The estate 2026 is shaping up to be one of the best years for living the Italian mountains, which are becoming ever more accessible and rich in experiences: ski lifts become gateways to high altitude, while trails, bike parks and panoramic terraces broaden adventures among sport, nature, and activities for families and for all ages.
Among glaciers, Alpine lakes, villages and new viewpoints above 3,000 meters, these eight destinations we have selected become the perfect places for memorable outdoor experiences.
Val Senales, the glacier experienced from above
If you are looking for a mountain destination capable of combining adventure, spectacular landscapes and family-friendly activities, the Val Senales is one to keep an eye on this summer. From June 27 the lifts of the Alpin Arena Senales reopen, the gateway to the glacier that dominates the upper valley and one of the most evocative alpine environments in South Tyrol.
The big novelty of the 2026 season is the Cabrio Adventure, a special platform installed on the roof of the cable car that allows you to ascend to altitude in the open air, just as if you were aboard a convertible suspended between the peaks.
Once at altitude, the possibilities are numerous. Here you will find the Iceman Ötzi Peak, the spectacular panoramic terrace at 3,251 meters above sea level from which the view extends over 126 peaks above 3,000 meters across Italy, Austria and Switzerland. The area is also famous as the place where Ötzi, the mummy of the Similaun, was found in 1991. Here the installation Our Glacial Perspectives returns, inviting reflection on the effects of climate change.
Outdoor activities are everywhere: scenic trails, hut-to-hut hikes, via ferratas such as Larix, mountaincart routes through the woods and the Ötzi Rope Park. Those who want to delve into the area’s history can visit the archeoParc Val Senales, an open-air museum dedicated to life in Ötzi’s era.
Alpi Piemontesi, between Bardonecchia and Vialattea
Among the Piedmontese Alps, Bardonecchia and Vialattea, the summer of 2026 offers a wide range of outdoor activities leveraging the infrastructures built for the Olympics (chairlifts, cable cars and lifts). In Bardonecchia the Campo Smith, Melezet and Jafferau cable cars allow easy reach to Pian del Sole and Chesal 1805, ideal for a break with a view of the Cottian Alps. On the Vialattea side, between Sestriere and Sauze d’Oulx, the Sestriere-Fraiteve cable car and the Sportinia, Rocce Nere and Nube d’Argento chairlifts open access to hiking routes and high-altitude panoramas.
Bike enthusiasts should not miss the Bardonecchia Bike Park, which draws downhill and freeride fans from across Europe, while the historic Strada dell’Assietta, over 40 kilometers between 2,000 and 2,500 meters in altitude, remains one of the most spectacular itineraries for e-bikes and gravel bikes.
Family-friendly experiences are plentiful as well: in the Campo Smith area there’s the Adventure ParkAlpine Coaster, the rail sled weaving through the forest with curves and scenic descents. Memorable experiences also await at the Golf Club Sestrieres, one of the highest-altitude golf courses in Europe with 18 holes above 2,000 meters, and visits to the Fenestrelle Fort, Europe’s largest alpine fortress, the Fort of Exilles and the Sacra di San Michele.
Altopiano della Paganella, a mountain tailor-made for families
The 2026 season in Paganella is designed for families, transforming forests, trails and mountain lakes into a vast shared discovery space. The centerpiece is the Paganella Family Festival (June 14–21), with activities spread across the plateau, including outdoor experiences, workshops and performances. Guiding families is the Family Coach, who helps shape a tailor-made stay, along with tools like the Paganella Play Pass to move easily between activities and lifts.
The program blends nature and education with workshops on animals, insects and bees, visits to naturalist centers and forest trails, alongside treasure hunts, orienteering and village games.
There’s also sport and adventure on offer: climbing, children’s yoga, mini quads and zip lines, together with shows and creative activities that complete a broad package for the entire family.
Altopiano del Renon, the panoramic terrace over the Dolomites
Just twelve minutes by cable car from Bolzano, the Renon Plateau is another of the most interesting destinations of summer 2026 for those looking to escape the heat of the city without giving up sport, nature and relaxation. At an altitude of 1,200 meters and with a spectacular view of the Dolomites, this corner of South Tyrol becomes a true outdoor gym in the pleasant season.
Around over 300 kilometers of trails await trekking enthusiasts, crossing woods, pastures and alpine huts. Among the most enchanting routes is the Corno del Renon Panoramic Path, an easy loop that offers a 360-degree view of the Dolomite peaks, while those seeking a tougher challenge can tackle the Cieloronda, a route of over 16 kilometers through alpine landscapes, high-altitude meadows and breathtaking viewpoints.
Renon is also a perfect destination for two wheels: mountain biking and e-biking allow you to explore the plateau along routes for all levels, with the possibility of guided tours and a network of rental and charging stations distributed around the area.
After the physical activity comes wellness. The Kneipp Path between Tann and Bad Siess offers a regenerating experience immersed in nature, while those seeking something different can try archery in the woods or participate in the original p walks with llama and alpaca at the Kaserhof farm.
The Sopranes Lakes, trekking among 10 jewels
Among the destinations to discover this summer is also Tyrol, the village overlooking the Merano basin, home to one of the most fascinating hikes in South Tyrol. Here, in the heart of the Parco Naturale Gruppo di Tessa, lies the largest high-altitude alpine lake complex in the region: the Lakes of Sopranes, ten mirrors of water set among rocks, pastures and peaks surpassing 2,500 meters.
The adventure begins with the Alta Muta cable car, which reaches altitude and leads to a roughly 13-kilometer loop that passes through some of the most spectacular landscapes of the eastern Alps. Among the most spectacular stops are Lago Lungo, the largest in the group, and a series of lakes with surprising colors, such as Lago Verde, Lago Nero, and Lago Catino, whose hues shift depending on light and weather conditions.
Beyond the beauty of the scenery, the area offers the opportunity to observe alpine wildlife in its natural habitat, including marmots, chamois, and raptors that populate the park.
Why include the Lakes of Sopranes among the top destinations of summer 2026? Because few hikes allow you to admire, in a single day, ten glacial lakes set in one of the most spectacular mountain environments in South Tyrol.
Valle del Gran San Bernardo, trekking with dogs and nature
Étroubles, Saint-Oyen and Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses are among the most fascinating villages of the Gran San Bernardo Valley, in the Aosta Valley. Here the mountain preserves its most genuine character, with ancient stretches of the Via Francigena, high-altitude pastures, local products, and panoramas guiding the journey to the historic Gran San Bernardo pass.
This territory will be the setting for one of the most interesting innovations of 2026 for those who love traveling with their four-legged friend: the Dog Trail Gran San Bernardo, scheduled for September 26. The event will guide participants along about 13 kilometers of alpine trails and sections of the Via Francigena, crossing Étroubles, Saint-Oyen and Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses until reaching the Gran San Bernardo pass.
The event arises within the transboundary Destination Barry project, dedicated to the famous Saint Bernard dog Barry. For this reason, the Valle del Gran San Bernardo is establishing itself as one of the most interesting destinations for pet-friendly tourism.
San Vigilio and San Martin in Badia, the Dolomites between play and nature
In San Vigilio and San Martin in Badia, in the heart of the South Tyrolean Dolomites, the summer of 2026 focuses on experiences designed for families. Among the most original proposals is Tru dles Liondes, the Legend Path: a route suitable even for strollers that leads to the discovery of the legendary Regno di Fanes, inhabited by warrior princesses, dwarves, and talking marmots. Along the way, illustrated panels and games transform the stroll into an open-air tale dedicated to the Ladin culture.
Another indispensable stop is Col dl’Ancona, accessible by the Piz de Plaies cable car. Here you immerse yourself among giant trampolines, panoramic swings, hammocks, balance paths, slides and even a small zoo with ponies, goats and rabbits.
The most surprising attraction, however, is Ciamaor, a true alpine beach immersed in greenery, where the San Vigilio stream creates small sandy areas and safe water surfaces for children. Among sandcastles, hammocks, water games and a wooden pirate ship, it almost feels like being at the sea, with the advantage of having some of the most beautiful mountains of the Dolomites surrounding you. A few steps from the beach is also the Owl Park San Vigilio, which hosts over 80 birds of prey from about 30 species.
Among the summer’s most curious novelties are the activities organized in an authentic Mongolian yurt set up in the San Vigilio park, where workshops and yoga classes are offered, including for children.
Pila, the high mountain with breathtaking views
Just 18 minutes by cable car from Aosta, Pila has become one of the summer destinations set to surprise us in 2026. From June 13 the lifts reopen, but there is one particularly awaited novelty: the Stella di Pila at 2,723 meters, a new viewpoint and direct access to high altitude with incredible views of the great four-thousanders.
Not to be missed is the Alta Balconata di Pila and the Pila Bike Area, which stretches over more than 130 km of routes and includes a gravity bike park with 17 pistes for 55 km, suitable for all levels.
Training, moreover, is enriched by panoramas and thematic itineraries: from family-friendly trails to more challenging routes up to the via ferrata that connects the Stella to the Rifugio Arbolle, with a calendar of guided experiences that tell the mountain through the culture of pasture keeping and the nature of the territory.
