Val Gardena (Gröden in German, Gherdëina in Ladin) is a valley in South Tyrol with three ski villages strung along it: Ortisei (St. Ulrich, Urtijëi), Santa Cristina (St. Christina) and Selva (Wolkenstein, Sëlva). It sits right on the Sellaronda, the famous circuit around the Sella massif, and it’s part of Dolomiti Superski: one pass for 12 ski areas, about 450 lifts and 1,200 km of pistes.
That 1,200 km is the whole network, and much of it is a drive or bus ride away. What you can reach on skis from Val Gardena is still huge: the tourist office puts it at more than 500 km of connected pistes, including the neighbouring valleys on the Sellaronda.
Val Gardena ski area: 500 km on the Sellaronda
The valley’s ski areas sit on both sides of the villages. Above Selva and Santa Cristina, Ciampinoi and Dantercepies lead onto the Sellaronda. Above Ortisei, Seceda sits below the jagged Odle peaks, and the Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm) spreads out to the south. Between them, Monte Pana above Santa Cristina is a gentle plateau at the foot of the Sassolungo.
More than 60 mountain huts serve food on and around the slopes, and long lunches are part of skiing here.
Skiing in Val Gardena for beginners
Beginners have two very good areas. Monte Pana, above Santa Cristina, has well-groomed practice slopes and lifts for children and first-timers. The Alpe di Siusi, reached from Ortisei, is known for gentle, easy slopes and is the classic family choice. Both are away from the busy Sellaronda traffic.
Skiing in Val Gardena for intermediates
Intermediates are the big winners. The Sellaronda is rated for skiers of average ability, and there are long, scenic runs throughout the valley, including La Longia, the longest piste in South Tyrol, below.
Skiing in Val Gardena for experts
Advanced skiers can test themselves on the Saslong World Cup run at Santa Cristina and the black runs off Mont de Sëura above Monte Pana. The Südtirol Gardenissima, billed as the longest and hardest giant slalom in the Dolomites, is held here too. For anything off the markers, hire a local mountain guide.
La Longia and the Saslong: Val Gardena’s signature runs
La Longia is the run to tick off. It’s 10 km long with 1,273 m of vertical, from the top of Seceda all the way down to Ortisei. It isn’t part of the Sellaronda, so it makes a good day out when you want a break from the circuit.
The Saslong is the most famous race piste in Italy. It runs from Ciampinoi down to Santa Cristina, and each December it hosts a men’s World Cup weekend. In 2026, the super-G is on Friday 18 December and the downhill on Saturday 19 December. The downhill course is 3,446 m long with 839 m of vertical.
The Sellaronda from Val Gardena
The circuit crosses four passes (Sella, Pordoi, Campolongo and Gardena) and links Val Gardena with Val di Fassa, Arabba and Alta Badia. It’s around 40 km, of which roughly half is on lifts. Follow orange signs to go clockwise and green signs for anticlockwise. The tourist office suggests Selva as the best starting point and recommends setting off by 10 am at the latest, so you’re home before the lifts close. Check the weather and lift status first, so a closed lift doesn’t leave you stuck on the wrong side of the Sella.
Snow in Val Gardena and the 2026/27 season
For 2026/27, the Val Gardena and Sellaronda lifts are scheduled to open on 4 December 2026 and close on 4 April 2027, subject to change. Some other Dolomiti Superski areas open from 28 November 2026.
The villages are lower than many big Alpine resorts, around 1,240 m at Ortisei and 1,560 m at Selva, so natural snow can be patchy early and late in the season. The pistes rely heavily on snowmaking, and the resort advertises a snow guarantee based on it. For 2026/27, Dolomiti Superski says a new water reservoir for snowmaking is being built at Selva, and a new Steger-Dellai chairlift is coming to the Alpe di Siusi.
Is Val Gardena good for a last-minute ski trip?
It depends on the time of year:
- In midwinter, yes. The snowmaking is extensive, the linked area is huge, and Bolzano airport is only 40 km away. Even after a dry spell, you’ll usually find well-groomed pistes.
- Early and late season, be more careful. With villages at 1,240 to 1,560 m and the season ending on 4 April, natural snow on the lower slopes can be thin. Check how much of the Sellaronda is open before booking.
- Watch the Brenner. The Lueg bridge on the Brenner motorway in Austria is being renovated, so weekend traffic from the north can be slow.
If the snow report looks good, find a place to stay in Val Gardena.
Val Gardena lift passes
The Dolomiti Superski pass covers Val Gardena and all 12 areas, so you can ski the Sellaronda and beyond. A few things worth knowing:
- The Val Gardena Superpremière (3 to 19 December 2026) gives four nights, four days’ lift pass and four days’ rental for the price of three at participating hotels.
- From 13 March 2027, the Dolomiti Springdays and SpringSkiing Val Gardena Family offers add free ski days or family discounts at participating accommodation.
- Young children can ski free with an adult who buys a pass for the same days. The birth-year cut-off changes every season, so check it when you buy.
- New for 2026/27, the Dolomiti Superski Family pass can be bought online.
Since 1 January 2022, everyone on Italian slopes has needed third-party liability insurance. You can usually add it when you buy your pass, or check your travel insurance covers it.
Après-ski and things to do in Val Gardena
Val Gardena’s evenings are more about good food and wine than loud bars, and Ortisei, a proper small town, has the most going on. Off the slopes:
- Tobogganing on the 3 km Rasciesa run above Ortisei, with night tobogganing, and on longer runs on the Alpe di Siusi.
- Mardolomit in Ortisei, a pool complex with indoor and outdoor pools, a 65 m slide and saunas.
- Winter walks, snowshoeing and sleigh rides, and cross-country skiing at Monte Pana.
- Ice skating and evening events in the villages.
Who Val Gardena suits, and who it doesn’t
- Great for: intermediates who want mileage and scenery, families and beginners (Monte Pana and the Alpe di Siusi), and anyone who likes good food on the mountain.
- Think twice if: you want lots of steep terrain, guaranteed deep natural snow or quiet slopes in peak weeks. The Sellaronda gets busy, and World Cup week in mid-December brings crowds.
Skiing with children? Read our guide to Val Gardena with kids.
Helmets are compulsory for everyone on Italian slopes, snow parks and sledging areas, whatever their age, from the 2025/26 season onwards.
How to get to Val Gardena
Driving to Val Gardena
From the north, take the A22 Brenner motorway and leave at Chiusa/Klausen, then follow the road up the valley: about 20 km to Ortisei, 28 km to Santa Cristina and 32 km to Selva. From the south, leave the A22 at Bolzano Nord and head for Ponte Gardena.
The Gardena Pass (to Alta Badia) and Sella Pass (to Val di Fassa) are high mountain roads, so check their status with South Tyrol’s traffic information before relying on them in winter. Italian roads covered by a winter ordinance require winter tyres (marked M+S) or chains carried in the car, normally from 15 November to 15 April. Check the signs and the current rules before you travel.
By train and bus
Trains on the Brenner line stop at Bolzano and Ponte Gardena. From there, bus line 350 runs up the valley to Ortisei, Santa Cristina and Selva. Check the current timetable on the Val Gardena website before you travel.
Nearest airports
Bolzano is the nearest airport, 40 km away, followed by Innsbruck (120 km), Verona (190 km), and Venice and Bergamo (270 km each). AltoAdigeBus runs direct transfers from Innsbruck, Verona, Venice, Bergamo, Treviso, Munich and Milan Malpensa. Because of the Lueg bridge works, the tourist office suggests considering Italian airports rather than Innsbruck, Munich or Salzburg.
