Val Gardena is a picturesque valley located in the Italian province (Provincia autonoma di Bolzano, also known as South Tyrol), at the junction of the borders of Italy, Austria and Germany. In this valley there is one of the most popular, part of the Dolomiti Superski region, which is famous for its stunning scenery and well-equipped pistes.

The resort is easily accessible both from other Italian cities (along federal highways) and from major European cities (Munich, Nice, Zurich, Vienna) along highways.

Among the entertainments of Val Gardena is not only alpine skiing - the resort offers the opportunity to engage in mountain climbing, horse riding, shopping, as well as visit local spa centers and take a course of wellness treatments. Local restaurants and clubs deserve special attention. The wide range of entertainment provided allows the resort region to become one of the most popular resorts in Italy.

It is from Val Gardena that ski fans begin their acquaintance with Alpine resorts. This is understandable - the slopes are equipped at the highest level, there is an extensive network of lifts connecting them to each other. In the valley there are approximately 175 kilometers of individual trails, of which about a third are for beginners, about 60% are for skiers who already have some skiing experience and approximately 10% are for professionals.

• Read also:

If you look at the Val Gardena valley on the map, you will notice that it is divided into three resort areas. This division provides the opportunity to choose accommodation in close proximity to the slopes that are most interesting to you and suit your skiing skills. The resort region has 82 ski lifts that connect the inland resorts into a single network, which also includes access to Sella Ronda (a closed route that goes around the resorts of the mountain range of the same name). Val Gardena can provide leisure for any traveler, even if winter sports are not to their liking - tourists can enjoy chic restaurants, shops and boutiques, as well as excursions to local attractions.

Description and general characteristics

Val Gardena is the name of the valley in which there are three major residential areas:

1. Selva di Val Gardena, located at an altitude of 1563 meters;
2. Just below (1428 meters) is the small village of Santa Cristina Valgardena;
3. Closest to the foot of the Alps (1236 m) is the Ortisei region.

The communes have their own unique flavor and the holiday in each is somewhat different, so before choosing an accommodation option, it is worth finding out about these features.

Selva di Val Gardena

Selva di Val Gardena (abbreviated as Selva) is considered the busiest and most popular resort in the Val Gardena valley, largely due to the altitude of its location and proximity to the famous Sellaronda ring, the slopes and ski lifts of which vacationers use to get to the most interesting trails in the Dolomiti Superski region.

However, the ski areas associated with the resort can also surprise even experienced skiers. The resort includes 3 ski areas:

1. Dantercepies (height 2300 meters)
2. Plan de Gralba (1800 meters)
3. Ciampinoi (2254 meters), which borders the resort of Santa Cristina.

Selva also has the largest number of hotels, restaurants and clubs– this area is very popular among young people who enjoy discos and relaxation until the morning.

Ortisei

Ortisei is the second largest village in the valley. Unlike Selva, the club life here is not so developed, there are significantly fewer tourists - therefore Ortisei is perfect for families with children. The pistes associated with the village are mainly “red” and “blue”, but there are a large number of areas for beginner skiers. The resort area consists of 3 ski areas:

1. Val Furnes
2. Seiser Alm
3. Alpe di Siusi.

Santa Cristina is the smallest and most cozy resort of Val Gardena, so there are usually much fewer tourists here than in Ortisei and even more so in Selva di Val Gardena.

The resort is perfect for a relaxing holiday with children. Santa Cristina is located almost in the very center of the region, so vacationers have easy access to the most popular routes. The resort consists of 3 ski areas:

1. Monte Pana (Monte Pana, at an altitude of 1636 meters), located on the plateau of the same name
2. Seceda (Seceda, 2518 meters)
3. Col Raiser (2103 meters), which are located near the Val Fournes area, which belongs to Ortisei.

Rest

The Val Gardena Valley provides tourists with a holiday for every taste - 175 kilometers of trails will allow you to enjoy the picturesque views of the Dolomites, numerous restaurants will impress with delicious dishes, and the abundance of shops and boutiques of famous brands will pleasantly surprise the assortment of shopping lovers.

It is not for nothing that Val Gardena is considered one of the most comfortable resorts in the Dolomites Superski region - any vacationer will find entertainment to their liking.

Winter sports

On the territory of Val Gardena there are 51 slopes, among which there are both slopes for beginners and confident skiers, as well as for real professionals. Snowboard lovers will enjoy the snow park and fun park, which include halfpipes. In addition, the resort region has several indoor ice skating rinks.

For beginner skiers

For athletes just starting to learn the basics of alpine skiing, the best option is the Seiser Alm area, which is located near Ortisei. Most of the routes here are marked as “red”, but in fact they are simple “blue” routes along the spacious high-mountain slopes of the plateau. The height difference on the Seiser Alm slopes is no more than 300 meters, and the length of the descents is from 600 to 2500 meters. One of the most popular routes among beginners is the Seiser Alm-Skitour Hexen, also known as the “Baba Yaga Tour,” which children really like. However, for those who have no skiing experience and are just starting to get acquainted with alpine skiing, it is better to first try out the training ground of Ortisei itself.

Santa Cristina also has its own training ground, which is part of Monte Pana. The site is a complex of simple trails marked in blue. The slopes are served by 4 drag lifts. A small slope, intended for training beginners, is also present within the village itself, in its upper part.

In Selva di Val Gardena, beginner skiers mainly prefer the Dantercepis area, which is served by seven rope tows. Five of them serve the more flat part of the area, the rest lead to roads with a higher slope. Conditions for tourists starting to master skiing in Dantercepis are quite acceptable, but not ideal - the fact is that a large number of skiers with a higher level, descending from mountain peaks, as well as freeriders, pass through the ski area.

It is also worth noting that in the resort region there are numerous ski schools for skiers of all ages - Sci Emotions, Ski & Snowboard School Saslong and Ski & Snowboard School Ortisei in Ortisei, Top Ski School & Rental EA7, Snowboard & Skischool 2000 and Ski & Snowboardschool Selva Gardena in Selva di Val Gardena, Ski & Snowboard School S. Cristina in Santa Cristina.

Children's miniclubs are also open - in Selva and Santa Cristina they are open from 09.00 to 16.00, in Ortisei - from 10.30 to 13.30 (on Thursdays - until 16.00).

For younger children (from one year old), there is a children's ski school in Santa Cristina, five full days of training in which will cost 190 euros.

For advanced skiers

Skiers with a higher level of training should visit Ortisei and Selva (most of the slopes of these resorts are blue and red, there are also red and black ones, which experienced athletes can master). There are many picturesque forest trails here (for example, the 10-kilometer La Longia, which descends from the Seceda area to the town of Ortisei). Famous among skiers are the slopes of Ciampina (the descent to Selva is the route on which the world alpine skiing championship takes place), Dantercepis and Sella Peak.

Particularly popular is the descent from Ciampina to Plan de Gralba, there are slightly fewer people on the descent from Ciampina to Santa Cristina. The Dantercepis slopes are usually quite crowded, so experienced skiers choose the long slope leading to Langental.

The Alpe di Siusi area is also famous, which consists mainly of red and blue pistes (the total length of the pistes in the area is about 60 km, the red ones are 29 km, the blue ones are 30, there is one black piste). Alpe di Siusi is served by 23 ski lifts and there are not as many skiers here, unlike Dantercepis.

Most popular among athletes living in Ortisei and Santa Cristina, Seceda sector. It will delight skiers with wide slopes with a fairly large slope in the upper sections and slight elevation changes towards the end. Several short forest trails are present on the southeastern slope of Riser Col. Every year at the beginning of April the famous Grandenissima competition takes place.(Gardenissima), participation in which is completely free (but, of course, a ski pass is required to participate). The competition takes place on a 6 kilometer long track that descends from the Seceda ridge and ends in Santa Cristina.

For experts

Skiers who have solid skiing experience and consider themselves professionals should take a look at the famous “black” slope Saslong A, which stretches from Ciampina to Santa Cristina.

This is a difficult track on which the World Cup alpine skiing competitions are held annually, namely downhill. The length of the route is about 3500 meters, the maximum slope on it is 57%, the average is 21%. The route includes the “Camel Hump” (Kamelbuckel) element, known among professional skiers - if the skier in front of it does not slow down, he will fly off the track 50-70 meters!

No less interesting is Saslong B. The track is also “black”, but somewhat longer and includes more sections where you can accelerate properly.

Don't miss the two magnificent descents from Ciampina to Selva. The first, “black” descent, runs in the same place as Saslong, but ends in a “corridor” passing through the forest. The other, marked in red, runs along a narrow isthmus between steep cliffs, and descends into the Val Gardena valley in neat loops.

For freeriders

Freeriding (off-piste) in Val Gardena is not a particularly popular activity. Perhaps this is due to the insufficient number of steep slopes along which there are no trails, or maybe the variety of equipped trails in the valley is enough for local freeriders - who knows? However, some of the freeride spots in Val Gardena are quite famous. First of all, this is the Seceda district.

If you move away from the marked trails, you can find spacious slopes along which you can go down to the lower station of the 4-chair lift.

Unfortunately, it is better to do this within a couple of days after a snowfall, since after that the virgin snow becomes covered with an ice crust and skiing here is no longer so pleasant. But when the crust hardens properly, you can walk on it. The situation is approximately the same on the Seiser Alm slope. The virgin snow lasts a little longer in the Punta d’Oro sector, but its slopes are too gentle for fast skiing.

Ski safari

There are a lot of options for a ski safari (a long ski trip without repeating slopes that have already been completed) in Val Gardena and Sella Ronda: the total length of all interconnected resorts is more than 480 kilometers, and a network of lifts will allow the skier to save time and avoid repeated routes and enjoy new breathtaking views every day.

The most popular route is as follows. From Ciampina, take the Saslong B descent to Saint Cristina, then use the lifts again to Ciampina, take a 4-kilometer descent to Selva, then take the exit to Plan de Gralba (be careful - there is a “black” track here, down which skiers descend at high speed). Here you should get to the gondola lift and get into the Dantercepis sector, from where you can go back down to Selva along the simple “red” track. If you have enough strength, you can climb again to Ciampina and overcome the descent to Plan de Gralba, from there by cable car to Piz Sella, then the descent to Monte Pana via Sassolundo... In short, the local trails will allow you to choose an unexplored route every day and enjoy the beauty of the Alpine nature.

For snowboarders

First of all, Val Gardena is considered a ski resort, but there are also excellent conditions for snowboarders.

Snowpark Piz Sella, which is located at an altitude of 2158 meters at the foot of Sassolungo at the southern end of the valley.

In 2012, the park was modernized, adding several new jumps and boardercross with a spiral tunnel. There is also a small halfpipe on Seiser Alm. Snowboarders who have a Dolomiti Superski ski pass can visit another snow park, but of much larger size and equipment: it is located in the Col Rodella area and is called Passo Sella.

Mountaineering

: Local climbing routes will test your skills and challenge challenging peaks such as Piz Gralba (2,974 metres), Piz Miara (2,965 metres) and Piz Beguz (2,972 metres).

The most popular routes for professional climbers are The Pössnecker-Route, The Brigata Tridentina, and The Oskar-Schuster-Track.

For those who are not yet ready to climb the almost three-kilometer peaks of Val Gardena, there are numerous climbing parks and climbing walls:

• Città dei Sassi (aka "City of Stones"), located near Plan De Gralba (includes 29 pistes with difficulty level 4, 24 pistes with difficulty level 5c, 75 pistes ranging in difficulty between 6a and 6c, and 13 pistes with difficulty 7a). There are also 16 bouldering routes;
• Frea, accessible via the SS243 from Plan de Gralba. The park includes 4 trails with a difficulty level of 4, 11 trails with a difficulty level between 5a and 5b, 37 trails with a difficulty level between 6a and 6c and 21 trails with a difficulty class of 7a;
• Bernardi, a small park located between Selva di Val Gardena and Plan de Gralba next to the SS242 highway: it has 5 slopes of difficulty 6B-6C and 7 slopes of class 7a-7b;
• Traumpfeiler, located next to Plan de Gralba below SS243: 4 routes 6a, 32 routes 6a-6c, 19 routes 7a-7c and 4 trail routes 8a;
• La Cava above Ortisei, located very close to SS242: 6 routes 5c, 18 routes 6a-6c, 9 routes 7a-7b and 3 difficult routes 8a.

Ski passes

Prices for ski passes depend mainly on what time of year you are planning a trip, and on the age of the person for whom the ski pass is purchased. A weekly ski pass is considered the most optimal: for an adult it will cost 224-280-252 euros (out of season, in high and low seasons, respectively), for a child (under 16 years old): 157-196-176, for seniors (skiers over 65 years old): 202- 252-227. You can find out the current prices in 2017 and 2018 for ski passes to Val Gardena on the website www.dolomitisuperski.com. The Val Gardena ski pass also comes with a route map.

It is worth remembering that these are the prices for ski passes in Val Gardena and Alpe di Siusi. A weekly ski pass, which will allow you to visit the slopes of the entire Dolomiti Superski region, will cost a little more: for an adult 243-304-274, for children 170-213-192, for older skiers 219-274-246 euros.

Après ski

Après ski in Val Gardena begins after lunch (at about three o'clock), when skiers, tired from the morning skiing, begin to gather in restaurants and bars to have a snack. Most of the people, of course, are in restaurants and bars located near the slopes - among them, special attention should be paid to Pauli and Chalet Restaurant Rasciesa (an interesting solution - the bar counter in it is made of snow) in Ortisei, Juac, Saslonch, Gran Paradiso on the mountain slopes of Selva. There are approximately 50 different cafes throughout the resort.

In Ortisei, the most popular are Dolomiti Madonna, Pontives and Mont Seuc (classic style restaurants with haute cuisine), La Rosticceria Sotriffer, Tubladel and Val D'Anna (wonderful restaurants with a strong personality that will delight connoisseurs of signature dishes) and small but... homely Terrazza and Mar Dolomit (it is located next to the thermal complex of the same name, which includes 11 baths and saunas, indoor pools with warm water and hydromassage, the cost of visiting is from 11.3 euros).

Selva is a real après-ski center: most of the restaurants located in the valley belong to this area. Tourists with children should definitely visit Ingloo; for a romantic evening, Pra Valentini is suitable; vacationers who prefer classic restaurants will like La Bula, L Mulinè, and Olympia. Tourists who are more attracted by the atmosphere of bars and noisy fun in the spirit of Austrian resorts should look into Luiskeller and Kronestube.

In Santa Cristina you will find classic restaurants (Ruacia De Sot, L Fudle) and inexpensive pizzerias (Pizzeria Da Bruno, Da Peppi). The local steakhouse Residence, Restaurant & Steakhouse La Tambra deserves special attention. Most establishments are located on the main street of the town of Via Dursan (the street is part of the federal highway SS242).

In addition to various restaurants and cafes, branded shopping, traditional for European ski resorts, is developed in Val Gardena: more than 50 clothing stores serve this purpose. You can show yourself in all your glory in the nightclubs of Val Gardena: Umbrella (the largest disco that lasts until the morning) and Disco Dancing Dali.

Also in the valley there is a tennis court, fitness centers, wellness centers, bowling, billiards, numerous saunas, baths and spas - in a word, everything you need for a complete and pleasant holiday.

Val Gardena in summer

In the summer there is also something to do in Val Gardena - cycling along the high mountain routes is very popular. On the territory of the resorts there is a network of more than 30 different cycling routes of varying difficulty, with a total length of over 1000 kilometers and with an elevation difference of 1750 meters. In Val Gardena there are six mountain bike schools, bicycle rentals, and protective clothing. Most routes can be visited either independently or with an instructor.

You can also explore the picturesque expanses of Val Gardena on horseback. You can rent a horse for an average of 75 euros per hour. For children there is the opportunity to ride a pony - 45 euros per hour of riding. You can rent a horse at one of three riding schools(one each in Santa Cristina, Ortisei and Selva), where instructors will help beginners learn the basics of horseback riding and teach them how to stay in the saddle.

A flight over the mountains on a paraglider or helicopter can give you a lot of impressions. The five-star Alpenroyal Grand Hotel even has its own helipad! Paragliding in Val Gardena has been known since 1986: The region is a pioneer of free flight among Italian resorts. If you are not an experienced paraglider and are afraid that your skills will not be enough, you can choose to fly with an instructor.

Adventure seekers will also enjoy geocaching - an independent search for “treasures” hidden in the resort, which are small containers. By registering on the website www.geocaching.com, you can find the GPS coordinates of the location of the first “treasure”, where a hint will be hidden where to look for the next one.

Attractions

Tired of sports and gastronomic delights of Val Gardena, tourists can also taste spiritual food by visiting the numerous attractions of Val Gardena. Among them are castles, museums, monuments, churches, monuments, ancient watermills - in short, there are a lot of places that you can explore.

Castel Gardena Castle (Fischburg-Castel Gardena), located in Santa Cristina, was built in 1641 by order of one of the Counts of Wolkenstein.

Its original name, Fishburg, translates as “fish castle.” This name is due to the fact that in the vicinity of the castle its owner ordered the digging of many small ponds in which Count Wolkenstein raised trout. Unfortunately, there are no regular excursions inside the castle. since it is the private property of Baron Franchetti. However, in the summer, during the annual music festival Valgardenamusika, concerts are held inside the castle. Not far from the castle there is also a small chapel called Bergkapelle, which anyone can visit.

Castle Wolkenstein

Wolkenstein Castle is an ancient guardhouse built in the 13th century between the Val Gardena and Alta Badia valleys.

The castle was captured by the Venetians in the 16th century and was subsequently not used for its intended purpose, as a result of which it gradually collapsed. Currently, the northern walls of the castle, which are located at an altitude of 1600 meters, are best preserved.

Trostburg Castle is the oldest castle in Val Gardena, the first mention of it dates back to 1173.

It is not known exactly who owned the castle complex at the time of construction, but from the 14th to the 20th centuries it was the property of the ancient Italian family of Wolkenstein-Trostburg. Thanks to the efforts of the Südtiroler Burgeninstitut association, the building was restored and became accessible to tourists in 1977.

Historical Museum of Val Gardena

The Museum de Gherdëina, located at Via Rezia 83 in Ortisei, tells visitors about the history of the resort region. There are large exhibitions of archaeological finds, various pieces of art made by local authors, and fossils. The exhibition of wood carving deserves special attention - this type of art has been known here since 1600 and is a kind of “calling card” of the culture of Val Gardena.

Sundial

The huge sundial, located in a huge meadow in Alpe Juac, near Selva Val Gardena, was built by the famous designer Roland Moroder. There is no separate road leading to the clock, but there is a walking path along which tourists can get from Selva to this attraction in about half an hour.

Church of St. Ulrich

The Church of St. Ulrich (Chiesa Ortisei – Kirche St. Ulrich) is located in Ortisei at Via Stufan, 1, not far from the Adler Hotel.

Construction of the church began in 1793 and lasted three years. The church is designed in the late Baroque style and is decorated with numerous frescoes and paintings, including works by Ludwig, Joseph and Rudolf Moroder (one of the paintings present in the church was awarded a gold medal at the World Exhibition in Paris in 1900).

The Church of St. Anthony (Chiesa di Sant’Antonio) is also located in Ortisei, in a square dedicated to the same saint. The first mention of the church dates back to 1430. However, that church, unfortunately, has not survived to this day and was rebuilt in 1676. The last restoration of the temple took place in 1959. The church is in the Romanesque style, the central painting was made by the Swiss artist Paul Deschwanden and depicts St. Anthony kneeling before the Virgin Mary and Jesus.

The exquisite Church of San Giacomo (Chiesa Di San Giacomo) is located between Ortisei and the Gröden Gorge, on the Troi Paiàn mountain trail, which can be reached by following Str. Sacun from Ortisei.

You can only get to the church on foot, about an hour's walk from the city center. The exact date of construction of the temple is unknown, but it is believed that the cornerstone of the church was laid in 1181. Initially, the church was made in the Romanesque style, but after numerous restorations, elements of Baroque and Gothic style paintings were included in the ensemble of the temple.

Weather

The warmest months in Val Gardena are July and August - temperatures reach +21 degrees during the day and drop to 6 degrees at night. The coldest month is January, but even then the temperature only drops to -3 during the day (up to -10 at night). The sunniest months are July and August (on average 24-25 sunny days per month), the cloudiest months are January and February (about 10-13 days).

Hotels

Hotels in the Val Gardena region will please every traveler - there are accommodation options for every taste and financial opportunity.

In Selva di Val Gardena you can find hotels suitable for lovers of a busy evening life - the town is quite noisy, there are clubs, bars and discos near most hotels.

For a more relaxing time, it is better to book a hotel room in Ortisei or Santa Cristina Val Gardena. Of course, you are unlikely to find service staff here who speak Russian, but in most hotels they speak English, Italian and German. However, in a five-star hotel you can count on the staff speaking Russian.

3 stars

Val Gardena has more than a hundred three-star hotels, which provide vacationers with a wide range of services at fairly affordable (by the standards of the Dolomiti Superski region) prices. Many of the accommodation options are located near popular ski slopes. We have selected for you the best ones based on tourist reviews.

Hotel Cristallo

Located in Santa Cristina, less than half a kilometer from the main ski lifts. Guests can enjoy a free buffet breakfast, swim in the indoor pool or relax in the sauna. On the ground floor of the hotel there is a restaurant serving Tyrolean cuisine.

Hotel Olympia

By train

The closest railway stations to Val Gardena are located on the Verona-Munich line passing through Innsbruck:

• From Ponte Gardena – about 13 km;
• From Bressanone – about 30 km;
• From Bolzano – 40 km.

An open Schengen visa gives you the opportunity to visit Val Gardena, for example, on the way from Munich: in this case, you can take the train to Rome-Verona, departing from, and get from Verona to Val Gardena, taking the train to Bolzano. Once you reach this station, the resort is easily accessible by bus, taxi or rental car.

• See instructions: how to buy without intermediaries

By bus

In the high season, direct transfers are organized to Val Gardena from the airports of the nearest cities - Verona, Innsbruck and (ticket price - 25 euros). There are also regular services from Bolzano (every hour) and Ponte Gardena, as well as Bressanone (line 350 via Chiusa). From the nearest towns you can get to the valley for only 2.5 euros, a taxi will cost you about 17-19 euros. Bus line no. 471 will allow you to reach Val Gardena from the Dolomiti Superski passes.

By plane

There is no airport in Val Gardena, but there are airports in the towns closest to the valley. During the season, it is easy to get to the resort from there using bus transfers.

• Bolzano Airport (Airport Bolzano Dolomiti) – 40 km;
• Innsbruck Airport (Kranebitten) – 110 km;
• (Valerio Catullo) – 205 km.

Regular direct flights Moscow-Innsbruck and Munich-Innsbruck are popular among Russian travelers visiting Val Gardena.

By car

The easiest way to get to the resort by car is along the A22 highway - from the north it can be reached from Verona and Bolzano, from the south - from Innsbruck. The way to Val Gardena from Germany (Munich, Nuremberg) goes along federal highway number 8, from there along E45 to Innsbruck. From the neighboring ski resorts you can reach the roads SS242, SS243 (from Val di Fassa and Alta Badia).

You can find a profitable car rental option on our service

Our opinion

Val Gardena in winter is a favorite destination for skiers and climbers from all over the world. The resort region will provide you with the widest opportunities for recreation and entertainment, regardless of your preferences - skiers and snowboarders can enjoy the beautiful slopes of the Val Gardena and Dolomiti Superski regions, climbers can enjoy challenging mountain routes and climbing parks, horseback riding enthusiasts can enjoy walks along the picturesque mountain trails in autumn and summer . Tours to Val Gardena will undoubtedly bring you a lot of impressions and will become an unforgettable event in your life!

↘️🇮🇹 USEFUL ARTICLES AND SITES 🇮🇹↙️ SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS

Val Gardena- this is a fabulously beautiful valley with a length of more than 15 kilometers at the foot of the mountain Sassolungo(“Long Stone”), which includes three resort towns - Ortisei, Santa Cristina(1466 m.) and Selva Gardena(1563 m.).

Resort Description

All slopes are connected by a continuous network of slopes and lifts with altitudes from 2518 to 1563 m, so you can move from one ski area to another without taking off your skis. Through Passo Gardena you can easily reach the neighboring area of ​​Alta Badia (height - 2138-1433 m, 39 lifts) with resorts Colfosco And Corvara.

The height of Val Gordena itself is about 1563 m, there are 77 ski lifts, 175 km. slopes, discos, bars, restaurants, shops, skating rinks and swimming pools. Ortisei has an indoor tennis and squash center, as well as a riding school and a local history museum, much of which is devoted to the art of local wood carving. The picturesque Renaissance castle of Fischburg (17th century) is also located nearby.

How to get to Val Gardena?

The airports closest to the resort valley are Bolzano (40 km), Innsbruck (110 km), Verona (200 km).

Railway stations on the line Verona - Brennero - Innsbruck - Munich: Ponte Gardena (German: Widebruck) - 13 km, Bressanone (German: Brixen) - 31 km, Bolzano - 40 km.

One of the most beautiful ski resorts located in the Dolomites is the Val Gardena ski resort, consisting of three resort towns: Selva di Val Gardena, Santa Cristina and Ortisei.

Looking at the political map of Italy, you can see that the Val Gardena ski resort is located in the northeastern part of the country.

The Val Gardena resort has a number of advantages over many other resorts, namely:

• the total length of the tracks is about 175 km;
• availability of sports tracks;
• availability of special trails for beginners;
• extensive ski safari opportunities;
• large ski area;
• high quality trails;
• the resort has the most powerful and modern artificial snow production equipment in Europe;
• modern lift system.

You will learn more about the Val Gardena resort from the video:

Resort hotels

The resort has a developed infrastructure, many hotels, boarding houses, etc., which in total can accommodate about 8,000 vacationers at the same time.

Hotels in Val Gardena are both three-star and five-star. The living conditions are very pleasant and comfortable in all hotels.

Most of them are located near the ski lift.
The most popular hotels are:

• Gardena Grodnerhof Gourmet & Spa 5*;
• Adler Dolomiti SPA & Sport Resort 5*;
• Biancaneve Family & Design 4* and others.

Val Gardena hotels are mainly located near the ski lifts

How to get there

It should be noted that the Val Gardena resort is a little distant from the nearest towns. In order to get to Val Gardena, you need to cover a distance of 120 km from Innsbruck, where the nearest airport is located, or from Bolzano - 40 km, or from Verona - 190 km (the airport is located) by bus or car.

Resort towns

Looking at the map of Val Gardena, you can see that the resort includes three towns.

The largest of them is Ortisei, which has many shops, restaurants, hotels, etc. Its population is about five thousand people.

The town of Ortisei is the largest among the towns of the Val Gardena resort.

The city belongs to the world's largest ski alliance, Dolomiti Superski.

The distance from the center of Ortisei to the nearest ski lift is 10 minutes. walking. You should stay in this city if you come on vacation with the whole family with children.

If you are involved in skiing or snowboarding at a professional level, you should stay in other towns of Val Gardena - in Santa Crista or Selva di Val Gardena. Both cities are located in the center of the valley.

The town of Santa Crista is more suitable for professionals

The best routes pass through them.

The features of these towns are a quiet, calm atmosphere, most favorable for people who love peace and quiet, as well as professional ski slopes and the opportunity to start a multi-hour ski trip to the nearest regions.

If you arrive on vacation in one of these towns without equipment, do not be upset. In local stores you can buy all the necessary equipment and equipment or rent it. Alpine skis, snowboards, thermal underwear and other products are on sale.

Climate

The Val Gardena ski resort is located in a temperate alpine climate. It is characterized by warm summers and cold winters. The minimum air temperature is -20°C in winter, and the maximum is +30°C in summer.

The average air temperature in summer is +15°C, and in winter - -5°C.

The weather in Val Gardena changes dramatically and frosts begin in November. Air humidity in winter is not high, making even severe frosts very easy to bear.

Trails and slopes

The most popular areas, with a huge number of different tracks, are:

• "Alpe di Siusi"- the most popular area among most tourists. This area contains many trails of varying difficulty levels, as well as a large variety of lifts. Both beginners and amateurs can ride in it;
• "Sella Ronda"- the zone is most popular among professional skiers, on which there is a circular route with a total length of 40 km.
• Confident skiers should try their hand at the slopes that start at Ciampioni or Dantercepies and ends in Santa Cristina and Selva respectively;
• And lovers of snow-white landscapes and virgin lands should take a ride along run Seched, lying at an altitude of 2518 m.

Schemes of the pistes and lifts of Val Gardena can be obtained free of charge from ski passes sales points.

If you decide to go on a ski tour to Val Gardena, you probably won’t regret it. You can have a good holiday here both in the company of friends and with your family.

A large number of hotels and boarding houses in Val Gardena will allow you to choose a room to suit your taste and budget, and a wide selection of ski slopes of varying difficulty will allow both beginner skiers and professionals to ski.

Most tourists who have visited the Val Gardena ski resort give only positive reviews.

Val Gardena is a wide, picturesque valley in South Tyrol, located in the north-west of the Dolomites, a superb mountain range with UNESCO World Natural Heritage status. According to experienced tourists, Val Gardena is the most attractive valley of Sella Ronda, a circular ski route with a total length of 500 km. The valley itself offers 175 km of trails of breathtaking beauty.

Val Gardena offers its guests many opportunities for entertainment. Among them you can choose the most suitable one: winter excursions, freestyle, hockey, paragliding, figure skating, rock climbing, cross-country skiing, sledding and much more. The variety of active recreation attracts tourists from all over the world.

The resort includes three small towns with well-developed infrastructure - Ortisei (1236 m), Santa Cristina (1428 m) and Selva (1563 m).

Ortisei, the largest of them, is an excellent place for a family holiday with children. There are many restaurants, spas, various hotels and shops. The first ski lift is just a 10-minute walk away.

Santa Cristina is the smallest resort town in the valley. It is very cozy here and there is no noise.

Selva is a fairly popular resort due to its convenient location to the Sella Ronde mountain route, where many trails begin. It has a developed tourism infrastructure.

Previously, Val Gardena was part of Austria-Hungary, so people here speak German more readily than Italian. As for the local population of Val Gardena, they are very hospitable and sincere. Local people speak a rare Ladin language that is over 2000 years old! You should definitely talk to them.

Val Gardena annually hosts the World Alpine Ski Championships. Interestingly, all the action takes place on the steep Saslong highway. With just a little bit of courage, you can also taste victory by going down this famous route.

The Val Gardena valley is part of the Sella Ronda circuit, which includes 500 km of ski slopes. It is here that international men's slalom competitions are held every year.

Val Gardena is part of the Dolomiti Superski association, an incredibly beautiful ski area of ​​16 ski regions. A particular advantage is the ability to ski all 1,200 km of Dolomiti Superski pistes with a single ski pass. And 450 lifts will take you to the best peaks of the Dolomites with ease. By visiting the Alta Bedia resort, you are guaranteed to get the most out of an active holiday!

Ski resorts in Italy
Val Gardena

Val Gardena: about the resort

Don't try to find the town of Val Gardena on the map - it doesn't exist. Like other resorts in the Dolomiti Superski region, Val Gardena (or Gröden in German) is the name of the ski region that unites three resorts. Val Gardena is located in the center of South Tyrol; this part used to belong to Austria, and this is felt literally in everything. The local population speaks three languages ​​fluently: Italian and German - the official languages ​​of South Tyrol (Alto Adige), and also the rare Ladin - native to the local population. Many villages and names in the Val Gardena and neighboring valleys often have two, and sometimes three names, often different from each other. Ortisei in Italian sounds like Ortisei, in German St. Ulrich, and in Ladin Urtijei. The Ladin language (it belongs to the Romansh language and is considered one of the endangered ones) is spoken by only about 25 thousand people, and often each region has its own dialects. For many centuries, the mountainous areas of Trentino were isolated from the outside world; traditions and crafts are still strong in the local villages. In many Dolomite villages, wood carving and lace weaving are held in high esteem, and the locals themselves are friendly and hospitable.

Val Gardena is one of the most popular places in the heart of the Dolomites. This is without a doubt one of the most beautiful regions in Italy, located on the famous Sella Ronda circular route. All of the region's main towns offer a good range of accommodation options. Val Gardena hosts international competitions every year, including the legendary Alpine Ski World Cup on the Saslong piste.

pros
- Large selection of accommodation options
- Magnificent scenery
- Good trail preparation
- Lots of opportunities for children
- Good restaurants

Minuses
- Slopes and lifts are often crowded
- Fairly high price level
- Some long trails for beginners
- Not too lively nightlife
- Ski-in ski out options are limited

Val Gardena: how to get there

The nearest international airport is Bolzano - 40 km. To Innsbruck airport – 120 km, to Verona airport – 190 km. The journey by car from Munich takes more than 3.5 hours (316 km).

By train you can reach Val Gardena via Brunico in the Kronplatz region (16 km from the resort), then by bus. From Milan the train runs 5 times a day, the journey takes 3.5 hours, with a change in Verona. The village of Ortisei is closest to the highway.
Bus schedule - http://www.sii.bz.it, taxi order - http://www.taxiautosella.it.

Val Gardena: facts and routes

Ski area – 1060-2518 m
The total length of the tracks is 175 km
blue – 35%
red – 55%
black – 10%

Lifts:
Gondolas – 2, cabins – 7, chairlifts – 43, rope tows – 30

Season:
The first ski lifts open in November, full season: early December – early/mid April

Val Gardena ski passes

Ski pass Dolomiti Superski
For 6 days:
265-294 euros for adults, 185-206 euros for children over 8 years old.

Children under 8 years old ride for free when purchasing a ski pass from one of their immediate family members.
There are also discounts for riders over 65 years of age. There are discounts and special offers at the beginning and end of the season. The ski pass is valid in all 12 valleys of the Dolomites Superski region (in total, this is 1200 km of slopes in various resorts, but not all of them are fully connected).

Application for iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad) and Android (webcams, news, events, weather, snow, ski lifts, maps and diagrams, photos and videos, reference information): . The application is free.

Val Gardena: prices

Rental of a set of equipment for 6 days – 160-180 euros
Group classes (5 days, 3 hours) – from 250 euros
Individual lessons with an instructor – from 47 euros/hour
Visit to the aquatic center – 8.5 euros
Visit to the ice palace – 6 euros

Sella Ronda

Sella Ronda is one of the most beautiful ski safari routes in Italy and perhaps in the Alps, passing through the Ladin valleys (Val Gardena) Alta Badia(Alta Badia) Val di Fassa(Val di Fassa) And Arabba(Arab). On this route you can travel clockwise (indicated in orange on the route map) or against it (indicated in green on the map) for about 40 km, of which about 23 km are ski slopes. Sella Ronda is suitable for intermediate skiers. The "orange" route is considered to be slightly more difficult than the "green" route.

Val Gardena: where to ride

Val Gardena is a former Austrian possession that became part of Italy after the First World War; the influence of Italy and Austria is intricately mixed in the local culture and cuisine. Val Gardena consists of three resort towns: Ortisei(Ortisei, 1235 m), Santa Cristina(Santa Cristina, 1466 m) and Selva Gardena(Selva Gardena, 1563 m). Ortisei not bad for families with children, the resort has many hotels with wellness centers, a good selection of restaurants and shops. Santa Cristina- the most compact resort in the region; there are few hotels in this town, but they are good. Selva Gardena or, in German, Wolkenstein - a good option for those who want to ride more difficult trails and travel to neighboring regions. Selva (also called Selva di Val Gardena) has many good hotels, and apartments are also easy to find; this is the busiest of the Val Gardena resorts.

Val Gardena is famous for the quality and variety of trails. From the top station of Piz Cella you can take the black piste towards Selva or go to the Sellajoch piste (2240 ​​m) and the piste above Plan de Galba (1780 m). The most difficult black run is the long and winding descent into Selva Gardena from the top of Ciampioni (2254 m). From the same peak, but on the eastern side, a shorter and less winding, but also very difficult black trail descends to Santa Cristina. For lovers of difficult descents, the Piz Cella – Monte de Seura area (2115 m) is recommended with interesting red slopes that pass through the forest in the lower part. Some red pistes in low snow conditions can have quite difficult black sections. The traditional route along Sella Ronda may seem too boring for experienced skiers, but it is worth paying attention to the black and red slopes at Porta Vescovo above Arabba. For those who like to ride between the trees, it is worth paying attention to Piz la Ila: the slope under the gondola to La Villa (this is the Alta Badia region) is quite long and steep. For beginners, the Alpe di Siusi area is more suitable; strong skiers may be interested in testing their speed on a special section.

The long and wide pistes between Santa Cristina and Ortisei are well suited for beginner skiers and snowboarders. A gondola from Ortisei takes you to the main ski area to Monte Piz (2109 m). The resorts of Santa Cristina and Selva Gardena are connected by a system of lifts; ski-bus runs regularly from Selva to Ortisei.

At the height of the season in Val Gardena, virgin soil is rolled out quite quickly. But with desire and some effort, you can find incredibly beautiful freeride routes. In particular, having climbed on the Sass Pordoi cabin to the mark of 2950 m, you can go a little north on foot to the Boe hut (2873 m, it is usually closed in winter). From here begins the picturesque Val Mezdi ("midday valley", so named because only at this time the sun penetrates into it). Slightly gloomy, but defiantly beautiful cliffs, untouched snow, narrow canyons - the route requires good technical skills and it is advisable to go through it accompanied by a guide. From the top of the route there is an incredible view of the resorts below.

Val Gardena: Apres-ski

In the restaurants of Val Gardena, Tyrolean and Ladin cuisine reigns, with a clear predominance of meat dishes (although you can also find good fish in hotel restaurants). In Selva, many good restaurants are located in hotels. Tyrol, Dorfer, Nives, Mignon are popular; they serve traditional South Tyrol dishes. Each of the good hotels has its own bars and restaurants. There is an excellent gastronomic restaurant at the Alpenroyal Grand Hotel. The charming restaurant Anna Stuben is famous for its cuisine and pleasant atmosphere, and is awarded by the Michelin Guide. Most guests choose to stay with half board, and the food in most hotels is tasty and plentiful, so don’t overextend yourself. During the high season (Christmas and New Year, school holidays, February) in the most popular restaurants it is better to book a table in advance, otherwise you will not get in.

Having a snack or a hearty lunch in the mountains is also not a problem in Val Gardena, because you are in Italy. Most mountain huts and restaurants offer Tyrolean, Ladin and Italian cuisine, and there are several excellent fish restaurants (notably Vallongia). Traditional lunch - various soups, polenta with mushrooms and other additives, and, of course, all kinds of pasta. Full list of mountain restaurants -

Good fashion stores are located in Ortisei, prices are more in line with elite resorts. During the season, the resorts in the valley host many interesting events. In December, the Alpine Ski World Cup takes place in Santa Cristina - a very spectacular and interesting event that attracts thousands of fans.

Val Gardena: not only skiing

The valley towns have indoor swimming pools, skating rinks and wellness centers. You can play tennis and squash in Ortisei. In the evening you can sit in a cafe, restaurant or go to a disco. Specialized ski shops and souvenir shops are open in Selva and Santa Cristina. In the local history museum you can get acquainted with the history of the valley, see ancient household items, and carved wooden sculptures. It is worth visiting the ancient castle of Fischburg in Santa Cristina, built in the 17th century. There are many luxury hotels in the valley, many of them with excellent wellness centers. In Ortisei there is the Mar Dolomiti aquatic center with a large swimming pool, a complex of cascades, saunas and a wellness complex. Alpin Garden Wellness Resort has a luxurious Wellness & Spa Cleopatra complex with an area of ​​more than 1000 sq.m. with swimming pools, several Jacuzzis, a variety of saunas and a beauty center. There is also a fitness center with panoramic views of the Sassolungo Dolomite rock. In the village of Selva Gardena, there is one of the most luxurious hotels in the Alps, repeatedly recognized as the best ski and spa hotel in Italy - Sporthotel Alpenroyalp Gourmet & Relax. It is one of The Leading Hotels of the World and offers a state-of-the-art spa and a wide range of treatments.

Val Gardena: with children

The resort has a kindergarten with a ski school. A large children's sector at the foot of the mountain is located in Ortisei. Mickey Mountain Club, located in Selva, is designed for children from 4 to 12 years old and offers a varied program. Junior Club, designed for teenagers from 11 to 18 years old, is located in Selva. In addition to the skiing itself, the family is offered a large selection of entertainment: special programs, snowshoeing, dog sledding and horse sledding, toboggan runs and skating rinks - Be prepared for the fact that most of the ski instructors do not speak Russian (Italian, German, etc.) less often - English - local standard).
- When planning a trip to the Sella Ronda or to other remote valleys, carefully study the opening times of the lifts. Getting “stuck” in a neighboring or not quite neighboring valley is an expensive pleasure: traveling between resorts on skis is much faster than by road, and a taxi ride can cost a pretty penny.
- Avoid riding the Sella Ronda during peak periods, otherwise you may end up spending a lot of time in queues.