Head-to-head · Dolomites
Two hotels about an hour apart, built for different trips. One is the best base in the Dolomites, right in Ortisei; the other is a quirky design hotel above Merano with the best outdoor pool I saw. Here is how I would choose.
Stayed at Gardena Grödnerhof · Toured Miramonti · October 2026
A close second to Forestis for me: beautifully renovated, well rounded, and right in Ortisei with restaurants on foot and lifts to two completely different hikes.
My Gardena Grödnerhof review →
The best outdoor pool of any hotel I saw in the region, beautiful views over Merano, and rooms that are each a little different.
My Miramonti review →
| Gardena Grödnerhof | Miramonti | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | In the center of Ortisei, Val Gardena | On the mountainside above Merano, outside the main Dolomites valleys |
| The feel | Renovated alpine grand hotel; my pick for the best design in the Dolomites | Quirky design hotel, with a personality all its own |
| Rooms | About 80, most beautifully remodeled | Every room is designed differently |
| Room to ask for | Superior Deluxe or above | Ask me: I match one to you |
| Pools | Indoor, plus an outdoor pool over the rooftops of Ortisei | The best outdoor pool of any hotel I saw in the region |
| Spa and gym | An incredible spa; gym tied for the best in the Dolomites | Mixed saunas, in the German and Austrian style |
| Hiking and skiing | Lifts from town to Seceda and the Alpe di Siusi; fantastic skiing | For the famous peaks, base yourself in Ortisei or on the Alpe di Siusi |
| Polish | Warm, polished service; a close second to Forestis for me | Character over polish |
| Families | Works for couples and families alike | Best suited to couples and design lovers |
| In your trip | The best base for the whole trip | An easy first or last stop |
| Best for | Couples, families, hikers, foodies | Couples, design lovers and pool people |
Work with me and you get Fora perks, plus someone who knows these hotels personally and personalizes your stay: I secure a renovated room at Gardena Grödnerhof, match you to the right room at Miramonti, book your guides and Seceda lift times, and arrange the drive between them. Same rate as booking direct.
Gardena Grödnerhof was a close second to Forestis for me. It sits right in Ortisei, a genuinely charming town with great restaurants, with lifts to two completely different hiking areas, an incredible spa and warm, polished service. It is the most well-rounded hotel I saw in the region.
Miramonti is a nice, unique property with an iconic pool, close to Merano. It isn’t at the level of the region’s top hotels as a luxury experience, but it is a great hotel for someone who values personality, the pool and the views over polish.
If you are coming to hike, eat out and see the famous peaks, pick Gardena. If the pool and the views are the point, pick Miramonti. Ortisei to Merano is about an hour by car, so many trips can have both.
Gardena Grödnerhof sits right in Ortisei. Take the Seceda lift and you are in the jagged high country of Val Gardena; take the gondola to the Alpe di Siusi and you are in rolling meadows. Avoid July and August if you want quiet; spring, early summer, September and October are when it shines.
Miramonti is above Merano, a spa town with a gentler climate and big views, outside the main Dolomites valleys. For hiking among the famous peaks, I would base you in Ortisei, which is exactly where Gardena is.
At Gardena Grödnerhof, everything from Superior Deluxe up has been beautifully redone, and the original building was restored so well you’d never guess its age. It is my pick for the best design in the Dolomites. The Superior and Comfort rooms keep the original charm, but the renovated rooms are what I book.
At Miramonti, every room is designed differently, and the whole place is a little quirky. Because no two are alike, the right room matters, and I match one to you.
Gardena Grödnerhof has an incredible spa, an indoor pool, an outdoor pool looking over the rooftops of Ortisei, and a gym that ties with Aman Rosa Alpina’s for the best in the Dolomites.
Miramonti’s infinity pool is the best outdoor pool of any hotel I saw in the region, and it is the reason people come. Expect German and Austrian sauna culture at both: the main saunas are mixed, and swimsuits come off.
Service at Gardena Grödnerhof was warm, polished and consistent across the whole stay, and Ortisei is the best town in the region for dining off property. It works for couples and families alike, and in winter the skiing is all around you.
Miramonti is character over polish. It isn’t a top-tier luxury experience, and it is best suited to couples and design lovers who want the pool and the views.
For me, Gardena Grödnerhof. It was a close second to Forestis on my trip, and it is the best base in the Dolomites. Miramonti is a great stay for the right traveler: someone who wants the pool, the views and a hotel with personality.
Gardena Grödnerhof. Lifts leave from Ortisei to Seceda and to the Alpe di Siusi, two completely different landscapes. Miramonti is above Merano, outside the main Dolomites valleys.
Miramonti, for the outdoor pool; it is the best of any hotel I saw in the region. Gardena Grödnerhof has an incredible spa with indoor and outdoor pools.
Gardena Grödnerhof. It works for couples and families alike, and it made my list of the best Dolomites hotels for families. Miramonti is best suited to couples and design lovers.
At Gardena Grödnerhof, a Superior Deluxe or above; those are the renovated rooms. At Miramonti, every room is different, so I match one to you.
Yes. Ortisei to Merano is about an hour by car, and Miramonti is an easy add-on at either end of a trip built around Gardena Grödnerhof. I arrange the drivers.
Tell me your dates and who is coming, and I will tell you which one fits and which room to ask for.
Gardena Grödnerhof review → Miramonti review → Forestis or Gardena Grödnerhof → COMO Alpina or Miramonti → My Dolomites guide →