Alta Badia is the upper part of Val Badia, one of the Ladin valleys of the Dolomites, and one of the best-loved names in Italian skiing: Dolomite walls that are a UNESCO World Heritage site, wide, sunny slopes, and a culinary fame that makes it unique among snow destinations. It spreads around the Sella group and the Sassongher, and is one of the four sectors of the famous Sellaronda. Here you’ll find where to stay best, with the small places we choose one by one, never by hearsay.
Alta Badia is made up of several nearby villages, each with its own character: Corvara, the largest and most central, at the foot of the Sassongher; Colfosco, the highest, quiet and close to the Gardena Pass; San Cassiano, elegant and tied to great cuisine; La Villa, with the legendary Gran Risa slope; Badia (Pedraces), the cosiest and most authentic. They’re all linked by lifts and ski buses, so the choice is mostly a matter of atmosphere.
In short: Corvara for a central position and village life; Colfosco for quiet a step from the passes; San Cassiano for elegance and taste; La Villa and Badia for a more family-friendly, genuine feel. Let’s look at the villages, one by one, with the places we recommend, and then the skiing and the gourmet dining that hold the valley together.
Corvara
Corvara is the nerve centre of Alta Badia: the largest and liveliest village, at the foot of the unmistakable Sassongher, with shops, restaurants and the greatest concentration of lifts. It’s the valley’s handiest hub for the Sellaronda and for reaching the other villages, which makes it the ideal base for those who want everything within reach.
It’s the choice for those seeking convenience, services and a bit of evening life. Worth keeping in mind:
- Central position: the best hub for the Sellaronda and for moving around the valley.
- Full services: shops, rentals, restaurants and ski schools within walking reach.
- Liveliest: the base with the most going on, ideal for those not only after quiet.
The addresses we choose in Corvara:
B&B La Tranquillitè
A small, well-kept address in the heart of Corvara, blending the warmth of family management with a handy position for slopes and village. The attentive welcome and cosy feel make it perfect for a couple. Ideal for those who want the centre of Alta Badia with the intimacy of a mountain home.
Ciasa Verena
An alpine-style “ciasa” in Corvara, with the warmth of wood and the genuine hospitality of the valley, handy for lifts and centre. The well-kept spaces and attentive management make it a restful base after the slopes. Suited to couples and families after authenticity and convenience together.
Residence Angelika
Apartments with their own kitchen in Corvara, the ideal option for those who want space and independence in a central spot. The residence formula is perfect for families and week-long stays, with slopes and services a couple of steps away. Suited to those who like to set their own pace after a day on the snow.
Villa Resi B&B
A welcoming bed and breakfast in Corvara, with the warm feel of a mountain home and a handy position for slopes and village. The well-kept breakfast and family hospitality are its strength. Perfect for those after an intimate, genuine address in the heart of the valley.
All the properties in the village: all hotels in Corvara →
San Cassiano
San Cassiano is the most elegant and peaceful village in the valley, famous for its gourmet soul: here great mountain cuisine is at home, between starred restaurants and mountain huts that have made Alta Badia’s culinary fame. It’s also a strategic base for the wildest part of the Dolomites, with the Armentarola, the Lagazuoi and the Fanes-Sennes-Braies nature park within reach of skis and trails.
Sleeping here means choosing refinement, quiet and good food, with the slopes still a couple of steps away. The two places we recommend:
Plang Farmhouse
An address with the spirit of a contemporary farmhouse in San Cassiano, with the warmth of wood and hospitality kept in every detail. The intimate, authentic atmosphere makes it a special base for a couple. Perfect for those seeking the valley’s Ladin charm with a touch of refinement.
Hotel Ciasa Ai Pini
A welcoming house in San Cassiano, set in the quiet and handy for slopes and village, with the warm hospitality typical of Alta Badia. Wooden interiors and attentive management make it suited to couples and families. A good base for those who want elegance and calm without straying from the snow.
All the properties in the village: all hotels in San Cassiano →
Colfosco, La Villa and Badia
Around the two main centres, Alta Badia offers other villages of strong character. Colfosco is the highest in the valley, quiet and panoramic, a step from the Gardena Pass and the lifts climbing towards the Sella. La Villa is the home of the Gran Risa, the very steep World Cup slope, and a handy, family-friendly base. Badia (Pedraces), finally, is the cosiest and most authentic, at the foot of the trail up to the Santa Croce sanctuary.
These are the choices for those seeking more quiet and a genuine feel, with the same ski area on hand. The two places we recommend:
Garni Fany
A welcoming garni in Colfosco, the highest village in the valley, with family hospitality and a quiet, panoramic position. Handy for the lifts towards the Sella, it blends the warmth of wood with the calm of the high altitude. Ideal for those seeking peace and authenticity a couple of steps from the slopes.
Villa Alba
A well-kept bed and breakfast in La Villa, a couple of steps from the legendary Gran Risa, with the warm feel of a mountain home. The attentive management and handy position make it suited to couples and families. Perfect for those who want to experience Alta Badia’s skiing in a quiet, genuine setting.
All the properties: hotels in Colfosco and in La Villa →
Skiing, the Sellaronda and gourmet dining
In winter Alta Badia is one of the flagship areas of the Dolomiti Superski, with wide, sunny slopes that suit those who aren’t champions too. It’s one of the four sectors of the Sellaronda, the ski circuit around the Sella group that links the valley to Val Gardena, Arabba and Val di Fassa, skis on. At La Villa runs the legendary Gran Risa, stage of the World Cup giant slalom usually held in December (it’s worth checking the dates each year).
But Alta Badia has a trait that sets it apart from any other snow destination: gourmet dining. It’s one of the capitals of great mountain cuisine, with starred restaurants and signature mountain huts, and events that bring chefs onto the slopes, to ski and taste. To organise yourself among the areas, see the guide where to stay for skiing in Trentino-Alto Adige, or the selection ski-in ski-out hotels in the Dolomites; and to continue the pass tour, the Sellaronda’s twin valleys are Val Gardena and Val di Fassa.
In summer the valley is a hiking paradise: the Fanes-Sennes-Braies nature park, the amphitheatre of the Lagazuoi and the Armentarola, the trails and via ferratas around the Sassongher and the Sella offer excursions for every level, with the charm of the Ladin culture in the villages. For summer destinations among the peaks, see also the Dolomites in summer.
When to go
Alta Badia is a two-season destination. Winter (December to early April, depending on snow and openings — to be checked season by season) is the ski high season, with the Dolomiti Superski slopes and the atmosphere of the race weeks and the holidays; book well ahead. Summer (June to September) is the hiking season, with a cool climate, meadows in bloom and lifts open for the high altitude.
The shoulder seasons are quieter but need planning: in autumn and late spring many lifts and some places follow the seasonal calendar, so it’s worth checking openings and connections before you leave. In general, Alta Badia is at its best in the heart of its two seasons.
How to get there
Alta Badia is reached by car from the Brenner motorway (A22): you exit at Bressanone/Val Pusteria or at Bolzano and climb Val Badia. By train the reference stations are Bressanone (Brixen) and Brunico, on the Brenner and Pusteria lines, from which you continue by valley buses; the handiest airports are Verona, Bergamo, Innsbruck (in Austria) and Venice.
Once in the valley, you get around well without a car too: in winter the ski buses and lifts link the villages, and with skis on you move from one Sellaronda sector to another; in summer the valley buses and cable cars reach the trailheads. For the full picture on the motorway, trains and airports of the region, see the guide how to get to Trentino-Alto Adige.
This guide is part of our grand tour of the region: discover all the destinations and areas in Where to Stay in Trentino-Alto Adige.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions we’re asked most about where to stay in Alta Badia.
Which is the best village to stay in Alta Badia?
It depends on the atmosphere you’re after. Corvara is the largest, most central and liveliest, the best hub for the Sellaronda; Colfosco is the highest and quietest, towards the Gardena Pass; San Cassiano is the elegant one, home of fine food; La Villa, with the Gran Risa, and Badia are more family-friendly and cosy. All are linked by lifts and ski buses, so from each you ski well: mostly what changes is the character of the stay.
Is Alta Badia suitable for those who aren’t strong skiers?
Very much so. It’s famous for its wide, sunny, well-groomed slopes, ideal for beginners, families and easy-going skiers, with ski schools in every village. The Sellaronda can be tackled at a calm pace, and non-skiers find snowshoeing, walks and above all the great food offer of the mountain huts. It’s one of the most welcoming destinations in the Dolomites even for those after stress-free snow.
Why is Alta Badia famous for gourmet dining?
Because it pairs skiing with great cuisine like few other resorts: it has starred restaurants and signature mountain huts, and hosts events that bring chefs straight onto the slopes, to ski and taste. The Ladin tradition, mountain produce and the chefs’ research have made Alta Badia a capital of alpine flavour. It’s the ideal destination for those who want to pair the snow with fine food.
What is there to do in Alta Badia in summer?
In summer Alta Badia is an outstanding hiking destination: the Fanes-Sennes-Braies nature park, the amphitheatre of the Lagazuoi and the Armentarola, the trails and via ferratas around the Sassongher and the Sella offer excursions for every level. The open lifts help you climb high, and the villages keep the Ladin culture, between mountain huts, flavours and traditions. Ideal for those who love the active mountain with a cool climate.
How do you get around Alta Badia without a car?
Well: in winter the ski buses and lifts link Corvara, Colfosco, San Cassiano, La Villa and Badia, and with skis on you move from one Sellaronda sector to another. In summer the valley buses and cable cars reach the trails. You arrive by train at Bressanone or Brunico and then by valley bus. A car is handy for the surroundings, but in Alta Badia it isn’t essential.
