Established in 1900 the Italian ski resort Val Gardena lies at 1236 metres altitude in the Alto Adige (Bolzano) / Südtirol (Bozen) region of the Italian Dolomites \ Dolomiten. With the highest lifts and ski slopes at 2518m the area is snow sure. Over ? snow cannons ensure artificial snow making covers 165km of trails, which equates to around 95 of the slopes. The nearest airport transfer to Val Gardena is Milan / Milano at a distance of 300km or approximately 240 minutes driving time. Their season runs from December to April.
SNO-man says
Val Gardena is centred on the resort of Selva and nearby Santa Cristina and Ortisei. Lift-linked to the Sella Ronda, the local skiing is some of the most exciting in the region, with famous runs including Ciampinoi, Dantercepies and Piz Sella. Annual World Cup Downhill event recorded Britain's best ever performance - a second for Konrad Bartelski. The neighbouring resorts of Santa Cristina and Ortisei together make up the Val Gardena area. Ortesei is a elatively large and pleasant market town with a double cable-car link to Santa Cristina and Selva and from there onto the Sella Ronda, time and snow permitting. The town has a life beyond skiing, being a regional agricultural and commercial centre. it is therefore a good choice for those who like to escape ski talk in the evenings. Santa Cristina is a spread out but attractive village.
Beginner Trails ![]() |
0% | Intermediate Trails ![]() |
30% |
Advanced Trails ![]() |
60% | Expert Trails ![]() |
10% |
View our detailed Val Gardena snow forecast or snow report and see all live webcams, piste maps, road and travel maps and lift pass prices. For a picture of historic snow conditions see the snow depths month by month with our Val Gardena snow history.
Beginners | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Intermediate | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Advanced/Expert | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Snowboarders | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Apres Ski | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Family/child Friendly | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Snow-Sure | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Ambience | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Lift Pass Prices (adult 6 day) | €246 - €273 |
Traditional Village / |
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Resort Opens | Dec 2020 |
Resort Closes | Apr 2021 |
( snow conditions often influence opening/closing) |
Downhill Runs | 175km |
total length of Val Gardena trails | |
Longest Lift-Served Run | 9km |
longest piste or trail reachable by lift | |
Slope Orientation | N S |
direction Val Gardena area faces | |
Top Altitude | 2518m |
top station of highest lift | |
Bottom Altitude | 1236m |
bottom of lowest run | |
Resort Altitude | 1236m |
centre of Val Gardena ski resort | |
Vertical Drop | 1088m |
total descent from top lift to bottom piste | |
Skiable Vertical | ^v 1088m |
can include extra hike up above top lift | |
Nearby resorts: |
The mountain has 0% beginner runs or nursery slopes, 30% intermediate, 60% advanced slopes and 10% for experts - the most difficult piste is the 10.5km Nogler run, with a steepness/slope angle of ?%. There is no night skiing.
Rating for skiing gets 4 stars out of 5 overall
Rating for snowboarding gets 3 stars out of 5 overall
Off-Slope activities include:
SNO-man says
Rating for apres ski gets 4 stars out of 5 overall
The Italian resort is also known as Selva Ciampinoi, Dantercëpies, Piz Sella, Monte Pana, Col Roiser, Seceda, Alpe di Siusi, Seiser Alm, Val Gardena and has common misspellings:
The direction which the various Val Gardena slopes face can make or break your ski holiday. To guarantee good snow conditions, choose a resort with piste which face the right way for the time of year you're travelling.
- In the coldest winter months of January and February pick a resort with sunny south facing slopes, so your days on the snow doesn't feel like a polar expedition. Conversely, in the warmest spring skiing months of March and especially April, a resort with cool and shady north facing trails will ensure you're not riding on slush, but benefitting from best late season snow. The best destinations have areas which face in all directions so that you're guaranteed greating conditions whatever the weather. Val Gardena has slopes facing N S.
Rating for snow gets 3 stars out of 5 overall
Val Gardena day and evening care plus snow ski schools and babysitting.
Selva Gardena was one of the few Italian resorts to offer day care, accepting kids from age 1 to 4, but that facility has now finished. However the ski schools do attempt to accommodate children as much as possible. The Dolomiti Ski Pass also has low prices and free lift use for younger children, with spacial offer weeks through the season. Other facilities include the skating and the indoor pool at Ortisei. There's a playpark in the centre of the resort next to the minigolf, behind the Pranives Sports Stadium and in Plan da Tieja at the end of the Promenade. Special offers of free and discounted child holidays at certain establishments during low season, check with the tourist office.
3 stars out of 5 overall
Val Gardena shopping - fashion boutiques, outdoor gear and food shops
Selva Gardena has a good selection of shops covering most requirements and there's a weekly market on Thursday s. A greater choice of shops is available in Ortisei down the valley. The top local product, for which the valley has been famous for 400 years, are wood carvings - in centuries past several thousand wood carvers worked in the valley producing first wooden bowls and other simple utensils and then the more talented tried their hand on more artistic items, mostly statues with a religious subject, while some of them produced caricatures, picture frames, ornaments, animals, nativity scene figurines and children's toys. By the 18th century Val Gardena was a major centre of wood carving, and pedlars and merchants carried the carvings and the name of Val Gardena far and wide.
Val Gardena value for money gets 4 stars out of 5 overall
Val Gardena hire shops - overview of all shopping in Val Gardena
Selva Gardena has a good selection of shops covering most requirements and there's a weekly market on Thursday s. A greater choice of shops is available in Ortisei down the valley. The top local product, for which the valley has been famous for 400 years, are wood carvings - in centuries past several thousand wood carvers worked in the valley producing first wooden bowls and other simple utensils and then the more talented tried their hand on more artistic items, mostly statues with a religious subject, while some of them produced caricatures, picture frames, ornaments, animals, nativity scene figurines and children's toys. By the 18th century Val Gardena was a major centre of wood carving, and pedlars and merchants carried the carvings and the name of Val Gardena far and wide.
Val Gardena ski rental shops value rating gets 4 stars out of 5 overall
Val Gardena ski school - snowboarding course & skiing lessons
The official ski/board school is called Ski & Snowboard School Selva Gardena and has 150 teachers teaching in English, German, Italian and taking students from a minimum age of 4.info@scuolasciselva.com www.scuolasciselva.com 795156
Val Gardena for beginners gets 4 stars out of 5 overall
Val Gardena for intermediates gets 5 stars out of 5 overall
Val Gardena for expert skiers gets 3 stars out of 5 overall
Val Gardena for snowboarding gets 3 stars out of 5 overall
Val Gardena snow sports - off slope winter mountain sports
Cross Country Skiing (langlaufen) in Val Gardena: 102km X C ski trails, Lessons available? Y
Easy XC Ski Trails: 35km Intermediate XC Trails: 31km Difficult XC Trails: 32km
Telemark Tuittion: Y Telemark Rental 5 Paragliding schools: 2
Snow mobile Rental: 0 Toboggan Run Length: 20km
Val Gardena snow fun - off slope winter activities
Outdoor Ice Rink: 1 Indoor Ice Rink: 1 Balloon Flights: 0
Prepared Winter Walks: 105 Snowshoeing: 1 Hang Gliding : 0
Snow mobile Rental: 0 Toboggan Run Length: 20km Paragliding schools: 2
Val Gardena non skiing facilities also include Indoor Shooting Range.