Val Gardena is the largest ski resort in the Dolomites of Northern Italy. It’s one of the twelve ski areas that form the greater Dolomites Superski network, the biggest ski resort in the world.
For the intermediate skier, Val Gardena (Gröden in German) is a delight in every possible way. The scenery is unbeatable, the ski infrastructure is excellent (79 high-quality lifts), food and lodging (60 ski huts and many luxury ski hotels) are superb, and the ski area is extensive (181 km of slopes).
Because Val Gardena is interconnected with the Alta Badia, Val di Fassa, and Arabba – Marmolada ski areas, skiers and snowboarders have the opportunity to easily explore neighboring resorts using a Dolomiti Superski ski pass.
Kati and I skied in Val Gardena in early December at the start of the ski season, which runs from December until early April. We loved skiing the Sellaronda and skiing on the sunny slopes of Seceda.
In this guide, I’ve summarized everything we learned from our ski trip, so that you can plan winter ski trip to Val Gardena with ease and confidence.
- Where: South Tyrol, Italy
- Ski Resort Size: 181 km of slopes
- Ski Resort Altitude: 1236 meters – 2518 meters
- Ski Season: early December – late March (early April)
- Ski Experience: Suitable for all levels, but most runs are intermediate (red).
- Webcam: Val Gardena Ski Resort Webcam
- Online Ski Pass: Dolomiti Superski Shop
- Après-Ski: Yes
- Closest Airports: Bolzano Airport, Innsbruck Airport, and Verona Airport
Val Gardena Ski Map
Where to Stay in Val Gardena for Skiing
There are three main villages in Val Gardena: Ortisei, Santa Cristina, and Selva.
The highest mountain village in Val Gardena, Selva, lies directly on the Sella Ronda circuit, making it the perfect destination to tackle both the orange clockwise route and the green counterclockwise route. With the largest concentration of ski-to-door hotels, Selva is arguably the best base in Val Gardena for skiing.
Here are some top ski-to-door accommodations in Selva: Laurin Hotel (4-star hotel), Freina Mountain Lifestyle Hotel (4-star hotel), Giardin Boutique Hotel B&B (bed and breakfast), Mountain Design Hotel Eden Selva (4-star hotel), Stella Hotel (4-star hotel), Savoy Dolomites Luxury Spa Hotel (4-star hotel), Garni Hotel Bel Vert (3-star hotel), Hotel Continental Dolomites (4-star hotel), and Hotel Scoiattolo (3-star hotel).
Other Selva accommodations like 4-star Boutique Hotel Nives and 5-star Hotel Granbaita Dolomites offer free shuttles to the Dantercepies and Ciampinoi lifts. Guests of Hotel Granbaita Dolomites can book their ski pass at the hotel reception and rent ski gear on-site.
Santa Cristina is ideally situated in the middle of the valley, but it’s essential to stay in an accommodation with a ski shuttle like Hotel Touring and Dorfhotel Beludei (read our review) for the most stress-free and comfortable experience.
There are a handful of mountainside ski-in ski-out hotels above Santa Cristina: Almhotel Col Raiser (luxury), Rifugio Fermeda (midrange), and Monte Pana Dolomites Hotel (midrange-luxury).
For a budget-midrange stay, check out Anna Lodges Dolomites, a 7-minute walk to Saslong valley station and a 3-minute walk to the nearest ski bus stop.
With its lively shop-lined pedestrian zone, Ortisei village is the most atmospheric and pedestrian-friendly destination in Val Gardena. It’s also the best base for accessing the Alpe di Siusi ski area. The Ortisei connection to Seceda is direct, but somewhat cumbersome. Of the three villages, Ortisei is the furthest away from the Sella Ronda circuit.
There are a few ski-to-door hotels in Ortisei, including Rainell Dolomites Retreat (4-star hotel), Garni August (3-star hotel), Pra Palmer The Green B&B (3-star hotel), Hotel Ronce (3-star hotel), and cësa gredine (apartments). The best hotels in Ortisei are Gardena Grödnerhof Hotel & Spa (luxury) and Adler Spa Resort Balance (luxury).
For the ultimate winter wonderland, luxury ski-in ski-out experience, consider staying on the Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm) plateau: Sporthotel Sonne (4-star hotel with on-site ski rental), ICARO Hotel (4-star hotel), COMO Alpina Dolomites (5-star hotel with on-site ski rental), Hotel Paradiso Pure.Living (vegan hotel).
7 Reasons We Loved Skiing in Val Gardena
When I started writing this guide, I initially titled this section “pros and cons of skiing in Val Gardena.” But, I couldn’t come up with any “cons” that were unique to this ski region.
Like other popular ski destinations in the Alps and North America, Val Gardena can get congested during peak seasons: Christmas holidays (December 24 – January 7) and February (school holidays).
If you visit during peak times, expect longer wait times at lifts and more crowded slopes. I’ve also read that it’s necessary to book lunches at mountain huts in advance.
During low season, we rarely waited more than a few minutes for a ski lift. We could eat wherever we wanted, whenever we wanted.
1. Several Sella Ronda Access Points
The Sella Ronda ski carousel circles the Sella Massif, crossing four mountain passes and four valleys.
It takes several hours to ski the whole 44-km-long circuit, of which 22 km can be skied.
Allow a full day for breaks and room for error, like taking the wrong slope. While 90% of the circuit is well signed, there are a few intersections that are not crystal clear.
We started the Sella Ronda carousel at Saslong valley station in Santa Cristina at 8:45 am and ended at 3:15 pm. With several long breaks and a detour to Edelweiss Valley, it took us 7 hours.
The Sella Ronda can be skied in either direction. The clockwise route is signed with orange arrows and the counterclockwise route is signed with green arrows.
Val Gardena offers several entry points to the Sella Ronda.
Selva is located directly on the circuit, and thus offers stress-free access to both routes.
If you stay in Santa Cristina like we did, it’s probably easiest to tackle the Sellaronda in a counterclockwise direction (green route). From Saslong valley station, we took the Saslong gondola followed by the Sochers-Ciampinoi chairlift to get to Ciampinoi. From here, we skied down to Plan de Gralba to commence the green counterclockwise route.
Ortisei is the furthest away from the Sella Ronda carousel. Start as early as possible. First, ride the cableways to Seceda and then ski down to the Col Raiser valley station. Hop on the Gardena Ronda Express underground railway to reach the Saslong valley station. Navigate to Ciampinoi and then Plan de Gralba to start the green route.
If you’re staying on Alpe di Siusi, ski to Saltria and then take bus 12 to Monte Pana. Next, take the lift to Mont de Seura to connect to the Sellaronda.
Learn More | Tips for Skiing the Sella Ronda
2. Powerful Snow-Making Capabilities
Val Gardena is rated as very snow-reliable, because 98% of the slopes have snow-making capabilities.
We skied in Val Gardena in early December, after one of the warmest Novembers in recent history. Needless to say, we were very skeptical that there would be sufficient snow at the start of the season. But, the ski resort opened as planned and the conditions were excellent, in part due to the artificial snow.
3. Dramatic Mountain Scenery
This is obvious, but worth repeating. The scenery in the Dolomites cannot be rivaled. Val Gardena is surrounded by craggy peaks and massifs, each uniquely beautiful due to their striking, chiselled shapes and pale colors.
The Dolomite peaks tower above the slopes, spectacularly close, offering an intimate mountain experience. Every piste offers a unique perspective of the surrounding mountain groups, so the views are always dazzling and ever-changing.
Much of the joy of skiing in the Dolomites is simply the impressive mountain scenery, which is enjoyed on the ski slope as much as on the chairlift.
4. Gourmet Ski Huts
Foodies, wine lovers, and epicureans unite.
Val Gardena is located in South Tyrol (Alto Adige in Italian, Südtirol in German), an autonomous region of Italy, which was once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. South Tyrol is basically the best blend of Ladin (the historic inhabitants), Tyrolean (Austrian), and Italian cultures.
And, you’ll see this especially expressed in the cuisine.
The mountains of Val Gardena are dotted with numerous mountain huts, each offering indoor and outdoor seating, table service, and delicious local food and drinks.
Most, if not all, of these huts are idyllically situated with wondrous outlooks.
Expect high-quality food and hospitality no matter where you dine slopeside.
5. Multiple Ski Areas to Explore
You need several days to properly see and experience all areas of the Val Gardena ski area.
The ski area of Val Gardena extends across both sides of the valley.
The northern side of Val Gardena is home to the south-facing Seceda-Col Raiser and Dantercepies ski areas (Puez-Odle mountain group).
The southern side of the valley is made up of the Alpe di Siusi ski area and the mostly northern-facing Plan de Gralba, Saslong-Ciampinoi, Mont de Sëura-Monte Pana, and Passo Sella ski areas (Sassolungo Group).
If you want to sample all areas of the Val Gardena ski resort in one day, consider following the Val Gardena Ronda ski tour. Keep in mind that this ski tour requires a 10-minute bus connection from Saltria (atop Alpe di Siusi) to Monte Pana. Check bus times in advance for a smooth experience.
In addition, you can ski to the interconnected Alta Badia, Val di Fassa, and Arabba – Marmolada ski areas.
When skiing in Val Gardena, purchase a Val Gardena Ski Pass. When skiing to neighboring ski resorts in the Dolomiti Superski network, purchase the more expensive Dolomiti Superski Ski Pass.
6. No Car Needed
A car is not necessary to travel to and around Val Gardena.
There are frequent buses connecting Bolzano/Bozen to Val Gardena. There are also many private shuttle transfer options as well.
On days of arrival, Val Gardena hotels give their guests free transit cards, which grants guests free use of South Tyrolean transit throughout their stay.
If you decide to drive to Val Gardena, you will not need to use your car for your entire stay.
Related | How to Get to the Dolomites and Traveling to the Dolomites Without a Car
7. Excellent Hotels
Hotels in the Dolomites, especially in South Tyrol, are in a class of their own. Val Gardena Hotels offer stellar facilities (e.g. wellness areas and ski storage rooms) and on-site dining options.
Good to Know | Many hotels, especially ski-in ski out accommodations, have a minimum stay requirement of 4-6 nights.
Half Board | When available, I recommend booking half board (breakfast and dinner). Our favorite half board hotel in Val Gardena is Dorfhotel Beludei in Santa Cristina.
Spas | Many hotels in Val Gardena offer spa facilities. Access to these wellness areas is always complimentary. Sauna areas are typically adults only (ages 15/16+).
Hotels in Val Gardena and across South Tyrol abide by the Austrian and Germanic sauna code of conduct. For hygienic reasons, it’s not allowed to wear swimming attire in saunas. For those of us that didn’t grow up in a thermal spa- sauna culture, adapting to nude-only spa areas is an adjustment. My recommendation is to simply wrap a towel around you, if you’re uncomfortable.
Related | Thermal Spas in Austria
Val Gardena Ski Areas
Val Gardena runs from Valle Isarco (Eisacktal in German) to Passo Gardena and Passo Sella. The valley is set between the Puez-Odle range, Alpe di Siusi Plateau, Sassolungo Group, and the Sella Group
Seceda and Col Raiser
Seceda is a summit overlooking the striking Fermeda Peaks in the Puez-Odle Group. The south-facing Seceda slopes are blessed with sunshine throughout the day, making it one of the most enjoyable areas to ski in Val Gardena, especially early in the ski season when days are still short.
There are two ways to get to the Seceda ski area.
From Ortisei, ride the Ortisei-Furnes gondola followed by the Furnes-Seceda aerial cableway.
From Santa Cristina, take the underground railway – Gardena Ronda Express – from the Saslong valley station to the Col Raiser valley station. The Col Raiser gondola delivers you to Almhotel Col Raiser. From here, follow the easy blue run to the Fermeda chairlift valley station.
If you’re staying in Selva, ride the Ciampinoi gondola and ski down to the Saslong valley station. Ride the Gardena Ronda Express to Col Raiser valley station.
Though there are only a few runs on the Seceda Alp, they are magnificent! As you ski down towards Santa Cristina, you’ll be treated to sensational views of Stevia, Sella, Sassolungo, and of course the piercing Fermeda pinnacles.
Also, Seceda boasts an unbeatable selection of slopeside ski huts like Baita Daniel, Baita Sofie, and Rifugio Fermeda.
The village of Santa Cristina is the best base for skiing Seceda, because of its direct connection to the Col Raiser gondola.
There are two ski-in ski-out accommodations in this Val Gardena ski area: Almhotel Col Raiser (luxury) and Rifugio Fermeda (midrange).
If you stay in Santa Cristina village, we recommend choosing a hotel with a complimentary ski shuttle service. Both Hotel Touring and Dorfhotel Beludei (read our review) provide a drop-off and pick-up service to and from Saslong and Monte Pana valley stations.
Alpe di Siusi – Seiser Alm
The largest mountain pasture in the world (56 square kilometers) is a winter wonderland with 21 lifts and 32 slopes. The vast majority of the slopes are either easy (blue runs) or medium (red runs).
To reach the Alpe di Siusi plateau, which has an elevation ranging from 1800 meters to 2450 meters, take the Ortisei-Alpe di Siusi gondola. The gondola valley station is located in Ortisei (Google Maps), across the pedestrian bridge from the village center.
If you’re staying in Santa Cristina, or Selva, you can either take a local bus to Ortisei, or you can ski to Ortisei via Seceda and Val d’Anna.
If you’re looking for a ski-in ski-out hotel experience, you can stay directly on Alpe di Siusi plateau, or near the Pilat slope (red), which leads from the Alpe di Siusi-Ortisei mountain station to Ortisei.
Alpe di Siusi Ski-in Ski-out hotels | Sporthotel Sonne (4-star hotel with on-site ski rental) and Hotel Paradiso Pure.Living (vegan luxury hotel), Hotel Steger-Dellai (4-star hotel), and Como Alpina Dolomites (5-star hotel with in-house ski rental service). Only some of these hotels can be reached by car (winter tires, or 4×4 mandatory), or taxi. Other hotels offer a transfer service in special snow vehicles from Compatsch.
Ortisei Ski-to-door hotels | Alpenhotel Rainell (4-star hotel) and Garni August (3-star hotel), Pra Palmer The Green B&B (3-star hotel)
Sassolungo Group Slopes: Plan de Gralba, Saslong-Ciampinoi, Mont de Sëura-Monte Pana, and Passo Sella
Sassolungo (Langkofel in German) is the compact mountain group between Alpe di Siusi and the Sella massif.
The ski slopes around Sassolungo are easy to reach from both Santa Cristina and Selva.
The Plan de Gralba and Ciampinoi ski slopes are located south of Santa Cristina and Selva on the northeastern slopes of Sassolungo.
From Ciampinoi mountain station (2254 m), skiers can navigate to the famous Saslong ski slope, which is the course for the annual World Cup downhill race.
Additionally, from Ciampinoi, you can ski down to Plan de Gralba in order to start the Sella Ronda ski circuit (green counterclockwise direction).
The Mont de Sëura and Monte Pana ski slopes are directly west of Ciampinoi and Saslong. Monte Pana plateau is a beginner-friendly ski area with four draglifts.
Santa Cristina Hotels with Private Ski Shuttles | Hotel Touring and Dorfhotel Beludei (read our review)
Selva Ski-to-Door Hotels | Here are some top ski-to-door accommodations in Selva: Laurin Hotel (4-star hotel), Freina Mountain Lifestyle Hotel (4-star hotel), Giardin Boutique Hotel B&B (bed and breakfast), Mountain Design Hotel Eden Selva (4-star hotel), and Savoy Dolomites Luxury Spa Hotel (4-star hotel).
Cir Group Slopes: Selva, Dantercepies, Passo Gardena
Returning to the Puez-Odle side of Val Gardena, Dantercepies connects Selva (Wolkenstein in German) to Passo Gardena and the Sellaronda circuit (orange / clockwise direction), which leads to Alta Badia.
Long, highly satisfying red and black slopes run from the Dantercepies mountain station down to Selva.
In Val Gardena, Selva (Wolkenstein in German) is the main gateway to the Sella Ronda Circuit. From the village, skiers ride Costabella chairlift followed by the Dantercepies I +II gondolas to begin the Sella Ronda orange clockwise route.
There is also a beginner-friendly ski area with many drag lifts and easy blue runs in Selva.
Ski-to-door Hotel Continental Dolomites is located next to the Dantercepies lift.
Val Gardena Ski Ticket
Depending on your ski plans, you can either purchase a Val Gardena ski resort pass (cheaper), or a Dolomti Superski pass (all resorts included). Note: you need the Dolomiti Superski pass to ski the Sella Ronda circuit.
Where to Buy | You can purchase ski passes in person at the automated ticket offices, in person at cableway valley stations, or online. If you purchase your ticket online, scan your QR code at a pick-up box to collect your ski pass.
Ski Ticket Cap | There is no cap on daily ski tickets.
Ski Rental
There are ski rental shops in every village in Val Gardena.
Often, hotels partner with ski rental shops to provide their guides with a discount.
Some luxury hotels even offer in-house ski rental services like Hotel Granbaita Dolomites in Selva, Sporthotel Sonne on Alpe di Siusi, and COMO Alpina Dolomites on Alpe di Siusi.
More Dolomites and Winter Travel Guides
Dolomites Winter Travel:
Val Gardena:
Dolomites Travel:
Winter Travel:
Skiing:
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This guide was written in collaboration with IDM Südtirol.
