Val Di Fassa is a mountain valley in the Trentino region of Northern Italy. It is surrounded by the Dolomites’ famous mountain groups, including Rosengarten, Sassolungo, Marmolada, and Sella. The endless hiking, via ferrata, and photography possibilities are why I return to Val Di Fassa every time I visit the Dolomites.
Best Towns To Stay In Val Di Fassa
The Fassa Valley stretches for approximately 20 kilometres and is dotted with little towns. Where one ends, another one begins. Below are my recommendations for the best towns to stay in when visiting Val Di Fassa. They offer the best access to chairlifts and gondolas that transport you into high-alpine areas with many hiking and via ferrata options.
- Canazei (located at the end of the Fassa Valley, with great views of Marmolada)
- Campitello Di Fassa (Slightly less touristy than Canazei. It has excellent access to Col Rodella Cable Car)
- Vigo Di Fassa (It has the quickest access to the Rosengarten group)
- Moena (a cool town with more local flair – my favourite in the Fassa Valley)
TIP: There are hundreds of hotels and apartments in Val Di Fassa. You can find one that suits your requirements on Booking.com.
How to reach Val Di Fassa
You can reach the Fassa Valley by car or public transport. Below are the distances and driving times from the nearest airports to Vigo di Fassa.
By car:
- Venice Marco Polo: 172 km / 107 mi / 2h 30 min
- Venice Treviso: 161 km / 100 mi / 2h 20 min
- Milan Malpensa: 270 km / 168 mi / 3 h 15 min
- Milan Bergamo: 353 km / 219 mi / 4 hours
- Innsbruck, Austria: 152 km / 94 mi / 2 h 20 min
- Munich, Germany: 346 km / 215 mi / 4 hours
By public transport
You can catch a train to Bolzano and then a local bus. There are direct buses from Bolzano to any town in Val Di Fassa. I always use the Sued Tirol Mobil website to find the local bus connections.
Top Hikes Around Fassa Valley & Rosengarten Nature Park
I hiked extensively around Val Di Fassa and the Rosengarten group, yet I still feel like I only scratched the surface. I realised that it is not possible to cover them all. Here are some of my favourite routes.
TIP: If you plan to hike in Val Di Fassa, purchase the Tabacco map no. 06
1. Ciampede to Rifugio Re Alberto and back
Distance: 12 km / 7.5 mi
Elevation gain/loss: 740 m / 2430 ft
Time required: 5-7 hours
Difficulty level: hard
Trail numbers: 540, 546, 542
This is the most straightforward way to reach the Vajolet Towers, the iconic peaks of Rosengarten Nature Peak. The hike follows a wide gravel road for most of the way.
From the town of Vigo Di Fassa (bus stop name Vigo di Fassa, Funivia Catinaccio), take the Vajolet gondola up to Ciampede. Then follow the signs to Rifugio Gardeccia, then to Rifugio Vajolet, and finally to Rifugio Re Alberto.
There is a short scrambling section between Rifugio Vajolet and Rifugio Re Alberto (path no. 542) with some cables installed; skip it if you are not comfortable with heights, or turn back after reaching the Vajolet hut.
2. Rifugio Fronza – Passo delle Coronelle – Rifugio Re Alberto and back
Round-trip distance: 10.2 km / 3.4 mi
Elevation gain/loss: 1170 m / 3840 ft
Time required: 6-8 h
Difficulty level: hard
Trail numbers: 550, 541, 542
The hike over Colonelle Pass starts at the same hut as the via ferrata Passo Santner, which I will get to soon. The hut has three names: Rosengarten, Kölner and Fronza.
Park your car near Albergo Frommeralm, then take the gondola to the hut. From here, start your hike on path no. 550 towards Passo D. Colonelle. It takes approximately 50 minutes to reach the pass.
Once you reach the saddle, you will start your descent toward Rifugio Vajolet. From the hut, the path follows a steep gully to Rifugio Re Alberto Primero.
The gully continues steeply along path no. 542. Cables are provided to help you with the most challenging sections. It’s a gruelling ascent but not very technical.
3. Col Rodella – Rifugio Alpe Di Tires – Val Duron – Campitello Di Fassa
Distance: 23.3 km / 14.5 mi
Elevation gain/loss: 550 m (1800 ft ) / 1350 m (4430 ft)
Time required: 8-9 hours
Difficulty level: moderate
Trail numbers: 557, 4, 532
This hike is a full-day excursion. The trail starts with a gondola ride from Campitello di Fassa to the top of Col Rodella, then follows the Friedrich-August hiking route.
Along this hike, you will cross three great alpine huts: Sassopiatto (5.3 km), Alpe Di Tires (11.8 km), and Micheluzzi (18.8 km). There is no need to carry too much food or water. You can dine at their restaurants or stay overnight.
TIP: Rifugio Micheluzzi offers a taxi service to Campitello, reducing the hike by 4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi).
4. Sassolungo Circuit
Distance: 16.7 km / 10.4 miles
Elevation gain/loss: 620 m / 2040 ft
Time required: 5-6 h
Difficulty level: moderate
Trail numbers: 557, 527, 526
The Sassolungo Circuit is one of my favourite hikes in the Dolomites. It is accessible from either the Fassa Valley or the Gardena Valley. A part of it overlaps with the previously mentioned Friedrich August route.
The hike starts at Sella Pass and loops around the Sassolungo mountain group. It’s a full-day excursion in the high alpine environment. Almost the entire trail stays above the tree line. My favourite time to hike the Sassolungo Circuit is during Autumn when the larch trees turn yellow.
Read More: Guide to the Sassolungo Circuit hike.
5. Piz Boè Summit
Distance: 6.8 km / 4.3 mi
Elevation gain/loss: 400 m / 1310 ft
Time required: 3-4 hours
Difficulty level: hard
Trail numbers: 627A, 627, 638
Piz Boè is the highest summit of the Sella group. You might have heard of Sellaronda, a famous ski route that circles it. It is the easiest to scale and the most accessible 3000-meter peak in the Dolomites. The hike begins with a cable car ride from the Pordoi Pass to Sass Pordoi.
You only need to battle circa 400 meters of elevation from here to reach the peak. My favourite part of the Piz Boè summit hike was staying overnight in the Capana Fassa alpine hut. The refuge was built right on the summit. Talk about a hotel with a view.
Read more: Guide to the Piz Boè summit hike.
6. Passo Pordoi to Passo Fedaia Traverse
Distance: 7.7 km / 4.8 mi
Elevation gain/loss: 250 m (820 ft) / 440 m (1450 ft)
Time required: 2.5-3 hours
Difficulty level: moderate
Trail numbers: 601
This hike traverses between two mountain passes: Sella and Fedaia. Both are accessible by car, and you can start at either end. However, since Passo Pordoi is higher than Fedaia, starting here will make the hike easier because you will gain less elevation.
This route overlaps with the Alta Via 2 multiday traverse but can be done as a day hike. Public transport reaches both passes, so leave your car in the valley.
The entire route remains in the high-alpine environment above the treeline. You know what that means? Uninterrupted views along the whole hike. Speaking of the views, you can see Marmolada, the Dolomites’ highest peak, from any point on this hike. Don’t miss a lunch stop at Rifugio Viel Dal Pan, which is about halfway along this hike and offers fantastic terrace views.
Top Via Ferratas Around Val Di Fassa & Rosengarten Nature Park
There are six via ferratas in the Rosengarten group, and I can proudly say I did them all. The range is from beginner-level to more advanced for those with some experience under their belt.
TIP: Please note that the stats for each ferrata below include the approach and descent (unless otherwise stated). For more clarity, I recommend reading separate guides for each route.
1. Passo Santner (Santnerpass)
Difficulty level: beginner
Elevation gain: 870 m / 2854 ft
Time required: 5-6 hours
I will kick off the list of the best via ferratas around Val Di Fassa with the Passo Santner route. This short via ferrata takes its name from where it culminates – the Santner Pass. Here, you will be rewarded with fantastic views of the Vajolet Towers. The newly built Santner Pass refuge, where you can stay overnight, makes this route even more exciting.
Read more: Guide to Via Ferrata Passo Santner.
2. Via Ferratas Masaré & Roda de Vaél
Difficulty level: intermediate
Elevation gain: 600 m / 1935 ft
Time required: 5-6 hours (including hut approach)
This via ferrata combo consists of two separate routes, which are best done together. You can find Via Ferratas Masarè and Roda De Vaèl in the Southern part of the Rosengarten group.
The route takes you to the summit of Roda de Vaèl and offers several exciting traverses, as shown in the photos above.
Read more: Guide to the Via Ferratas Masaré & Roda de Vaél.
3. Catinnacio D’Antermoia (Kesselkogel)
Difficulty level: beginner
Elevation gain: 1230 m / 4035 ft
Time required: 8-10 hours
Catinaccio is the highest summit in the Rosengarten group. It offers excellent 360-degree panoramic views of the Rosengarten and many other prominent peaks in the Dolomites.
It’s an easy beginner route with excellent protection. Via ferrata Catinaccio starts at the cute Alpine Hut called Passo Principe. It’s a tiny hut with a vast mountain spirit. I have very fond memories of my stay here.
Read more: Guide to Via Ferrata Catinaccio.
4. Sentiero Massimiliano (Maximiliansteig)
Difficulty level: intermediate
Elevation gain: 270 m / 886 ft (from Alpe Di Tires hut)
Time required: 2-3 hours
Maximiliansteig starts at the luxurious Alpe Di Tires hut and traverses the Terrarosa ridgeline. The path runs between two summits and offers panoramic views of the Rosengarten group and the Alpe Di Siusi Altopiano.
You will receive significant value for the small effort required to traverse the ridgeline.
Read more: Guide to Via Ferrata Sentiero Massimiliano.
5. Laurenzi (Laurenzisteig)
Difficulty level: advanced
Elevation gain: 410 m / 1345 feet
Time required: 4.5-5 hours (not including hut approach and exit)
Via ferrata Laurenzi is the most complex iron path in the Rosengarten group. If you are a total beginner, look elsewhere. Those who already have some via ferrata experience and are looking for a challenge will find the Laurenzi via ferrata exciting.
The route extends from the Alpe Di Tires to the Antermoia huts and traverses the Molignon ridgeline. It has fantastic views of the Sassolungo mountain group and Marmolada.
Read more: Guide to Via Ferrata Laurenzi.
TIP: You can connect all 5 of the above via ferratas by following my 3-5-day hut-to-hut Rosengarten Traverse.
6. Mesules (Pössnecker)
Difficulty level: advanced
Elevation gain: 890 m / 2920 ft
Time required: 6-8 hours
Via Ferrata Mesules is one of the oldest iron paths in the Dolomites. It climbs along the southern face of the Sella group. This challenging yet fun via ferrata should be tackled only by those with some prior experience. It offers excellent views of the Sassolungo and Odle-Geisler groups.
Read more: Guide to via ferrata Mesules (Pössnecker)
7. Oskar Schuster
Difficulty level: intermediate
Elevation gain: 850 m / 2790 ft
Time required: 6-8 hours
Another great via ferrata route that starts near Passo Sella. The Oskar Schuster iron path scales the walls of Sassopiatto in the Sassolungo mountain group, eventually ending at its summit. The return route passes Rifugio Sassopiatto, which serves some of the best Kaiserschmarrn I’ve had. I bet you are now googling Kaiserschmarrn (as you should).
Read more: Guide to via ferrata Oskar Schuster
Top Photography Spots Near Fassa Valley
1. Passo Sella
The Sella Pass connects the Fassa Valley with the Gardena Valley. It is part of the famous Sellaronda route, which can be done on skis in winter or on a bike in summer. There are many photo opportunities directly on the Pass, including a few accommodation options if you want to be close to all the action.
2. Passo Fedaia
Passo Fedaia is one of the mountain passes surrounding Val Di Fassa. It is accessible by car, and a few hotels are built on the pass.
Passo Fedaia is located at the foot of Marmolada and is known for its Dam and the hydroelectric power plant associated with it, which provides clean energy to nearby towns.
3. Vajolet Towers
The Vajolet towers are the icons of the Rosengarten mountain group and the most unique rock formations I have ever seen. There are several routes to reach the towers, and a couple of mountain huts within easy reach for those who want to photograph them at sunrise or sunset.
Read more: How to see the Vajolet Towers
4. Marmolada Summit
A short drive from Val Di Fassa over Fedaia Pass will take you to a little mountain settlement called Malga Ciapella. Here, you will find the cable car station for the two-tier gondola that takes tourists to one of the summits of Marmolada, the Dolomites’ highest peak. The peak is called Punta Rocca.
This location is ideal for panoramic photos of the Dolomites. On a clear day, you can see most of the 3000-meter peaks that form beautiful mountain layers.
5. Lake Carezza
This turquoise jewel is one of the most famous lakes of the Dolomites. A short walk is required to reach the lake. There is a parking lot right next to it. The easy access attracts many tourists, so if you want the place all to yourself, plan your visit for early morning. There is a lovely, easy hiking path that circles the lake. The mountain group that reflects in its waters is called Latemar.
Other Regions of the Dolomites Worth Visiting
- Puster Valley (Val Pusteria)
- Gardena Valley (Val Gardena)
- Funes Valley (Val Di Funes)
- Primero Valley (Val Primero)
- Badia Valley (Val Badia / Alta Badia)
- Cortina D’Ampezzo & Central Dolomites
- Tre Cime Nature Park
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If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below!
I am a group of 3 active, fit, first-time visitors to the area in August. We stay one night in Lavies and then have 2 nights in Campitello di Fassa. Then we head to Salzburg. So we essentially have 2.5 days. I need help deciding if we just stay in the Di Fassa are and do some hiking and via ferratas and the lake on the way with the local cable car pass. Or if we drive into Selva and do some of the more iconic areas: Seceda, Alpe di Suisa (on bike), Val Di Funes. There is so much to do and see and I don’t want to overdo it. But I don’t want to have FOMO if I don’t see the main sites. Have any tips for me? I am a budget traveler, but don’t want to be too conscientious so I miss things.
Hi Angela. Thanks for visiting. I prefer Val Di Fassa to Val Gardena. Seceda in August will be madness. There are so many people up there it is unsightly. I would recommend just doing things around Val Di Fassa. You won’t be disappointed, I promise.
Hi
Going to the Dolomites this summer. Wondering if there are some classic hikes for people with fear of heights? Prefer to avoid steep cable cars and hikes with straight drop offs. So hard to find this kind of info online.
Thanks so much for your beautiful website!
Rachel
Hi Rachel. Thanks for visiting. Yes, there are plenty! I think no. 3 Col Rodella to Alpe Di Tires then exit via Val Duron is a good one. Sassolungo Circuit is fine too. Hiking from Passo Pordoi to Rifugio Viel Dal Pan and back (no. 6 in here, but instead of going all the way to Fedaia, you just turn around at Viel Dal Pan. I also recommend you check out my article about top day hikes in the Dolomites. You could easily do all the easy hikes from that list + Tre Cime Circuit, Rifugio Fonda Savio, Adolf Munkel Trail, Sass De Putia Circuit. I hope that helps! The trail from Passo Gardena to Corvara in my Alta Badia guide would be fine too.
Hi Marta,
Wow thank you so much! Going to check out all your suggestions, can’t wait to explore the Dolomites. Love your website.
Hello Marta
Very interesting website! Can’t stop reading your adventure.
I was wondering if you had any suggestion for our family trip in the dolomites in august 2025.
We have 4 kids (9,10,11,12)
I was thinking take the cable/funicular to compaccio and then hike to alpi di tires directly ( or stop first bolzano) .?
Then we would sleep at alpi tires refugio.
After that I dont know where to go with the kids. Rifugio Bergamo or Sasso piato. I would stay 2 others nights in refugio (total 3 nights) and then go back to compaccio to get the car.
Any advice?
Thank you so much
Hi Emilie. Thanks for stopping by. If you don’t want to do any via ferratas then refer to my section about how to do the Rosengarten traverse without them. This is exactly 3 night option: Night 1: Rifugio Re Alberto or Passo Santner, Night 2 Rifugio Alpe Di Tires. Night 3 Rifugio Sassopiatto. If day 1 is too long for you, instead of starting at Paolina chairlift you could take the Vajolet gondola in Vigo Di Fassa and start your hike from there. It will be shorter and take ca. 3-4 hours. On last day you could exit to Campitello Di Fassa via Col Rodella Cable car.
I do offer consulting calls so if you are interested please schedule one. Click on the Trip Plannin Advice tab. Thanks! Marta
Hi Marta
I am so jealous of your wonderful life in the mountains and so thankful for your posting. I am trying to find an alternative to the Alta Via 1 as the huts are already booked. I came across a route on Hut to Hut trekking that seems to criss-cross many of you day hikes and I’m wondering if I can put it together myself, rather than paying a lot of money for them to do it.
This is what it looks like so far
Day 1: Bolzano arrive
Day 2: Bus to Kastelruth and cable car to Compatsch, then walk from Seiser Alm to Rifugio Bolzano
Day 3: walk to Rifugio Sasso Piatto
Day 4: No accomm mention but talks about the Sella Pass and passing Citta Dei Sassi which seems to be inthe vicinity of Rifugios Carlo Valentin and Salei on your map
Day 5: says Rifugio Antermoia but on the map it says temporarily closed so would Passo Principe be an alternative?
Day 6: Finish in Val di Fassa
What map would you suggest for this area. I know All Trails is an option but I like to have a hard copy back up too?
We would be traveling from and back to Venice on public transport, so hopefully that is possible. Do you think the Rifugios will be booked already? I will send queires now.
Thanks so much
Jez
Hi Jez. Yes, it is a bit madness that Alta Via 1 books out so far in advance now. You can definitely design your own hut-to-hut hiking route. Now some thoughts. Rifugio Sassopiatto lies only 1.5 hour from Sella Pass. If you want to extend that day you should walk around Sassolungo (sassolungo Circuit). or you can take a bus from Sella Pass to Pordoi Pass then hike to the summit of piz Boe. from piz boe you could follow Alta Via 2 (day 5) to passo Fedaia. From Passo Fedaia, you could exit to Val Di Fassa. I hope that helps!
Hi Marta, thank you for all this useful information. I am planning to visit this part of the Dolomites mid October (hope the weather will be on my side), is it possible to do the hikes using public transport or it is best to rent a car?
Hi Milena. Public transport becomes very limited in the shoulder season so you might be better off renting a car.
Marta Hi!
Does this first 7 hikes around Fassa Valley & Rosengarten Nature Park are just regular hikes can be done without Ferrata cable kits? (asking because found some where else on internet photos from Ciampede to Rifugio Re Alberto using them).
And can these google map roots be used on the phone for hiking, or are they just for informational purposes? I have dowloaded wikiloc to use on a hikes but can’t convert your maps to upload it there.
And distance of a hikes mentioned is point to point (one way) or it is from the trailhead and back?
Hi Igors. There is a short cable protected section between rif. Vajolet and Rif Re Alberto which should be attempted only if you are sure footed. It is not classed as a via ferrata, but if you are uncomfortable with steep trails and cables then you can bring the via ferrata kit with you. \
The google maps are only for info purposes to show where the trail runs, but should not be used for navigation. You can outline the hikes on garmin connect or use all trails if you need the GPX data.
As for the other hikes I enlisted in the Fassa Valley, there are some cable protected sections on the Piz Boe summit hike. The rest is cable free. I hope that helps!
Hello. Is it possible to hike from pera di fassa, to santnerhutt, and back down in one day?
Thank you
Hi Anna, Yes it is for a very fit hiker, but whether it is possible for you, that I cannot answer, I am afraid 🙂 You should know your own limits.
Thanks for your very informative website!
Is it possible to hike from Santnerpasshutte to Principe Pass hut without via ferrata? I’m visiting the Dolomites in late September and am thinking about staying two nights at Santnerpasshutte. (Planning on hiking up from Val di Fassa.) Would there be day hikes to do around Santnerpasshutte without retracing too many steps?
Thank you!
Hi Krystal. There are two ways to reach Santner Pass Hut. One is via the via ferrata Santner, the other is by hiking up the steep gully from Vajolet hut. I have the exact map for the routes in my post about How to See the Vajolet Towers.
There are no day hikes around Santner Pass hut. Its location doesn’t allow for much movement. If you want to stay a couple of nights in a hut and do day hikes from there then Alpe Di Tires hut (which belongs to the same family) is a much better option. From Alpe Di Tires you can reach the Santner Pass hut too.