Next month, the Winter Olympics land in northern Italy, with Cortina d’Ampezzo and multiple mountain clusters across the region hosting events. This winter guide to the Dolomites is for travellers inspired by the Olympian spirit: staying active outdoors by day, then prioritising recovery, wellness, and deep rest by night.
Across South Tyrol and Veneto, these boutique hotels strike that balance beautifully. Each pairs a bookable winter activity — best done with local guides who know the terrain — with spas, saunas, and slow food that help your body reset. From hiking through snow-dusted forests to evenings spent soaking sore legs back into shape, this is how to get moving in the mountains this winter.
Rosapetra SPA Resort, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Veneto
At the heart of the Olympic narrative sits Cortina d’Ampezzo, and Rosapetra SPA Resort places guests close to the action (head straight to the slopes via the shuttle to the Faloria gondola-cable car) while still feeling cocooned. The signature experience here is private ski or snowboard lessons with local instructors who know the Dolomites’ terrain intimately. Whether refining technique or simply gaining confidence, a half or full day on Cortina’s slopes delivers the most overtly Olympian energy. Recovery is taken just as seriously: Rosapetra’s spa focuses on muscle relief and thermal contrast, making it easy to follow a high-output ski day with purposeful rest.
Hotel Saltus, San Genesio, South Tyrol
Perched on a sunny plateau above Bolzano, Hotel Saltus is surrounded by larch forests and wide-open skies, making it ideal for travellers who want to stay active without committing to full ski days. Winter here is all about snowshoeing across the Salten plateau, one of South Tyrol’s most scenic high plains. With a local guide arranged by the hotel, guests set out directly into silent woodland, following gentle routes that open onto panoramic Dolomite views. It’s physical enough to warm the body, but unhurried — perfect for conversation, photography, and stopping at alpine huts for a restorative lunch. Back at the hotel, the contrast is the point: forest saunas, hot pools, and fireside lounging help muscles unwind, turning a simple winter walk into a full mind-body circuit.
Alpin Royal Wellness Refugium, Ahrn Valley, South Tyrol
Deep in the Ahrn Valley, Alpin Royal Wellness Refugium is a natural base for travellers who want structured winter sport balanced by serious wellness credentials. The standout activity here is cross-country skiing, with groomed valley trails suited to both beginners and confident skiers. A local instructor can be booked to refine technique, transforming what looks graceful on TV into something far more demanding in real life. After a morning of rhythmic, full-body effort, guests return to one of the region’s most extensive spa offerings — pools, saunas, and targeted treatments that mirror the recovery routines of endurance athletes.
FORESTIS, Brixen, South Tyrol
FORESTIS feels purpose-built for winter balance. Set high on the slopes of the Plose mountain above Brixen, it places guests directly into UNESCO-listed Dolomites terrain. The hotel’s guided snowshoe hikes are the defining experience: led by in-house mountain guides, routes move through pine forests and up onto open ridgelines where the scale of the landscape becomes the main event. Snowshoes and poles are provided, removing friction for guests who want an active day without specialist skills. The return journey — to a spa focused on silence, natural materials, and elemental heat — reinforces FORESTIS’s philosophy that effort outdoors and stillness indoors belong together.
Goldene Rose Karthaus, Senales Valley, South Tyrol
In the remote Senales Valley, Goldene Rose Karthaus offers a quieter, more contemplative version of winter adventure. The surrounding Schnalstal area is known for its glacier terrain, and the hotel works with local mountain guides to organise guided snowshoe hikes or ski tours, depending on guests’ experience levels. Snowshoeing here feels particularly immersive: wide valleys, deep snow, and a sense of remoteness that’s increasingly rare. The physical challenge is followed by intimate wellness spaces — saunas, warm interiors, and thoughtfully paced meals — that encourage guests to slow down rather than rush to the next thrill.
Miramonti Boutique Hotel, Avelengo, South Tyrol
High above Merano, Miramonti Boutique Hotel has long attracted travellers who like their luxury understated and their landscapes front and centre. Winter days often begin with guided snowshoe walks or winter hikes straight from the hotel, winding through forests and open slopes around Avelengo. The emphasis is less on distance and more on atmosphere — crunching snow underfoot, cold air in the lungs, and expansive views over the Adige Valley. Some guests opt to add a local Haflinger horse experience nearby for a more storybook take on winter movement. Afternoons are deliberately unstructured, designed for spa time, reading, and watching light fade over the mountains.
Whether refining technique or simply gaining confidence, a half or full day on Cortina’s slopes delivers the most overtly Olympian energy.
Share this article
Latest stories
Our top boutique stays for June
From a baroque waterfront retreat on Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor to a design-led hideaway in Goa and an alpine sanctuary overlooking Lake Tegernsee, these are the hotels we’d like to check into this June
The most stylish hotels in Rome
Architecture approved by the gods, gastronomy that once fuelled gladiators, and Italian style that has remained timeless for centuries — a trip to the Eternal City never fails to inspire and nourish the soul with its beauty. Anchored by a stay at the recently opened Palazzo Talia, we then venture
Crowd-free alternatives to our favourite European destinations
Long days with the sun stretching late into the evening. Lazing on the beach after slow lunches of fresh seafood dressed with olive oil and lemon. Following unmarked paths off the map to beautiful views and empty coves. Spontaneous encounters with locals in sleepy villages. Flavourful fruits and vegetables glowing in the
Island swing: Island hopping from Mykonos to Naxos
When travelling in search of slow, sensory wellbeing, the Cyclades islands have much to offer, from small rituals and restorative nature to poignant moments of humanity that are best experienced and reflected on at leisure.
