One of Italy's oldest and most storied inns, the Hotel Elephant in Bressanone takes its name from a 16th-century elephant that lodged here on its journey to Vienna. Today it pairs five centuries of history with gardens, a pool, and a celebrated restaurant in the heart of the episcopal town.
The Hotel Elephant is one of the oldest and most storied inns in Italy, set in the centre of Bressanone (Brixen), the venerable episcopal town in South Tyrol's Isarco Valley north of Bolzano. The hotel takes its unusual name from a real event: in 1551 an Indian elephant, a gift bound for the Habsburg court in Vienna, lodged at the inn during its journey north, and the establishment has carried the name and the story ever since, its facade still bearing a historic painting of the animal.
Five centuries of continuous hospitality have given the hotel a deep sense of place. The building combines period architecture — vaulted ceilings, antique timber, panelled stuben — with comfortable modern amenities, and the rooms range from classic doubles to atmospheric historic rooms and suites that retain their old-world character. Behind the inn lies a garden with mature trees and an outdoor swimming pool, an unexpected and welcome retreat in the heart of the town.
The restaurant is among the most celebrated traditional dining rooms in South Tyrol, known for refined renditions of regional cuisine — game, alpine lamb, freshwater fish, canederli and schlutzkrapfen, and classic desserts such as strudel — served in historic surroundings and accompanied by a strong cellar of Alto Adige wines, including the whites of the nearby Valle Isarco.
Bressanone itself is a highlight, with its medieval cathedral and frescoed cloister, the prince-bishops' palace, and a compact, walkable old town. The hotel makes an ideal base for exploring the town and the surrounding valleys, including the nearby Plose mountain, the Abbey of Novacella with its historic vineyards, and the broader Dolomites. The Hotel Elephant's combination of remarkable history, genuine period character, garden setting, and outstanding cuisine gives it a singular place among the region's hotels.
Room types
- Classic rooms
- Historic rooms
- Junior suites
- Suites
Amenities
- Historic 500-year-old building
- Gardens and outdoor pool
- Renowned restaurant
- Wine cellar
- Free Wi-Fi
- Parking
Location
Via Rio Bianco 4, 39042 Bressanone (Brixen)
46.7156, 11.6567 View on map
Highlights
- Historic inn dating back five centuries
- Named for a 16th-century travelling elephant
- Gardens and outdoor pool
- Renowned traditional restaurant
- Heart of historic Bressanone
Tips for visiting
- Reserve the restaurant in advance — it is one of South Tyrol's most celebrated traditional dining rooms.
- Request a historic room for the fullest sense of the building's five centuries of character.
- The garden and outdoor pool are a rare central-town retreat in warm weather.
- Walk to Bressanone's cathedral, frescoed cloister, and prince-bishops' palace, all in the compact old town.
- Pair a stay with a visit to the nearby Abbey of Novacella and its historic Valle Isarco vineyards.
Accessibility
As a historic building, the hotel has some steps and varied room layouts alongside lift access to most floors. The central old-town setting is largely walkable. Guests with mobility requirements should contact the hotel directly to identify the most suitable accessible rooms and routes before booking.
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Frequently asked questions
Why is the hotel called the Elephant?
The name dates to 1551, when an Indian elephant being transported as a gift to the Habsburg court in Vienna lodged at the inn during its journey. The hotel has kept the name and the story, and a historic painting of the animal still adorns the building.
How old is the Hotel Elephant?
The inn has offered hospitality for roughly five centuries, making it one of the oldest continuously operating hotels in Italy, with period architecture preserved alongside modern comforts.
Is the restaurant worth visiting?
Yes, the hotel's restaurant is among the most celebrated traditional dining rooms in South Tyrol, serving refined regional cuisine in historic surroundings. Reservations are recommended.
What is there to see in Bressanone?
Bressanone has a medieval cathedral with a frescoed cloister, the prince-bishops' palace, and a walkable old town, with the Plose mountain and the Abbey of Novacella's vineyards nearby.