Canazei is a comune in the upper Val di Fassa, in Trentino, about 110 kilometres north-east of Trento and 1,460 metres above sea level. It serves as the base station for excursions and rock climbs on the Sella, Marmolada and Sassolungo groups, and as a ski resort with 42 kilometres of slopes: the Belvedere area above the village links into the Sella Ronda circuit and the Dolomiti Superski area. Ladin is the native language of most of the 1,831 residents. Two churches from the 1590s stand in the comune — San Floriano in the centre and the onion-domed Madonna della Neve at Gries.
Canazei
- Currency
- Euro (EUR, €). ATMs are widespread in cities and towns and accept major international credit and debit cards. Credit cards are accepted in urban and tourist areas; cash is essential in rural regions and small towns.
- Language
- Ladin is the everyday language of the valley: at the 2001 census 1,498 of 1,818 inhabitants, 82.4 per cent, declared it as their native language, and the village is Cianacei in Ladin. Italian is the official language of the comune. English is understood in hotels, ski schools and lift offices.
- Power plug
- Europlug (Type C), Schuko (Type F) and Type L (Italian three-round-pin) sockets are in use. Voltage is 230V, 50Hz.
- Visa
- Schengen visa-free for 90 days (non-EU/EEA citizens). EU, EEA and Swiss citizens may stay indefinitely. All non-EU/EEA/Swiss visitors must declare their presence within 8 days of arrival. Stays longer than 90 days require an appropriate visa and residence permit.
- Time zone
- Central European Time (CET): UTC+01:00. Central European Summer Time (CEST): UTC+02:00 (last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).
- Tap water
- Safe to drink. Tap water is well maintained throughout Italy and perfectly drinkable. In some peninsular areas it may be cloudy with a slight taste; most Italians prefer bottled water. Public fountains marked 'Acqua potabile' are safe to refill from. Avoid fountains marked 'Acqua non potabile'. Southern coastal areas may have an unusual taste due to desalination but water is always safe.
- Tipping
- Not customary. Restaurants include a service charge (coperto); waiters do not expect tips. Leaving loose change in bars and cafés is common. Tips cannot be added to credit card bills—bring cash if you wish to tip.
- Emergency
- 112 (Carabinieri, general emergency); 113 (Polizia di Stato); 115 (Fire Department); 118 (Medical Rescue).
When to go
High season
Dec – Mar
Ski season. The Belvedere area above the village links Canazei into the Sella Ronda circuit, the resort counts 42 kilometres of slopes of its own, and the valley road carries the traffic to match.
Low season
Apr – May
The gap between the two seasons. Snow leaves the valley floor at 1,460 metres while the routes up to the Sella, Marmolada and Sassolungo groups are still winter ground.
High season
Jun – Sep
Climbing, trekking and mountain-biking months, with Canazei working as the base station for the three groups above it. Te Anter i Tobiè fills the second weekend in July, and Gran Festa da d'Istà brings a folk parade through the village on the first Sunday in September.
Low season
Oct – Nov
The quietest stretch of the year. Summer walkers have gone, winter has not started, and the village is back to the 1,831 people who live in it.
How long to stay
Three or four days is the honest figure for Canazei: enough to ski a full Sella Ronda loop or to walk in under one of the three massifs above the village, with a day held back for weather. Treating the town as a base for the wider Dolomiti Superski area, with Val Gardena and Arabba over the passes on either side, is worth a week.
Getting around
Canazei is reached by car from three directions: the SS48 from the west, coming up from Bolzano through the Fassa valley towns including Campitello di Fassa; the SS242 from the north, from Selva; and the SS641 from the east, from Arabba. Once you are here the car can stay put. The village is easy to cross on foot, driving is straightforward on the few roads there are, and there is parking near most points of interest. The Dolomiti Superski skipass also covers the free Ski Bus, which runs the length of the valley — the sensible way to reach the lift bases without shifting the car every morning.
What to see
Destinations in Canazei
Frequently asked questions
Where is Canazei?
In the upper Val di Fassa, in Trentino, about 110 kilometres north-east of Trento. The village sits at 1,460 metres, ringed by the Sella, Marmolada and Sassolungo groups.How do you drive to Canazei?
Three roads lead in: the SS48 from the west out of Bolzano, up the Fassa valley through Campitello di Fassa; the SS242 from Selva to the north; and the SS641 from Arabba to the east.Is Canazei part of the Sella Ronda?
Yes. The Belvedere ski area above the village belongs to the Sella Ronda circuit, and the resort is part of Dolomiti Superski, well connected to the neighbouring valleys of Val Gardena and Arabba. Canazei itself has 42 kilometres of slopes.What is there to do in summer?
Canazei is the base station for rock climbing, trekking and mountain biking, with excursions and climbs heading up to the Sella, Marmolada and Sassolungo groups.What language do people speak in Canazei?
Ladin, as an everyday language: in the 2001 census 1,498 of 1,818 inhabitants, 82.4 per cent, gave it as their native tongue. The village name in Ladin is Cianacei. Italian is the official language of the comune.