Puster Valley Valley

Address: Puster Valley (Val Pusteria / Pustertal), Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, Italy

The Puster Valley (Val Pusteria / Pustertal) is an east-west alpine valley in northern Italy within the Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol region. It is a broad mountain valley that links South Tyrol with areas toward Austria and contains several distinct towns and resort centres.

The valley offers alpine landscapes, hiking and cycling trails in summer, and extensive cross-country and downhill skiing infrastructure in winter. Visitors use the valley both as a base for day trips into surrounding mountain ranges and for through-travel along established rail and road routes.

Historically the valley formed part of the Tyrol region and experienced the post-World War I territorial changes that placed South Tyrol and parts of the valley under Italian administration after 1919. Local culture reflects both Austrian/Tyrolean and Italian influences.

The Puster Valley runs across the northern edge of Italy’s Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol region and extends toward the Austrian border to the east. It connects a series of alpine municipalities and mountain passes and is accessible by regional rail and road networks.

• Bilingual region: Both German and Italian are commonly spoken across the valley and place names often have bilingual forms.
• Transit corridor: The valley is a major east-west transit corridor through the Alps with rail and road links that serve winter sports and summer hiking seasons.

What to See#

• Brunico (Bruneck): Brunico (Bruneck) is the largest town in the valley and functions as an administrative and commercial centre with historic town streets and nearby ski lifts.
• Dobbiaco (Toblach): Dobbiaco (Toblach) lies in the upper valley and is a transport hub for cross-country skiing and hiking in the Hochpustertal area.
• San Candido (Innichen): San Candido (Innichen) is a town near the eastern end of the valley known for its medieval centre and access to alpine trails leading into the Sexten/Sesto area.

The Puster Valley (Pustertal) is served by the Pustertal railway (Pustertalbahn/Pferatalbahn) running between Fortezza/Franzensfeste and Lienz with main stops at Bruneck (Brunico), Toblach (Dobbiaco) and Innichen (San Candido). By car the valley is reached from Bolzano/Bozen - roughly 40-60 km east via the A22 (Autostrada del Brennero) and the SS49 state road into the Pustertal.

• Use the Pustertal (Puster Valley) railway and regional buses to enter the valley - stations in towns such as Brunico/Bruneck and Dobbiaco/Toblach make good starting points for walks and transfers.
• Visit in the early morning or shoulder seasons to avoid the busiest road and trail crowds that build up on summer weekends.
• Start hikes from smaller villages or take single-direction routes using the valley's public-bus links to avoid backtracking through the most crowded resort centers.