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South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology

South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology

South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology
4.5
Monday
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
About
Meet here the world’s famous chalcolithic ice mummy called "Ötzi, the Iceman" who was found with all his belongings on the Similaun glacier in 1991. Situated in the city center of Bolzano (pedestrian area), the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology displays the oldest wet mummy in a sophisticated ice cell and shows Neolithic craftmanship in his equipment: the world’s most antique clothes and the hunting equipment with the world's oldest fully preserved copper axe.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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  • Marion M
    Nyon District, Switzerland582 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A wonderful exhibition
    Wonderful exhibition of the ice man Otzi. The actual wet mummy is there but, and arguably more interesting, there is also displayed all he was wearing and his tools for survival, his weapons for hunting and his stomach contents to be discovered. The display cases are visible very well done with wall drawings to help explanations.
    Visited April 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 11, 2024
  • Zapryan D
    London, United Kingdom984 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    An unusual experience
    This is without a doubt one of the most unusual museums that my girlfriend and I have ever visited. We were exploring the Dolomites with friends and when I discovered that we were going to Bolzano, I suggested that we visit this museum as it's the "home" of Otzi the Iceman. My girlfriend didn't know anything about Otzi but we were both fascinated by the way the museum used digital technology to recreate the Ice Age and by the interesting artefacts on display. The highlight was definitely Otzi's mummy, which you're not allowed to take photos of so I bought a copy of the excellent guidebook. The third floor of the museum had a temporary exhibition about food in the Ice Age, which unfortunately we could explore only briefly. The displays are in English, Italian and German and there's plenty of things for children to engage with, so this is a museum suitable for single travelers, couples, groups and families. Considering how unique the museum is, I think the cost of the ticket is also very reasonable. All in all, we had an excellent time.
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written September 2, 2024
  • TCHRSiena
    Siena, Italy22 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Get a private tour before 10 am
    We booked a private tour in English -- it was before opening hours -- a highlight of our trip. We found it worth every penny. Even the atmosphere of quietly learning the history and the details (the guide even had helpful visual aids in a bag), before the wild crowds of tourists entered, was sublime.
    Visited August 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written September 5, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles2,714 reviews
Excellent
1,706
Very good
766
Average
183
Poor
39
Terrible
21

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Susan J
Washington DC, DC6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022 • Couples
We knew a bit about the "Iceman" before arriving in Bolzano, as we remember hearing about his discovery, and our children had each done a very memorable project about him in elementary school. We were looking forward to our museum visit.

It was easy to make reservations online one or two days ahead (no more than that). You pay when you arrive at the museum. We recommend getting the audio tour; it's extremely informative in an easily digestible way. There are three floors of exhibits, which include a look at the actual mummy! and a remarkable recreation of what he must have looked like when alive. There is also a nice little museum shop.

Our visit was scheduled for 10:00 a.m., which is also a great time for school groups. Two groups were arriving at the same time as we were, so it was a little crowded (although the children were well-behaved). It may be worthwhile to go at a non-school-favorable time (say, 2 p.m.).
Written October 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

wisewonderer1223
Bristol, UK537 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023
What a lovely day trip. we loved the drive from Canazie to Bolzano through the mountains and quaint villages. then enjoyed the beautiful town of Bolzano. Parking was a breeze...we just followed the signs for 'centro' from the main road and it took us the the central piazza with underground parking. The town is stunning with a very pretty mix of architecture, lovely cafes, fab shops and restaurants. The museum was fascinating and we enjoyed learning about the 5300 year old ice man mummy found near by. Highly recommended indeed....remember to book for the museum though, you can up to 3 days in advance online, pay the day you visit. It is closed Mondays!
Written April 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

quadrifoglio2009
Pistoia, Italy271 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Couples
Surely if you are near Bolzano, you must find a couple of hours to visit this museum and see Otzi. It is also possible to book the times of the visit, the entrance fee is 13 euros and there is a special cloakroom where you can leave coats, backpacks etc. The museum is on 3 levels (the highest floor is used as a restaurant) where it is possible to find out and understand the whole story of the discovery thanks to display boards and films. In the main section (where it is not possible to take photos), there are all the objects that belonged to Ozti and in a fridge case, equipped with a porthole, it is possible to see Otzi. It was a very profound cultural experience that I definitely recommend doing.
Google
Written December 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

JulienRose
Turin, Italy1,420 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Couples
We visited the museum this afternoon.
I booked 3 days in advance but unfortunately the bus with which we arrived in the city was delayed and we arrived 30 minutes after the booked time.
We explained to the staff what happened and they were really kind and helpful in letting us in and we really appreciated it.
The museum is a MUST TO SEE if you pass through Bolzano: in fact the mummy of the famous OTZI rests here.
The museum is divided into various thematic sections on 3 floors. Some parts are interactive.
Our visit lasted 1.5 hours and was interesting.
Excellent staff. You cannot bring backpacks inside the museum: there are lockers next to the ticket office, which can be used with 1 euro or 2 euro coins which are then returned when you return from the visit. Advised!
Google
Written December 8, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Shallwegothere
Ulceby, UK247 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2020 • Couples
I was surprised to discover Otzi in Bolzano and wanted to go after remembering his discovery.
The museum is informative with English, Italian and German information boards.
Although I felt sad for him being displayed. His equipment and belongings have been preserved and are remarkable both in technology but people's clear understanding of their environment and equipment for survival. It's truly amazing and I felt humble to realise, this individual had more knowledge than what we hold now, with all our 'technology'. Great place to visit.
Written July 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

KatrinaMolini
Corciano, Italy10,994 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2021 • Couples
The South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology is the home of the preserved body of Ötzi also known as the Iceman (approximately 5300 years old). In fact, the museum was specifically established in 1998 to house "Ötzi", a well-preserved natural mummy of a man from about 3300 BC. This is the world's oldest natural human mummy, a wet mummy, as opposed to mummies preserved by dry conditions in a desert environment. The body is stored in a climate controlled chamber within the museum at a temperature of -6 Celsius and 98% humidity, replicating glacier conditions in which it was found. Sadly, photos of the mummy were prohibited. Nevertheless the experience was wonderful. It was very cool and creepy at the same time to look at it and to witness something like that. This find has offered an unprecedented view of Chalcolithic (Copper Age) European culture and in this museum you can learn a lot about the facts and theories based on the scientific studies of the mummy and what was found with it. I found all of this very fascinating and I’m very glad we visited this interesting sight. I think it’s a must when in Bolzano.
Written March 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

JMGeneva
Geneva, Switzerland1,997 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2020
Can only join the positive comments about this Museum. It had the advantage of being built around a single "object" and with a quite modern musicology. Little but accurate text, 3 lingual, extremely instructive, and well structured. Don't let the first impression (ground floor) be too important, it only gets better when you make your way in the upper floors. A must in town (and beyond)
Written September 29, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mirivise
Gorizia, Italy65 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Couples
The visit is centered on Otzi the Iceman; it is very well structured except, in my opinion, the time that everyone should have available to look/observe Otzi's body through a small window. Unfortunately there are always rude people who stand in front of the glass longer than necessary, even if they don't even have to perform an autopsy, regardless of the long line of people behind them, waiting for their turn. I think 30/40 seconds are more than enough. Why not have a timer or a museum operator check that the "visiting" time is the same for everyone?
Google
Written January 6, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Zapryan D
London, UK984 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Couples
This is without a doubt one of the most unusual museums that my girlfriend and I have ever visited. We were exploring the Dolomites with friends and when I discovered that we were going to Bolzano, I suggested that we visit this museum as it's the "home" of Otzi the Iceman. My girlfriend didn't know anything about Otzi but we were both fascinated by the way the museum used digital technology to recreate the Ice Age and by the interesting artefacts on display. The highlight was definitely Otzi's mummy, which you're not allowed to take photos of so I bought a copy of the excellent guidebook. The third floor of the museum had a temporary exhibition about food in the Ice Age, which unfortunately we could explore only briefly. The displays are in English, Italian and German and there's plenty of things for children to engage with, so this is a museum suitable for single travelers, couples, groups and families. Considering how unique the museum is, I think the cost of the ticket is also very reasonable. All in all, we had an excellent time.
Written September 2, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

AllanJGJ
Wellington, New Zealand4,209 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023 • Couples
This is a world-class small specialist museum. Its title is a bit of a misnomer; it's effectively exclusively based on the story of Otzi the iceman, and it's all the better for that. The poor lad's body and the artifacts found with him are fascinating as is the science to discover astonishing amounts of information relating to them, and the science related their preservation. If you're in Bolzano or near by you should definitely check it out. It's possible to buy tickets on line and skip the queue which was useful the day we visited given that it was raining heavily! The Museum is only a few steps from the main plaza which has an underground carpark.
Written May 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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