Val Gardena at a glance
Val Gardena, called Gröden in German, is a side valley in South Tyrol with three main villages: Ortisei (St. Ulrich), Santa Cristina (St. Christina) and Selva (Wolkenstein). They are separate places, so it helps to decide early where you want to be. Ladin is spoken here, next to German and Italian, and Gröden and the Gadertal are the areas where it is most at home.
A well known excursion is the cable car to Seceda, a green ridge above the valley with a view of the jagged Odle peaks. A quieter side trip leads to Val di Funes and a small church. This page gives the fares and rules that apply in 2026 and explains two ways to spend a day here, one self-guided on an e-bike and one by minivan from Verona. To see the valley from the air instead, read about tandem paragliding in South Tyrol.
Our picks: Val Gardena and Seceda
Our take: the self-guided e-bike tour stays in Val Gardena itself, while the small-group day from Verona includes the Seceda cable car ticket.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Seceda and Lake Carezza day from Verona
- Cable car ticket to Seceda
- Val di Funes and Lake Carezza
- Small group, max 6 guests
A long day trip from Verona: the Seceda cable car ticket (€74 per person, round trip) is part of the listed price. The price shown is per person.
Check availability →
Self-guided e-bike tour in Val Gardena
- E-bike and helmet rental
- Self-guided tour via app
- Step-by-step navigation
No guide rides with you. Bring a charged smartphone; remote help from the rental location is available during the tour.
Check availability →Val Gardena tours and day trips
A self-guided e-bike tour in the valley and a small-group day trip from Verona that includes the Seceda cable car, with live prices and availability.
Seceda cable car from Ortisei
Two sections, one ticket or two.
The Seceda lift starts in St. Ulrich and runs via Furnes. An adult single ticket for the whole way costs 49 EUR, and a return ticket costs 74 EUR. You can also buy the sections separately: St. Ulrich to Furnes costs 24 EUR single and 33 EUR return, and Furnes to Seceda costs 29 EUR single and 44 EUR return. Children's fares are not listed here, so ask at the ticket desk.
The summer season 2026 runs from 22 May to 2 November. The lift runs from 8:30 to 17:30, until 18:00 from 11 July to 23 August and until 17:00 from 12 October to 2 November. The season ends on 2 November 2026, so the lift is about to close. Do not count on a ride down after sunset, because the last runs follow these hours. Check next season's times with the operator before you travel.
Do not mix this lift up with the cable car from Seis, which is another operator and another fare table, see Alpe di Siusi. The lift from St. Ulrich to the Seiser Alm plateau is a third installation and costs 29 EUR single and 41 EUR return.
Ortisei, Santa Cristina and Selva
Three villages, one valley.
Ortisei, Santa Cristina and Selva are listed as separate places, each with its own accommodation. Ortisei is where the Seceda lift and the lift to the Seiser Alm plateau start, and Selva is where the e-bike tour below begins. Do not assume that a lift or a restaurant in one village is next door to the others.
Many places charge a local tax per night. As an example, in St. Ulrich the tax from 1 January 2026 is 5 EUR per night in category 1, 4.50 EUR in category 2 and 4 EUR in category 3. This is one municipality's tariff, not a rule for the whole region, so ask your host about the rate where you stay. Our where to stay page lists example bases.
For the Grödner Joch, the province announced a voluntary digital test phase from 22 September to 5 October 2026 with online registration. It is not a ban on driving or a toll, and it is over for this year.
Val di Funes and the Santa Maddalena church
A small church below the Odle peaks.
The side valley of Val di Funes (Villnöß) has a small church in the village of Santa Maddalena, with the Odle peaks behind it. The barrier on the access road is open only to residents. Drivers leave the car at the Putzen car park and walk about 30 minutes to the church. We give no parking fee because we have no reliable figure, and the church should not be mixed up with the chapel of St. Johann in Ranui, which is a different place.
You can combine Val di Funes with the Seceda ride in one trip. The small-group day trip from Verona below includes a stop in the valley.
Lago di Carezza
A short detour at the edge of the region.
Lake Carezza is a small lake that many visitors add to a day in the area, and the day trip below includes a stop there. Our sister guide covers it in detail: read about Lago di Carezza before you plan the stop.
Two ways to spend a day in the valley
Self-guided by e-bike or by minivan from Verona.
E-bike tour from Selva
The route between Vallunga and Santa Cristina is self-guided. It includes the e-bike, a helmet, a phone holder, navigation with voice guidance and stops, and remote help from the rental location. Food and drink are not included. You need a charged smartphone, and the instructions arrive after booking. No guide rides with you.
Day trip from Verona
A small group of at most 6 guests is collected in Verona, Venice, Mestre, Vicenza or Padua. The tour includes the cable car ticket to Seceda, a visit to Val di Funes, a stop at Lake Carezza, and bottled water with a snack on board. Lunch is not included, so bring money for the huts.
For other valley and town days, the tours page compares the options, and the things to do page lists more ideas. If you would rather start from the south, see how to reach South Tyrol.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Seceda cable car from St. Ulrich?
For adults in 2026, the whole way via Furnes costs 49 EUR single and 74 EUR return. The sections cost 24 EUR and 33 EUR from St. Ulrich to Furnes, and 29 EUR and 44 EUR from Furnes to Seceda.
Until when does the Seceda lift run in 2026?
The 2026 summer season ends on 2 November. Operating hours are 8:30 to 17:30, with later or earlier closing in some weeks. Check the operator's times for the next season before you travel.
Which languages are spoken in Val Gardena?
German, Italian and Ladin. Ladin is spoken mainly in Gröden and in the Gadertal, and not every village uses all three in the same way.
Can I drive to the church of Santa Maddalena?
The barrier on the access road is open only to residents. Park at Putzen and walk about 30 minutes.
What is the digital test at the Grödner Joch?
The province announced a voluntary digital test with online registration from 22 September to 5 October 2026. It is not a driving ban and not a toll. Check current traffic reports before you drive.