Val di Funes (Villnöss) - A Beautiful Valley in the Dolomites

Val di Funes, also known as Villnöß is a beautiful valley in the Dolomites. It’s one of the best places to go in the region for photography or if you want to enjoy scenic views and wonderful landscapes with mountains in the backdrop.

I have been there, and I absolutely loved it. It was just as beautiful in real life as in the pictures, and I can’t wait to come back another time.

In this article, I will share everything you need to know before you go to Val di Funes, including things to do, how to get there, where to stay and other useful information for your trip.

And, of course, a lot of photos from the Funes valley!

Things to do in Val di Funes

Hiking
Admire St Johann Church
Enjoy the scenic views
Mountaineering
Visit rope park Villnöss
Visit Mineralogical Museum of Tiso

How to get to Val di Funes

The closest international airport in Italy is either the one in Venice or Bergamo. From there it’s a 3-hour drive. Innsbruck is another option and from there it’s just a driving time of 1 hour and 20 minutes.

From Venice to Val di Funes

The quickest way is via A22/E45 and then A4/E70. It is about 308 km and the journey takes a little more than 3 hours.

From Bergamo

The journey from here is a little less than 3-hours, and you just drive via A22/E45 and then A4/E70.

From Bolzano

From Bolzano to the Funes Valley, it’s just about 39 minutes driving by car. There is also the option of going by bus, but you have to change bus 1 time.

The bus journey takes at least 1 hour and 30 minutes. So, if you’re staying in Bolzano, it’s definitely easy to make a day trip to Val di Funes.

Photo: maudanros / Shutterstock.com

More Information about Val di Funes (Villnöss)

A beautiful valley in the Dolomites region. In Italian, it’s called Val di Funes, and Villnöß in German, and Funes Valley in English.

The valley is known for being one of the most scenic places in Northern Italy. The iconic views of the Geisler/Odle peaks with the greenery and charming churches are popular for photography and nature enthusiasts.

San Pietro is the central village, but there are 4 additional localities in the Villnöss Valley. These are San Giacomo, Valluzza/Flitz, San Valentino and Colle.

Hiking in Val di Funes

If you love to trek, you’ll find almost endless of exciting trails in Val di Funes. For example, you can get to see the Geisler/Odle mountains from close up if you walk the Adolf Munkel trail.

Another popular hike is the Herrensteig Trails.

Val di Funes actually has the broadest net of Nordic walking paths in all of South Tyrol. There are more than 100 km ready-made itineraries. If you come here during winter, there are possibilities for snowshoeing itineraries.

Photo: Shutterstock

Santa Maddalena

Santa Maddalena is a small village with about 370 inhabitants in the Funes Valley. This is also an iconic postcard view with the church of Santa Maddalena and the Odle mountains in the background. The church is also popular for weddings.

During winter time, there’s a ski lift from the center of the village.

Photo: Shutterstock

Best time to visit Val di Funes

If you want to go hiking, then the best time is from May to September when the area is easily accessible, and the trails are walkable. During winter it will be a totally different experience in the Funes Valley.

The summer has pleasant temperatures, and the scenery will look amazing with the green grass, blue skies, and flowers. However, this is also the most crowded time of the year.

If you have the possibility of visiting Val di Funes in May or September, or even early June, I would say that the experience will be more joyful. Don’t get me wrong, it’s definitely worth going here during summer as well, but perfect conditions with fewer tourists will be more during the shoulder months.

Best time of the day

Sunrise and sunset are definitely the best times of the day to experience the beauty of Val di Funes. Sunrise, especially as the warm light and the rising sun, touches the pinnacles of the Geisler/Odle Mountains.

That is pure magic, and it’s something special about having the place to yourself.