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Things to do in winter in Val Gardena: the best activities in the snow

Nature, winter sports and the most common alpine traditions

Val Gardena offers a variety of winter leisure activities for everyone. It's the place where you can enjoy amazing days in the quiet of nature, do winter sports in the popular Val Gardena ski resort, marvel at the incredible landscapes around the Sella group and unwind in the welcoming atmosphere of Ortisei, Selva Gardena and Santa Cristina. On a winter holiday in Val Gardena, you can take your sports skills to the next level, treat yourself to a wellness spa retreat, get to know Ladin - the oldest language in South Tyrol - and skillful sculptors who carve outstanding figures out of wood. Read on and find out more about the best activities to do in winter in Val Gardena.

Where to ski and snowboard in Val Gardena

Val Gardena is well-known around the world as one of the best ski destinations in South Tyrol: it boasts desirable views, a mouth-watering choice of slopes and a long-standing sports tradition.  Put your skis on and go backcountry skiing, snowboarding or cross-country skiing to admire the breathtaking panorama of the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage. Whizz down the famous slopes of world ski champions or stay under the wing of a ski instructor from a ski school and rent the necessary ski gear in one of the many ski rentals in Val Gardena. If you like mountains during the wintertime come to Val Gardena and discover what the valley has in store for you.

Sellaronda on your skis: the 4 passes tour

One of the most exciting and memorable experiences in Val Gardena is the Sellaronda ski tour. What makes it so special? A fairytale winter landscape, 40 km of slopes that suit all abilities and state-of-the-art chairlifts. While skiing, you can let your eyes wander over the jagged Dolomites peaks and live your day with all the senses. To explore the Sellaronda ski circuit, get the Dolomiti Superski ski pass at one of the ski resorts of the Dolomiti Superski area. You can choose one of these two trails:

  • Orange direction: this tour around the Sella group is clockwise. Follow the orange signs along the trail and take the Dantercepies cable car to get to the top of Passo Gardena (No.30 on the map).
  • Green direction: this tour around the Sella group is anti-clockwise. Follow the green signs. The trailhead is in the Plan de Gralba ski area. You can get here by car or take the Ciampinoi cable car (No.29) in Selva as well as the Saslong cable car (No.17) in Santa Cristina.

It will take you 6 hours to complete the ski tour. The difficulty is moderate and we recommend you start before 10 am.

"The Legendary 8": the most beautiful slopes in Val Gardena

Every track is marked by history and tradition, like "The Legendary 8". These ski runs stand out for their steepness, length and unique turns. While some are for expert skiers others are moderately difficult. You can whizz down the Saslong famed for the Ski World Cup, South Tyrol's longest slope La Longia or the Pilat which was recently opened in 2022, just to mention a few. If you want to challenge your skiing technique, you can descend the Ciampinoi No.3 or the 6 km long Gardenissima which hosts the world's longest giant slalom and stretches from Seceda to Col Raiser's pistes. By toggling on your location on a specific app, you can find out the most beautiful slopes. They entice many skiers and stretch over 36 km.

A great challenge: if you can wrap up all the 8 ski runs, you can pick up your diploma at one of the three tourist offices in Val Gardena.

FIS Ski World Cup on the Saslong

Ski specialists meet in Val Gardena every December

From beginners to international champions, everyone is bewitched by this Dolomites region. At the two major Alpine skiing events, you'll witness to extraordinary talents, a whirlwind of emotions and definitely get chills. The Saslong slope in Santa Cristina hosts both the men's Super-G of the FIS Ski World Cup and the men's downhill. On this infamous run, male and female skiers tackle the dreaded "camel humps," reaching speeds of around 100 km/h, while spectators cheer at the finish line. You can also take the Ski Champions Walk, a historic route dedicated to the FIS World Cup alpine ski champions in Selva di Val Gardena.

The best snowshoe and winter hikes in Val Gardena

Surrounded by the majestic Dolomites, Val Gardena is where many wonderful winter trails start and end. May they be snowshoe hikes or easy walks in the snow, you won't be denied stunning views. Take a cable car and move up to the sled runs and leave your snowshoe footprints in the untouched powder snow or go on well-marked trails. Let your eyes wander over the landscape and take a short culinary break to taste traditional Ladin dishes. We suggest you here, some of the best hikes in Val Gardena.

Winter hike to Mont Sëura and Monte Pana

How about spending a day in the mind-blowing winter landscape of the Sassolungo mountain chain? We are thrilled to show you a very pleasant, wide and easy route. From S. Cristina, take the Monte Pana chairlift and then hop on the Mont de Sëura. When you reach the top, follow the signs through a snow-covered fir forests to Monte Pana. Connect with nature's tranquillity, take extra deep breaths and listen to the crunching sound of snow. 

Special tip: Are you seeking out new experiences? Try the Monte Pana Zipline. It doesn't close during the wintertime!

  • Length: 5 km
  • Time: 1.5 hours
  • Elevation gain: 419 m
  • Maximum altitude: 2040 m
  • Minimum altitude: 1624 m
IDM Südtirol-Alto Adige/Alex Filz

Snowshoeing at the foot of the Odle

The Puez-Geisler Nature Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009, is extremely charming as the winter unfolds A great idea to live this natural place to the fullest is to put your snowshoes on and set out for your new adventure. Just you, in the soft white snow. Quiet and fascinating landscapes for a relaxing and refreshing time. Col Raiser mountain station is the trailhead and it'll take you to the Troier mountain hut.

  • Length: 5 km
  • Time: 2 hours
  • Elevation gain: 207 m
  • Maximum altitude: 2270 m
  • Minimum altitude: 2093 m
IDM Südtirol-Alto Adige/Dietmar Denger

Troi Unika winter hike - Art & Landscape on an easy walk

What if we told you there's a place in Val Gardena that combines nature, hiking and art to perfection? Along the Troi Unika themed trail on Monte Pana, you can admire impressive wood carvings made by the most skillful artisans in Val Gardena. A trail through nature that is a real open-air museum.

  • Length: 1.7 km
  • Time: 30 min
  • Elevation gain: 75 m
  • Maximum altitude: 1690 m
  • Minimum altitude: 1615 m
DOLOMITES Val Gardena

Things to see in Val Gardena: a cultural break after a ski day

Are you in love with snow and can't get enough of skiing? Val Gardena is meant for you. But how about diving deep into the unique culture of this place? As soon as you arrive, you'll be exposed to a very old language called "Ladin" and get to know Val Gardena people's pride towards their culture and traditions.

In fact, for hundreds of years, carving and woodcarving have played a central role in everyday life. To these days, there are still many male and female artists who are making works of art and engage you in their expertise. You absolutely have to visit the Gherdëina Museum in Ortisei for a better knowledge of the local art, craftsmanship, traditions and woodcarving. Delve into the culture and history of this Dolomites Ladin valley and walk in the Church of St. Christina, set in St. Christina downtown to grasp the architectural style details.

Top cultural and food events

Val Gardena hosts a wealth of cultural and sporting events throughout the year: concerts, festivals, ski competitions, and many more. Advent weeks mark the beginning of the beloved traditional Christmas Markets and Ortisei and Selva Gardena's amazing ice sculptures. Check the local events calendar to find out which events are going to take place during your stay.

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Weather forecast & Webcams in Val Gardena

Lay your eyes on Val Gardena at any time of the year. Find the most accurate weather forecast real-time and check whether it's sunny, cloudy, rainy or snowy. Through live webcams you can watch wonderful panoramas whenever you like and wherever you are. 

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