Using public transportation, just how difficult is it to see the scenerary and take some easy hikes in the Val Gardena Area? I am looking at basing either at Bolzano, Casteltotto, or Ortisei. My travel partner is concerned about having enough things to do / see in the evenings or if we run into some rainy weather. Most likely going in Aug or Sep.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16219 posts
Without a car definitely ORTISEI in the Val Gardena. Hands down!
Bolzano is bigger, but too far. Castelrotto is too small and less central to everything. Neither is in the Dolomites, Ortisei is.
Posted by
Washington DC
28453 posts
Bolzano is an attractive city, but it's in the valley and most definitely doesn't benefit from mountain weather. In other words, it can be miserably hot. And many of the local hotels are not air conditioned because they incorrectly believe they don't need a/c.
I'd rather gamble on having good weather for outdoor activities. It will be easy enough to hop on a bus down to Bolzano if you're unlucky. If the weather is wet but not dreadful, you can get a bus heading beyond Ortisei. Just pick up the comprehensive transportation schedule booklet from the tourist office upon your arrival so you'll have all the options at your fingertips.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16219 posts
Just noticed now you are traveling in August.
Bolzano sits at the bottom of the Adige Valley. In spite of being surrounded by mountains it's in a hole that in summer becomes a hot infernal pit oven. Bolzano is one of the hottest cities in Italy, just like Florence, which also sits at the bottom of a hole. Don't stay in Bolzano.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11841 posts
Ortisei, Santa Christina, or Selva in the Val Gardena. At the risk of overselling it, Ortisei is the cutest. From there, you have access via gondola to the magnificent Alpe di Siusi as well as the Puez Odle. If it rains in the AM, the afternoon will be nice, and vice versa. We have never had a day be a complete bust due to weather there and we have gone annually since 2012.
Your lodging will give you a pass for the local buses for the duration of your stay. You can take a bus from the center of Ortisei to the other little towns for dining or to catch a different gondola to the higher hiking trails. In Ortisei the gondolas (2) and a funicular are all walkable from main accommodations.
Ortisei also has a lot of good restaurants and often some nightly entertainment. See the events page here. And the center is car free and just made for the evening passegiatta.
Posted by
OP
84 posts
Thank you all for the timely and very informative feedback!
Posted by
Narberth, PA
1293 posts
Wow, Roberto. Thanks for the explanation re Bolzano. I was there a few years ago in July, and it was miserable and sweltering. I thought maybe it was just a fluke, but I will not repeat that experience that time of year again.
Posted by
Pleasant Hill, CA, USA
473 posts
We stayed in Selva. It's at the highest elevation in the valley so it tends to be cooler. No place in the Val Gardena has air-conditioning. We were there for five days in June and plan to go back for 10 days in June next summer. It's very organized with a great bus and lift system. A pass is included in your hotel stay. Can't wait to return.
Posted by
Colorado
388 posts
Hi there!
I wanted to add my 2 cents since I've been doing research for a trip to the area in September. I picked Ortisei for the reasons the other folks gave. And I'm so glad to give help (I've been doing a lot of taking!)
I am booked to stay at Stua Catores: http://www.stuacatores.com/en/Default.asp
And I just so happen to have open in my browser right now, the bus schedules for the area, which may be helpful!
Routes: http://www.sii.bz.it/sites/default/files/netzplan_a3_6.pdf
Specific route time tables: http://www.sii.bz.it/en/siipdfOldtimetables
Routes to/out of Ortisei: 350/351/170/471 (there might be a few more, I'm still learning bus schedules).
Have a great time!
Melissa
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16219 posts
Temperatures in Bolzano in the last week have been steadily in the 30s centigrade (90s F), so you are warned. With the cool Dolomites mountains so close I'd never make the mistake to stay in Bolzano in summer again (I was stupid enough to do so a few decades ago).
Posted by
OP
84 posts
Melissa, thanks for the info. Looks like a good hotel choice.
Posted by
Boston, MA
1832 posts
Another vote for Ortisei
There are definitely hotels in the Val Gardena area with Air Conditioning.
We stayed at the Hotel Genziana in the lovely town of Ortisei which was a great hotel, very luxurious. It has air conditioning. Not inexpensive but I thought a good value considering the amenities and with the meal plan (dinners and breakfast included and both are excellent)
Nice swimming pool and spa indoors should it rain with actual free services offered in the spa (don't think I have ever stayed at a hotel where there were free spa services ; some of the options must have been extra but we didn't pay anything for what we did)
In Ortisei there are a few luxury hotels, some far fancier than the Hotel Genziana so I am certain it is not the only place around with AC.