Antenne Bayern now on DAB+ in Northern Italy — a German-language radio companion from the Brenner motorway to Venice and the Adriatic (summer 2026)
In brief: Antenne Bayern has, since Whitsun 2026, been receivable for the first time via DAB+ across large parts of Northern Italy — from Bolzano to Venice, from Lake Garda to the Adriatic coast. The new digital coverage area takes in the main routes heading south: the Brenner motorway A22 (Bolzano–Trento–Verona), the A4 towards Venice and the A13 towards the Adriatic. The familiar FM frequencies around Lake Garda stay active. For German-speaking travellers this means a continuous German-language radio companion from the Brenner border to the destination.
“Continuous German-language radio from the Brenner to Venice — no retuning, no frequency changes.”
Anyone who regularly drives towards Lake Garda, Venice or the Adriatic beaches knows the problem: somewhere past Verona the German FM signal breaks up, the seek function finds Italian pop stations, and the familiar programme is gone. With the DAB+ coverage of Antenne Bayern in Northern Italy switched on for the Whitsun 2026 start, that changes noticeably: for the first time the Bavarian commercial station can be received digitally almost continuously on the classic arrival routes — from the South Tyrolean Brenner border deep into the Venetian lagoon region and out to the Adriatic.
What changes specifically for the drive to Venice
Brenner motorway A22
Continuous reception from Bolzano → Trento → Rovereto → Verona and on to the A4 junction. No retuning in the tunnel sections, no frequency change past Trento.
A4 towards Venice
Verona → Vicenza → Padua → Venice-Mestre. The central east–west axis towards the lagoon city now has continuous DAB+ coverage.
A13 towards the Adriatic
Padua → Ferrara → Bologna. The key arrival route for Adriatic holidaymakers heading to the Po Delta and the Romagna coast.
At your destination
Reception in Verona, Vicenza, Treviso, Jesolo, San Donà di Piave, Chioggia and the greater Venice area — ideal for the typical German-speaking bases between St Mark’s Square and the Adriatic beach.
DAB+ coverage area in detail
According to the station, the new DAB+ coverage area takes in the following regions and cities:
Bolzano, Merano, Trento, Rovereto, Riva del Garda
Desenzano del Garda, Sirmione and the entire southern shore
Verona, Vicenza, Treviso, Padua, large parts around Venice
Jesolo, Cavallino-Treporti, San Donà di Piave, Chioggia, Ferrara, Po Delta
FM frequencies at Lake Garda stay active
If you drive a car radio without DAB+ — the reality in many older vehicles — you can still fall back on the established FM frequencies at Lake Garda. These continue unchanged in 2026 and are broadcast via the Italian partner station Radio Studio Più.
| Frequency | Location | Region | Useful for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100.1 MHz | Riva del Garda | Trentino (TN) | Northern shore of Lake Garda |
| 91.0 MHz | Malcesine | Verona (VR) | Eastern shore of Lake Garda |
| 91.0 MHz | Rovereto | Trentino (TN) | A22 Brenner axis |
| 94.0 MHz | Pozzolengo | Brescia (BS) | Southern shore, Desenzano |
What you need technically
- DAB+ car radio: standard in almost all vehicles from model year 2020. In older cars you can add a DAB+ adapter (a retrofit device via AUX/Bluetooth, approx. €50–120).
- Smartphone alternative: the Antenne Bayern app streams the programme worldwide over mobile internet — useful as a backup or in a rental car without DAB+. Note the roaming data usage.
- Smart speaker at home: before you leave you can also try the station via Alexa, Google Home or Sonos — the same content as in the car.
- Tip for rental cars: for bookings directly at Marco Polo airport, DAB+ receivers are now standard. Find the station in the on-board computer under “DAB+ scan” → “Bayern”.
Context — how relevant is this for my Venice trip?
From a travel point of view, the expansion is mainly of interest to three groups: drivers from the southern-Germany area who regularly travel towards Venice/the Adriatic and value their usual programme plus Bavarian traffic news. Motorhome and caravan travellers who cover longer stages and need radio as a companion over several hours. And families with children who prefer German-language content (news, weather, traffic) — especially on the long A4 stages between Verona and Venice-Mestre. Once at the destination, you have an extra “acoustic home” — useful above all in bases such as Jesolo, Cavallino-Treporti or Chioggia, where many German-speaking holidaymakers already knew the station from previous years on FM.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a new car radio?
No — if your car is from roughly model year 2020 onwards, DAB+ is usually standard. In the menu go to “Radio → DAB+ → station scan” and select Antenne Bayern. For older vehicles a retrofit adapter with FM transmitter or AUX connection is a cheap solution (approx. €50–120). Alternative: stream the Antenne Bayern app via your smartphone (mobile data or a local SIM required).
Where does DAB+ reception drop out?
On the main routes (A22 Brenner motorway, A4 Verona–Venice, A13 Padua–Ferrara) coverage is continuous according to the station. Gaps can occur in deep tunnel sections (occasionally on the eastern shore of Lake Garda, Tre Capitelli) and in remote valley areas off the main routes. In the main Adriatic towns of Jesolo, Cavallino-Treporti, Caorle and Lignano Sabbiadoro coverage should be stable.
What does reception cost?
Nothing. Like FM, DAB+ is licence-free broadcast reception — no registration, no SIM card, no data needed. Just select the station on the car radio. Using the Antenne Bayern app, on the other hand, incurs normal mobile-data costs (within the EU usually included in your German contract under roaming).
Are the FM frequencies at Lake Garda being switched off now?
No — the station explicitly stresses that the four FM frequencies (100.1 / 91.0 / 91.0 / 94.0 MHz) continue unchanged in 2026. If you drive a vehicle without DAB+, you can receive it in analogue at Lake Garda as usual. The DAB+ coverage is an addition, not a replacement.
Does reception also work in Venice itself, in the lagoon city?
The station explicitly names “large parts around Venice”. In the historic old town itself (a car-free zone) the radio question is moot anyway — vaporetto and walking dominate. If you stay in Mestre, at the Tronchetto car park or in Cavallino/Punta Sabbioni, you’ll have reception in the car and at the campsite.
What other German-language stations are there in Northern Italy?
In South Tyrol RAI Südtirol broadcasts in German (FM + DAB+), plus private South Tyrolean stations such as Radio Tirol, Südtirol 1 and Radio 2000. In Trentino and Veneto these South Tyrolean stations are usually no longer receivable — here Antenne Bayern has been the German-language station with the widest reach since the 2026 DAB+ switch-on. If you want ARD content: Bayern 3 and SWR3 are only receivable via app or web radio, not via broadcast.
What does this mean for route planning?
In practice, little — DAB+ coverage is a comfort factor, not a route factor. If you nonetheless prefer a particularly reception-friendly route: the A22–A4 axis via the Brenner is the strongest DAB+ stretch. If you arrive from Switzerland or via Austria (e.g. Tauern + A23 → Slovenia), you only reach the DAB+ area once you cross into the Veneto. Details on getting there: Getting to Venice — all options.