The Quellenhof Luxury Resort Passeier is the original Quellenhof, the family-run South Tyrolean five-star that later gave birth to the sister resort on Lake Garda. It sits in the green Passeier Valley above Merano and has grown into something closer to an alpine village than a hotel: several guesthouses, a 10,500 m² spa, five clay tennis courts, its own short golf course, a riding stable and, since the 2026 Michelin guide, a starred restaurant. My one-line verdict: arguably one of the most complete active resorts in the Alps, as long as you are happy with scale rather than intimacy.
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Quick facts: Quellenhof Luxury Resort Passeier
- Location: Val Passiria (Passeiertal), about three kilometres from the village of San Martino in Passiria (St. Martin in Passeier) and roughly 15 minutes by car from Merano, South Tyrol.
- Rooms and suites: around 170 units across four guesthouses and two residences; Falstaff lists 72 rooms, 91 suites and 7 chalets.
- Price level: high, with gourmet half board (breakfast buffet and a six-course dinner) included.
- Season: not open year-round. The 2026 offer calendar runs from early March 2026 to 10 January 2027, which points to a closure from mid-January to early March. Ask the hotel for exact dates.
- Nearest airports: Bolzano (roughly one hour), Innsbruck and Verona (the hotel quotes 1.5 to 2 hours for both).
- Best for: families, clay court tennis players, golfers and anyone who wants a big spa with separate adults-only zones.
Check prices and availability
The chalets and the larger suites sell out early around Easter, in summer and over Christmas. Compare dates before you commit.
Location and getting there
The Passeier Valley runs north from Merano towards the Jaufenpass and the Timmelsjoch. The resort lies on the valley floor beside the Passer river, about three kilometres before St. Martin. It feels properly alpine, yet Merano is only around a quarter of an hour away, and the mild, sunny valley climate is why tennis and golf work here from spring to late autumn.
Bolzano airport, served by SKYALPS, is the closest at roughly an hour by car. The hotel quotes 1.5 to 2 hours from Innsbruck and Verona; from Verona I would allow the full two hours plus summer traffic on the A22. The mountain passes from Innsbruck are scenic but narrow, the Timmelsjoch only opens from June to mid-October, and the hotel advises against both in bad weather. The resort also runs a paid shuttle from airports including Bolzano, Verona, Innsbruck, Munich and Milan; book it with your room. Our Italy travel planner covers car hire and transfers, and if you fly into Verona, our Verona, Valpolicella and Lake Garda guide is useful for a night or two on the way.
Rooms and suites
Accommodation is spread over four guesthouses, labelled F, P, Q and V, plus two residences. Falstaff lists 72 rooms, 91 suites and 7 chalets, a large resort by South Tyrolean standards.
- Rooms in Guesthouse Q: from the 18 m² Laugen single and the 28 m² Hirzer double up to the 40 to 50 m² Ifinger and Ortler doubles. Good value, but the smallest categories feel compact for a long stay.
- Guesthouse F: the Edelweiß and Bergkristall rooms (50 to 70 m²), the Rose Suites (90 to 135 m²) and the Giardino Natur Suite. This is also the building with the adults-only Rooftop Spa, so couples should look here first.
- Guesthouse P: Wellness and Garden Suites (60 to 85 m²), several with garden access, plus the Penthouse Suite, the Presidential Suite and the Sky Chalet, which has its own observatory.
- Chalets: the top end, including the 350 m² Infinity Chalet and a 280 m² chalet suite with a private 8 x 3 metre pool. Two further chalets sit beside Guesthouse V.
Expect alpine luxury: wood, stone and balconies facing the mountains. The buildings differ in age and character, so if a specific view matters, ask the hotel before you book.
Dining
Most guests are on gourmet half board, which means a generous breakfast buffet and a six-course dinner. Guests in Guesthouses P and V dine in the Panorama Restaurant. The hotel asks for elegant attire at dinner, so pack something smarter than hiking gear.
- Gourmetstube 1897: the fine dining room, awarded its first Michelin star in the Michelin Guide Italy 2026. Book it as a special evening and tell the hotel so they can adjust your half board.
- Sky Restaurant Teppanyaki: a rooftop Japanese show-cooking counter, which the hotel describes as South Tyrol’s first teppanyaki restaurant. It seats only 17 guests and was rebuilt with a glass facade for 2026, so reserve ahead.
- Bathrobe Bistro Atmosphera: the casual option for a light lunch between spa sessions, as the name suggests.
- Wine cellar, bar and cigar lounge: the bar and terrace are being redesigned from 2026, along with a new à la carte restaurant open to outside guests.
Check rates at Quellenhof Luxury Resort Passeier
Spa and pools
The wellness area covers 10,500 m², among the largest hotel spas in South Tyrol. Guides count twelve pools; sauna counts vary between sources (16 to 25). What matters more is the zoning, which keeps families and couples apart.
- Rooftop Spa (Guesthouse F): adults only, from 16, with a swimwear area and a nude sauna area, plus a flower-shaped glass infinity pool on the roof.
- Vital Spa (Guesthouse V): adults only, from 14 (saunas from 16), with the Lake Event Sauna in a nude area, a 7% saltwater pool and the salt worlds.
- Infinity sports pool and bathing pond: a 25 metre pool for proper lengths and a large natural pond for cooling off.
- Family Spa (Guesthouse P): for families with children from six, with an indoor pool and whirlpool.
- Acqua Family Parc: a year-round heated outdoor pool, children’s pool with a pirate ship, a lazy river and an indoor tube slide of more than 100 metres.
There is also a treatment spa with the resort’s own Q-Touch cosmetics and a Medical Center focused on prevention and longevity. Book treatments before you arrive in high season.
Sport and activities
This is where the Passeier resort genuinely stands out, and why it features in our guide to the best luxury hotels with tennis courts in Italy.
Tennis and padel
The hotel lists six outdoor tennis courts, five clay and one hard (one tourism listing mentions seven, so ask the hotel if the exact number matters). There are also two padel courts, which the hotel says made it the first hotel in South Tyrol with two, plus a pickleball court and beach tennis. Courts, rackets and balls are free for guests, as are the padel courts and equipment. The Tennis Academy Quellenhof offers paid private lessons, a Monday to Friday weekly course in small groups and a children’s course. The season runs from March to the end of November. Clay is the clear difference from the sister resort on Lake Garda, which has hard courts.
Golf
The resort has its own four-hole course on site, with a driving range of 20 bays (ten covered) and putting, chipping and pitching greens. For a full round, the 18-hole, par 71 Golf Club Passeier.Meran is about five minutes away by car; the hotel is a founding member of the club, and guests pay a reduced green fee (book tee times at reception). The course is open from March to November, and the resort’s pro, Gordon Hume, teaches lessons and courses up to Green Card level. For other golf bases in Italy, see our guide to the best golf resorts in Italy.
Riding and everything else
The riding stable has around 20 school horses, including Haflingers and Icelandic horses, a 60 x 24 metre indoor arena, lessons, pony rides for children and hacks along the Passer river. Add hiking, e-biking, yoga, bowling and an Action Park with trampolines, go-karts and climbing, and it is hard to get bored.
What’s nearby
- Merano: the Belle Époque spa town at the mouth of the valley, with thermal baths and the Gardens of Trauttmansdorff Castle.
- St. Leonhard in Passeier: birthplace of the Tyrolean hero Andreas Hofer, with a museum at the Sandhof.
- Hiking: the Texel Group Nature Park and the Merano High Mountain Trail are close by.
- Lake Garda: roughly two and a half hours south, so a two-centre trip with the sister resort in Lazise is realistic. Our guide to tennis hotels on Lake Garda covers the options there.
Quellenhof Passeier vs similar hotels
| Hotel | Location | Standout | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quellenhof Luxury Resort Passeier | Passeier Valley, near Merano | 5 clay and 1 hard court, 4-hole course, 10,500 m² spa, riding stable | Families, clay court players, golfers |
| Quellenhof See Lodge | Same address, Passeier Valley | Small adults-only hotel (from 14), lake suites and villas, underwater restaurant | Couples who want the area without children |
| Quellenhof Luxury Resort Lazise | Lazise, Lake Garda | 2 hard courts, 2 padel courts, 2,000 m² spa, rooftop Sky Pool | Lake views and a milder climate |
| Preidlhof | Naturno, west of Merano | Adults-only spa resort (from 16) | Couples focused on spa time |
In short: Passeier is the bigger, sportier and more family-friendly sibling, while our Quellenhof Lazise review explains why the Lake Garda resort suits travellers who want lake views and hard court tennis in a warmer climate. If you want a quieter, couples-only stay near Merano, read our Preidlhof review or look at the See Lodge next door.
Who it suits, and who it does not
It suits:
- Families who want slides, a kids’ club (from age three), riding and an action park, with grown-up spa zones for the parents.
- Clay court tennis players who want free court time and coaching on site.
- Golfers who want a practice set-up at the door and a reduced green fee at an 18-hole course five minutes away.
- Dog owners: dogs are welcome for a daily fee, though not in the spa.
It does not suit:
- Travellers looking for a small, quiet boutique hotel: this is a large resort with many families.
- Couples who want a strictly adults-only property: choose the See Lodge or Preidlhof instead.
- Those who want to walk to town in the evening; St. Martin is about three kilometres away and Merano needs a car or taxi.
- Skiers: the resort closes for part of the winter and is not a ski hotel.
Charlotte’s tip: choose your guesthouse, not just your room
At a resort this size, the building you sleep in shapes your stay. Without children, pick Guesthouse F for the adults-only Rooftop Spa on your doorstep. With children, Guesthouse P puts you close to the Family Spa. Then come in May, June or September: the clay courts and the golf course are in prime condition, the valley is green, and the pools are calmer than in August.
Practical tips
- Booking: reserve tennis lessons, treatments, a Gourmetstube table and the teppanyaki counter when you book the room, especially for school holidays.
- Best rooms to request: the Rose Suites in Guesthouse F for couples, the Garden Suites in Guesthouse P for families, and one of the chalets for a special occasion.
- Season: tennis runs from March to the end of November, golf from March to November. The resort appears to close from mid-January to early March; confirm exact dates with the hotel.
- Dress: sporty by day, elegant for dinner.
- Kids: very welcome, but not in the Rooftop Spa (16+) or Vital Spa (14+). The Family Spa is from age six. Ask the hotel about current children’s rates.
Check prices and availability
Compare room categories across the guesthouses, from the Hirzer doubles to the chalets, and check which dates include tennis or riding weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Quellenhof Passeier adults-only?
No. It is a family-friendly resort with dedicated adults-only spa zones (Rooftop Spa from 16, Vital Spa from 14). The adults-only Quellenhof See Lodge, at the same address, is a separate hotel.
Does the Quellenhof Passeier have clay tennis courts?
Yes. The hotel lists five clay courts and one hard court, plus two padel courts and pickleball. Court use is free for guests; lessons and courses are extra.
Does the hotel have its own golf course?
It has a four-hole course and a driving range on site. The 18-hole Golf Club Passeier.Meran is about five minutes away, with a reduced green fee for guests.
Is the Quellenhof Passeier open all year?
No. The 2026 offer calendar runs from early March 2026 to 10 January 2027, which suggests a winter closure from mid-January to early March. Ask the hotel for exact dates.
