The Best Hotels and Apartments to Book in Bolzano, Italy

A few short steps from the train station in Bolzano – known as Bozen by German-speaking locals – and backing onto tree-shaded spaces, Parkhotel Laurin is an elegant proposition. A genteel old property full of Art Nouveau trim, the hotel has been a firm favourite of Tyrol families since 1910, when the hotel started amassing its impressive collection of original artworks (the framed works in the rooms are the real deal). Rooms are stylish but subtle, with strong colour themes and park or mountain views.

Each room in this artsy hotel in Bolzano was designed by a different artist, giving Hotel Greif a unique atmosphere. Some rooms show the Japanese influence of Hiroko Nakajima-Beckers, others the period leanings of Tyrolean artist Manfred A. Mayr. The hotel’s owner Franz Staffler has created something rather special, and all the rooms have a fascinating mix of period furnishings and modern details. It’s all set in a grand period property near the station.

Framed by four turreted towers, Castel Hörtenberg more than lives up to its name. It’s set in a genuine Renaissance castle from the 15th century, edging onto greenery on the outskirts of the city. The graceful rooms at this Bolzano hotel have a modern air, with natural wood panelling, earthy colours and seating areas tucked into the corner towers. Centred on an open-air pool, the garden is wonderfully serene, and the Stube Suite with its wood-panelled lounge and majolica stove is something else.

Just a few blocks from Piazza Walther and Bolzano’s Romanesque cathedral, Goldenstern Townhouse has just 16 rooms and suites, each drawing out unique details from this 800-year-old Tyrol townhouse. Reached via Escher-esque stairways, rooms are adorned with modern designer furniture, juxtaposed against original frescoes, moulded plaster and arched medieval ceilings. It’s a love letter to Bolzano history, and a unique place to stay.

A contemporary riposte to the nostalgia of the medieval centre, Four Points by Sheraton is a modernist cube, with smart, modern hotel rooms that make the most of the mountain views through floor-to-ceiling windows. As you climb through the room categories, the floor space grows ever larger and the views more luminous. There are multiple places to eat and drink, as well as a spa at this hotel in Bolzano– more than sufficient compensation for being a little farther from Bolzano’s historic heart.

Facing onto Piazza Walther and surrounded by a sea of terracotta-tiled rooftops, this elegant Baroque hotel in Bolzano curls around a glass-topped atrium. The parquet-floored rooms and suites have a 1940s feel with single colour themes, vintage photos and armchairs with standard lamps for avid readers. For meals, the lapis-blue brasserie conjures up authentic Bolzano flavours, and there’s a foliage-filled cafe for casual dining before you stroll across the square to the cathedral.

A gleaming white apartment full of mid-century style furniture, strong patterns and modern design ideas, this is a great choice for people who like to move to their own rhythm. There are free bikes for exploring Bolzano, a jacuzzi tub, a well-equipped kitchen, an enormous red sofa and acres of floorspace so you can spread out and enjoy the experience of having the place to yourself.

There’s a Germanic design influence at this smart 80sqm (860sqft) apartment, with its tritone colour scheme – all strong greys, whites and wood tones. The apartment has a compact kitchen, a very inviting lounge with a big flatscreen and a sleek designer bathroom, all in a great location on the eastern edge of the old town. There’s a dinky balcony with garden views, where you can breathe in the mountain air.