Big Fun for Little Ones

Experience, for once, the feeling of a knight on a hunt. This fun adventure for the whole family (children aged 6 upwards) is possible on Hocheppan Castle’s own “Bow and Arrow” trail.  You have to find and “hunt” 28 3D animals in the woods around the castle. Rental equipment is available on site.

On this day, it’s all about entertaining the little ones. The Kids Day in the centre of Eppan on Saturday, 9^th May 2026, has already become a popular fixture in the event calendar: puppet show, face painting, a crafts corner, a bouncy castle and much more await the smiling visitors. The village is filled with children’s laughter. In the meantime, the parents can take a leisurely stroll through the alleys of St. Michael, visit the shops or enjoy some culinary delicacies. 

The Three Castles Tour at the foot of the Gantkofel is particularly enjoyable for children. For the short route, start at the castle car park in Missian and walk uphill along path No. 9 to Hocheppan Castle. From there, continue along path No. 9a to the ruins of Boymont Castle, where you can relax and enjoy some food – just like at Hocheppan Castle. The route then leads to the Romanesque Castle Hotel Korb.

Where to go with children on a rainy day? A visit to the exceptionally well-equipped library is a great option.  Eppan has a large public library offering a wide selection of reading materials, as well as many games, audiobooks, and DVDs. It`s a meeting point for people of all ages. Children can browse and explore on their own. Storytime sessions and game afternoons are also regularly organised. 

Place: Hans-Weber-Tyrol-Platz 4, St. Michael

Nowadays, you can leisurely cycle along the old Überetsch Railway line, even with small children. Especially exciting are the playgrounds along the route, offering perfect opportunities for a break and some fun. The journey can start in Bozen at the Etsch bridge in Sigmundskron and continue uphill to the former train station in Eppan. Along the way, you cycle through a few tunnels that date back to the time of the historic train from Eppan to Bolzano. The path extends all the way to Kaltern, where you can still admire the old locomotive.

Throughout the municipality, there are numerous well-equipped places to play, climb, and slide. Here is a small selection: The most central one is the so-called “Festplatz” playground, situated in the heart of St. Michael and ideal to allow children to let of steam after a shopping stroll. In Girlan, next to the Martins car park there is a spacious playground with impressive climbing towers and plenty of wood structures. Even in the area of the Untere Gand, in the Lambrecht Street, a popular playground with a large sandpit and a lot of green space awaits.   

The ice holes are a fascinating spectacle of nature and a welcome refreshment on hot days. The starting point is 100 m south of the main square of St. Michael, from where one follows the signs „Zu den Eislöchern“, passing through Pigeno and walking past Castle Gandegg, until you reach the wine estate Hotel Stroblhof. Even on the way, a refreshing breeze streams towards you, caused by a system of crevices between the porphyry blocks. The coolness in this stone cavity can be felt up to a height of 5 metres. This special microclimate also allows around 600 plant species to grow within a very small area

Christmas time makes children’s eyes sparkle. An enchanting tradition is the crib exhibition in the alleys of St. Pauls. From the end of November into the New Year, hand-crafted models are displayed around the cathedral, inviting visitors to an evocative stroll – especially from 4 o’clock onwards when the cribs are all lit up. At KidsXMas at the Christkindlmarkt in St. Michael, from 4^th to 6^th December 2026, it`s all about the children: games and fun, the St. Nicholas procession (6^th December), elf workshop, or biscuit baking are just some of the events. For those who are a bit more adventurous, older children can also attend one of the Krampus runs, for example the Schulthauser Teufel or the run in Girlan.

Exact dates are available at the tourist office.    

If you enjoy putting on your skates in winter, there are several opportunities in Eppan: In St. Michael, the ice rink is open at certain times during the winter months for young and old. Please check the current opening hours at the tourist office. Also, the golf club in Unterrain turns into an ice rink during this period, with skate rental available on site. And one mustn’t forget the largest body of water in the municipality: if the winter is cold enough, you can enjoy skating on Lake Montiggl – please make sure to check whether the ice is thick enough.