Alta Pusteria borders Austria and is the northernmost Italian valley. In the past, a disadvantage is now a plus, since the cost here is much lower than in the Central Dolomites. Moreover, there are much fewer people on the ski lifts. The season starts quite early – already in November. The slopes in the Alta Pusteria area are only 50 kilometers long, which is why this area is of no interest to professionals. The resort is most suitable for large families with children, for skating, sledding, as well as ordinary walks.

In 2016, the Alta Pusteria ski resort was renamed and is now officially called Tre Cime Dolomites, after one of the most famous mountain ranges, Tre Cime (or Drei Zinnen in German), located in this area.

The Tre Cime ski resort is the easternmost of the Trentino / Alto Adige and Dolomiti Superski resorts, located on the border with the Italian region of Veneto and neighboring Austria.

Skiing areas

  • Altitude difference – 1310-2200 m
  • Climbers – 19
  • Panoramic funicular -1
  • Suspended cable cars – 5
  • Chair lifts – 7
  • Pistes – 85 km (58% – “red”, 26% – “blue”, 16% – “black”).
  • 3 toboggan runs – 12 km
  • Cross-country ski runs – 200 km
  • Giro-tour route through the Sexten Dolomites. A one-day tour through four mountains, 30 km of slopes and 10,000 meters of altitude difference
  • The Forest Run – the steepest prepared ski run in Italy
  • The Raut – a 3.9 km long “black” run
  • The Helmissimo – a 4.5 km long giant slalom run in Pustertal

The Alt-Pusteriavalley is very large, covers a significant area and offers more than 50 km of runs in total. However, they are all spread over seven small resorts: Monte Elmo, Monte Barfnci, Croda Rossa, Dobbiaco, Baldheim, Passo Monte Croce and Braies – each of which is not of great interest to experienced skiers. Rather, the resorts of Alta Pusteria can be recommended to those who want a comfortable and varied winter vacation in the fresh air in the mountains.

Monte Elmo is the largest ski area in Alta Pusteria, located in its eastern part. You can climb to a height of 2400 meters from the village of Bierschach from one side of the mountain and from the villages of Cesto and Moso from the other side. This part of the resort is best left to skiers and snowboarders who feel confident on the slopes – here they are mainly “red” and “black”. Their total length is a little over 20 km. The descent from the top of Monte Elmo in Biersha stretches for 5 km, and from the observation deck at the very top of the mountain there are spectacular views of the Dolomite Alps.

On the opposite slope in the village of Moso there is another skiing area – Croda Rossa. “Red” and “black” slopes also prevail here. There is a project of two slopes and two lifts that will connect Croda Rossa with Monte Elmo in the future. In any case, those who feel confident on the slopes and stop to rest in Moso will enjoy skiing on quite steep and interesting slopes. In addition, Moso has a good children’s park and a 5.5 km long toboggan run.

From the top of Kroda-Rossa from an altitude of 2000 meters, an easy and long “blue” trail has been laid to the skiing area Passo Monte Croce, which is unlikely to attract foreign tourists. The trails are difficult, short, the total length hardly exceeds a couple of kilometers, the height difference is 1656-1807 meters. This place is mainly designed for training professional athletes.

Between the villages of Moso and Cesto, on the opposite slope from Monte Elmo, there is a very tiny Baldheim area. With a length of trails of 1.5 km and a height difference of about 200 meters, Baldheim can attract only those who are completely afraid of high mountains, but really want to learn to ski.

The Monte Baranca ski area is located in the very center of the AltaPusteria. There are only 8 km of easy trails with a height difference of 1175-1610 meters. Monte Baranchi has excellent conditions for learning – both children and adults. The slopes are mainly “blue”, served by one chairlift and four tow lifts. There are a couple of “red” slopes, where those who have already mastered the basics of skiing can hone their skills. The slope is equipped with lighting for night skiing. At the foot of the skiing area is the village of San Candido.

Italien Südtirol Dolomiten Grödner-Tal Blick vom Grödner Joch auf den Sellastock

A little further west is the town of Dobbiaco. At altitudes of 1200-1410 meters, 4 km of trails are laid here – “blue” and “red”. A good place to learn and improve your skills.

The westernmost ski area – Braies offers only 2 km of short slopes of medium difficulty. This place is not of interest to tourists.

You can buy ski passes for individual ski areas or for the entire Alta Pusteria resort. In addition, Alta Pusteria is included in the combined Dolomiti Superski ski pass, which offers skiing in 12 resorts and 1,200 km of slopes in the Dolomite Alps.

That is why Alta Pusteria is considered an ideal place for tourists who are confident on skis, as well as suitable for beginner skiers and lovers of calm skiing. The season lasts from December to April.

How to get there

The Alta Pusteria ski resort is located in the northeast of Italy – in the province of Alto Adige (South Tyrol).

Distances to Bolzano – 105 km, Innsbruck – 130 km, Venice – 195 km, Verona – 255 km.

Sights

Of course, the main natural attraction of Alta Pusteria is the three famous peaks – Tre Cime, about 3 thousand meters high, which are part of the national park. In the Austrian town of Hochpustertal, you can visit the medieval square and the fairy-tale castle of Heinfels, towering above the city center. Also worth noting are the ancient churches of the region, for example, San Vito, built in the 14th century, San Candido and the church in Ferrara di Braies with its 18th century frescoes. And on the shores of Lake Bryce stands a church built at the beginning of the 20th century and notable for the fact that it once housed prisoners from the Dachau concentration camp.

Après-ski and infrastructure

Shops, restaurants, pizzerias, mountain rifugios, bars, taverns, post offices, banks, gas stations, museums, nightclubs, cinemas.

For accommodation, the towns of San Candido, Sesto, Sillian or Hochpustertal are usually chosen.

Hotel Kreuzberg Monte Croce 4-star hotel

Hotel Passo Monte Croce is set in 2 buildings. Guests can enjoy an indoor pool and a wellness centre, and the ski lift is right in front of the hotel. Most rooms have a balcony.

Hotel Passo Monte Croce offers beautiful views of the Dolomites. Just 6 km away is the village of Sexten, part of the Alta Pusteria ski area with over 77 km of slopes.

The second building of the hotel features an indoor pool and a wellness centre with sauna, Turkish bath and hot tub.

Hotel Passo Monte Croce’s restaurant serves delicious traditional cuisine, and the wine cellar offers over 300 wines. In fine weather, tables can be set on the terrace overlooking the mountains.

The hotel has a ski and snowboard school and equipment rental.

Apparthotel Germania 3 star hotel

This family-run aparthotel is located in Dobbiaco, in the Alta Pusteria region, and offers unique views of the Dolomites. Its mountain-style building features a wellness centre and rooms and apartments with country-style décor.

The Apparthotel Germania offers rooms and apartments with warm parquet floors and modern tiled bathrooms. The apartments come with a fully equipped kitchenette with dining area.

The spa includes a sauna, hot tub and Turkish bath. There is also a gym.

The Germania Aparthotel’s restaurant serves local specialities. Breakfast is a varied buffet.

Hotel Tolderhof 3-star hotel

Hotel Tolderhof is a 10-minute drive from Inniken and 3 km from the nearest ski area. The Sextner Dolomites ski lift is 1.5 km away. It offers free WiFi and a spa area with a sauna and a Turkish bath.

The rooms at the hotel are decorated in Alpine style and feature wood-beamed ceilings. They feature a balcony with mountain views, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels, and a private bathroom.

A buffet breakfast with homemade cakes, snacks, and sweets is served in the morning. The Tolderhof’s à la carte restaurant serves Tyrolean and international cuisine.

Hiking and mountain bike trails start right outside the hotel. Lienz is a 30-minute drive from the Tolderhof. Alta Pusteria is particularly popular with families with small children. There are always discounts for them, and in a number of hotels, kids are regularly entertained by professional animators. Excellent conditions for a quiet, peaceful holiday, combined with well-groomed slopes and a rich excursion program, allow resort guests to spend time with maximum benefit and in a comfortable environment, leaving their everyday worries to the ski resort staff. Throughout the season, many winter sports fans come to Alta Pusteria, supporting the high reputation and authority of this resort region.

Sports opportunities in the region

Cross-country skiing. Alta Pusteria with the villages of Sesto, San Candido, Dobbiaco and Villabaza Brice offers a total of 200 km of cross-country skiing trails. It is part of the largest Dolomiti Nordicski region (1,300 km of trails). Illuminated trails at night (from December 23, daily from 6 pm to 8 pm). The cross-country skiing stadium in Dobbiaco is the ideal place for cross-country skiing enthusiasts. Hiking. For those who like to walk, there are scenic routes prepared for winter walks. Snowshoe hikes. Here you can find the proposed hiking trails in Alta Pusteria. Sledding and ice skating. Alta Pusteria is a family ski resort. Here you will find several playgrounds for children. For example, the WinterVorderWorld on the Prat di Croda Rossa in Sesto: giant snowmen and ice castles are famous far beyond the resort, a 5-kilometer adventure toboggan run, reindeer sleigh rides and a playground for children. Ice rinks in Sesto, San Candido, Dobbiaco and Villabaza provide a good alternative to downhill skiing. The resort has grounds for curling, tennis, squash and climbing. Interesting family rides on horse-drawn sleighs. SPA and wellness. Indoor pool, various types of saunas, jacuzzi, treatment with alpine herbs, fitness rooms, massage, cosmetic procedures and much more.

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