Mandarin Oriental Cristallo, Cortina, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Dolomites, Italy

Mandarin Oriental Cristallo, Cortina is the rebirth of the grande dame of the Queen of the Dolomites. Opened in 1901 as the Hotel Cristallo, the Art Nouveau palace above Cortina d'Ampezzo welcomed royalty, film stars and Olympians for more than a century before closing in 2023 for a complete transformation by the Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron. It is due to reopen in early 2027 as Mandarin Oriental's first mountain resort, just after Cortina's turn on the world stage as co-host of the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Location: Cortina d'Ampezzo, Dolomites, Italy

The hotel stands on a rise just above the centre of Cortina, at around 1,220 metres in the Ampezzo valley in the Veneto, surrounded by some of the most dramatic peaks in the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the Tofane, Cristallo, Sorapiss and Pomagagnon. The boutiques and cafés of Corso Italia are a short walk or ride away.

Venice and Treviso airports are around two hours away by road. Cortina's ski areas are part of the vast Dolomiti Superski network, and in 2026 the Tofane slopes hosted the Olympic women's alpine skiing races, as Cortina also did when it staged the 1956 Winter Games.

Cortina itself is one of the most elegant mountain towns in Europe, with a lively main street of boutiques, cafés and wine bars, a historic church and a strong sense of style. In winter, the passeggiata along Corso Italia is as much a part of the experience as the skiing, and in summer the town becomes a base for some of the finest hiking in the Dolomites.

Rooms and suites at the Cristallo

The reborn hotel will have 84 rooms and suites, around 30 of them suites, many with private balconies and views across the valley to the Dolomites. Mandarin Oriental describes the rooms as elegantly appointed, and Herzog & de Meuron, known for projects such as Tate Modern in London, are leading both the architecture and the interiors, restoring the building's Art Nouveau character while creating contemporary spaces within it.

Full details of room categories and rates had not been released at the time of writing, so check the hotel's website for the latest information as opening approaches.

Facilities at the Cristallo

Plans include an extensive spa and wellness centre, with a swimming pool that runs from inside the building to the outdoors, so guests can swim out into the mountain air with the peaks above them. There will be several restaurants and bars serving modern Italian cuisine, including a signature restaurant with a new terrace overlooking the valley.

The hotel has a long tradition of hospitality to build on: its golden era followed the 1956 Winter Olympics, when the US team practised on its skating rink, and it became a favourite of European society and Hollywood. The property was acquired in 2021 by funds managed by Attestor, with Mandarin Oriental appointed to run it.

The mountain moment

The defining Cortina moment is the view from the Tofane or the Cinque Torri, five rock towers rising above the ski slopes, where on a clear day the panorama stretches across ridge after ridge of the Dolomites. At sunset, the peaks around the valley glow pink and red in the enrosadira, and from the Cristallo's hillside, the whole amphitheatre lights up.

Nearby, the Lagazuoi cable car rises to Rifugio Lagazuoi, also in our collection, the start of the Hidden Valley ski run, and in summer the Tre Cime di Lavaredo and Lago di Braies are within easy reach.

Why the Cristallo is one of the best mountain hotels

The Cristallo earns its place because it is the most storied grand hotel in the most glamorous resort in the Dolomites, and its rebirth under Mandarin Oriental and Herzog & de Meuron is one of the most anticipated mountain hotel openings in Europe. It is not yet open, and prices will be at the very top of the market. But for anyone planning a stay in Cortina from 2027, it is the hotel to watch.

Until it opens, Cortina has other excellent options, and our Dolomites collection includes nearby alternatives such as Hotel Lago di Braies and Rifugio Lagazuoi.

When to go to the Cristallo

The hotel is due to open in early 2027; check the official website for confirmed dates. Once open, winter, from around December to early April, will bring skiing on the Tofane, Faloria and Cinque Torri, with Christmas, New Year and February the busiest periods. Summer, roughly late June to September, is superb for hiking, via ferratas and cycling among the peaks, and September often brings clear, settled weather and quieter trails.