Holidays in Ortisei

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 15^th 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!

If you’re planning to explore the mountains by lift, consider the Gardena Card. With round trips starting from around €24, the Gardena Card offers excellent value for unlimited lift access: €103 for three consecutive days or €135 for six.

If you're planned to explore further afield, the Dolomiti Supersummer Card is ideal for walkers and mountain explorers looking to make the most of the Dolomites' lift network. With access to 120 lifts across the region (including bike transport) it’s perfect for a flexible itinerary. You can buy your pass in resort with the help of your Destination Expert.

Prices at the time of publishing: 3-day card: €120 per adult / €84 for children under 16, 5-day card: €160 per adult / €112 for children under 16, Children under 8 go free when accompanied by a paying adult

For the latest prices and more information, visit the Dolomiti Supersummer official website.

Subject to change.