Val Gardena
Wolfgang Moroder · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia- Best for
- The Sellaronda ski loop, which you can start from Selva, and long runs. Beginners have the gentle slopes of Alpe di Siusi.
- Slopes
- 129 km
- Fly to
- Innsbruck or Verona
Skiing in the Dolomites: which area to choose
One lift pass covers 12 ski areas, and they ski very differently. Pick by what you want from the week.
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The ski areas compared
Cortina d'Ampezzo
Wolfgang Moroder · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia- Best for
- A proper town and famous steep runs, used for the Olympics and the women's World Cup. The slopes are spread over three main areas.
- Slopes
- 101 km
- Fly to
- Venice
Alta Badia
Zoran Kurelić Rabko · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia- Best for
- Mostly easy and intermediate slopes, wide ones for families, with direct access to the Sellaronda.
- Slopes
- 117 km
- Fly to
- Bolzano is closest, with Sky Alps flights. Venice, Verona and Innsbruck also work
Slopes as listed by Dolomiti Superski, so the three compare like for like. The areas count differently on their own sites: Cortina says 120 km including San Vito and Auronzo-Misurina, Alta Badia says 130 km.
Questions
Do I need a different lift pass for each ski area?
No. The Dolomiti Superski pass covers 12 ski areas with one pass, including all three on this page.
What is the Sellaronda?
A one-day ski loop around the Sella mountains, on skis and lifts. Val Gardena and Alta Badia both connect to it directly. It does not pass through Cortina.
Which area is best for beginners?
Alta Badia counts 74 km of easy slopes against 9 km of difficult ones. In Val Gardena, the Alpe di Siusi side is the one its tourist board names for beginners and families.
Which airport should I fly to?
Venice for Cortina. Innsbruck or Verona for Val Gardena. Alta Badia's closest airport is Bolzano, served by Sky Alps; its tourist board also lists Venice, Verona and Innsbruck.