Telluride is a beautiful mountain town in Colorado known for its world-class skiing and incredible mountain landscapes. It’s a popular vacation home spot among the wealthy and is brimming with history and culture.
Telluride was originally the home of the Ute Indians who lived there for thousands of years. There was a mining boom in Telluride in the 1800s, but the town went through a slump afterwards and almost became a ghost town. This all changed when word of the area’s amazing skiing started spreading and the Telluride Ski Resort opened.
Telluride is a small town, so you may have trouble finding the best neighborhood in Telluride close to everything. With this guide, you’ll be able to find accommodation that suits your interests and your budget.
Quick Tips – Where to Stay in Telluride?
- Where to stay in Telluride first time – Downtown
- Where to stay in Telluride on a budget – Ouray
- Best neighborhood in Telluride for families – Mountain Village
Where to Stay in Telluride
Telluride isn’t huge, so if you want to keep your trip simple, here are the best places to stay in town.
The Victorian Inn
- Breakfast
- Tea/coffee maker in all rooms
- San Miguel River Trail is 5 minutes’ walk from the hotel
The Victorian Inn
- Breakfast
- Tea/coffee maker in all rooms
- San Miguel River Trail is 5 minutes’ walk from the hotel
Situated in Telluride’s vibrant Downtown neighborhood, this budget-friendly hotel has a fantastic location located within close proximity to the gondola station and town center. This Inn is an excellent option for budget-conscious travelers, providing a hot tub, sauna, and laundry facilities at reasonable prices.
Nestled in the heart of Ouray, the Ouray Inn is a quaint and intimate hotel with a super friendly atmosphere. This hotel is renowned for its generous complimentary add-ons and discounts, including soft towels, a hearty breakfast, and multiple happy hours.
The Auberge Residences at Element 52 is our top pick for the best luxury hotel in Telluride. Guests staying at the hotel can choose from a diverse selection of luxurious rooms, with some boasting breathtaking views of the nearby mountain range.
Telluride Neighborhood Guide
Telluride is filled with old-world charm, historic homes, and amazing mountain views from almost everywhere. It’s a small town, so it’s fairly easy to navigate, and there are only a couple of areas where you should stay during your visit.
The Downtown area is the obvious choice when you’re looking for Telluride accommodation. It has everything from shops to restaurants as well as easy access to all the outdoor activities you could ever want to do.
The second area to look at is Ouray. This is where you should stay if you want a quieter, more intimate experience as it gets fewer tourists. That’s also what makes it the best choice when you’re trying to decide where to stay in Telluride on a budget!
The final area to look at is Mountain Village, the best choice when you’re trying to decide where to stay in Telluride for families. A lot of the accommodation in this area is big, designed for families, and offers peace and quiet in beautiful surroundings.
Telluride’s 3 Best Neighborhoods to Stay in
Whether you’re trying to find the best neighborhood in Telluride for your first time, or if you return every year for skiing, here’s where you should look for your accommodation.
Neighborhood#1 – Downtown
Where to stay in Telluride first time
- COOLEST thing to do in Downtown – Go skiing in Mountain Village.
- BEST place to visit in Downtown – Town Park for great summer activities like festivals, sports, and swimming pools.
Telluride’s Downtown area is charming, historic, and filled with culture and nightlife. The streets are wide and lined with Victorian houses, bringing back the spirit of the mining town that it used to be. Staying in this area means that you’re close to everything you could want to do or see.
The Downtown area is filled with a good collection of restaurants, bars, and cafes in the area, as well as shops where you can enjoy your time when you’re not on the ski slopes. That’s what makes it the best choice when you’re deciding where to stay in Telluride for your first time.
- Take in the view from the Jud Wiebe Memorial Trail
- Have a few drinks at the Stronghouse Brew Pub or the Poachers Pub
- Check out the artwork at the Telluride Gallery of Fine Art or the Rinkevich Gallery
- Learn more about the history of the area at the Telluride Historical Museum
- Go off-roading in Ophir Pass
- Enjoy the ziplines, rappelling at Telluride Canopy Adventure
- Go hiking on the Bear Creek Falls Trailhead or the Lower Village Trail
- Go horseback riding through the San Juan mountains
- Have a meal at the Cornerhouse Grill or Little House
Best Budget Hotel in Downtown
The Victorian Inn
Located in the best neighborhood in Telluride for nightlife, this Inn is close to the gondola station and to the center of the town. It offers comfortable rooms with seating areas, fridges, and private bathrooms. It’s the perfect accommodation if you’re on a budget as it offers a hot tub, sauna, and laundry facilities on a reasonable budget.
Best Mid-range Hotel in Downtown
The Hotel Telluride
This four-star hotel offers luxury accommodations at mid-range prices right in the heart of Telluride’s Downtown. This is what makes it the best choice when you’re deciding where to stay in Telluride close to everything. You can relax in the on-site bar and restaurant, get a treatment or a massage at the spa, or just sit in front of your private gas fireplace and enjoy the gorgeous mountain setting.
Best Luxury Hotel in Downtown
The Auberge Residences at Element 52
The Auberge Residences at Element 52 has a wide range of luxurious rooms, some of which have the most spectacular views overlooking the nearby mountain range. The hotel also offers great shared facilities, including a spa and wellness center, state-of-the-art fitness room, sauna, and hot tub.
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Neighborhood#2 – Ouray
Where to stay in Telluride on a budget
- COOLEST thing to do in Ouray – Wander along the main street and check out local shops.
- BEST place to visit in Ouray – Ouray Ice Park for some of the best climbing in the world.
Ouray offers the same access to outdoor activities and a unique historic flavor along with a quieter atmosphere. This small town sees fewer tourists than Telluride which means that the prices are a little more reasonable! A National Historic District, Ouray is filled with preserved buildings that reflect the past while offering all the comforts of the present!
There are things to do in Ouray at every time of year. It’s not far from Telluride either, which means you can easily head over there to check out the famous Telluride ski slopes and attractions. Ouray is also home to lots of artists and craftsmen, so you’ll be able to find some truly unique souvenirs while you’re exploring the town.
- Soak the cold out of your bones in the famous Ouray County hot springs
- Take a jeep tour through the natural landscape
- Learn about the town’s history at the Ouray County Museum
- Catch a show at the Wright Opera House
- See the waterfalls on the Lower Cascade Falls trail
- Have a picnic, do some birdwatching, and explore the trails in Box Canyon Park
- Fuel up for your next adventure at Ray’s Jerky, Mineshaft, or Bon Ton Restaurant
Best Budget Hotel in Ouray
Hot Springs Inn
Located in the best neighborhood in Telluride if you are on a budget, this hotel is close to local shops, restaurants, and cafes. The rooms have private balconies so you can enjoy the views as well as air conditioning and private bathrooms. While you’re at the hotel, you can take advantage of the BBQ area as well as the continental breakfast, which will set you up for a full day of outdoor activities.
Best Mid-range Hotel in Ouray
Ouray Inn
Ouray Inn is a small and cozy hotel in the heart of Murray, with plenty of top attractions being on its doorstep, including the Ouray Hot Springs Pool. We also love the complimentary add ons and discounts at this hotel, including soft towels, a hearty breakfast and multiple happy hours.
Best Luxury Hotel in Ouray
Matterhorn Inn Ouray
With modern rooms, all of which features views of the mountains, this hotel is a great choice if you’re looking for a little luxury. The rooms have seating areas and private bathrooms and the hotel itself is located close to popular attractions like the hot springs pool and the center of town. For a relaxed, convenient stay in the mountains, you really can’t go past this three-star accommodation.
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Neighborhood#3 – Mountain Village
Best neighborhood in Telluride for families
- COOLEST thing to do in Mountain Village – Take a ride on the gondola and enjoy the amazing views.
- BEST place to visit in Mountain Village – The Telluride Ski Resort, for lots of multi-use and multi-level trails.
If you’d prefer to be even closer to the ski areas, then you should stay in Mountain Village. This is the best neighborhood in Telluride for families as it offers lots of big, family-friendly homes and hotels to stay in as well as plenty to do at all hours of the day and night.
Mountain Village is a more modern alpine town than the Telluride Downtown, but it’s also cozy and beautiful. It has plenty of shops, restaurants, and bars where you can have a delicious meal and relax after a long day enjoy the mountain scenery.
- In summer, play a round of golf at the Telluride Ski & Golf Club
- Go mountain biking, hiking, or running along the trails that start at the San Sophia Station
- Throw a line into Elk Lake, the only designated fishing pond in the village
- Take the kids to play a few rounds of Disc Golf at the Double Cabin Disc Golf Course
- Let the kids try out their bouldering skills on the novice level Adventure Rock
- In winter, go ice skating in the center of Mountain Village
- Have a meal at the Cornerhouse Grille or the View Bar & Grill
Best Budget Hotel in Mountain Village
Mountain Lodge at Telluride
Set in gorgeous natural surroundings, this property has ski-in/ski-out access and private apartments that include all the comforts of home. They come in a variety of sizes to suit every travel group and have their own kitchens or kitchenettes with modern fixtures. There’s a heated pool, restaurant, and hot tub on the site as well as a steam room and exercise room.
Best Mid-range Hotel in Mountain Village
Lumiere with Inspirato
A super luxurious hotel with a reasonable price tag, Lumiere with Inspirato, is an epic place to stay in Mountain Village. The hotel boasts ski-in/ski-out access to Telluride Ski Resort, along with luxurious rooms featuring modern décor and wood-beam ceilings.
Best Luxury Hotel in Mountain Village
Madeline Hotel and Residences
Offering stunning views of the San Juan mountains, this luxury hotel is located right in the heart of Mountain Village. This makes it a great choice when you’re deciding where to stay in Telluride for couples who want a little romance or just easy access to the slopes! The hotel offers spa services, a heated pool, an on-site restaurant, and large, comfortable rooms with lots of modern amenities. There’s also a bar on-site for the adults and activities for kids at 20 Below Hangout.
Final Thoughts on the Best Places to Stay in Telluride
For outdoor activities in every season, you can’t go past Telluride. Famous for its ski slopes, it also offers climbing, bouldering, hiking, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, and just about everything else you can do in the stunning natural landscape. With so much on offer in this location, it’s well worth choosing where to stay in Telluride close to everything to ensure that you have fast access to everything this town has to offer.
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