Val Gardena in Autumn

In the period between 22 September and 21 December, Val Gardena is incredibly varied, vibrant and peaceful. Until October, when the daytime temperature is around 15 degrees, you can usually enjoy glorious sunshine and breathtaking views. Witness the Almabtrieb and enjoy the colourful larch trees.

The summer season ends around 10 October. Apart from the Alpe di Siusi, Col Raiser and Seceda cable cars, most of the lifts close. The huts, which are no longer accessible by cable car, also close their doors until the start of the winter season. However, even the first snow and the cold temperatures that sometimes set in at the end of October in Val Gardena don't spoil the holiday fun. At no other time of year can you enjoy such marvellous tranquillity in the valley, which will instantly help you forget the stresses of everyday life.

September and October are the ideal months to explore Val Gardena in autumn on extensive hiking tours. The trees transform the valley into a magnificent autumn landscape with their intense shades of brown, red and yellow. The temperatures are pleasant and the stable visibility invites you to take in every point of this unique panorama.

From Val Gardena, you can choose from a variety of hiking trails to enjoy autumn in all its glory. In the huts in the area, you will be welcomed with South Tyrolean dishes that will make the efforts of even the most strenuous of ascents disappear. We have put together some of the most beautiful trails for an autumn hike for you.

Late autumn is the time for wine and indulgence. So it's a good thing that during your holiday in Val Gardena, you have the opportunity to take part in one of the region's most beautiful traditions: Törggelen. Nobody knows exactly how old the custom of Törggelen hikes is. What is clear, however, is that over 150 years ago, townspeople and innkeepers visited the winegrowers to taste new wine.

Today, the so-called "Buschenschänken" welcome locals and tourists who want to enjoy young wine and one of the traditional Törggelen dishes such as Kaminwurzen sausages, meat platters or sweet doughnuts. In Val Gardena, we recommend the farm hike in Santa Cristina, where you can stop off at the Paratoni mountain farm, as well as the Poststeig Trail from Ortisei to Laion. Take the opportunity for an enjoyable Törggelen hike with a stop at a wine tavern or farm.

South Tyrolean Keschtnweg Trail

One of the most beautiful accompaniments to autumn is ripe chestnuts, known as "Keschtn" in South Tyrol. The "Keschtnweg", a hiking trail around 90 kilometres long, is ideal for a Törggelen hike lasting several days. On the Keschtnweg Trail, you hike through colourful forests in several stages. From the villages of Val Gardena, excursions into the Val d'Isarco or to the Augustinian monastery of Novacella near Bressanone, where you can join the well-signposted trail, are well worthwhile. At Törggelen time, the wine taverns along the way will also welcome you with chestnut dishes. The nutritious fruit of the chestnut and the healing properties of the tree and fruit ensure that the "Keschtn" are still extremely popular today.

In the golden autumn, when the hustle and bustle of the summer season is long gone, you have the chance to get your hands on some of the most beautiful accommodations in the valley. Discover cosy guesthouses, holiday flats of all sizes and unique hotels for families, nature lovers, connoisseurs and those seeking relaxation.

In autumn, there are numerous opportunities to combine your stay in the mountains with getting to know the history and culture of Val Gardena. The calendar of events in the hospitable Dolomite valley is full to the brim with exciting events, even in this season of colourful forests.

Autumn market: Segra Sacun

The "Segra Sacun" autumn market is one of the most beautiful events in Val Gardena. Before the end of the season, the people of Val Gardena invite you once again to get to know the culture of the valley. The day after the church consecration festival, which is celebrated on the second Sunday in October, the autumn market takes place in Ortisei. The entire village seems to be on its feet on this day. Traders offer culinary specialities and handicrafts at numerous stalls.

The restaurants also prepare a special menu with traditional dishes for the autumn market. For lovers, there is a special custom that still causes red cheeks and palpitations today: traditionally, young men buy a pear decorated with a bow at the autumn market. If the beloved returns the favour with an Easter egg next Easter, the chances of a wedding are good.

Culinarium Ortisei

Autumn is the time for culinary delights. Anyone spending their holiday in Val Gardena will already be delighted by the gastronomic variety in Val Gardena. However, the Culinarium Weeks in Ortisei take the gourmet experience to the next level: numerous restaurants, from pizzerias and brasseries to internationally acclaimed gourmet restaurants, offer special menus with traditional and modern interpretations of South Tyrolean cuisine. Look forward to delicious dishes made from regional ingredients and prepared with love.

At the end of the summer, you will witness a special natural spectacle in Val Gardena: the colourful hues of the larch forests, the clear air and the low sun make the otherwise "pale" Dolomite peaks glow red. Every year, the Burning Dolomites attract nature lovers and amateur photographers to the mountains, who take the opportunity to capture uniquely beautiful sunrises and sunsets. The best places to marvel at the "burning Dolomites" include the via ferrata on the large Cir and the hike up the Mountain Pic. Keep your eyes peeled and take part in one of the guided hikes offered by Val Gardena Active.

The full beauty of Val Gardena's autumn is revealed to you from a bird's eye view. Let yourself be enchanted by the colourful treetops and enjoy the first snow-covered mountain peaks of the season. There are several suitable take-off points for paragliders in Val Gardena: Col Rodella, Alpe di Siusi or a location of your choice – take a bold approach and soar over the beautiful Val Gardena Dolomites. Various providers offer safe paragliding flights accompanied by real professionals. At this time of year, there is hardly any activity in the sky and the clear air allows you to see for kilometres.

Autumn is the ideal time of year for a wellness holiday in Val Gardena. From mid-October, most cable cars and mountain huts are closed and there is often already snow at higher altitudes. Take relaxing walks, enjoy the view of nature and then relax in your wellness hotel. Whether it's a sweat-inducing sauna session, a dip in the indoor pool with a view of the mountains or a visit to the hotel's own spa with a relaxing massage or beauty treatment – let yourself be pampered in the midst of these wonderful surroundings and recharge your batteries before winter sets in.