There is a precise moment when you understand why Moena is called the Fairy of the Dolomites. It’s not during a high-altitude hike, and it’s not in front of a breathtaking panorama (well, yes, it’s there too). It’s when, strolling through the centre in the evening, you realise there is no traffic, the air is cool, the shop lights reflect on the cobblestones and the surrounding peaks are still lit by that last orange glow the Ladins call enrosadira.
That is the secret of Moena in summer: it is a starting point for hikes, yes, but also a place where you simply feel good.
At 1,184 metres, the first village of Val di Fassa coming up from the south, Moena has something few mountain resorts can boast: a lively, pedestrian historic centre you can walk through in every direction, made possible by the scenic bypass that diverts traffic out of the village.
Since 2011 Moena has been a member of Alpine Pearls, an association of Alpine destinations committed to environmentally friendly tourism focused on sustainable mobility. This means that getting around without a car is not only possible, it is the norm. Guests of Hotel Cavalletto are just steps away from everything: shops, restaurants, the ski bus stop, the start of the trails.
The network of trails around Moena is among the richest in the Trentino Dolomites. Paths for every level, UNESCO World Heritage views, and the chance to plan your day without a car.
For those who want to walk without effort, the classic starting point is the walk along the Avisio stream: flat, family-friendly, with picnic areas and little wooden bridges. From there it links up with the Val di Fassa cycle path, which in winter hosts the legendary Marcialonga cross-country ski race.
For those looking for something more substantial, the gondola from Ronchi (five minutes from the village) takes you up to Alpe Lusia, the starting point for the Marmot Trail (a themed route past mountain huts with sightings of Alpine wildlife) and for hikes in the Paneveggio Nature Park, one of the most important spruce forests in the Alps, famous for supplying the resonance wood for Stradivari’s instruments.
For those with the legs and the will, the Fuciade hut at the San Pellegrino Pass is one of the most loved destinations and a waypoint for more demanding hikes: flowering pastures, old huts, views of the Pale di San Martino and hut cooking that alone is worth the trip. From the San Pellegrino Pass, trails also lead to high-altitude lakes, via ferratas and solitary peaks, as well as the historic First World War route retracing the Dolomite front.
Around Moena there is a varied network of mountain bike and e-bike tours crossing valley boundaries: up to Alpe Lusia, down towards the Fuciade hut, past the Sorte and Medil lakes, as far as Lake Carezza in South Tyrol or the San Pellegrino Pass, where the Bike Park offers flow trails for every technical level.
For the sportiest, Moena is also a reference point for trail running and Nordic walking, with signposted routes and varied surfaces. Those who prefer vertical terrain will find climbing walls and accessible crags nearby. And for those who like to look at the mountains from above, paragliding from the Alpe Lusia area offers a view of the Dolomites that is hard to forget.
Moena is one of the Ladin municipalities of Trentino. The language, architecture, place names and traditions all bear the marks of an ancient Alpine culture that here is part of everyday life.
The Ladin Carnival is the most theatrical expression of this identity: hand-carved wooden masks and the figures of the Arlechins and the Lonc tell a local cosmogony rooted in the Middle Ages. But Ladin culture can be felt in summer too: every Thursday afternoon, for example, you can join a free guided tour of the churches of San Vigilio and San Volfango in the heart of the village.
Fassa cuisine is an integral part of your stay. And the undisputed star of Moena’s table is Puzzone di Moena PDO – in Ladin Spretz Tzaorì, “tasty cheese” – a Slow Food Presidium with the unmistakable flavour of Alpine pasture herbs. It was awarded PDO status in 2013 and today seven producers belong to the consortium, with the Caseificio Sociale di Predazzo e Moena dairy as the main reference.
Ladin culinary tradition is also celebrated by two food and wine events organised by the Ristora Moena association: Sapori d’autunno in September and A tavola con la Fata delle Dolomiti in winter, two occasions that showcase local aromas, flavours and ingredients.
Alongside Puzzone, Moena’s cuisine offers canederli (bread dumplings), polenta, game dishes, mountain-hut cheeses and traditional Trentino and Ladin desserts. At the Cavalletto, Chef Lele starts from these ingredients and prepares them with the care of someone whose family has lived here for generations.
After a day at altitude, your body will thank you for a sauna, a hot bath, a moment of silence. Hotel Cavalletto has a wellness oasis with a jacuzzi, Finnish sauna, aromatherapy Turkish bath, relaxation area, ice fountain, Scottish shower and salt grotto. All included in your stay.
The fresh mountain air does half the work. The wellness centre does the rest.
Each period has its own character:
June is the quietest month: the trails are still free of crowds, the meadows are in bloom and temperatures are ideal for walking. For those who want the mountains without compromise, it is the best time. At the end of June you can join the festival of San Vigilio, the village’s patron saint, with lots of events and live music.
July is the heart of the Alpine summer: long days, events, guided hikes and the free weekly programme for Cavalletto guests. The choice is at its widest.
August is the liveliest month: markets, village festivals, a full-on atmosphere. Book well in advance.
September is perhaps the most beautiful of all: the colours change, the air turns crisp, the trails empty and the Puzzone Festival turns the centre of Moena into a great stage of flavours and tradition.
The Rovisi family runs Hotel Cavalletto in the heart of Moena, close to the mountains of the Trentino Dolomites, in a strategic position from which you can walk to shops, restaurants and the main starting points for hikes.
Every week, a free programme of hikes and nature activities is available for guests, led by the professional guides of Moena Outdoor. You don’t need to organise anything: we take care of it.
Because the mountains are beautiful. But they are even more beautiful when someone who really knows them tells you their story as you walk.
Would you like to plan your summer in Moena? Check availability and request a quote from Hotel Cavalletto, in the heart of the Fairy of the Dolomites, with everything you need for an authentic holiday in Val di Fassa.
