Malles in Val Venosta is surrounded by mountains: by the Oetztal Alps in the east, the Ortles mountain range in the south and the Sesvenna mountains in the west. The Piana di Malles, however, is a wide cultivated land with meadows and crops fields, traversed by irrigation channels, and is unique in the Alpine area. From the snow-capped mountains down to the wide valley, the second largest municipality of the province of Bolzano is rather sparsely populated.

In the immediate surroundings, you can also go skiing, that is to say in the Watles skiing area. In warmer months, you can, however, enjoy hiking and promenading, particularly popular is the trail Oberwaalweg which starts in the village. Other hiking destinations are the mountains that tower above Sliniga, at the border to Switzerland and towards the Palla Bianca in Val Venosta. The charming historic centres of the municipality, the castles and the widely known Monte Maria convent are only some examples that represent the richness in cultural goods of a settlement area along the Via Claudia Augusta that is steeped in history.