Overview

Val Gardena is a valley in the Dolomites of northern Italy. It is made up of three towns: Urtijëi Selva, and Santa Cristina. The valley is a year-round holiday hotspot for activity enthusiasts. By the end of May the skiers have gone, replaced by hikers, bikers, climbers, and golfers.

Walking

You can discover the mountain world on well-developed roads and paths. Cable cars enable you to access the high alpine tours. Original alpine and refuge huts offer plenty of opportunities to relax. Val Gardena has a tight network of hiking trails and to guide you through the Dolomites. You can also opt for a professional hiking tour to give the necessary safety on high mountains. Excursions and teaching paths also give you some insight into flora and fauna.

Mountain biking

The mountain passes in the Dolomites are a real challenge for cyclists of all levels. Mountain bikes can be hired in several shops throughout the valley. The Sella Ronda Bike Day, June 27, is the only day of the year when the roads are closed to traffic and cyclists of all levels ride to the top of the four Dolomite passes: Gardena, Campolongo, Pordoi and Sella.

Climbing

The safest way to discover the Dolomite climbing routes is with a state-registered mountain guide. The guides organise and lead parties on mountain paths and fixed-rope routes and also on the glaciers. They also offer climbing courses and tours for all ability groups, from beginners to experts.

Golfing

Golf Club Castelrotto is an 18-hole golf course with idyllic lakes, rivers, and widespread greens. Hole 15 is a par 3 with the highest height difference in Europe.

Other activities include horse riding, fishing, paragliding, yoga, pilates, aerobics, children's animation, and spa relaxation.

Cuisine

The valley of is known for its high-profile gourmet restaurants offering sophisticated menus and the best South Tyrolean wines. Most notably, the Anna Stuben restaurant in the Grödnerhof hotel in Ortisei/St. Ulrich, has been awarded one Michelin star and two Gault Millau toques.

Heading up into the mountains, simple regional specialities are served in the refuge huts, ranging from ‘speck' (smoke-cured ham) and cheese to the popular ‘knödel' (dumplings) and ‘Tutres' (pastry filled with spinach and cheese).

Getting there

Val Gardena is located 40 kilometres from Bolzano Airport and 190 kilometres from Verona Airport. There are good IC and EC connections coming from Munich, Innsbruck, Bressanone, and Bolzano. A bus service transports you from Bressanone and Bolzano every hour to Val Gardena. Some hotels arrange a pick-up service. If driving, Val Gardena can be reached using the Brenner motorway (A22).

Getting around

Explore the Dolomites without your car: the Val Gardena Card 2010 offers unlimited use of all lifts in the valley for six days from June 12 to Oct. 4. This year, the travel card offers even more: it is now fitted with a chip enabling you to check your trekking performance (you just need a computer with Internet access); it includes unlimited use of all scheduled bus services in the zone of the ‘Mobilcard South Tyrol'; and it is also now available as a three-day travel card.