It is of rare beauty, once you get there you will want to come back every year. The focal point is Ortisei, an earthly paradise. From Ortisei you can take the cable car and go up to a place where you can see all the mountain peaks in the area, it is something special. The languages ​​spoken in the area are German and less Italian, but you can also manage with English. The food is very good as a result of the combination of the above.

Val Gardena for ski is in my top3 in Europe (been to 5 resorts in Dolomites, 3 in Val di Sole, 2 in Austrian Tirol, 3 in Aosta…) - why? You have all the options: long trails like Gardenissima (6km), La Longia (8km acc to my watch), Cir etc. You have shorter runs in Sassolungo part of the resort. You have difficult runs as well as long gentle easy ones. You have everything + one of the most beautiful scenery you can imagine, Sella massif, Sassolungo massif, Seceda, incredible Seceda. Visited few times but always before season in December and no crowds. The only negative- train connecting Seceda part to Sassolungo part is not always reliable. This place every ski person needs to visit at least once ina lifetime

Val Gardena offers breathtaking alpine scenery that captivates at every turn. Towering Dolomite peaks, lush meadows, and winding trails create a paradise for nature lovers. Whether hiking, skiing, or simply admiring the views, the landscape is serene and majestic. It’s a perfect escape into the heart of natural beauty.

Beautiful City with many attractions, hiking close by, views and artistic shops.

2 easy trails that showcase the stunning landscapes of the region: 1. Monte Pana to Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm) - Length: 7 km (one way) - Duration: 2-3 hours - Starting Point: Monte Pana This gentle hike takes you through lush meadows and forests, offering panoramic views of the Alpe di Siusi and the surrounding Dolomites. 2. Col Raiser to Seceda - Length: 6 km (one way) - Duration: 2-3 hours - Starting Point: Col Raiser cable car station A scenic and relatively easy trail that offers stunning views of the Odle/Geisler group and the vast meadows of Seceda.

Val Gardena is a slice of Alpine paradise that truly encapsulates the beauty and charm of the Dolomites. From the moment you arrive in this stunning region, you're greeted by a sense of tranquility and natural wonder that's hard to match. The towering peaks of the Dolomites serve as a dramatic backdrop to the picturesque villages that dot the landscape. Val Gardena's villages, including Ortisei, Selva di Val Gardena, and Santa Cristina, exude a warm and inviting atmosphere. The traditional Tyrolean architecture blends seamlessly with the surrounding nature, creating a sense of harmony that is both comforting and awe-inspiring. For outdoor enthusiasts, Val Gardena is a dream come true. The region offers a plethora of hiking trails that cater to all levels of experience, allowing you to explore the lush valleys, serene meadows, and challenging mountain paths. In the winter, the area transforms into a winter wonderland, offering world-class skiing and snowboarding opportunities that draw enthusiasts from around the globe. The local cuisine is a delightful journey for your taste buds. Traditional dishes made from locally sourced ingredients provide a true taste of the region, and dining in one of the charming mountain huts is an experience not to be missed. What sets Val Gardena apart, however, is its unique blend of nature, culture, and hospitality. The warmth of the locals, their rich traditions, and the harmonious coexistence with the natural world create an ambiance that's as unforgettable as the breathtaking landscapes themselves. Whether you're seeking adventure, relaxation, or a cultural escape, Val Gardena delivers on all fronts. It's a destination that invites you to disconnect from the ordinary and immerse yourself in the extraordinary beauty of the Dolomites.

Nice place to stay during vacation,a lot of good restaurant and wonderful natural view

The best city to stay and hike in the Dolomites! Buy a 6 days Val Gardena pass and you can hike most of the trails in this area! Parking is limited and the best way to stay here is by public transportation. I visited here 5 tomes already and in the past three times , I visited here by public transportation!

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to this stunning city. It's calm, clean, and surrounded by breathtaking mountains—one reaching 2,005 meters. A cable car takes you to the top of Sëuc Mountain, while another leads to the majestic Seceda. The city center is filled with charming restaurants and beautiful churches that add to its serene atmosphere. Words truly fall short in capturing its beauty. For a peaceful experience, I highly recommend walking across the pedestrian bridge on the way to the Sëuc cable car station. It’s a perfect spot to reflect, take in the views, and feel completely at ease.

Ortisei is one of those cities that seem to have come out of an alpine fairy tale. With its colourful architecture, pedestrian streets full of wooden craft shops and landscapes of grandiose mountains around, it is simply charming. The city is at 1,236 m altitude and is surrounded by iconic peaks such as Seceda and Sassolungo, providing stunning scenery from its centre. In addition, Ortisei works very well as a base for easy or more challenging trails, with easy access to cable cars and the Alpe di Siusi.

Ortisei valgardena !is beautiful but often overcrowded it’s a famous spot surrounded by gorgeous mountains that are definitely worth visiting. However, there are also plenty of less-crowded places to explore. On my way back, I discovered Trentino a true gem in the Alps! Especially the Vigolana Monte Bondone with panorama view with Brenta Dolomites area, where nature feels pure and peaceful. The best part? You can easily visit both regions it’s only about 1 hour and 30 minutes from Trento to Ortisei. Accommodations in Trentino are fantastic and reasonably priced you don’t need to take out a mortgage to stay in beautiful places! From here, you can also easily visit the South Tyrol region. As a vlogger, I always like to keep an open mind and have options 💚🌱🍃Trentino truly offers that balance of beauty, comfort, and value. Now if you want and can !Ortisei is so fancy 💚great restaurant's very clean town ,is a great place to stay as well .

Amazing mountain town, we loved it here even more than Cortina!

Beautiful and charming village in the heart of the Dolomites. Huge range of accommodation available. Could be busy in summer, but in autumn, when we visited, crowds were a little quieter and the autumn colours were spectacular.

Ortisei in late September is a sleepy, little village dominated by old folks (mostly locals). Gone are the masses of tourists which surely put everyone’s patience to a test. It’s quiet, there’s wood crafting shops at every corner and local markets. We didn’t find many restaurants or even cafes which is a pity.

Must see! It is so special, stunning views, special cable car, workers there work so hard to push us in and drag us out. Long ride and steep, gorgeous views, windy cold up there, bring your coat. Purchase a 3 days summer pass, ride cable car to save time and relax.

So worth the drive. It is breathtaking in October. Less crowds but still some movement on the road. A lots of stops along the way to be able to take pictures and enjoy the view

A grand spectacle from the top of mountain. Standing lift is also unique experience!

Here starts hiking routes with beautiful, breathtaking views.

Lovely but not breathtaking imo. Requires some walking to explore, not a stop and go spot. Hard to find a parking spot.

Great experience with the coffin escalator. Breath taking views on the way and up in the mountains. Highly recommend hiking shoes on even not doing the hike.

I found this piece of paper with a message and a little drawing in the café’s bathroom when I visited Passo Sella, and it absolutely made my day.

The hiking at the top of this lift is insanely beautiful - many options - we did the Rasciesa Ridge hike with incredible views across the Odle and the Auserraschotz. We did the official hike “backwards” starting with this lift and ending at the Rasciesa funicular - two great Refugios to stop and eat and enjoy the views along the 4-5 hour hike, and incredible 360 degree views. The lift itself was first class - very comfortable cabin, like new, easy to buy tickets, well run, great facilities around the lift, a little difficult to find the parking for but we eventually made it - highly recommended. Lots of other hikes from easy to extremely difficult and technical in the area.

This is the most beautiful ski resort I have ever seen. This place has a view of mountains all around. The huge mountain range of dolomites can be seen from here. A clear sunny day is recommended to visit this top. Amazing place.

Sella Ronda is fantastic but very expensive. It's hard to find parking spaces, and that cost 8 euros a day.

Nice long trip with great views and restaurant at the top

Incredibile views in the morning and evening and from the sky with fly2🥰

top!!

Telecabine with mid station that goes from just Above Selva to the top of the ridge towards Corvara. Has a split queue for single riders. This used to go straight up the mountain, but got taken out by a landslide so now goes up the side of the valley.

Beautiful view, price less. It's quite easy to access. There is a simple 20 to 15 track to reach this location. There is fresh water available on the top. So enjoy 😉

Very nice and easy path from Ortisei. Unfortunately the church was closed and it started to rain. We had to run down 10 min to Santa Cristina to catch the bus to Ortisei

Worth the hike! Follow the main path for easier hike. Dont make the same mistake as I did going through the forest path, which is really steep! The photo speaks for itself!

Two ways to get here from Ortesei, you can walk directly to San Giacomo then to the church (easier) or take the mountain route.

On a sunny day, the view is wonderful. There’s a water fountain behind the church.

The place is beautiful! If you like hiking, it is a good walk until up there.

Well worth the walk. Stunning views that look better in real life than in photos 💚 people with mobility issues may struggle as the hill is very steep and I'm pretty sure there's not a usable road. There are several benches on the way up 💗

Highly recommend the private room - only €12 per person extra and you get your shower included. We had a heater and plentiful hanging space (I would not recommend staying in the tightly packed dorm). The food was absolutely delicious and the staff could not do enough for us. Fantastic surroundings. Spotlessly clean. Fantastic breakfast for hungry hikers. We would definitely stay again.

Tastes like home — with a great German beer to match! I had a fantastic meal here! Started with a cold Augustiner German beer — crisp and refreshing. The goulash with polenta reminded me so much of my grandmother’s cooking — rich, hearty, and full of comfort. To top it off, the Kaiserschmarrn was absolutely delicious — fluffy, slightly caramelized, and the perfect sweet ending.

We stayed with our dog for two nights and it was amazing. The location is perfect and the staff were so friendly. Every morning the staff were waiting with a slice of ham for our dog (thank you again!!). One of the best Rifugios we stayed in in the dolomites. Definitely will be back. 10/10.

A great hut used as part of our hut to hut trekking. Amazing hearty food and friendly staff. We had two courses to choose from which left us satisfied. We opted to pay for a private room which was luxury and gave us our much needed beauty sleep 😴

Amazing staff! It made the stay that much more enjoyable! Breakfast was a buffet style with good choices. Excellent coffee! A la carte menu for dinner. We had a private room with three beds. Quiet and warm. €3 for shower which was very reasonable.

Excellent and friendly service. Nice and professional people. Rooms are ok nothing special. Great food choices (also ok for vegan).

We only stoped for a drink, they had just finished their breakfast service for their guests, but they allowed us to buy coffee with a smile on their face! Views were stunning!

A fairly interesting, but challenging hike. The ascent includes some light via ferrata elements, but no special equipment is needed. There’s a safety cable along the trail to help. For better stability on sections with loose rocks, I’d recommend bringing trekking poles

Gorgeous fun drive but sadly very popular so it can get busy but when you dive it or bike it, you will see why!

The views are INSANE! One of those places where you cannot believe your eyes. No matter where you turn you can see mountains. There are many cables around to get to the top of the mountains or to the walking hikes near the peaks. Parking on top is 2€/h max 8€/ day. We came around 11 AM and it was half full. It is quite chilly so bring a jacket

Gardena Pass is one of the most popular check-in spots in the Dolomites. Many travelers stop here for a walk and to take photos. The area offers many beautiful viewpoints that are perfect for capturing memorable pictures.

An absolutely iconic pass! I rode through it on my motorbike, and the breathtaking scenery was nothing short of magical!

Amazing place! I would suggest to end your day here, since it’s easy reachable with the car. No entrance, easy parking (max €4 per hour), a lot of gondola/ cable options around. The road is amazing and popular under motorcycles, exciting mountainbike roads, a few hotels with restaurants. Stunning views, just generally really nice, even without hiking!

The landscapes are truly rare and beautiful. We didn't go after some trails but there are many of them. The area is worth seeing! 🤩

In general this cable cars is good and quite new but despite other cable cars there was a small queue always and a lot of beginners on the slope under this chairlift. I used ciampioni slopes couple of times to explore but because of crowds and just because of slopes itself they did not liked me a lot. There pretty big amount of less crowded well slopes in the region and I always went there. Views from the top are great I recommend to sit for a coffee in the restaurant on top of the ski lift, there both inside and outside places with great views.

The Ciampinoi cable car offers a smooth and scenic ride up into the stunning Dolomites. There’s convenient parking just below the cable car station, with access via an internal walkway—note that the building is only open until 5:30 PM. Tickets are €28 return per person and there’s a manned tickets and payment office right next to the parking area. Parking for thr 4.5 hours cost us 10euros. The tickets are somewhat pricey for summer! The cable car ride itself takes around 10 minutes, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and the valley below, including Selva town centre. At the top, there’s a terrace with 360-degree panoramic views—perfect for taking in the dramatic landscape or snapping some great photos. A must-do if you’re visiting Selva and want easy access to high-altitude scenery without a long hike.

Amazing 360 view from the top Quite expensive (26€up and down), but normal for this area

Highly recommend! At the top, there’s a family-friendly area with a lovely restaurant and stunning views. A perfect spot to relax and enjoy the scenery after the ride.

The cable cars' windows are not fully transparent as those are full of scratches. But the mountain top offeres breathtaking views. Also good for mountain biking and trekking and skiing in the winter. Highly recommend.

Amazing chair lift great food at the top.

Great service and simple ticketsale online.

The ski school were impeccable in carrying out the there responsibility to keep us safe whilst training us up to a higher standard of skiing. Our instructor (Simon) was patient, responsible, kind, informative on all aspects of weather, areas of skiing, and picking the perfect places to ski, especially when the conditions were not the best. Would highly recommend and use the ski school again .

We had the best instructor for our 7 year old snowboarder. It was her first time snowboarding and Cicilia made the dream come true! We took 5x2h private lessons and there she is, afternoon of day 5 navigating the red piste with us. Our daughter loved her to bits. Can 100% recommend!

My daughter had 6 half day group snowboard sessions after a bit of a disaster with our booking through Crystal Ski (told us the day before our holiday that they didn’t offer the full day group snowboard sessions we’d booked 🫣) and she absolutely loved it. More importantly the improvement from day one to day 6 was amazing and she went from the nursery slope to coming down quite difficult red runs confidently. Her instructor Cedric was awesome, he made her journey fun whilst making sure her technique was improving all the time so would recommend him in a heart beat - cheers Ceddy!

We had a great experience with the school! They are very professional and we saw a lot of friendly ski instructors on the slopes throughout the week (both with kids and adults). Our ski instructor was Günter, which was really professional and friendly, always with a positive energy which made our learning days so much fun!

Our favorite ski school in Selva di Val Gardena! ⛷️ Ski School Selva the red team offers an excellent service, all skilled and energetic instructors who manage to transmit their passion for skiing, with the Dolomites providing an incredible backdrop. From 3 years old up anyone should do lessons in the morning with such fantastic team! 🥳 Thanks to Maestro Thomas, and Maestre Leila and Elena 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻

We were a group of eight friends and family skiing together around Val Gardena and the grander of the Sella Ronda area. This was my first time in this area, whilst most of the others had been there before. We used the service of Simon Demez as a private instructor for a week. Simon was instrumental in making our experience outstanding. He led us professionally and safely to nice locations, helping each one to improve without compromising on the group's experience. The ski equipment, some of the hired at the same ski school, worked well, the rental process was fast, and we got a nice discount. I am looking forward to skiing there again next year with Simon.

Simply perfect! I have spent a wonderful week skiing with Mirko Perathoner: he always chose the best scenario for the day based on the weather, snow conditions, scenic views, and great restaurants for the lunch (the experience should be full when you go skiing😉). From the technical point of view as a coach Mirko had a good eye: he immediately sees where lie the roots of person major problem, or why there is no further progression, and suggests simple but super working exercises!

We drove up and parked. €2 per hour and free from 2pm onwards. Was heaps or parks available when we went up at midday. Nice reasonable priced food at the snack bar there. There is a playground, horse riding (horses & ponies), zipline and mini golf (€7 pp).

Parking, bar, not crowded, good place to start.

Amazing!!! What a view!!

Enjoying my day

Relax!!

(Translated by Google) ALLOO ... (Original) ALLOOOOOOORA… un posto semplicemente MERAVIGLIOSO! Il Monte Pana è una perla tutta da scoprire, con attrazioni per grandi e piccoli: bar accoglienti, minigolf, sentieri panoramici come la Panaraida e la Troi Unika, zip-line, seggiovia, parco giochi, giri a cavallo o su dolcissimi pony. Da qui partono numerosi percorsi escursionistici, adatti a ogni livello di esperienza: dal tranquillo sentiero per Saltria, a quello per il Monte Sëura, fino ai tracciati più impegnativi e affascinanti verso il rifugio Vicenza, il Comici e il Passo Sella. Un vero gioiello è il piccolo laghetto lungo il percorso Panaraida (circa 3 km): perfetto per una pausa rilassante immersi nella natura. Unica nota: se potete, evitate il fine settimana. Il luogo è facilmente raggiungibile sia in macchina che con la seggiovia da Santa Cristina, e tende a riempirsi parecchio.

(Translated by Google) For families. The suggested routes are easy to follow. There's also a special children's trail, the Panaraida, which winds through the woods and is fun for both adults and children. (Original) Per famiglie. I percorsi suggeriti sono facili da percorrere. Esiste anche un percorso apposito per il divertimento dei bambini, il Panaraida, che si snoda tra i boschi e diverte grandi e piccini.

The Parish Church of Ortisei, dedicated to Saint Ulrich of Augsburg, was built in 1793 as a single-nave structure. Due to population growth and artistic flourishing in Val Gardena, it was expanded between 1905–1907 with two side chapels. Celebrated on July 4, Saint Ulrich is the patron of travelers, fishermen, and winemakers. The church, a late Baroque gem, features flat domes, an onion-shaped bell tower, and ornate interiors. Highlights include frescoes, carved pews, and sculptures by the Moroder family, notably the “Adoration of the Magi” and Saint Elizabeth with a beggar, awarded in Paris in 1900.

Saint Francis wouldn't be happy there... A harsh nun vigilates on dogs entries.. "Men are men, animals are animals..." she said.. 😁

Very nice church. Well decorated inside.

This parish church is located in the city center, in baroque style with three naves and two side chapels dedicated to the Sacred Heart and Madonna del Rosario. Worth a visit !!

A wonderful church......even only for s short thinking rest......

Bells ring at all hours of the night and morning - this church will likely ruin your vacation.

Beautiful church

I was there3 times in these past years but it was a whit foggy weather every time. But this time , the sunshine and post-rain morning showed a magnificent view of the Seceda and surrounding Gruppo Odle, Gruppo Geisler and Sassalungo!

Amazing place to use for exploring the odles group, excellent food with 2 huts to choose from and many trails too. Must visit! Took 350 from bolzano and got off at St Cristina dosses. Then transferred to bus 358 shuttle if you do not want to walk up to the station with is a good 15mins uphill. Use your Bolzano guest card to take free transports if you are staying in the region

Took the first car up to hike Seceda, works great and makes the hike not take all day. Amazing and beautiful views!

So glad we decided to add this at the last minute! Far less crowded than anywhere else (crowds overall died off the last few days of August). Beautiful, easy hiking areas available with stunning views. Note on parking though- you have to take your ticket up to the cable car entrance/ ticket counter, so if you have a day pass, you’ll still have to wait to pay for your parking.

Stunning scenery from the top of the cable car station is stunning, especially in clear weather. We took a 3 hour walk around the panorama circuit and enjoyed it greatly. The views in every direction were spectacular.

Cable car to an amazing mountain landscape. Lots of scenic trails for hiking and several dining options. Plenty of parking at the station

An excellent way to get up to Mount Seceda. Cheaper and not that crowded. Still, be sure to be there early if you’re visiting on high season.

Great family friendly walk. Lots of cows and beautiful bells ringing. Rifugio right at car park. Water fountains along the walk.

For me, the Vallunga was the finish of the trail #16 from the Puez Hut. So we walk it all way from the beginning to the end. It is a beautiful, peaceful and restful place. Something like a path to or from heaven... Lucky locals to enjoy such a marvelous valley.

Awesome place for a walk. Wonderful views, easy paths. Shame we didnt manage to see it during a better weather, but it's still a good direction even during a rain. The lake on some pictures is seasonal - no water in August.

We did about a 7 mile walk here. After Seceda yesterday, the calm and quiet was much appreciated. We saw cows and white tailed deer during the walk. Parking lot takes cards (several reviews mentioned it being cash only)

It's a nice walk inside, and I saw a deer. But it got away quickly. Quiet and peaceful place

Calm and beautiful. During autumn visit this place late afternoon because only then sun reaches this place.

Very nice and easy walk with great views all along. More adventurous hikers can make a loop and climb to the surrounding cliffs. Basic trail is kids and dog friendly, provided you dog has nothing against cows which are abundant along the trail.

The Parish Church of Ortisei, dedicated to Saint Ulrich of Augsburg, was built in 1793 as a single-nave structure. Due to population growth and artistic flourishing in Val Gardena, it was expanded between 1905–1907 with two side chapels. Celebrated on July 4, Saint Ulrich is the patron of travelers, fishermen, and winemakers. The church, a late Baroque gem, features flat domes, an onion-shaped bell tower, and ornate interiors. Highlights include frescoes, carved pews, and sculptures by the Moroder family, notably the “Adoration of the Magi” and Saint Elizabeth with a beggar, awarded in Paris in 1900.

Saint Francis wouldn't be happy there... A harsh nun vigilates on dogs entries.. "Men are men, animals are animals..." she said.. 😁

Very nice church. Well decorated inside.

This parish church is located in the city center, in baroque style with three naves and two side chapels dedicated to the Sacred Heart and Madonna del Rosario. Worth a visit !!

A wonderful church......even only for s short thinking rest......

Bells ring at all hours of the night and morning - this church will likely ruin your vacation.

Beautiful church

We enjoyed the Sassolungo twice in different days. Each time the trip was memorable. The coffin gondola to Forcella de Sassolungo is an interesting experience mainly because the access seems a bit tricky (needs attention and a fast moving). However, the staff was very helpful. From the top station, many people choose to descend and take the loop around the stones.

Fantastic experience in the " coffin" cable car. And once arrived up there, there is a nice, a little bit challenging hike. But it worth every effort

The experience with Via Ferrata Forcella Sassolungo was unbelievably mesmerising! The views were stunning… The attraction of climbing spots - everything great prepared! It spends average two or three hours to do this route. It is one of my favourite Via Ferrata in Dolomites, with no doubts! 🫶🏻

Amazing place with outstanding views, unfortunately overcrowded.

Weather was perfect to duck into to warm up. Outside 12° F./ -11° C.

Simply spectacular. It was a beautiful day so it was perfect.

Just amazing view. It is definitely must see place when visiting South Tyrol. Cable car ride up is interesting and very different from.most other cable cars. It is quite cramped, fits only 2 people, who have to stand up, no seats. Pub up there is nice with good service. Most important part is of course the amazing view from up there.

We came for coffee after lunch at Troier Hut. Chill atmosphere, there weren’t many people here. Pleasant view and nice nature around. Sit at a table and someone will come to take your order.

What a place! Warm delicious food at a reasonable price washed down with a beer and a view of the mountains. Nothing in life gets better than this. Bathroom available. Very friendly staff as well!

We haven't eaten here but the owner allowed us to stay and wait for thunderstorm to pass. They were very friendly and helpful, we weren't forced to buy anything. Thank you once more for your hospitality.

Great cheese strudel, family runs this place and you feel welcomed

They had hot chocolate and I asked them to add bit of rum to make me warm in this cold snowy weather. Also tried a strudel di ricotta which was so creamy and yummy. Service was super nice and they serve at the table.

Great stop just over an 1 hour down the Ridgeline. Enjoyed the views and our coffee with fresh milk. Good spot to stop and turn around if you’re not doing the full trail.

Absolutely amazing place, very tasty cheeses and meat platers. Refreshing wine and beers. There are also donkeys and chickens around for entertainment