What People Say About Living in Trento

Trento is a city of about 120,000 people in Trentino-Alto Adige, one of Italy’s autonomous regions and also one of the most innovative when it comes to sustainability and support for startups. The economy here is pretty lively, which makes it attractive not only for students and professionals, but also for families.

It’s no surprise that it regularly ranks among the top Italian cities for quality of life. In fact, according to Il Sole 24 Ore, it’s fourth in Italy for kids and third for people over 65.

But what’s living in Trento really like? To answer that, we’ve combined our own data with feedback from people who have been living there for years.

Life in Trento: What People Say

Residents confirm that Trento is a great city to live in, both for the services and because it’s truly human-scale:

“I moved here from Bari about thirty years ago, and I can honestly say this is the best place I’ve ever lived and worked. First of all, the people — kind and always ready to help you out in so many situations. And then the services, the way the city is organized, the lifestyle. Trento is truly a city made for people, where you can live without stress, where you can walk anywhere without being stuck in traffic. And if stress does creep in, you can escape easily into one of the big parks and gardens, or head up into the nearby mountains.”

Of course, much depends on your age and your interests. If you love the mountains and outdoor life, Trento is a excellent choice; if not, you might find it a bit too quiet or “isolated”:

“I work here as a teacher. For younger people it might feel a little too quiet, but for anyone over 40 it’s a small paradise. That said, you do need to love the mountains, nature, and being outdoors. People often say locals are closed, but in my experience they’ve always been welcoming and kind.”

Transport and Connectivity in Trento

Let’s start with what matters most to many of you: airports. Excluding Bolzano’s small airport, the closest ones with the best flight options are Verona (40 min.), Venice, and Bergamo Orio al Serio (about 2 hours).

For everyday life, if you live in the city center, you really don’t need a car. If you’re based outside the center, Trento is still well connected by bus. Services run from 6 a.m. to midnight, cover all areas of the city, and operate on weekends and holidays (with a reduced timetable).

Rail transport is another strong point. Trento is served by both regional and high-speed trains: you can reach Bolzano in 30 minutes, Verona in under an hour, and Venice or Milan in around 2 hours.

And if you’re a cycling fan, there’s a bike path that connects the Province of Bolzano with the Province of Verona, running through the whole of Trentino from north to south.

Where to Live in Trento: Housing & Cost of Living

Trento is a university city, yet none of the residents we spoke to complained too much about the difficulty of finding housing. Plus, compared to Bolzano (which we wrote about recently), property prices here are definitely lower (around €3,300 per m² versus €4,900 in Bolzano) and traffic is much lighter too.

Here’s a table to give you an idea:

Data elaborated from Immobiliare.it

Although rent is higher than the Italian average, many say it’s worth the price for the overall quality of life- you don’t need a car and you have all the main services within easy reach:

“In areas like Povo, Martignano, and Cognola rent is lower, but to get downtown you need to take public transport (forget about e-scooters or bikes). Personally, I think the best place to live is near Salita Filippo Manci. From there, in the morning you can walk to Mesiano in just a few minutes and catch the No. 5 bus, or even walk up to Povo in a reasonable time. In the afternoon, the big advantage is that you don’t depend on the bus to get home – just a 20-minute downhill walk.”

If you’re open to nearby towns, Rovereto (only 30 minutes away) can also be a good option:

“I’d recommend considering Rovereto and the surrounding areas. The only places I’d avoid are the valleys, because there’s really not much there, especially if you have kids.”

Challenges of Living in Trento

As many point out, one of the downsides of living in Trento is that it’s a very quiet town – maybe too quiet if you’re young or looking for a lively social scene:

“The downside I hear most often is that for young people there isn’t much going on, not much nightlife. But it depends on what you enjoy. I actually feel really lucky to live here: I can go to bed early on the weekend and then wake up and have the mountains right on my doorstep.”

Then there’s the cost of living, which is definitely above the national average. And the climate isn’t for everyone: summers are mild, but winters can be very cold – with average temperatures in January of just 1.6°C:

“Life here is good, but living well also comes at a price. The provinces of Trento and Bolzano are among the most expensive in Italy. Winters are cold, it often snows, and heating bills can get very high. And even though it’s a university city full of international students, there really aren’t that many distractions in town.”

Trento by the Numbers: Key Data

• Quality of Life: Excellent (94/100) – taking into account air quality, amenities, walkability, population, and environmental risks
• Air Quality: Excellent (92/100)
• Safety: Moderate to Low Earthquake Risk
• Healthcare: Santa Chiara-Pronto Soccorso (6 min.)
• Internet Speed: Good (average of 190 Mbps)
• Rent: ~ €770-1000 (70 m²)
• Transport: Pretty good, both for buses, trains and airports.
  • Airport: Valerio Catullo, Verona (40 min.), Marco Polo, Venice (2h), Orio Al Serio, Bergamo (2h)
  • Train Stations: Stazione di Trento FTM (4 min), Stazione di Trento (5 min), Stazione di Trento Santa Chiara (6 min.)

For more detailed information about Trento and its services and infrastructure, visit the Magic Towns city profile.

Is Trento right for you?

✅ Choose Trento if:

• You want a calm, safe city with great services and nature all around.
• Access to quality healthcare is high on your list.
• You need solid internet for remote work and everyday life.
• You like the vibe of a university town that’s fairly international, with good chances to connect as an expat.

❌ Think twice if:

• You’re trying to keep living costs on the lower side.
• You want lots of nightlife, events, and things happening year-round – Trento is on the quiet side.
• You don’t handle cold weather well: summers are mild, but winters are long and chilly.
• You don’t live in the center, you’ll be relying quite a bit on public transport – and routes outside town can be limited.

Final thoughts

In short, Trento offers a mix that’s hard to beat if you value peace of mind, great services, and easy access to nature. It’s clean, safe, well connected, and therefore often ranks among the top Italian cities for quality of life. So, whether it’s for families, professionals, or anyone who loves the outdoors, it can really feel like a small paradise.

That said, it obviously has its drawbacks: the cost of living is definitely high, winters are long and cold, and if you’re looking for nightlife or in general events, you may find it a little too quiet.

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Want to explore more options? 

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