10 More New Tips for a Great Ski Vacation in the Kronplatz Area, Italy
If you are planning a ski or cycling holiday in the Kronplatz area, first read the article Skiing in Kronplatz – conveniences for beginner skiers and enjoyment for advanced ones, Alto Adige, Italy.
In this article I have prepared 10 more new tips based on a repeat stay in Brunico, which may be useful to you.
Tip 1: If you have already visited the Brunico Christmas market, there is no real need to do it again
It is not worth visiting the market every time, as it is the same every year, unless you have a favorite stall or favorite food and drinks. The raclette there is not as good as at the Sofia Christmas Market and is quite expensive. In Brunico it costs EUR 8.50 and you cannot pay by card, which is already unthinkable at the Sofia market, where card payments are accepted everywhere. Instead of the market, go to a traditional old-style tavern in the city center.
Tip 2: If you want a photo in front of the sparkling light star at the entrance of the market, arm yourself with patience and be prepared to wait.
Everyone wants that photo and takes their time as if it were the photo of their life. There is another option: stand in front of those taking photos, closer to your photographer, otherwise you risk spoiling their shot. Just stretch out an arm or strike an interesting pose to block the view.
Tip 3: The market is not only along the main street, go see also the part after the turn.
At the end it turns, where there is a large wooden heated hut with artisanal crafts. You can warm up inside, buy gifts and enjoy local handicrafts. After that, along the short side, there are more venues with better sheltered areas for consumption, plus a large fire pit where you can also warm up.
Tip 4: If you like party style après ski bars, I do not recommend the one at the lower station of the Kronplatz 1 and 2 gondola, even though they attract people with loud music in the afternoon.
The bartenders are quite unfriendly, it is very windy and cold, and the sun never reaches it. Instead, go to slope number 5 where Geiselsberg Hütte is located. During the season there is always a DJ playing only hits and the party atmosphere is great. You can enjoy good wine, cocktails, food, sing softly or loudly and dance. Until 14:00 in good weather the bar is open at the top and you can sunbathe. After that they open a huge umbrella that protects from the cold. It is best to be on skis, but many people walk down to it in boots, especially on Saturdays when the party gets intense. Make sure to check the lift operating hours if you are not planning to ski down after a few drinks.
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Tip 5: Most guesthouses and hotels have a local spa but is the “undress code”
If the SPA area is not private to your apartment but shared with other guests, check the “undress” code. Find out whether swimwear is allowed or whether you need to follow the Austrian spa culture. You can read more about it in What do you need to know about SPAs in Austria? – part 1 and part 2.
Tip 6: If you want to visit a restaurant on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, make sure to make a reservation at least one month in advance.
This advice applies especially to fine dining restaurants. If you do not book ahead, you risk finding no available tables. Demand is very high, as there is a strong tradition, particularly for Christmas lunch, for people to enjoy a festive meal at a restaurant.
On Christmas we visited the restaurant at the Laggenhof Hotel and we really liked it.
Tip 7: You do not need to eat out for dinner every night
Local supermarkets offer a wide selection of very good food that you can prepare quickly and easily, if you have basic facilities where you are staying. You will find everything from steaks with almost ready side dishes to tray lasagna that only needs light baking before serving. Add a bottle of wine, which is available everywhere and usually of good quality, and you already have a dinner comparable to many places in Sofia that call themselves Italian restaurants. There are also hot food counters with ready meals, but compared to the other options, most of them did not impress me much. We mainly shopped at Interspar St. Lorenzen and a nearby local grocery where we found prosciutto cotto, vegetables, fruit, and cheeses – the basics for breakfast, plus fresh pastries in the morning.
Tip 8: If you use the ski lifts, keep your lift cards from last year if you plan another ski holiday in Kronplatz
You can reload them online via the Dolomiti Ski website and reuse the same card, which gives you a 5 percent discount. If you reload your pass online instead of buying it at the ticket booths, you get an additional discount, as long as you purchase it no later than two days before your first ski day.
Tip 9: For road-trip travelers, if you drive an SUV with a roof box or bikes, always check garage height limits
If you are driving an SUV with a roof box, there is a real risk that your car will not fit into all underground garages. In several garages in Bruneck, our SUV with a roof box could not clear the entrance ramp.
Tip 10: Check alcohol import limits if you are traveling by car and plan to bring back bottles
If you are a wine enthusiast, you will likely want to bring back at least a case of wine. Within the EU, the personal allowance per person is 10 liters of spirits, 20 liters of fortified wine, 90 liters of wine, and 110 liters of beer. However, if you pass through Serbia, the rules are different. Each adult is allowed 1 liter of spirits or 1 liter of sparkling or liqueur wine (or an equivalent combination), plus 1 liter of other wine. This means a maximum of 2 liters of still wine per person, or about two and a half bottles. There is no fixed limit for beer, but it must be clearly for personal use, not resale. With four adults in the car, this means a maximum of 10 bottles of still wine.
How to book your stay in the Kronplatz area?
I recommend booking your stay directly here. For your convenience I have added a map widget showing available hotels, apartments and other accommodation options. You support the blog without paying more and keep all your Genius and other discounts.
You can read my posts about the places I’ve stayed and follow in my footsteps:
Anton – a luxury apartment for four, ideal for a ski or cycling holiday, Brunico, Italy
and Bellevue Bruneck: Cozy Design for a Ski Getaway in Alto Adige, Italy
In case you are traveling by car, you can read the publications about suitable places to stay:
Le Premier Boutique Hotel near the center of Zagreb.
Amadria Park Hotel Capital – luxury and style in the center of Zagreb
Eurostars uHotel a nice and comfortable hotel in the center of Ljubljana with parking
Calisi Hotel, next to Beton Hala, Belgrade
Hanami design hotel – SPA, zen and comfort in the center of Belgrade
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