Ritten Plateau’s Parkhotel Holzner Targets Perfect No-Ski Winter Escapes

For those who don’t ski but still want an Alpine winter escape, South Tyrol’s Ritten plateau offers just that - gentle snowshoeing, tobogganing, winter hiking and festive markets, all set against those iconic Dolomite views.

• The Perfect Alpine Escape for Non-Skiers This Winter
• Alpine winter escape without the ski crowds
• Just minutes from Bolzano’s vibrant culture, markets, and museums
• Direct access to the mountains and family-friendly winter activities
• Base yourself at Parkhotel Holzner for the perfect no-ski winter escape

Parkhotel Holzner, just above Bolzano, is the ideal base. Guests can enjoy a relaxed spa, two brilliant restaurants and a carefully curated selection family-friendly winter activities, while also having easy access to Bolzano’s markets and museums. Direct flights from London to Bolzano with Sky Alps make it all the more easy. 

Parkhotel Holzner is a family-run hotel located 1,200 metres above sea level on the Oberbozen plateau, just above Bolzano in South Tyrol. The hotel, which blends the historic charm of its 1908 Alpine Jugendstil origins with a modern 2018 expansion, offers a balance of tradition and contemporary design. With spacious rooms and suites, an expansive wellness area featuring a heated outdoor pool and panoramic saunas, and a variety of treatments, the hotel provides an ideal setting for relaxation.

The hotel caters to families with a kids' club, family programmes, and a range of outdoor activities, including hiking, skiing, and mountain biking on the nearby Ritten plateau. The Green Michelin restaurant, 1908, showcases the flavours of South Tyrol, with an emphasis on local ingredients and sustainable practices. Guests also enjoy the convenience of the RittenCard, which offers access to public transportation, cable cars. A prime location with easy access to Bolzano, Parkhotel Holzner ensures both a peaceful retreat and direct proximity to the city’s cultural attractions.

The Ritten plateau in South Tyrol is a brilliant option for a European Mountain holiday this winter, with its beautiful Alpine scenery and cultural richness, without the need for ski lifts or busy resorts. At 1,200 metres above sea level, this highland region is ideal for gentle, slow-paced winter activities such as snowshoeing, winter hiking, cross-country skiing, ice skating, and tobogganing, all set against panoramic views of the Dolomites. Here, winter is quieter and more contemplative - breathing the mountain air, discovering small villages and lingering over hot chocolate instead of racing down slopes. 

In December, the area comes alive with festive markets – Bolzano hosts one of Italy’s largest Christmas markets, while smaller, local markets in Merano, Bressanone and Vipiteno showcase regional crafts and produce. Just outside the village of Oberbozen, the Ritten Christmas Train offers a quieter alternative, with local specialities and artisan gifts along a scenic railway route.

Parkhotel Holzner sits at the heart of this winter landscape, providing a base where guests can embrace the stillness of the mountain with easy access to Bolzano’s historic centre. The hotel reopens at the end of November, welcoming families, couples and solo travellers with a programme of winter activities and relaxation. The small family ski area at Rittner Horn offers gentle slopes for beginners and children, along with a natural toboggan run and panoramic trails ideal for leisurely exploration.

Inside the hotel, the Liberty Spa is designed for relaxation with a heated outdoor pool, panoramic saunas and a full range of treatments. The Hammam Circuit with Rhassoul uses mineral-rich muds and traditional rituals to create a sense of renewal, while children can enjoy dedicated playrooms, a spa area, and daily activities tailored to different age groups.

Dining at Parkhotel Holzner is equally seasonal and locally focused. The Green Michelin-starred restaurant 1908, led by Chef Stephan Zippl, champions South Tyrolean produce and sustainable gastronomy. Winter menus feature root vegetables, cabbage and beetroot from local farms, alongside festive pastries and contemporary interpretations of regional dishes. Families can also enjoy more casual dining options.

Sustainability underpins every aspect of the hotel’s operations. Parkhotel Holzner runs on 100% renewable energy, supports local farmers, and has reduced its carbon footprint per overnight stay by 30% since 2020. Guests arriving by train can use the RittenCard, offering complimentary public transport and cable car access across South Tyrol. Direct flights with Sky Alps connect several European cities to Bolzano, with transfers organised by the hotel, and CO₂ emissions from flights are offset through its Sustainable Travel programme.

Transport options: 

By Train*: 76.6 kg CO₂ per passenger, one way

1. St Pancras International to Bruxelles-Midi: 2 hours 1 minute, 1 stop (Eurostar)

2. Bruxelles-Midi to Cologne Central Station: 3 hours 10 minutes, 2 stops (Eurostar, Deutsche Bahn)

3. Cologne Central Station to Munich Central Station: 9 hours 48 minutes, 12 stops (Deutsche Bahn)

4. Munich Central Station to Bolzano/Bozen: 3 hours 55 minutes, 8 stops (Deutsche Bahn)

*other train routes are available 

By Plane (with Sky Alps): 216.09 kg CO₂ per passenger, one-way

1. London to Bolzano:
   Fly from London to Bolzano with Sky Alps, which operates direct flights from London to Bolzano. 

2. Bolzano to Oberbozen:
   From Bolzano, take the Ritten cable car to Oberbozen.

Prices: From 300 euros per room, per night 

The high mountain plateau of Ritten looks down onto the city of Bozen in the heart of South Tyrol, and rises into the sunshine-soaked mountains. It is here that the Sommerfrische — German for ‘summer retreat’ and a favourite way to escape the summer heat and spend a holiday enjoying the relaxed pace of village life — was invented 300 years ago. Today people of all ages can find their preferred way to experience the peaceful surroundings and outdoor activities, the laid-back atmosphere and cultural richness in a place pulsing with nature’s energy, from the vineyards in the valley to the alpine landscapes high up in the mountains. Welcome to the sunny Ritten plateau