If you’re heading to Merano with your kids and are feeling a bit overwhelmed with accommodation options – I get it!
There are plenty of choices to make, like:
- Should you stay in Merano or nearby?
- Should you stay in a hotel or an apartment?
- Should you book a place that caters to families?
I’m a mamma of three and I live in Tuscany with my family. I’ve been spending time each year in the Dolomites since 2004, and I’ve visited Merano multiple times since my kids have been little. It’s a special place for families!
Let’s take a look at:
- Why Merano is a good choice for your family trip to the Dolomites
- Things to keep in mind when you’re booking your Merano hotel/apartment/B&B/agriturismo for your family
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Why Stay in and Around Merano with Kids
If you’re coming to the Dolomites, you’ve got a choice of incredible areas to visit with your kids – from our favorite tiny village, Fiè allo Sciliar to chic Cortina d’Ampezzo to family-friendly Lake Molveno to Ötzi’s home in Bolzano to the hiking base of Ortisei… to name a few. Merano happens to be one of the best places to base yourself in the Dolomites for a family vacation. Here’s why:
- Easy access to mountains and the city (Merano)
- Merano has something for kids year-round, even if the weather isn’t great
- Access to Dolomites cycling paths, family-friendly hiking trails, playgrounds
- Our favorite Italian thermal baths for kids (read my guide – Visiting Terme Merano with Kids)
- Near other cities like Bolzano
- Well-connected with roads and public transport, so you can day trip to other places in the Dolomites like Alpe di Siusi, Corvara in Badia, and the places mentioned above
Good To Know: Merano and its surroundings are stunningly gorgeous, but if you’re looking for the dramatic Dolomites that you see in photos, you may be disappointed. Merano is in a valley that’s surrounded by lower, forested mountains. You still get amazing scenery, but if you want those Dolomites that shoot up into the sky, I recommend heading a little east of Bolzano to places like Fiè allo Sciliar, Corvara in Badia, Ortisei, Colfosco, San Cassiano, and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
You may also want to check out
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Things to Keep in Mind When Booking Your Merano Accommodation
Staying in the Merano City Center vs Nearby – If you’re planning on spending most of your time in Merano, try to reserve a place within walking distance of the center.
The historic center of Merano is a ZTL, so if your hotel is in it, you’ll need to make arrangements with the staff to be allowed entry (and not get a fine).
Why We Stay Outside of Merano – You’ll need to decide on the style of your vacation. If you want the tranquility of the mountains, book a place outside of Merano. This is what we almost always do, as we end up exploring the area around Merano as much (or more) than the city of Merano itself.
Because of this, most of the places on my list below are in the area around Merano, giving your family access to Merano (drive, park, and explore the city center) and amazing activities for families in the surrounding area (kid-friendly hikes, chairlifts, mountain playgrounds, bike rides, castle and garden visits, and more!).
Budgeting for Your Merano Accommodation – Merano isn’t a budget destination, and you’ll see an increase in hotel rates in the summer, when Italians and Europeans flock to the area. Merano stays fairly busy year round (with the thermal baths bringing visitors even in cooler months). I’ve listed properties that range from simple agriturismos to luxury resorts.
How Much Time You’ll Spend at Your Accommodation – If you’ll be out exploring all day, you don’t need a place with tons of amenities for kids. But, if you want to relax at your hotel, enjoy the views, and have some entertainment available for your little one, there’s a place on this list for you. Some have dedicated kids clubs and huge playgrounds, while others have special experiences for kids like farm animals on-site or small playgrounds.
Minimum Stays – Some of these hotels have minimum stays during the busiest times of the year (high summer and winter ski season).
Recommended Places to Stay in and Around Merano with Your Family
| Property Name | Level | Type | Distance from Merano center (time driving)* |
| Hotel Gartenresidence Zea Curtis | €€ | B&B and Apartments | 2 km (5 min) |
| Das Grafenstein Familienresidence | €€€ | Apartments & Suites | 7 km (12 min) |
| Agriturismo Niederhof | € | Apartments | 15 km (20 min) |
| Residence Innerfarmerhof | € | Apartments | 9 km (15 min) |
| Apfelhotel Torgglerhof | €€€ | Rooms & Suites | 11 km (20 min) |
| Hotel Taser Alm | €€€ | Rooms & Chalets | 14 km (30 min) |
| Quellenhof Luxury Resort Passeier | €€€€€ | Rooms, Suites & Chalets | 13 km (20 min) |
| SPA & Relax Hotel Erika | €€€€ | Rooms & Suites | 6 km (10 min) |
Hotel Gartenresidence Zea Curtis
Why Choose It:
- Zea Curtis is a great pick if you want to be able to walk to Merano’s center.
- The property consists of a lovely B&B and beautiful, spotless apartments with kitchen and plenty of space for families.
- It’s not kid-focused but has a playground, so it’s a good pick if you have kids but don’t want to be in a hotel exclusively with other families.
Amenities Include:
- Pool, spa (sauna, jacuzzi, and more)
- Large garden with spaces for relaxing or reading.
- Playground with slide, swings, sandbox, trampoline, soccer goal, ping pong. We loved having the playground at this hotel and my son used it in the morning before we went out for the day and in the evening.
- On-site parking.
Kids Will Love:
- Playground
Our Experience:
We stayed in an apartment that fit 4 people comfortably.
I appreciated that it’s a small property, which is nice with kids. For example, you don’t have to walk 5 minutes back to your room if you get to your car and realize you’ve forgotten something.
We walked to/from Merano with our stroller via quiet residential streets that have stroller-friendly sidewalks.
Check availability and rates – Hotel Gartenresidence Zea Curtis.
Das Grafenstein Familienresidence
Why Choose It:
- Das Grafenstein is family-run and kid-focused
- The outdoor play area is one of the best we’ve ever seen
- It’s full of other families, so other kids are being loud (and you can relax and not worry about keeping yours quiet)
- Your kids can make friends with the other children
- There are kid-friendly touches everywhere, including at breakfast, at the two swimming pools, and around the grounds.
- There are daily kids activities (my boys loved feeding the animals and pizza night), and the staff couldn’t be more amazing.
- Incredible views of the valley and mountains
Amenities Include:
- Unbelievable playground area with a mini soccer pitch, a sandbox, a 2-story slide, swings, a go-kart track, a trampoline, a huge climbing structure, a clubhouse, a teen club with fusball and so much more.
- Indoor and outdoor swimming pools, each with children’s pools
- Farm animals
- Sauna for adults
- Abundant breakfast with local and homemade treats
Kids Will Love:
- The play area
- Kid-only lunches and dinners (sometimes it’s a BBQ)
- Kid-areas separated by age (for example, there’s a teen clubhouse)
- Having freedom to move around independently on the property (with parents’ permission)
Our Experience:
Das Grafenstein is the only hotel I’ve ever stayed in that my kids never want to leave. As in, I have all of these amazing activities planned and they just want to stay at the hotel all day. As a mom, I don’t mind – there’s plenty for them to do and the setting is absolutely dreamy. We recently stayed here, and I appreciated that it felt like a vacation for me too.
Even though we spent time exploring the area every day, my kids were always thrilled to get back to the hotel, and we even decided to spend one day just playing at the hotel.
We stayed in an apartment that had two bedrooms (one queen, one with bunk beds and a single) and a sofa bed. Our apartment also had a kitchen, living area, dining table, two bathrooms, and a terrace.
My boys loved the kids club and meeting other children, and as a mom, I loved that the place was full of kids. I never felt like I had to ‘shush’ my boys. In fact, one morning I walked into breakfast and saw a kid laying on the floor while his parents ate breakfast… and I knew I’d found my place.
Das Grafenstein is a pricier option, but well worth it for the experience. My boys really want to go back.
Good To Know: We didn’t have a bathtub in our apartment. Hikes straight from the hotel are limited (although if you can make it up a steep 100m climb, you’re on a kdi-friendly waalweg path along the water). There are dinner options close by (30-min walk into the hills or 3-min drive downhill), or you can cook in your apartment.
Check availability and rates – Das Grafenstein Familienresidence.
Agriturismo Niederhof
Why Choose It:
- Amazing views of the valley and mountains
- Attentive owner
- Large apartments and plenty of space outdoors for meals, relaxing, and playing
Amenities Include:
- Swimming pool with spectacular views
- So many places to sit and relax and enjoy the views (chairs, hammocks, loungers)
- Jacuzzi
Kids Will Love:
- The outdoor play area with a trampoline, spring toys, ping pong, fusbol, and a climbing structure
- The property’s pets (like the fluffy rabbits)
- The forest and exploring the property
Our Experience:
We couldn’t get enough of the views at Neiderhof – from the huge terrace of our apartment to the outdoor pool area, to the rooftop jacuzzi.
The place is clean but not stuffy, and Herbert (the owner) is kind and helpful in a quiet way.
My boys had a blast in the pool and the kids’ play area.
We stayed in an apartment with two bedrooms, and there was also an enormous sofa bed in the living area. Apartments also have kitchens, a bathroom, a dining area, and an outdoor relax area with a table and lounge chairs.
Little touches like swings and hammocks were appreciated by this mamma.
We’ll be back!
Check availability and rates – Agriturismo Niederhof.
Residence Innerfarmerhof
I almost booked Residence Innerfarmerhof for our recent trip to Merano, but Agriturismo Neiderhof won out.
Innerfarmerhof would be a great fit for a family, with 10 apartments, lovely views of the valley, a children’s play area, a swimming pool, and breakfast.
Check availability and rates – Residence Innerfarmerhof.
Apfelhotel Torgglerhof
Apfelhotel Torgglerhof is a chic farm hotel located in the Passeier Valley. It’s got plenty of green space for kids to run around, a large outdoor swimming pool, a parasailing landing field next door (fun for kids to watch), and a playground. There are plenty of hikes that can be done from the hotel.
Torgglerhof isn’t a kid-focused hotel, but it still welcomes children. I think it would be a great option for families with pre-teens and up.
Check availability and rates – Apfelhotel Torgglerhof.
Taser Alm
I was drawn to this place for its enormous green space, adventure playground for kids, simple, modern, mountain style.
Taser Alm is family-run and kid-focused, and amenities include:
- Kids club and babysitting (from 3 yrs old)
- Indoor play area
- Outdoor adventure playground
- Petting zoo
- Swimming pool
- Hikes directly from the hotel
I didn’t end up booking Taser Alm because it was out of our budget, but it’s on my hotel wish list! This would be a great place to come with your kids for a few days or a week and explore here without using your car.
Good To Know: You can also visit the Taser Alm restaurant for lunch and your kids can use the playground.
Good To Know: You can also look at Family Hotel Gutenberg just below in Schenna. You can walk to the village, join the Schenna Waalweg (walking path), or visit the Schenna Castle. But if you really want to get away from it all, Taser Alm is the better choice.
Check availability and rates – Taser Alm.
Quellenhof Luxury Resort Passeier
Quellenhof is a luxury resort in the Passeier Valley (just past the Apfelhotel Torgglerhof), and it’s a huge complex. This is another place that’s got plenty to keep kids entertained, like a water park, a lazy river, a kids club, a bowling alley, and children’s activities (rock climbing, cinema, and more).
Of course, you’ll pay dearly for the facilities and luxurious lodging, and this would probably work best if you plan on spending most of your time at the resort (vs. leaving to explore during the day and coming back just to have dinner and go to bed).
Good To Know: Quellenhof also has a luxury resort at Lake Garda.
Check availability and rates – Quellenhof Luxury Resort Passeier.
SPA & Relax Hotel Erika
Why Choose It:
- Explore the village of Tirolo on foot (restaurants, shops, grocery store)
- Spa hotel
- Kids club with multiple areas and activities so parents can have a little bit of time to relax
Amenities Include:
- Indoor and outdoor children’s play areas
- Multiple pools (indoor and outdoor), including a children’s pool
- Themed fine dining
- Wine cellar
Kids Will Love:
- The kids club! It includes a trampoline, a climbing wall, a craft area, and more.
- Daily activities on-site and in the area (for example, going for a group hike)
Erika is a family-focused resort with kids club, swimming pools, and tons of organized kids activities.
It’s above Merano, in the village of Tirolo, so you can park your car and explore the village and area on foot. It’s a great pick if you want to be able to walk from your hotel to restaurants, and if you have teens, they can have some independence. Hotel Erika has easy access to the Falknerpromenade (walk that can be done with a stroller), Gufyland (bird rescue center), and the Burglehen Park (no playground but it’s got a lovely lawn, a pond with fish and turtles, and amazing views).
Check availability and rates – SPA & Relax Hotel Erika.
I hope this helps you choose a place for your family trip to Merano!
You may also want to check out
Italy with a Baby or Toddler
Packing List for Italy with a Baby or Toddler
Best Places to Visit in Italy with Kids
Fun & Memorable Things to Do in Italy with Kids
Packing List for Italy with Kids
10-Day Italy Family Itineraries
Driving in the Dolomites
Our Favorite Things to Do in the Dolomites
