Posta Zirm Hotel is a 4-star property in Corvara, Alta Badia, run by the Kostner family since 1908. This historic, family-run hotel stands in the center of town, in front of the Col Alt Lift, offering guests an unbeatable base for skiing, hiking, and car-free travel in the Dolomites.
Kati and I stayed in Posta Zirm Hotel in early March for a ski and wellness holiday. It was a joy to experience the hotel’s warm hospitality, newly-renovated Ladinia Wellness room, exceptional spa treatments, and effortless access to the Dolomiti Superski network.
A stay at Posta Zirm Hotel follows a daily rhythm of being cared for, starting with the breakfast buffet, continuing with outdoor adventures, relaxation in the spa, an aperitivo at the bar, and ending with a refined five-course dinner.
- Where: Corvara, Alta Badia
- Number of Rooms: 62
- Dining: Half board
- Hotel Facilities: Spa, wellness area with saunas, indoor swimming pool, fitness room, bar, restaurant, ski and bike room.
- Parking: Outdoor Parking. Garage Parking is available with reservation (extra charge applies)
- Closest Airports: Bolzano Airport, Innsbruck Airport, and Venice International Airport
- Closest Train Station: Bruneck/Brunico in Val Pusteria. From the Bruneck train station, ride Bus 460 to Corvara (1:05-hour ride), or take a taxi.
- Where to Book: Booking.com
Pros and Cons of Staying in Posta Zirm Hotel
Pros
Ski-to-door
Central location
Warm atmosphere
Excellent spa treatments
No car needed
Near après-ski hotspots
Flawless service
Cons
The hotel can feel a bit like a maze, but signage makes it easy to find your way
The History of Posta Zirm Hotel
The Posta Zirm Hotel has a rich and multifaceted history spanning more than 200 years. In the 19th century (1808–1908), it served as a post station of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, where stagecoach drivers would change horses, rest, drink and dine.
Today, the Taverna Posta Zirm restaurant occupies what were once the stables, while the hotel’s lounge and library, with its 200-year-old timber ceiling, sit in the former Ausschank, the old tavern bar.
In 1908, Franz Kostner acquired the property and transformed it into a guesthouse after returning from a five-year expedition as a mountain guide and cartographer in the Caucasus and the Himalayas.
Franz Kostner is widely considered the grandfather of tourism in Val Badia and the Dolomites. His travels convinced him that if people were willing to journey across the world to see the mountains of Central and South Asia, they would also travel across the world to see the Dolomites aka the Pale Mountains. He was absolutely right.
During World War I, the guesthouse served as a base for generals of the Austro-Hungarian Army. The interwar years were difficult for those living in Val Badia, and tourism did not recover until after World War II.
Franz Kostner’s son, also named Franz, later took over management of the hotel. His other son, Erich, became a pioneer of Alpine skiing in Italy. In 1946, Erich Kostner built the Col Alt Lift, the first ski lift in Italy. One year later, he founded the Ladinia Ski Club, and became one of the visionaries behind what would later become the Dolomiti Superski network. The Col Alt lift valley station stands directly behind the Posta Zirm Hotel. And, the rest is history.
Today, Posta Zirm Hotel is run by the fourth generation of the Kostner family: Silvia and Franz Kostner. During our stay, we noticed that many guests, including ourselves, were excited to chat with Silvia and Franz, truly the most gracious hosts you could ever meet.
The Location
Posta Zirm Hotel is located in the heart of Corvara in Alta Badia, in front of the Col Alt lift, Corvara’s main connection to the Pralongià Plateau, a cruisy ski mountain in the Alta Badia ski resort in winter and a walking paradise in summer.
In winter, the hotel’s location is unbeatable, since skiers can walk a few steps from the ski room to the Col Alt valley station and access not only the Alta Badia Ski Resort, but also the interconnected ski areas of Val Gardena and Arabba-Marmolada. Ski gear rental shops are plentiful around the hotel, making renting effortless.
If you want to ski the Sella Ronda circuit during your stay, begin your day with the Col Alt lift, then ski down to the Boé and Borest lifts. From there, take the Boé lift to start the orange route or the Borest lift to begin the green route.
During our stay, I skied across Pralongià to Armentarola, where I boarded the ski shuttle to Passo Falzarego to ski Cinque Torri, which is part of the Cortina d’Ampezzo Ski Resort, and then returned to Val Badia via the Hidden Valley Run.
Another benefit to being located in the center of Corvara is access to après-ski hotspots like L’Got (cocktail bar) and L’Murin Corvara (traditional ski-boots-on-après-ski bar).
In summer, there are numerous hiking trails starting around Corvara including Sass da Ciampac summit hike (Passo Gardena), Gran Cir (Passo Gardena), Pisciadù Day Hike (Passo Gardena), Rifugio Fanes Day Hike (San Cassiano), Armentara Meadows Day Hike (Badia), Path of the Larches (San Cassiano), and Sass de Putia Circuit Hike (Passo delle Erbe).
Our Room
We stayed in the stunning Ladinia Wellness Room, a spacious double room with high ceilings, hardwood floors, natural stone pine furnishings, a breakfast nook, a free standing bathtub, a private sauna, and an infinity balcony facing Sassongher and Sass da Ciampac.
The color scheme of the room reflects the colors of the Ladin flag.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say this is one of the most beautiful panoramic hotel rooms in Corvara.
Another highlight is the Sassongher counter, equipped with a mini fridge, kettle and Nespresso machine, with capsules and tea bags replenished daily.
The shower is stocked with premium Mei shower gel and shampoo, which are 100% natural plant-based products.
The bed is also very comfortable, draped with sumptuous down duvets and pillows
Spa & Wellness Area
The Posta Zirm Hotel wellness area features an indoor swimming pool, a fitness room, and a textile-free sauna zone (ages 14+) that includes a steam sauna, infrared sauna, Finnish sauna, Laconicum (65°C), Frigidarium (12°C with a Kneipp path and ice), a relaxation room, and tea bar.
Spa Treatments
The spa aka Wellness Farm offers a wide range of treatments, from bespoke peelings and facials to popular favorites like sports and relaxing massages.
During our stay, Kati and I tried several treatments, including the Mei Detox facial and Dolce Vita peeling. The spa practitioners are highly trained and professional. And, all treatments are performed using 100% natural wellness products from Mei.
Good to Know | Outside guests can book spa treatments. However, access to the wellness area (sauna and pool) is reserved exclusively for hotel guests.
LNB Painless Treatments
In addition to its range of massages and beauty treatments, the Posta Zirm Hotel also offers LNB Painless treatments. In fact, it is the first hotel in Italy to provide this holistic therapy, designed to deliver long-term pain relief without medication or invasive procedures. The method is based on the principle that most pain originates from muscular and fascial tension.
During our stay, Kati had a wonderful LNB Painless treatment with resident LNB therapist Helga. In addition to the treatment, she provided Kati with a personalized stretching program designed for her specific pain and injury.
Dining
Dinner
Dinners at the Posta Zirm Hotel are elegant yet relaxed, with attentive staff providing flawless, perfectly timed service throughout, making every meal a truly enjoyable experience.
Dinner begins with a salad and antipasti buffet, followed by a soup, first course, second course, and dessert. For each course, there are two or three options, one of which is always vegetarian. Vegan dishes are available upon request. We especially appreciated being able to choose our evening courses in the evening rather than in the morning, as is common in many hotels.
We also really liked the pacing of dinner. After each course, we were asked if we were ready to continue, which meant the meal always moved at a pace that suited us. I often find long, drawn-out two-hour half-board dinners quite exhausting, so it was a real pleasure to dine at our preferred rhythm, never once wondering, “Did they forget about us?”
The Posta Zirm Hotel takes pride in its cuisine, with dishes prepared fresh daily using regional ingredients whenever possible. The menu is largely inspired by Italian cuisine.
Drinking Water | A carafe of BWT-purified drinking water is waiting for you at your table and replenished as needed, completely free of charge.
Dress Code | Smart casual or even dressy casual. No flip flops, shorts, sandals, baseball caps, etc…
Dinner Credit | If you want to dine somewhere else during your stay, just notify the reception in the morning, so you can receive a dinner credit.
Breakfast
A generous breakfast buffet is laid out each morning. I loved the delectable selection of cakes and the orange juicer, accompanied by a basket of freshly cut blood oranges for easy juice-making.
While I usually prefer made-to-order eggs, the soft-boiled eggs here were perfectly adequate. Portable timers are provided to ensure you never overcook them.
Coffee is served at the table, rounding out a delightful breakfast experience.
Bar
The Posta Zirm bar is an inviting space, enlivened by live music during the week. Guests flow in and out of the space before and after dinner. It’s a great place to unwind at the end of the day.
Included Services & Special Perks
Guided Hikes | Guests can join guided hikes throughout the year. In winter, guided hikes are organized by the Alta Badia tourist office. To join these hikes for free, simply register at the reception.
Hiking Shuttle | Car-free travelers will have a very easy time getting around Val Badia. The Corvara Bus Station (Corvara Busbahnhof/Autostazione) is located just across the street from the hotel. While most trailheads and destinations are accessible by bus, hikers who need a shuttle drop-off or pick-up to or from a trailhead can request one at no extra charge.
Ski / Bike Room | During your stay, you can store your ski gear or bikes in a secure room, which is accessible using your room keycard.
Alta Badia Daily News | For information on upcoming events, guided excursions, and even interesting information on local legends and history, grab the Daily News paper available at the reception.
Alta Badia Travel Guides
Seasonal Guides:
Alta Badia Villages:
Dolomites Travel:
- Dolomites Travel Guide
- Places to Visit in the Dolomites
- Things to Do in the Dolomites
- How to Get to the Dolomites
- How to Visit the Dolomites Without a Car
- Best Time to Visit the Dolomites
- Day Hikes in the Dolomites
This review was created in collaboration with Posta Zirm Hotel. All opinions, experiences, and impressions expressed are entirely my own.
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