Cobbled streets below. Dolomite giants above. A hot tub humming on a private terrace in between. Welcome to Aquila Dolomites Residence — where adventure, culture, and convenience converge in Val Gardena.
Ortisei, also known as St. Ulrich and Urtijei, has a way of dazzling you before you even set down your bags. The painted facades, the fir-lined slopes, the kind of alpine atmosphere that somehow both calms and enlivens you. And right in the center of it all, tucked into the pedestrian zone where cobblestones glow in the evening light and café chatter drifts like music, sits Aquila Dolomites Residence, a modern retreat that’s equal parts practical, peaceful, and picturesque.
We recently spent three nights here and while it wasn’t our first time staying in Ortisei, it was our first time staying this centrally. The difference was immediate. Having Ortisei quite literally at our doorstep changed how we moved, how we explored, and how fully we slipped into the rhythm of Val Gardena.
In a region where logistics can tangle even the best-laid plans, Aquila Dolomites Residence makes everything easy. Gondolas, groceries, bakeries, restaurants, shops, trailheads, and transit are all just steps away. It’s the kind of place that feels like you’re skipping to the front row of alpine living.
Location: The Beating Heart of Ortisei
We don’t know about you, but for us there’s a particular kind of travel fatigue that sets in when we’ve spent too much time shuttling between our accommodation and the places we actually want to be. The drive to the trailhead. The search for parking. The ongoing logistical calculus that keeps us in our heads instead of in the moment.
At Aquila Dolomites Residence, we simply walked downstairs.
The owners, the Kirchmayr family, clearly understand something that many accommodations miss entirely: location isn’t just about proximity to attractions. It’s also about eliminating friction. The friction that creeps in when every meal, hike, or stroll requires a plan rather than a simple wander.
Aquila sits right on Ortisei’s main pedestrian street, closed to traffic yet fully accessible for guests thanks to permitted vehicle access for parking. We were able to drive right to its parking garage located in the building. Once settled, it was blissful being car-free. Cafés, wine bars, bakeries, sporting goods shops, wood carving boutiques, and the main square are just steps in any direction.
Walkability highlights:
- 5 minutes to the Seceda cable car station
- 5 minutes to the Alpe di Siusi | Seiser Alm cable car station
- 5 minutes to the Resciesa | Raschötz funicular station
- 2 minutes to St. Anthony Square — the transport hub where buses depart for every corner of South Tyrol
- 2 minutes to dining
- 0 minutes to shopping — you’re already there
The Art of Arrival
After a long day of hiking in nearby Val di Funes, we were thankful for the warm, efficient, and welcoming check-in at Aquila.
At the reception, we met Marie-Laure, the property manager, whose warmth and local knowledge immediately set the tone for our stay. She may not flaunt an official title in hospitality, but we’re pretty sure she holds a doctorate in the art of arrival. Her personal suggestions paired with a welcome booklet so detailed it rivaled a mini guidebook made settling in effortless.
Included with our stay was the Südtirol Guest Pass, which grants unlimited bus travel throughout the valley. Combined with Aquila’s central location, it can completely redefine your hiking approach. No more plotting circular routes to return to a parked car. With the card, you can start virtually anywhere, end anywhere, and let the next bus carry you back to Ortisei.
Marie-Laure also filled us in on the extras that make Aquila a true basecamp for mountain lovers. Guests get free access to Mar Dolomit, Ortisei’s pool complex, perfect after a long hike or ride. For those craving a taste of local culture, private food and wine tours with a top sommelier can be arranged.
Prefer two wheels? Daily mountain and e-bike outings are available through trusted local guides. But the real gem is Aquila’s complimentary guided hiking program with Theo, their certified in-house guide. We immediately signed up to experience the Dolomites through the eyes of someone who’s spent a lifetime walking these mountains.
The Penthouse Piccolo: Modern Alpine Comfort With Breathtaking Views
Aquila Dolomites Residence is comprised of two buildings located next to each other. Within these are three categories of apartments: Heritage units in the historic building, and Prestige and Penthouse apartments in the newer structure. We stayed in the Penthouse Piccolo, a sleek top-floor apartment that sleeps two to four people.
The apartment was a stylish hideaway with high ceilings, thoughtful touches, and a layout that made the most of every inch without sacrificing comfort. It had that particular South Tyrolean alchemy we’ve come to adore: modern yet rooted, minimal yet warm. The kind of design that puts you at ease the moment you walk in.
But the terrace. The terrace is why you book a Penthouse.
We’ve stayed in accommodations with so-called “views” that required craning your neck at just the right angle to catch a glimpse of the surrounding beauty. This was not that. The Sella Group dominated the eastern horizon, just beyond the unmistakable silhouette of Sassolungo and the spire of St. Anthony chapel, while Ortisei unfolded below us like a living postcard: part mountain hamlet, part model train set.
And yet, for all its energy, the town never intruded. Evenings remained quiet, and we slept with the windows open to the fresh air swirling off the peaks. We also appreciated the flora-lined terrace, which gave us a sense of privacy without ever separating us from the landscape. Perched above the cobblestone avenues, we still felt very much in the mountains, not removed from them.
And then there was the hot tub.
If you’ve ever spent a full day hitting the trails, you know how soothing it is to slip into the warm embrace of a jacuzzi afterward. But having one right on our terrace? That’s a different level of luxury entirely. No robe. No slippers. No weaving through hallways to find the wellness center. Just a glass of local wine, a sky shifting from blue to violet, and a private terrace that let us watch the daylight fade as the village lights of Ortisei flickered to life one by one.
We found ourselves returning to it every night. And when one of us tweaked a knee while hiking across the Resciesa Alp, it felt like having a personal masseuse on standby, no spa appointment necessary. When Marie-Laure heard about the injury, she immediately offered to bring an ice pack or even arrange for a doctor to take a look. Her attentiveness was as comforting as the hot tub itself.
That terrace became our sanctuary. And thanks to a boutique Despar Dolomiti grocery store directly across from Aquila, we could stock our kitchen with everything from locally roasted coffee to speck, mountain cheeses, hay milk, yogurt, crisp apples, and of course regional wine and beer.
For a sweeter start to the day, we made the short stroll to the family-run Trocker Bakery, where glass cases brimmed with fresh South Tyrolean pastries. It was tempting to devour some on the spot, but we held out just long enough to enjoy them on the terrace, warm cup in hand, as the morning sun poured into Val Gardena.
In the Company of Peaks & Laughter
With its prime position in Ortisei, Aquila Dolomites Residence serves as an ideal base for hikers. The property anticipates every need, offering hiking poles, shuttle service if necessary, and access to their in-house certified guide, Theo. His complimentary hikes, offered twice a week, connect guests not only to the region’s most scenic trails but also to its soul.
We joined Theo for a full-day hike across Alpe di Siusi, Europe’s largest high-altitude alpine meadow, and what could have been a scenic stroll became something far more memorable. Despite having hiked the plateau several times, Theo opened our eyes to things we’d never noticed. It was like switching from black-and-white to technicolor.
His deep knowledge of the land was matched only by his easygoing humor. We spent just as much time laughing as we did soaking in the views.
Over lunch at Malga Sanon, we raised a glass of pine schnapps to new friends, old trails, and the stories between. Later, Theo led us to Malga Schgaguler Schwaige, our favorite hut on the plateau, for a cold beer and a hearty Marende, the South Tyrolean afternoon snack. It was also a chance to admire the hut’s newest renovations and reconnect with the wonderful family who runs it. You can read more about their story here.
We also explored independently, and the logistics proved almost comically simple.
On our final morning, we walked from Aquila to the Seceda escalator — yes, an actual covered escalator system that carries hikers up the first steep section of Ortisei’s hillside — then continued to the Resciesa funicular, which rolled its way up to the Resciesa Alp. From there, we embarked on a full-day circuit hike that earned every bite of dinner that night.
After hiking, we wandered past Ortisei’s cemetery and took a moment to reflect and stretch the day just a little longer. Among the carefully tended graves of generations of Val Gardena families, we came across the resting place of Luis Trenker, perhaps the most famous son Ortisei ever produced.
For those unfamiliar with the name: Trenker essentially invented the mountain film genre, directing and starring in movies that brought the Dolomites to international audiences long before Instagram, GoPros, or the term “adventure tourism” ever existed. Paying our respects to this Alpine legend was the perfect way to end a day that captured everything we loved about staying at Aquila: ease, discovery, and a sense of place.
Who Aquila Is Perfect For
Aquila doesn’t try to compete with Ortisei’s luxury spa hotels or rustic mountain farmstays. Instead, it carves out its own niche: pristine, modern apartments right in the heart of town. And somehow, amid Ortisei’s centuries-old stone architecture, it still manages to surround guests with surprising pockets of greenery. We felt like we had the best of both worlds.
After three nights, we understood its magic. Aquila gives you the freedom of apartment-style living in a prime location, yet packs in perks that make the stay feel much bigger: guided hikes, pool access, food and wine outings, local know‑how, and the kind of small courtesies that make travel in this region so much easier. It delivers exactly what seasoned travelers value most: comfort, convenience, location, and the kind of calm that’s earned after a day on the trails in South Tyrol.
We’d especially recommend Aquila for:
- Hikers and bikers who want maximum trail time with minimum hassle
- Skiers, and any other snow lovers visiting the Dolomites in winter, who prefer Ortisei’s charm and lift access over mega-resort chaos
- Couples craving solitude, but still wanting to dip into Ortisei’s lively mix of restaurants, bars, and shops
- Families looking for a peaceful, traffic-free setting with room to roam
- Foodies who prefer cooking with local ingredients but want great restaurants nearby
- Solo travelers who seek apartment-style living paired with attentive hospitality
- Anyone who wants to be close to mountain town life without sacrificing quiet
Booking Your Stay
While we stayed in one of the penthouse apartments — an experience we’d repeat in a heartbeat — you don’t need to book big to enjoy what makes this place special. Aquila Dolomites Residence offers a wide range of options from sleek one-bedroom suites perfect for couples to spacious flats ideal for families or friends.
You can book directly on their website:
www.aquiladolomites.com
Or find them on Booking.com — convenient if you’re part of their rewards program:
Aquila Dolomites Residence – Booking.com
Many thanks to Aquila Dolomites Residence for hosting us, and to Theo for one of our best days on Alpe di Siusi. As always, all opinions in this review are entirely our own.
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