Ortisei
Ortisei, known in Ladin as Urtijëi and in German as St
Updated 17 July 2026
This season · July · Summer
What to do in Ortisei now
The story
The story of Ortisei
The heart of Val Gardena among the Dolomites
Ortisei is the main town of Val Gardena, a side valley of the Dolomites stretching between Bolzano and the Sella Pass, enclosed by some of the most spectacular peaks of the entire Dolomite range. The scenery is dominated by the Sassolungo (Langkofel), an imposing rock pyramid rising south of the valley, while to the north opens the Odle group, part of the wider Puez-Odle massif. Ortisei's sheltered, sunny position has made it a leading tourist destination since the 19th century, drawing holidaymakers and mountaineers from across Europe. Walking through town, one can still feel the atmosphere of a grand mountain resort, with historic hotels, Art Nouveau villas and a well-kept urban fabric that coexists with the valley's more authentic, rural soul. From Ortisei branch out naturally the other two towns of Val Gardena, Santa Cristina and Selva, together forming one of the most renowned areas of the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009.
Woodcarving and the artisan tradition
Ortisei is universally known as the world capital of sculpture and woodcarving, an art form with centuries-old roots in Val Gardena, initially tied to the production of toys and sacred statues exported across Europe. The town still counts numerous ateliers and artisan workshops where sculptors work limewood, Swiss pine and pine according to techniques handed down through generations, ranging from traditional religious statues to contemporary art pieces appreciated internationally. This artistic vocation led, already at the end of the 19th century, to the founding of an art school dedicated to carving, which trained generations of Gardena master sculptors. Strolling through the centre, shop windows are filled with sculptures, nativity figures, crucifixes and pieces of every size, while several workshops open their doors to visitors curious to see the artisans' work up close, custodians of a knowledge that is an integral part of Gardena identity.
The pedestrian centre and the cable cars: Seceda and Alpe di Siusi
The heart of Ortisei is its pedestrian main street, a succession of shops, ateliers, cafés and the parish church of St. Ulrich, a historic landmark of the town. From here it is easy to walk to the cable car stations that make Ortisei an ideal base both in summer and winter. The Seceda gondola climbs in just a few minutes to over 2,500 metres, opening up one of the most photographed views in the Dolomites over the spires of the Odle. Another cable car rises to Rasciesa, a panoramic plateau overlooking the valley, ideal for gentler walks and for admiring the Sassolungo group. Nearby, connections through Santa Cristina also make it easy to reach the Alpe di Siusi, the largest alpine plateau in Europe, which can be explored on foot, by bike or by local shuttle. This network of lifts makes Ortisei a privileged starting point for exploring the whole of Val Gardena without needing a car.
Ladin culture and the Val Gardena Museum
Ortisei is one of the main centres of Ladin culture, the community that has inhabited the Dolomite valleys of Gardena, Badia, Fassa, Livinallongo and Ampezzo for centuries, with its own neo-Latin language, Ladin, still spoken and taught in local schools. This identity is reflected in customs, traditional festivals, the architecture of mountain farmhouses and, naturally, in woodcarving craftsmanship. To explore the valley's history and traditions further, the Val Gardena Museum, housed in the centre of Ortisei, gathers evidence of local archaeology and ethnography along with a rich collection of wooden sculptures documenting the evolution of the carving art from the 17th century to today. The museum is an important piece in understanding how Val Gardena has managed to combine international tourism with the preservation of its own cultural identity, remaining a unique reference point among the Ladin valleys of the Dolomites.
Skiing and hiking in the UNESCO Dolomites
In winter, Ortisei is one of the main access points to the Dolomiti Superski network, with slopes connected to Santa Cristina, Selva and the entire Sella Ronda circuit, among the most famous in the Alps. The Seceda and Rasciesa lifts, besides serving skiers in winter, turn into starting points in summer for unforgettable hikes at the heart of the Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From the Seceda, trails open up toward the Odle group, with the chance to reach mountain huts and alpine pastures set within one of the most iconic landscapes of the entire Alpine range, while to the south rise the vertical walls of the Sassolungo, a historic destination for mountaineers and experienced hikers. The Alpe di Siusi, easily reached from around Ortisei, offers gentler routes suited to families, amid blooming meadows, typical mountain huts and views stretching from the Sciliar to the Catinaccio.
Not to be missed
- Cable car ride up to the Seceda for the view over the Odle peaks
- The woodcarving and sculpture workshops in the historic centre
- The Val Gardena Museum and its collections of wooden art
- A hike on the Alpe di Siusi, the largest alpine plateau in Europe
- A panoramic walk at Rasciesa with views over the Sassolungo
To see
What to see in Ortisei
Routes · Trovido Route
