A valley where wood has been carved since the 17th century — and above it stands the most iconic ridge in the Dolomites. Just four cable-car minutes separate the two.
Direct flight Paris – Bolzano (1h 40min) + hotel in Val Gardena + 60-minute transfer. This Ladin valley — with Ortisei, Santa Cristina and Selva — sits at 1,200 to 1,560 metres; the Seceda cable car takes you in four minutes onto one of the most iconic ridges in the Dolomites.
- Direct flight Paris – Bolzano
- Best price guarantee
- EU-protected package holiday
- Only 45 minutes transfer
What defines Val Gardena?
Val Gardena combines Ladin woodcarving tradition down in the valley with two house mountains — Seceda and Alpe di Siusi — both reachable by cable car.
Val Gardena (Gröden in German) comprises three villages: Ortisei (St. Ulrich) at 1,236 metres, Santa Cristina Val Gardena, and Selva di Val Gardena (Wolkenstein) at 1,563 metres. They line up one after the other along the same valley. The official languages are Ladin, German and Italian — the majority of residents speak Ladin as their first language.
On both sides of the valley, cable cars climb to the heights. From Ortisei, the Seceda gondola lifts you in around four minutes to about 2,450 metres, straight to the most iconic ridge in the Dolomites, with views onto the Odle (Geisler) group. On the opposite side, the Mont Sëuc gondola runs onto the Alpe di Siusi — the largest high-altitude Alpine meadow in Europe. Two very different mountains, both a quarter of an hour from the villages.
Down in the valley, craft shapes daily life. For two centuries, Ortisei was an international centre of woodcarving; workshops, a school of applied arts and the Museum Gherdëina — with pieces from the Middle Ages to the present day — are still there. Ladin culture is present everywhere: in the language, in cuisine such as Schlutzkrapfen and Cajincí, and in the traditional Gardeneser costumes worn at the Ladin Feast Days.
What is there to do in Val Gardena?
Val Gardena has two sides of the valley with very different character. On one side the jagged Seceda with the Puez-Odle Nature Park; on the other the wide meadow plateau of the Alpe di Siusi. Both are reachable by cable car, both are among the most photographed spots in the Dolomites, and both are quite different. Add to that the villages with their woodcarving workshops and Ladin cuisine — Val Gardena is one of the few Dolomite valleys where you can spend a week without ever repeating yourself.
Seceda
360-degree viewpoint, Puez-Odle Nature Park
Ortisei and craftsmanship
Woodcarving since the 17th century, Mar Dolomit indoor pool
Which flights are there from Paris to South Tyrol?
SkyAlps flies direct from Paris to Bolzano several times a week, flight time 1h 40min. All prices are per person and include the return flight as well as the nights in the hotel you book.
When is the best time to visit Val Gardena?
Val Gardena lives on two seasons. Summer runs from June to early October, with cable cars running throughout — June and September are the quietest months with the best weather. Winter starts in early December and ends around Easter; the Val Gardena Ski World Cup on the Saslong slope in Santa Cristina is one of the fixed dates of the season. November and May are shoulder months when many cable cars stand still and many hotels close.
Frequently asked questions
Yes.
The cable car lifts you from Ortisei to about 2,450 metres in around four minutes; there is a restaurant at the mountain station. From the summit cross the view stretches over the Dolomites all the way to the Ötztal Alps; a panel identifies more than 50 peaks. The famous ridge with the jagged silhouette is a ten-minute walk away, mostly level and manageable in sturdy shoes. In good weather it can be busy, especially between 11am and 2pm; early morning or late afternoon are quieter.
Ready for your adults-only holiday in Gröden?
Direct flight Paris – Bolzano, plus a hotel in Gröden and the transfer – all in one booking. Book online now: secure, flexible and at the best price.