Val Badia / Alta Badia
Val Badia is one of South Tyrol's most authentic Dolomite valleys, the heartland of Ladin culture and a UNESCO World Heritage site
Updated 20 July 2026
Val Badia / Alta Badia
This season · July · Summer
What to do in Val Badia / Alta Badia now
The story
The story of Val Badia / Alta Badia
Geography and location
Val Badia stretches across the autonomous province of Bolzano, at the heart of the Dolomites, between the Sella massif to the south and the Fanes-Sennes-Braies range to the north. The valley follows the Gadera stream and includes the municipalities of Corvara in Badia, Badia, La Valle, San Martino in Badia and Marebbe, along with the hamlet of Colfosco. The upper part of the valley, commonly marketed as Alta Badia, borders Val Gardena, the Agordino area and Cadore, sitting at the strategic centre of the UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites. Access is via Gardena Pass, Campolongo Pass and the Val Pusteria state road.
History and Ladin identity
Val Badia is one of the five Ladin valleys of the Dolomites, alongside Val Gardena, Livinallongo, Val di Fassa and Ampezzo, and still preserves Ladin as a living language spoken daily alongside Italian and German. The community's origins trace back to Roman times and the romanisation of the Rhaetian populations, while in later centuries the valley was long under the influence of the Prince-Bishopric of Brixen. This history is preserved at the Ciastel de Tor in San Martino in Badia, now home to the Museum Ladin, which tells the story of the culture, traditions and language of this mountain people, recognised as a protected linguistic minority.
Landscape and nature
The Alta Badia landscape is dominated by the Dolomite spires of the Sassongher, the symbol of Corvara, and by the cliffs of the Sella massif separating the valley from Val Gardena and Arabba. To the north lies the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park, the largest in South Tyrol, a high-altitude karst plateau with emerald lakes, mountain huts and Ladin legends tied to the ancient Kingdom of Fanes. Spruce forests, alpine pastures and clear streams complete a protected territory that forms part of the UNESCO Dolomites site, drawing hikers, climbers and nature photographers throughout the year.
Villages and what to see
Corvara in Badia, the valley's best-known tourist hub, sits at the foot of the Sassongher and is the ideal starting point for the Sellaronda. Nearby, Colfosco preserves a small alpine church with views over the Dolomites. Badia and its hamlet San Cassiano offer authentic corners and access to the Fanes valley, while La Valle is among the quietest villages in the valley. San Martino in Badia, home to the Ciastel de Tor, is the Ladin cultural heart, and Marebbe, at the northern end, opens onto the Fanes-Sennes-Braies park and the picturesque Lake Braies, one of the most photographed spots in the Dolomites.
Food, wine and traditions
Alta Badia is one of the capitals of Alpine fine dining: in San Cassiano, the restaurant St. Hubertus, led by chef Norbert Niederkofler, has earned three Michelin stars with a cuisine built on the "Cook the Mountain" philosophy of local, seasonal ingredients. Alongside these acclaimed restaurants, traditional Ladin farmhouse cooking endures, with canederli dumplings, casunziei, polenta, mountain-hut cheeses and speck. The Gourmet Skisafari event brings fine dining directly onto the ski slopes, while high-altitude mountain huts serve traditional dishes amid spectacular scenery.
Not to be missed
- The Sellaronda, the famous ski circuit around the Sella massif
- The Sassongher, the iconic peak overlooking Corvara
- The Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park and its high-altitude lakes
- The Museum Ladin at the Ciastel de Tor in San Martino in Badia
- Lake Braies, in the municipality of Marebbe, among the most photographed spots in the Dolomites
To see
What to see in Val Badia / Alta Badia
Routes · Trovido Route
Routes in Val Badia / Alta Badia
Jobs · JobFlow
