One week in Val Gardena (Ortisei)--is this too much?

We have spent as much as 4 weeks in Ortisei at one time and never ran out of hikes. We go every year (except 2020) for about two weeks now. We hike 6 out of 7 days on average, usually easy to moderate hikes.

There is a shuttle bus from Bulla to Ortisei. You’ll find that easier than finding parking everywhere and the lodging will give you a pass for the local bus system. Very handy and easy to get to all three towns as well as to Bolzano by bus. Locally they want you to park at your lodging and take the buses to avoid crowded roads and pollution. As with anywhere in Italy you’ll have to avoid ZTLs. There is a frequent bus between Castlerotto and Ortisei as well so San Michele location would be fine.

We like to spend two nights every trip in the Alpe di Siusi. That might be a fun option for you.

As Laurel said, you probably wouldn’t go wrong with either one, but I would go for Bulla. We have spent 4 nights in Ortisei on our own and 2 nights in Castelrotto as part of a RS tour. It was much easier to get to hikes from Ortisei, and the town itself is larger should you be looking for meals. On our first day in town it was raining, so the inn keeper where we were staying (which Laurel recommended) suggested we go to Merano, which we did. We had a car. It was interesting for a walk around and lunch. On our way to Ortisei our very first day, we stopped at Bolzano to see the Ice Man, walk around, and have lunch. Both are options for a rainy day. Luckily, our other 2 full days we had great weather and hiked on the Alpe di Suissi one day and took the Resciesa tram the next to hike across the mountaintops. Lots of hikes we didn’t do. I’d love to go back.

South Tirol (Suedtirol) website that has all the travel information on bus routes, etc you could need.

https://www.suedtirolmobil.info/en/journey-planner/network-maps-to-download

Thank you. I am apprehensive about using public transit, due to Covid. I know it's convenient and economical, but I just don't feel comfortable. I will be exposed to the public when in restaurants or in gondolas, but I still wanna minimize exposure.

I am browsing Tirol.com about the Austrian Alps, as I tried to find a transit point for a 2-night stay between Italy and Munich. Some of the cattle drives have been cancelled.

No a week is not too long for this incredibly beautiful area.

Thanks for the replies so far.

So, after Val Gardena, I will have to kill 2 nights somewhere in South Tirol or Tirol before driving to Munich. Is Vipiteno a good choice? It is almost up there bordering Austria. There is a river gorge (Gilfenklamm) nearby. Alternatively, I can stay on the Austrian side, but not sure where.

Am I correct in thinking that food is far better on the Italian side?

I’d say the food is nearly identical in the Dolomites and Austria. I’ve spent over 75 nights in Austria, mainly in the Alps and about a dozen nights in the Dolomites. Very similar in my food experience. Both are wonderful as a whole.

I’d pick Hall in Tirol or Mittenwald as my stop from the Dolomites to Munich. Been to Vipiteno twice and while very charming, it was worth a few hours each visit. IMO

Paul

Thanks, Paul.
What do you think of Chiusa? Or shall I visit Chiusa while staying in Val Gardena? What about Brixen? Söll or its vicinity is another option because my dates will coincide with the cattle drive there. However, given Covid, it may be cancelled.

After these two nights, I will have to spend one more stop en route to Munich airport. I am thinking of Oberaudorf, which is a "highway stop" type town. There is one restaurant in town highly rated for its haxe. My spouse loves haxe. Are there other towns that you think are worth stopping at?

We thought Chiusa was charming. It’s right by the Val Gardena and a very easy trip from anywhere in that area of the Dolomites.

Between the Dolomites (Val Gardena area) and Munich I’d say my favorites are the ok’d town of Hall in Tirol (stayed here five times) and surrounding area (Ambras Palace by Innsbruck was interesting and dinner at the Burg Tavern in a castle in Hall is always our favorite), Mittenwald, Germany (stayed here three times in October) or going “west” route to Munich, Fuessen and or the “Zugspitze Arena” area just south of Fuessen. We found Fuessen to be charming in October. Stayed here twice.

And echo Monastery is a worthwhile stop on your way to Munich.

Paul

Brixen is also a very easy trip from the Val Gardena. Nice enough pedestrian zone and we liked the Diocean Museum, even though we’re not “museum people”.