Hotel with mountain in the background | © Alex Moling
Arena Redaktion, 28.10.2024

Wellness with a mountain view: Three hotel tips in Tyrol

Whether a family business with a 100-year history, a lakeside hotel with a clean design or an exclusive retreat on the mountain pasture: in the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena, every Alpine fan will find the perfect hotel for relaxation and enjoyment. We present three gems.

The Hotel Spielmann in Ehrwald

It all began with the Tyrolean Zugspitze cable car: When the cable car from Ehrwald to the summit was built in 1924, Josephine and Christian Spielmann opened a small guesthouse together on the outskirts of the village. Tourism flourished thanks to the cable car and the guesthouse gradually grew into a family hotel. In 2024, great-granddaughter Christina Spielmann and her husband Martin were able to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Hotel Spielmann with their guests. "We knew some of our current regular guests as children and played with them in the garden," says Christina.

The view from the small hill at the foot of the Zugspitze still sweeps across flowering meadows to the mountains. The hotel still exudes the cosy charm of a Tyrolean home. "When you travel to Tyrol, you also want to experience Tyrol - even if the technical standards today are of course state-of-the-art," emphasises Christina. So even behind the Alpine façade, a lot of wood dominates. Antiques from great-grandfather's time remind us of our ancestors - from antique binoculars to old guest books and historic farmhouse cupboards.

Christina's grandfather's former stables have been converted into a wellness area, and many guests now come to the Hotel Spielmann not only for the family atmosphere and the excellent cuisine with local produce, but also for the wellness facilities - with panoramic Stadlsauna, herbal sauna, steam bath and fireplace relaxation room. In the infinity rock pool, you can swim directly towards the Sonnenspitze, the "Matterhorn of Ehrwald". Demanding hikers and mountain bikers also appreciate the traditional hotel, as many hiking and cycling trails start directly at the hotel. And another plus: Martin Spielmann is an enthusiastic mountain biker himself, as Christina explains: "Of course he knows the best routes around the Zugspitze."

Front view of Hotel Spielmann | © Alex Moling
Lock with key | © Alex Moling
Plate with summer dish | © Alex Moling

Fischer am See: a Tyrolean hotel with heart

Nearby Heiterwang am See will also soon be celebrating its 100th anniversary: The Hotel Fischer am See was opened in 1927, and this establishment has also been in family hands for four generations: Marina Bunte and her siblings were already bustling around between the tables as a little girl - just like the children and grandchildren of guests today, some of whom have been holidaying here for decades. "We grew up in the parlour and the friendly atmosphere is just as important to us today as it was to our grandparents back then," says Marina.

However, grandma and grandpa would hardly recognise the hotel itself: Since the refurbishment in 2012, a simple, alpine clarity runs through the entire hotel. "First and foremost, people who have had enough of the city, noise and hectic pace come to us. The world has become so complicated, so they long for peace and simplicity," explains Marina. The rooms and suites are designed just as simply and elegantly with natural materials as the guest rooms and the wellness area.

From the sauna and relaxation room, your eyes wander through floor-to-ceiling windows directly onto the lake. There are no blinds, curtains or railings to obstruct the view. "The basic idea is that our guests can concentrate on themselves and on nature and not be distracted by any bells and whistles," says Marina. It goes without saying that guests can jump into the lake directly from the hotel or set off on marvellous hikes. Even the boat trip on Lake Heiterwanger See with two excursion boats is still run by the family.

In addition to Marina and her brother, sister, son and daughter-in-law, even her parents still get involved: Mum Bunte puts fresh flowers on the tables every day, and the senior chef spoils the guests with treats from the in-house patisserie, many of whom share Marina's motto: "Just be happy."

Front view of Hotel Fischer am See | © Custompix
Boat on the lake with summer panorama | © Dominik Somweber

eriro in Ehrwald: slowing down at the highest level

At eriro, an exclusive retreat on the Ehrwalder Alm with just nine suites, connoisseurs weary of civilisation can experience the perfect combination of alpine luxury and complete seclusion. Even the journey there creates a pleasant distance from everyday life: the gondola takes you from Ehrwald up to 1,550 metres, then on foot across the alpine meadow (or alternatively by jeep), only to enter the house through the side door and find yourself right in the middle of the parlour.

"The need for grounding and slowing down is huge - and that's exactly what people find up here," says Henning A. Schaub, who prefers to call himself "host" rather than "manager". Almost the entire interior was designed using three materials from the Wetterstein massif: Stone, wood and sheep's wool, largely untreated and in muted colours. A local manufacturer has transformed boulders from the Gaistal valley into a lamp installation, hand-knotted woollen hammocks dangle in the spa area and recycled old wood can be found throughout the hotel.

Guests - mostly couples or solo travellers - experience deceleration and the immediate proximity to alpine nature in all areas: There are no televisions, Wi-Fi is only available on request, and each suite has a wooden "mobile phone coffin". In the kitchen and spa, everything revolves around the gifts of local nature - from Alpine herbs and flowers to wild strawberries, spruce shoots and mushrooms. Whatever chef Alexander Thoss does not use immediately is dried, fermented or pickled.

Massages with herbal oils, meditations on the terrace, sound baths, yoga and much more ensure the perfect balance of relaxation and activity. Incidentally, the menu and experience programme are always tailored to the personal wishes of the guests - one more reason why this noble hideaway has already made it into the Small Luxury Hotels.

Hotel with mountain in the background | © Alex Moling
Wooden chairs with wooden tables | © Alex Moling
Country-style room | © Alex Moling

You may also be interested in ...

Similar articles
Visiting the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena

PLAN YOUR HOLiDAYS

Loisl your digital holiday companion

Is the holiday already booked? Loisl, our personal travel assistant will accompany you through your holiday and help you not to miss any highlight. Loisl knows all opening hours, tour suggestions, events and much more.

More