Val Gardena in the Dolomites at a glance
Val Gardena (German: Gröden, Ladin: Ghërdëina) is a valley in South Tyrol, about 30 kilometres long. Three villages line the road: Ortisei at the bottom, Santa Cristina in the middle and Selva at the top, below the Sella group. The valley is one of the five where Ladin is spoken, and Ladin has been the third official language in South Tyrol, after German and Italian, since 1989.
Most visitors come for the Seceda ridge above Ortisei, the Sassolungo and the lift network that connects to the Sellaronda ski circuit in winter. The valley is a good base because every village has a lift or a bus stop within a short walk of the centre.
The three villages and their names
Each of the three Val Gardena resorts has three names. Road signs use all of them, so it helps to know which is which. On the English pages we give the Italian name first.
| Italian | Ladin | German | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ortisei | Urtijëi | St. Ulrich | Base station of the Seceda cable car, bus hub at Piazza S. Antonio |
| Santa Cristina | S. Crestina | St. Christina | Col Raiser gondola |
| Selva | Sëlva | Wolkenstein | Entry to the Sellaronda, Dantercëpies gondola |
According to the 2011 census, around 84 % of residents of Ortisei, 91 % of Santa Cristina and 90 % of Selva speak Ladin. You will hear it in shops and on the bus, but German and Italian work everywhere.
Val Gardena and Dolomites tours
Guided hikes, photo tours and day trips to Seceda and the Sassolungo, with live prices and availability.
Seceda from Ortisei in brief
Seceda is the reason most people stop in Ortisei. Two cable cars take you up: first Ortisei to Furnes, then Furnes to the ridge. In summer 2026 they run from 22 May to 2 November, daily from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. A return ticket for adults costs €74 (juniors aged 8 to 15 pay €37). Since 22 May 2026 tickets for the ride up from Ortisei are sold online in fixed 30-minute slots, and they cannot be refunded or changed.
A private turnstile on the path to the best-known viewpoint charges €5 in 2026. Its legal status was still being reviewed by the authorities according to press reports, and we could not confirm the outcome. Prices and rules for summer 2027 have not been published yet. Everything else, from slots to hikes, is on our Seceda guide.
Passo Gardena: the planned ban that was not enforced
Passo Gardena (German: Grödner Joch) is the pass at about 2,121 m that connects Val Gardena with Val Badia. It is one of the busiest passes in the Dolomites, with up to 11,000 vehicles on a summer day.
A ban on through traffic for all motor vehicles from 1 September 2026 had been planned, with exceptions for residents, overnight guests and deliveries. According to ADAC, citing ORF, it was not put into effect for the time being. Instead there was a digital test phase to collect traffic data, with results to be discussed with the municipalities and residents. A local host site describes this as voluntary traffic guidance from 22 September to 5 October 2026 without any restrictions.
For you this means: in 2026 the pass was open as usual. Whether a ban or a booking system returns in 2027 is not decided as far as we know. Check the local news before you plan a pass drive for next summer. Pass roads can also close for cycling events. In 2026 the Sellaronda Bike Day closed the Gardena, Sella, Pordoi and Campolongo passes to motor traffic on 6 June and 12 September.
Lifts, cards and getting around
What works where in Val Gardena in 2026.
Dolomiti Super Summer
The summer lift pass is not accepted on the Seceda lifts (Ortisei to Furnes, Furnes to Seceda) or on the Fermeda chairlift.
Gardena Card
The valley guest card was valid from 6 June to 11 October 2026, so the season is over. It had to be combined with a pre-booked Seceda slot. A 6-day card cost €160 for adults.
Buses
Ortisei is a short walk from the Piazza S. Antonio bus stop to the Seceda base station via the La Curta escalators. A local host site reports a bus every 8 minutes between Selva and Ortisei since 5 July 2026.
Mobilcard and Guest Pass
The Mobilcard costs €22 for 1 day, €32 for 3 days and €52 for 7 days (2026) and covers buses and regional trains. Many hotels give the Guest Pass free of charge. Validate every ticket before boarding.
Parking in Ortisei is limited. The Seceda base station has an underground garage and an outdoor car park with more than 250 spaces, but the bus is the safer choice on busy days. We could not verify prices and times for the Col Raiser, Ciampinoi, Dantercëpies and Resciesa lifts, so check them with the operators.
Val Gardena hiking from the lifts
Val Gardena hiking mostly starts at a lift: Seceda from Ortisei, Col Raiser from Santa Cristina and the Dantercëpies gondola from Selva. We have no verified route lengths or times for walks from these lifts, so ask at the stations.
Val Gardena ski area in winter
Val Gardena and Alpe di Siusi share a ski area with 175 kilometres of pistes and 79 lifts according to the 2026 holiday guide of the valley. The valley is also one of the entry points to the Sellaronda, a circuit around the Sella group over four passes on a single Dolomiti Superski pass. A Val Gardena Dolomites ski trip uses the Dolomiti Superski pass, which costs €89 for a one-day adult pass in high season 2026/27. Opening dates vary by area, from the end of November to early December.
The Superski network has about 1,200 kilometres of pistes. More on passes, areas and the Sellaronda direction in our skiing guide.
Nearby and next
Places and guides that fit a stay in the valley.
Seceda
The ridge above Ortisei: cable car slots, the €5 viewpoint fee and the hikes.
Alpe di Siusi
The meadows with the Sassolungo behind them, with a road closure and a booked car park in 2026.
Val di Funes
The neighbouring valley with the church of St. Magdalena below the Odle.
Where to stay
Ortisei, Selva or Santa Cristina: which base suits which trip.
Dolomites itinerary
How to fit Val Gardena into a longer route.
Best time to visit
Lift seasons and the quiet weeks in between.
Hotels in Val Gardena: which village to choose
Choose a Gardena hotel by lift access rather than by village size. Ortisei puts you within a short walk of the Seceda cable car and the Piazza S. Antonio bus hub, Selva is the entry point to the Sellaronda and the Dantercëpies gondola, and Santa Cristina has the Col Raiser gondola.
Many hotels give the Guest Pass free of charge, which covers buses and regional trains in South Tyrol. We do not list hotel names or room prices here.
Val Gardena: frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Ortisei and St. Ulrich?
None. It is the same village. Ortisei is the Italian name, St. Ulrich the German one and Urtijëi the Ladin one. The same applies to Santa Cristina (St. Christina) and Selva (Wolkenstein).
Is Passo Gardena closed to cars?
No. A ban planned for 1 September 2026 was not put into effect for the time being. A digital test phase collected traffic data instead. Check local news for summer 2027.
How much is the Seceda cable car in 2026?
A return ticket from Ortisei costs €74 for adults and €37 for juniors aged 8 to 15 in summer 2026. Children up to 7 travel free with a paying adult. Tickets are sold in 30-minute slots and cannot be refunded or changed.
Which language is spoken in Val Gardena?
Ladin, German and Italian are all in daily use. Ladin is taught in schools and has been the third official language in South Tyrol since 1989.
Is Val Gardena in South Tyrol or Trentino?
In South Tyrol. Over the Sella pass you reach Trentino (Canazei), and the pass roads continue to Belluno (Arabba), so rules and public transport networks change when you cross.