Val Gardena — Gröden, in German — is one of the best-loved valleys in the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and a name that alone conjures the mountains at their best: walls that glow pink at sunset, legendary slopes and a living Ladin culture, the valley’s third language alongside Italian and German. It is framed by some of the most famous peaks in the Alps — the Sassolungo (Langkofel), the Sella group, the spires of the Puez-Odle — which in 2009 joined the other Dolomites on the UNESCO World Heritage list for their geological beauty. The valley lives two full seasons, both as a lead role: skiing in winter and hiking in summer, with the authentic life of its villages in between. Here you’ll find where to stay best, with the small places we choose one by one, never by hearsay.
What’s distinctive about Val Gardena is that it runs along a single furrow, with three villages in a row passing the baton as you climb: Ortisei (St. Ulrich) down the valley, the largest and most refined, the historic capital of woodcarving; Santa Cristina (St. Christina) in the middle, compact and tucked away; Selva di Val Gardena (Wolkenstein) up high, at the foot of the Sella and the passes, the most ski-focused. All three are linked by lifts and ski buses, so from any base you ski and hike well: the choice is mostly a matter of atmosphere.
In short: Ortisei for elegance, the pedestrian centre and village life; Santa Cristina for quiet and a central position; Selva to be closest to the slopes and the Sellaronda, with a sporty soul. Let’s look at the three villages, one by one, with the places we recommend in each, and then the skiing and the Dolomites that hold them together.
Ortisei
Ortisei is the valley’s main town and its liveliest, most elegant village: a pedestrian old centre of painted houses, boutiques, cafés and pastry shops, with the centuries-old tradition of woodcarving alive in the workshops and museums. Two cable cars climb from here in opposite directions — towards the Seceda and towards the Alpe di Siusi — so in minutes you go from a stroll in the village to a panoramic balcony over the peaks.
Ortisei is also the valley’s cultural capital: here the great tradition of woodcarving is kept, told by the Museum Gherdëina, and the Ladin identity is felt in the names, the festivals and the crafts of the workshops. It’s no surprise it’s the favourite base for those who want, beyond the skiing, a real après-ski of evening walks, fine restaurants and a centre that lives.
It’s the choice for those who want to enjoy the “afterwards” too, beyond the slopes and the trails. Worth keeping in mind:
- Pedestrian centre: shops, restaurants and cafés all on foot, lively in the evening too.
- Two cable cars: Seceda on one side, Alpe di Siusi on the other, very handy from the village.
- Refined atmosphere: the base best suited to those after elegance and services, not just slopes.
The addresses we choose in Ortisei:
Pra Palmer The Green B&B
A small, green-minded address in the heart of Ortisei, carefully done and a few steps from the pedestrian centre and the cable cars. The attentive welcome and intimate feel make it a perfect base for a couple. Ideal for those who want the best of the village, between walks, workshops and skiing within reach.
B&B Hotel Mirabel
A family-run hotel in a handy position, a short distance from the centre and the lifts, with the classic Gardena hospitality. Warm alpine-style spaces and a breakfast that sets the day in motion. Suited to couples and families after a solid, welcoming base for exploring the valley.
Hotel Angelo Engel
A hotel right in the centre of Ortisei, with the pedestrian village and the cable cars on the doorstep. The careful management and hotel services make it suited to those who want everything on foot. Perfect for those who put a dead-central location at the top of the list.
Garni Alba Bed & Breakfast
A well-kept, cosy garni — the South Tyrolean take on the mountain bed and breakfast — a short distance from the centre of Ortisei. The warmth of wood, a genuine breakfast and a family welcome are its strength. Ideal for those after an intimate, authentic address from which to experience the valley.
All the properties in the village: all hotels in Ortisei →
Santa Cristina
Santa Cristina is the middle village, the smallest and quietest of the three, but also the most central: from here you’re a step from both Ortisei and Selva, and the lifts — from the Col Raiser towards the Seceda to the Ciampinoi towards the Sellaronda — are a few minutes away. It’s the choice for those seeking calm and a slow pace, without giving up anything in terms of skiing and trails.
A couple of steps away opens the Vallunga, the closed valley that in winter is the realm of cross-country skiing and snowshoeing and in summer of easy, panoramic walks among the woods and the walls of the Puez: a bonus for those seeking the gentler mountain beyond the slopes. Sleeping here means waking in a more compact, tucked-away setting, with the meadows and the peaks of the Sassolungo as a backdrop, and the convenience of being in the heart of the valley. The two places we recommend:
Garni Hotel Max
A welcoming garni in a central position in Santa Cristina, a couple of steps from the lifts and the village, with the careful hospitality typical of the valley. The wooden spaces and the breakfast make you feel at home at once, in a quiet setting. Perfect for a couple or a family after calm and convenience together.
B&B Marina
A simple, well-kept bed and breakfast in the heart of Santa Cristina, handy for the lifts and appreciated for its practical hospitality. A genuine base for those who want to enjoy the valley without frills, with everything on foot. Suited to those after good value and a good position in the quiet of the village.
All the properties in the village: all hotels in Santa Cristina →
Selva di Val Gardena
Selva di Val Gardena is the highest and most sport-focused village: it sits at the foot of the Sella group, at the entrance to the Gardena and Sella passes, and is the valley’s most convenient starting point for the famous Sellaronda circuit. The slopes reach practically into the village, which makes it a paradise for those who want to click into their skis outside the door; but it’s lively in summer too, as a base for hikes towards the Sella and the Puez. From the village you ride the cable car up to the Ciampinoi and towards the Dantercepies, a Sellaronda hub, and in a few minutes’ drive you reach the Gardena and Sella passes, among the most scenic Dolomite crossings, open in summer to hikers and cycle tourists. It’s also the village with the most evening life in the valley during the peak weeks.
It’s the choice for those who put skiing and the mountains at the centre of the holiday. Worth keeping in mind:
- Ski to the door: many places are a couple of steps from the slopes and the lifts.
- Gateway to the Sellaronda: the four-pass circuit sets off conveniently from here.
- Sporty soul: the ideal base for keen skiers and hikers.
The addresses we choose in Selva:
The Laurin Small & Charming
A small, well-kept hotel in the heart of Selva, in a contemporary alpine style with an intimate feel. Its handy position for slopes and centre makes it perfect for skiers, with the warmth of attentive management on your return. Ideal for a couple after charm and mountains within reach.
Freina Mountain Lifestyle Hotel
A “mountain lifestyle” hotel that blends alpine design with comfort, in a handy spot in Selva. Well-kept spaces and a relaxed atmosphere make it suited to those who want to unwind after the slopes. Perfect for those seeking style and wellbeing without straying from the skiing and the village.
Hotel Aaritz
A family-run hotel in an excellent position in Selva, with the convenience of being close to slopes and lifts. The warm welcome and wooden interiors are its hallmark, along with genuine care for the guest. Ideal for families and couples who want the mountains close and authentic.
Residence Chalet L’Salvan
Chalet-style apartments in Selva, with their own kitchen and the warmth of wood, for those who want independence and space in the mountains. The residence formula is ideal for families and week-long stays, with the slopes handy. Perfect for those who like to set their own pace after a day on the snow or the trails.
Garni Sunela B&B
A welcoming garni in Selva — the mountain bed and breakfast formula — with wooden interiors and a well-kept breakfast. Handy for slopes and village, it blends Gardena authenticity with attentive management. Suited to those after an intimate, well-placed address without giving up the warmth of home.
All the properties in the village: all hotels in Selva →
Skiing, the Sellaronda and the Val Gardena Dolomites
In winter Val Gardena is one of the flagship areas of the Dolomiti Superski, the largest ski carousel in the world under a single pass. The Sellaronda starts here, the famous ski circuit around the Sella group that links Val Gardena to Alta Badia, Arabba and Val di Fassa: a loop you complete in a day, skis on, crossing four passes. The valley is also home to the historic Saslong slope, above Santa Cristina, stage of the World Cup downhill that is usually run in December (it’s worth checking the dates each year).
The numbers give a sense of it: Val Gardena alone lines up around 175 kilometres of slopes, all included in the single Dolomiti Superski pass, which across its twelve areas in South Tyrol, Trentino and Veneto reaches over twelve hundred kilometres. And there’s the slower mountain too: the Vallunga, above Selva, is a loop for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, while the mountain huts up high stay open for those wanting a stop with a view. Non-skiers still find their space, between walks on the snow, tobogganing and simply contemplating the peaks.
The beauty of Val Gardena is that you ski beneath some of the most photographed mountains in the Alps. To organise yourself among the areas and choose the right base, see the guide where to stay for skiing in Trentino-Alto Adige; if you’re after a hotel with direct access to the slopes, the selection ski-in ski-out hotels in the Dolomites. And if you want to continue the pass tour, the Sellaronda’s twin valleys are Alta Badia and Val di Fassa.
In summer the valley changes face and becomes a paradise for hiking. The Seceda, with its sharp ridges plunging down, offers one of the most spectacular views in the Dolomites; the Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm), the largest high-altitude alpine meadow in Europe, gives gentle walks among the pastures with the Sassolungo and the Sciliar in front; and the Puez-Odle group, a nature park, holds trails and via ferratas for every level. The same lifts that carry skiers in winter accompany hikers up high in summer, cutting the effort and widening the options for families and occasional walkers too. To all this is added a trait that makes the valley unique: the Ladin culture, with its ancient language, the legends of the Dolomites and the woodcarving craft, found in the villages, the museums and on the table, between canederli, spätzle and South Tyrolean sweets. For an overview of summer destinations among the peaks, see also the Dolomites in summer.
When to go
Val Gardena is a destination with two full seasons, each with a very different character. Winter (December to early April, depending on snow and openings — to be checked season by season) is the realm of skiing, with the Dolomiti Superski slopes and the atmosphere of the decorated villages; it’s the high season par excellence, so book well ahead, especially for the holidays and the World Cup weeks. Summer (June to September) is the hiking season, with a cool climate even in the hot months, meadows in bloom and lifts open for the high altitude.
The shoulder seasons have their charm but need planning: in autumn the woods light up with colour and the villages are quieter, while in late spring the snow retreats and the summer mountain isn’t fully open yet. In those periods many lifts and some places follow the seasonal calendar, so it’s worth checking openings and connections before you leave. In general, Val Gardena is at its best in the heart of its two seasons. A practical tip: if you’re aiming for winter and have flexibility, January (after the holidays) often offers excellent snow and less crowded villages than Christmas and New Year; for summer, June and September give clear trails and gentler prices, framed by the bloom or the first colours.
How to get there
Val Gardena is easily reached by car from the Brenner motorway (A22): you exit at Chiusa/Klausen or at Bolzano Nord and climb the valley in about twenty minutes along the main road. By train the reference stations are Chiusa and Ponte Gardena-Laion, on the Brenner line (Verona-Bolzano-Brenner), from which you continue by valley buses; Bolzano too is a good base with direct 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 Val Gardena Card and the ski buses link the three villages and the lifts, and with skis on you move from one side to the other; in summer the valley buses and cable cars reach the trailheads. A car stays handy for exploring the surroundings and the other valleys, but in the peak weeks many places offer transfers from the station and shuttle services, and with the ski bus included in the card you get around without a worry. From Ortisei and Selva, moreover, Bolzano and its surroundings are an easy day out. 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 Val Gardena.
Which is the best village to stay in Val Gardena?
It depends on the atmosphere you’re after. Ortisei is the largest, most elegant and liveliest, with a pedestrian centre and village life; Santa Cristina is the quietest and most central, in the middle of the valley; Selva is the highest and sportiest, at the foot of the Sella and the gateway to the Sellaronda. All three are linked by lifts and ski buses, so from each you ski and hike well: mostly what changes is the character of the stay.
Ortisei or Selva for skiing?
Both are excellent, but with different shades. Selva is the handiest choice for keen skiers: it’s higher, has the slopes practically in the village and is the most direct starting point for the Sellaronda. Ortisei offers the same area plus a lively pedestrian centre, shops and restaurants for après-ski, and is served by two cable cars. Those who want to maximise skiing choose Selva; those who also want village atmosphere choose Ortisei.
What is the Sellaronda?
It’s the famous ski circuit around the Sella group that links four Dolomite valleys — Val Gardena, Alta Badia, Arabba and Val di Fassa — crossing four passes with skis on. You complete it in a day, clockwise or anticlockwise, and it’s one of the icon experiences of the Dolomiti Superski. Selva di Val Gardena is one of the most convenient starting points, but the loop can be begun from several places.
What is there to do in Val Gardena in summer?
In summer Val Gardena is an outstanding hiking destination: you take the cable car up to the Seceda for the view over the ridges, walk on the Alpe di Siusi among the high-altitude meadows, and explore the Sassolungo and the Puez-Odle nature park with trails and via ferratas for every level. There’s no shortage of mountain biking, mountain huts and the Ladin culture of the villages. It’s ideal for those who love the active mountain with a cool climate.
Is Val Gardena suitable for families?
Very much so. The three villages are handy and well served, with lifts, ski schools and slopes for every level in winter, and easy walks, mountain huts and meadows in summer. Many places, from garnis to aparthotels, are designed for families, with space and flexible formulas. Santa Cristina and Ortisei are often the calmest, handiest bases with children, but Selva offers suitable options too.
How do you get around Val Gardena without a car?
Very well. In winter the Val Gardena Card and the ski buses link Ortisei, Santa Cristina and Selva with the lifts, and with skis on you move from one side to the other. In summer the valley buses and cable cars reach the trailheads. You arrive by train at Chiusa or Ponte Gardena, or at Bolzano, and then by bus. A car is handy for the surroundings, but in the valley it isn’t essential.
