The Best Alpine Hotels For Fall
Fall in the Alps is overlooked, but it is a glorious time to escape to the mountains. Days are still warm and sunny, with perfect conditions for hiking and biking, before the peaks become dusted with snow once again. Mushrooms and chestnuts are there to be foraged, and harvest time hits with wine tastings all around. Cooler evenings call for cozy drinks and dinner — and hunkering down in our edit of the best Alpine hotels for Fall, from the Dolomites to Bavaria.
Naturhotel Tannerhof Bavaria, Germany
Set in the Bavarian Alps and nestled between mountains and lakes, the Tannerhof feels more like a small village than a hotel. No frills, unconventional, easy-going, and sustainably-minded, its slopeside position enjoys sweeping views of the Leitzach Valley and the Wendelstein. Founded in 1905, it is run by the fourth generation of the von Mengershausen family and has a holistic approach to hospitality that seeks to immerse its guests in nature and boost their health through medically supervised fasting and therapeutic treatments. The extensive spa also houses an indoor pool, sauna, Kneipp basin, and panorama gym to keep you busy. Its organic menu has been designed to further augment your well-being with a choice of daily four-course menus that range from gourmet to fasting. We love the fact that the hotel likes to arrange mixed tables for guests. Beyond the Tannerhof, you can explore the Bavarian market town of Bayrischzell (within walking distance) and swim in the nearby Schliersee, as well as walk, hike, and bike the valley.
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Seebichl Kitzbühel, Tyrol, Austria
A cool new player on the Austrian Alpine scene, Seebichl is a coal-black house, located on a hilltop above the Schwarzsee and walking distance from Kitzbühel. Once Leni Riefenstahl’s film studio, it has been designed as the antidote to the traditional, antler-strewn Alpen hotel, and has the feel of a laidback and rambling summer home — albeit one with a creative, forward-looking mindset. The brainchild of the Witzmann brothers, Seebichl has 26 rooms, a beautiful garden terrace, and a locally-inclined restaurant powered by nearby farmers, rivers, and bakers, alongside a Green Bar stocked with homemade tinctures and tonics. When you want to explore the surrounding Tyrolean area — and see a different side of ‘Kitz’ — ask your young hosts to delve into their own guide, which includes favorite activities such as swimming and sundowners by the Schwarzsee, a minute walk from the hotel, as well as mountain touring on the in-house KONA bikes. An afternoon soaking in the outdoor bathtubs is also not to be missed.
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Nidum Seefeld, Tyrol, Austria
A contemporary spa hotel, Nidum puts the natural beauty of the Seefeld plateau center stage. Fall is a particularly special time when Tyrol’s mountainous backdrop transforms into a kaleidoscope of gold and is bathed in warm light, days are still sunny enough to make the most of its panoramic terrace as well as the area’s famed hikes and mountain biking trails. Back at the ranch, the spa waits to soothe any achy muscles with its infinity pool, saunas, steam baths, and its natural pond for refreshing dips. Its 57 rooms and suites are luxurious but relaxed, with our favorites featuring balconies with magical Alpine views. The hotel’s gastronomy is also a highlight, with three restaurants serving up a perfect marriage of Alpine meets Mediterranean dishes; while nightcaps at the bar are very much encouraged and are often soundtracked by live piano sessions.
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Berghotel Ladinia Corvara, Alta Badia, Italy
Nestled in the Dolomites’ Alta Badia, The Ladinia is the quintessential mountain inn and Corvara’s first. Open in 1930, and a sister hotel to the iconic La Perla, it has 13 rooms, traditional Ladin interiors that hold centuries of stories, and beautiful views of Mount Sassongher. The glorious Alta Badia is a riot of fall colors, especially come October when the larches turn red, which can be best enjoyed by the area’s magnificent hiking and biking trails. Fall days are often sunny here (the area enjoys 300 days of sun a year) before cooler temperatures in the evening pave the way for evenings in the hotel bar, where the charismatic Alessio encourages guests to mingle over a glass of local red, and cozy dinners in the tube. The region is also a gourmand’s paradise, with four Michelin stars across the small valley, including across the road from Berghotel Ladinia at La Perla’s La Stua de Michil restaurant.
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My Arbor Bressanone, Dolomites, Italy
A stylish tree-house hotel, My Arbor is a luxurious refuge high up on the forested mountainside of the Plose. Seemingly secluded in the wilderness of the Dolomites, it is only 10 minutes from the ancient, charming bishop’s town of Brixen (Bressanone) in South Tyrol. Here, time becomes slow and elastic, suited to the needs and rhythms of the guest; whether that means breakfast at midday or a swim after the sun has set. In autumn, spend your days hiking and biking the surrounding scenery, joining yoga sessions, getting your culture fixed in Brixen, or visiting local wineries. The in-house Spa Arboris is an expansive oasis with indoor and outdoor infinity pools, sauna infusions, and outdoor relaxation rooms. Treatments are inspired by the local flora — such as the signature Arboris Tree Ritual — while there are Ayurvedic offerings too for those looking for more focused healing. Come dinnertime, the chef whips up five courses where traditional South Tyrolean cuisine is given a creative boost from all corners of the world — all to be paired with bottles from the Wine Cellar that guests can handpick themselves.
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Chetzeron Crans Montana, Switzerland
Perched above the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana at 2112m, the Chetzeron started life as a gondola lift station and restaurant (hence the height) before being transformed in 2014 into the minimalist Alpine hotel we know today. With epic views over the highest peaks in the Alps, including Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn, it is a true sanctuary for those in search of rest and relaxation. In autumn, delight in your meadow surroundings and tick off its endless footpaths and mountain bike trails, as well as morning yoga — you might even catch the sunrise. For counteracting any outdoor activities at the end of the day, there is a sauna and hammam. In the evenings, enjoy the spectacular sunsets with a glass of natural wine in hand on the panoramic terrace, before settling in for local Alpine dishes in the warmth of the restaurant.
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