Walking in Ortisei

Walking Trails:
600km of walking trails and easy access to other valleys and mountains in the Dolomites

Terrain:
Varied from mountain climbs to flat, grassy meadows

Ortisei at a glance

  • Italian
  • Euro (EUR)
  • Manchester Int. (MAN), London Gatwick (LGW), London Stansted (STN), Edinburgh (EDI), Birmingham Int. (BHX), Bristol (BRS), Newcastle (NCL), Leeds Bradford (LBA), Belfast Int. (BFS)

Travel included to Ortisei

Depart on: Saturday or Wednesday 

Fly into: Verona (approx. 2 hours)

Transfer time: approx. 3 hours by coach from Verona or approx. 2 hours by coach from Innsbruck

Included in your Ortisei walking holiday

  • Digital Guest Pass with free use of Val Gardena and Alto Adige public buses
  • On holiday support and tailored advice from our Destination Experts based in Italy
  • Access to Inghams Digital Resort Guide with things to do, walks and useful information on holiday
  • Flights from the UK, transfers and accommodation

Walking in Ortisei

Walks and hikes

Walking Trails:
600km of walking trails and easy access to other valleys and mountains in the Dolomites
Terrain:
Varied from mountain climbs to flat, grassy meadows

Hop on the Seceda gondola which carries walkers and explorers from Ortisei all the way to the summit of Seceda Mountain. There’s no need to do anything but marvel at the views over the shard-like Odle peaks. But, if you do fancy stretching your legs, miles of walking paths wind through alpine wildflowers and past mountain huts with sun-trap decks. There are also routes down to some of the best mountain biking tracks in the Val Gardena; the opportunities are endless for your summer walking holiday.

Our favourite self-guided walks in Ortisei

The Val Gardena Railway Trail is a pleasant path which leads you on a 3.5km walk from Santa Cristina to Ortisei. This comfortable walk features panoramic views and several information boards with historical pictures explaining the fascinating history of the Val Gardena Railway.

  • Grade: Easy
  • Distance: 3.5km
  • Walking time: 1 hour

You'll feel on top of the world at the summit of Pic Mountain, where you'll get 360 degree views of the valley below. Take the cable car from Santa Cristina and hike along to Sëurasas, one of the most scenic look outs in Val Gardena, and the summit of Mount Pic for uninterrupted, 360 degree views of the the Dolomite mountain ranges.

  • Grade: Moderate-Challenging
  • Distance: 6.5km
  • Walking time: 2 hours

The Vallunga Valley is the entrance to the Puez-Odle nature park, and it offers a fairly relaxed walk through wooded areas and wide open meadows, cradled within the towering Dolomites mountains. It’s a picturesque route and, though it requires some effort, it’s perfect for exploring the area when you want a less challenging walking day.

  • Grade: Easy
  • Distance: 7.5km
  • Walking time: 2 hours

Our accommodations in Ortisei

Discover Ortisei

  • Hop on the Seceda Gondola and discover hundreds of walking trails
  • Scope out traditional wood carved sculptures in the town
  • Learn some of the local dialect, Ladin

Ortisei – or Urtijëi, as it’s better known in the local language of Ladin – is a Tyrolean town in the heart of the Val Gardena. This is a community that’s forged Olympic bobsledders, skiers and figure skaters – outdoorsy folk who don’t stop just because the snow has melted off the mountains. Instead, they spend their summers on the walking and cycling paths. On you summer holiday in Ortisei, you’ll be welcomed by a close-knit community, famous for its woodcarving tradition – who will take any excuse for a get-together in one of the many cafés and bars.

There are plenty of things to do to keep you busy in Ortisei town. The pedestrianised centre is a sweep of arcaded shops, restaurants, churches and cafés, all bundled up in a colourful alpine palette. Friday evenings are when the streets really come alive, with diners digging into all manner of food and drink from pizzas and gröstl dumplings to Michelin-starred menus late into the night, while bands get toes tapping in the summer. Most of the residents speak Ladin as their first language, so it’s a great idea to learn a few words… and to call Ortisei by its Ladin name of Urtijëi.

If you think your summer holiday is a strange time to stock up on Nativity sets, then think again. Master woodcarvers have been chipping away in Ortisei since the 15th century, passing on skills through the generations. It’s a revered and sacred art in this neck of the woods (pine woods, to be exact), filling churches with decadent altar pieces and shop shelves with souvenir Nativity sets. Go to Gherdëina museum for a whistle-stop tour through the history of woodcarving.

Buses connect the villages of the Alto Adige. Drop by the neighbouring town of Selva, the high-rise rose gardens of Rosarium Uhrerhof, and Puez-Geisler Nature Park, with its lovely hiking loops and mountain huts with iconic Dolomite views. Buses also head to Bolzano, the provincial capital of South Tyrol. It’s a university city with a cathedral, galleries, squares and parks, all topped off with a lively mountain spirit.

Lifts

There are 18 lifts open in Val Gardena during the summer, normally from the beginning of June until early October. If you're planning to make good use of the lifts in the Val Gardena the Gardena Card is really useful and may even save you some money or if you want to explore further afield then the Dolomiti Supersummer pass gives you access to 120 lifts in 15 regions.

For more information on the cards mentioned above check out the 'Cards & Passes' section of this page.

Public transport

For Inghams guests the public buses in the Val Gardena are free. All you have to do is take you Val Gardena Mobil Card with you and you'll easily be able to hop from town to town within the area. This opens up even more areas for you to explore!

Cards & Passes

Ortisei offers three types of resort cards, helping you to get the most out of your walking holiday. The Free Digital Guest Pass is included for all guests staying in Ortisei. The Gardena Card and Dolomiti Supersummer card can be purchased locally to help you get the most out of lifts in the area. 

You'll get a free Digital Guest Pass when you stay at any of our hotels in the Val Gardena. It gives you unlimited travel on all public transport in South Tyrol.

The card is digital. When checking in to your hotel, you'll be asked to provide a valid email address to which the digital guest pass will be sent.

For more information about what's included with the pass, visit the official website.

The Gardena Card is very useful if you're planning to use the lifts in the Val Gardena a lot. Round trips start from about €24 so it may be worth buying the card, which will give you unlimited access for:

  • €103 per adult for three consecutive days
  • €135 per adult for six consecutive days

The Dolomiti SuperSummer card is useful if you’re looking to really take advantage of the walking trails and use several ski lifts throughout the Dolomite area. It gives you access to 120 lifts in the region. We'd recommend booking your Supersummer pass in resort with the help of your rep. For more information visit the Dolomiti Supersummer official website.

The card includes access to:

  • 120 lifts in the Dolomites area
  • Included bike transport on lifts

For a 3 day card the cost is:

  • €120 per adult
  • €84 for children under 16 years

For a 5 day card the cost is:

  • €160 per adult
  • €112 for children under 16 years

Concessions:

Children under 8 years can access the card for free if accompanied by an adult who has purchased the pass

Prices are accurate at the time of publishing, for up to date pricings visit the Dolomiti Supersummer official website.

Travel to Ortisei

Travel by air

Flights to Verona depart on Wednesday or Saturday between 07 Jun - 18 Oct 25 and 06 Jun - 17 Oct 26

Fly from:

  • Manchester,  London Gatwick, London Stansted, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Bristol, Newcastle, Leeds Bradford and Belfast 

Transfer time:

  • Verona airport: 3 hours by coach
  • Innsbruck Airport: approx. 2 hours by coach

Private transfers are available on request, for a supplement.

Things to do in Ortisei

If you want an adventure- why not try out Via Ferrata on your holiday? The area has a variety difficulty levels available. If this is something you're interested in, we'd recommend booking a guide as they will take you on a Via Ferrata suited to your level.

Selva's and Ortisei are a paradise for bikers with a huge network of trails to suit all levels. E-biking has become increasingly popular, offering a fun and accessible way to explore the stunning Dolomite landscapes. Ride through lush meadows, navigate forest paths, or conquer mountain roads that wind through the valleys. Why not head for the freeride trails or stick with the gentle winding routes on the family line- both are fun. Best of all the lifts take you to the top of the runs, so all you need to do is enjoy the ride down.

If you fancy trying out e-biking, tackle the hills and cruise along valley paths with the help of an electric motor, giving you the time to take in the mountain views. It doesn’t get much better than an e-bike tour of mountain huts, or 'rifugi' as they call them. This is also a great way of combining outdoor adventure with local food and wine.

With plenty of routes for all abilities, from leisurely cycles to more challenging terrain, cycling in Selva and Ortisei is a perfect way to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the region.

Image copyright: @DolomitesValGardena

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