Val Gardena, the Christmas Valley of the Dolomites

When the rustic wooden huts and small wooden gondolas open their doors during Advent, the Val Gardena and its three charming mountain villages transform into a veritable Christmas Valley.

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The Christmas Village of Ortisei:

The Christmas Village of Ortisei, known as "Nadel Urtijëi" in Ladin, spreads out with its wooden stalls around the central St. Anthony's Church. Regional products and culinary specialities await you here, along with various events. It is called "Weihnachtsdorf St. Ulrich" in German.

From the end of November to the beginning of January, the traditions of the Dolomite valley merge with the elegant selection from the stallholders in the pedestrian zone every day. This has been the case for around a decade: Since its first edition in 2014, the Ortisei Christmas Market has been held seven times - with a break during the coronavirus pandemic. This is its eighth year.

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A contemplative Advent in Santa Cristina:

The next village in Val Gardena, Santa Cristina, invites visitors to the parish church on December 14 for the traditional Advent concert. It attracts numerous visitors who appreciate the festive melodies during the Advent season. The performers include the church choir, the renowned Cor Sasslong, "I Rujins", and a guitar and violin trio. An Advent prize draw follows the concert.

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"Mountain Christmas" in Selva Gardena:

The third village on the way to the Dolomite passes, Selva Gardena, joins in with its own Mountain Christmas. It is open on weekends from the end of November to mid-December, and then every day from December 18, 2025, to January 4, 2026.

"Mountain Christmas" or "Nadel da Mont" is a Christmas Market with the character of a mountain village: At its centre is a festively decorated cable car, which integrates the Val Gardena ski slopes into the Advent season. In total, stallholders present their goods in nine wooden huts and 13 small wooden gondolas. A snow sculpture competition completes the experience.

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Nativity figures from Val Gardena:

The nativity figures, crafted for generations by the local wood carvers, are particularly popular souvenirs. What once kept farmers busy during winter has now become a globally appreciated craft. Here, you can purchase them directly from the source, so to speak: They are available both at the market stalls and in the carving workshops, which often have an adjoining shop.

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Getting to the Christmas Valley:

You can travel to the Val Gardena by train and bus in an environmentally friendly way and without the hassle of finding a parking space. South Tyrol is served several times a day by trains from Munich, Vienna, Rome, Florence, Bologna, Venice, and Milan. Additionally, night trains are available from Rome, Hamburg, and Düsseldorf.

On the first four weekends of the Val Gardena Christmas Markets, TrenItalia also operates a special Christmas train between Milan (Milano Centrale) and South Tyrol. From the station in Bolzano, bus number 350 then departs for the Val Gardena every hour. The journey takes one hour to the central St. Anthony's Square in Ortisei. With the Val Gardena Guest Pass, you can use it, along with all other public transport in South Tyrol, for free.

The car parks in the three villages require payment, including the one at the roundabout in Ortisei and the multi-storey car park at the village entrance.

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