Corvara in Badia

Updated October 2026 · Sources: Alta Badia tourist board, Dolomiti Superski, Maratona dles Dolomites, Wikipedia

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Corvara in Badia is the village at the head of Val Badia, in South Tyrol (Alto Adige), the German- and Ladin-speaking province of Bolzano in the Italian Dolomites. The centre sits at 1,568 m, between the Sassongher and the Sella massif. Around 1,400 people live in the municipality, which includes the hamlets of Colfosco (1,645 m) and Pescosta. The nearest railway station, Brunico, is about 37 km away; Bolzano is about 70 km over the Gardena Pass.

Corvara is a Ladin village: Ladin, a language that grew out of the Latin spoken in the valleys around the Sella, is official here alongside Italian and German. The old German name is Kurfar, rarely used today. Together with Colfosco, La Villa, San Cassiano, Badia and La Val, Corvara makes up Alta Badia, one of the ski areas of the Dolomiti Superski.

In winter you are right on the Sella Ronda ski circuit, with 130 km of slopes in the valley. In summer two Dolomite passes are a few kilometres away, Piz Boè and the Sassongher are there to climb, and in early July the Maratona dles Dolomites cycling race finishes in the village. Italy’s first chairlift opened here in 1946.

Corvara has no old town: it grew with tourism, around its old church and the lift stations. What you come to see are the mountains, which you reach on foot or by gondola straight from the village.

The village centre

The centre runs along the main street, between the square, shops, hotels and the valley stations of the Boè and Col Alt gondolas. The Boè run ends right next to the centre, so in winter you ski back into the village. In the evening there are bars, restaurants and an ice rink.

Church of St Catherine

Corvara’s oldest church stands on the road to the Col Alt, surrounded by a small cemetery. First recorded in 1347 and consecrated in 1452, it is late Gothic. Inside is the village’s most precious piece: a winged altarpiece from 1520, made by the workshop of Ruprecht Potsch, the only well-preserved altar of its kind in the churches of Val Badia. One panel shows the martyrdom of St Catherine.

A local legend credits the paintings to Titian; art historians assign them to the Danube School. Combine the visit with a ride up the Col Alt, which starts nearby.

Col Alt

The Col Alt is the grassy hill above the village to the east. This is where skiing in Alta Badia began: the valley’s first ski school opened in Corvara in 1934, a sledge lift was built on the Col Alt in 1938, and Italy’s first chairlift followed in 1946. Today an 8-seater gondola goes up.

In winter it is the gateway to the Pralongià and San Cassiano slopes. In summer, easy trails start at the top station and cross the meadows facing the Sassongher and the Sella.

Lech de Boè and the Boè gondola

From the centre, the Boè gondola climbs in a few minutes to about 2,200 m, onto the Crep de Mont pastures. From there, a 10 to 30 minute easy walk takes you to the Lech de Boè, a small mountain lake at 2,275 m beneath the walls of the Sella. If you are looking for the “lake of Corvara”, this is it: there is no lake in the village.

It is one of the easiest high-altitude walks and fine for children. Higher up, the Vallon chairlift reaches about 2,500 m, the starting point for Piz Boè (3,152 m), the highest summit of the Sella.

Sassongher

The Sassongher (2,665 m) is Corvara’s signature mountain: the three peaks on the municipal coat of arms recall it. It rises north of the village, on the edge of the Puez-Odle Nature Park. You see it from almost everywhere in Corvara and Colfosco; climbing it is a demanding hike with a protected final section.

Colfosco

Colfosco (Calfosch in Ladin, Kolfuschg in German) is Corvara’s hamlet at 1,645 m, the highest village in Alta Badia. It is quieter than Corvara, with houses scattered across the meadows below the Sassongher and the church of San Vigilio, Gothic in origin. The Col Pradat gondola leaves from the village towards the Puez-Odle park; in winter the slopes link you to the Gardena Pass.

An easy walk links Corvara and Colfosco through Pescosta, along the stream: allow about two hours there and back.

Puez-Odle Nature Park

The park covers around 10,700 hectares between Val Badia, Val Gardena and Val di Funes, and since 2009 it has been part of the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site. From Colfosco you enter its wildest part: the stony Puez plateau and the Sassongher group. The park visitor centre is in Val di Funes, not in Corvara.

Gardena Pass

The Gardena Pass (over 2,100 m) is about 10 km above Corvara, via Colfosco. It links Val Badia with Val Gardena and Selva, right beneath the walls of the Sella. In summer the road is one of the best-loved climbs for cyclists; in winter the pass is a stage of the Sella Ronda.

Campolongo Pass

The Campolongo Pass (1,875 m) is about 6 km south of Corvara. It is the lowest of the four passes around the Sella and separates Val Badia from Livinallongo and Arabba, already in the Veneto region. In winter it is a section of the Sella Ronda; in summer an easy pass by bike, with meadow trails suitable for children. About 3 km from Corvara, on the pass road, is Alta Badia’s 9-hole golf course.

From Corvara you ski on three levels: the Alta Badia slopes, the Sella Ronda circuit and the whole Dolomiti Superski, 1,200 km of slopes and around 450 lifts on a single pass. In 2026/27 the Alta Badia lifts open on 4 December 2026 and close on 4 April 2027, snow permitting.

Alta Badia ski area

Alta Badia has 130 km of slopes and 54 lifts, between about 1,300 and 2,800 m. Most runs are easy or intermediate: 74 km blue, 47 km red and 9 km black. It suits families and intermediate skiers, with long, wide runs between Corvara, Colfosco, La Villa and San Cassiano.

From Corvara the Boè gondola heads towards the Sella and the Vallon, the Col Alt towards Pralongià and San Cassiano, and from Colfosco you ski towards the Gardena Pass. The local black run is the Vallon, below the Sella walls. From Alta Badia you can also reach the scenic Lagazuoi descent from the Falzarego Pass. For 2026/27 a new run at Arlara and the replacement of some old drag lifts have been announced.

The Sella Ronda from Corvara

Corvara is one of the best places to start the Sella Ronda: you are already on the circuit, no shuttle needed. The tour circles the Sella massif over four passes (Gardena, Sella, Pordoi and Campolongo) and through four Ladin valleys: Badia, Gardena, Fassa and Livinallongo-Arabba. The official circuit is 39.6 km of slopes and lifts: about 4 hours clockwise (orange signs) and 4 hours 30 anticlockwise (green signs), not counting breaks.

You need to be comfortable on red runs and allow a full day: set off before 10 am and keep an eye on lift closing times, so you don’t get stuck on the wrong side of the Sella. For more, the Great War Ski Tour is over 80 km and rated difficult.

World Cup on the Gran Risa

The Gran Risa, Alta Badia’s World Cup slope, is not in Corvara but in La Villa, a few kilometres down the valley. In 2026 the Alta Badia World Cup runs from 19 to 21 December: opening party on the 19th, men’s giant slalom on the 20th and a men’s night slalom on the 21st. Check the programme before you go and book early: the valley is full that week.

Ski pass 2026/27

Official Dolomiti Superski prices: an adult day pass costs €89 in high season and €80 in low season; an adult 6-day pass in high season costs €453. New this year: the Dolomiti Superski Family can be bought online, at €43 per day. If you stay in the valley, the Alta Badia pass is cheaper but only valid on the local slopes. Up-to-date prices and dates on the Dolomiti Superski website.

Ski schools, cross-country and snowshoeing

Corvara and Colfosco have ski schools with instructors for adults and children, and beginner areas close to the village. For cross-country skiing there is the Alta Badia cross-country centre, with loops in Corvara and towards Colfosco; how many kilometres are open depends on the snow. On snowshoes you can walk the Col Alt meadows and towards Colfosco, or follow marked routes from the Gardena Pass down to Colfosco.

Before Christmas, on 13 December 2026, the Gourmet Skisafari takes you on a ski tour with dishes by Michelin-starred chefs served in the mountain huts.

In summer the Boè, Col Alt, Vallon and Col Pradat lifts run from June to September: check dates before you go. Times below are indicative, without breaks; above 2,500 m many trails cross rock and scree.

Climbing Piz Boè

With the Boè gondola and the Vallon chairlift you reach about 2,500 m. From there, trail 638 passes the Franz Kostner hut and climbs over scree and rock steps to the summit (3,152 m); a via ferrata is the alternative. Depending on the route, allow 3.5 to 6 hours. This is for experienced hikers: proper boots, stable weather and care on the descent through the Pigulerz gully.

The Sassongher from Colfosco

From Colfosco church, walk up the Val de Stella Alpina (trail 4), then trail 7 to the Forcella Sassongher; the final section to the summit (2,665 m) is exposed and protected by a cable. Allow about 1,100 m of ascent and 5 to 6 hours return. If you are uneasy with exposure, stop at the col. The Col Pradat gondola shortens the climb.

Puez hut from Col Pradat

From the Col Pradat top station (about 2,030 m) above Colfosco, trails 4A, 4 and 2 pass Lake Ciampac and the Forcella Ciampëi to the Puez hut at about 2,475 m. About 2 hours one way. As a loop returning via the Col de la Sone it is about 12 km and 4 hours 15 minutes.

Cycling and the Maratona dles Dolomites

Corvara is a cycling village: you sit between the Gardena and Campolongo passes and can ride the four Sella passes loop from the door. On Sellaronda Bike Day the passes are closed to cars from 9 am to 4 pm; in 2027 it is planned for Saturday 5 June: 53 km, about 1,600 m of climbing, no registration needed.

The Maratona dles Dolomites starts in La Villa and finishes in Corvara. The 40th edition is on Sunday 4 July 2027, on three routes: 55 km (the Sella loop), 106 km and 138 km. Places are allocated months ahead: details on the Maratona dles Dolomites website. For mountain bikes and e-bikes, the summer lifts take you up.

Ladin is a Romance language that grew out of the Latin spoken in the valleys around the Sella. In Val Badia it is the language of home: you see it on signs and in place names (Calfosch for Colfosco, Lech for lake). To learn the story of the Ladin valleys, visit the Museum Ladin Ciastel de Tor, in a castle at San Martino in Badia, about half an hour’s drive away: it usually opens from late spring to early November and closes in winter.

On the table you’ll find Ladin mountain food: canederli (bread dumplings), cajincì (filled pasta, sometimes fried), alpine cheeses and strudel. Alta Badia is also one of the Alps’ best-known valleys for fine dining: there are Michelin-starred restaurants, one of them in Corvara, and in winter some huts on the slopes serve dishes created by starred chefs.

• La Villa (about 5 km): the Gran Risa World Cup slope and the start of the Maratona.
• San Cassiano (about 10 km): a quiet village below the Lagazuoi and the Conturines, with a museum on the cave bear.
• Arabba (about 11 km over the Campolongo Pass): steep skiing and the Marmolada close by.
• Pordoi Pass: the cable car to the Sass Pordoi and the shortest route to Piz Boè.
• Val Gardena: Selva and Ortisei, over the Gardena Pass.
• Falzarego Pass and Lagazuoi: the Lagazuoi cable car and, in winter, the long scenic run down into Alta Badia.
• San Martino in Badia: the Museum Ladin Ciastel de Tor.
• Passo delle Erbe (1,987 m): the only road between Val Badia and the Isarco valley, below the Sass de Putia. The side towards Bressanone is closed in winter.

• Corvara centre: for skiers. Boè and Col Alt gondolas on foot, direct access to the Sella Ronda, shops, restaurants and nightlife. The priciest area.
• Colfosco: for families and a quieter stay. Slopes towards the Gardena Pass, Col Pradat gondola for summer hikes in the Puez-Odle park.
• Pescosta and around: between Corvara and Colfosco, quieter; use the ski bus or a car to reach the lifts.
• Without a car: stay in central Corvara, where the bus from Brunico stops and the lifts start.
• On a budget: apartments or B&Bs in La Villa and Badia, or come in low season (early December, January, March and June).

You’ll find hotels with spas, garni B&B-style hotels, apartments, guesthouses and farm stays. At Christmas, in February and for the Maratona, everything is booked months ahead.

By car

Take the A22 Brenner motorway to the Bressanone (Brixen) exit, follow the Val Pusteria towards Brunico as far as San Lorenzo, then drive up the whole of Val Badia to Corvara. Alternatively, exit at Chiusa, drive through Val Gardena and over the Gardena Pass. It is about 130 km from Innsbruck and about 70 km from Bolzano. In winter carry snow chains or fit winter tyres, especially over the pass.

By train

Corvara has no station. The nearest is Brunico, about 37 km away, on the Fortezza – San Candido line; at Fortezza you change from the Brenner line trains (Verona – Bolzano – Innsbruck); from Munich you travel via Innsbruck. From Brunico you continue by bus.

By bus

From Brunico, bus line 460 reaches Corvara in about an hour, climbing the length of Val Badia. In winter ski buses link the Alta Badia villages. Timetables on Südtirol Mobil.

By plane

The nearest airport is Bolzano, about 70 km away. Other options are Innsbruck (about 130 km), Treviso (about 180 km), Venice (about 200 km), Verona (about 210 km), Bergamo (about 310 km) or Munich (about 330 km). In winter there are shared bus transfers from the airports: check this season’s services. A private transfer or hire car gives you more flexibility for late arrivals.

Parking

There are car parks at the lift stations, often paid and full on busy days. At Col Pradat in Colfosco overnight parking is not allowed. If you stay in the centre, leave the car and get around on foot or by ski bus.

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