Vigo di Fassa sits at 1,382 metres in Val di Fassa, in Trentino, about 60 km north-east of Trento. It was a comune in its own right until the municipality was abolished and the territory merged into Sèn Jan di Fassa; today it is a frazione of some 1,260 residents spread over 26.85 km². The valley is Ladin-speaking, and the Catinaccio (Rosengarten) group rises straight above the village, which is what most people come for.
Vigo di Fassa
- 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 85.8% of inhabitants gave it as their mother tongue — and it stands on signs alongside Italian, which is the official language of the municipality.
- 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, and the busiest stretch of the year in the village. Daylight is short and the valley floor stays in shadow long after the rock above it has caught the sun.
Low season
Apr – May
The emptiest weeks: the ski season is over and the walking season has not begun.
High season
Jun – Sep
Walking season, and the meadows and the Ciampedie paths carry most of the crowd. The Catinaccio faces the village, so the good light is in the evening, when the west walls turn red.
Low season
Oct – Nov
Larch woods turn yellow on the valley sides and the paths go quiet again.
How long to stay
Two or three days is enough to use the village properly: one for Ciampedie and the paths under the Catinaccio, one for the rest of Val di Fassa, and a spare for weather. Visitors working through the wider Dolomites usually give the whole valley a week and move between bases.
Getting around
The valley runs roughly north to south and the road runs with it, so most people arrive by car — Trento is about 60 km to the south-west. There is no railway in Val di Fassa. Buses work the valley floor and link the villages to each other, and a cableway lifts out of Vigo di Fassa to Ciampedie, the shelf of meadow and woodland under the Catinaccio. Winter and summer timetables are different animals; check the current one before you build a day around a bus or a lift.
Destinations in Vigo di Fassa
Frequently asked questions
Where is Vigo di Fassa?
In Val di Fassa in Trentino, northern Italy, at 1,382 metres above sea level and about 60 km north-east of Trento.Is Vigo di Fassa still a comune?
No. The comune was abolished and its territory folded into Sèn Jan di Fassa. Vigo di Fassa is now a frazione of that municipality, with about 1,260 residents across 26.85 km².What language is spoken in Vigo di Fassa?
Ladin, as an everyday language. At the 2001 census 921 of 1,073 inhabitants — 85.8% — gave Ladin as their mother tongue. Italian is the official language.What other names does the village go by?
Vich de Fascia in Ladin, and Wiegen im Fasstal or Vig im Fasstal in German. Signs and map apps may also show the municipality it belongs to, Sèn Jan di Fassa.