Perfectly blending comfort, style, and authenticity, Casa al Sole is a one-of-a-kind bed and breakfast with 12 rooms in Ortisei, Val Gardena, in the Dolomites.
At the helm, Manuel and Alexandra run their B&B with a guest-centric philosophy, focused on providing great customer care, high-quality food and wine, and a relaxing environment.
Those fortunate enough to stay here are well looked after and afforded time for questions, restaurant reservations, hiking advice, bike rental suggestions, mountain and via ferrata guide recommendations, etc…
The scarlet-red property advantageously stands in Ortisei’s town center, just outside the pedestrian zone of Ortisei. All cableways (Seceda, Resciesa, Alpe di Siusi), restaurants, and bus stops are within walking distance.
We highly recommend staying here if you favor small, impeccably-run B&Bs with minimalist interiors, homemade breakfasts, and natural wine bars.
We stayed in Casa al Sole in July. Here’s a summary of our impressions.
At the end of our Casa al Sole review, we’ve included tips on how to spend 3-7 days in Val Gardena (based on 11 trips to the Dolomites).
- Where: Ortisei, Val Gardena, South Tyrol
- Number of Rooms: 12
- Breakfast: Included
- Wine Bar: Open daily between 4 pm and 8 pm, except on Tuesdays
- Smoking: Smoking is strictly forbidden in all rooms and on hotel premises.
- On-Site Parking: Free private outdoor parking
- Electric Car Charging Station: Yes
- Public Transit Friendly: Yes / Free Val Gardena Mobilcard provided
- Closest Airports: Bolzano Airport, Innsbruck Airport, Venice Marco Polo Airport
- Where to Book: Booking.com
Casa al Sole Location
Casa al Sole is located in the town center of Ortisei, just outside the pedestrian zone.
Though all restaurants and places of interest are within walking distance, the B&B enjoys some breathing room from the busiest parts of town.
Casa al Sole is an ideal accommodation for those traveling without a car in the Dolomites. Piazza S. Antonio (Google Maps), Ortisei’s main bus stop, is only a 10-minute walk away.
Furthermore, this B&B is walking distance to all cableway stations in Ortisei: Seceda Cableway valley station (7 minutes, 500 meters), Resciesa Funicular valley station (5 minutes, 230 meters), and Ortisei-Alpe di Siusi Gondola valley station (8 minutes, 550 meters).
Those traveling with a car enjoy free private parking. Each room is allotted one parking space, so there’s no need to reserve in advance.
We traveled to Casa al Sole from Austria with transit and enjoyed a car-free holiday in Val Gardena. Transit in Val Gardena and across South Tyrol is excellent and reliable, so it’s easy to get around without a car.
As a guest of Casa al Sole, you will receive a Val Gardena Mobil Card at check-in, which grants you unlimited use of public transit in Val Gardena and nearly all transit in South Tyrol.
The Property
Casa al Sole is a historic guesthouse dating back to the 1930s.
The property has been in the same family for generations and has welcomed alpinists, holidaymakers, and refugees for nearly a century.
A few years ago, Manuel and Alexandra re-opened Casa al Sole after careful, painstaking renovations that not only honored the structure and history of the house, but also imbued it with new life, reflective of minimalist aesthetics and their shared passions.
Though Casa al Sole feels in vogue with its airy, crisp and clean interiors crafted with natural materials, many of its furnishings, including the parquet floors and chairs, are original.
The ground floor is dedicated to the reception, bar and lounge, and breakfast room, which spills out into a sunny terrace. The atmosphere is intimate without being intrusive.
The 12 rooms are divided between floors 1 and 2. Floor 1 has elevator access.
The Rooms
The 12 rooms of Casa al Sole are furnished in an understated, minimalist style, featuring antique wood floors, wool curtains, retro 1930s armchairs, and crude steel.
Dressed in an elegant palette of black, brown, and white, all rooms are styled uniformly.
In the absence of bulky furniture and unnecessary amenities (e.g. TV, minifridge), the light-flooded, clutter-free rooms feel immensely relaxing.
Guests are able to store and hang their belongings with ease, as rooms are equipped with well-placed shelves, hooks, and open wardrobes.
Ensuite bathrooms have all the essentials including toiletries and hair dryers.
Breakfast
Breakfast is served daily between 7:30 am and 9:30 am in the breakfast room. When the weather is favorable, guests can also eat outside on the terrace.
A homemade set breakfast is served to the table. The tiered tray features freshly-made pastries as well as yogurts and jams.
In addition, guests are offered a juice and daily special (e.g. french toast, or made-to-order eggs, etc..), which also changes day-to-day. Your choice of coffee is served to the table as well.
Alexandra and Manuel work with multiple suppliers to procure high-quality ingredients. By being very selective, they endeavor to nourish their guests with the best of the best.
They also aim to produce zero waste. For that reason, they are meticulous about only acquiring what is needed.
Casa al Sole can accommodate food intolerances and special diets, when informed in advance (at least 24 hours).
Casa al Sole’s Natural Wine Bar
Casa al Sole’s terrace and breakfast room doubles as a natural wine bar, between 4 pm and 8 pm, open daily except on Tuesdays.
All wines are carefully selected by Manuel, who has a personal connection with each winemaker represented on the list.
In the late afternoon and early evening, locals and house guests gather on the terrace to unwind with local craft beer, natural wine, and nonalcoholic drinks.
Water is complementary and self-service.
The bar menu features olives, Speck, Parmesan, and sandwiches.
After we climbed Via Ferrata Sass Rigais, we were utterly exhausted and thrilled to have the option to eat on-site.
After 8 pm, guests can continue to drink beer and wine, using the honesty bar.
Service and Hospitality
With extensive experience working in luxury hotels and restaurants across Europe, Manuel and Alexandra are well-versed in the art of hospitality.
Together, they speak six languages (English, Italian, German, Ladin, Slovak, and French).
Manuel was born in Ortisei and as a local can provide priceless insights and perspective about Ladin and South Tyrolean culture, mountain biking in Val Gardena, and all things food and wine.
Alexandra hails from Slovakia, but was raised in Milan in Northern Italy, and has worked for years in the finest hotels in Alta Badia, Milan, and Lake Como. As an avid hiker who intimately knows every trail around Val Gardena, she can offer helpful tailored advice for adventuring in the Dolomites.
Alexandra and Manuel renovated and reopened this historic guesthouse with the clear intention of creating a relaxing space that they themselves would want to vacation in. Guests benefit from deliberate choices: no noisy TVs, no junk food, no loud pop music at breakfast, etc…
We loved our experience staying here and hope to return soon.
Hotel Perks and Special Services
Val Gardena Mobil Card | At check-in, you will be given a Val Gardena Mobil Card, which grants you free transit on all Val Gardena buses as well as most South Tyrolean transit.
Laundry Service | Laundry service is available upon request. When we visited, it was priced at 18 EUR per bag, with a 24-hour delivery.
Honesty Bar | When the bar isn’t staffed, you can help yourself to drinks, using the honesty bar.
Pillows | Down-feather, or orthopedic pillows are provided upon request.
Slippers | Slippers are provided upon request.
Check-in | Check-in is between 4 pm and 8 pm. Self check-in is available after 8 pm.
Luggage Storage | Casa al Sole can provide luggage storage on arrival and departure days, if you inform them 24 hours in advance.
Dogs | Pease note that dogs are not allowed in rooms, only in the bar area. Dog lovers will also be happy to know that Jack, the resident Australian Shepherd, makes honorary appearances from time to time.
How to Spend 3-7 Days in Ortisei, Val Gardena
There is so much to see and do in Val Gardena.
If you’re planning your first trip to the Dolomites and getting overwhelmed by the idea of moving around and finding different accommodations, you’ll be happy to know that you can stay in Val Gardena for a whole week and not run out of things to do.
Read Best Hikes in Val Gardena for an overview.
Day 1: Arrival Day
When we arrived in Ortisei, we had just enough time for a sunset walk to Pra da Cudan, a meadow on the slopes of Resciesa, before dinner at Tubladel. This meadow is walking distance from Casa al Sole and the perfect place for to enjoy Enrosadira. Ask Alexandra how to find the viewpoint.
Day 2: Seceda
There are several ways to reach Seceda. The most direct way requires little effort, as you can ascend from Ortisei to Seceda mountain station with the Ortisei-Furnes-Seceda cableways.
From the Seceda cableway mountain station, it’s a mere 10 minute walk to the Seceda summit viewpoint. From there, continue along the ridge and follow our Seceda – Rifugio Firenze Circuit Trail Guide for a memorable hike across stunning mountain pastures bordering the remarkable Odle/Geisler peaks.
Experienced and fit alpine hikers may want to approach Seceda via Mittagsscharte. Read our Resciesa – Seceda hiking guide for all the details.
Hiking purists who don’t want to take a cableway can ascend to Seceda following our Monte Pic hiking guide.
Via Ferrata climbers can also take in the staggering views of Seceda on their way to Via Ferrata Sass Rigais. This is exactly what we did during our stay at Casa al Sole.
Day 3: Santa Cristina / Selva Hikes
Today, we recommend venturing to other parts of Val Gardena to access more hikes in Puez-Odle Nature Park.
Use the suedtirolmobil.info journey planner to find bus connections to trailheads.
Here are a few options:
- Val de Chedul – Vallunga Valley Circuit (moderate – moderately difficult)
- Rifugio Stevia and Col dala Pieres Day Hike (difficult)
- Piz Duleda Peak Hike (difficult)
During our stay at Ortisei, we walked down to the Piazza S. Antonio bus stop and traveled by bus (2 buses) to Daunëi in Selva (“Wolkenstein in Gröden, Sciuz”). From the Daunëi bus stop, we hiked to Steviola Plateau.
Day 4: Alpe di Siusi
The largest mountain pasture in Europe is etched with a network of hiking and biking trails. This vast, rolling plateau is freckled with hay huts and alpine pasture huts, many of which serve gourmet South Tyrolean cuisine.
From Ortisei, simply ascend to Alpe di Siusi with the Ortisei-Alpe di Siusi gondola (also called ropeway). Follow our Alpe di Siusi meadows trail, a circular path that links all the best huts and scenic paths on the plateau.
Day 5: Sassolungo Group
Sassolungo (Langkofel in German, Saslonch in Ladin) is the compact mountain group that stands between the Sella massif, Rosengarten massif, and Alpe di Siusi.
Today, we recommend hiking the Sassolungo Circuit Trail.
Via Ferrata enthusiasts will love climbing the Grade B/C Via Ferrata Oskar Schuster to the summit of Sasso Piatto (Plattkofel, Sasplat).
Day 6: Resciesa and Val di Funes
Resciesa plateau rises above Ortisei, to the west of Seceda.
A funicular connects Ortisei to the Resciesa plateau. From the mountain station, we recommend following the easy trail to Malga Brogles (1:20 hours, 4.8 km one-way). There are staggering views of the Odle/Geisler peaks as you near the mountain pasture.
From the Malga Brogles Hut, you can continue along the Adolf Munkel Trail, the scenic path that runs at the base of the Odle/Geiser Peaks on the Val di Funes side.
It’s feasible to hike to some of the Val di Funes mountain pastures like Geisler Alm (Rifugio delle Odle), before returning along the same trail back to Resciesa mountain station.
This is a great option for those traveling without a car, because you get to appreciate the northern vantage of the Odle/Geisler Peaks without having to take multiple buses to Val di Funes.
We’ve explained other hiking options from Resciesa in our Ortisei Travel Guide.
If you’re traveling with a car, you may want to drive to Val di Funes to hike the Rifugio Genova circuit, or to Tullen Peak.
Day 7: Passo Gardena
Passo Gardena links Val Gardena with Val Badia.
From the scenic mountain pass, you can hike to Sass da Ciampac (moderately difficult), Gran Cir (Grade A Via Ferrata), or Cima Pisciadù (difficult).
For a less strenuous adventure, you could also hike to Jimmy Hut for lunch (25 minutes one-way).
For those driving, we recommend stopping in Passo Gardena on your way to Alta Badia.
For those traveling without a car, it takes 1 hour to reach the pass by bus, with a transfer, usually at Seilbahn Plan de Gralba.
Dolomites Trip Planning Guides
Hotels:
Travel:
- Where to Stay in the Dolomites in Summer
- Best Time to Visit the Dolomites
- How to Get to the Dolomites
- 5-Day Dolomites Road Trip
- 7-Day Dolomites Road Trip
- 10-14 Day Dolomites Road Trip
Hiking:
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