Winter in the mountains holds the charm of memories destined to last: white peaks stretching as far as the eye can see, the muffled silence of the woods and clear air scented with burning wood and fresh snow. As Advent arrives, Alpine villages light up with lanterns and spicy aromas, turning the mountains into the natural setting for the festivities. Between Christmas Eve and New Year’s toasts, time stops rushing and gives families the most authentic gift: slowing down together. From centuries-old traditions and craft markets to small adventures designed for children, every day becomes an opportunity to rediscover the value of simple emotions shared together.
Behind every magical moment, of course, there is always a little good organisation. The true luxury of a snow holiday with the whole family lies in the balance between wonder and complete ease: heading straight from the room to the slopes, relying on dedicated childcare services and returning, after laughter on a sledge, to the warmth of a welcoming retreat, with hot snacks and steaming heated pools inviting guests to linger. Outside, the untouched grandeur of the snowy landscape; inside, refined surroundings designed to satisfy every generation without compromise: from family-friendly “dress-on” saunas to heated panoramic pools, oases of pure relaxation reserved for adults. From the enchanting valleys of South Tyrol and Trentino to the timeless scenery of Austrian Tyrol, we have selected four distinctive addresses where great Alpine hospitality turns family celebrations into pure wonder.
Schneeberg Family Spa Resort****: in Val Ridanna, where winter becomes fun
For years a leading name among South Tyrol’s family hotels, Schneeberg Family Spa in Val Ridanna is a peaceful oasis in an intimate Alpine setting, a perfect destination for first-time skiers seeking a safe yet stimulating environment. At Schneeberg, a first experience of snow can take place right in the extensive park surrounding the hotel, thanks to a 45-metre-long magic carpet conveyor lift. Those wishing to venture a little further will find the Gasse ski lift just 2 km from the hotel, free for Schneeberg guests. This small lift provides access to an enclosed area with a very easy slope where young skiers can enjoy their descents while parents relax without losing sight of them. The combination of family fun and relaxation is guaranteed at this large resort: adults and children will be amazed by the Active Arena, with its 64-square-metre interactive area and digital jumping game where players move and jump without headsets or controllers.
Continually evolving, the resort is reinventing itself for the colder season with several new features, including a new children’s pool at Bergiland, Schneeberg’s celebrated water park, a kingdom of water and play, as well as renewed wellness spaces for families. The historic sauna area on the lower floor has also been completely renovated, with contemporary Alpine design that preserves its welcoming atmosphere. The new setting is designed to make family sauna time even more enjoyable: an ideal way to reconnect after an excursion at altitude and introduce younger guests to the benefits of wellness through experiences tailored to them. The new sauna area forms part of a wellness world covering more than 10,000 square metres: with heated indoor and outdoor pools, relaxation areas, saunas and treatments inspired by Alpine traditions, the resort offers one of South Tyrol’s largest wellness areas. The Adults Only zone provides a further setting dedicated to silence and tranquillity, with textile-free saunas, a 25-metre infinity pool and a rooftop terrace overlooking Val Ridanna.
A few kilometres from Schneeberg, Vipiteno hosts its historic Christmas Market from 27 November 2026 to 6 January 2027. Dedicated to the theme of bells, it brings the Tower of the Twelve to life every afternoon with carillon melodies, among stalls offering carved wood, handcrafted fabrics and local specialities. Festive stays require a minimum of 7 nights over New Year’s Eve, with rates from around €190 per person per night — weekly New Year packages from around €1,450 per person — and special Christmas Eve gala dinners and a large New Year celebration.
Schneeberg Family Spa Resort ****
Ridanna/Masseria 22 – 39040 Racines – Valle Isarco – South Tyrol, Italy
Tel: +39 0472 656232
info@schneeberg.it
Hotel Vioz – Family Hotel & Apartments: welcoming, plastic-free mountains in the heart of Stelvio National Park
In Peio Fonti, at an altitude of 1,400 metres, the winter mountains retain the charm of intimate places, among snowy woods, imposing peaks and small villages where time seems to move more slowly. In the heart of Stelvio National Park stands Hotel Vioz – Family Hotel & Apartments, a family-run mountain home surrounded by a 30,000-square-metre private park and just 300 metres from the lifts of the Pejo 3000 ski area, certified plastic-free for its commitment to protecting the Alpine environment and the Ortles-Cevedale glaciers. The location makes it easy to reach the slopes and alternate days on the snow with play, relaxation and exploration. The ski area offers runs for different abilities, from beginners’ slopes to high-altitude descents. Children can enjoy Pejo Kinderland, with conveyor lifts and a tubing run, or the Biancaneve Snowpark in Cogolo di Peio, with sledges and snow games.
For more than a century, the Fava family has maintained a tradition of hospitality at Vioz built on care and attention to guests. The 35 rooms, divided between the main building and Casa Lisetta, are complemented by 10 Family Apartsuites with kitchens, ideal for those seeking greater independence. Children also have a world of their own: the Mini Club, for guests aged three and over, offers creative workshops, games and outdoor activities, with programmes also dedicated to juniors and teens. A daily afternoon snack, lunch and dinner with the entertainment team, accompaniment to group ski lessons and, on request, a paid babysitting service are also available.
After a day on the snow, the new 700-square-metre Family Wellness area welcomes adults and children with a heated indoor-outdoor pool, two indoor children’s pools, relaxation areas and a panoramic Family Sauna. Adults seeking peace can visit the entirely adults-only Aphrodite Spa, with a sauna, steam room, outdoor whirlpool, massages and treatments. A short distance from Vioz, the Pejo thermal baths offer a further opportunity to relax, with special admission arrangements for hotel guests. During the festive season, the whole valley is dressed in lights and traditions.
At Hotel Vioz, children can exchange messages with Ulisse the Elf, take part in Christmas workshops and await Santa Claus, while adults sip a hot drink overlooking the mountains or visit the markets and nativity scenes of Ossana, at the foot of the castle. It is a stay where everyone can find their own way to enjoy the celebrations, among snow, playtime and the pleasure of being together.
For Christmas, from 19 to 26 December 2026, the hotel offers seven nights on a half-board basis from €854 per person, including Christmas dinner and Santa Claus’s arrival at the hotel. From 26 December 2026 to 2 January 2027, a seven-night half-board stay starts at €1,365 per person and includes New Year’s Eve dinner and a special children’s menu.
Hotel Vioz – Family Hotel & Apartments
Via dei Cavai, 10 – 38024 Peio Fonti (TN) – Val di Sole, Trentino, Italy
Email: info@hotelvioz.it
Tel. +39 0463 753146
Gradonna****S Mountain Resort Châlets & Hotel: chalets, snow and silence in Austrian Tyrol
At the foot of Hohe Tauern National Park, with the Großglockner shaping the outline of the surrounding mountains, Gradonna ****S Mountain Resort Châlets & Hotel is an Alpine retreat where winter is experienced in close contact with nature, without giving up the comfort and freedom of a holiday designed for the whole family. At an altitude of 1,500 metres, just over an hour from the Italian border, the resort resembles a small village in the woods, with a main building and 36 independent chalets where wood, silence and the snowy landscape create an intimate atmosphere. The chalets, accommodating up to eight people, offer space and privacy for sharing days in the mountains while also allowing time alone.
The mountains begin outside the door: convenience is an integral part of the stay here. There is no need to drive to the slopes or organise morning transfers. The ski room and direct access to the Großglockner Kals-Matrei ski area make the move from chalet to snow effortless, allowing each day to follow the family’s rhythm. For those discovering skiing, the beginners’ area beside the resort, with a conveyor lift, provides a protected setting in which to become familiar with the snow. The 2026–2027 ski season begins on 5 December 2026, with the lifts of Kals and Matrei ready to welcome enthusiasts between altitudes of 1,350 and 2,405 metres. The area offers 16 lifts and 47.1 km of slopes, with routes suitable for different abilities. Anyone wishing to expand their itinerary can also use a ski pass valid within three networks: Snow Card Tirol, Osttirol Card Ski-Hit and Top-Skipass Kärnten Osttirol.
The pleasure of a family holiday continues after the ski boots come off. Gradonna’s mini club, for children aged three and over and open until 9 pm, offers play and social activities while parents take a break, perhaps in the new adults-only outdoor infinity pool. At 21 metres long, it seems to extend towards the horizon, creating the sensation of swimming suspended above the peaks. Here, mountain silence accompanies every stroke and the panorama becomes part of a peaceful interlude to savour. The family spa invites guests to share the pleasure of water in the children’s pool with its slide and discover the warmth of the dedicated sauna and steam room.
During New Year’s week, with a minimum stay of 7 nights, rates start at around €302 per person per night in a Klassik double room with gourmet board, while the exclusive private chalet experience starts at around €1,029 per unit per night. The customary special gala menus are offered for the festive days, with a supplement of €55 for Christmas and €95 for New Year’s Eve dinner.
Gradonna****S Mountain Resort Châlets & Hotel
Burg 24 – 9981 Kals am Großglockner, Austria
Tel. +43 / 4876 / 82 000
info@gradonna.at
Dolomiten Residenz Sporthotel Sillian****S: the pleasure of coming together as a family in the Tyrolean Dolomites
Among the Tyrolean Dolomites, just 5 kilometres from the Italian border, Dolomiten Residenz Sporthotel Sillian welcomes families into an evocative Alpine landscape. Recognised by the Tyrol Tourist Board among the “Tyrolean Family Nests”, the hotel offers an authentic, familiar retreat where every detail is carefully designed for children’s wellbeing and the snow becomes the stage for lasting memories. The hotel faces directly onto the lower station of the Hochpustertaler Bergbahnen lifts in the Sillian–Thurntaler ski area. A short walk brings guests to the lifts and 22 km of broad, sunny slopes, largely flowing and suitable for those wishing to enjoy their descents without excessive technical difficulty. Young skiers can try the Bobo Miniclub, with its practical magic carpet lift, certified instructors and playful activities on the children’s slope, learning through play.
Fun also lies at the heart of Sporthotel Sillian, at the foot of the Tyrolean Dolomites and Hohe Tauern National Park, in the Häppi Päpi mini club, open seven days a week. Here, children aged three and over can play and socialise with peers in an international environment, supported by qualified staff who also speak Italian. Adults and children can share the pleasure of water in the 3,000-square-metre spa, with heated indoor and outdoor pools, a large slide and water games. Parents have an Adults Only area designed for total silence. Saunas and steam baths include a Tyrolean herbal bath and a mountain-pine sauna. The wellness centre also offers post-ski massages, detox treatments and rituals inspired by Alpine traditions, with options dedicated to new mothers and children. These include rituals using the “Magdalena’s – Made in Tyrol” cosmetics range, comprising vegan, organic and cruelty-free products developed and made in Tyrol.
Sillian’s gourmet board takes guests from a buffet breakfast to a multi-course dinner, with an afternoon snack that becomes a small daily family ritual. To celebrate the year’s most evocative period, Dolomiten Residenz Sporthotel Sillian welcomes guests with dedicated offers between 20 December and Epiphany. For New Year’s week — minimum stay of 7 nights, 26 December to 5/6 January — rates start at around €255 per person per night in a Residenz double room, or from €2,370 per person for the complete weekly package.
Dolomiten Residenz Sporthotel Sillian ****S
A-9920 Sillian 49d – Austria
Tel.: +43 (0)4842-6011-0
info@sporthotel-sillian.at
Sources and images: Raffaelli Monicelli – Public Relations press release. Photo credits: Klaus Peterlin, Stefano Pinci and Gert Perauer, as indicated in the captions. All image rights are reserved by their respective rights holders.
