Trentino-Alto Adige is the region of wellbeing par excellence: pure air, historic thermal waters and a culture of hospitality that has made the spa an art. Here relaxation comes in a thousand forms — infinity pools facing the crags, Finnish saunas among the woods, hay baths and thermal cures — often after a day of skiing or trekking. From the great high-altitude spas of the Dolomites to the historic thermal baths of Merano and the valleys, the offer is among the richest in Europe. Here we suggest the best spa and wellness hotels, with the small addresses we choose one by one.
Some seek the great spectacular spa, some the small wellness retreat among the vineyards, some the thermal waters with healing properties. Let’s look at the best addresses, from the great resorts to the most intimate spas, and then the region’s historic thermal baths.
South Tyrolean and Trentino wellbeing has many souls. There is the panoramic spa, with infinity pools and saunas facing the crags; there is the tradition of thermal cures, with mineral waters and medical treatments; and there is the most authentic, Alpine strand, made of hay baths, mountain-hay saunas, herbal wraps and rituals linked to the woods and the pastures. Many hotels combine several worlds, offering large wellness areas with pools, bio-saunas, Kneipp paths and treatment cabins, often with local products such as Swiss stone pine, apple and mountain milk. It is a hospitality that has made self-care a true art.
The great wellness resorts
These are the destinations for those who want to make the spa the heart of the holiday: great luxury resorts with spectacular wellness centres, where relaxation becomes an experience in itself, among the Dolomites and the vineyards.
Lefay Resort & SPA Dolomiti
A five-star resort above Pinzolo, among the Brenta Dolomites, with one of the largest and most spectacular spas in the Alps, pools and refined rooms. Contemporary design, sustainability and exceptional wellness make it a destination in itself, for a getaway of pure relaxation. Ideal for those seeking an exclusive, restorative stay.
My Arbor – Dolomites
A spectacular five-star immersed in the woods above Bressanone, suspended among the trees like a stilt house, with pools and an immense spa facing the mountains. The striking architecture and the exceptional wellness make it an out-of-the-ordinary, restorative getaway. Ideal for a couple seeking relaxation, nature and design.
Villa Eden – Leading Hotels of the World
A luxury five-star immersed in the greenery of Merano, a temple of wellbeing with a Longevity medical centre, indoor and outdoor pools and refined rooms. The intimate atmosphere and the exceptional services make it a destination for those who want to take care of themselves. Ideal for an exclusive, restorative stay in the spa town.
Avidea – Adults Only
An adults-only five-star among the vineyards of Lagundo, at the gates of Merano, with an exceptional spa, an outdoor pool and rooms in a contemporary Alpine style. The high-level wellness and the exclusive atmosphere make it a perfect destination for a getaway for two. Ideal for those seeking luxury, quiet and self-care.
Spas among the Dolomites and in the towns
Wellbeing is not only great resorts: there are charming spas among the Dolomites, bio chalets and even castles in town with a wellness centre, to combine relaxation with discovering the territory.
Forestis Dolomites
A five-star Alpine refuge on the Plose, with a panoramic spa facing the Dolomites, a gourmet restaurant and suites of essential design. The silence, the breathtaking view and the pure air make it an exceptional destination, suspended between sky and mountain. Ideal for those seeking luxury, wellbeing and nature away from the crowds.
Bio Hotel Hermitage
A low-impact chalet in Madonna di Campiglio, a pioneer of organic hospitality, with a full wellness centre, a restaurant and views of the Brenta. The care for nature and the enveloping comfort make it perfect for those seeking wellbeing in harmony with the environment. Ideal for couples and lovers of mindful mountains.
Blu Hotel Natura & Spa – Adults Only
An adults-only four-star in Folgaria, on the Alpe Cimbra, with a free wellness centre, a gourmet restaurant and wood-lined rooms facing the gardens. The intimate atmosphere and the care for wellness make it an ideal retreat for a couple seeking relaxation. Perfect for those who want quiet and wellbeing at a good price.
Castel Hörtenberg
A historic castle turned five-star in the heart of Bolzano, with a wellness centre, an outdoor pool and refined rooms a stone’s throw from the centre. The exclusive atmosphere and the charm of the ancient walls make it a destination for combining town and relaxation. Ideal for those seeking luxury, history and wellbeing in an urban setting.
The historic thermal baths: Merano, Peio and Rabbi
Besides the hotel spas, Trentino-Alto Adige guards some historic thermal baths. The modern Terme Merano, in the heart of the town, are a large centre with indoor and outdoor pools, saunas and treatments, open all year round. In Val di Sole, the historic Peio spa and Rabbi spa, fed by mineral waters, offer cures and wellbeing in the silence of the Stelvio National Park. And throughout the region the tradition of the hay bath and the Alpine cures completes a unique offer.
For a stay combining wellbeing and town, see the guide on where to stay in Merano, the region’s thermal capital; for the valley thermal baths and the nature of the Stelvio, the guide on where to stay in Val di Sole, with Peio and Rabbi.
When to go
The beauty of spa hotels is that they are perfect all year round. In winter wellbeing is the ideal crowning of a day on the slopes, between sauna and warm pool while it snows outside; in summer the high-altitude spas offer relaxation after trekking, with infinity pools facing the Dolomites. The shoulder seasons, spring and autumn, are often the quietest and best value, ideal for a wellness getaway away from the peak periods.
In Merano, in particular, the mild climate makes wellbeing pleasant in every season, from the spring blossom to the colours of autumn. To plan your trip, see also what to do in South Tyrol in autumn and the guide where to stay in Trentino-Alto Adige.
This guide is part of our grand journey through the region: discover all the destinations and areas in Where to Stay in Trentino-Alto Adige.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions we’re asked most often about spa and wellness hotels in Trentino-Alto Adige.
Which is the best spa hotel in Trentino-Alto Adige?
It depends on what you’re after. Among the great wellness resorts, the Lefay Resort & SPA Dolomiti in Pinzolo stands out, with one of the largest spas in the Alps, the My Arbor suspended among the trees above Bressanone and Villa Eden in Merano, a temple of wellness. For a more intimate spa there are the Bio Hotel Hermitage in Campiglio or the Forestis on the Plose. The choice depends on style, area and budget.
Where are the thermal baths in Trentino-Alto Adige?
The most famous are the Terme Merano, a large modern centre in the heart of the town, open all year round with pools, saunas and treatments. In Val di Sole there are the historic thermal baths of Peio and Rabbi, fed by mineral waters, in the Stelvio park. To these are added the many hotel spas and the Alpine tradition of the hay bath, for one of the richest wellbeing offers in Italy.
What is the best time for a wellness holiday?
Spa hotels are perfect all year round. In winter the spa crowns a day of skiing; in summer it offers relaxation after trekking, with pools facing the Dolomites. Spring and autumn are often the quietest and best-value periods, ideal for a wellness getaway without crowds. In Merano, thanks to the mild climate, wellbeing is pleasant in every season.
Are there spa hotels suitable for couples?
Yes, a great many: numerous wellness resorts are adults only or designed for couples, with romantic suites, private spas and treatments for two. Among these Avidea and Villa Eden in the Merano area, the Lefay in Pinzolo and the Blu Hotel Natura & Spa in Folgaria. They are ideal for a getaway for two focused on relaxation, in every season of the year.
What is the hay bath?
The hay bath is an ancient South Tyrolean Alpine treatment: you immerse yourself in a bed of freshly cut mountain hay, warm and moist, rich in herbs and essences. It has relaxing effects and benefits for the circulation, and can be tried in various spas and properties in the region, often in Val Pusteria and South Tyrol. It is one of the most authentic wellbeing experiences, tied to the land.
