Where to Stay in Telluride

areas compared · 4 properties reviewed · Prices for 2025/26

4 properties reviewed
Prices for 2025/26 season
Updated 2026-02-28

Where to Base Yourself

Telluride has distinct areas, each with different trade-offs. Pick the wrong one and you'll spend your holiday on shuttles or walking in ski boots.

Editor's Take

People book Mountain Village thinking 'ski-in/ski-out is essential!' and then spend their week gondola-ing to Telluride town anyway because Mountain Village is boring. Here's the thing: Telluride's Victorian Main Street, surrounded by dramatic box canyon, is one of the most beautiful ski towns in America. The restaurants (Allred's, Alpino Vino), the bars, the vibe — that's why you came. Mountain Village is modern condos and generic base-village restaurants. Yes, it's ski-in/ski-out. But the free gondola from Telluride town runs every 10 minutes and you can ski down from mid-mountain. Unless you have young kids or mobility issues that make slopeside critical, stay in Telluride town. You're here for the Telluride experience, not another faceless resort village you could find at any modern ski area. Wake up in a Victorian town with 13,000ft peaks towering overhead — that's what you'll remember.

Our Top Picks

We've stayed in or inspected every property on this list. These are the ones worth your money — and the ones to avoid.

Hotel Columbia Telluride Our Pick

Hotel Columbia Telluride

3★ Hotel · Telluride Town · 120m to Gondola or Lift 7
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Best-value hotel in Telluride town. 2 blocks from gondola, 3 blocks from Main Street bars/restaurants. Rooms are small but modern, staff is excellent, rooftop hot tub has Box Canyon views. Continental breakfast included. The smart choice: you get Telluride's historic charm and walkable nightlife without paying Madeline prices. Rooms are compact, but you're in Telluride — you won't spend time in your room anyway.

120m to lifts Free cancellation 7 days 8.7/10
From
£220
Peak week: £420
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Mountain Lodge Telluride Best Value

Mountain Lodge Telluride

Condo Hotel · Mountain Village · 90m to Lift 4 (Village Express)
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Ski-in/ski-out condos at Mountain Village base. Full kitchens, washer/dryer, balconies with San Juan views. Pool and multiple hot tubs. Here's the trade: Mountain Village is modern/convenient but soulless compared to Telluride town. Free gondola to town runs until midnight, takes 13 minutes. Perfect for families who want ski-in/ski-out and will cook meals. Wrong choice if you want historic Victorian charm and walkable après.

90m to lifts Free cancellation 14 days 8.5/10
From
£260
Peak week: £480
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Madeline Hotel & Residences Splurge

Madeline Hotel & Residences

5★ Hotel · Mountain Village · 50m to Lift 4 (Village Express)
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The fanciest hotel in Telluride. Ski-in/ski-out, gorgeous mountain-modern design, exceptional spa, rooftop pool with fire pits. Crimson restaurant is excellent. Service is impeccable. The catch: you're at Mountain Village, not Telluride town, so you gondola to charm/nightlife. At $800+/night, that hurts. It's spectacular, but Telluride is about the Victorian town experience — staying at Mountain Village, even luxuriously, misses half the point.

50m to lifts Free cancellation 7 days 9.1/10
From
£550
Peak week: £950
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Oak Street Inn Budget Pick

Oak Street Inn

2★ Motel · Telluride Town · 350m to Gondola
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Budget motel on the edge of Telluride town. 7-minute walk to gondola, 5 minutes to Main Street. Rooms are basic motel standard: clean, small, dated. Free continental breakfast. Hot tub exists. The deal: half the price of Hotel Columbia for the same Telluride town location. You sacrifice modern comfort and space, but if you're skiing all day and bar-hopping at night, it's a bed in the right place for the right price.

350m to lifts Free cancellation 3 days 7.9/10
From
£110
Peak week: £210
Check availability on Booking.com We earn a small commission — it doesn't affect your price

Hotel vs Apartment vs Chalet

Hotels

Best for: Convenience
Price range
£–£/night
  • Breakfast included (usually)
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Often have boot rooms
  • Less flexibility on meals

Best for: Couples, first-timers, those who hate cooking on holiday

Apartments

Best for: Groups & Value
Price range
£–£/night
  • Kitchen saves on eating out
  • More space per £
  • Split cost across group
  • No daily cleaning

Best for: Groups of mates, families, budget-conscious

Chalets

Best for: Premium Experience
Price range
£–£/night
  • Catered option (meals included)
  • Hot tub, sauna common
  • Private, exclusive feel
  • Book whole property

Best for: Groups celebrating, couples splurging, families wanting privacy

What a Week Actually Costs

Per person, per week, including accommodation only. Add £200–400pp for lift pass, ski hire, and eating out.

Budget £600pp/week
Budget
Basic condo Mountain Village or hostel — Studio $120/night or Oak Street Inn $110/night
Mid-Range £1200pp/week
Mid-Range
3★ hotel or nice condo — Hotel Columbia $220/night or Mountain Village 2-bed $250/night
Comfortable £2400pp/week
Comfortable
4★ boutique or luxury condo — Madeline Hotel $450/night or premium 3-bed $480/night
Luxury £4500pp/week
Luxury
5★ resort or estate — Lumière $850/night or private chalet $1,500+/night

Booking Tips

1
Saves Choose charm vs convenience

Telluride Town vs Mountain Village

Telluride town is Victorian, charming, with excellent restaurants/bars. Mountain Village is modern, ski-in/ski-out, but sterile. The gondola connects them (13min, free). Most people prefer Telluride town for the experience.

2
Town + skiing works

Free gondola makes town viable

The gondola between town and Mountain Village is free, runs 6:30am-midnight, takes 13 minutes. So staying in town doesn't mean sacrificing ski access — you gondola up, ski down. Best of both worlds.

3
Beware

January post-New Year deals

First two weeks of January (after New Year, before MLK weekend): prices drop 25–35%, snow is excellent, crowds are small. Hotel Columbia: $420/night holidays vs $270 early January.

4
$1,600+ groups

Mountain Village condos for groups

For 6 people: 3-bed condo $480/night vs Telluride town hotels $220×3 = $660/night. Save $1,260/week. Cook 4 dinners and save another $400. Total: $1,600+ savings.

More Telluride Guides

Ski School

Prices & providers

Beer Prices

What drinks cost

Lift Pass

Daily & weekly rates

Getting There

Transfers & flights

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