Madonna di Campiglio

On an Inghams walking holiday, you have the freedom to explore the area at your own pace. Make each day a new adventure, with as much or as little walking as you like.

Why we love walking in Madonna di Campiglio

The diverse walking routes in Madonna are worth scoping out. Not only can you find family friendly routes that take you through meadows or along riverside pathways but there's also lots on offer for the more experienced walker. Whether you're walking around Madonna or heading slightly further afield to towns such as Pinzolo, you'll discover cascading waterfalls, woodlands, glacier water rivers, biotope lakes and more.

Buses

Hop on the bus from Madonna to travel around the Trentino region. Buses are useful for travelling further afield to attractions and other walking areas such as Lake Idro. The local B231 bus to the nearby town of Pinzolo takes about half an hour and the same bus line also takes you to St Antonio di Mavignola which takes about 15 minutes. Grabbing a bus to one of these nearby towns will open up even more walking opportunities for you.

Cable Cars

Open from June to September the summer lift network in Madonna is fantastic for winching you up the mountain, to get you closer to those Brenta Dolomite and valley views. If you fancy lunch on the mountain, hop on a lift and find a typical mountain rifugio/hut and grab a taste of the local food. In the summer months the lifts tend to open at 8.30am and stay open until around 5pm, with a two hour afternoon break for lunch, usually between 12.50-2pm (timings are lift dependant). For more information about the lift timings visit the Madonna di Campiglio official website.

Cycle paths

The 57 kilometre long cycle path connecting the Brenta Dolomites to Lake Idro is an attraction in itself and a lovely way of heading to nearby areas. It passes through the Val Rendena and the Valle del Chiese (Church Valley). The path is also known as the Ciclovia dei Fiori (the cycle path of flowers) because of the diverse plant species that grow next it in spring and summer. In 2024 the route won the Italian Green Road award, for keeping the balance between the natural and human world.

Tour of Madonna di Campiglio

This is an easy walk around the village of Madonna di Campiglio, you'll mainly walk through the forest– which is ideal if it's very sunny or rainy. The walk has fantastic panoramic views of the Brenta Dolomites and the village itself. You can start at various points, but we started the walk under the Miramonti chairlift.

• Grade: Easy-Moderate
• Distance: approx. 7km
• Walking Time: approx. 2-3 hours
• Ascent/descent: 200 metres
• Terrain: Forest, gravel, tarmac paths
• Useful Information: bring a packed lunch and plenty of water

Madonna di Campiglio to Lago Ritorto

Starting at the top of the 5 Laghi cabin lift station, walk to one of the biggest (out of the famous 5) and bluest lakes in the Adamello Group with panoramic scenery the entire way. Don’t forget to stop at Malga Ritorto for a delicious homemade cake.

• Grade: Easy-Moderate
• Distance: approx. 9.5km
• Walking time: 2.5-3.hours
• Ascent/descent: 35m/540m
• Terrain: Forest terrain, gravel roads, rocky footpaths
• Useful information: There's a restaurant at the top of the lift station called Baita Natalia that offers food and drinks. Alternatively, the Malga Ritorto mountain hut is over half way down the mountain, which is another good place to stop for a drink and a snack.

Recommended equipment

Suitable walking shoes with good grip, appropriate clothing, rain jacket, sun cream, insect repellent, sun glasses, rucksack, at least a litre of water, a re-usable water bottle, a snack and cash. You may find walking poles useful.

Walking maps

Kompass Map No. 119, Val di Sole- Madonna di Campiglio- Male- Passo del Tonale, 1:35 000 will give you an idea of the walking routes around the Trentino and Dolomite area. This can be purchased online in advance of your holiday.

Walking guidelines

The mountains are a natural paradise, with lots to explore and discover. To help it stay that way, and remain an enjoyable and safe place for everyone, we recommend following our little list of do's and don'ts:

• Plan your route well and don't over-estimate yourself
• Check the weather forecast
• Tell someone where you're planning to walk and what time you're expecting to be back
• Take all the recommended equipment
• Make a note of emergency numbers:
  • Italian Emergency Services: 112
• Don't leave the marked trails or go onto a glacier without a guide
• Let nature stay wild by not picking flowers (it's illegal in some places) or getting close to/making contact with wild animals
• Always leave gates as you found them and don't climb over fences
• Leave no trace

Check out our Responsible Walking insider guide if you want more tips for your summer walking holiday.

Biking in Madonna di Campiglio

Madonna is a great place for biking enthusiasts in the summer. The 57km long Brenta Dolomites to Lake Idro cycle path also known as the Ciclopista dei Fiori (the cycle path of flowers) connects Madonna to Lake Idro. The path is a lovely way of heading to nearby areas. It passes through the Val Rendena and the Valle del Chiese (Church valley). Also known as the Ciclovia dei Fiori (the cycle path of flowers) because of the diverse plant species that grow next it in spring and summer. In 2024 the route won the Italian Green Road award, for keep a balance between the natural and human world.

Exploring nearby lakes

There's a great selection of lakes around Madonna di Campiglio which are lovely to take a picnic to on a sunny day, or walk around. Lake Nambino has a lovely alpine hut where you can grab a drink and a bite to eat whilst gazing out over the crystal clear water. You can cycle here in about 20 minutes from the town or walk there in about an hour. Lake Montagnoli is also worth a visit if you want an easy lakeside walk or to take a dip surrounded by alpine forests. It's a great one for families and a natural sun trap; perfect for soaking up some rays and the water has an incredible aquamarine colour.

Head over to Lake Ritorto with its gentle mountain walls which you can walk or cycle to. There are some lovely walks which take you past several of the lakes around Madonna, for example the Five Lakes Tour. If you fancy checking out as many lakes as you can on your summer holiday it's worth doing a bit of research before you go.

You could also try out one of our multi-centre holidays where we've paired Madonna di Campiglio with Lake Garda and Lake Ledro!

Walking to waterfalls and beyond

The Brenta Dolomites is famous for its waterfalls. Walk along the Sentiero dell'Orso (Bear Path) to the Vallesinella Waterfalls, which are the most famous waterfalls in the Adamello-Brenta Natural Park. The trail starts by the Spinale Gondola station, and heads through forests all the way up to the highest of the waterfalls, the Malga Valesinella di Sopra. Or, you could spend the day enjoying a picnic in the stunning Val Nambrone, where you can scope out the Cascata Amola. You can walk to the falls from the Rifugio Val Nambrone which you can get to by heading to the next door town of Pinzolo.

Visit Museums around Madonna di Campiglio

There's no shortage of history in the Trentino region, and if you want to explore the history of the area and learn something new, why not head to one of the many museums in the area. The Museum of Campiglio Mountain Guides and People, will take you on an historical journey through the lives of alpine pioneers and mountaineers, who were some of the first people to discover the Brenta Dolomites. If war history is more up your street, you may want to check out the Adamello Front War Museum in Spiazza, which can be reached by bus in around 40 minutes. The museum houses a collection of artefacts found in the area from the First World War. The Trentino region played a big role in the fortification of Italy during the great War, and as a result there's loads of history to lap up in the area. 

More information: check out summer events and things to do in Madonna di Campiglio on their official website.

Family activities

Madonna di Campiglio prides itself on being a great destination for a family summer holiday, so it has loads of fun activities on offer to keep children and adults entertained on their summer holiday. From tennis to boules, golf, swimming, canyoning, padel, volleyball, vie ferrate, and even orienteering; children will never get bored! Spend some time in the outdoor playground which sits near the glacial river, it has a grassy area where you can take picnics whilst keeping an eye on the little ones. Cycling with young ones is also a great option as there are a few well kept cycle paths which you can hop on and off from Madonna; try out the Val Rendena Cycle Path or the floral cycle path which links the Brenta Dolomites to Lake Idro.

Spot of Rain? No problem! Things to do when the sun isn't shining

When the sun has gone in and the rain clouds have come out, there's still plenty to keep you and your children busy in Madonna. Indoor golf is always great fun and a great family bonding activity, head to the Campiglio Golf Academy and test out your golfing skills. If you head to Pinzolo there's an indoor Olympic sized ice-skating rink where you carve up the ice and have family races from one end of the rink to the other. The Palestra in Madonna di Campiglio offers tonnes of activities, from rock climbing walls, to volley ball, handball and basketball courts, where children can blow off some of that bad weather steam.