Where is Val Gardena?
The ski resort Val Gardena (in Ladin: Gherdëina, in German: Grödnertal or Gröden) is located in the Dolomites of South Tyrol, in the north of Italy. Val Gardena is one of the finest hiking, cycling and skiing destinations of the Dolomites in Italy.
Val Gardena is a side valley of the Val d’Isarco. It stretches eastward from Ponte Gardena (470 meters) in the Val d’Isarco to the Passo Gardena and Sella, reaching over 2,200 m in altitude, with surrounding peaks exceeding 3,100 m (i.e. Sassolungo with 3,181 m).
You can reach the valley by car from the west via Ponte Gardena (coming from Bolzano or A22 motorway, exit Bolzano Nord) or Chiusa (A22 motorway exit), from the south via Castelrotto and the Passo Pinei, and from the east over two spectacular passes: the Passo Gardena (from Colfosco and Corvara in Val Badia) and the Passo Sella (from Lupo Bianco near Canazei in Val di Fassa).
Discover the beautiful and picturesque villages of the Val Gardena
The 3 villages of Val Gardena are Selva di Val Gardena, Santa Cristina and Ortisei. All three towns in the Val Gardena are beautiful and a good starting point for your ski or hiking holiday, and each has its own unique charm - one more sport-oriented, the other more small-town-like
What are some great things to do in Val Gardena in summer?
Experience the wonderful Italian Alps during the warmer months with opportunities for walking, hiking, climbing and mountain biking and more. Val Gardena is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, offering the numerous hikes, via ferratas, climbing routes, mountain biking trails, motorcycling roads as well outdoor high rope course, tandem paragliding, FLY- and Ziplines adventures.
Winter - How good is Val Gardena for skiing?
The ski resort Val Gardena is celebrated as one of Italy’s most enchanting mountain retreats. It is renowned for its stunning landscapes, charming villages, hotels and accommodation, an exquisite selection of traditional Alpine cuisine and in winter for its vast choice of well-repared ski slopes and in spring, summer and autumn for its walking and hiking trails, road cycling routes, mountain biking routes and via ferratas.
With 79 gondolas, cable cars, and chairlifts and an impressive 181 km of ski slopes, along with 110 km of cross-country trails and 2 toboggan runs, the ski resort Val Gardena Italy proudly stands as a premier wintersport and alpine skiing destination in Europe.
In this vacation region, you’ll discover a wide variety of accommodations, ranging from 2-star hotels in Val Gardena to luxury 5-star hotels, spa and wellness hotels, apartments in Val Gardena, garnis, b&b, and charming chalets, along with restaurants in Val Gardena ski resort, ideal for hiking, cycling, and skiing holidays.
Val Gardena hosts top winter events
Events in December 2026: The World Cup Weekend featuring two FIS World Cup races in Val Gardena:
- Men’s Super-G on Friday, 18 December 2026, and
- Men’s Downhill on Saturday, 19 December 2026
Special ski holiday offers in Val Gardena Dolomites
- Val Gardena SuperPremière (winter season start until 19 December 2026)
- Dolomiti Springdays "L" (from 13 until 20 March 2027),
Dolomiti Springdays "S" (from 20 March 2027 until the end of winter season)
Ideal for skiing in March in Italy
The winter ski season for 2026/27 is set to kick off on December 4, 2026, and run until April 4, 2027 (*).
Val Gardena is one of the best starting points for the Sellaronda. The scenic ski route Sellaronda, which passes through the village of Selva Val Gardena, connects the other valleys Val Badia and Fassa. Starting from Ortisei and S. Cristina, explore the mountain village of Selva di Val Gardena, and set off on skiing adventures to Marmolada, Lagazuoi or Gran Risa in La Villa.
With the Skipass Dolomiti Superski you have access to all lift facilities in the Dolomites with 500 kilometers interconnected slopes surrounding the Sella Group and a total of 1,220 kilometers slopes in 12 zones.
Stay updated with the Val Gardena weather forecast of South Tyrol.
( * Note: The dates of the start and end of the season may vary in some valleys. We cannot guarantee that all lifts will be functioning during the specified period and until the end of the season.)
