Forestis, the Dolomites

Hotel review · Stayed October 2026 · Above Bressanone, Dolomites, Italy

Forestis review

62 Suites Across A Historic Lodge And Three Towers · Odle The Best View Of Any Luxury Hotel In The Dolomites

A fantastic hotel I’d recommend without hesitation for peace and quiet, wellness, great food and awe-inspiring views. Ask me to secure a high floor in the tower closest to the lodge.

Region
South Tyrol, about 25 minutes above Bressanone (Brixen)
Style
Alpine wellness retreat
Perfect for
Couples, solo travelers, wellness trips, and families or groups in the private villa
The review

A wellness retreat high above Bressanone, with the best view of the Odle of any luxury hotel in the Dolomites — built for peace, great food and complete disconnection.

I stayed at Forestis for two nights in October 2026 and was blown away by nearly everything. It sits high above Bressanone with the best view of the Odle of any true luxury hotel in the Dolomites, from your room, the dining room, the pools and the spa. After two weeks in Tuscany, Portofino and Lake Como, it was the perfect place to slow down.

Forestis is about disconnecting. It isn’t the best base for hiking or skiing — you can ski in and out, but the region’s best skiing and its top hikes are elsewhere — so come for the spa, the scenery, the food and the quiet. The rooms are Scandinavian in feel, with light wood, neutrals and floor-to-ceiling glass, and the balconies have daybeds made for an evening with a glass of wine and the mountains.

Service was outstanding: warm, anticipatory and flawless across every interaction, from a seamless check-in during a busy Sunday arrival to the general manager, Günther, taking time to chat. When we didn’t finish a bottle of wine at dinner on the first night, it was waiting on ice at our table the next evening, in a different restaurant.

For families and groups, the Forestis Villa is in a league of its own: five bedrooms for up to ten guests, its own team of 14, a private pool and spa, and complete privacy. Children are welcome there, while the hotel itself is for guests aged 14 and over. If you’re searching for the ultimate villa in the Dolomites, this is it.

Forestis, the Dolomites
Forestis, the Dolomites
The Forestis outdoor pool at dusk, with loungers on the lawn and the peaks beyond
The outdoor pool at dusk
A softly lit corridor leading into the Forestis spa
Into the spa
A Forestis tower suite bathroom with a stone basin and black fittings
The tower suite bathroom
The Forestis sign among the pines, 150 meters from the hotel
Arriving through the forest
What stood out

The details that made the list

01
The view of the Odle. Unmatched among the Dolomites’ luxury hotels. Even the reception terrace at sunset is unforgettable.
02
The spa. Two pools, indoor and outdoor and connected by a glass door, both heated to around 32°C (90°F), with attentive staff throughout. Inside are relaxation rooms, a blacked-out sensory room, a swimsuit sauna, and a separate sauna area with three saunas, a steam room, a cold plunge and a heated plunge pool. My 90-minute deep-tissue massage was excellent and very reasonably priced, at about €260 when I visited.
03
The dining. Half board covers breakfast and dinner in either restaurant. Breakfast is served in the main dining room, with its cathedral-style booths and extraordinary views. The seven-course tasting menu was a highlight, and the more casual upstairs restaurant serves generous portions. The wine list is excellent.
04
The tower suites. Scandinavian in feel, with spacious balconies and daybeds, large bathrooms with tubs and walk-in showers, heated floors and Dyson hairdryers.
05
The Forestis Villa: the ultimate Dolomites villa. I toured the five-bedroom villa at the entrance to the property, and it’s stunning. It sleeps ten, with a dedicated team of 14 staff, a private pool, and its own spa with a sauna, steam room and cold plunge, plus a fully equipped gym. It’s completely private, children are welcome, and it starts at about €25,000 a night. For a family celebration or a group of friends, there’s nothing like it in the Dolomites. More on the villa →
06
The service. Some of the best I’ve experienced anywhere, plus a WhatsApp concierge that makes small requests effortless.
Know before you book

The Fine Print, From Your Advisor

01
Your floor and tower matter, and only a request secures them. There’s no separate room category for higher floors or a particular tower; a tower suite can be on any floor of any of the three towers. The best views of the Odle are from the fourth or fifth floor and above, in the tower closest to the historic lodge and in the middle tower, where you’re above the tree line. Securing one of those is the real upgrade here, and it’s exactly what I push for with the team for my clients.
02
The lodge suites are good value. The suites in the historic lodge are spacious and well priced. If the tower suites are beyond the budget, I’d happily book one.
03
Expect German and Austrian sauna culture. The main sauna area is mixed. You walk around in a towel or robe, but it comes off in the saunas and steam room, which is normal in this corner of Italy. Your body isn’t supposed to touch the wood, so you sit or lie on your towel in the saunas, and on a small towel in the steam room. There’s also a swimsuit sauna if you prefer.
04
There’s nowhere else to eat nearby. For stays longer than three nights, plan on rotating between the two restaurants’ menus.
05
Families: book the villa. The hotel itself is for guests aged 14 and over, and tower suites on the same floor don’t connect. Children are welcome in the five-bedroom Forestis Villa, which makes it the way to bring the whole family.
06
Guided hikes, booked ahead. Good mountain guides book up in peak summer, and the best trails take some planning. I arrange guides and private drivers in advance; excellent hikes are about 45 minutes away by car.
07
Getting there, arranged. The Dolomites take planning. From Venice it’s about three and a half hours by train via Verona to Bressanone, then 25 minutes by car; there’s also a direct train from Munich, and Innsbruck is the closest major airport. Driving from Lake Como takes about six and a half hours through Switzerland. I arrange the trains, private transfers or a helicopter, so Forestis fits neatly at the start or end of an Italy trip.
Book Forestis through me

Fora perks.
And someone who knows the hotel.

Work with me and you get two things: Fora perks, and someone who knows Forestis personally. As a Fora advisor, my clients receive a space-available upgrade, daily breakfast, and a hotel credit. I know the property and the team, so I personalize your stay, from the room I request to what’s arranged before you arrive, and I’m your direct line to them while you’re there. Rates are identical to booking direct.

When are you thinking?

Forestis is one of the most memorable stays I’ve had. Let me secure the right tower and floor, book your guides, and plan the journey in.

Traveling within the next 30 days? You’ll hear from me today.

My World’s 50 Best (51–100) picks → My Dolomites hotel guide →

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