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What to see in the Trentino region and its Dolomites?

by | Jan 7, 2025

Madonna di Campiglio

Often associated with its northern neighbour, Südtirol, Trentino nevertheless has its own personality. An Italian-speaking land, deeply rooted in the land and traditions of its people, Trentino is a victim of its success because of or thanks to its position.

The first major mountain region on the road that goes up from the Po Valley towards Austria and northern Europe, Trentino allows most Italians to discover the Alps without venturing into their hearts.

The Adige River, which passes through its capital, the beautiful medieval city of Trento, cuts Trentino into two parts. The west is a land of lakes, fertile and sunny valleys, forests inhabited by bears and glaciers. Here we find the region of Brenta, Adamello del Cevedale, Val di Non and Val Rendena.

To the east, it's first the land of the pre-Alps (including the very wide and very long Valsugana valley) and the dolomites Next. There's no need to introduce this mountain range, which delights photographers, hikers, mountaineers, and skiers from all over the world. The Val di Fiemme, which becomes the Val di Fassa, and its intersection with the valleys leading to Fiera di Primiero (Valle Cismon and Valle dei Canali) define the contours of the Paneveggio e Pale di San Martino Natural Park, whose rich flora and fauna are already renowned.

The eastern part of Trentino: the Dolomites

Let yourself be surprised and amazed by the landscapes of the Dolomites. These mountains with sometimes pale rocks, sometimes taking on a variable shade between pink and orange are spread over several regions, but Trentino offers several massifs of great beauty. You can discover them by visiting villages at their feet or by traveling through long valleys full of history and traditions.

The mountains that surround San Martino of Castrozza The Pale peaks transport you to a vertical world unlike any other, especially when they glow red in the evening. The view of this mountain range from the Passo Rolle is sure to elicit a "wow"! From this pass, you can ski, snowshoe, or, in summer, hike to the numerous mountain huts towards Val Venegia and Paneveggio Park, where you can admire deer in their natural habitat.

Val di Fiemme and Val di Fassa, mountain culture in the heart of the Dolomites

Through this pass, you reach the Fiemme and Fassa Valleys, united once a year by a world-famous cross-country skiing competition, the Marcialonga.

The Val di Fiemme, and especially the Val di Fassa (Moena, Canazei) surrounded by the Dolomites, these sharp and majestic mountains form a world apart. Here, as in Val Badia, Val Gardena, and around Arabba, Ladin is spoken, a Romance language that has survived through the centuries, while remaining adopted, protected, and passed down by the local youth. There is even a museum of Ladin tradition.

Moena, the pearl of the Dolomites, will charm you with its typical wooden and stone houses clustered around a beautiful church against the backdrop of the Dolomites. A true postcard scene, especially in winter. Canazei is a resort famous for its beautiful ski slopes overlooking this long, typical valley. Between the two, a succession of villages offers access to small side valleys or ski lifts that allow you to better appreciate the wild and captivating landscape of the Dolomites, including the Marmolada massif, the highest of all.

Further on, beyond legendary passes such as the Passo Sella, the Passo Pordoi, or the Passo Fedaia, at the foot of the Marmolada, the only summit in the Dolomites with a glacier, we change region but not scenery. Moreover, we advise you to continue your discovery of the South Tyrol and Venetoto also admire very beautiful Dolomite landscapes.

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In the west of Trentino, the glaciers

Towards the West of Trentino, on the other side of the city of Trento, crossed by the Adige River, Madonna di Campiglio, in a very wooded basin, perched at an altitude of 1500m, one of the most chic resorts according to the Italians, displays not only its luxury and wealth but also its ski slopes at the foot of the Brenta Dolomites. Once again, one cannot remain indifferent to such beauty. The entire road from Pinzolo, in Val Rendena in the South to Val di Sole in the North is a delight, the landscapes and forests are so majestic and almost reminiscent of the wide open spaces of the Rockies (all things considered, of course!). We are here in the region of the Adamello-Brenta Natural Park. A protected region where wild nature has reclaimed its rights. It is also here that one can observe (but not too closely, all the same!) brown bears roaming free in the forests.

If the first foothills at the exit from Trento already reveal alpine landscapes around Lake Molveno and the Valli Giudicarie, the Val di Non, which continues into Val di Sole towards the Lombard Alps, is above all known for its orchards, and in particular its apples which flood the markets of the entire Italian peninsula.

Finally, the north shore of lac de gardeThe area around the village of Riva del Garda takes on the appearance of a Mediterranean Riviera, and when the wind blows and sails of all kinds decorate the lake with a thousand colors, all you can think about is seaside pleasures!

This is why Trentino cannot be reduced to the landscapes of the Dolomites, there are so many natural and historical beauties to discover in this region so close to Verona, Vicenza and Venice, but the few destinations presented, on their own, are capable of occupying a good number of your stays in the area.

So, it’s decided, you’re going to visit Trentino?

Activities not to be missed in Trentino and in the Dolomites

  • La Val di Fassa, in its entire length, with a stop in Moena
  • Marvel at the Pale di San Martino, in San Martino di Castrozza
  • Admire the Brenta Dolomites from Madonna di Campiglio, and from the summits of the Grosté or Cinque Laghi cable cars
  • Get into the sellaronda from Val di Fassa
  • Discover the Ladin culture in Val di Fassa, at the San Giovanni di Fassa museum.
  • Browse by train the Val di Non between Trento and Malé
  • A very zen excursion to Levico lakes and Caldonazzo, easily accessible from Trento.
  • Discover  Land Art at “Arte Sella” near Borgo in Valsugana
  • Learn about kite surfing in Riva del Garda
  • Climb by cable car to the top of the Sella, from the Pordoi Pass, at the end of the Val di Fassa, between Trentino and Veneto.
  • Admire the scenery from the top of the Rosetta cable car in San Martino of Castrozza
  • A cultural break in the city of Thirty
  • In the surrounding area, do not hesitate to visit the mountains of Veneto around Cortina d'Ampezzo, and the neighboring valleys of Alto Adige – Sudtirol (Val Gardena and Val Badia).

Discovering Trentino on video

The best webcams in Trentino

(click on the name of the village)

  • Canazei : the mountains of Val di Fassa, above Canazei.
  • San Martino of Castrozza: an impressive view of the village at the foot of the Dolomites (Pale di San Martino)
  • Madonna di Campiglio: panoramic view of the Brenta Dolomites.
  • Madonna di Campiglio: a beautiful view of the resort's beautiful site.
  • Singing: the view of the slopes of Adamello and enjoy the landscape!
  • Andalo: the landscape towards the Brenta Dolomites from the summit of Paganella.

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