Holidays in Ortisei

Ortisei is a lively mountain town with a big heart and access to fantastic summer walking trails right on its doorstep

  • 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.

Mountain walking: up and away on the Seceda gondola

This highly useful gondola carries passengers 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.

Call me Urtijëi: getting to know Ortisei on your summer holiday

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.

Tradition in the Dolomites: never too early for a Nativity set

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.

Exploring nearby towns: buses to Bolzano and beyond

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.

Why book a summer holiday in Ortisei with Inghams?

At Inghams, we do walking holidays differently. With no fixed itinerary, you have more time in your destination and the freedom to walk as much or as little as you like, discovering some of Ortisei's best walking routes and activities at your own pace.

With over 85 years of outdoor travel experience, our holiday packages to Ortisei include flights, transfers, and accommodation, so you can relax and leave the small details to us. Our experts can help you choose the best holiday for you, and our team in resort can give you the inside scoop on how to spend your time away with us.

Added value

24/7 support & tailored advice from our local resort team

All holidays include flights from the UK and transfers

Free Mobil Card with free use of Val Gardena & Alto Adige public buses

Walking in and around Ortisei

On an Inghams walking holiday, you have the freedom to explore the area at your own pace. Make each day a new adventure, with as much or as little walking as you like.

Why we love walking in Ortisei

Ortisei is perfectly set up for walking and exploring the outdoors. There are so many different landscapes to discover in the Val Gardena, from meadows and farms, to lakes and rocky mountain routes. It's also a great place for spotting local wildlife such as, horses, cows and even marmots!

Getting around Ortisei

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!

Our Favourite Walks in and Around Ortisei

Panascharte to the Seceda

This walk begins with the cable car in Ortisei and takes you to one of the most popular spots in Val Gardena, where you'll get fantastic views of the Odle peaks. The stunning Seceda is a 2,519 metre high mountain and part of the Puez Nature Park. It's the best place to go for views of the Odle Group. That means in can get busy in summer so plan to set off early.

  • Grade: Easy-Moderate
  • Distance: 8km

Pic Mountain

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: 7km

Round the Sassolongo group

Start in Selva on the Ciampinoi lift and hike towards the well-known rock formations of the stone city and to the Passo Sella. Follow the Friedrich August path and take in the stunning views over Seiser Alm, the biggest high alpine pasture in Europe.

  • Grade: Moderate-Challenging
  • Distance: 17km

You can view more recommended routes with interactive maps on the Val Gardena Tourist Office website. You can also see the opening status of the routes here.

Useful Information & Guidelines

Recommended equipment

Suitable walking shoes with good grip, appropriate clothing, rain jacket, sun cream, insect repellent, sun glasses, rucksack, at least a litre of water, a re-usable water bottle, a snack and cash. You may find walking poles useful- you can rent them in resort from around €8 per day.

Walking maps

Val Gardena Outdoor is available for free on Google Play or the App Store and has quite a few walks on there to get you started. For paper maps, we recommend Kompass 59 or Kompass 76.

Walking guidelines

The mountains are a natural paradise, with lots to explore and discover. To help it stay that way, and remain an enjoyable and safe place for everyone, we recommend following our little list of do's and don'ts:

  • Plan your route well and don't over-estimate yourself
  • Check the weather forecast
  • Tell someone where you're planning to walk and what time you're expecting to be back
  • Take all the recommended equipment
  • Make a note of emergency numbers:
    • Italian Emergency Services: 112
  • Don't leave the marked trails or go onto a glacier without a guide
  • Let nature stay wild by not picking flowers (it's illegal in some places) or getting close to/making contact with wild animals
  • Always leave gates as you found them and don't climb over fences
  • Leave no trace

Check out our Responsible Walking insider guide if you want more tips for your summer walking holiday.

Hotels in Ortisei

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Adler Spa Resort Dolomiti

Adler Spa Resort Dolomiti is one of the best hotels in the Dolomites and has fantastic service and cuisine. Enjoy lots of free daily activities, fantastic food and an enormous spa that overlooks beautiful grounds.

Val Gardena Cards & Passes

Free Val Gardena Mobil Card

You'll get a free Val Gardena Mobil Card when you stay at any of our hotels in the Val Gardena. It gives you unlimited travel on all public transport in South Tyrol. Including the historic Ritten Railway.

Gardena Card

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
Dolomiti Supersummer Card

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.

Things to do in Ortisei

Exploring Ortisei and the surrounding area

Ortisei is in the Val Gardena valley and stretches to the neighbouring resorts of Santa Cristina and Selva. The town's pedestrianised streets are full of shops and cafés, perfect for perusing. The Rosarium Uhrerhof, Europe's highest rose garden, is close by and has over 6,000 rose bushes with great views overlooking the town. Head up on the walking lifts to explore the Dolomite mountains on foot or an e-bike; it's a great way to see the landscape from a different perspective.

Traditional food & drink 

In the Val Gardena region of Italy there are too many tasty treats to mention but our favourite is grostl, which are dumplings stuffed with meat and potatoes. The area’s known for serving up traditional Ladin meals and if you want to splash out, the Michelin starred restaurant Anna Stuben is great for a special dinner; just make sure you book well in advance. When out and about on your walks, stop off in one of the mountain huts. They’re the perfect place for a hearty post-walk lunch or enjoying an Aperol Spritz while watching the sun set.

Mountain activities

There are loads of walking trails in Ortisei. Our favourite area to explore is the Puez-Geisler natural park. There are some fantastic loops and trails with mountain huts along the way. Head towards the peak of Seceda for the best scenery and photo opportunities. If you fancy taking the easy route up, just hop on the lifts or better yet, rent an e-bike and make a day of it. 

For the active family there are some fun activities on offer, including an adventure park and mini-golf. Or, if you want to get your adrenaline pumping, take to the sky on a tandem paragliding session for an incredible bird’s eye view of the area. The Mar Dolomit swimming pool and sauna is another great option, particularly if the weather's bad. Children can spend the day splashing about in the indoor pool whilst adults head to the sauna or massage rooms for a bit of relaxation.

Good to know

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

Terrain: Varied terrain from mountain climbs to flat, grassy meadows

Best time to go: June to mid-September. It can get hot in August but the high altitude walks are a great way to cool off

Best for: All walking abilities, easy & challenging walks, families, nature, activities and food & drink

Fly into: Verona (approx. 2 hours)

Fly from: Manchester, London Gatwick, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Stansted, East Midlands, Leeds Bradford, Belfast, Newcastle

Transfer time: approx. 3 hours from Verona

Resort Card: Free Mobil Card

24/7 Support and advice: In person or over the phone from our local resort team based near Ortisei

What We Say
  • 'Ortisei has everything you need for an incredible summer holiday - it's a pretty town surrounded by spectacular scenery, and getting around to explore every corner of it is really easy thanks to the lift and bus network. It's the type of place you'll come back to again and again.'

    Hannah, Senior Product Executive
What You say
  • 'We have enjoyed a number of Inghams holidays and all have provided smooth travel and transfers, good quality accommodation in locations that offer great scenery and activities. The Inghams Team provide great friendly support from booking until the end of the holiday.'

    Inghams Customer, September 2024
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