Back to Editorial

Our South Tyrol Short List: Where to Stay, Eat & Explore

There’s an indescribable charm to the South Tyrol region, an area that’s technically in Italy but offers a fusion of Italian, Austrian, and German cultures (walk its high Alpine meadows and you might even think you’ve been plopped into a scene straight out of The Sound of Music). It's an all-too-overlooked destination in our opinion, a place with incredible natural landscapes (with world-class hiking and skiing), rolling meadows dotted with mountain huts, and great wine and culinary scenes. Its main towns—Lana, Bolzano, Merano—retain a local feel, thanks in part to the number of family-run hotels and restaurants in the region. Here—in partnership with travel club Mr & Mrs Smith—we're recapping our absolute favorite stays and the 10 spots on our South Tyrol short list.

Portrait of Emma Pierce RossEmma Pierce Ross
Our South Tyrol Short List: Where to Stay, Eat & Explore

Where to Stay

South Tyrol’s hotel scene has real range, and our favorite stays are all part of Mr & Mrs Smith’s tightly curated collection. For the unfamiliar, Mr & Mrs Smith handpicks the world’s most seductive stays, with a focus on places that feel distinctive to their destination, from under-the-radar boutiques to exceptional luxury hotels. It’s a particularly good match for South Tyrol, where there are spectacular luxury stays that are still a bit of insider secrets (read: they haven’t gentrified the region) alongside really special, family-run boutique hotels. The latter mostly come from the ALTO Hotel Group, a company founded by brothers Klaus and Moritz Dissertori who hail from the region (follow Moritz on AmiGo for all of his local recs). Their soulful stays offer intimate, local-feeling experiences, and locations that are central to the best dining in the area. A great way to explore the region is to stay a few nights at one of the ALTO stays, then add on two or three nights at one of the world-class luxury hotels in the area like Forestis (a place we would talk your ear off about, unprompted) or new opening Castel Badia. Read on for more on some of our favorite Mr & Mrs Smith hotels in the area.

Parkhotel Mondschein

A fixture in Bolzano, the capital of South Tyrol province, the family-run Parkhotel Mondschein is a destination in its own right. Part of its ivy-clad structure dates back to 1320, and the hotel is the fourth project from the Dissertori brothers. Since its debut in 2022, it has become one of the region's most beloved addresses for both visitors and locals. With 76 simple but elegant rooms, it's one of the Dissertori's larger projects, complete with a gorgeous, green-tiled swimming pool and F&B options including Bar Luna for cocktails and wine, Luna Restaurant for regional Italian classics, and Alto Pizza for—of course—pizza (cooked in the oldest operational pizza oven in South Tyrol!). Core to the experience here is Arise, a studio for yoga, sound-healing sessions, and other mindful practices. Lastly, don't miss a showing at the hotel's open-air cinema. BOOK NOW

Hotel Schwarzschmied

Hotel Schwarzschmied · San Cassiano

Hotel Schwarzschmied

Located right in the center of Lana town, this 68-room hotel from the Alto hotel group is a crowd-pleasing stay with a slight wellness focus and a vibe that’s welcoming to both families and couples. The emphasis on wellness is subtle but appreciated, where everything feels intentional and designed to help guests really relax and restore. There’s a 1,000-square-meter Susanne Kaufmann spa, a greenhouse-style workout studio for yoga and pilates, a Finnish outdoor sauna, a fitness center, plus indoor and outdoor pools with beautiful views. Food-wise, the hotel uses produce from its own garden in dishes like poached trout with spinach, chanterelles, and lemon. Last but not least, the rooms are comfortable and chic with a cream color palette and lots of natural woods. BOOK NOW

Hotel Saltus

Hotel Saltus · San Cassiano

Saltus

Saltus is set in South Tyrol but a destination all on its own. The eco-wellness hotel and spa is a place to totally disconnect and immerse yourself in a slower, more intentional way of living (case in point: if you travel by train to the hotel they’ll knock 5% off your room rate). The hotel itself is designed using natural materials from the region (clay, limestone), with a modern and clean aesthetic that’s understated but luxurious. Wellness is core to the experience, with activities like forest bathing, meditation, and yoga, as well as personalized treatments that are both pampering (Biologique Recherche facials) and purposeful (osteopathy, physiotherapy). BOOK NOW

Miramonti Boutique Hotel

Miramonti Boutique Hotel · San Cassiano

Miramonti Boutique Hotel

Set in the hills above Merano, Miramonti offers a contemporary mountain hotel experience where incredible views, high-touch service, and a strong wellness program take center stage. It’s a luxe spot to land, with a distinctly romantic feel (thanks primarily to the awe-inducing setting), making it ideal for couples who want to lean into R&R. It’s also best for those who appreciate a Scandinavian aesthetic—the vibe here is more sleek and minimalist than cozy chalet. If you can, splurge on one of the rooms that has its own rooftop sauna. Regardless of your room, there’s a real focus on wellness here, with spa facilities that include a Finnish sauna, onsen, cold plunge, and more. BOOK NOW

Villa Arnica

Villa Arnica · San Cassiano

Villa Arnica

For a boutique-feeling stay, the charming 10-room Villa Arnica is a quiet oasis of calm and one of our favorite places to check in. Set in an old villa right in the heart of Lana and run by the Dissertoris, the adults-only stay features simple but elegant decor with parquet floors, midcentury furnishings, and cute touches like subtle floral wallpaper. The pool is a relaxing spot to lounge, but guests here also have access to all of the facilities at the nearby sister hotel, Hotel Schwarzschmied (gym, spa, pool, restaurants!). The breakfasts are a standout—particularly excellent for fueling up before a day of hiking. BOOK NOW

Forestis Dolomites

Forestis Dolomites · San Cassiano

Forestis

If you're traveling to South Tyrol and budget is of no concern, Forestis is a remarkable place to stay. While it’s not as close to the main towns as the other hotels on this list (it’s just over an hour drive from both Lana and Bolzano), it’s a truly breathtaking hotel, offering five-star luxury and a remote setting. The Tower Suites are the rooms to book here (they boast the iconic, panoramic mountain views that the hotel has become known for), and the spa and wellness circuit (featuring several saunas at different temperatures, a meditation room, cold plunge, and more) provide little reason to leave the property. That’s why we’d book this one for two or three days at the end of a trip—it’s a place to settle in and unwind, venturing off-campus only for some beautiful hikes. Side note: the breakfast spread here is insane. BOOK NOW

Castel Badia

Castel Badia · San Cassiano

Castel Badia

New to the South Tyrol region is Castel Badia, which debuted in December 2025 and is another slightly more remote, five-star recommendation. Formerly a fortress and a Benedictine convent, the estate sat abandoned for years before it was meticulously renovated and transformed into Castel Badia. The current property offers a modern take on Alpine luxury, with 29 rooms that feature historic design details (in-room frescoes that date back to the 1400s) and luxury amenities including a sprawling spa with several saunas, pools, and more. What’s particularly nice about this stay is that it provides access to a different region than the other hotels on this list, with interesting nearby attractions including the mountaintop LUMEN Museum of Mountain Photography and its restaurant AlpiNN, which both have incredible views, and Pragser Wildsee, a beautiful lake with a scenic walking loop. It’s a great two-day add-on after spending a few days in Lana or Bolzano, and it’s also just one hour from the famous Dolomites town of Cortina, worth a quick trip if you’re here for more than a few days. It's also worth mentioning that the hotel is very family friendly, with larger suites for those traveling with kids, a great kids’ club, and an activity program tailored for all ages. BOOK NOW

Editors’ Picks: 10 South Tyrol Musts

Pramol Alto

Pramol Alto · Santa Caterina

Pramol Alto

We don’t want to play favorites but… we really love Pramol Alto. Run by a founding team of four—including chef Julia Heifer (follow her on AmiGo for her top local recs!)—the seasonal restaurant has an enviable perch with dramatic Bolzano and mountain views. It originally launched as a pop-up in 2025 but was so successful that it returned for a second season with restyled and even more chic interiors courtesy of Italian designer Martino Gamper. The talented team implements produce from their biodynamic farm in dishes that balance local and Asian flavors, with dishes influenced by the team’s previous stints working in Singapore, Hong Kong, Sweden, Berlin, and more. The five-course menus change often, but previous standouts include fried arctic char with a Thai nam jim sauce, radish tacos with nasturtium and bergamot, and pork ribs glazed with reduced birch syrup. Wash it all down with one of their organic wines.

Miil

Miil · San Cassiano

Miil

Set in a former mill—hence the name—this seasonal gourmet restaurant nails elevated cooking that’s simultaneously satisfying and not too fussy. Everything here is sourced locally, so the menu changes daily but nearly every dish is topped with delicate herbs and flowers picked that morning. Try not to fill up on the fluffy homemade bread so you have room for the steak tartare and any of their excellent pastas.

Kränzelhof

Kränzelhof · San Cassiano

Kränzelhof

The aforementioned Miil is part of the larger Kränzelhof property, all of which is as memorable as the restaurant itself. The estate has a winery that's excellent for a tasting, a casual restaurant Garden Bistro EssBar, and a beautiful sculpture park. There are a handful of permanent artworks, but the main exhibit changes regularly (a great excuse to plan an annual trip to South Tyrol, if you ask us).

1477 Reichhalter

Set in a 500-year-old house in the heart of Lana, this soulful project from the Dissertori brothers is both a restaurant and an eight-room inn. We particularly love it for its culinary program which features all locally grown produce, although its white, minimalist rooms are a study in simple chic, and quite affordable, too! The restaurant has the feel of a rustic tavern, and churns out freshly baked brioche alongside elegant mountain fare like gazpacho with burrata and focaccia and tortelloni with chanterelles, oven-roasted tomatoes, and basil foam.

Rauchhütte

Rauchhütte · San Cassiano

Seiser Alm & Rauchhütte

This rolling alpine meadow is spectacular. The nearly 22-square-mile park is punctuated by soft hills (hiking here is more pleasant than strenuous) and wooden farm huts, with dramatic, jagged mountain peaks in the background. Pick a route (long or short, it’s up to you) that ends at Rauchhütte, a beloved restaurant with a beautiful terrace and menu of South Tyrolean classics (finish with a dessert of kaiserschmarrn) and a standout wine list.

Fondazione Antonio Dalle Nogare

One of the only reasons to not spend all day outdoors: this impressive contemporary art foundation with particularly noteworthy architecture. The Brutalist building is embedded right into the green hillside!

Eisdiele Avalon

Eisdiele Avalon · San Cassiano

Eisdiele Avalon

Eisdiele Avalon is a requisite stop in Bolzano, known for its artisan gelato. The gelateria doesn’t use any artificial flavors or preservatives, relying on organic whole milk and natural products. There are a lot of flavors to choose from, but opt for the perennially popular pistachio or go rogue with something like bergamot sorbet.

Alois Lageder

Alois Lageder · Santa Caterina

Alois Lageder Weinerei

South Tyrol produces some of Italy’s best wines, and this biodynamic, family-operated (for six generations!) winery is a great place to sample some of them. Come for lunch (on the terrace, if weather permits), a simple but delicious affair that’s paired with a wine tasting.

Seceda

Seceda · San Cassiano

Seceda & Regensburgerhütte

Take the cable car (or hike, but know it’s strenuous) up to Seceda, a mountain peak that offers dramatic mountain views. The viewpoint can admittedly get busy, so stop for a photo and then hike away from the touristed areas on a trail (around 1.5 hours) that leads to Regensburgerhütte. The family-run restaurant pairs seasonal vegetarian cuisine with insane views, both of which are best enjoyed on the terrace. After eating, walk to the Col Raiser gondola, which will take you down to Santa Cristina.

Baita Pauli Hütte

Baita Pauli Hütte · San Cassiano

Baita Pauli Hutte

This cozy, seasonal (open until late September) mountain hut is a favorite for an alfresco lunch. Set just a 15-minute walk from the town of Ortisei, it's known for its incredible grilled meats. Polish it all off with some apple strudel!

KEEP READING

Our Lisbon Short List: Where to Stay, Eat & Explore


Keep reading

All articles