HOTEL de LEN is an impeccably-run, 4-star luxury hotel in the town center of Cortina d’Ampezzo in the Italian Dolomites. With its wood-paneled facade and sustainable concept, this new hotel is a splash of lively color on Cortina’s hospitality scene.
HOTEL de LEN, formerly Hotel Impero, opened its doors in 2022 after major renovations executed by a team of local artisans, carpenters, and builders.
The result is a stunning hotel – both elegant and rustic – which pays tribute to the Ampezzo region and the hotel’s natural surroundings.
The hotel philosophy is rooted in ethical construction and sustainable design. HOTEL de LEN means “Hotel of Wood” in Ladin. As the name implies, the primary building material of the hotel is wood, which produces lower carbon emissions and requires less electricity than other construction materials. Also, much of the wood used in the renovation was reclaimed.
HOTEL de LEN is a gorgeous accommodation with thoughtfully-designed, art-filled spaces (lounge, cocktail bar, restaurant, and wellness area) as well as tastefully-furnished, air-conditioned bedrooms.
Beyond the sleek alpine aesthetics, we were wowed by the passionate and accommodating team that runs this fine hotel.
Keep reading to learn more about what makes HOTEL de LEN one of the best hotels in the Dolomites.
- Where: Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy
- Number of Rooms: 22
- Dining: on-site restaurant and bar
- Hotel Facilities: rooftop spa (1 hour included), cocktail bar, living room, ski storage
- Room Amenities: sound insulation, independent air conditioning, minibar, safe, TV, electromagnetic pollution filtration system
- Parking: Hotel parking is available off-site (valet or self-park)
- Closest Airport: Venice International Airport, Italy
- Where to Book: Booking.com
The Location
Cortina d’Ampezzo is located in Ampezzo Valley in the Italian Alps. The town is ringed by the spectacular Tofane Group, Sorapiss Group, Cristallo Group, and Croda da Lago chain.
Cortina is a world-famous ski resort. The winter season commences in mid/late December and ends in late March/early April.
This Dolomites town is also a hotspot for hiking and via ferrata climbing in summer and fall (mid/late June to mid/late October).
Nearby attractions include: Lago Federa, Lago di Sorapis, Rifugio Nuvolau and Cinque Torri, Rifugio Lagazuoi, Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Tofana di Rozes, Mondeval Plateau, Cadini di Misurina, and Lago delle Baste.
HOTEL de LEN is located on Via Cesare Battisti, directly in the town center, just steps away from the pedestrian zone. The hotel is walking distance to the Cortina d’Ampezzo main bus station and the Faloria Cable Car.
Plan your trip to Cortina with our Cortina d’Ampezzo Travel Guide and Cortina d’Ampezzo Hiking Guide.
The Rooms
The 22 alpine style rooms of HOTEL de LEN are quiet, comfortable, and all paneled with reclaimed stone pine or fir wood. Beds are large and comfy, with premium down comforters and high thread count sheets.
Bathrooms are contemporary in upcycled fir and slate gray, with bespoke toiletries. All the fixtures are trendy and modern.
Soft lighting, simple lines, velvet jewel-tone fabrics, and hardwood floors all contribute to the visual appeal of the rooms.
Each room at HOTEL de LEN boasts air-conditioning, sound insulation, energy-enhancing bed panels, and a filtration system, installed to promote well-being by removing electromagnetic pollution.
We slept remarkably well here.
Wellness & Spa
The light-filled HOTEL de LEN rooftop spa overlooks the surrounding mountains and town. It comprises several saunas (Finnish, steam, and bio), an outdoor jacuzzi, a relaxation area, emotional showers, an ice fountain, and a tea bar.
All guests receive one complimentary visit (1 hour) during their stay. Make a reservation for your spa time when you check-in (or in advance).
If you want to revisit the spa, you can book additional visits at a rate of 30 EUR per person for 60 minutes, or 20 EUR per person for 60 minutes between 12 pm and 3 pm. Spa treatments (massages, facials, body scrubs, etc…) are also available.
Bathrobes, slippers, and towels are all provided. It’s required to wear swimming suits in the spa area, including the saunas.
Book your stay at HOTEL de LEN.
Dining at Ristorante De Len
Breakfast
Breakfast is served in the hotel restaurant. An assortment of homemade pastries and breads are laid out immediately.
Additionally, you can order platters of cold cuts, cheese, smoked trout, seasonal vegetables, egg dishes, fruits, cereals, and yogurts, and sweets from the breakfast menu. Tea, espresso drinks, and fresh homemade fruit juices (e.g. Pear-Lemon-Elderflower) are all included as well.
Dinner
Located on the ground floor, the HOTEL de LEN restaurant looks out onto Via Cesare Battisti street, and thus feels integrated into town life.
Though certainly a fine restaurant, the atmosphere is warm, casual and convivial. The dining staff navigated us through our dining experience with great care and absolutely zero pretension.
The restaurant menu features local flavors and Ampezzo cuisine.
We ate two dinners at HOTEL de LEN. The culinary highlights were the Cipolla Cotta al Sale (stuffed onion cooked under salt), Bigoli al ragu d’Anatra (bigoli pasta with duck ragout), Ravioli casunziei (beetroot ravioli), and La Cortinese Cortoletta (breaded cutlet served on a bed of fresh herbs).
Opening Times | 12 pm – 10 pm
Bar de Len
Bar de Len occupies a somewhat clandestine location below the dining area. Guests can enjoy cocktails and other beverages from 7:30 pm until 1 pm in this lovely, intimate setting.
Il Salotto Living Room
The Il Salotto Living Room is a spacious common area on the first floor with soft lighting, plush velvet sofas, and a complimentary Merende snack bar.
The timber walls are adorned with art, including the moving photograph “Schegge di incanto in fondo al dubbio” (2009) by MASBEDO.
Guests have unencumbered access to this relaxation space. Grab some cookies and a beverage (coffee, juice, or water) and lounge here with a book. Books about the region are scattered throughout the space.
Book your stay at HOTEL de LEN.
Service & Staff
The HOTEL de LEN staff is excellent. They care. It feels like each member of the team is invested in your having an exceptional stay.
Final Thoughts
We highly recommend staying at HOTEL de LEN. Everything about our experience was perfect.
This is an especially ideal place to stay if you’re traveling to Cortina d’Ampezzo without a car. You’re walking distance to numerous restaurants, bars, and shops as well as the main Cortina bus station.
One last note.The hotel pricing follows a “pay for what you use” as opposed to an “all-inclusive” model. They don’t want people to pay for something they don’t use (e.g. parking, wellness facilities). That makes sense, but it is contrary to how most hotels in the Dolomites operate.
HOTEL de LEN has a private car park (extra fee), located off-site, about 400 meters away from the hotel (5 minute-walk). Self-parking and valet parking are available.
Booking
For the best rates, we recommend checking out Booking.com.
If HOTEL de LEN is fully booked, look for accommodation in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Dolomites Trip Planning Essentials
Use our Dolomites Travel Guide and Dolomites blog archive to plan an unforgettable trip to northeastern Italy.
When to Visit the Dolomites
Winter Season. For skiing and winter activities, the best time to visit is between mid/late December and March.
Summer and Fall Seasons. The best time to road trip and hike in the Dolomites is between mid-June and mid-September. If the weather is stable, the hiking season can easily continue until late October.
How to Get to the Dolomites
Read How to Get to the Dolomites to find out how to travel to the Dolomites from the closest airports, train stations, and bus terminals.
If you’re traveling without a car, also check out How to Visit the Dolomites Without a Car.
Car Rental
The easiest way to travel between hiking destinations in the Italian Dolomites is with your own car. Check out our itineraries for trip inspiration:
We recommend using the Discovercars.com car rental reservation platform to search for and book car rentals. This easy-to-use booking platform compares car rental deals from 500+ trusted providers, so that you can choose the best option for your trip.
Tip: If you can only drive automatic transmission cars, as opposed to manual transmission cars (stick shift), book your car rental as early as possible.
Best Places to Stay
Figuring out where to stay in the Dolomites is probably the biggest hurdle to planning a trip to the Dolomites. We’ve created three guides to help you decide where to stay:
- Where to Stay in the Dolomites in Summer: best villages and towns in South Tyrol, Trentino and Belluno
- Best Hotels in the Dolomites: best boutique and luxury hotels in the Dolomites
- Dolomites Accommodation Guide: farm stays, mountain huts, wellness hotels, aparthotels
- Val Gardena Hotels: best accommodations in Ortisei, Santa Cristina, and Selva
We suggest choosing 2-4 bases for your Dolomites trip and spending 2-4 nights in each base.
- Base 1: Val Gardena
- Base 2: Val di Funes
- Base 3: Alta Badia
- Base 4: Cortina d’Ampezzo
- Base 5: Alta Pusteria
- Base 6: San Martino di Castrozza
What to See & Do
During your trip to the Dolomites, you can go via ferrata climbing, culinary hiking, hut to hut hiking, cycling, paragliding, and so much more. We’ve highlighted our favorite experiences in Best Things to Do in the Dolomites.
Wherever you decide to stay, you’ll be surrounded by glorious mountain scenery and incredible natural landmarks.
In Best Places to Visit in the Dolomites, we’ve outlined the most iconic attractions as well as lesser-known destinations across the Dolomites, including Alpe di Siusi, Val di Funes, Lago di Braies, Prato Piazza, and Seceda.
Dolomites Hiking Guides
Hiking in the Dolomites is our passion. Year after year, we love discovering new trails and expanding our knowledge of the area. For day hiking, check out Best Day Hikes in the Dolomites. For trekking, take a look at our guide to Hut to Hut Hiking in the Dolomites and Alta Via 1.
For region-specific hiking trails, check out:
- Best Hikes in Val Gardena
- Best Hikes in Cortina d’Ampezzo
- Best Hikes in Alta Badia
- Sexten Dolomites Hiking Guide
- Puez-Odle Nature Park
Recommended Hiking Guidebook: Cicerone Guide: Shorter Walks in the Dolomites
More Dolomites Hotel Reviews
- Excelsior Dolomites Life Resort in San Vigilio di Marebbe, Kronplatz
- Camina Suite & Spa in Cortina d’Ampezzo
- Badia Hill in Badia, Alta Badia
- Locanda degli Artisti Art Hotel in Canazei, Val di Fassa
- Dorfhotel Beludei in Santa Cristina, Val Gardena
- Naturhotel Leitlhof in San Candido, Alta Pusteria
- My Arbor – Plose Wellness Hotel near Brixen, South Tyrol
- Les Dolomites Mountain Lodges in Lungiarü, Kronplatz
