Italian Alps: 10 Stunning Hiking Destinations

The Italian Alps arch across six regions of Northern Italy: Aosta Valley, Piedmont, Lombardy, Trentino – South Tyrol, Veneto, and Friuli Venezia Giulia.

The northwest of Italy is dominated by massive glaciated peaks and the highest mountains in the alpine chain (e.g. Mont Blanc, Monte Rosa, Matterhorn) while the northeast of Italy is defined by craggy limestone massifs.

The geological and cultural diversity of the Italian Alps is one of the reasons why hiking in Northern Italy is so interesting.

Visit Aosta Valley, and you’ll be surrounded by snow-capped crystalline peaks and medieval castles. Visit German- and Ladin-speaking South Tyrol-Trentino, and you’ll step into the heart of the Dolomites, where jagged peaks collide with dreamy alpine pastures. 

In this guide to hiking in the Italian Alps, we’re highlighting our favorite destinations, hiking trails, and places to stay.

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1. Stelvio National Park

Stelvio National Park (Parco Nazionale dello Stelvio/Nationalpark Stilfserjoch) is a nature reserve straddling the regions of Lombardy and South Tyrol-Trentino. The park encompasses almost the entire Ortler – Cevedale Group, a prominent mountain range named after Mount Ortler (3905 m). 

You can access the park from Val Martello/Martelltal Valley, Solda/Sulden, Stelvio/Stilfs, Trafoi, Val d’Ultimo/Ultental Valley, and other valleys. 

We ventured to Stelvio National Park in order to hike part of the Ortler High Trail, a multi-day hiking trail that wraps around the Ortler Massif. Here’s our Ortler High Trail trekking guide. 

If you’re visiting the region on a road trip, we highly recommend hiking from Stelvio Pass, the highest paved mountain pass in Italy, to Rifugio Forcola/Furkelhütte along the Goldseeweg Trail. This easy path affords some of the best views of the Ortler Alps and you’ll be descending the whole time. 

For delicious food and views, stay at Hotel Bella Vista in Trafoi. From the village of Trafoi, take a bus to Stelvio Pass and hike 3 hours down to the Rifugio Forcola/Furkelhütte mountain hut. From the hut, descend back to Trafoi via the Trafoi Chairlift. Alternatively, you can ascend with the Trafoi Chairlift to Rifugio Forcola/Furkelhütte and do an out-and-back hike to Stelvio Pass. 

While you’re in Val Venosta, also check out the Solda Glacier Trail.

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2. Aosta Valley

Aosta Valley (Valle d’Aosta) is an autonomous region in Northern Italy, nestled between France, Switzerland, and the Piedmont region. Aosta is home to Roman ruins, medieval fortresses, and the highest mountains in the Alps. 

Hikers journey to Valle d’Aosta in order to hike at the foot of the mighty Mont Blanc massif. The world-famous Tour du Mont Blanc long-distance hiking trail circumnavigates the Mont Blanc massif, passing through Aosta Valley.

For easy-going day hikes, we recommend heading to the resort town of Courmayeur and hiking in Val Veny and Val Ferret. Take a look at stage 5 and stage 6 of the Tour du Mont Blanc for inspiration.

Another very popular hiking destination is Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy’s first national park dating back to 1922. From Aosta Valley, you can enter the park from Valle di Cogne, Valsavarenche, and Valle di Rhêmes. 

The park’s history is tied to the protection of ibex. In the mid-19th century, the ibex population was rapidly dwindling. Luckily, King Vittorio Emanuele II declared the alpine region a royal hunting reserve, thus safeguarding the population from extinction.

By 1922, the hunting reserve was donated to the Italian State, for the creation of Gran Paradiso National Park. Today, the park’s ibex population continues to flourish. While you’re out exploring the park’s valleys, keep your eyes out for herds of ibex.

Learn More: Best Things to Do in Aosta Valley, Italy

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Aosta Valley Hiking Base

Courmayeur

Midrange | Hotel Croux is advantageously located in the pedestrian zone of the Courmayeur town center, close to many shops and restaurants. Stay here for the location, clean private rooms (single, triple, family), and tasty breakfast. 

Midrange | Hotel Walser Courmayeur is a simple family-run hotel with a great restaurant, close to the center of town. You can book double/twin, triple, and quadruple rooms. The food is excellent. 

Midrange-Luxury | Villa Novecento Romantic Hotel – Estella Hotels Italia is a boutique hotel in Courmayeur, walking distance to the town center (8 minute walk). Guests love the spacious rooms, the ambience, the helpful staff, and the meals (breakfast and dinner). 

Luxury | Gran Baita Hotel & Wellness Resort is a welcoming hotel with an on-site restaurant, bar, and wellness area (heated indoor-outdoor swimming pool, sauna, hot tub). Rooms are rustic, yet elegant. The hotel is a 10-minute walk to the pedestrian zone of Courmayeur. Half board available. 

Luxury | Hotel Auberge De La Maison is the best hotel in Courmayeur. Rooms are decorated in a refined-rustic style. Views are phenomenal. And, you can enjoy top-rated Valdostana cuisine in a wood-paneled dining room, warmed by a large fireplace. Located in the Entrèves neighborhood, this hotel is also only 300 meters from the Sky Way Mont Blanc cable car. Guests have access to a heated outdoor pool, sauna, Turkish bath, and solarium.

Look for accommodation in Courmayeur.

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3. Pale di San Martino Group

Pale di San Martino is a majestic Dolomites mountain group in Trentino and Belluno, between the Primiero, Valle del Biois, and Agordino Valleys.

About 300 million years ago, the Pale di San Martino Group was an atoll, a ring-shaped coral reef, in the Tethys Ocean (source). The mountains you see today are these ancient coral reefs, which have been weathered and shaped by the elements over millennia.

For hiking, base yourself in San Martino di Castrozza, a resort town in Primiero Valley. Pale di San Martino towers above the sloping Pirimiero Valley, forming a vertiginous wall of towering peaks. At sunset, these dolomite peaks burn like flames.

Directly from the town center, you can hop on the Col Verde gondola followed by the Rosetta cableway to access the central plateau of the range. The lunar-like Altopiano delle Pale di San Martino looks like a bleached-stone ocean.

For the best views of the range, we recommend hiking from the Passo Rolle mountain pass to the Baita Segantini alpine pasture hut. This easy hike is best tackled in the late afternoon.

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Pale di San Martino Hiking Trails

Easy Day Hike | Baita Segantini

Difficult Day Hikes | Pala di San Martino Circuit and Val Venegia to Rifugio Mulaz

Challenging Day Hike | Cima della Vezzana

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Pale di San Martino Hiking Base

San Martino di Castrozza, Trentino

Budget | Residence Taufer is an affordable apartment-style accommodation, located 1 km from the center of San Martino di Castrozza. Apartments are clean and fully equipped, with all necessary appliances to make your stay here comfortable. The check-in/check-out is easy and uncomplicated. There’s a welcoming bar downstairs, where you can order espresso, drinks, and snacks throughout the day. And, the views of the Pala Group are sublime!

Midrange | Hotel Vienna is a welcoming family-run hotel, set in the heart of San Martino di Castrozza. This 3-star hotel delivers gorgeous mountain views, cozy and spacious rooms, and a great breakfast. The staff is very friendly and helpful.

Luxury | Sayonara Nature & Wellness Hotel is a top-rated luxury hotel in San Martino di Castrozza. Stay here for the spacious, alpine-modern rooms, the rich and varied breakfast buffet, and the 1000 m2 spa and wellness area. The hotel is a 5-minute walk to the center of town. The hotel’s on-site restaurant is open daily for dinner.

Look for accommodation in San Martino di Castrozza.

Learn More: Top Things to Do in San Martino di Castrozza

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4. Ampezzo Dolomites

The Ampezzo Dolomites, often called the Cortina Dolomites, encompass the mountain groups that surround the town of Cortina d’Ampezzo in the Ampezzo Valley: Sorapiss Group, Tofane Group, Cristallo Group, and Croda da Lago.

Ampezzo Valley, the upper part of Boite Valley, is located in the Italian Province of Belluno in Veneto.

Harboring some of the most iconic attractions of the Dolomites, including Lake Sorapis, Lake Federa, and Cinque Torri, the Cortina Dolomites are a top priority for most people visiting the Dolomites the first time.

The best time to explore the region’s many hiking trails and via ferrata routes is in early fall. The mountains are less busy, the weather is usually stable, and the colors are extraordinary.

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Ampezzo Dolomites Hiking Trails

Moderate Day Hikes | Lago di Sorapis, Lago delle Baste, and Passo Giau to Mondeval

Difficult Day Hikes | Croda da Lago Circuit and Tofana di Roses Circuit

Learn More: Best Hikes in Cortina d’Ampezzo

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Ampezzo Dolomites Hiking Base

Cortina d’Ampezzo

Budget | Hotel Meuble Oasi is a guesthouse set in the town center of Cortina d’Ampezzo, walking distance to the pedestrian zone and bus station. Book this 2-star hotel for the unbeatable price, location, spotless ooms, and on-site parking. 

Midrange | Baita Fraina is a charming B&B with six rooms with balconies, 3km from Cortina’s town center (5 minute drive). This guesthouse is also home to a Michelin recommended à la carte restaurant, which serves regional cuisine. Stay here for the mountain views, the affordability, and the food.

Midrange | Hotel Villa Alpina is a centrally-located 3-star-superior hotel housed in a historic villa. Rooms are comfortable and feature parquet floors and alpine furnishings. The room rate includes breakfast and outdoor parking. 

Midrange | Ambra Cortina Luxury&Fashion Hotel is a lovely boutique hotel with 24 thematic rooms and a bar in the very center of Cortina. Guests are treated to free on-site parking and an excellent breakfast. 

Top Choice – Luxury | Camina Suite & Spa is a 4-star boutique hotel, 1 km north of Cortina’ town center. This intimate hotel with 12 rooms offers alpine-style suites with comfy beds and ample closet space. Rooms are equipped with nespresso machines, air-conditioning, and soundproofing. We loved the high-quality breakfast and complimentary spa (3 saunas, relaxation zone, and showers). Read our Camina Suite & Spa hotel review. 

Top Choice – Luxury | HOTEL de LËN is a fresh-faced luxury hotel in Cortina d’Ampezzo’s town center. Interiors blend natural and sustainable materials with fine furnishings to create a relaxing, yet refined atmosphere. The hotel restaurant showcases local Ampezzo flavors in unique and exciting ways. We loved the charming, enthusiastic staff, the rooftop spa (1 complimentary hour), and communal areas (living room, cocktail bar, and restaurant). Breakfast is included in the room rate. Parking is off-site and an extra charge. Read our Hotel de Len review.

Look for accommodation in Cortina d’Ampezzo.

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5. Puez-Odle Nature Park

Puez-Odle Nature Park (Naturpark Puez-Geisler in German) is located in South Tyrol between Val Gardena, Val Badia, and Val di Funes. The park comprises two prominent Dolomites mountain groups: the Odle Mountains and the Puez Mountains.

In 2009, Puez-Odle Nature Park was awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site status due to its scenic beauty and its geomorphological and geological significance. 

Home to some of the most instantly recognizable peaks in the Italian Alps, Puez-Odle Nature Park delights from every possible vantage point and trail. Atop Seceda, the Fermeda Peaks look like knives, ready to be wielded with precision. From the Val di Funes Alpine Pastures, the razor-sharp Odle spires look like jagged teeth, stabbing the sky. 

You can explore the park from multiple valleys: Val di Funes, Val Gardena, Val d’Anna, Val Badia, Val de Longiarù, Val d’Eores, Val de Chadul, and Vallunga. 

Read Next: Ultimate Guide to Puez-Odle Nature Park

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Puez Odle Hiking Trails

Val Gardena Day Hikes | Seceda to Rifugio Firenze/Regensburger Hütte (easy), Vallunga Valley and Val de Chedul (moderate), Resciesa Plateau to Seceda (difficult), Monte Pic and Seceda (moderate), Col dala Pieres (difficult), and Piz Duleda (difficult)

Alta Badia Day Hikes | Rifugio Puez: Across the Gherdenacia Plateau (moderate)

Val di Funes Day Hikes | Adolf Munkel Trail (easy), Rifugio Genova Circuit (moderate), and Tullen Summit (difficult)

Passo Gardena Day Hikes | Gran Cir (difficult) and Sass da Ciampac (moderate)

Passo delle Erbe Day Hikes | Sass de Putia Circuit (moderate)

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Puez Odle Hiking Base

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6. Sciliar-Catinaccio Nature Park

Sciliar-Catinaccio Nature Park (Naturpark Schlern-Rosengarten in German) encompases the Sciliar Massif, Catinaccio Group, and part of the Alpe di Siusi Plateau. 

Popular hiking destinations include the Sciliar plateau, Vajolet Towers, and Lake Antermoia.

This Italian Alps hiking destination is particularly appealing because of its many perfectly-positioned mountain huts.

The red-roofed Rifugio Alpe di Tires/Tierser Alpl is situated at the foot of the Denti di Terrarossa/Rosszähne peaks. Rifugio Bolzano/Schlernhaus sits atop the Sciliar plateau, facing the Catinaccio, Latemar, and Sassolungo mountain groups.

Rifugio Alberto/Gartlhütte is positioned at the base of the Vajolet Towers. And, Rifugio Passo Principe/Grasleitenpasshütte is wedged between Rosengartenspitze and Kesselkogel. 

You can approach the park from Val di Fassa, Alpe di Siusi, Eggental, Val Duron, and Val di Ciamin/Tschamintal. 

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Sciliar-Catinaccio Hiking Trails

3-Day Rosengarten Traverse, Carezza, Eggental

Rifugio Bolzano – Rifugio Alpe di Tires, Compaccio, Alpe di Siusi

Alpe di Siusi to Rifugio Alpe di Tires, Compaccio, Alpe di Siusi

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Sciliar-Catinaccio Hiking Base

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7. Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park

The UNESCO World Heritage Site Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park (Naturpark Fanes-Sennes-Prags in German) is bounded by Val Badia in the west, Val di Braies in the north, Valle di Landro to the east, and Val Travenanzes in the south. The park is characterized by rocky highlands surrounded by a ring of steep mountains. 

Dolomites visitors flock to this corner of the Italian Alps to behold the pearl of the Dolomites, Lago di Braies/Pragser Wildsee. 

Our favorite hiking destination in Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park is the romantic Armentara Plateau. Perfect for gentle strolling, the rolling meadows of Armentara extend to the base of the imposing Sasso delle Croce (Sas Dla Crusc, Kreuzkofel Gruppe) rock wall. 

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Fanes-Sennes-Braies Hiking Trails

Alta Badia Day Hikes | Rifugio Fanes and Rifugio Lavarella (moderate-difficult), Path of the Larches (easy), Armentara Meadows (easy),

Alta Pusteria Day Hikes | Hochalpenkopf (moderate) starting at Lago di Braies and Gaisl High Trail (moderate) and Monte Specie (easy) starting at Prato Piazza

Multi-Day Hikes | Alta Via 1, a long-distance hiking trail that starts at Lago di Braies

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Fanes-Sennes-Braies Hiking Base

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8. Sexten Dolomites

The Sesto/Sexten Dolomites form the northeasternmost group of the Italian Dolomites and are located in the provinces of South Tyrol and Belluno. These mountains are bounded by Puster Valley in the north, Sesto Valley in the east, Val d’Ansiei in the south, and Höhlensteintal in the west.

The most popular hiking trail in the Sesto Mountains is the circuit trail around Tre Cime di Lavaredo/Drei Zinnen, which are three colossal peaks located on the border between South Tyrol and Belluno. The trail starts at Rifugio Auronzo, which is accessible by the Rifugio Auronzo – Tre Cime di Lavaredo toll road.

During the First World War, battles were fought in the Sexten Dolomites between the Italian and Austrian troops. For years, the opposing sides tried to defend and expand their positions under the most adverse conditions.

They braved high altitudes, the snow, avalanches, supply difficulties, and of course loneliness. Evidence of the war is still ever-present throughout these mountains. To learn more about WWI, consider visiting the Bellum Aquilarum open-air museum.

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Sexten Dolomites Hiking Trails

Viewpoint Hikes | Cadini di Misurina Viewpoint Hike (easy)

Day Hikes | Val Fiscalina valley walk (easy), Tre Cime di Lavaredo Circuit Trail (easy-moderate), Torre dei Scarperi circuit trail (moderately difficult), and Sentiero Bonacossa North Trail (difficult)

Multi-Day Hikes | 3-day Tre Cime di Lavaredo Trek, starting in Val Fiscalina, South Tyrol

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Sexten Dolomites Hiking Base

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9. Sella Group

The Sella Group is a flat-topped massif bounded by Val Badia, Val Gardena, Val di Fassa, and Valle di Fodom.

Our favorite hike in the Sella Group is Cima Pisciadu, which starts at Passo Gardena, the mountain pass between Val Gardena and Val Badia. After a gentle beginning, the trail quickly ascends the rock-laden Val Setus to Lake Pisciadu. From here, it’s one more hour to the summit.

Though hiking in Sella is thrilling, the best views of the massif are from afar. We recommend hiking to Monte Pic or Gran Cir, for the most memorable views of beautiful Sella. 

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Sella Group Hiking Base

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10. Sassolungo Group

The Sassolungo (Langkofel in German, Saslonch in Ladin) Group is a compact mountain group which is located between Val Gardena, South Tyrol, and Val di Fassa, Trentino, in the Dolomites.

The Sassolungo mountains are bordered by the mammoth Sella Group to the east and the Catinaccio/Rosengarten Mountains to the west. This group is named after its most prominent peak: Sassolungo/Langkofel/Saslonsch (3181 meters). 

There are so many wonderful ways to enjoy these mountains. You can hike the Sassolungo Circuit Trail, which wraps around the whole group, passing a series of huts along the way.

You can climb up to the summit of Sass Piatto (2969 meters) via the intermediate via ferrata Oskar Schuster.

But, perhaps, the most memorable view of Sassolungo and Sasso Piatto is from the Alpe di Siusi plateau.

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Sassolungo Group Hiking Base

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