Val di Fiemme – Dolomites, Lagorai & Alpine activities

Val di Fiemme in Trentino combines the Dolomite peaks of Latemar and the Pale di San Martino with the wilder Lagorai range. Cavalese and Predazzo are the main centres for exploring a valley known for hiking, skiing, Nordic sports, cycling and extensive spruce forests.

Selected accommodations in the Dolomites

Hotel Petrus - Brunico in South Tyrol

Hotel Petrus

Brunico in South Tyrol
4.8 Excellent
704 Reviews
  • Refined and charming hotel
  • Bright and elegant rooms
  • Swimming pool and sauna area
  • Excellent cuisine and wine cellar
  • At the foot of the Kronplatz ski area
from 140.00 € per night
Excelsior Dolomites Life Resort - San Vigilio di Marebbe in South Tyrol

Excelsior Dolomites Life Resort

San Vigilio di Marebbe in South Tyrol
4.9 Excellent
800 Reviews
  • Directly on the ski slope at Kronplatz
  • Adults-only Sky Spa with infinity pool
  • Family-friendly wellness oasis
  • ¾ gourmet board
  • Varied active programme
from 172.00 € per night
Green Lake Hotel Weiher - Kronplatz in South Tyrol

Green Lake Hotel Weiher

Kronplatz in South Tyrol
4.8 Excellent
578 Reviews
  • Stylish rooms & suites
  • Gourmet hotel
  • Natural bathing pond
  • “Pure Nature” water & sauna worlds
  • Active holidays in summer & winter
from 114.00 € per night
Hotel Torgglerhof - Bressanone in South Tyrol

Hotel Torgglerhof

Bressanone in South Tyrol
4.7 Excellent
4540 Reviews
  • Fantastic view of the Eisacktal Valley
  • Wellness area with indoor & outdoor pool
  • Culinary delights with South Tyrolean specialities
  • Many highlights for families
  • BrixenCard included
from 90.00 € per night
Browse & request

Val di Fiemme: between the Dolomites & Lagorai

One reason Val di Fiemme is so varied is its location. The pale rock formations of the Dolomites rise on one side, while the darker Lagorai mountains create a contrasting landscape of forests, alpine lakes and less developed high-altitude terrain.

Two protected areas are within easy reach: Paneveggio-Pale di San Martino Nature Park and Monte Corno Nature Park. This makes the valley a useful base for travellers who want to combine well-known Dolomite scenery with quieter forest and mountain landscapes.

Cavalese or Predazzo: where should you start?

Cavalese, at around 1,000 m, is a good base for the western and central part of the valley. A cable car connects the area directly with Alpe Cermis, used for skiing in winter and hiking in summer. The historic centre also provides an insight into a feature that is unusual among Alpine destinations: the valley's centuries-old tradition of collective forest management.

Predazzo is particularly convenient for the eastern side of Val di Fiemme. From here, visitors have access to Latemar Dolomites and Bellamonte-Alpe Lusia, while Paneveggio and the Pale di San Martino are also nearby.

For first-time visitors, this distinction is useful: Cavalese is particularly convenient for Alpe Cermis, while Predazzo puts Latemar, Bellamonte and Paneveggio within easy reach.

What to do in Val di Fiemme in summer

Hiking: choose between Dolomite rock and Lagorai wilderness

Val di Fiemme offers everything from family walks to high-altitude hikes, via ferratas and multi-day routes. Summer lifts at Alpe Cermis, Latemar Dolomites and Bellamonte-Alpe Lusia make it possible to begin many walks higher in the mountains.

The landscape should influence the choice of route. Latemar and the Pale di San Martino are suited to visitors looking for the characteristic limestone scenery of the Dolomites. The Lagorai range offers a different experience, with extensive mountain terrain, forests and alpine lakes.

For an easier nature excursion, Paneveggio is particularly accessible. The Marciò Trail is only 1.9 km long and passes through the forest near the park visitor centre. Longer options include the approximately 12.3 km route through Val Venegia, beneath the Pale di San Martino.

Cycling along the Avisio

Cyclists can follow the valley floor beside the Avisio river instead of tackling steep mountain passes. The Fiemme and Fassa Dolomites cycle route connects villages, meadows and woodland and continues from Val di Fiemme towards Val di Fassa.

It is possible to ride for almost 50 km from Molina di Fiemme towards Canazei, with a relatively moderate difference in altitude compared with the surrounding mountain roads. During the summer season, a bike shuttle provides an option for covering part of the return journey. This makes cycling one of the easiest ways to see several parts of the valley during a single day.

Winter: two very different ways to ski

Val di Fiemme is unusual because alpine skiing and Nordic skiing are both major parts of its winter identity.

The Val di Fiemme/Obereggen area offers more than 110 km of alpine slopes distributed between Alpe Cermis, Latemar Dolomites, Bellamonte-Alpe Lusia, Passo Rolle and Oclini. Rather than one continuous ski mountain, visitors can choose different areas according to where they stay and the type of skiing they prefer.

Cross-country skiing is just as characteristic of the valley. There are more than 150 km of trails, with important Nordic centres at Lago di Tesero and Passo di Lavazè. The famous Marcialonga cross-country race also passes through Val di Fiemme.

Predazzo and Lago di Tesero have repeatedly hosted international Nordic competitions of ski jumping, cross-country skiing and Nordic combined, underlining the valley's importance for Nordic sport.

Visitors who do not ski can explore the winter landscape on snowshoes or prepared winter walking routes.

The Forest of Violins: what makes Val di Fiemme different

Forests are more than a backdrop here. The Magnifica Comunità di Fiemme, whose origins date to the 12th century, developed a distinctive system for managing the valley's communal land and natural resources. The institution still manages an extensive woodland heritage today.

This relationship between people and forests can also be experienced at Paneveggio-Pale di San Martino Nature Park. Around Paneveggio, approximately 2,700 hectares of spruce forest are protected. The area is commonly known as the Forest of Violins because selected resonance spruce has long been valued for the soundboards of stringed instruments.

The Paneveggio visitor centre provides an easy introduction to this landscape. Nearby are a deer enclosure and the short Marciò nature trail. This combination of communal forest history, resonance wood and living mountain culture gives Val di Fiemme an identity that goes beyond hiking and skiing.

Practical tips for Val di Fiemme

Which part of the valley should you choose?

Choose Cavalese if access to Alpe Cermis and a historic town centre are priorities. Predazzo is a practical choice for Latemar, Bellamonte–Alpe Lusia and excursions towards Paneveggio. Smaller villages such as Tesero, Ziano di Fiemme and Panchià provide alternatives between the two main centres.

When is the best time to visit?

Summer is best for hiking, cycling and exploring the nature parks, with mountain lifts providing access to higher terrain. Winter is the key season for alpine and cross-country skiing. Late spring and autumn can be quieter, but visitors should check mountain-lift and hut opening periods because services outside the main seasons are more limited.

Why choose Val di Fiemme?

Val di Fiemme is particularly suitable for travellers who want variety rather than a single-resort holiday. Within the same valley, visitors can ski at several mountain areas, cycle beside the Avisio, hike below Dolomite peaks, explore the Lagorai range and discover forests that have been managed by the local community for centuries. For families and mixed groups, this variety is especially useful: a holiday does not have to revolve around one sport or one mountain area.