Where to Stay in the Dolomites: The Ultimate Area & Hotel Guide (2026)
After four trips and 15+ stays across every valley, from €32 hut bunks to infinity pools above Merano, here's exactly where we'd base ourselves, and where we'd spend or save on accommodation in the Dolomites.
We've made no secret of our deep love for the Dolomites, the UNESCO World Heritage-listed mountains that cap the northern reaches of Italy, here on this blog.
Spanning the provinces of South Tyrol, Trentino, and Belluno, these jagged peaks and valleys are home to all the good things in life: exquisitely picturesque alpine lakes, endless flower-filled meadows, mouth-watering gourmet fare, and some of the best hiking, biking, and general adventuring on the planet.
But choosing where to stay in the Dolomites is tricky, and it's become trickier since the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics rolled through in February 2026. Prices have climbed, grand old hotels have reopened under shiny new luxury flags, and the gap between a smart booking and an expensive mistake has never been wider.
We get it, because we've now stayed all over this region: Bolzano, Merano, Lago di Caldaro, Nova Levante, Val Gardena, Alta Badia, Siusi, Brunico, Sesto, a farm stay in Tesido, and rifugios scattered across the high country.
We've slept in everything from a €26 bunk under the Tre Cime to an infinity pool hotel above Merano, and we've made a few booking mistakes along the way so you don't have to.
The best places to stay in the Dolomites are Alta Badia and Val Gardena in the west, and Sesto, Dobbiaco or Cortina d'Ampezzo in the east.
For most trips, we recommend splitting your nights between two or three of these bases, one western and one eastern, rather than trying to see everything from a single town.
That's the short answer; the long answer is more nuanced and can be found in the rest of this guide, because where you stay in these mountains shapes your whole trip.
With everything you need to know before you book, a rundown of every base worth considering, and our honest recommendations in each, this is the only Dolomites accommodation guide you'll need.
DOLOMITES ACCOMMODATION | OUR TOP PICKS
Short on time? After four trips, a month on the ground, and 15+ hotels, farm stays and rifugios between us, from a bunk under the Tre Cime to an infinity pool above Merano, here are the properties we'd book without hesitation, and the best areas to base yourself.DOLOMITES ACCOMMODATION | QUICK PICKS
OUR TOP PICK | Mountain Hotel Mezdì: the quintessential Dolomites chalet stay in Alta Badia
BEST LUXURY | COMO Alpina Dolomites: the most outrageous address on the Alpe di Siusi meadow
BEST SPLURGE | Berghotel, Sesto: old-world hunting lodge bones, Scandi-alpine rooms and eight saunas
BEST VALUE | Garni Edera, Corvara: cheerful, family-run and well-priced in the heart of Alta Badia
BEST DESIGN HOTEL | Hotel de Len, Cortina: reclaimed stone pine, a rooftop spa and genuine Olympic-era cool
BEST NEW OPENING | Hotel Recort, Colfosco: adults-only, ski-in ski-out and already giving the Aman a run for its money
BEST FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS | Hotel Lago di Braies: wake up on the shore of the Dolomites' most famous lake
BEST FARM STAY | Stoffnerhof, Tesido: a working South Tyrolean farm above the Puster Valley
BEST FOR FAMILIES | Family Resort Rainer, Sesto: ski-in ski-out, 2,000m² spa, alpaca trekking and 30+ hours of kids' entertainment per week
BEST ROMANTIC STAY | Adler Mountain Lodge: wake up on Europe's largest alpine meadow
MOST UNIQUE | Ansitz Heufler by Norbert Niederkofler: sleep in a 16th-century Renaissance manor run by the Alps' most celebrated chef
BEST AREA FOR...
FIRST-TIME VISITORS | Alta Badia or Val Gardena: the best all-round bases, with central lift networks and the full Dolomites experience on your doorstep
BUDGET TRAVELLERS | Alta Pusteria (Sesto or Dobbiaco): the best value beds within 30 minutes of the big-ticket sights
COUPLES & HONEYMOONERS | Alpe di Siusi: sunrise over a flower-filled meadow with almost no one else around
FAMILIES | Alta Pusteria or Val d'Ega: farm stays, gentle trails and kinder prices than the marquee valleys
HIKERS | Val Gardena: gondolas from Ortisei to Seceda and Alpe di Siusi, plus bus links across the range
SKIERS | Alta Badia or Val Gardena: the Sellaronda and Dolomiti Superski, the world's largest interconnected ski area
PHOTOGRAPHERS | Alta Pusteria (for Braies and Tre Cime) or Cortina (for Tre Cime, Sorapis, Cinque Torri)
FOOD & LUXURY | Alta Badia: the highest concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants in the Alps, plus the Aman Rosa Alpina
CAR-FREE TRAVELLERS | Val Gardena: the Mobil Card covers buses, gondolas and connections across the valley
SLOW TRAVELLERS | Val di Funes: quiet, romantic and almost entirely untouched by resort infrastructure
ESCAPING THE CROWDS | Brunico or Val d'Ega: real local life, better prices, no less beautiful
REST DAYS | Lago di Caldaro: swimming in the warmest lake in the Alps, cycling between wine estates on the South Tyrolean Wine Road
DOLOMITES ACCOMMODATION | WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
After five trips and a combined month travelling through the Dolomites and South Tyrol across, staying in over 15 different hotels, rifugios, farm stays and apartments, we've learnt a few useful things the hard way.
BASE YOURSELF IN 2-3 DESTINATIONS
Distances between major Dolomites attractions don't look far on a map. Add in winding single-lane roads, a couple of high passes and many pull-over-I-need-to-take-a-photo moments, and you've easily added an hour or two to your journey.
To avoid spending more time driving than exploring, choose two or three base towns close to what you want to see and book multiple nights in each.
Trust us: when you only have to drive 20 minutes home after sunrise, a full day's hiking and sunset, instead of 1.5 hours, you'll be very glad you did.
Our picks of Dolomites bases: Val Gardena (Ortisei) or Alta Badia (Colfosco) in the west, and Sesto, Dobbiaco or Cortina in the east.
WHICH DOLOMITES BASE IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
First trip to the Dolomites | Split your nights between Val Gardena or Alta Badia (west) and Sesto, Dobbiaco or Cortina (east). You'll cover 90% of the icons without living in your car.
Travelling without a car | Val Gardena, no contest. The free Mobil Card, three gondolas out of Ortisei, and bus links to Alta Badia and Bolzano make it the easiest car-free base in the range. Brunico and San Candido (on the train line) are the eastern equivalents.
Food and luxury | Alta Badia. The highest concentration of gourmet dining in the Alps, family-run five-stars, and now the Aman. Merano's Miramonti is the western wildcard.
Photographers | Sleep close to your subject: a rifugio or the Hotel Lago di Braies for the eastern icons, on the Alpe di Siusi meadow for those meadows-and-Sassolungo sunrises, Nova Levante for Lago di Carezza.
Families and budgets | Farm stays in Alta Pusteria (like our Tesido stay), apartments in Nova Levante, guesthouses in Corvara, or San Martino and Val di Fassa on the Trentino side.
Escaping the crowds | Val di Funes, Brunico, or the Val d'Ega. All three are quieter, cheaper, and no less beautiful.
HOW MANY DOLOMITES BASES DO YOU NEED?
3 to 4 nights | One base. Pick west (Val Gardena/Alta Badia) or east (Alta Pusteria/Cortina) and accept you'll come back. Many Dolomites hotels have minimum stays of two to five nights in peak season anyway, so one base is also simply easier to book.
5 to 7 nights | Two bases, one west and one east. This is the happy medium and how we'd plan a week here.
8+ nights | Three bases. Add Val di Funes, Brunico or the Val d'Ega for a quieter third act, or a rifugio night in the middle.
One more honest note: don't base yourself in Bolzano for the mountains. We like Bolzano (see below), but it's not actually in the Dolomites, and you'll burn 60 to 90 minutes each way to the trailheads. Use it as a first or last night, not a base.
THE 2026 OLYMPICS CHANGED THE PRICING GAME
Cortina d'Ampezzo co-hosted the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics in February 2026, and the run-up transformed the accommodation scene across the whole region.
Historic grand hotels reopened as international luxury flags (more on the Aman and Mandarin Oriental below), nightly rates jumped, and demand for the eastern Dolomites remains higher than we've ever seen it.
The practical upshot is this: book earlier than you think you need to, be flexible on which valley you sleep in, and know that the best value now sits in the smaller villages rather than the marquee towns.
MOST DESTINATIONS HAVE TWO NAMES
Nova Levante vs Welschnofen. Bolzano vs Bozen. Lago di Braies vs Pragser Wildsee.
If you're confused, don't worry, we were too.
The Dolomites sit in the uppermost corner of Italy on the Austrian border, and after being home to the Ladin people for thousands of years, the region was annexed from Austria by Italy after WWI.
The result is that most places have two, and occasionally three (German, Italian, or Ladin) names. Keep this in mind when you're plugging your hotel into the GPS.
THE STANDARD OF HOTELS IS A+
The range of Dolomites hotels is huge, from traditional alpine guesthouses (Albergo/Gasthof) through to design-led five-star wellness retreats.
Whatever the star rating, the quality here is some of the best anywhere in the world. Hospitality and comfort are taken seriously in South Tyrol, so don't expect a run-down, uncomfortable room, even at three stars.
Half-board is common, generous, and usually worth taking.
ACCOMMODATION FILLS FAST DURING PEAK TIMES
Peak seasons (July to September for hiking, December to March for skiing) see visitor numbers swell dramatically, and the best places book out months ahead, not weeks.
This is especially true for the mountain rifugios, which can only be booked directly with each hut.
Popular huts like Rifugio Locatelli now open their booking systems in winter for the following summer, and the best dates are gone within days.
Book well in advance, always.
DOLOMITES ACCOMMODATION CAN BE PRICEY
We're not going to lie, that quality we mentioned above comes with a price tag, and it's grown since the Olympics.
If you're planning to stay predominantly in hotels, we'd now recommend budgeting a minimum of €150 per night for a decent double in summer, and noticeably more in Cortina or Alpe di Siusi, although do expect lower prices in smaller villages and more rudimentary apartments (these are excellent value).
Guesthouses, farm stays and apartments remain the best value, and we've listed our favourites in each destination below.
WHERE TO STAY IN THE DOLOMITES AREA GUIDE
#1 ALTA BADIA
Alta Badia is the best all-round base in the Dolomites: central, superbly connected, and home to the finest food in the Alps.
From alpine meadows to thick forests, towering craggy mountains to chalets serving award-winning gourmet fare, the valley of Alta Badia is where you'll find the Dolomites at their most complete.
Nestled between the Sella Massif, Fanes Group, Cir peaks and Mount Sassongher, the valley is home to the villages of Badia, Colfosco, Corvara, San Cassiano, La Villa and La Valle, one of the highest concentrations of gourmet restaurants in the Alps, and the Ladin people who have lived here for thousands of years.
We've stayed in both Colfosco and La Villa across our trips, and Alta Badia remains our pick for first-timers: the lift network is superbly connected for both the Dolomiti Superski in winter and hiking in summer, the food is exceptional, and Passo Gardena, a high mountain pass of hairpin bends and huge views, links you straight through to Val Gardena.
Some of the nearby highlights:
The Burning Dolomites hike
Armentara Meadows and Santa Croce
Day hikes in the Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park
The Cir peaks (including the Gran Cir via ferrata)
The cable car to Piz Sorega and Rifugio Utia Bioch
The Passo Gardena drive
Best for | First-timers, food lovers, luxury travellers, Sellaronda skiers
Accommodation range | Everything from family-run garnis and guesthouses (Colfosco and Corvara offer the best value) through to gourmet five-stars and the new Aman in San Cassiano, the valley's luxury pocket. Favourites include the Mountain Hotel Mezdì.
Worth knowing | Half-board is near-universal here and absolutely worth taking, given the standard of cooking. Evenings are quiet across the valley; if you're after nightlife, that's Cortina's department.
Read more | Our complete guide to Alta Badia
THE BEST HOTELS IN ALTA BADIA | SPLURGE TO BUDGET OPTIONS
DOLOMITI WELLNESS HOTEL FANES, SAN CASSIANO | SPLURGE
Housed in a building that traces its origins to a farmhouse built in 1560, the Hotel Fanes is the counterpoint to the Aman's minimalism.
Traditional, romantic and deeply comfortable, with 48 rooms and suites, a private heliport for arrivals with no patience for mountain passes, and a wellness area with two pools (including an outdoor sky pool), a 360-degree sauna with Dolomites views, and a Turkish bath.
The food operates on a three-quarter board, meaning breakfast, afternoon tea with homemade cake, and a five-course dinner each evening. The wine cellar is serious. The staff are warm and well-drilled.
Guests who book the Romantic Junior Suite with its round bed and private spa get something that reads almost as a parody of alpine romance, except that everyone who stays seems genuinely won over by it.
ROMANTIK ARTHOTEL CAPPELLA, COLFOSCO | SPLURGE
Built in 1969 as one of Italy's first "Art hotels", the Romantik Arthotel Cappella has been run by the Pizzinini family (different branch to the Aman's Pizzininis) ever since, and the rooms are each designed by different local artists, filled with sculpture, paintings and rare ethnic pieces that would look at home in a gallery.
The overall effect is warm rather than precious, with wood-panelled dining rooms and a good wine list grounding everything in the valley.
Ski-in ski-out in winter, right on the Sellaronda. The wellness centre has an indoor pool, heated outdoor pool, Finnish sauna, Turkish bath and a "Skyroom" relaxation area with views straight into the Sella Group.
Worth noting for families: there's a children's playroom with a climbing wall, and the spa has a family sauna.
HOTEL LA PERLA, CORVARA | SPLURGE
Started in 1939 by a ski instructor turned plumber, Hotel La Perla has been in the Costa family for three generations and is widely regarded as the heart of Corvara, and one of the most characterful luxury hotels anywhere in the Dolomites.
It shouldn't work on paper: antler chandeliers, wood-panelled stübe dining rooms, a motorcycle museum tucked into the basement, staff who dress in traditional Ladin costume, and an owner who holds informal receptions for guests to meet and mingle. But it does work, because what looks like a series of quirks adds up to a place with genuine soul.
The La Stüa de Michil restaurant holds a Michelin star. The Col Alt cable car is two minutes' walk. Guided hikes leave from the hotel in the summer.
If La Perla has a reputation as "old-fashioned", it's worth knowing that's also why people who've stayed here love it fiercely.
BOOK |HOTEL LA PERLA
HOTEL RECORT, COLFOSCO | SPLURGE
Named for the Ladin word for "reminiscence", the Hotel Recort was built in memory of Gottfried, a local pioneer who spent his life dreaming of a small, personal hotel right next to the Colfosco lifts.
His family made it happen, and the result is one of the most talked-about recent openings in Alta Badia.
Twenty-two individually designed rooms, adults-only, ski-in ski-out in winter and steps from summer trails. The interiors pair antique wood with natural stone and metal, the outdoor jacuzzi overlooks the Sella Group, and the spa has already earned a loyal following.
The food is serious, the service warm and personal, and recent guests have noted it's already giving the Aman a run for its money at considerably less than half the price.
BOOK |HOTEL RECORT
LAGACIÓ HOTEL MOUNTAIN RESIDENCE, SAN CASSIANO | MID-RANGE TO SPLURGE
The Lagació is one of the most original places to stay in the whole of the Dolomites: 24 spacious apartment-style suites built from local timber, with kitchenettes, panoramic windows framing the Lagazuoi mountains, and a design that draws on Ladin culture without ever feeling like a theme hotel.
Owners Pio and Margareth Canins built Lagació around their own way of living in these mountains, and you feel that in every detail. Because the valley is so dense with excellent restaurants, the hotel serves only breakfast (a famously generous one, organised by the beloved "Hermann"), plus snacks, and lets guests eat out each evening.
Several guests have described it as the best hotel they've ever stayed in, and a number of those have been coming back for five to eight years running.
Families are well catered for, with spacious suites and e-bikes available for exploring the valley.
MOUNTAIN HOTEL MEZDI, COLFOSCO | MID-RANGE
The Mountain Hotel Mezdì was the first Dolomites hotel we ever stayed in, on our very first trip to South Tyrol, and it set the bar high for everything that followed.
This is as quintessential an alpine chalet as it gets: a quiet valley setting in Colfosco, traditional timber detailing, planter boxes spilling with flowers, and huge mountain views through floor-to-ceiling windows. In winter, it's practically ski-in ski-out, with the lifts just across the road.
There are indoor and outdoor heated pools, a sauna and steam room for post-hike recovery, and hearty mountain food that had us going back for seconds.
BOOK |MOUNTAIN HOTEL MEZDÌ
HOTEL LA MAJUN, LA VILLA | MID-RANGE | GOOD FOR FAMILIES
Hotel La Majun means "barn" in the local Ladin dialect, and the name reflects the history: this 38-room hotel started life as the home of owner Nathalie Rinna's grandparents, Giovanni and Giuditta, and the family has run it ever since with a level of warmth that guests consistently describe as their main reason for returning.
Three generations of the Mellauner-Rinna family work in the hotel now. The rooftop hot tub set on a candlelit balcony next to a firepit with Dolomites views is probably the best seat in La Villa.
The mountain-view pool with rough-hewn stone walls looks like a wild swim in a mountain clearing. The restaurant is the kind that earns long, grateful reviews: the wine bar has 500 labels, the dinner menu covers local Ladin tradition alongside cosmopolitan touches, and the afternoon cake spread is taken seriously.
The new Swiss pine Junior Suites, renovated in spring 2026, have the added bonus of that extraordinary fragrance.
Excellent for families: spacious suites with sofa beds, very friendly to children.
BOOK |HOTEL LA MAJUN
LARIX LODGE, LA VILLA | MID-RANGE SELF-CATERED
This was our own stay in La Villa, and it's the kind of find that makes you want to keep it quiet.
Larix Lodge is a small, family-designed building offering just three larch-wood apartments in the centre of La Villa, each with Climate House Nature A certification, which is a serious sustainability credential in a region that takes environmental standards to heart.
The apartments are light-filled, warm and practical, with that instantly calming scent of larch wood throughout. From the door, you can ski to the lifts in winter and access the valley trails directly in summer.
It's self-contained, well-priced relative to hotels in the valley, and about as authentically Ladin as accommodation gets.
BOOK |LARIX LODGE
CHALET D’ERT IN ALTA BADIA, LA VALLE
This beautiful three-bedroom guesthouse is located between Kronplatz and La Valle, which makes for the perfect skiing base in winter and hiking base in summer.
Giulia’s flat is a beautifully designed contemporary alpine chalet (and basically all our future home goals), overlooking the mountains and forest just outside the front door.
Surrounded by nature, the apartment is full of light and all the cosiness you need for your stay, while there are plenty of thoughtful touches (like books and board games) for your use during downtime.
What’s more, fresh bread and croissants are hand-delivered to your door each day!
BOOK | CHALET D’ERT IN LA VALLE
GARNI EDERA, CORVARA | BUDGET
The town of Corvara sits in the foothills of the Sassongher, right in the middle of the Sellaronda hiking and skiing circuit, and it's one of the easier places in the valley to find a well-priced bed.
We recommend Garni Edera, a small, cheerful, family-run guesthouse a few minutes' walk from the Borest lifts.
Rooms are traditional alpine in style, with wooden furnishings, mountain-view balconies and private en-suites, and a hearty breakfast is included.
BOOK | GARNI EDERA
2. VAL GARDENA
Val Gardena is the best place to stay in the Dolomites without a car, with gondolas rising straight from the villages to Seceda and Alpe di Siusi.
The Val Gardena valley lies west of Alta Badia, connected by the winding roads and huge vistas of the Gardena Pass, and it's the base we'd choose if we wanted maximum access without a car.
Visitors staying here receive the Val Gardena Mobil Card, which covers free transport around the valley and connections to Alta Badia and Bolzano.
The valley holds three villages: Ortisei (St. Ulrich), Santa Cristina and Selva Gardena (Wolkenstein). Ortisei is the main town, surrounded by meadows, trails and alpine huts, with gondolas rising straight from the village to both the Alpe di Siusi meadow and the Seceda ridgeline. That alone is why so many people base themselves here.
We've spent a good chunk of time in Val Gardena across our trips, staying in Santa Cristina and day-tripping all over the valley, and we'd recommend it for anyone chasing:
Dolomiti Superski
Alpe di Siusi meadow
The Burning Dolomites hike (September to November)
Gran Cir
Seceda
Sassolungo and Puez-Odle hiking
Day hikes to Resciesa
The Sella Massif
Best for | Car-free travellers, hikers, families, first-timers
Accommodation range | Among the broadest in the Dolomites, Ortisei holds the valley's most prestigious addresses, including the Relais & Châteaux Gardena Grödnerhof. Selva has the best ski-in ski-out options and the Granbaita Dolomites.
Santa Cristina, where we based ourselves at the DorfHotel Beludei, is quieter and better value, with its own Col Raiser gondola up to Seceda. Garnis and residences across all three villages are excellent for self-caterers on a budget.
Worth knowing | Ortisei's centre is pedestrian-only, so confirm parking before you arrive. Most hotels in Val Gardena require minimum stays of three to five nights in peak season, more than anywhere else in this guide - check, before you book.
Your stay includes the Val Gardena Mobil Card covering regional buses and gondola connections, so genuinely consider leaving the car at home if you're basing here.
HOTELS IN VAL GARDENA | SPLURGE TO BUDGET OPTIONS
GARDENA GRÖDNERHOF HOTEL & SPA, ORTISEI | SPLURGE
Built in 1923 and still in the same family, the Gardena Grödnerhof is a Relais & Châteaux member and the pinnacle of luxury in Val Gardena.
Its Michelin-starred Anna Stuben restaurant, a spa that fills an afternoon with ease, 64 rooms with heated floors and pillow menus, and a concierge named Simone who gets more individual mentions in reviews than almost any hotel employee we've researched anywhere, all add up to something extraordinary.
Three cable cars are within a 10-minute walk. Summer guided hikes leave from the hotel. The breakfast buffet regularly gets called the best guests have ever had, anywhere.
BOOK |GARDENA GRÖDNERHOF
ADLER SPA RESORT DOLOMITI, ORTISEI | SPLURGE
The ADLER Dolomiti is a seventh-generation family business rooted in Ortisei since 1810, and it shows in every detail, including in the complete rooms renovation, which was finished in 2025, so the bones of a historic resort now carry fresh interiors throughout.
The location is hard to beat: in the park-like grounds at the heart of the village, with the Alpe di Siusi gondola a two-minute walk and the Seceda cable car under ten minutes.
Ski-in ski-out is via a shuttle; there are two onsite restaurants, and it boasts a kids' club that earns its own full sentences in reviews. Families do very well here, and so do couples who want a proper wellness stay.
CAVALLINO BIANCO FAMILY SPA GRAND HOTEL, ORTISEI | SPLURGE | FAMILIES
If you're travelling with kids and want to go all-in, Cavallino Bianco is in a category of its own - it’s won multiple TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice awards for Best Family Hotel in the World, six years running, and three Haute Grandeur Global Excellence Awards in 2026.
The claim isn't empty, with 20 dedicated childcare professionals looking after children from one month of age for up to 13 hours a day, across 1,250m² of purpose-built indoor space (Lino Land: creative workshops, pirate world, a petting zoo, its own restaurant).
Meanwhile, parents are in 2,900m² of wellness with five heated pools, four saunas and full spa treatments, some of which are also available for children.
The Cavallino All-In board means breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack and a five-course dinner are all included. Right on Ortisei's main street, 260m from the centre.
HOTEL GRANBAITA DOLOMITES, SELVA | SPLURGE
The Granbaita has been run by the Puntscher-Perathoner family for over 50 years, and a multi-million euro renovation in 2019 elevated it to five-star status without sacrificing the family warmth that defines it.
56 rooms and suites, all with Dolomites views and warm wood-and-stone interiors; a spa with an indoor-outdoor heated pool at 32°C; and a gourmet restaurant alongside the main restaurant, for when half-board feels like an occasion rather than a given.
Daily guided hikes, e-bike hire, yoga, and the "Legendary 8" ski runs, the eight most revered pistes in the Dolomites, all leave from the front door.
The Sassolungo towers right overhead.
HOTEL GRONES, ORTISEI | MID-RANGE
Located right in the heart of Ortisei, Hotel Grones is one of the most popular options for Dolomites hotels in the area, due in large part to the thoughtful and hospitable family who own and operate it.
The hotel also has breathtaking panoramic views of the Dolomites and the verdant valley below (which, we imagine, are particularly enchanting in winter when dusted with snow!). Rooms are spacious and sparklingly clean, a generous buffet breakfast is on offer, and if you opt for half-board, the evening meals are tasty AF.
The hotel offers a schedule of local activities, including day hikes and various special tours to join. In summer, guided tours of the area are available to join, while in winter, the nearest ski slopes are just a couple of minutes’ walk away, and a free ski shuttle is available too.
BOOK | HOTEL GRONES
HOTEL LUNA MONDSCHEIN, ORTISEI | MID-RANGE
In operation since 1878 and now in its fifth generation, Hotel Luna Mondschein is the kind of place that makes guests come back four times and stop looking elsewhere.
Traditional alpine interiors, a library with a fireplace, a bar where Gregorio the bartender remembers your coffee order the next morning, a hay sauna, an indoor and outdoor heated pool, and half-board cooking that earns long, grateful reviews.
It's not the cheapest four-star in the valley, but it consistently punches above its price point on service and food, and the five-generation family atmosphere is genuine rather than performed.
Free garage parking, free ski shuttle, and transit passes included.
BOOK | HOTEL LUNA MONDSCHEIN
CLASSIC HOTEL AM STETTENECK, ORTISEI | MID-RANGE
Established in 1913 and overlooking Ortisei's main square, the Stetteneck is the kind of hotel that brings guests back year after year.
Each room is individually decorated in a vintage alpine style, the à la carte dinners change nightly, and the staff (Andrea and Martina at the front desk, Raul at the bar) serve with affection.
It's properly central: a four-minute walk to the Alpe di Siusi gondola, ten minutes to Seceda. The indoor pool and sauna cover post-hike recovery needs. Guests also get access to the spa at sister hotel Hotel Angelo, a three-minute walk. Full breakfast and half-board are included.
A solid choice for anyone who wants historic character and human-scale hospitality at a price well below the valley's five-star options.
BOOK | CLASSIC HOTEL AM STETTENECK
HOTEL BELUDEI, SANTA CRISTINA | MID-RANGE
The gorgeous DorfHotel Beludei in Santa Cristina is where we stayed during our time in Val Gardena. It beautifully melds tradition and modernity, with colourful frescoed exteriors, carved stone and timber interiors and thick leather furnishings combined with sleek contemporary design touches and all your modern comforts.
The rooms here are enormous and the bathroom alone was bigger than the first flat we lived in together in Melbourne. The bed was super comfy, and with a huge balcony overlooking the mountains we could have happily spent weeks living there.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get to make use of it (our itinerary was a little hectic!), but we did check out the wellness area and it looked brilliant; an indoor swimming pool, hot tub, sauna and steam area all with vistas over the Dolomites beyond.
From the hotel, you have super easy access to the Sellaronda ski fields or summer hiking opportunities in the Puez-Odle nature reserve too.
BOOK | HOTEL BELUDEI
RESIDENCE SOVARA, SANTA CRISTINA | BUDGET TO MID-RANGE
We stayed at Residence Sovara ourselves, and it remains one of our favourite self-contained options in the valley.
The apartments sit in a sunny, panoramic spot in Santa Cristina, a short walk from both the village centre and the main ski lifts, and the views are genuinely some of the best we have had from any accommodation in Val Gardena.
The property has undergone a recent renovation, adding a new sauna and wellness area and a fitness and yoga room with panoramic mountain views alongside the garden.
The apartments are fully equipped with kitchenettes and balconies, parking is underground, and a bread delivery service means mornings here start well. There's no half-board, which is the right call in a village with good enough restaurants that you won't miss it.
BOOK |RESIDENCE SOVARA
GRANDPARENTS’ HOUSE, ORTISEI | BUDGET
Lavi (aka grandma!)’s Bed and Breakfast is a beautiful stay in Val Gardena, with a huge bedroom and living space perfect for relaxing after a long day of adventuring outside.
Host Lavi and Giancarlo go out of their way to provide a comfortable, VIP-esque stay for their guests, from homemade refreshments on your arrival to plenty of local tips and warm generosity.
If you’re searching for a truly authentic taste of Dolomites life and hospitality, this is the Airbnb you're after.
BOOK | GRANDPARENTS’ HOUSE, ORTISEI
Image courtesy of Airbnb
3. CORTINA D’AMPEZZO
Cortina d'Ampezzo is the best base for a lively town atmosphere and the eastern Dolomites icons, at the region's highest prices.
Known as the Queen of the Dolomites, Cortina d'Ampezzo has always been the region's glamour town (Bond even visited here in For Your Eyes Only), and after co-hosting the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in February, it's having a serious moment.
But that popularity now comes with a price, and Cortina is now the most expensive base in the Dolomites. In return, you get a picturesque town with good shopping and food, updated infrastructure, and unbeatable access to the eastern Dolomites' greatest hits.
If you want liveliness and luxury, base here. If you want value, sleep in the Pusteria valley (below), or even Alta Badia, and day-trip in.
From Cortina, you have easy access to some of the best hikes in the Dolomites, including:
Lago di Misurina
Cinque Torri
Croda da Lago
Best for | Town-lovers, nightlife and shopping, luxury travellers, eastern icons without the early-morning drives
Accommodation range | It’s become upmarket since the Olympics, with five-star flags multiplying (Eight in Cortina now, Mandarin Oriental Cristallo from late 2026). Budget beds are rare: Hotel Olimpia, apartments, or the nearby villages of San Vito di Cadore and Pocol are your value plays.
Worth knowing | Cortina sits in the Veneto, not South Tyrol, so the guest cards and transport perks of the Tyrolean valleys don't apply here. Book absurdly early for winter 2026/27, the first full ski season since the Games.
HOTELS IN CORTINA | SPLURGE TO BUDGET OPTIONS
FALORIA MOUNTAIN SPA RESORT, CORTINA | SPLURGE
If you want Cortina's best spa without paying Aman or Mandarin Oriental prices, Faloria is the answer.
The 2018 redesign turned a tired property into one of the most architecturally coherent hotels in the Dolomites: local timber and stone inside and out, full-length windows that pull the Croda da Lago and the 1956 Olympic ski jump into the room, and a spa anchored by a semi-Olympic indoor pool that is rated as the best hotel pool in Cortina.
The trade-off is location: Faloria sits about 1.5km from the Corso Italia in the quiet hamlet of Zuel di Sopra, opposite the Olympic jump.
A free shuttle runs regularly to the town centre and the ski lifts, which most guests find works well, but if you want to step out the door onto the main drag, this isn't your hotel.
For a wellness-first couple's escape or a family wanting space and calm over town-centre buzz, it's one of the most compelling options in Cortina.
ANCORA CORTINA | SPLURGE
Cortina's oldest hotel, built in 1826, the Ancora closed for three years and came back in 2024 with a completely new personality: owner Renzo Rosso (of Diesel and OTB fame) and designer Vicky Charles stripped it back and filled it with velvet, marble, jewel tones and a lot of personality, while keeping the original dark timber panelling and the cosy alpine bed nooks that made it an icon.
It houses thirty-five rooms and suites now, with a spa, gym and a basement club where phones are not allowed at the door.
An icon, with style.
BOOK |ANCORA CORTINA
GRAND HOTEL SAVOIA, CORTINA | SPLURGE
The Grand Hotel Savoia is the grande dame of central Cortina, with a guest list that has included Sophia Loren, Winston Churchill, Tolstoy, Roosevelt and Charlton Heston.
The history is real and worn lightly: 132 rooms and suites, a Savoia SPA with an indoor pool and four saunas, and three dining venues from the rooftop 1224 Terrazza to a piano bar that runs late. The Ristorante Savoy is the evening star with strong South Tyrolean touches alongside Italian classics.
For a five-star hotel, though, there are a few honest caveats worth knowing before you book.
Some reviewers note the Radisson-flagged hotel has smoothed out some of the old-world character ("feels corporate" is a recurring phrase), and there's no air conditioning, and the street noise starts early.
Request a mountain-view room on an upper floor, and look at the Radisson Residences Savoia Palace next door for a self-catered apartment option if you're travelling with family.
BOOK |GRAND HOTEL SAVOIA
ONE TO WATCH: MANDARIN ORIENTAL CRISTALLO | SPLURGE
Cortina's original grande dame, the 1901 Art Nouveau Cristallo, has been closed since 2023 for a complete transformation and is set to reopen in late 2026 as the Mandarin Oriental Cristallo Cortina, the group's first alpine resort, rebuilt by architects Herzog & de Meuron with 83 rooms and suites overlooking the Dolomites.
We loved the old Cristallo's old-world opulence, and we're very curious to see what emerges.
If you're planning a winter 2026/27 trip and want bragging rights, keep an eye on this one.
HOTEL DE LEN | MID-RANGE TO SPLURGE
The name means "of wood" in Ladin, and it's not a marketing line. Hotel de Len is built from reclaimed stone pine and fir, right down to the walls, floors and custom furniture, with Swiss-developed under-bed panels that reduce electromagnetic interference and, according to very many guests, produce excellent sleep.
Opened in 2022 after a full rebuild of the former Hotel Impero, it's one of the most design-coherent hotels in Cortina: 23 quiet rooms with jewel-tone fabrics and slate-grey bathrooms, a rooftop spa looking straight over the Olympic ski facilities, and a restaurant leaning hard on local producers.
It's central, it's walkable to everything, and the service is the kind that remembers your name and your order. A ski bus to Faloria and Freccia nel Cielo stops right outside. One of our picks for Cortina's new wave.
BOOK |HOTEL DE LEN
HOTEL EUROPA | MID-RANGE
Just a short walk from the centre of town and both the Faloria and Freccia nel Cielo ski lifts, the beautiful Hotel Europa is close to all the action of Cortina d’Ampezzo.
The hotel has a 75-year-old history and combines lots of charm and traditional Ampezzo detailing with sleek contemporary touches and hospitality.
Hotel Europa overlooks Cortina’s famous Corso Italia, a boulevard known for its elegant boutiques, lively cafes, and fabulous wine bars - all frequented by celebrities and international jetsetters alike.
When you’re worn out from skiing and socialising, you can retreat to the spa or your room for million-dollar views out over the mountains beyond!
BOOK | HOTEL EUROPA
HOTEL OLIMPIA | BUDGET
This comfy family-run Hotel Olimpia in the centre of Cortina has a large terrace with views over the picturesque Tofane Mountains.
The Faloria ski lifts are just 500m away from the hotel, which also provides indoor ski and boot storage (in summer, this is transformed into bike storage). It’s also a short walk to the bus station and all the shops and groceries you’d need during your stay.
Breakfast is included, and in the evenings, enjoy relaxing in the wellness centre with a sauna and hot tub!
BOOK |HOTEL OLIMPIA
BELVEDERE AIRBNB IN THE MOUNTAINS | APARTMENT
The self-contained Belvedere Airbnb is a haven in the hills, just a 10-minute walk (uphill) from the centre of Cortina and with stunning views over the nearby mountains. It’s also just 5 minutes from the slopes of Socrepes in the Tofane ski area.
This 1-bedroom apartment has a fully equipped kitchen, a reserved parking space, free wifi, heating, and everything you could need for your summer or winter adventure.
SWEET CRISTALLO IN THE DOLOMITES | APARTMENT
This cute traditional Ampezzo-style studio apartment is conveniently located on the Corso Italia right in the heart of Cortina d’Ampezzo.
The apartment is cosy, but has all your essential travel needs sorted, with a sofa bed, equipped kitchenette including cookware, washing machine, huge bathroom and access to underground parking, which is not to be underestimated in this part of the Dolomites!
4. DREI ZINNEN / ALTA PUSTERIA
Alta Pusteria is the best value base for Tre Cime di Lavaredo and Lago di Braies, with small-village calm 30 minutes from the big-ticket sights.
The Three Peaks (Tre Cime/Drei Zinnen) region of South Tyrol, part of the Puster Valley running from Austria towards Brixen, is home to some of the most iconic Dolomites landscapes: the Tre Cime themselves, Lago di Braies, and the quiet Sesto Dolomites.
The towns of San Candido, Dobbiaco, Braies, Sesto and Villabassa have something for everyone: five ski resorts for winter, hundreds of trails through the Tre Cime and Fanes-Senes-Braies parks for summer, and the pretty market streets of San Candido and Dobbiaco for post-adventure Spritzes on stone laneways.
We've based ourselves in Sesto twice now, including for our paragliding flight off Monte Elmo, and we also spent a few slow days at a farm stay in tiny Tesido above the valley. This corner of the Dolomites is our pick for anyone wanting big-ticket sights with small-village calm, and it's dramatically better value than Cortina, 30 to 40 minutes south.
Stay here for easy access to:
Lago di Dobbiaco
The Pustertal cycling path
Kronplatz (skiing, hiking, the Lumen and MMM Corones museums, and AlpiNN restaurant)
Best for | Value hunters, families, photographers chasing Braies and Tre Cime, cyclists on the Pustertal path
Accommodation range | Farm stays and family-run hotels dominate, alongside the occasional design splurge like the Skyview Chalets. Sesto and Dobbiaco are the best bases; expect noticeably kinder prices than Cortina, 30 to 40 minutes south.
Worth knowing | The Lago di Braies access road is restricted during peak summer daytimes, with advance vehicle reservations required. Staying at the lake hotel, or basing nearby for an early start, neatly sidesteps the whole circus; our Lago di Braies guide has the current details.
HOTELS IN DREI ZINNEN/ALTA PUSTERIA REGION | SPLURGE TO BUDGET OPTIONS
BERGHOTEL, SESTO | SPLURGE
We arrived at the Berghotel during one of the most glorious sunsets we've ever seen in our lives; skies streaked with colour, illuminating the quiet valley and towering peaks of South Tyrol’s star attraction, the Dolomites, with pastel beauty.
Entering the Berghotel has the sense of arriving at an old-world alpine hunting lodge, with thick stone walls, wood and leather interiors, and the odd stuffed trophy head on the wall. Heading up to the rooms is a different story altogether, sleek and Scandi-alpine in design, these are as modern and comfortable as it gets.
Then there’s also the beautiful wellness centre (4 pool/whirlpools, and 8 saunas are more than enough to keep any traveller entertained!), a commitment to natural materials, local sourcing and gourmet fare, and the fact that they’re a European Hiking Hotels partner and arrange guided tours by foot or bike a few times a week — all ingredients for a wonderful stay if you ask us.
This was also our base for paragliding off Monte Elmo, one of the best things we’ve done in the Dolomites (read the rest of them here).
BOOK | BERGHOTEL, SESTO
NATURHOTEL LEITLHOF, SAN CANDIDO | SPLURGE
The Naturhotel Leitlhof is the most complete hotel in the Alta Pusteria, and one of the most seriously eco-minded in the whole region: carbon-neutral, powered by its own wood-chip combined heat and power plant, and built around a 2,000m² wellness centre with a panoramic heated outdoor pool overlooking Mount Baranci.
Sixty-two rooms across a 4-star-superior property on a sunny hillside above the village centre. The half-board is exceptional (regional cuisine, fresh local sourcing, dietary needs handled carefully including coeliac), guided hikes leave from the hotel with long-time guide Rudi, and free bikes are available for riding into Austria over the border, which is closer than you'd think.
BOOK |NATURHOTEL LEITLHOF
ANSITZ HEUFLER BY NORBERT NIEDERKOFLER, RASUN ANTERSELVA | SPLURGE
This is one of those stays that earns its own entry on the story alone.
The Ansitz Heufler is a 16th-century Renaissance manor house built by the Hohenbühel zu Heufler family, considered one of the finest examples of Renaissance architecture in South Tyrol, used as a private residence until Norbert Niederkofler took over its management in May 2025.
Ten rooms and suites, each with their own character: stone pine, marble, carved doors, frescoed ceilings and the scent of centuries alongside contemporary comfort. The architectural centrepiece is the Hearnstube, a Renaissance reception room of extraordinary inlaid woodwork, now used as the main dining room.
The former smoke kitchen (Rauchkuchl) has become a lounge bar serving local cheese and charcuterie beside a fireplace, with a cocktail list as thoughtful as the rest of the property. The restaurant operates under Niederkofler's "Cook the Mountain" philosophy, using ingredients from the Antholz Valley farms and the seasons.
Guests consistently describe the stay as one of the best of their lives, and several have noted the feeling of staying in a living piece of history rather than a hotel.
Booking well ahead is essential.
SKYVIEW CHALETS TOBLACHER SEE, DOBBIACO | SPLURGE
The ultimate romantic lakeside escape: adults-only glass-roofed chalets right on the edge of Lago di Dobbiaco, where you fall asleep watching the stars and wake to mountains filling the window.
Note that these are adults-only; for families in Dobbiaco, search the town's excellent range of family-run guesthouses instead.
Breakfast hampers of local bread, cheese and juices are delivered fresh each morning, and there's an infrared sauna and hot tub for soaking your troubles away.
These were just being finished on one of our earlier trips, and they've been on our list ever since.
BOOK |SKYVIEW CHALETS
FAMILY RESORT RAINER, SESTO | MID-RANGE TO SPLURGE | FAMILIES
If the Berghotel is for couples wanting a serious wellness retreat, the Family Resort Rainer next door is for families who want to ski hard and eat well without anyone having a meltdown.
It's one of the best-organised family ski hotels in the Dolomites: ski-in ski-out directly onto the 3 Zinnen slopes, a 2,000m² Dolomit Panorama Spa (heated outdoor pool, children's pool with waterslide, five saunas, hot tub), and 30 to 60 hours per week of children's entertainment run by the hotel's own mini-club team. A beginners' slope with magic carpet sits right next to the hotel.
The food is better than you'd expect from an 80-room family resort (certified gluten-free, strong regional sourcing, a proper dessert and pastry operation at afternoon snack time), the kids' programme runs from alpaca trekking to mountain herb bread-baking, and the activity offer for adults covers guided hikes, climbing and mountain biking.
BOOK |FAMILY RESORT RAINER
HOTEL DOLOMITENHOF & CHALET ALTE POST, VAL FISCALINA | MID-RANGE
This is one of those hotels that earns its place in a guide on location alone, and then earns it again on everything else.
The Hotel Dolomitenhof sits at the end of the Val Fiscalina road, deep inside the Tre Cime Nature Park, ringed on three sides by the peaks that form the famous Sesto Sundial: six summits aligned to mark the hours of the day, a phenomenon that has made this valley one of the most celebrated climbing destinations in the Alps.
Two connected buildings, the Dolomitenhof and the Alte Post, joined by an underground tunnel: the Dolomitenhof rooms are panelled in locally sourced Swiss stone pine (with that instantly calming scent), the Alte Post in traditional alpine style.
Two pools (indoor and outdoor), a sauna and steam bath, and a terrace breakfast of freshly baked croissants and local cold meats looking up at those peaks.
Guests consistently rate it as outstanding value for its location.
BOOK |HOTEL DOLOMITENHOF & CHALET ALTE POST
HOTEL LAGO DI BRAIES | MID-RANGE
Sometimes all you’re really looking for in a hotel is location, and it’s safe to say that the Hotel Lago di Braies, right on the shores of the Dolomites’ most famous lake, has this pretty much nailed.
This three-star stone chalet might be a little dated in parts, but if you’re here for the lake, chances are you’re not actually that interested in spending much time indoors anyway, right?
Given its proximity to the lake, staying here also makes for a much easier experience in getting to the lake for the famous sunrise; simply roll out of bed to join the hordes rather than faff about with jumping in the car and parking! Plus when the crowds leave for the day, you’ll be able to enjoy the peace and quiet of the lake too.
BOOK | HOTEL LAGO DI BRAIES
HOTEL DOLOMITEN, DOBBIACO | BUDGET TO MID-RANGE
When you want a clean, honest base close to everything in the Alta Pusteria without paying resort prices, Hotel Dolomiten is hard to beat.
Five minutes' walk from Dobbiaco train station, within striking distance of Lago di Braies, Prato Piazza and the Tre Cime approach, and consistently the best-value bed in the valley.
Spacious rooms with mountain-view balconies, a decent breakfast buffet of homemade cakes and local cold cuts, good regional cooking at dinner, and a small wellness area with sauna, Turkish bath and hot tub.
Breakfast starts at 7:30am which is a touch late if you want to hit the trailheads early. But for a family or a couple who want a solid, well-located base at well below the area average rate, this is the pick.
GARNI SIEBNERHOF, SAN CANDIDO | BUDGET
When you want a clean, well-located garni in the middle of San Candido's handsome pedestrian centre without paying hotel prices, Garni Siebnerhof is the answer.
Run year-round by the Bergmann family, it sits 150 metres from the Piazza San Michele, with free parking, a ski storage room, a big spacious breakfast spread, and a garden where the sunset light on the peaks is something else.
Rooms are simple and spacious, with balconies and mountain views. No pool, no spa, no restaurant, but the South Tyrol Guest Pass (included with your stay) covers buses and trains across the region.
For hikers and photographers who want a base rather than a resort, this is one of the most honest-value stays in the Alta Pusteria.
BOOK |GARNI SIEBNERHOF
THE FARM BINTERHOF, GSIES | FARMSTAY
This is a truly authentic rural alpine accommodation experience; an idyllic farm nestled in the forested mountains, surrounded by beautiful nature and friendly chickens and cows (great for kids!).
The Farm Binterhof is close to Lago di Braies but feels worlds away from the chaos of the lake.
Each morning you can have a breakfast hamper delivered, filled with fresh milk from the farm, eggs, homemade yoghurt and cheese, and jams and juices made from the fruits growing on the property or the surrounding area.
It's a truly local experience and a wonderful base from which to explore the Dolomites.
BOOK | FARM BINTERHOF
STOFFNERHOF FARM STAY, TESIDO | FARM STAY
For our money, a few nights on a working South Tyrolean farm is one of the best things you can do in this region, and our stay at the Stoffnerhof in tiny Tesido above the Puster Valley, was exactly the slow, grounding antidote to a busy itinerary.
The rooms are spacious and perfect for families, as are the geranium-covered balconies overlooking the farm and mountains.
Farm stays here mean fresh milk and eggs at breakfast, kids-love-it animal encounters, and prices well below hotel rates, all within 20 to 30 minutes of Lago di Braies and Kronplatz but a world away from the crowds.
For families, this is one of the best-value options in the region, and genuinely one of the most memorable for kids.
BOOK |STOFFNERHOF, TESIDO
#5 BRUNICO & KRONPLATZ (NEW FOR 2026)
Brunico is the Dolomites' best under-the-radar base: a real medieval town with a train station, Kronplatz on its doorstep, and now three Michelin stars.
Brunico (Bruneck) is the Puster Valley's biggest town and the gateway to Kronplatz/Plan de Corones, and it's criminally under-covered in most Dolomites accommodation guides.
We stayed at the foot of Kronplatz in Riscone/Reischach on a recent trip and left wondering why more people don't base here.
The case for Brunico: it's a genuinely lively, pretty medieval town (rather than a resort), it has a train station on the Pusteria line for car-free days, it sits 30 to 40 minutes from Lago di Braies, the Tre Cime approach and Alta Badia, and Kronplatz rises straight from its doorstep.
Food lovers, take note: when Norbert Niederkofler left the old Rosa Alpina, he brought his three Michelin stars here, to Atelier Moessmer in a converted wool mill on Brunico's edge. If there's one blowout meal to plan a Dolomites trip around in 2026, that's it (book months ahead).
Stay here for easy access to:
Brunico's medieval old town, one of the most characterful in South Tyrol
Kronplatz/Plan de Corones ski area, one of the largest in the Dolomites
The Lumen Photography Museum on the Kronplatz summit
Messner Mountain Museum Corones (MMM Corones), Reinhold Messner's striking summit museum
AlpiNN restaurant on the Kronplatz peak, with 360-degree Dolomites views
Atelier Moessmer by Norbert Niederkofler, three Michelin stars in a restored wool mill (book months ahead)
Best for | Train travellers, families, food pilgrims, Kronplatz skiers
Accommodation range | Town hotels in Brunico's old centre, resort-style hotels in Riscone at the lifts, and farm stays in the hamlets above the valley. Better value across the board than the marquee valleys either side.
Worth knowing | Brunico is a working town rather than a resort, which is precisely its charm: it stays lively year-round, but the postcard mountain views come from Riscone and the villages above, not the town centre itself.
HOTELS IN BRUNICO & KRONPLATZ | SPLURGE TO BUDGET OPTIONS
ALPIN PANORAMA HOTEL HUBERTUS, OLANG | SPLURGE
You've seen the Sky Pool. The heated infinity pool cantilevered 20 metres above the valley floor on a glass-floored platform, with the Dolomites filling every horizon.
It's on every Dolomites travel mood board for a reason, and the Hotel Hubertus is the property it belongs to.
The Hubertus has been run by the Gasser family since the 1960s, growing from a small mountain inn into a 5-star wellness resort of 74 rooms.
The Sky Pool is the drawcard, but the two-level "Heaven and Hell" spa platform beneath it, the outdoor jacuzzis, the diverse sauna landscape, the wine and beer tasting room, the yoga and fitness classes, and a restaurant combining South Tyrolean cooking with Mediterranean touches are all worth the price of admission, too.
FALKENSTEINER HOTEL KRONPLATZ, RISCONE | SPLURGE | FAMILIES
Designed by Matteo Thun across four connected buildings at the foot of the Plan de Corones gondola, the Falkensteiner is Riscone's most design-forward address with 97 spacious rooms, an Acquapura Summit Spa across three floors (rooftop infinity pool, 25m sports pool, hammam, panoramic sauna), and a concierge team that knows every trail and trailhead worth knowing.
The 7Summit restaurant's slow food concept and the all-inclusive golf green fee add up to a serious package.
For families, there's a dedicated Falky Family Room with craft corner, climbing wall, kids' bikes and children's pool.
Two practical notes from reviews worth knowing: the rooftop infinity pool is adults-only (the sports pool is shared), and families with toddlers should confirm room category carefully before booking, as some guests have found the upgrade costs for extra space steeper than expected.
But the concierge team, the setting, and the ski-in walk-out location genuinely deliver.
HOTEL REISCHACH, RISCONE | MID-RANGE
We stayed at Hotel Reischach in the quiet village of Riscone, right at the base of the Kronplatz lifts, and found it a wonderfully practical base for exploring this corner of the Dolomites.
The rooms are spacious, comfortable and traditionally Alpine in feel, with enough space to properly unpack after a day on the trails.
It’s not a flashy design hotel, but that’s kind of the point: it’s warm, easy, well-run and exactly the sort of place you want to come back to after a long day in the mountains.
The food, though, is absolutely wonderful, with simple, local cuisine the order of the day.
There’s also a small wellness area with saunas, a whirlpool and a relaxation space, plus an outdoor pool and garden for warmer days, which makes it feel like excellent value for the area.
BOOK |HOTEL REISCHACH
ALMHOTEL LENZ, OLANG | MID-RANGE
If Hubertus is Olang's showpiece, Almhotel Lenz is its soul.
Run by the Mutschlechner family at 1,300m on the sunny slopes above the village, it blends the warmth of a traditional South Tyrolean guesthouse with good modern fixtures: large balcony rooms with mountain views, a wellness alm with herbal sauna, Finnish sauna, steam bath and hot whirlpool built from local wood. Hostess Sigrid is by many accounts the main reason people keep coming back.
300 metres from the Kronplatz ski piste entry in winter, free bikes in summer, and 30 minutes from Lago di Braies. Strong value for three stars in this region.
BOOK |ALMHOTEL LENZ
HOTEL RESTAURANT LANGGENHOF, BRUNICO | MID-RANGE
For those who want Brunico's medieval town on their doorstep rather than a ski resort at the lifts, the Hotel Langgenhof is the honest pick.
Eight minutes' walk to the centre, it's run by a family who have turned a traditional South Tyrolean pension into a considered four-star over many decades, and whose loyalty numbers tell the story: one set of guests has returned 45 times since 1996.
Wooden-floored rooms with balconies and mountain views, a rooftop sauna area with infrared cabin and plunge pool, a proper restaurant serving Tyrolean and Mediterranean cuisine with a full wine list (also open to non-guests for dinner), and a garden where summer barbecues happen on fine evenings.
Free shuttle to Kronplatz, free bikes in summer, and ten minutes' walk to Brunico castle and the Messner Mountain Museum Ripa.
HÖLZLHOF FARM STAY, RISCONE | BUDGET
For those who want to base near the Kronplatz lifts without paying hotel prices, the Hölzlhof is a working farm in Riscone with a self-contained apartment that quietly earns its excellent reviews.
Two bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, a living room with fireplace, a private terrace with mountain views, a garden with barbecue, and cows, hens, cats and a very good dog on the property for kids to fall in love with.
No breakfast, no restaurant. Entirely self-catered. The hosts are warm and helpful, the apartment is spacious and spotless, and the Kronplatz slopes are under 10 minutes away by car.
For a family or group wanting a farm stay atmosphere at genuinely affordable prices with good access to the mountain, this is a find.
BOOK |HÖLZLHOF FARM STAY
#6 ALPE DI SIUSI & SIUSI ALLO SCILIAR
Alpe di Siusi is the best place to stay for sunrise on Europe's largest alpine meadow, and for slow, romantic trips built around one place.
Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm) lies 45 minutes northeast of Bolzano and is Europe's largest alpine meadow: 52 square kilometres of flower-filled pasture ringed by the Sassolungo group and the Sciliar massif.
Here's the thing most guides gloss over: you can't drive onto the meadow itself. Cars are restricted on the access road during the day, so you either stay in one of the (spectacular, expensive) hotels up on the Alm, ride the cable car up from Siusi village or the gondola from Ortisei, or hike in.
We've based ourselves in the village of Siusi allo Sciliar, and Ortisei, and our honest take is this: sleep on the meadow if the budget allows, because sunrise and evening up there without the day crowds is pure magic.
If it doesn't, Siusi village or neighbouring Val Gardena get you the same views for a fraction of the price.
Stay here for easy access to:
Sunrise and sunset walks on the Alpe di Siusi meadow, ringed by the Sassolungo and Sciliar
The Sellaronda ski circuit and the Alpe di Siusi / Val Gardena connected ski area (181km of slopes)
Cross-country skiing (the meadow has 60km of dedicated Nordic trails in winter)
The Sciliar-Catinaccio Nature Park hikes, including the Alta Via dello Sciliar
The Sassolungo and Sassopiatto via ferratas and summit routes
Mountain biking across the plateau in summer
Paragliding from the meadow, one of the best launch sites in the Alps
Lago di Fiè, a beautiful swimming lake 15 minutes below the meadow
Castelrotto's painted houses, bell tower, Kastelruther Spatzen museum and weekly market
Best for | Honeymooners, photographers, slow travellers
Accommodation range | On the meadow itself, options are few and premium (Adler Mountain Lodge, Paradiso). Below, the villages of Siusi allo Sciliar and Castelrotto offer mid-range hotels, guesthouses and apartments at a fraction of the price, with the cable car linking you up.
Worth knowing | Cars are banned from the meadow road during the day. On-meadow hotel guests can drive up with a permit at set times, but confirm the arrangement with your hotel before you arrive, and don't plan a midday check-in with a car full of luggage.
HOTELS IN ALPE DI SIUSI | SPLURGE TO BUDGET OPTIONS
COMO ALPINA DOLOMITES | SPLURGE
COMO Alpina Dolomites is the most outrageous address on the meadow, a modern glass-and-timber five-star right on the Seiser Alm ski slopes with the Sassolungo filling the view from every room.
Three restaurants, a full spa with indoor and outdoor heated pools, ski-in ski-out in winter, hiking trails from the door in summer, a cigar bar, and the kind of service that gets guests calling it the best stay of their lives.
For sheer location, service and facilities, this is the top end of what the Alpe di Siusi has to offer.
BOOK |COMO ALPINA DOLOMITES
ADLER MOUNTAIN LODGE, ALPE DI SIUSI | SPLURGE
You can’t drive into Alpe di Siusi, which means that any excursions there involve either a chairlift from Ortisei, or an early morning hike. Unless, of course, you splurge on once-in-a-lifetime accommodation to stay in the meadow itself.
The design-first Adler Mountain Lodge took two years to renovate using centuries-old woodworking traditions, and the end result is pretty damn magnificent. The hotel is luxurious and light-filled, with panoramic views so beautiful they’re like something out of a movie.
The whole idea of the Adler Mountain Lodge is to be one with nature, and with sweeping views over the pastures, towering mountains within reach, and a focus on high-quality locally sourced ingredients transformed into authentic gourmet fare, they’ve got it pretty well covered. The wellness centre is the perfect place to pamper yourself while drinking in the exquisite views.
BOOK | ADLER MOUNTAIN LODGE
PARADISO PURE LIVING VEGETARIAN HOTEL | SPLURGE
Paradiso Pure Living is a modern, exceptionally designed hotel in the heart of the Seiser Alm that promotes a more conscious way of living (something we’re always on board with).
The hotel is unique in that it offers a vegetarian and vegan culinary experience only while focusing on sustainability, wellness, and harmony with nature, which in a setting like this, completely makes sense.
The rooms at Paradiso Pure Living are spacious and comfortable, with natural materials and calming colours creating a peaceful atmosphere. Each room offers ridiculous views of the surrounding mountains, perfect for returning to after a long day hiking or skiing.
In addition, the hotel's wellness centre offers a range of treatments and activities, including yoga, meditation, and massages, all designed to help guests relax and rejuvenate.
So pretty much, if you’re into a holistic lifestyle, or just want something different, Paradiso Pure Living is a great option.
BRUNELLE SEISER ALM LODGE | MID-RANGE
A one-of-a-kind sanctuary at the foot of Sassolungo and Sassopiatto mountains in the heart of Alpe di Siusi, Brunelle embodies the region - sleek, minimal, and cosy.
The lodge's rustic yet modern design creates a cosy and inviting atmosphere, with spacious rooms offering panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.
The lodge's on-site restaurant offers a variety of delicious cuisine, including traditional South Tyrolean dishes and international favourites.
Brunelle Seiser Alm Lodge can also arrange a huge selection of outdoor activities, from skiing and snowboarding in the winter to hiking and mountain biking in the summer.
There’s also an epic wellness retreat, and equally epic views… what more could you want?
MIRABELL ALPINE GARDEN RESORT & SPA, CASTELROTTO | MID-RANGE
The Hotel Mirabell sits in a sunny, panoramic position above Siusi in the Sciliar-Catinaccio Nature Park, and it might have the best Dolomites view from a spa pool in the region.
The indoor and outdoor pools both face straight across to the Santner and Sciliar massif, and guests repeatedly describe the sight as one of the best they've experienced anywhere.
The hotel leans into its fairy-tale castle description without irony: a Tyrolean parlour with a 1911 tiled fireplace, a library, suites large enough to live in, a kitchen driven by herbs from the hotel garden and local organic farms, and a chef whose creativity earns consistently warm reviews.
PARC HOTEL FLORIAN, SIUSI | MID-RANGE
The Parc Hotel Florian sits in 5,000m² of private park at the foot of the Sciliar, a few minutes' walk from the village centre with the free ski bus stopping at the entrance.
The views of the Sciliar from the garden pool are the defining feature (although the pool is unheated, which is fine on warm summer days and less fine on a cool September morning), but absolutely spectacular, and the rose garden and sun terrace around it are genuinely lovely.
Rooms with mountain views are the pick, the food is consistently praised, and the staff run a good weekly South Tyrolean evening with live music. A solid, honest family-run mid-range with a view that overachieves at its price point.
BOOK |PARC HOTEL FLORIAN
7. VAL DI FUNES
Val di Funes is the best base for a quiet, romantic immersion in the Dolomites' most photographed valley.
A mystical place of serious beauty, Val di Funes is the valley behind the Dolomites' most famous photographs: the onion-domed churches of Santa Maddalena and San Giovanni in Ranui set against the jagged wall of the Puez-Odle peaks.
Despite its Instagram fame, the valley has somehow stayed peaceful, quiet and largely untouched. The hikes are wonderful (the Adolf Munkel trail beneath the Odle is a favourite), the food is exquisite, and the villages are charming.
Our honest take: Val di Funes is a place to slow down and immerse, not a strategic base for ticking off the wider region. Accommodation is limited, so book early.
Stay here for:
The Santa Maddalena and San Giovanni in Ranui churches
The Adolf Munkel and Panoramaweg trails
Passo delle Erbe
Seceda (from the Ortisei side)
Best for | Couples, slow travellers, repeat visitors escaping the crowds
Accommodation range | Limited and lovely: small family hotels, farm stays and apartments, mostly around Santa Maddalena and San Pietro. Few beds means the valley books out early in peak season.
Worth knowing | There's no major lift network in the valley itself, so you'll drive or bus out for bigger mountain days. That lack of infrastructure is exactly why it's stayed so peaceful.
Read more | Our complete guide to Val di Funes
VAL DI FUNES HOTELS | SPLURGE TO BUDGET OPTIONS
FORESTIS DOLOMITES | SPLURGE
Ok, so it’s not quite in the Val di Funes Valley, but Forestis is one of the most special hotels in the area, so we had to recommend it.
A luxurious, modern and sleek mountain retreat located in the heart of the Dolomites in South Tyrol, the hotel is perched on a hillside and surrounded by forests. But really, it’s all about that view, overlooking the Odle-Geisler peaks.
Its design is inspired by nature and wellness, with eco-friendly materials and sustainable practices used throughout the property, and offers a range of amenities, including a spa, indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness centre, and multiple restaurants.
The rooms are spacious, comfortable, and beautifully appointed, and boast stunning views from every window.
This is probably the best hotel in all the Dolomites, so if you’re looking for luxury, design and views to match, you can’t go wrong.
BOOK |FORESTIS DOLOMITES
HOTEL TYROL DOLOMITES SLOWLIVING, SANTA MADDALENA | SPLURGE
The most coveted address in the valley: Hotel Tyrol sits in Santa Maddalena directly facing the Odle-Geisler peaks, 10 minutes' walk from the famous church and 20 minutes from the Panorama Trail.
Modern architecture in natural materials that fits the landscape rather than fighting it, art in wood throughout, rooms with balconies looking straight into those grey giants, and an outdoor jacuzzi and spa that lets you soak in the view in every weather.
The kitchen is the other reason to stay: original recipes using local ingredients without over-refinement, excellent wine, attentive service, and one of those restaurants that earns the half-board decision immediately.
Book a room with Dolomites view ("Geisler Blick") or you're missing the whole point.
VIEL NOIS GUEST HOUSE, SAN PIETRO | MID-RANGE
The name is a local phrase: in South Tyrolean dialect, "viel nois" means "lots of good news", and the guest house earns it.
Viel Nois sits in San Pietro, the lower village of Val di Funes, in a modern alpine-rustic building with rooms, suites and apartments all featuring the Odle Group view, a rooftop jacuzzi with a 360-degree panorama, an outdoor pool, a spa with sauna and Turkish bath, and an e-bike included per apartment unit throughout the stay.
The breakfast is one of the most positively reviewed in the valley: a full local buffet with homemade cakes and jams, freshly prepared eggs, and a weekend gourmet brunch until 11:30.
The restaurant (open to the public for lunch and dinner) is run by the same family and produces dishes that guests describe coming back for daily. Guide Franz runs e-bike excursions of various levels throughout the week.
BOOK |VIEL NOIS GUEST HOUSE
HOTEL FINES | MID-RANGE
Located right in the heart of Val di Funes, Hotel Fines was renovated in late 2019 by two young local men and now offers comfortable rooms within walking distance from just about every attraction.
A delightful and cosy hotel, the rooms are comfortable and well-appointed, with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains.
The spa area is a great place to relax after a day of hiking or skiing, with a sauna and steam room available for to use.
It also is home to the best restaurant in the valley, serving delicious traditional cuisine, with a focus on local ingredients and flavours. The breakfast buffet is particularly impressive, with a range of homemade breads, pastries, and jams.
A good, affordable option for those keen to enjoy the outdoors while on a budget.
BOOK |HOTEL FINES
FALLERHOF | BUDGET
Affordable accommodation right in the heart of the valley, Fallerhof is a simple, comfortable place to rest in between hikes.
The charming family-run hotel features cosy rooms with mountain views, a restaurant serving delicious local cuisine, and a spa area with a sauna, Turkish bath, and relaxation room.
The location of the hotel is perfect for exploring the surrounding mountains, with hiking and skiing opportunities available nearby.
Definitely a budget option, but a good one at that.
BOOK |FALLERHOF
8. VAL D’EGA
Val d'Ega is the best base for Lago di Carezza and the Vajolet Towers, and one of the region's most affordable corners.
In the southwestern Dolomites, the Val d'Ega runs from Bolzano to the massifs of the Catinaccio (Rosengarten) and Latemar ranges, holding the towns of Obereggen, Nova Levante (Welschnofen) and Nova Ponente (Deutschnofen), over 530km of trails, and two ski areas.
We've stayed in Nova Levante ourselves and would do so again in a heartbeat, mostly for its proximity to:
The Carezza and Obereggen ski fields
Catinaccio-Rosengarten and Latemar hiking
The Oberholz hut above Obereggen, a striking contemporary restaurant with panoramic Dolomites views
Best for | Budget-conscious travellers, sunrise photographers, families
Accommodation range | Guesthouses, family hotels and apartments dominate, with a couple of wellness-focused splurges. Among the best value bases in the Dolomites.
Worth knowing | The Lago di Carezza car park fills fast on summer mornings; staying in Nova Levante puts you 10 minutes away for a pre-crowds (and pre-sunrise) arrival.
HOTELS IN VAL D’EGA | SPLURGE TO BUDGET OPTIONS
ENGEL GOURMET & SPA, NOVA LEVANTE | SPLURGE / FAMILIES
The valley's most complete luxury offering, and the one that does families best.
Engel Gourmet & Spa is seriously set up for families: dedicated babysitting service, family rooms with separate sleeping areas for children (cots, strollers and hiking backpacks provided), kids' menus at both restaurants, and a ski shuttle to the Carezza slopes 500m away.
For couples, the adults-only spa sections and a kitchen that handles every dietary requirement with real attention make it romantic too.
Then there’s the 2,500m² of spa across four indoor and outdoor pools, seven relaxation rooms, a designer sauna complex, and a Michelin-starred Johannesstube restaurant alongside the main restaurant in a glass-roofed room.
BOOK |ENGEL GOURMET & SPA
GANIS RESORT, NOVA PONENTE | SPLURGE
A significant note upfront: the Ganischgerhof has been closed since early 2026 for a complete transformation and reopens as the fully rebuilt Ganis Resort on 25 July 2026.
The new property is larger, more modern and significantly upgraded: a new indoor-outdoor infinity pool facing the Catinaccio, an adults-only sauna house with outdoor whirlpool, a new spa wing, a completely redesigned lobby and bistro-restaurant with open fireplace, and an expansive terrace with Rosengarten views.
The bones of the old property were beloved for a reason: the Pichler family's genuinely warm service, the 3/4 board system that lets guests eat across the hotel and its two mountain huts (Ganischgeralm and Gardonè), the guided hiking programme, the golf and tennis, and the views across the Val d'Ega.
All of that continues, now in a completely new skin. If you're planning a trip from late July 2026 onwards, this is a very exciting prospect.
BOOK |GANIS RESORT
SPORTHOTEL ALPENROSE, CAREZZA | SPLURGE
Nestled in the foothills of the Catinaccio and Latemar Mountains, the sleek and modern Sporthotel Alpenrose is right in the heart of the best hiking and skiing available in Carezza. Skiing, snowshoeing, and cross-country trails are all at your doorstep in winter, while Lago di Carezza is just a short hike away in the summer.
Expect friendly staff, great food, easy hiking and skiing access, and a wellness centre made of dreams — including an indoor/outdoor pool with epic views over the mountains beyond.
BOOK | SPORTHOTEL ALPENROSE
HOTEL STELLA STERN, NOVA LEVANTE | MID-RANGE
We stayed at Hotel Stella Stern in Nova Levante, a gorgeous traditional-style B+B, with large rooms overlooking the mountains, a super comfy reading area, and a well-stocked breakfast buffet (Mim’s fave!).
Rooms are cosy and well thought out, while the Turkish-style bath and wellness area is a perfect place to unwind after a long day’s adventuring. The hotel is also only 10-minutes drive from Lago di Carezza, which is brilliant for those early pre-sunrise photography missions.
In terms of transport, a public ski bus in front of the hotel drops you at the Carezza ski slopes, while a few minute’s walk away is a stop for the bus to Bolzano.
BOOK | HOTEL STELLA STERN
HOTEL OBEREGGEN, OBEREGGEN | MID-RANGE
At 1,550m on the sunny plateau above the valley, Hotel Obereggen is a three-star-superior with a view that outclasses its stars entirely.
The 150m² panoramic terrace looking over the Dolomites is the centrepiece: Lissy the sommelier presides over a wine list that takes things seriously, and the 4 to 5 course evening menus do the same for the kitchen. Breakfast is a full buffet.
100 metres from the Obereggen-Latemar ski lifts in winter, and an ideal Latemar and Rosengarten hiking base in summer.
The adults-only wellness area with a panoramic sauna is a highlight for the price point. No pool, but the family-friendly approach (proactive child menu adjustments, flexible service) earns the hotel consistent repeat visits.
BOOK |HOTEL OBEREGGEN
KARERHOF AGRITURISMO, NOVA LEVANTE | BUDGET TO MID-RANGE
Seven minutes from Lago di Carezza and a free ski bus ride from the Carezza slopes, the Karerhof is a working organic farm run by Christine and Bernd Pardeller at 1,450m on a quiet hillside above Nova Levante, with views over the Rosengarten and Latemar that are, frankly, ridiculous for the price.
Five new apartments in local wood and stone with panoramic windows, a reading corner, and balconies facing those peaks. A farm breakfast of own-produced organic milk, yoghurt, cheese, Speck, eggs, fresh spreads and seasonal fruit.
A Finnish sauna, hammocks and a herb garden for downtime, and farm tours run by Christine herself, which guests describe as one of the highlights of their stay. Hiking trails from the door, e-bike charging stations, wood-chip and solar energy generation. And a toboggan run in winter.
This is the kind of agriturismo that earns its 9.7 rating on Booking with dozens of reviews saying "we're coming for the sixth time." A perfect rest stop between mountain legs of a Dolomites trip.
BOOK |KARERHOF AGRITURISMO
9. BOLZANO & SURROUNDS
Bolzano and Lago di Caldaro are best as trip bookends and rest days, not as a base for the mountains themselves.
Bolzano is the regional capital and gateway to most Dolomites adventures, and we've stayed here at the start of our trips more than once. It's a city that surprises: one of Italy's wealthiest (and cleanest), with an elegant medieval arcade-lined centre, excellent food and wine, and the Ötzi the Iceman museum, which is one of the most compelling in the country.
Bolzano is quaint, charming and worth a night or two, but it makes sense as a bookend to your Dolomites trip rather than a base, because you'd spend hours each day driving to and from the main sights.
Stay here to settle in on arrival, discover the city's surprising quality and Italian-Tyrolean character, then head into the mountains the next morning.
What most guides miss entirely is what lies 20 minutes south: Lago di Caldaro (Kalterer See), the warmest swimming lake in the Alps, surrounded by vineyards on the South Tyrolean Wine Road.
We spent a few nights here between mountain legs of our trip and it was the perfect palate cleanser: mornings swimming in a warm lake, afternoons cycling between wine villages, evenings with a glass of the local Kalterersee Vernatsch and the mountains glowing in the distance.
Stay here for:
The South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology and Ötzi the Iceman, Bolzano's unmissable drawcard
Bolzano's medieval arcades (the Lauben) and Walther Square
Lago di Caldaro: swimming, stand-up paddling, sailing and rowing in the Alps' warmest lake
Cycling the South Tyrolean Wine Road between villages and wine estates
The Mendola cable car from Caldaro up to the Mendelpass ridge
Best for | First and last nights, rest days, wine lovers, culture fans
Accommodation range | City hotels and design stays across all price points in Bolzano; lakefront hotels, wine-estate guesthouses, farm stays and apartments around Lago di Caldaro and the wine road villages.
Worth knowing | Bolzano is a valley-floor city and gets properly hot in midsummer, another reason to treat it as a bookend rather than a base. The South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology, home of Ötzi the Iceman, is the one sight we'd genuinely build a Bolzano night around. Lago di Caldaro is seasonal for swimming (typically May to September), but the wine estates and cycling routes are good year-round.
HOTELS IN BOLZANO | SPLURGE TO BUDGET OPTIONS
CASTEL HÖRTENBURG | SPLURGE
A historic Renaissance castle converted into modern, spacious luxury accommodation, Castel Hörtenburg promises celebrity treatment while making you feel right at home.
Right in the heart of Bolzano but a quiet urban oasis, the hotel has a huge fitness and wellness area, with outdoor pools, a beautiful Turkish bath, a Himalayan salt cave, and multiple saunas with panoramic vistas.
It’s the perfect place to recharge your batteries and unwind. Breakfast is included, and the main sights of Bolzano are just a few minutes away.
BOOK | CASTEL HÖRTENBURG
MY ARBOR - PLOSE WELLNESS HOTEL | SPURGE
Located in nearby Plose, My Arbor is a stylish hotel that combines modern architecture and design with a focus on wellness and nature.
The hotel offers spacious and comfortable rooms and suites designed with a minimalist yet warm aesthetic, featuring modern amenities and private balconies or terraces that offer panoramic views of the surrounding mountains.
The best part though, is the wellness area, which includes indoor and outdoor swimming pools, saunas, steam baths, relaxation lounges, and a panoramic rooftop terrace. Additionally, the hotel offers various spa treatments and massages for ultimate relaxation.
The food is also amazing, too.
SEEHOTEL AMBACH, LAGO DI CALDARO | MID-RANGE TO SPLURGE
Our stay at the lakefront Seehotel Ambach was one of the sleeper highlights of our whole trip, and it's the kind of place that rewards you for knowing about it.
Designed in the 1970s by celebrated South Tyrolean architect Othmar Barth, it's a piece of living modernist history: curved white terraces stepping down to a private lawn and lido on the warmest lake in the Alps, palm trees swaying against vineyard-covered hills, and a retro-glamorous aesthetic that's more Slim Aarons than stiff heritage hotel.
The rooms are as you’d expect - mid-century modern, with an alpine touch. The pool is sunk into a private lawn, alongside a small wellness centre that fits the aesthetic, and with direct access to the lake.
The food is another highlight, with chef Albin Widmann overseeing a local and season menu that shines.
If your Dolomites itinerary needs a rest day (and trust us, it does), this is where to take it. Note that it's seasonal, typically open spring to autumn.
BOOK |SEEHOTEL AMBACH
PARKHOTEL LAURIN, BOLZANO | MID-RANGE
Built in Art Nouveau style in 1910, the charmingly elegant Parkhotel Laurin sits right in the centre of Bolzano, minutes from the cathedral and station.
The building is a landmark in itself: frescoed ceilings, art nouveau tiles and a storied bar that has hosted everyone from Mussolini to the modern political class. The rooms maybe a little out of date, but the rest of the property shines - the lush walled garden opens for the restaurant in summer, serving regional and Italian cuisine among fig trees and roses, which is the best outdoor dining in Bolzano on a warm evening.
BOOK |PARKHOTEL LAURIN
FEICHTER HOTEL & LIVING, BOLZANO | BUDGET TO MID-RANGE
If you want to land in Bolzano and immediately feel like a local rather than a tourist, the family-run Feichter Hotel & Living is the first option to consider.
Two minutes' walk from the historic Lauben arcades, five minutes from Walther Square and the cathedral, it sits on a quiet street in the old town with 30 rooms that are modern, clean, light and designed for people who want a comfortable base rather than a destination hotel.
The breakfast is the secret weapon: the Feichter family bakes their own Birchermüsli and granola daily, the fruit salad is fresh each morning, and the South Tyrolean produce selection is the kind of buffet that gets its own glowing paragraphs in reviews.
The Bolzano Card is included with every stay, covering free cable cars, buses and trains across the region.
BOOK |FEICHTER HOTEL & LIVING
MAREITHOF, CALDARO | BUDGET | FAMILIES
Three minutes on foot from the centre of Caldaro village, the Mareithof is a certified bio fruit farm run by the Battisti family, with a new heated lake-view pool (12x6m), a garden with playground and barbecue, and four holiday apartments in solid wood with either balcony or small garden access.
Free entrance to the Lido at the lake is included, as is a morning bread roll delivery service if you prefer breakfast at home to the village bakery three minutes away.
The South Tyrol Bike Pass is available for keen cyclists, the South Tyrolean Wine Route passes 150m from the front gate, and the forest of Montiggl and the lake trail are both easy walks from the farm.
For families wanting a self-catered Caldaro stay that doesn't sacrifice good value for good access, this is the pick.
BOOK |MAREITHOF, CALDARO
10. MERANO & SURROUNDS
Merano is the best base for spa-town indulgence and the western valleys, technically outside the Dolomites but well worth the detour.
Life in South Tyrol is a celebration of the best things in life, and the spa town of Merano is where that's most evident: thermal baths, Art Nouveau streets of elegant boutiques and cafes, palm trees against snowy peaks, and a mild microclimate that makes it one of the warmest corners of the Alps year-round.
Staying in Merano suits those seeking a larger town with strong Italian character, indulgent wellness, great food, and easy access to the western valleys, Lago di Resia and the Val Senales. It's also one of the nicest towns in Italy, with a sophistication that surprises people expecting an alpine resort.
Stay here for:
Terme Merano thermal baths: 25 pools, indoor and outdoor, open year-round
The Tappeiner Promenade: a 4.5km Mediterranean clifftop walkway above the city
Giardini di Castel Trauttmansdorff: the botanical gardens where Empress Sisi stayed, with mountain views and an alpine tourism museum
Castel Tirolo: a 12th-century castle above the town with views across the whole valley
The Val Senales glacier, summer skiing and the mummy of Ötzi's resting place discovery site
Merano's weekly Saturday market and daily arcaded shopping streets
Michelin-starred Restaurant Sissi in the old town
Best for | Spa seekers, couples, shoulder-season trips
Accommodation range | Merano has one of the best hotel selections of any town in South Tyrol: everything from budget B&Bs in the pedestrian centre to Art Nouveau grand hotels with thermal pools, boutique townhouses, and hillside wellness retreats. Mid-range is well served here.
Worth knowing | Merano sits in the Adige valley rather than the Dolomites proper, so it's not a practical base for the Tre Cime or Alta Badia. Pair it with a western Dolomites base (Val Gardena, Val d'Ega) rather than treating it as a gateway to the east. The town closes down in January and February for the most part, with many hotels following suit.
HOTELS IN MERANO | SPLURGE TO BUDGET OPTIONS
HOTEL MIRAMONTI | SPLURGE
To be honest, there’s really only one hotel we want to recommend when it comes to Merano and that’s Hotel Miramonti, in the hills overlooking the town.
Best known for its insta-famous infinity pool suspended over the mountains and valley, Miramonti’s motto is “hard to find, hard to forget”, and having spent a night here ourselves we have to agree.
Our stay at the hotel felt a little 007-like; modern rooms that were both luxe and understated, service that was super friendly and accommodating, and delicious gourmet fare served in the Panorama restaurant.
But the true drawcard of this hotel is its famous infinity pool and assortment of Onsen pools, forest spas nestled into the trees, luxurious spa treatments and quiet relaxation rooms.
It’s definitely a splurge worth making if you'd like to escape the world for a few days and feel your stresses float away in a hot tub or two!
BOOK | HOTEL MIRAMONTI
VILLA BAVARIA & RESIDENZ PALMA | SPLURGE
Established in 1884 and still one of the most romantic addresses in Merano, Villa Bavaria is a piece of Belle Époque South Tyrol: a blue-and-white ornate facade in a peaceful garden of palm trees and cedars, an indoor and outdoor pool with a lazy river, a steam room and hot tub, individually furnished rooms with pillow menus and premium bedding, and the kind of warm staff who help you sort out car trouble without being asked.
The Residenz Palma next door was built by today's owner's great-grandfather as a spa annex and now operates as an attractive second wing.
Five minutes' walk to the promenade and old town, breakfast included. Restaurant and wellness areas close in winter, so check dates if you're visiting outside of spring to autumn.
STEINACH TOWNHOUSE MERAN | MID-RANGE TO SPLURGE
Eleven suites in two adjoining historical buildings, a 17th-century farmhouse and a Habsburg-style mansion, in the old Steinach Quarter of Merano's centre.
The Steinach Townhouse is everything a boutique design stay should be and rarely is: pistachio-green shutters, emerald and copper ceramic tiles nodding to South Tyrol's 600-year mining history, Le Corbusier Marseille lamps alongside handmade South Tyrolean antiques, Egyptian cotton sheets, and an Honesty Bar in the lounge that's always open.
Hosts Katalin, Andrea and Barbara run the place with a warmth that produces reviews calling the stay "a guest house with heart." Barbara's breakfasts in particular, freshly baked pastries, homemade cakes, eggs to order and local produce, are named individually across dozens of reviews.
BOOK |STEINACH TOWNHOUSE MERAN
CLASSIC HOTEL MERANERHOF | MID-RANGE
A proper Art Nouveau grand hotel in the centre of Merano, run by three generations of the Eisenkeil-Waldner family (all women), which gives it a warmth and personal attention that larger hotels rarely manage.
The Meranerhof sits in green English gardens right across from the Terme Merano thermal baths, five minutes' walk from the promenade and old town.
Rooms are spacious and beautifully decorated with mountain or garden views, the indoor pool, sauna, hot tub and Turkish bath are free for guests, and five-course gourmet dinners run each evening with weekly themed nights (barbecue, Italian buffet, local speciality).
BOOK |CLASSIC HOTEL MERANERHOF
KUNTINO SUITES | MID-RANGE
Nine individually designed apartments, ranging from 40 to 75m², in a recently renovated historic arcade building right on the Via Portici, Merano's famous main shopping street.
The Kuntino Suites are family-run by Aurelie and her team, and the feeling is exactly that: spacious, modern, impeccably clean, fully equipped kitchens, and staff who remember your name and go out of their way with local tips.
The Kuntino Bar on the ground floor does the best coffee and pastries on the street, frequented by locals, which is always the right signal.
Families are well catered for and the Tappeiner Promenade, thermal baths and promenade are all within a five-minute walk.
BOOK |KUNTINO SUITES
MAISON VALENTINA BED & BREAKFAST | BUDGET
A small, lovingly decorated B&B in a historic building on the Via Portici in the pedestrian heart of Merano, 300 metres from the Kurhaus and five minutes' walk from the Terme Merano thermal baths.
Maison Valentina has six rooms, each individually styled with genuine care and a homely warmth that consistently earns the highest scores in its category.
Some rooms have balconies with mountain views. Allergy-free rooms available.
MANZONI ROOMS | BUDGET
200 metres from the Terme Merano thermal baths and right in the city centre, Manzoni Rooms is the most honest budget option in Merano: 10 bright rooms with parquet floors, wooden furniture and mountain views, some with balconies.
Shared bathrooms for standard rooms (private bathrooms in the Premium category), no breakfast included, self check-in by code.
The trade-off is clear: contact the property at least 24 hours before arrival with your expected time, and don't expect a staffed reception. The Terme, promenade and old town arcades are within two minutes' walk, this is the right choice for budget travellers who want to spend the day in Merano without paying for the trimmings.
BOOK |MANZONI ROOMS
BEST RIFUGIOS IN THE DOLOMITES
Luxury retreats aside, rifugios (alpine huts) are as ubiquitous in these mountains as the peaks themselves, and some of our favourite Dolomites evenings have been spent in one: devouring hearty food and Schnapps, singing along with happy locals, and sleeping like the dead after a big ascent.
A few things have changed since our first hut nights, so read this before you book:
Book early, directly with each hut. No Booking.com here. Popular huts open reservations in winter for the following summer and the best dates vanish within days.
Prices have risen sharply. Expect roughly €55 to €95 per person for half board at most huts in 2026, and more at the famous ones near Tre Cime.
Bring a sleeping bag liner. It's mandatory at most huts now, and some check.
Carry cash. Card machines at altitude are unreliable at best, non-existent at worst.
RIFUGIO LOCATELLI / DREIZINNENHÜTTE, TRE CIME
We spent a night in this famous rifugio on our first visit to Tre Cime di Lavaredo, and while it's firmly on the rustic side, waking up to that view of the Tre Cime, and having the trails to yourself for sunset, sunrise and astrophotography, is worth every bit of the bunk-room experience.
Know before you book: the hut is open late June to late September, bookings are via their online system with a non-refundable deposit of €40 per person, and it's strictly cash-only for food and drinks once you're up there, so carry plenty of euros.
BOOK |RIFUGIO LOCATELLI
RIFUGIO AURONZO, TRE CIME
We've not personally stayed at Rifugio Auronzo, but its position at the start of the Tre Cime loop, reachable by the toll road from Misurina, makes it the practical choice for sunrise missions around the monoliths, especially for those who can't or don't want to hike in with overnight gear.
Run by the CAI Auronzo section, it has 99 beds across 25 rooms, and from here you can access many of the Dolomites' best hikes, including the Tre Cime loop, Cadini di Misurina and the WWI trenches around Pian di Cengia. Book directly and well ahead.
BOOK |RIFUGIO AURONZO
RIFUGIO FANES, FANES-SENES-BRAIES NATURE PARK
We've stayed in a few alpine rifugios by now, and Rifugio Fanes remains our favourite.
We arrived hungry and exhausted after a strenuous uphill hike, expecting bare-bones rustic, and instead found a modern, spacious room, a piping hot (and strong!) shower, and a cosy restaurant serving Tyrolean dumplings with spinach that we still think about, washed down with a Forst beer.
Built in 1928 and set among the pines and lakes of the Fanes plateau, it's more comfortable than most huts, and priced accordingly.
For summer 2026 (4 June to 4 October), half board starts from €95 per person in the dorm, €106 in a double with shared bathroom, and €118 in a double with private bathroom. Unusually for altitude, they take cards and have wifi.
BOOK |RIFUGIO FANES
RIFUGIO VANDELLI, LAGO DI SORAPIS
If you want Lago di Sorapis to yourself for sunrise (fellow photographers, we see you), Rifugio Vandelli, minutes from the lake, is the only way to do it.
It's a proper old-school hut experience: shared dorms only, cold-water bathrooms, and a mandatory sleeping bag liner (disposable liners sold for €10, and yes, they check).
For 2026 the hut is open 20 June to 20 September, half board costs €75 per person (€60 for CAI and affiliated alpine club members), a bed only is €32, and stays are limited to one night. During the season, bookings are via WhatsApp message only, and dinner is reserved for overnight guests.
BOOK |RIFUGIO VANDELLI
RIFUGIO RE ALBERTO / GARTLHÜTTE, VAJOLET TOWERS
Snug against the foothills of the Vajolet Towers in the dramatic Catinaccio range (read our guide to hiking them here), Rifugio Re Alberto is the base for one of the most theatrical sunrises in the Dolomites.
The hut is open in summer only (roughly June to October), with bunk-bed rooms of varying sizes, and bookings must be made directly with the hut, well in advance.
BOOK |RIFUGIO RE ALBERTO
WHERE TO STAY IN THE DOLOMITES | YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
WHAT IS THE BEST AREA TO STAY IN THE DOLOMITES?
Alta Badia and Val Gardena are the best areas to stay in the Dolomites for most first-time visitors. Both sit centrally with superb lift networks, excellent hotels and food, and easy access to icons like Seceda and Alpe di Siusi.
For the eastern icons (Tre Cime, Lago di Braies), add a base in Sesto, Dobbiaco or Cortina.
HOW MANY DIFFERENT PLACES SHOULD I STAY IN THE DOLOMITES?
Base yourself in two to three destinations for a week-long Dolomites trip, typically one western base (Val Gardena or Alta Badia) and one eastern base (Sesto, Dobbiaco or Cortina).
Mountain passes make driving slow, so staying multiple nights in each base saves hours behind the wheel and lets you catch sunrises and sunsets nearby.
IS IT BETTER TO STAY IN CORTINA OR VAL GARDENA?
Val Gardena is better for most travellers: it's more central, better value, and has gondolas rising straight from Ortisei to Seceda and Alpe di Siusi.
Cortina is better if you want a lively, glamorous town and priority access to the eastern Dolomites, but since the 2026 Winter Olympics it's the region's most expensive base by some margin.
DO I NEED A CAR TO STAY IN THE DOLOMITES?
A car is the easiest way to explore the Dolomites, especially for sunrise shoots and quieter valleys. That said, it's not essential: Val Gardena's Mobil Card covers free regional transport, an efficient bus network links the main valleys and trailheads in season, and Brunico and Bolzano sit on the rail line.
See our guide to getting to the Dolomites.
HOW FAR IN ADVANCE SHOULD I BOOK DOLOMITES ACCOMMODATION?
Book Dolomites accommodation four to six months ahead for July and August or the winter peak, and even earlier for famous rifugios like Locatelli, which open bookings in winter for the following summer and sell out within days.
Since the 2026 Olympics, demand in and around Cortina has stayed high, so err on the earlier side.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO STAY IN THE DOLOMITES?
In 2026, expect to pay from around €150 per night for a good mid-range double in summer, €80 to €120 for guesthouses and farm stays, and €55 to €95 per person for half board in a rifugio.
Luxury has jumped sharply: the reborn Aman Rosa Alpina now starts around €1,600 per night.
WHAT IS IT LIKE TO STAY IN A RIFUGIO?
Staying in a rifugio means simple bunks or small rooms, hearty communal dinners, shared bathrooms and early nights, usually somewhere spectacular that day-trippers never see at golden hour.
Book directly with each hut months ahead, bring a sleeping bag liner and cash, and take the half board: after a mountain ascent, you'll inhale every course.
TRAVEL INSURANCE |STAY SAFE IN THE DOLOMITES
Honest take: if something goes wrong, a medical emergency, a missed ferry, a scooter accident on a coastal road, travel insurance is the difference between a stressful story and a catastrophic one.
After 10+ years of full-time travel, here's what we use and recommend:
FOR TRAVELLERS | World Nomads offers travel insurance for independent travellers and intrepid families. Their policies offer coverage for more than 150 activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.
Get a quote from World Nomads →
READ | Our ultimate guide to travel insurance
PLANNING A TRIP TO THE DOLOMITES SOON?
Make the most of your time in one of the world's most extraordinary mountain regions with our essential Dolomites guides.
THE DOLOMITES
Dolomites Travel Guide — everything you need to know before you go
DESTINATION GUIDES
HIKES WORTH DOING
SOUTH TYROL
PLAN YOUR ITALY TRIP WITH OUR USEFUL GUIDES
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That, and you're officially a legend.
