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Selva Ski Resort
Selva is the best known and highest of Val Gardena’s close-set group of villages, which also include Ortisei and Santa Cristina. Val Gardena is part of the expansive Dolomiti Superski area and topping the list of reasons to visit the Dolomites, or ‘Pale Mountains’, is its status as a UNESCO world heritage site - Selva has some striking views of the Sassolungo massif and Puez mountains on either side.
Named “Sëlva” by its Ladin speaking locals (the name apparently comes from the Ladin word for wood) or “Selva di Val Gardena” if you’re Italian, the resort existed as “Wolkenstein in Groden” before WW1 when it was Austrian territory. It’s retained lots of Tirolean charisma, dotting a mixture of alpine buildings along the centrally running road and you’ll still hear all three languages spoken around the resort today.
The village itself is lovely and friendly with a touch of old fashioned tradition. It has several sweet churches and chapels and the kind of shopping where you can mooch around and pick up a thing or two in the gift shops to take home. Where ski in, ski out is not an option you are only ever a few minutes from the nearest lift.
Local coach and taxi services run fairly reliably from the main train stations (the nearest are Bressanone and Bolzano). Bolzano airport is also the closest airport with an estimated travel time of 1 hour.
The skiing is where things get serious - the 1970 World Championships really established this as a world class skiing area and a number of international events have been hosted here ever since, including the men’s and women’s super-giant slalom and FIS world cup.
The local ski pass includes the area between Alpe di Siusi and Val Gardena and covers a sufficient 175km of piste with 83 lifts. However, if you can resist the Dolomiti Superski Pass, you deserve a medal. A 460 part lift system links Val Gardena with 11 other valleys providing access to a good 1220km of piste. This also includes routes up to the 11000 ft Marmolada glacier, the well-known Sella Ronda trail and the Saslong World Cup Downhill for a bit of a challenge.
Stats & FAQ
Location: Italy, Val Gardena
Established: 19th century
Open: December - April
Downhill: 175km
View our detailed Selva 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 Selva snow history.
| Nearest Airport & Transfer Time: | |
| Innsbruck | 120 km, 1h45 |
| Bolzano | 40km, 1h |
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| Top Altitude: | 2518m |
| Bottom Altitude: | 1236m |
| Resort Altitude: | 1565m |
| Longest run: | 10.5km |
| Slope Orientation: | N, E, S, W |
| Vertical Drop: | 1088m |
| Skiable Vertical: | 891m |
| Night Skiing: | Yes |
| Glacier: | Yes - Marmolada Glacier |
Snow Report
Web Cam
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| Downhill Runs: | 175km |
| Beginner slopes: | 30% |
| Intermediate: | 60% |
| Advanced slopes: | 10% |
| Lift Pass Price: | Val Gardena Alpe Di Siusi: 338.00 Euros (Adult 6 day)
Dolomiti Superskipass: 363.00 Euros (Adult 6 day) |
| Nearby resorts: Ortisei, Santa Cristina, Arabba, Corvara, Val Gardena, Dolomiti Superski, Sella Ronda | |
Skiing/BoardingSkiing in Selva
The nursery slopes are close to town and there’s a nice collection of blues towards one side of Piz Seteur and at Plan de Gralba (it’s worth mastering the bus timetable when going onto Plan de Gralba as taking the mountain route can land a beginner on some rather tricky reds). There are a number of ski school options available as well as a Fun Park for the younger-hearted.
Just by looking at the piste map you can see the intermediate-friendly nature of the skiing here. For those re-discovering their ski legs, the Alpe di Siusi (just above Ortisei) has some gentle skiing with steeper descents from Dantercepies and Ciampinoi to progress onto.
If the Sella Ronda is on your to do list (and it should be if you’re intermediate or above), the general preference is the orange clockwise route as it follows the sun (the lifts are good too). This world famous circuit is definitely worth doing but don’t let it distract you from some fantastic alternative routes... The Gherdeina Skiring is good for variety and the Armentarola at Lagazuoi (locally known as the Hidden Valley) is hugely recommended just for the views - the horse drawn tow back to the main piste is a bit of a highlight too! The lengthy La Longia red run starting in the Seceda section and running to the valley also gets extra points for altitude.
For access to the more serious skiing, it’s worth upgrading to the Dolomiti Superski pass. From Ciamponi there are some good red and blacks including the World Cup Saslong Downhill. The black and red runs at Porta Vescovo are a more complicated option off the Sella Ronda.
The lack of moguls and off-piste is made-up for by the opportunity of a heli-drop on the Marmolada glacier. It’s also worth chatting to the tourist office who often do ski tours structured with a range of historical, gourmet or scenic criteria.
Alpe di Siusi’s King Laurin Snowpark is the biggest in the area, with plenty of rails and kickers that are nicely spread out. The Alta Badia Snowpark on the Piz Sorega is bit further out and the Piz Sella Park is the closest to village, just beside the Comic chairlift.
Selva is quite big on its cross-country with 115km of trails. The 12km trail up the Vallunga Valley is particularly popular, Covara is good for beginners and the 7.5 km track connecting Alpe di Siusi with Val Gardena is also worth mentioning.
Selva Apres Ski
Italian resorts don’t tend to be overly wild when it comes to après ski but with 20 bars, 45 restaurants and 2 main clubs Selva does rather well... If you’ve never had the iconic Bombardino beverage, this is a good place to sample one!
Bar Saltos is a good foodie spot with a sometimes themed menu and music scene for later on. La Stua, near the Costabella ski lift, is great for après ski with a sunny terrace and live music. By the Dantercepies, Panorama does some hearty dishes, perfect before the final run back to Selva.
Hotel Piz Seteur, at the foot of the Sassolungo, is notorious for its GoGo girls, taking the word fun quite literally. For a calmer cocktail and appertif, Yello’s Music Lounge Bar in the centre of Selva is open to a good hour. Dali-Disco Dance and the Heustadl (in the Hotel Wolkenstein) make up the late night dancing scene, with quite a youthful crowd.
We also like Café Mozart for a more family friendly atmosphere (it’s worth popping in purely for the hot chocolate!).
There are some superb dining-out options with Hotel Friena, Chalet Gerard and Hotel Sun Valley topping the list, all easy to get to from the town centre. La Bula does fantastic pizza and pasta and Nives, just off the main square, is the place to go for the traditional South Tyrolean factor with a cosy, homely atmosphere.
The 6km toboggan run is definitely worth doing as is a visit to the Pranives ice rink in the sports centre. There are skating and curling activities here as well and it’s worth looking out for acclaimed figure skater performances, disco evenings and lessons. You can book dog sleigh excursions with Siberian Huskies across the Puez-Odle Nature Park and for a real appreciation of this World Heritage Site, hire a winter walking guide. For those who can’t wait until morning, night skiing is usually possible on Alpe di Siusi. Over at Orisei (a bus ride away) little ones can use the swimming pool while grownups head to the glazed Turkish baths in the same building.
Best time to go
Best time to ski Selva
Best time to visit & ski Selva
Most slopes are around the 1500m – 2000 mark which is promising for conditions during the colder months. Even after a period of low snowfall, people can be quick to praise the state of the slopes, thanks to the wide snow cannon coverage. There are many options to go higher and the Marmolada glacier at 3342m is a superb example. The 12km ‘La Bullenese’ run down from here is a real treat as it has some pretty special views.
For those troops who like to be up nice and early, Italian resorts take a more leisurely approach to hitting the slopes and meals times are a lengthy affair, so the slopes should be pretty crowd free throughout most of the season. What’s more, half term does not have the same crowd connotations as some other countries as the Italians don’t have a half term holiday.
If the best time means the best bargain then it is definitely worth checking with the ticket office about the special promotions before forking out on a lift pass or ski hire.
Peak Dates
Christmas in Selva is usually full of authenticity, with snow-topped wooden huts, a Christmas carol or two and plenty of festive merriment provided by the local businesses and hotels. Selva Christmas ski holidays ‣
We love the sound of seeing in the New Year in Selva with all the food and firework fun going on. Selva New Year ski holidays ‣
If the slopes don’t manage to tire the kids out over February Half Term in Selva, the range of other activities like ice-skating and tobogganing might do the trick. The one thing the Italians do well is a good old rustic sun terrace for that all important après ski. Selva Half Term ski holidays ‣
An early start, some beautiful weather and a leisurely bombadino to finish the last run of the day and you’re well on the way to a day of perfection over Easter in Selva. Find the higher runs for the crisper snow or head to the glacier. Selva Easter ski holidays ‣
Families in Selva
Selva has quite a few ticks down the family checklist.
Let’s face it, learning to ski or snowboard is more about falling over (we’ve all been there!). To help pick you up there are three options in the Selva area; Snowboard and Ski School 2000, the Ski and Snowboard School and Top Ski School, each with a good selection of instructors (some who are ex-world cup athletes). Specialized courses in freestyle and jumps are also available if you fancy challenging a relative to see who can do the best 360o. The nursery slopes are at the North Eastern end of town so Hotel Anteres, Hotel Tyrol, Hotel Linder and Hotel Continental are good options for dropping off the skiing newbies. Most of our chalets are also family friendly, sometimes with options for children to eat a bit earlier. They offer a more intimate, homely stay and are rarely not too far from the ski school meeting place.
The 0 - 4 year olds, who haven’t quite grown into their ski boots, can still get a snow-orientated holiday at Mini Club Selva, with games in the garden, a walk and a nap to suit the needs of each child. There’s also the Casa Bimbo nursery and child-minding service to make sure children from 4 - 5 months to 7 - 8 years are well looked after.
The fun doesn’t have to stop with the close of the lifts, with the 6km toboggan run, sleigh-ride excursions and winter walks. You can also test your ice skating, curling and ice-disco dancing skills at the central Pranives Sports Centre and taking the bus over to Ortisei will lead the way to a swim or Turkish bath. Wandering through Selva town might also give you some ideas about where to go for that South Tyrolean food factor. Book in at La Bula for a hearty pizza or pasta dish or to the Nives Restaurant for a special treat. A perfect way to end the week!
GroupsGroup Holidays Selva
Part of going on holiday is getting home and bragging about it to friends and family; but why not just save time and bring them along? For those not too bothered about sole occupancy, Chalet Soldanella is good for numbers as it sleeps 26 or the smaller Chalet Salvan, sleeping 14, might be more up your street. Chalets offer a more homely environment and so are great for quality time.
Booking individual rooms within a hotel means you get access to the facilities they offer and there’s always the possibility that stragglers can join the holiday at a later date. The well-being and swimming pool facilities are always worth taking advantage of, especially when you have varying ages. It’s also worth picking somewhere near the centre like Hotel Piccolo or Hotel Tyrol (great for nightlife if you don’t want too far to stumble back at the end of the night).
The 175 km of piste to enjoy with the Val Gardena & Alpe di Siusi Pass is the intermediates dream. Parties with differing abilities will find plenty of variety, especially with the Dolomiti Superski Pass. You could be dropping the beginners off at the nursery slopes in one hour and skiing down the Saslong World Cup Downhill in another.
Come late afternoon you’ll always find a group who have thrown their skis in for the day and are enjoying a glass of something in the sunshine. The après ski scene is great for this kind of atmosphere with 20 bars and 45 restaurants. Piz Seteur at the foot of the Sassolungo is never short of people whilst Yello’s Music Lounge Bar in Selva centre sets you up nicely to toast the day’s activities on a more relaxed level. If you’re travelling with the dance-hearted then two night clubs, the Heustadl and Dali-Disco Dance in the centre of Selva might catch your eye.
Knowing that the village likes to get involved in the festivities is useful when planning a Christmas or New Year trip. Prior years have had a Christmas market and held a range of gala evenings in the local restaurants and bars. New Year likewise has celebrated with a DJ and fireworks in the main Nives Square.
Getting your entire team out shouldn’t be too much of a task either as flights and transfers are usually provided in most packages and where you would prefer to travel independently (by air, land or water), you can always opt for accommodation only.
Which are the best ski holidays in Selva?
| Accommodation | Number of nights | Price (per person) from |
|---|---|---|
| Chalet Soldanella | 7 | £ 829 |
| Hotel Antares | 7 | £ 858 |
| Hotel Oswald | 7 | £ 968 |
| Mountain Home Villa Anna | 7 | £ 996 |
| Hotel Mignon | 7 | £ 1038 |
| Hotel Stella | 7 | £ 1178 |
| Hotel Pozzamanigoni | 7 | £ 1389 |
| Hotel Rodella | 7 | £ 1552 |
| Hotel Aaritz | 7 | £ 1749 |
| Hotel Somont | 7 | £ 2149 |
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