Spa hotels in Val Gardena
Val Gardena is one of the three Ladin valleys of South Tyrol — UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites as its mountain backdrop, the Sella Ronda ski circuit, a woodcarving tradition.
Holidays & wellness in Val Gardena
Val Gardena (Ladin: Gherdëina; German: Gröden) is one of the three Ladin valleys of South Tyrol — framed by the Sassolungo (3,181 m), the Sassopiatto (2,964 m), the Odle group and the Sella massif. All four massifs are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites (since 2009). Three municipalities share the valley: Ortisei (St. Ulrich, the main town), Santa Cristina (St. Christina in Gröden) and Selva (Wolkenstein). Ladin is the third official language alongside German and Italian; the woodcarving tradition has shaped the craft since the 17th century. A winter-sports stronghold with the Sella Ronda (a 40 km ski circuit) and the Saslong World Cup downhill; a hiking classic in summer.
What this region stands for
- UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites wellness
- Winter sports (Sella Ronda, Saslong)
- Summer hiking on the Dolomite high routes
- Ladin culture
- Woodcarving tradition
- Family wellness in the high Alps
Why wellness here?
Val Gardena carries a double position in the Dolomites: Alpine high-altitude wellness and a unique Ladin culture. Four UNESCO World Heritage massifs frame the valley — Sassolungo, Sassopiatto, the Odle group and the Sella massif, all recognised by UNESCO since 2009 for their “outstanding universal value”. Winter-sports profile: Val Gardena is among the internationally best-known South Tyrolean ski areas. The Sella Ronda is a 40 km ski circuit around the Sella massif that can be completed on skis in a single day (connecting Val Gardena, Alta Badia, Arabba-Fodom and Canazei). The Saslong World Cup downhill in Santa Cristina is a classic World Cup course of Alpine ski racing. In summer the hiking season takes over — the Seiser Alm as Europe's largest high-Alpine pasture directly adjoining to the north, the Sciliar-Catinaccio Nature Park, the Puez-Odle Nature Park. Classic hut tours on the Dolomite high routes no. 2 and no. 8. Ladin culture as a tourist unique selling point: the Ladin language (around 7,000 speakers in Val Gardena), the Museum Gherdëina in Ortisei, annual Ladin festivals.
When to travel here
A double high season: December–April as the winter-sports high season with the Val Gardena-Alta Badia ski circus (Sella Ronda, more than 1,200 km of connected pistes) and the Saslong World Cup phase in December. June–September as the main summer-hiking season with cable cars and mountain huts in full programme. The shoulder months May/June and October/November as quiet phases — many hotels in between-season or winter break.
Sights and anchors for the spa-free day
UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites — Sassolungo, Sassopiatto, Odle, Sella
Four of the nine UNESCO World Heritage massifs of the Dolomites (since 2009) frame Val Gardena. The Sassolungo (3,181 m) and Sassopiatto (2,964 m) form the iconic skyline in the south; the Odle group in the north with its characteristic rock towers; the Sella massif in the east as the massif with the Sella Ronda ski circuit.
Sella Ronda and the Saslong World Cup downhill
The Sella Ronda is a 40 km ski circuit around the Sella massif — connecting Val Gardena, Alta Badia, Arabba-Fodom and Canazei. It can be completed on skis in a single day. The Saslong World Cup downhill in Santa Cristina is a classic FIS World Cup course of Alpine ski racing.
Seiser Alm — Europe's largest high-Alpine pasture
Directly north of Val Gardena — the Seiser Alm (Alpe di Siusi) with around 52 km² of high pasture between the Sciliar and the Sassolungo-Sassopiatto. A classic summer-hiking and ski area, reachable by cable car from Siusi.
The Val Gardena woodcarving tradition
Since the 17th century woodcarving has shaped the craft of Val Gardena — today several workshops in Ortisei, Santa Cristina and Selva. The Museum Gherdëina in Ortisei documents the history and shows important woodcarving art.
Ladin culture and language
Ladin is, alongside German and Italian, the third official language of Val Gardena — around 7,000 speakers in the valley. Traditional costumes of its own, festivals (Gran Festa dei Ladins), a culinary tradition (Furtaies, Cajincí) and the Lia Mostra d'Ert as a Ladin art tradition.
Official tourism portals
Up-to-date information on getting there, events, opening hours and visitor's tax is available directly from the destinations.
Frequently asked questions about the region
What is Ladin — and why is it spoken in Val Gardena?
Ladin is a Rhaeto-Romance language, related to Romansh in Switzerland and Friulian in Italy. It is spoken in the three Ladin valleys of South Tyrol (Val Gardena, Gadertal/Alta Badia, Buchenstein and Ampezzo in the Veneto) as well as in the Fassa valley in Trentino — around 30,000 speakers in total. In Val Gardena Ladin is the third official language alongside German and Italian; place signs, official language and schools carry the trilingualism through consistently.
Historical background: the Ladin language goes back to the Vulgar Latin of the Roman province of Raetia and took a development of its own in the secluded Alpine valleys.
What is the Sella Ronda?
A ski circuit of around 40 kilometres around the Sella massif — it connects Val Gardena, Alta Badia, Arabba-Fodom and Canazei and can be completed on skis in a single ski day, clockwise or anticlockwise. For many winter-sports enthusiasts the real reason to travel to Val Gardena.
Add the Saslong in Santa Cristina — the classic FIS World Cup downhill, whose race weekend in December puts the valley in a festive mood.
Is Val Gardena worth it in summer too?
At least as much as in winter: four UNESCO World Heritage massifs (Sassolungo, Sassopiatto, the Odle group, the Sella massif) frame the valley, the high trails and huts are in full operation from June to September — and directly to the north lies the Seiser Alm, at around 52 km² Europe's largest high-Alpine pasture.
Wellness in a Val Gardena summer means: a mountain day outdoors, a spa evening indoors — the classic Dolomites choreography.
When is the best time to travel?
December–April: the winter-sports high season with the Sella Ronda, the Val Gardena-Alta Badia ski circus and the Saslong World Cup in December. June–September: the summer-hiking high season with cable cars, mountain huts and high trails in full programme. The shoulder months May/June and October/November as between-season — many hotels and cable cars paused or reduced.
Val Gardena — spa hotels & holidays
UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites and Ladin culture
Val Gardena is one of the three Ladin valleys of South Tyrol — framed by four UNESCO World Heritage massifs (Sassolungo, Sassopiatto, the Odle group, the Sella massif, all since 2009). Three municipalities carry the valley: Ortisei (the main town), Santa Cristina and Selva. Ladin is, alongside German and Italian, the third official language — around 7,000 speakers, a culture of its own, traditional costumes of its own and an unusually deep woodcarving tradition since the 17th century. A double high season: winter sports with the Sella Ronda and the Saslong World Cup in winter, summer hiking on the Dolomite high routes.