Dolomites
Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, 1962, Slim Aarons © Getty Images
The Dolomites comprise a mountain range in the northern Italian Alps, numbering 18 peaks that rise above 3,000 meters, and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of their unique beauty, geological significance, and cultural landscape. In summer, hiking is a popular activity, and in winter Cortina d'Ampezzo known as the “Pearl of the Dolomites" is a famous ski destination. Here is our guide to the Dolomites.
STAY
ADLER SPA RESORT DOLOMITI Between majestic peaks and lush vegetation, the ADLER spa resort Dolomiti nestles picturesquely into its surroundings. But it is not only its location in the Val Gardena holiday region - which has always drawn nature lovers - that makes it an extraordinary place of relaxation and power. It is also the expansive spa area and the feel-good ambiance that give you exactly what you need to lead you back to lightness during your time-out. Strada Rezia 7 39046 Ortisei; South Tyrol; Italy; adler-resorts.com/en/adler-spa-resort-dolomiti
ADLER LODGE BALANCE Nestled in a valley among the Dolomite mountains, this upscale spa hotel is 2 minutes' walk from the Parish Church of Urtijëi and 13 km from Langkofel mountain. Featuring wood paneling, natural textiles and furnished balconies with mountain views, the warmly decorated rooms offer Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and minibars. There's a pine-paneled gourmet restaurant. Other amenities include a spa area with saltwater pools, as well as a hay sauna, a panoramic sauna, a hot tub and a salt grotto. There's also a fitness room. Massages, yoga, and health and beauty treatments are available. Via Stufan, 5, 39046 Ortisei; adler-resorts.com/en/adler-spa-resort-balance
ADLER LODGE ALPE Set in the Seiser Alm ski area and offering views of the Dolomite mountains, this polished all-inclusive lodge is accessed by a private road. It's 5 km from the gondola station in Compatsch, and 10 minutes' walk from the nearest ski lift. Featuring balconies with mountain views, the airy, woodsy suites in the main lodge offer flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi, plus minibars. Bi-level chalets add saunas, and living rooms with fireplaces. All meals and drinks are included, as are underground parking and a gondola station shuttle. A spa features a sauna and a lounge with mountain views, as well as an outdoor deck with an infinity pool, and a gym. Via Piz, 11, 39040 Castelrotto BZ, Italy; adler-resorts.com/en/hotel-alpe-di-siusi
ADLER LODGE RITTEN Set within a collection of contemporary wood chalets amid forest, this upscale hotel is 2 km from Lake Costalovara, 10 km from Renon Mountain ski area and 20 km from the A22 motorway. Sleek, modern suites have private saunas, and terraces or balconies with mountain views, as well as flat-screens and minibars. Chalets feature fireplaces and/or living areas. Amenities include a polished restaurant/bar, an outdoor infinity pool, and a tranquil spa with an indoor pool and a gym. Yoga and fitness classes are available, as is breakfast. Stella, 20, 39054 Soprabolzano BZ, Italy; adler-resorts.com/en/adler-lodge-ritten
AKI FAMILY RESORT PLOSE A new family resort by Adler where all offerings are completely tailored to promoting togetherness. Pools, a kids club, outdoor activities, and more. Via Koja, Meluno, 20, 39042 Bressanone BZ, Italy; aki-plose.com
AMAN ROSA ALPINA A Relais & Châteaux hotel surrounded by the Dolomites mountain range. Refined Alpine-style rooms provide Wi-Fi, flat-screens and minibars, plus sitting areas, and/or balconies with mountain views. Suites add separate living rooms. A premium 3-bedroom suite has a kitchen and a dining room.
A breakfast buffet is served in an elegant dining room. Other amenities include a movie theater, a terrace and a kids' club. A spa has an indoor pool, a Finnish sauna and a hammam. The hotel is home to a cozy fondue restaurant, a wine bar, a grill, and Alta Badia’s two-Michelin-star Restaurant St. Hubertus, a former pizzeria named after the patron of the hunters. Eat your way through a project dubbed “Cook the Mountain” that is filled with creative country fare like honey- and milk-fed charcoal-roasted goose breast, as well as beef fillet straight from the eatery’s private pastures. Strada Micurà de Rü, 20, 39036 San Cassiano BZ, Italy; aman.com/resorts/aman-rosa-alpina
FORESTIS This remote, sophisticated chateau-style hotel in the woods of Plose mountain is 1 km from the Palmschoss trailhead, 18 km from Museo Diocesano Hofburg Brixen and 19 km from the Cathedral of Brixen. Featuring mountain views and wood furnishings, the rustic-chic suites provide flat-screen TVs, Wi-Fi and balconies. Upgraded suites add whirlpool tubs and tropical showers. A sleek restaurant serves traditional South Tyrolean slow-food cuisine. A spa offers massage and beauty treatments, plus an aromatherapy sauna, a hot tub, infrared sauna cabins and a garden. Breakfast is available. Palmschoß 22, 39042 Bressanone BZ, Italy; forestis.it/en
SONNWEIS FAMILY RESORT This laid-back hotel in a lush valley surrounded by forested hills is 15 km from Brixen Cathedral and 21 km from the 12th-century Schloss Rodenegg castle. Stylish rooms come with Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, minifridges and balconies. Upgraded rooms include kitchenettes, fireplaces and whirlpool tubs. Room service is available. Breakfast is available. There's a regional restaurant, and a cozy bar with a fireplace. A wellness center includes a sauna and a steam room. Other amenities consist of indoor and outdoor pools, a water park, sports courts and a ski school. Via Alter Rungger, 20, 39040 Luson BZ, Italy; sonnwies.com/familienhotel-suedtirol
COMO ALPINA DOLOMITIS What was just the Alpina Dolomites, the Singaporean brand Como took it over, along with it, a palette refresh—out with the taupe and neutral palette and in blue-hued lounge areas and bedrooms. The new Trattoria dell’Alpe offers food from Venice and Verona, focusing on fish. However, Sassolungo delivers crisped coated schnitzel alongside Como's signature healthy fare for hearty mountain food. Set among the slopes in the Alpe di Siusi ski area, this sleek hotel in a modern, lodge-style building is also 12 km from St. Vigil Seis golf course. There's a modern eatery, a cozy bar and a cigar lounge, plus indoor and outdoor pools with mountain views. A spa features a gym and a sauna. Compatsch, 62/3, 39040 Alpe di Siusi BZ, Italy; comohotels.com/italy/como-alpina-dolomites
CASTEL HÖRTENBERG Considered the gateway city to the Dolomites, Bolzano is the best destination for a year-round stay. On the outskirts of the medieval town center rises this five-star hotel hosted in a restored Renaissance-era castle. The 24-room property radiates opulence through its preserved character with stucco ceilings, original stone walls, exposed beams, and cherished frescoes. There’s plenty of culture, art, and history within the castle’s walls but also at your doorstep; the property is within walking distance to Bolzano’s Piazza Walther, its main square, and for those guests seeking epicurean experiences, the best of Bolzano’s restaurants. Via Monte Tondo, 4, 39100 Bolzano BZ, Italy; castel-hoertenberg.com
GASTHOF KOHLERN For a more bucolic stay, the 16-room inn at positions you at the top of Kohlern mountain, above Bolzano. The authentic farmhouse inn features wooden furniture and individually designed rooms that are surrounded by lush forest in the summer and snowy peaks in the winter. Despite its homage to tradition, the inn doesn’t skimp on luxury; there’s a heated infinity pool and a cutting-edge spa, complete with a mountain-view sauna. The onsite restaurant is also revered for its genuine Tyrolean fare, so you never have to venture far for an exquisite bite. Via al Colle, 11, 39100 Bolzano BZ, Italy; kohlern.com
LA PERLA A Leading Hotel of the World and one of Alta Badia’s most beloved Dolomite hotels and home to the region’s only Michelin-starred restaurant, La Stua de Michil, La Perla in Corvara in Val Badia, has welcomed guests since 1956. The hotel now houses new rooms, including the two-bedroom Dolomite suite with a double balcony. Take an aperitvo of Franciacorta and local hams in the treehouse, which can house two people for drinks. In summer, the hotel offers everything from rock climbing courses to golf at 5,500 feet. Chef Simone Cantafio organizes immersive cooking sessions in the Stua de Michil restaurant, concluding with a wine and tasting session. Str. Col Alt, 105, 39033 Corvara in Badia BZ, Italy; laperlacorvara.it
CRISTALLO A Luxury Collection Resort & Spa in Cortina d'Ampezzo, this grand dame hotel is the ritziest ski town in the Dolomites, Cristallo boasts a long and illustrious history. Opened in 1901, it hosted an impressive roster during its dolce vita heyday, including Frank Sinatra, Brigitte Bardot, aristocrats like the Duca d'Aosta, and even the U.S. Olympic team, which practiced at the hotel's ice-skating rink in 1956. Now a member of Marriott's Luxury Collection, the property combines alpine charm with the amenities of a luxury hotel, including a relaxing spa and a fabulous bar that serves creative cocktails. Via Rinaldo Menardi, 42, 32043 Cortina d'Ampezzo BL, Italy; cristallo.it
FALORIA MOUNTAIN SPA RESORT Set among the Dolomite mountains, this upscale hotel is 4 km from both the Mario Rimoldi Modern Art Museum and ski slope access via the Faloria cable car. Elegant rooms with wooden floors have flat-screen TVs, Nespresso machines and Wi-Fi; some have mountain views. There's a posh restaurant with a bar, as well as a spa and an indoor pool. Località Zuel di Sopra, 46, 32043 Cortina d'Ampezzo BL, Italy; faloriasparesort.com
WHITE DEER SAN LORENZO MOUNTAIN LODGE A luxurious Italian ski lodge in the heart of the Dolomites. San Lorenzo Mountain Lodge (also known as White Deer) is located in South Tyrol. This stunning converted hunting lodge is set within 42 acres of woodland and meadows with dramatic valley views, equally beautiful and serene in both winter and summer. Frazione Elle, 23, 39030 San Lorenzo di Sebato BZ, Italy; sanlorenzolodges.com
CIASA SALARES A minute's walk from the Sciovia Armentarola ski lift, this luxe seasonal hotel is 2 km from San Cassiano village and 7 km from the Valparola Pass. Featuring pine furnishings and balconies, the rustic-chic rooms also offer flat-screen TVs and minibars. A breakfast buffet is included. There are 3 restaurants, including an acclaimed venue serving creative cuisine, plus an informal evening-only wine bar, and cheese and chocolate tasting venues. The refined spa offers a sauna, indoor pool, exercise room and treatments. Strada Prè de Vì, 31, 39030 San Cassiano BZ, Italy; ciasasalares.it/en
HOTEL DE LA POSTE If you’re keen to follow in Hemingway’s footsteps, book his namesake suite at Hotel de la Poste where the writer stayed several times on his visits to Cortina. Piazza Roma, 14, 32043 Cortina d'Ampezzo BL, Italy; delaposte.it
GARDENA GRÖDNERHOF HOTEL & SPA Occupying a chalet-style building in the Dolomites mountain range, this high-end hotel off the SS242 road is 4 minutes' walk from Gherdëina Local Heritage Museum and a 5-minute walk from a cable car station. Featuring alpine-inspired decor, 2 polished restaurants, and a cozy lounge with a bar, as well as a posh spa that has an indoor pool and a gym. There's also a kids' club, parking and a breakfast buffet, in addition to ski equipment rentals. Via Vidalong, 3, 39040 Oltretorrente BZ, Italy; gardena.it/en
DINE | DRINK
ST. HUBERTUS Situated within the historic mountain retreat of Rosa Alpina, St. Hubertus by chef Norbert Niederkofler’s ‘Cook the Mountain’ concept (a multi-course meal entirely inspired by South Tyrol and the Alta Badia valley) has earned the restaurant three Michelin stars. Strada Micurà de Rü, 20, 39036 San Cassiano BZ, Italy; aman.com/resorts/aman-rosa-alpina
SANBRITE Run by a young couple, this Michelin-starred restaurant highlights fresh local ingredients, including cheeses and charcuterie made at the owners' agriturismo up the road. The tasting menu is a gastronomic journey into the mountains, with dishes like marinated trout with smoked broth and barley prepared like a risotto with aged cheese, pepper, and bay leaves. Località Alverà, 200/E, 32043 Cortina d'Ampezzo BL, Italy; sanbrite.it
EL BRITE DE LARIETO If you don't want to splurge on a full meal at SanBrite, you can get a little taste of the owners' sustainable cuisine at their charming wood-paneled agriturismo. The fonduta served with crunchy cubes of toasted bread is not to be missed. località Larieto, 32043 Cortina d'Ampezzo BL, Italy; elbritedelarieto.com
BAITA FRAINA A delightful wine bar and restaurant reminiscent of German "stubes" for those who want to escape Cortina for the silence of an isolated "baita" or mountain hut. Delightful rooms, colorfully furnished in warm tones so you can better enjoy the silence and scents of the mountains. Try the spaghettini with braised onion sauce, or go for casunziei, a local specialty of ravioli stuffed with beets and herbs and sprinkled with poppy seeds.Località Fraina, 1, 32043 Cortina d'Ampezzo BL, Italy; baitafraina.it
ANNA STUBEN The one Michelin star restaurant in Hotel Gardena in Ortesei. The tasting menu is elevated trad cuisine—pumpkin comes with seasoned buffalo cheese, and gnocchi is crafted from beetroot and cave-aged cheese, with local riffs such as Villnoser Valley lamb alongside a gremolata. Pair with Alto Adige wines such as the blossom-rich St. Paul’s Praeclarus Brut. Via Vidalong, 3, 39046 Ortisei BZ, Italy; gardena.it/en/restaurant-anna-stuben
ALPINN A glass-boxed restaurant located in the LUMUM—the Museum of Mountain Photography—in Kronplatz spearheaded by Dolomites-born chef Norbert Niederkofler and designer Martino Gampner, Alpinn explores the terroir’s seasonal produce, with a focus on small local producers and an aim to cut down waste as much as possible, from reusing potato peelings to vegetable water. Having gained three Michelin stars at St Hubertus in Rosa Alpina (now part of the Aman group), Norbert opened the restaurant in 2023. Tuck into onion cooked in ash with Sasso Nero cheese or marinated golden trout fish with a silky yolk sauce and poppy seeds. Kronplatz, 39030, Brunico BZ, Italy; alpinn.it
GOSTNER SCHWAIGE Under the looming Mount Schlern, the mountain huts service hikers all summer. They come for a three-course feast – don’t miss the rhubarb strudel – or a simple cheese and bread snack perched on the benches outside. In addition to making its own cheeses and delicious hay soup, the restaurant’s twinkly proprietor Franz Musler runs cooking courses in the summer, with a focus on herbs and flowers growing in the surrounding pastures. Saltriastrasse 13, 39040 Seiseralm, BZ, Italy; aussergost.com/de/gostner-schwaige/
CIASA SALARES The family-owned hotel Ciasa Salares offers beautiful chalet-style rooms in the foothills of the Fane National Park. It also has incredibly stocked wine and cheese rooms, both offering guests and visitors experiences. The chocolate room houses over 120 varieties of chocolate, spanning Vietnam and beyond, with a tasting led by a cocoa master. You won’t even scratch the surface of the 23,000 bottle list in the wine room, but a sampling led by sommelier Jan Clemens is a journey through Alto Adige, biodynamic or Italian regional wines. Strada Prè de Vì, 31, 39030 San Cassiano BZ, Italy; ciasasalares.it/en/
BÄCKEREI FRANZISANER Alto Adige’s cuisine is as unique as its environs, and is primarily influenced by Austrian and Italian cuisine. Every morning, the tantalizing aromas of freshly baked bread float out of the cafes in Bolzano where you’ll find more than a dozen loaves, including spelt, whole grain rye, muesli bread, and yogurt bars.
BISTRO CASTEL TURMHOF Enjoy charcuterie and cheese boards on the terrace here for lunch. Via Castello, 4, 39040 Niclara BZ, Italy; tiefenbrunner.com
RESTAURANT GASTHOF KOHLERN The cheesy round knödel are so buttery soft they don’t require a knife—in fact, it’s custom to only dig in with a fork. Barley soup, polenta, and ratatouille are also culinary staples here. Via al Colle, 11, 39100 Bolzano BZ, Italy; kohlern.com
ENOTECA IL BACARO An adorable wine bar secreted behind the main streets. Via Argentieri, 17, 39100 Bolzano BZ, Italy
VÖGELINO A wine bar in Piazza Walther is the quintessential spritz-in-a-square experience. Piazza Walther, 2, 39100 Bolzano BZ, Italy; voegelino.com
LÖWENGRUBE Innovative Italian & Tyrolean dining & an extensive wine list in a neo-Gothic space with frescoes. If you’re with a large group, book their wine cellar. Piazza della Dogana, 3, 39100 Bolzano BZ, Italy; loewengrube.it/en/
LAURIN RESTAURANT A cozy restaurant with South Tyrolean cuisine- don’t miss the apple strudel with a dollop of whipped cream for dessert. Via Laurin, 4, 39100 Bolzano BZ, Italy; restaurant-laurin.de
ART | CULTURE | ACTIVITIES
SOUTH TYROL MUSEUM OF ARCHAEOLOGY South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology is an archaeological museum in the city of Bolzano, South Tyrol, Italy. It is the home of the preserved body of Ötzi the Iceman, a natural mummy of a man who lived between 3350 and 3105 BC. Ötzi's remains were discovered on 19 September 1991, in the Ötztal Alps (hence the nickname "Ötzi" at the Austria–Italy border. Via Museo, 43, 39100 Bolzano BZ, Italy; iceman.it
MESSNER MOUNTAIN MUSEUM A series of six museums created by mountaineer Reinhold Messner, they present an education on mountain culture but are architectural wonders in their own right - designed by Zaha Hadid. messner-mountain-museum.it/en/
ABBAZIA DI NOVACELLA A working monastery since 1142, currently in its 58th generation of abbots. There, you’ll discover a library hosting 97,000 handwritten books, a local osteria, seasonal events like their jazz festival, and one of the oldest active wineries in the world. Via Abbazia, 1, 39040 Novacella BZ, Italy; kloster-neustift.it/en/
CANTINA KURTATSCH Combining activity and viticulture with their Wine Expedition; a day-long opportunity to hike through their vineyards and try around 12 varieties at their site. Via del Vino, 23, 39040 Cortaccia sulla Strada del Vino BZ, Italy; kellerei-kurtatsch.it/en/
CANTINA TERLANO A winery specializing in long-aging white wines. Via Silberleiten, 7, 39018 Terlano BZ, Italy; cantina-terlano.com
ELENA WALCH Elena Walch is a 5-generation family-run estate in Alto Adige that led the wine quality revolution in the area. The terrace overlooks their fairytale vineyards and Lake Caldaro. Via Andreas Hofer 1, 39040 Tramin/Termeno, Alto Adige, Italy; elenawalch.com/en/
TENUTA KORNELL Tenuta Kornell has been making wine for over 700 years and today like yesterday, Florian Brigl and his young team are united by a passion for viticulture. They offer private tours through their historical cellar set under the picturesque hillside. Via Cosma e Damiano, 6, 39018 Terlano BZ, Italy; kornell.it/en
SPA | BEAUTY | WELLNESS
TERME MERANO The thermal baths at this seasonal thermal park & year-round indoor spa with 25 bathing pools, saunas & a fitness center are world-recognized to soothe body and soul. Piazza Terme, 9, 39012 Merano BZ, Italy; termemerano.it
PREIDLHOF The wonderful Preidlhof wellbeing holistic resort runs programs that restore the body and mind – from ‘trauma therapy’ with Sicilian Shaman Stefano Battaglia to sleep retreats – as well as some of the best saunas in the Dolomites. However, it is worth taking time out from a stay for a half-day trip to the gastronomy tour of Lake Fie discover mountain herbs and woodland cooking. After plucking forest herbs, you can learn to grind flour at an ancient mill before a cooking lesson crafting tagliatelle or Schlutzkrapfen from the flour. Via S. Zeno, 13, 39025 Naturno BZ, Italy; preidlhof.com
HOTEL HEUBAD The hotel’s Marmot Hut, which lies just below Plattkofel mountain, is where the historic hotel sources and stores its Dolomite hay—filled with more than 40 types of grass and flowers—for its summertime baths. For over a century, farmers in the area have mixed summer’s Swiss mountain pine and medicinal herbs like arnica (also known as mountain tobacco) with mountain grass and hay in heated baths meant to soothe bodies tired from tending to the fields. Indulge in a modern version of this age-old tradition. Schlernstr. 13, Via Sciliar, 12, 39050 Fiè allo Sciliar BZ, Italy; hotelheubad.com
SHOP
DUCA DI SAN GIUSTO CASHMERE ORTISEI Elevate your mountain style with luxurious sweaters, cardigans and pants crafted from the finest cashmere and silk at Duca di San Giusto. Strada Rezia, 27, 39046 Ortisei BZ, Italy; ducadisangiusto.com
GUERRESCO 1945 Unique, chic, luxury ski garb. Corso Italia, n. 23/25, 32043 - Cortina d'Ampezzo; guerresco.it
GENTRY PORTOFINO An Italian luxury womenswear brand. Corso Italia, 104, 32043 Cortina d'Ampezzo BL, Italy; gentryportofino.it
SPORT KOSTNER Ski rental shop in the heart of Cortina. Piazza Pittori Fratelli Ghedina, 8, 32043 Cortina d'Ampezzo BL, Italy; cortinaprosport.com