Christmas Valley: from 28 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, the villages of Ortisei and Selva Val Gardena will welcome visitors with wooden sculptures, fairytale Christmas markets and culinary events in the heart of the Dolomites.
During Advent, Val Gardena transforms into the enchanting Christmas Valley of the Dolomites, as the villages of Ortisei and Selva Val Gardena open their doors to two Christmas markets, each with its own distinctive and authentic character, combining romance with local traditions.
Christmas in Ortisei – “Nadel Urtijëi” (28 November 2026 – 6 January 2027)
The village of Ortisei is transformed into a fairytale Christmas village. Carefully crafted wooden chalets offer local artistic handicrafts, hand-carved nativity figurines, elegant gift ideas and traditional South Tyrolean and Ladin culinary specialities. The entire village is enveloped in warm festive lights, Christmas carols and the enticing aromas of spices and homemade sweets.
Selva Val Gardena – “Mountain Christmas” (29 November 2026 – 3 January 2027)
In Selva Val Gardena, the magic of the festive season meets the area’s skiing heritage. A continuous 350-metre stretch of lights is installed through the village centre, adorned with wooden cable car cabins to create a truly unique atmosphere. Visitors can stroll among the market stalls, enjoy a glass of mulled wine or a hot chocolate, and admire the handcrafted creations on display.
The easiest and most convenient way to reach Val Gardena during Advent is by taking advantage of its extensive public transport network. Once visitors arrive by train or bus, they can travel freely around the valley using the Val Gardena Guest Pass.
The pass is provided free of charge to guests staying at accommodation establishments affiliated with one of Val Gardena’s Tourist Associations. It includes unlimited use of all public buses within the valley, except the Nightbus and the Monte Pana/Saltria bus, as well as almost all public transport services throughout South Tyrol.
Depending on the accommodation provider, the Val Gardena Guest Pass may also include additional benefits, such as special arrangements with the Mar Dolomit swimming pool, free or discounted participation in Val Gardena Active activities, free admission to HC Gherdëina home ice hockey games, ice skating, access to the tennis centre and much more.
During the first four weekends of Val Gardena’s Christmas markets, Trenitalia will operate a special Christmas train connecting Lombardy directly with South Tyrol, offering a convenient way to enjoy the festive season in Val Gardena.
The nearest railway stations are Bolzano (40 km), Ponte Gardena (18 km), Chiusa (23 km) and Bressanone (34 km). From there, visitors can continue their journey using the numerous public transport services available.
Finally, visitors can take advantage of a special offer to discover Val Gardena during this festive period. The resort is offering Dolomiti SuperPremière (4–19 December 2026), which includes one complimentary overnight stay, one ski pass and one day’s equipment rental for guests booking a minimum of four nights.
INFO: Val Gardena
