Dolomites, Italy

Sella Pass

The prettiest link in the Dolomites' famous four-pass loop, the Sella Ronda, this road curls between the pale towers of the Sella massif and the Sassolungo's saw-blade ridge.

Best forRoad-trippers · Photographers · Walkers & hikers
In September12°C · 14 rainy days
Ideal stayA day trip from Val Gardena or Alta Badia
Approx. flying time~12h 15m from Los Angeles

Compare

Sella Pass, Dolomites, Italy Open in Google Maps Powered by Geoapify · © OpenStreetMap contributors · © OpenMapTiles

CurrencyEUREuro
LanguageItalian
Local time14:091h ahead of the UK
PlugsType C / F / LBring an adapter
Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
Dialling code+39

Why go

At 2,240 metres, the Sella Pass carries a road over the gap between the vertical walls of the Sella massif and the towers of the Sassolungo. It is one of four passes on the Sella Ronda circuit and among the most dramatic stretches of tarmac in the Alps. The top holds a small cluster of buildings, a lift and a great deal of scree, meadow and pale limestone catching whatever light is going.

Most people drive or cycle through as part of the loop, which fills a full day at a relaxed pace with stops. Walkers can leave the car at the pass and head into the Sassolungo group or up onto the Sella plateau by cable car. The road is closed by snow through winter and reopens around late spring. Come at dawn or dusk for the light and the relative quiet.

Ideal stay: A day trip from Val Gardena or Alta Badia
The vibe: Pale, jagged, cinematic at dusk

From our guides

The rock glows pink at dusk — the enrosadira — which is the time to be up here with a camera. On summer mornings the pass sometimes restricts private cars to cut congestion, so check access days or, better, drive it late afternoon into that pink hour.

Featured in Ten jaw-dropping mountain roads and passes to drive

Things to do

The enrosadira

The pink glow that Dolomite limestone takes on at sunrise and sunset, caused by the mineral content of the rock. Best watched from the pass itself.
Sella Ronda

The circuit of the Sella massif via the Gardena, Campolongo, Pordoi and Sella passes, driven, cycled or skied in a single day.
Sassolungo

The saw-toothed group opposite, served by a small cable car up to the Forcella and ringed by a well-marked walking circuit.
Passo Pordoi

The neighbouring pass, with a cable car climbing to Sass Pordoi at nearly 3,000 metres and a view across to the Marmolada.
Val Gardena

The Ladin-speaking valley on the western side of the massif, with Ortisei, Santa Cristina and Selva strung out along its floor.
Rifugio stops

Mountain huts near the top of the pass serve polenta, canederli and strudel at altitude, generally from June through to late September.

Getting there

Fly to
Caselle (VRN)

Nearest airport to Dolomites, about 141km away as the crow flies.
Then
To Canazei

Bolzano (BZO) has few flights, so most visitors arrive at Verona (VRN) or Innsbruck and drive, about two and a half hours to Canazei in Val di Fassa.
On the ground
Getting around

The pass is around 20 minutes by car above Canazei, with cable cars up to the Sella and the Sassolungo from the roadside; some summer mornings the road is closed to private cars.

Public transport: Summer buses cross the pass and link the Sella Ronda valleys, but they are seasonal and finish early.

Flights

Los Angeles Dolomites, Italy

Flying from

Fly from anywhere — search 4,000+ airports worldwide.

Roughly 12h 15m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.

Check dates and prices

Pick your departure date, then your return.

Search flights

Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.

When to go

Daytime highs run from about -3°C in January to 17°C in July. Driest in February; wettest in May, with rain on about 22 days.

The year at a glance — pick a month for detail

September12° · rain 14 daysCool and often wet.

Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis).

Where to stay

Family run alpine hotels with half board and spas, plus guesthouses, farm stays and apartments in the valleys. There are no chains, and the pass itself has only a couple of mountain hotels.

Best base overall
Canazei

At the foot of the pass in the Val di Fassa, with hotels, restaurants, lifts and the road up starting from the edge of town. Busy in high season and traffic heavy at weekends.
Find stays in Canazei
Best with children
Corvara

Over on the Alta Badia side, with gentle meadows, a good bus network and lifts straight from the village. Prices are high and the village is quiet after dinner.
Find stays in Corvara
Closest to the sights
Selva Val Gardena

The other approach to the pass, minutes from Passo Sella and the Sassolungo cable car. Good for early starts when the road restricts cars later in the day.
Find stays in Selva Val Gardena
Best value
Campitello di Fassa

Just down the valley from Canazei, smaller and cheaper, with its own cable car and the same bus up the pass. Less choice for eating out in the evening.
Find stays in Campitello di Fassa

Worth knowing before you book: The valleys close for weeks between seasons, so confirm opening dates before booking. Summer mornings sometimes restrict private cars on the pass, so check access days when planning.

Search everything else in Canazei by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.

Or see everything in Canazei

Good to know

Road closures: The pass is shut through winter and reopens once the snow clears, usually in late spring. Check before planning a route over it.
Traffic limits: Some Dolomite passes restrict private cars on selected summer days to cut congestion. Look up the current rules before setting off.
Driving: Hairpins are tight and busy with motorcycles and cyclists in summer. Drive early or late, and use the passing places properly.
Timing: Sunrise and the last hour of light are when the rock turns pink. Midday flattens the whole scene out.
Pack this: Weather changes fast at altitude. A warm layer and a waterproof belong in the car even on a clear July morning.