Val di Funes in Italy at a glance
Val di Funes is a valley in the Dolomites in South Tyrol, near Chiusa (Klausen). Its German name is Villnöss. At the head of the valley rise the Odle peaks, called Geislerspitzen in German, which belong to the Puez-Odle part of the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site. The valley is known for two photo spots: the church of Santa Maddalena (St. Magdalena) in front of the peaks and the small chapel of St. Johann in Ranui.
Both places have access rules. Knowing them in advance saves you a long walk and an awkward moment at a closed door.
The two churches compared
Facts from the South Tyrol tourism site and user reports. Fees and barriers can change, so check the signs on site.
| Santa Maddalena (St. Magdalena) | Ranui (St. Johann) | |
|---|---|---|
| Access by car | Barrier, residents only | Car park at the chapel |
| Where to park | Putzen car park, then 30 minutes on foot | Ranui car park, day rate about €10 |
| Fee | – | Access fee, reported around €4 to €5 |
| Inside the church | – | Closed, you see it from outside |
| By bus | – | Bus from Chiusa (Klausen) or Bressanone (Brixen) to the Ranui stop, 5 minutes on foot |
Val di Funes and Dolomites tours
Photo tours, guided hikes and day trips to the Odle and the villages of the valley, with live prices and availability.
Ranui: the access fee and the closed church
The little church of St. Johann in Ranui, dedicated to John of Nepomuk, was founded in 1744. It is privately owned. According to the South Tyrol tourism site you pay a fee to get access to the viewing area, the church itself stays closed and you must not walk on the meadows.
We could not verify the exact amount. User reports from 2023 to 2026 mention €4, paid in cash at a machine, and one review mentions €5. Plan on about €4 to €5 and bring coins. The Ranui car park charged a day rate of €10 on the German-language page of one source, while the English page of the same source listed €5, so treat parking as €5 to €10 and read the sign. A night rate for the hours from 9 pm to 7 am is reported at €40, so do not leave a car overnight.
Santa Maddalena: no road, a 30-minute walk
The village of Santa Maddalena (St. Magdalena) with its church and the Odle behind it is the classic view of the valley. The road up is closed to cars with a barrier, and only residents may drive. One secondary source reports new barriers from 1 May 2026, which does not appear to change the basic rule.
Park at Putzen and walk. The South Tyrol tourism site gives 30 minutes on foot. Wear walking shoes, not flip-flops, and stay on the path. The meadows belong to local farmers and are working land.
Getting there and getting around
By bus, take the line from Chiusa (Klausen) or Bressanone (Brixen) to the Ranui stop. From there it is a 5-minute walk to the chapel. The Südtirol Guest Pass covers almost all public buses in South Tyrol, and the Mobilcard costs €22 for 1 day and €32 for 3 days in 2026. We did not verify the timetable for this line, so check it before you travel.
Bus 330 runs hourly to the Zanser Alm, and the Zans car park can be partly reserved. We could not confirm prices and times for these two, so check them before you go.
If you drive, park in the designated car parks only and respect the barriers. For combinations with other places, read our guides to Val Gardena and Seceda, which lie on the other side of the Odle group, and the hiking guide.
Parking in Val di Funes
Val di Funes parking is limited to the designated car parks. Use Putzen for Santa Maddalena, 30 minutes on foot, and the Ranui car park for the chapel, where the day rate is reported at €5 to €10 and the night rate from 9 pm to 7 am at €40.
What costs money in Val di Funes
A short overview for 2026. Amounts marked as reported come from user reports or secondary sources and may differ on site.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Access to the Ranui viewing area | About €4 to €5 | Reported, paid in cash at a machine, amount on site |
| Ranui car park, day rate | €5 to €10 | Reported, sources differ |
| Ranui car park, night rate 9 pm to 7 am | €40 | Reported |
| Mobilcard | €22 (1 day), €32 (3 days), €52 (7 days) | 2026, valid on public buses and regional trains |
| Santa Maddalena | – | No fee found on the pages we read |
The Odle peaks above the valley are part of the Puez-Odle group, one of the nine areas of the UNESCO site that was inscribed on 26 June 2009. That is one more reason to stay on the paths and respect the land of the local farmers.
Next stops
Guides that go with a day in Val di Funes.
Val di Funes: frequently asked questions
Can I go inside the Ranui chapel?
No. According to the South Tyrol tourism site the church stays closed. You pay a fee for access to the viewing area and see it from outside.
How much does Ranui cost?
We could not verify the amount. User reports mention €4 in cash at a machine and one mentions €5, so plan on about €4 to €5. Parking at Ranui is reported at €5 to €10 per day.
Can I drive to Santa Maddalena?
No. The road is closed with a barrier and only residents may use it. Park at Putzen and walk about 30 minutes.
How do I reach Ranui by bus?
Take the bus from Chiusa (Klausen) or Bressanone (Brixen) to the Ranui stop. The chapel is a 5-minute walk away. The Guest Pass is valid on most South Tyrol buses.
Can I walk on the meadows for photos?
No. The meadows are private farmland and the access rules at Ranui say you must not walk on them. Stay on the path.