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Ortisei Ski Resort
On the Austrian side of Northern Italy, Ortisei has a mix of Italian and Austrian influence and is known as St. Ulrich by the Germans and Urtijei by its Ladin speaking locals. The friendly, full-of-life Italian culture meets hard-working, sport-loving Austrian ethos here, creating a town that’s architecturally beautiful and lively.
With views of the Rasciesa Mountain to the north of the town, Seceda to the east and Col de Mesdí, Alpe di Siusi and Piz to the south, the Dolomite surroundings are absolutely amazing – protected in the Puez-Odle and Sciliar-Catinaccio parks.
Together with the smaller ski resorts of S. Cristina and Selva, Ortisei is part of Val Gardena – one of Italy’s premier ski areas. It’s Val Gardena’s main town and by far the prettiest, with a pastel palette of buildings complimenting the stone walls of the town's ancient churches.
The pedestrianised streets are lined with Austro-Italian restaurants, bars and boutiques including the wood work-shops that Val Gardena is so well known for. Après ski is centred around fine cuisine and good wines, served in lively restaurants and bars. Galleries, museums and ancient buildings as well as tons of activities on and off the mountains means there’s something for art lovers, history buffs and snowsport fanatics alike!
The nearest serving airport is Innsbruck and airport transfers usually take one and a half hour’s drive. Regular services can pick you up from Innsbruck and take you to the closest train stations of Bressanone and Bolzano, where regular bus services take you on the final leg of the journey for an all-round trip that’s smoother than freshly ploughed snow.
The standard ski pass covers the whole Val Gardena area, with all resorts connected by a well-stocked lift system. The upgraded Dolomites Superski pass is also available, for access to all the resorts along the Dolomites mountain range.
Stats & FAQ
Location: Italy, Alps.
Established: 1908
Open: Early December – Late April
Downhill: 175km
View our detailed Ortisei snow forecast or snow report and see all live webcams, piste maps, road and travel maps and lift pass prices. For a picture of historic snow conditions see the snow depths month by month with our Ortisei snow history.
| Nearest Airport & Transfer Time: | |
| Innsbruck | 113 km, 1 hour 30 |
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| Top Altitude: | 2518m |
| Bottom Altitude: | 1236m |
| Resort Altitude: | 1236m |
| Longest run: | 10.5km |
| Slope Orientation: | NSEW |
| Vertical Drop: | 1282m |
| Skiable Vertical: | 1282m |
| Night Skiing: | No |
| Glacier: | No |
Snow Report
Web Cam
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| Downhill Runs: | 175km |
| Beginner slopes: | 30% |
| Intermediate: | 60% |
| Advanced slopes: | 10% |
| Lift Pass Price: | 242€ (adult 6 day) |
| Nearby resorts: Selva, Madonna di Campiglio, Santa Cristina, Folgarida-Marilleva, Tonale, Val Gardena, Dolomiti Superski, Sella Ronda | |
Skiing/BoardingSkiing in Ortisei
The local ski area is actually split into two separate areas, one to the south and one to the north: the first is Alpe di Siusi / Seiser Alm and the second, Val Furnes, joins to the pistes of S. Cristina.
First timers usually start off in to the Monte Pana and Plan da Tieja beginner zones, complete with a magic carpet and fun characters and tunnels for children. From S.Cristina you can take the cable car to the top of Col Raiser for a lengthy blue that provides plenty of opportunity to practise new skills.
With 105km of red runs at your feet, intermediates won’t know which lift to take first! A series of shorter slopes on Alpe di Suisi cable are great for getting back into the swing of things at the beginning of the week. The Saslong cable car leads to some uneven, wooded descents for those with more gusto.
Experts can hop on the Città dei Sassi and Saslong cable cars for mogul-filled terrain and ski schools and Alpine guides provide guided instruction in freeriding and all things off piste.
With the all access Dolomite skipass, the famous Sella Ronda ski route is well worth exploring for confident skiers. Pick up a piste map from the tourist office and decide on your preferred route to tackle the heights of the Sella massif. This route takes an approximate 6 hours to complete, so plan your day ahead as you won't want to miss out on the spectacular sites and cosy mountain huts that the tour has to offer.
The Piz Sella snow park can be found at the Sella Ronda slope. Stretching 750m, its funboxes, kickers, tables and boarder cross are ideal for beginners and intermediates. “Drop in days” usually take place several times a week, for newbie freestylers to come along and learn the tricks of the game.
Ortisei Apres Ski
We wouldn’t be British without our afternoon tea, and we love the Italian twist on this tradition at the Villa Frainela Tea Rooms, where you can enjoy the likes of apple strudels, Tyroleon bacon and cheese quiches.
The Tubladel restaurant reflects the multi-national spirit of this resort in dishes influenced from specialities all over the world. Batie Sofie is at the top of the slopes, offering a super view over the glistening slopes when the sun is shining. Enjoy a glass of Italy's finest local wine with a meal of local game and creamy polenta that simply melts your insides. And if you're feeling something sweet for a sugar rush, look out for South Tyrol's special patisseries, chocolaty cakes and of course, the all-round Italian favourite of gelato.
The Seceda Curona Hutte is a favourite with the locals. A cosy mountain lodge residence at altitude, this is the perfect place for families wishing to try Tyrolean delicacies, in both their home cooked main meals of pasta, game and locally sourced vegetables, and their fruity desserts made with Tyrolean apple sauce and other goodness.
For a joint that’s bustling of an evening, Vinoteque La Cercia (it’s a discotheque serving vino, get it?) has a cosy, tavern-style feel, with a well-stocked wine cellar and live music to accompany your evening drinks. Party the rest of the night away in Ortisei’s Siglu Bar: a discotheque inside an igloo made of glass serving ice cold beers, what’s not to love?
For snow bunnies that enjoy the finer pleasures in life, The Alpen Royal serves up gourmet food using all the resources of the mountains at their fingertips, for a delicious piece of plate artwork.
For lovers of walking, the Dolomites Valley offers breath-taking views of some of the world’s greatest natural wonders. Don’t forget your camera; you’ll want to show friends at home your National Geographic worthy snaps! Slide your mountain boots into some snow shoes and hike to the summits of Sassolungo, Sassopiatto, Sella and Puez-Odle. Stop off at mountain refuges on the way to refuel on a platter of Tyrolean specialities of speck and goat’s cheeses. Ice-climbing courses with the mountain guides keep sport fanatics constantly on their toes, experiencing a different side to the mountains as you pick and hike your way up them.
The Museum de Gherdëina displays replicas of an array of gothic artwork from Ortisei in the past. Head to the village’s Parish church for examples of the town’s infamous wood structures, completing your afternoon of North Italian culture.
Best time to go
Best time to ski Ortisei
Best time to visit & ski Ortisei
This resort opens from December, and its lift system transports holidaymakers to minimum heights of 2103m, leaving skiers smiling right up until the middle of April most seasons. 90% of the slopes are equipped with snow cannons, keeping pistes of lower altitudes white and skiable. Ski the south faces of the mountains early on in the season, with Selva Gardena’s South-facing Dantercepies runs providing the best of both sunny and snowy worlds. Selva Gardena’s North-facing Sassolungo Langkofel runs should have some of the best preserved snow towards the end of the season.
Things can tend to get a little busy on the infamous Sella Ronda during high season, as skiers want a slice of this mountain pie. Stick to other areas of the Dolomites for less queuing and more open space.
Peak Dates
Find a colourful town and colourful lights this Christmas at Ortisei! Enjoy some of the first snowfalls over the Dolomites with festive fun organised by the tourist office to get you in the spirit. Ortisei Christmas ski holidays ‣
Spend New Year at Ortisei and get the party started on the slopes before indulging in a festive feast in one of the town’s restaurants- don’t forget to order the bubbly! Ortisei New Year ski holidays ‣
You’ll find snowy fun for all the family this half-term at Ortisei – with half the queues of more renowned resorts, you can enjoy 175km of runs suited to all levels! Ortisei Half Term ski holidays ‣
The views of the Rasciesa, Col de Mesdí and Alpe di Siusi peaks are amazing in Easter at Ortisei where you can usually expect clear, sunny skies. Ortisei Easter ski holidays ‣
Families in Ortisei
Ortisei has 157km of runs suitable for beginner and intermediate skiers and boarders, so first time snow bunnies and those who have hit the slopes before can enjoy the varied terrain that makes up this standard ski pass. Snow parks are a playground of kickers and rails and boxes for novice riders and those wanting to experiment with freestyle moves already learnt. Lots of our hotels are located right next to ski school meeting places to make things easy in the mornings. With their own amenities and dining downstairs, hotels provide a great option for families looking for something fun to do together in the evening. Some also provide their own childcare services, for children too young to join the ski schools- and if your hotel doesn’t offer such services, we can tell you about other options for childcare in the town centre.
For a restaurant that’ll be a hit with all the family, Baita Pauli Hutte is at the bottom of the slopes right next to all the après ski, serving sausages and eggs and chips with a German twist to cater for kids, with strudels and more exotic flavours for more mature taste buds. A playground keeps children entertained, whilst the possibility to hire booths for larger groups means the adults can chat over a glass of vino peacefully, whilst keeping an eye on little ones outside.
GroupsGroup Holidays Ortisei
Bring ski buddies of all abilities along to Ortisei for your group getaway this year. 52km of beginners’ runs will have novice skiers and boarders feeling as confident as everyone else in no time. The Piz Sella snow park offers an induction to freestyle skiing for beginners, so they can join more advanced friends for some fun on the features. A variety of steep and cruisey reds keeps intermediate skiers and boarders entertained, with forest runs proving more of a challenge preparing you for the blacks. Advanced skiers find thrills with black forest descents. Hop onto a freeriding course with the Alpine Guides for a safe induction into the fluffiest terrain of the mountains. Groups of confident skiers should definitely schedule the Sella Ronda ski tour into the week for a day of varied skiing and scenery. Paragliding opportunities over the Dolomite Mountains make memories that you will all treasure for years to come. Hit the snow tubing runs at the end of the day for some light-hearted fun together, before heading back down to the village centre for a dinner in your hotel’s restaurant. If you fancy heading out for a drink post dinner, Vinoteque La Cercia is a cool, chilled-out venue with a loud stock of wines. Siglu is the place you’re looking for, for all your dancing, pop music thrills!
Which are the best ski holidays in Ortisei?
| Accommodation | Number of nights | Price (per person) from |
|---|---|---|
| Adler Spa Resort Dolomiti | 7 | £ 1789 |
| Hotel Dolomiti Madonna | 7 | £ 1019 |
| Hotel Genziana | 7 | £ 1215 |
| Hotel Luna Mondschein | 7 | £ 1262 |
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