and gentle, forest-clad slopes. A relatively easy path, the southern route of the Meraner Hohenweg, allows even the most inexperienced hikers to cross the park effortlessly (in 2 days if you wish to follow the entire route) and is conveniently interspersed with restaurants and farmhouses offering rooms. The northern route is much more isolated, difficult, and scenic, with snack-bar-equipped rifugi conveniently placed every few hours or so along the route. The park office in Naturno, about 15km (9 miles) west on Route S44, provides a wealth of information on hiking trails, meals, and accommodations. Hourly buses run between Merano and Naturno in about half an hour.