Katelruth/ Castelrotto with kids: a mama’s guide to the pretty mountain town on the Dolomites you’ll love

All you need to know to plan a stay in Kastelruth /Castelrotto with kids: why visit, best things to do with kids, where to stay, why I recommend it to experience the Dolomites with kids. Tips for a mama!

Kastelruth/ Castelrotto is a pretty mountain town in the Dolomites, in Northern Italy.

It is a small center blessed with a stunning location in front of the breathtaking Sciliar Massif and it has all you can dream of from a mountain village: houses that look our of German fairy tale book, pretty streets, bakeries and pastry shops, super comfy hotels and jaw dropping mountain views.

As well as all this, Kastelruth/ Castelrotto also has a lovely playground for kids and happens to be close to may kid-friendly trails that make it possible to enjoy the mountains even for families with very small kids and non hikers.

I adore the Dolomites and, as I have said before in many posts about this area, I have been coming here every summer since I was a kid myself (that means I have over 40 year experience of this place!)

Over the course of the years, I have been to several valleys and towns and I believe Castelrotto is particularly suited to families: I believe it is one of the best places on the Dolomites for kids!

On the basis of my experience, and as I find myself in Castelrotto once again right now, today I want to share all I think you need to know about this pretty town, why I recommend it and how to plan a stay.

I hope you enjoy it!

Since I come here in summer, my guide to Castelrotto with kids focuses mostly on the summer season.

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Kastelruth with kids or Castelrotto with kids?

Before we deep dive into this guide, it can be useful to know that Kastelruth and Castelrotto are two names for the same town.

This area is bilingual German – Italian and towns have names in double languages.

Since I speak Italian, I normally refer to the town as Castelrotto but in English I often call it Kastelruth. In either case, it is the same place and both names are correct!

Why visit Castelrotto with kids

I recommend you visit Castelrotto with kids if:

• You want to be in a pretty town on the Dolomites with a historic center, town life, shops and local life (playground, schools, choir, etc)

• You want a town on the Dolomites you can easily reach from Bolzano without a car

• You want easy access to the stunning Alpe di Siusi plateau (see below)

• You want easy access to easy hikes and mellow, serene walks in the mountains

The best things to do in Castelrotto with kids in summer

Castelrotto is a small mountain town, and the best things to do therefore have to do with the stunning natural position of the town, plus some activities in the town you can enjoy in the tourism season.

Go hiking on stunning Alpe di Siusi

Kastelruth / Castelrotto is at the basis of the stunning Alpe di Siusi Plateau, a high mountain pasture with serene meadows and breathtaking Alpine views you can reach from the town by bus or by a combinationof bus + cable car.

Castelrotto is not just a base, the town has its own charms, but there is no doubt that it is the easy access to the Alpe that makes it extra special.

When we are here, we always mix time around the town and time up the Alpe.

There, you find many very easy hiking trails suitable for small kids (some even for strollers), mountain huts, restaurants and playgrounds to suit all needs.

You can find here >> my guide to Alpe di Siusi with kids

Meet the animals at Alpe Marinzen

Just above the town of Castelrotto and connected to it by an easy trail or even easier chairlift, lies the lovely Marinzen Alp and Hut, which is an adorable place for kids.

Up here, you have a nice cafe / restaurant, a great mountain playground and you can get acquainted with the resident goats who are so cute, they are irresistible for kids and adults alike!

yesterday we saw a little one nursing from her mama: incredibly sweet!

You can get up to the Marinzen Alp by chairlift from Castelrotto town: this is usually the favorite way for families.

We also hiked up here via a forest trail: not hard nor difficult but definitely uphill so you want decent shoes and kids who can walk about one hour uphill without difficulties.

Enjoy the town

The town of Castelrotto is easy to enjoy with kids.

The town center seems out of a fairy tale, with its houses with pointy roofs and painted walls and it is quiet and close to traffic.

My kids enjoy exploring the pretty streets, sometimes there is the market (artisan and farmers’), there are several cafes and bakeries for cakes and basic but pleasant shopping opportunities.

The towns has a nice playground which is also a good place to meet other kids, both local and visiting.

Enjoy local events

Castelrotto regularly hosts traditional events that are fantastic for kids as well as adults. Among the most unique we love the show of the local choirs and the traditional dances.

The full schedule of events is available locally in all hotels and from the tourism office on the main square.

Go horse riding

Kids who love horses or who do not know them but want to get acquainted with these amazing animals will be happy to hear there is stable in town that offers classes for all ages and the opportunity to ride the horses in the equestrian center or on the trails, depending on age / experience of the rider.

You can find info and contacts here >>> https://www.unterlanzin.it/en/Default.asp

Learn to make bread

On selected days, Bakerei Oberprantacher in Siusi (the next town up) offers the opportunity to participate to kids’ classes to learn how bread and cheese are made.

The bread classes are by booking only and on selected dates only: all must be arranged by the local tourism office.

Visit sheep in Maso Gunzhof

A lovely way to get city kids acquainted to farm life and sheep is to participate at kids’ day held by Maso Gunzhof, a local farms that has sheep.

On selected days, the Maso (Mountain farm) open its doors to kids who can pet, brush and spend time with the sheep. You also go home with a handmade souvenir made of their wool!

The event happens on selected days only and must be booked via the local tourism office.

Follow the ‘fairy tale trail’

Around Castelrotto you find several panels with traditional stories from this area.

You find the panels as you walk around the small (but steep) Castelrotto hill: each panel adds to the one before, so you can learn all the traditional stories of this area as you go.

Collect stamps

To encourage kids on their hiking endeavours, Castelrotto and the area of Alpe di Siusi in general has come up with the idea of ‘stamp stations’ where kids can get a stamp and get points for hiking.

It works like this: on arrival, for the cost of 3 euro, you can buy a booklet which contains all the hikes you can get stamps on and a little plastic bracelet you punch a hole in at each stamp station.

As you collect stamps, you can then claim a medal or, if you do them all, receive a special surprise gift from the organization. It’s a cute idea to keep littles motivated.

Rent bikes

Castelrotto is a lovely base for cycling adventures by standard and e-bikes.

Several shops in the town make it easy to rent bikes last minute: kids trails and bikes are available

Where to stay in Castelrotto

Castelrotto is very well equipped for tourism and has many hotels and B&Bs.

Family hotels in Castelrotto we love and you may also like are:

Parc Hotel Tyrol, 3 stars, with nice family rooms, a pool (indoor), indoor play area and outdoor playground. This is where we are staying right now!

Hotel Rosslaufhof, 4 stars, excellent, with rooms for up to 4 people, panoramic outdoor pool and stunning views

Aparthotel Kastelseiseralm, another top choice with a fab playground and play room

Good to know: in this area, I always recommend to book hotels with half board, aka with breakfast and dinner included. This is because the hotels have lovely restaurants, studied for winter, when you don’t want to have to go back out for a meal, and therefore the standard is very high!

Where to buy essentials in Castelrotto for kids

Castelrotto is well equipped with supermarkets with all essentials (fresh produce, diapers, wipes, baby food, household products etc), several other shops like bakeries, clothing, shoes, etc, a pharmacy and all basic services and shops you expect from a small, well functioning town.

How to get to Castelrotto with kids without a car

Castelrotto is well connected with Bolzano by frequent buses.

Bus 170 connects Bolzano to Castelrotto in a little less than an hour: tickets can be purchased on the bus. Cash is preferred.

You can find the schedule here >> https://www.suedtirolmobil.info/en/#/

Using strollers in Castelrotto

Castelrotto is reasonably stroller friendly. Due to the nature of the area, an all terrain stroller and a baby carrier for hikes are good to have.

Good to know! It is possible to rent strollers (single and side by side) in the bike rental shops in town!

Castelrotto with kids – pin this!