Valdaora
Valdaora (Olang in German) is a municipality in the Val Pusteria (Pustertal), in the province of Bolzano, South Tyrol, set along t...
Updated 17 July 2026
This season · July · Summer
What to do in Valdaora now
The story
The story of Valdaora
A Municipality in the Val Pusteria
Valdaora lies at the heart of the Val Pusteria, between Brunico and Dobbiaco, and is made up of several main settlements, Valdaora di Sotto (Niederolang) and Valdaora di Sopra (Oberolang), along with smaller hamlets spread across the valley floor and surrounding slopes. The village keeps the character of a South Tyrolean rural centre, with typically styled buildings, scattered mountain farms and a long tradition tied to mountain agriculture. Its position along the Val Pusteria state road and its proximity to the railway make Valdaora easy to reach and a convenient base for exploring the whole valley, from the main town of Brunico to the area near Dobbiaco toward the Veneto border. The bilingual character, Italian and German, is visible in the signage and place names, reflecting the history and South Tyrolean cultural identity of the area, which today lives between mountain tourism and everyday farming life.
Plan de Corones (Kronplatz) and Skiing
From Valdaora runs one of the main access points to Plan de Corones (Kronplatz), the flagship ski mountain of South Tyrol, which rises above 2,275 metres and links the Val Pusteria, Val Badia and Aurina valleys within a single large ski area. Modern cable cars climb from the northern side directly from Valdaora, making it possible to reach the slopes without a car and cutting travel time to the lifts. In winter the ski area offers runs for every level, while its panoramic lift stations become, in summer, a starting point for hikes and for the Messner Mountain Museum Corones, built at the mountain's summit. The closeness of the lifts makes Valdaora one of the most practical bases for visitors choosing Plan de Corones as the main destination of their holiday, for skiing in winter and for mountain biking and high-altitude trekking in summer.
Lago di Braies Nearby
A short distance from Valdaora lies the Lago di Braies (Pragser Wildsee), one of the best known and most photographed alpine lakes in Italy, set among dolomitic rock walls inside the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park. Its turquoise waters and the surrounding Dolomite scenery make it a highly sought destination, reachable by car or via dedicated shuttle connections during peak periods, when parking access is regulated to limit traffic. For those staying in Valdaora, the lake makes for a relatively simple day trip, often combined with a walk along the shore or a longer hike toward the Rifugio Biella or other destinations within the park. The combination of proximity to Plan de Corones skiing and to Lago di Braies is one of the reasons the Valdaora area is chosen as a base in both winter and summer.
Farms, Nature and the Val Pusteria Cycle Path
The territory of Valdaora preserves a landscape of isolated mountain farms, hay meadows and woods of spruce and larch rising from the valley floor toward the higher pastures. This traditional agricultural structure, typical of the Val Pusteria, coexists with the tourist offer without being overwhelmed by it, keeping livestock farming and hay production active on many mountain properties. The valley floor is crossed by the Val Pusteria cycle path, one of the most used cycle routes in South Tyrol, linking Dobbiaco and Brunico along a flat, well-signposted route suitable for families and cyclists of every level. From Valdaora it is possible to join the cycle path to reach both neighbouring villages and the valley's railway stations by bike, making the village convenient even for those moving without a car between stops on a touring stay in the Val Pusteria.
Hiking and Local Life
Beyond skiing and the lake, Valdaora is a starting point for hikes into the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park, which stretches south of the valley with high plateaus, alpine huts and refuges reachable via routes of varying difficulty. Not far away opens the Valle di Casies (Gsieser Tal), a quieter side valley where farming life and the German language remain particularly rooted, with traditional mountain farms and small villages less touched by mass tourism. Daily life in Valdaora stays tied to the rhythm of the seasons, with winter focused on skiing at Plan de Corones and summer devoted to hiking, mountain biking and alpine pasture work. Local markets, events linked to farming traditions and South Tyrolean cuisine, made of canederli (dumplings), speck and mountain dairy products, complete an offer that alternates sport-oriented mountains and rural culture within a single compact territory.
Not to be missed
- Cable car ride up Plan de Corones (Kronplatz) from Valdaora's northern side
- Hike to Lago di Braies (Pragser Wildsee) within the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park
- Cycle ride along the Val Pusteria cycle path between Dobbiaco and Brunico
- Walk among the mountain farms and hay meadows of the Valdaora area
- Trip to the Valle di Casies to discover traditional South Tyrolean rural life
To see
What to see in Valdaora
Routes · Trovido Route
