Val Gardena a year round destination in South Tyrol, Dolomites, Italy

Val Gardena a year-round destination

Val Gardena in South Tyrol offers unforgettable alpine experience throughout the year. Located in the heart of the Dolomites and surrounded by the untouched Puez Odle Nature Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are many activities beyond skiing and breath-taking sights to be discovered in this valley. A unique panorama awaits you here featuring the most beautiful peaks of the South Tyrolean Dolomites, the Sassolungo mountain peak is undoubtedly a landmark.

This part of Italy boasts of average 300 sunny days annually accompanied with 360-degree spectacular mountain views, traditions, cultural and sporting events in the alpine backdrop.

Skiing experience of a lifetime in Val Gardena, a paradise for skiers

Val Gardena is located in the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, connected to over 500 km of interconnected ski slopes, cutting-edge lift facilities, 30 km of winter hiking paths and 115 km of cross-country skiing slopes. They can all be explored on foot, bike, skis. 

Val Gardena features 15 ski lift facilities across its 3 villages.

The Sellaronda is one of the best skiing carousels in the Alps, the Sasslong slope where the skiing champions compete in downhill Skiing during the World Cup held in Santa Cristina each December, just some of the highlights hard to beat in this paradise for skiers.

The ski lifts have opened at Val Gardena and Sella Ronda for the 2021/22 ski season on 04.12.2021.

 Discover the 3 villages of Val Gardena in South Tyrol, Dolomites:

Selva

A village with the highest altitude in the Dolomites. The village is characterised for bursting with tradition, culture and character. Located below the Sella massif, the picturesque village of Selva Val Gardena attracts visitors all year round from all over the World. Offering the perfect infrastructure for summer and winter sports, peaceful meadows and mountain paths. The Gardena valley surrounded by the Dolomite Mountain ranges, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site offers an unmissable experience for the entire family. During the winter months, the slopes around Selva are the training ground of skiers; attracting snowboarders and sleighs and snow shoe hikes have become very popular. In summer months a number of cycling event pass through Selva and the surrounding fields, forests   become the hikers, nature lovers’ paradise.

 Santa Cristina

A picturesque, sunny village extending across the hills of the Dolomites with fewer than 2000 of inhabitants. The village boasts of traditional homes with colourful facades, a number of restaurants, coffee shops and bars all offering homemade local specialities together with a good selection of 3-5 star hotels and guest houses. Most of the local population works in tourism and are keen to show off to the visitors the natural beauty of this area (endless meadows in summer where you can relax in peace, while for the winter sports fans there are some rather challenging slopes at Santa Cristina which host the annual Super G downhill race with World class skiers taking part). There are also excellent sports facilities in the village.

 Ortisei

It has been voted the most beautiful village in South Tyrol due to its well maintained, traditional Tyrolese buildings, many of them boasting of wood carvings which is very typical for this area. Ortisei in fact has become famous for its wood carvings. Some skilful carpenters carry on this traditional trade for a few generations. You can see the wooden sculptures all across the village and there is even a museum dedicated to these artefacts.

Out of the 3 villages at Val Gardena area,  Ortisei is the biggest and liveliest all year round.

It offers a good selection of eateries, coffee shops, craft shops, sports facilities and some high quality hospitality structures.

Ortisei is favoured among visitors to the Dolomites for its direct access to the beautiful Seiser Alm area with 57 square km plateau suitable for hiking, cycling, horse riding, skiing, snow shoeing, snowboarding, cross country skiing. The Seceda, Pic and Resciesa are just some of the most important mountains which one can admire from Ortisei.