City life is chaotically fun and who doesn’t like a lazy beach day now and again. But in the heat of summer, nothing quite beats a trip to the mountains, where incredible views and hiking opportunities await
Whether you’re seeking thrilling adventures or solace in nature’s embrace, the mountains offer an unparalleled playground for both the intrepid and the leisurely. Here are some of our favourite lofty spots across Europe ready to captivate travellers…
1 Explore Alta Badia like a local with Hotel La Majun
Located in the heart of the Italian Dolomites, Alta Badia is a UNESCO World Heritage site made up of villages and valleys perched between South Tyrol and Trento. This summer Alta Badia’s ‘Nos Ladins – We Ladins’ initiative returns, offering families a chance to deep dive into the way of life of the locals and explore the region’s rich culture, traditions, and customs. All summer long the area will host a series of fun-filled activities, from local honey tasting and butter making to woodwork and participating in the infamous Ferragosto parade.
Set in the heart of Alta Badia in the quaint village of La Villa is the family-run mountain retreat, Hotel La Majun. The property radiates Alpine elegance, traditional Italian charm and offers awe-inspiring views of the peaks of the Lavarella and the Sella group.
Families can dine on the flavours of South Tyrol at the property’s restaurant while the hotel’s spa is an oasis perfect to retreat to after an active day in the mountains and is complete with a large indoor pool offering panoramic views, sauna and outdoor hot tub.
How: Hotel La Majun offers rooms from €240 per night, based on two adults sharing a Standard double room, on a B&B basis during the summer season. lamajun.it/
2 Sleep Easy at HOTEL de LEN, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Dolomites
Located in the glamorous Cortina d’Ampezzo, Hotel de LEN was an architectural project based on the principles of sustainability and pays homage to the Ampezzo heritage. The name, “De LEN” which means “of wood” in Ladin, the local language, refers to the main element of the architectural structure.
At Hotel de LEN, there is a strong focus on sleep. Guests will be sure to rest easy during their stay, the property’s 22 rooms are mainly decorated with wood, specifically pine, known for improving the quality of sleep, and old fir first patina, whose natural properties contribute to enhancing the balance of body and mind.
In addition, the hotel is a SOLS (Swiss Optimal Living Society) certified environment: each bedroom is designed to create an optimal and entirely biocompatible sleep experience. Technologies such as Magma13, a sleep radiance panel which reorganises energy, Orpheus, a radiation filter and Astreo, a tool used to reduce high-frequency disturbances, ensure a high quality of sleep in each room and create harmonious energy environments.
Guests can also aide their regenerative journey at the HOTEL de LEN spa, located on the top floor of the hotel, whilst taking in the breathtaking view of the twinkling lights of the town, its bell tower and the moonlit peaks.
How: HOTEL de LEN offers rooms from €329 per night, based on two adults sharing a Superior room on a B&B basis. hoteldelen.i
3 The Sky’s the Limit at Hotel Sassongher, Corvara, Dolomites
During the summer months, the Dolomites offer the perfect terrain for hiking and more recently, skyrunning. Hotel Sassongher, a traditional South Tyrolean family-owned hotel can organise for their expert mountain guide to take guests skyrunning.
Those keen on fitness but tired of the usual 10k races and marathons will find a new challenge in the mountains this summer. The guide will take guests along mountain running trails at more than 6,600ft, where high altitude combined with slopes at a gradient of more than 30% provide the ultimate fitness test, pioneered in the 1990s by Italian mountaineer, Marino Giacometti and a handful of fellow climbers.
After an active day, guests can unwind at the Sky SPA set against the Sassongher mountain, which offers a rooftop heated outdoor whirlpool, spacious sauna and luxurious relaxation area with large façades encouraging moments of pure relaxation with a magnificent view. The wellness spa inside features a large swimming pool, a Finnish sauna, two Jacuzzis and six treatment rooms.
How: Hotel Sassongher offers Comfort Rooms from €270 per night, based on two adults sharing on a half-board basis. sassongher.it/en/
4 Make Mountains of Memories at Sonnwies, South Tyrol, Dolomites
Situated in South Tyrol on the borders of the Dolomites, sits Sonnwies. The property offers an activity-fuelled mountain holiday leaving families with lifelong happy memories. During the summer, Sonnwies has a weekly programme of activities for families including hiking, biking, cooking, treasure hunts, picnics in the mountain huts, wildlife spotting, pony rides or a visit to the nearby lake.
Keep the family active and escape from the screens by going back to basics and enjoy visits to the farm to collect eggs, learn the art of butter churning and cheese-making.
Parents can escape to the adult-only spa whilst taking advantage of the 70 hours of free childcare. With 70 stylish rooms, suites and villas the family-only hotel offers the perfect accommodation for all family sizes, including single parents. The hotel’s Family Suites allow parent and child areas to be separate, so that different sleeping times can be taken into account.
How: Sonnwies offer rooms from €380 per night based on two adults and two children sharing a Double Room on a half board basis. sonnwies.com/en/family-hotel
5 Re-New and Re-energise at Schloss Elmau, Bavaria, Germany
Fringed by dramatic peaks and tucked away in the picturesque southern German region of Bavaria, Schloss Elmau is the ultimate off-grid paradise. Parents and children alike can re-energise in the Bavarian mountains – there are three spas and pools exclusively reserved for families, and three spas and pools for adults, as well as an Oriental Hammam which is the largest west of Istanbul.
For Schloss Elmau’s mini guests there is an endless supply of activities, kids can find their groove slacklining and stand-up paddleboarding or try their hand at baseball or even attempt archery by torchlight. Schloss Elmau also offers a dedicated ‘edutainment’ programme where the younger guests can explore the exciting phenomena of nature, technology, and the environment. Children can enjoy outdoor music workshops, focusing on music in the meadow, and take time to really explore the natural environment around the hotel.
Schloss Elmau offers double rooms from €380 per person per night based on two adults sharing on a half-board basis. This includes Yoga & Active programmes, access to the spa in the Hideaway, admission to cultural events, participation in the Edutainment Workshops and soccer camps, supervision in the kids and creative club and use of the Family and Nature Spa. schloss-elmau.de/en/
5 Wild Swimming (and spa time) with Tschuggen Grand Hotel & Valsana Hotel, Arosa, Switzerland
During the summer, wild swimming is the perfect activity to witness the glory of nature, with spectacular lakes, waterfalls and rivers dotted between mighty mountain ranges and valleys. In the mountains, wild swimming becomes an experience all of its own.
Guests of both Tschuggen Grand Hotel and Valsana Hotel can explore the wild swimming spots of Arosa and savour the thrill of diving into the crystal-clear cool water. With temperatures up to 20 degrees, guests will be guided to Schwellisee and Älplisee where they can swim, or visit, rewarded by full-body invigoration and the chance to see the valley from a different vantage point. At Untersee Lake guests can relax in the sunbathing meadow or on the sandy Lido beach and swim in the natural waters with a paddling pool for children, a 50m slide and rafting.
How: Tschuggen Grand Hotel offers rooms starting from CHF 650 based on two adults sharing a standard double on a B&B basis. tschuggen.ch. Valsana Hotel Arosa offers rooms starting from CHF 454 based on two adults sharing a lifestyle double on a B&B basis. valsana.ch/en
6 Pedal Power at Das Central, Sölden, Austria
One for the active crowd. Set in the Oetzal Valley in Austria, Bike Republic is an unrivalled paradise for bikers of all levels, and a milestone in the history of cycling in Tyrol. With a huge choice of trails and downhill paths for all preferences: mountain riders, enduro bikers or passionate freeriders; there are spectacular trails for mountain bikers of all abilities – the longest is 16.3km and highest starting point is the Ollweite Line at 2,666m.
The mountain cable cars are used to take cyclists higher into the mountains in order to fulfil their ambition for adrenaline fuelled routes and scenic lines. The iconic Das Central is a modern Alpine escape in the heart of Sölden, high in the Austrian Alps.
Guests can enjoy a selection of active pursuits from scenic hiking around alpine lakes to challenging peak conquests and mountain hut tours. Europe’s largest outdoor adventure park, AREA 47, is also close by offering white water rafting, wakeboarding and high ropes as well as many other fun and energetic activities.
How: Das Central offers double rooms from €170 per person per night, based on two people sharing on a half board basis. All stays include the Ötztal Premium Card for great summer attraction, unlimited lift pass for BIKE REPUBLIC and a day of activities at AREA 47.
