Val Gardena

The ski resort of Val Gardena has 176 kms of pisted runs served by 84 ski lifts which are able to transport 115,553 skiers per hour. In addition it forms part of the Dolomiti Superski Area which has a total of 669 individual pistes. Val Gardena is great for all levels of skier and will be popular with those skiers who love the experience of skiing from one village to another.

With 34 beginner runs, 67 intermediate and 11 black runs, there is enough to keep everyone happy. Beginners can enjoy the gentle slopes at Selva whilst intermediates will be able to cover most of the terrain which takes in more than 12 different villages. Experts can expand the amount of black runs hugely with the Dolomiti Superski Pass and may well be tempted to try out ski mountaineering, which is simply fantastic in this area. Val Gardena also has plenty to offer cross country skiers with over 15 kms of trails. The more experienced cross country skier can take in 60 km of trails at nearby Alpe di Suisi. Snowboarders can have the most fun at Selva which is a prominent "boarding" centre and has a lively nightlife.

About the village

There is a wide range of bars and high quality restaurants available in all of the resort villages, offering not just Tyrolean food but some good authentic home cooking at reasonable prices. Selva is one of the livelier resorts that have a good range of nightlife. It also has quieter bars where you can relax over a beer or dare to try the local drink "willy" with vodka or pear brandy with figs.

If you want to dance well into the early hours, then Dali-Disco Dance in Selva is open until 3 am. You can also enjoy live music at La Bula which starts immediately the lifts close. Accommodation in Val Gardena needs to be chosen carefully, and in order to enjoy the atmosphere of a ski village, you are probably best to choose a central position. For really sumptuous Val Gardena hotels, make an exception to the "central" rule with the 5 star Alpenroyal or 4 star Granvara in Selva. Shopping in Val Gardena is a blast with over 100 shops in a pedestrian area selling designer fashions, wood carvings, sports clothes and lots more.