San Candido (Innichen in German) is an alpine town in the Upper Puster Valley between Dobbiaco (Toblach) and the Austrian border. Located at the entrance to the Sexten Valley, San Candido is an ideal base for exploring the Sesto-Sexten Dolomites, Braies-Prags Dolomites, and the Carnic Alps.
San Candido is a northern gateway to the Tre Cime–Drei Zinnen Nature Park, ideal for hiking and climbing in summer and autumn. In winter, it lies at the heart of the 3 Zinnen Ski Resort within the Dolomiti Superski network.
Over the years, we’ve returned to San Candido many times, since our route to the Dolomites often takes us through Lienz and Val Pusteria. We love spending a few days in the Alta Pusteria region before continuing on to Cortina d’Ampezzo, Alta Badia, Val di Funes, or Val Gardena.
Although San Candido is small, there are several distinct areas to stay in. The best choice depends on your mode of transportation and the time of year.
- Best Town Center Apartments: Wachtler Dolomite Apartments (3-star) and Residence Kugler (3-star), and ATTO Suites (4-star)
- Best Town Center Hotels: Hotel Orso Grigio (4-star) and Post Hotel (4-star adults-only)
- Best Spa Hotel: Naturhotel Leitlhof
- Best Mountainside Accommodations (car needed): Apartments Hermann’s (modern apartments + infinity pool), Hotel Schopfenhof (4-star hotel), Bio- Ranerhof (1-2 bedroom apartments), Glinzhof (4-star hotel)
- Best Hotels for Skiing: Hotel Andermax (4-star hotel), JOAS natur.hotel.b&b (bed & breakfast), Post Alpina: Family Mountain Chalets (4-star family-friendly hotel).
San Candido Town Center
San Candido’s town center is a pedestrian-friendly hub filled with shops, restaurants, hotels, and historic churches.
If you’re traveling without a car, the town center is the most convenient place to stay. It’s just a 10-minute walk from the train station and close to multiple bus stops.
In summer and autumn, hikers can access numerous trailheads by bus like Innerfeldtal – Val Campo di Dentro, Fischleintal – Val Fiscalina, Kreuzbergpass – Passo Monte Croce, Helmbahn Valley Station, and Tre Cime di Lavaredo – Rifugio Auronzo, to name a few. Those embarking on the Alta Via 4 hut-to-hut hiking trail are only a short bus ride from the Innerfeldtal trailhead.
In December and early January, San Candido hosts the Mercatino di Natale Christmas Market (Fridays – Sundays), one of the most charming advent markets in the Dolomites. If you visit the Dolomites in December, be sure to time your travels with the annual Krampus Runs in neighboring Sexten and Toblach.
Above San Candido, walking distance to the town center, lies the Haunold (Monte Baranci) ski mountain, a small ski area for families. To access the main area of the resort, skiers can ride the free ski bus to Vierschach – Versciaco, which connects to Helm – Monte Elmo. Alternatively, skiers can take the public bus to Helm-Sexten and Rotwand-Sexten, free with the Südtirol Guest Pass.
These are the best town center accommodations, all of which have parking: Wachtler Dolomite Apartments (3-star apartments, read our Wachtler Apartments Review), Residence Kugler (3-star apartments), Residence Silvia (3-star apartments), ATTO Suites (4-star apartments), and Hotel Orso Grigio (4-star hotel with on-site dining and spa).
The Post Hotel, a 4-star adults-only property, offers excellent facilities (rooftop terrace, spa and pool, and on-site dining), though parking is off-site and incurs an additional fee.
North San Candido: Mountainside Accommodation
If you’re traveling by car, consider staying in one of the more remote mountainside areas. North of San Candido, you’ll find a number of charming farm stays and apartments. These elevated spots offer sweeping panoramic views and peaceful surroundings, making them especially appealing for summer and autumn visits.
Also, these accommodations are positioned on the south-facing slopes of Upper Val Pusteria, and thus benefit from more sunlight.
During winter, snow can make access to some mountainside accommodations more challenging. Plan ahead: winter tires are essential, and it’s wise to keep snow chains in your car. Except for Naturhotel Leitlhof, conveniently located just off Strada Statale 49 della Pusteria, access to these accommodations requires driving on narrow mountain roads.
The 4-star Hotel Schopfenhof and its secondary building, Apartments Hermann’s, enjoy a picturesque hillside setting above San Candido. Guests of both properties share access to elegant wellness facilities, including a panoramic spa and infinity pool. The two buildings are conveniently connected by an underground gallery, and apartment guests may dine at the hotel restaurant upon request.
The mountain farms above San Candido mostly offer budget-friendly self-catering accommodation with minimum stay requirements in peak seasons: Kuentnerhof (1-2 bedroom apartments), Bio- Ranerhof (1-2 bedroom apartments), Schetererhof (rooms and apartments), Im Kranzhof (1-2 bedroom apartments). For a more upscale experience, Glinzhof, situated at 1500 meters, boasts a fabulous half board offering and infinity pool.
Surrounded by forest overlooking the village, Naturhotel Leitlhof is the best choice for a convenient and comfortable stay. This eco-friendly hotel combines outstanding wellness facilities with comfortable rooms and a generous half-board experience. Though it’s more convenient to stay here with your own vehicle, car-free guests do get shuttle pick-ups from and drop-offs to the San Candido train station. Read our honest Naturhotel Leitlhof Review.
Vierschach: 3 Zinnen Ski Resort Base
Four kilometers east of San Candido’s town center, the hamlet of Vierschach (Versciaco in Italian) sits quietly within the San Candido municipality. In winter, it functions as an important gateway to the 3 Zinnen Ski Resort. Despite its modest size, Vierschach provides easier ski access than San Candido, making it a surprisingly practical choice for winter visitors.
These are the best ski-to-door accommodations in Vierschach: Hotel Andermax (4-star hotel with spa and restaurant), JOAS natur.hotel.b&b (bed & breakfast), Post Alpina: Family Mountain Chalets (4-star family-friendly hotel).
Also check out Loewe Dolomites (3-star hotel with rooftop pool) and Helmhotel (4-star hotel).
The 3 Zinnen Ski Resort comprises five ski mountains with a total of 115 km of slopes. Vierschach has direct lift access to the Helm (Monte Elmo) area, which links to Stiergarten (Orto del Toro) and Rotwand (Croda Rossa).
Alternatively, consider staying in nearby Sexten, which offers the most advantageous location for accessing the resort and boasts an impressive collection of ski-to-door accommodations and spa hotels including Alpenwellness Hotel St. Veit (4-star hotel), Berghotel Sexten (4-star hotel), Hotel Alpenblick (4-star hotel), Hotel Royal (3-star hotel).
Good to Know | After you’ve fully explored the 3 Zinnen slopes, you can ride the Ski Pustertal Express, which runs every 30 minutes, from Vierschach or San Candido to the Kronplatz – Plan de Corones Ski Area.
Related | Skiing in the Dolomites: An Introduction
Alta Pusteria Travel Guides
San Candido:
Braies – Prags Dolomites:
- Lago di Braies
- Hochalpenkopf Peak Hike
- Prato Piazza Plateau
- Monte Specie Summit Hike
- Gaisl High Trail
Sesto – Sexten Dolomites:
- Sexten Dolomites Hiking Guide
- Vallon Popera – Rifugio Berti Hike
- Tre Cime di Lavaredo Loop Trail
- Cadini di Misurina Viewpoint
- Torre dei Scarperi Circuit Hike
- 3-Day Tre Cime di Lavaredo Hike
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