The enchanting old spa town of Merano is an appealing year round holiday destination in an incredible setting surrounded by alpine peaks and the Dolomites. In summer the city offers up a series of concerts and festivals; in autumn the local orchards and vineyards are harvested and the events turn into food related ones; come winter and visitors are conveniently located for the ski slopes, and staying close to some of the region’s best known thermal baths to aid recovery; and in the spring Merano’s gardens and alpine meadows are awash with fresh colour and scent. Because of that our recommendations for the best places to stay in Merano offer a wide range of pleasures too, from the glamour of a contemporary spa hotel, to the charm of a traditional chalet or ski lodge, the attentional to detail of a five star hotel, the comfort of a converted villa, and often with incredible views of the Dolomites.

Merano is known for its vineyards, which spread outwards from the edge of the city, and produce both red and white wines. Merano’s many apple orchards add to the city’s charm, but are also used to produce the popular local beer. Christmas is a great time to visit Merano too — its Christmas markets are wonderful. The art, artefacts and architecture in town are also worth a look, so Merano really seems to be a place where the cliche of there being something for everyone is undeniably true!

The best places to stay in Merano are also popular with lovers of an indulgent spa break: the town's Therme Meran thermal baths is a huge complex, with 25 indoor and outdoor pools, 2,200 square-metres of sauna, and a vast fitness and treatment area. And some of our favourite hotels here have impressive spas of their own as well.

The Best Places to Stay in Merano

For a Spa Break

• Built in the hills above Merano, overlooking the South Tyrol region and the Dolomites, the Miramonti takes stunning advantage of its hight altitude position. Expect big windows in the otherwise minimalist rooms, and even bigger ones in the Tyrolean restaurant and state of the art spa. There are just 36 rooms and suites, with a great range, and some very romantic options, and they offer a babysitting service so you can make full use of the hotel’s impressive treatment menu.

For Families

• The Hotel Oberwirt has been honing its hospitality skills since the 15th century, when it started out as a country inn. The incredible mountain views, and beautiful gardens and terraces, would have been similarly spectacular, but these days there’s also an Amadea spa, two pools, complimentary mountain bike hire, and a wine cellar with around 600 wines to choose from. The 30 rooms and suites come in family-friendly sizes, as well as romantic ones.

For Foodies

• There are many things we recommend the Castel Fragsburg for: its incredible views, excellent service, its relaxed atmosphere, the beautiful decor in the 20 large rooms and suites, the pool and spa, and the gorgeous gardens and terraces. But the Michelin-starred restaurant is probably the cherry on the cake. This is a five star hotel with all the trimmings of traditional luxury, from mahogany furnishings to opulent bathrooms, and a truly incredible dining experience.

For A Peaceful Escape

• Castel Rundegg is a charming little castle, just outside Merano. More cosy villa than full on castle, it has 16 guest rooms and suites, decorated with simple and elegant antiques, oil paintings, white walls and red velvet curtains. The spa is impressive for the hotel’s size, with both an indoor and outdoor pool. The restaurant mixes Mediterranean flavours with South Tyrollean cuisine with great effect.
• Ottmanngut is a beautifully converted villa, set amongst lush gardens, with an incredible, mountainous backdrop, and just eleven rooms and suites. Guests can expect plenty of original features and charm, like hard wood flooring, traditional stoves, plasterwork, exposed stone, and antiques to match. There’s no restaurant, but they offer a three course breakfast; plus there's a bar and a library.

For Great Value

• The Hotel Sonnenhof is a charming choice: a traditional-looking, family-friendly hotel, with 16 comfortable rooms and incredible views of the Dolomites. The gardens, with an outdoor pool and beautiful terraces, are a lovely bonus, as are the spa and lovely restaurant, offering South Tyrollean cuisine.

For a private apartment or villa

• If you’d prefer to stay in an apartment or private villa we recommend you visit our online partner, Booking.com.

Travel Information

• Want to fly to Merano?

• Merano sits within a square of international airports: closest is Innsbruck Airport (about an hour and a half away by car, or around four hours by public transport); next is Verona Villafranca Airport (about an hour and three quarters away by car, or about two hours by bus); after Verona, Milan Bergamo Airport is next closest (around two and a half hours away by road, or three and a half by bus); and then there's Venice’s Marco Polo Airport (just over two and half hours by road, and around five and a half by rail). There are also numerous rail hubs in the area.
• If you’re thinking about hiring a car we recommend checking what our online partners, Rentalcars have to offer.
• Merano is a spa town, rather than a ski resort, and it has appeals year round. Summer is a busy period, because of the musical and cultural festivals, autumn is popular for the harvest and food festivals, winter for the skiing and winter sports, and spring for the colours. The weather is fairly mild year round too.

Still not sure where to stay?

• You could expand your search to include all the best places to stay in the South Tyrol region
• Or consider accommodation in neighbouring Corvara, Bolzano or Ortisei
• Alternatively, you could contact one of our friendly gurus for personalised advice.

Weather

Monthly Weather in Merano