Goethe Guesthouse

We were put in the “attic room,” which was about nine floors up, so I hope you don’t have luggage. There are no windows, only a skylight marked “do not open.” In a fire, you’d die. This probably needs an official inspection, because it seems like it must violate European codes. It’s a self-service stay, with nobody to check you in or help when something goes wrong, and it’s expensive for what you get. The company owns several buildings in the city and seems interested only in your money, not your stay.

It’s self-check-in, so the service gets 4/5, and this isn’t a hotel. Still, it’s a really nice place and I’d gladly return next time I’m passing through town. The guestroom has been nicely refurbished and decorated, with lots of character in an old building in the city center. It’s extremely central, two blocks from Waltherplatz. There’s even a small kitchenette stocked with what you need, including an espresso maker and cartridges.

The apartment was clean and tidy, and the location was convenient, though it wasn’t quiet. We were booked into the wrong place and had to go to their office to collect keys for another of their properties. Without that mix-up, it would have been a full five stars.

The guest house is in a really old building, but the rooms are modern, right in the heart of everything in Bolzano. Our room was spacious and very clean, and the location was perfect. There’s no elevator, so if you’re not up to the stairs, you may want to find another place. It wasn’t an issue for us.