Eight must-see highlights
Sexten is a true playground for nature lovers, mountain bikers, mountaineers, and skiers. But it’s also a treasure trove for curious explorers and culture seekers. Just next door, the architectural and historical gems of Innichen add even more charm. Here are our top eight excursions – hand-picked for you.
Distance: 12 kilometres
They are one of South Tyrol’s most iconic landmarks. Striking and pointed, the Three Peaks pierce the sky and tell stories from millions of years ago. You can hike to the Three Peaks directly from the Family Resort Rainer: first, hike through the gentle Val Fiscalina/Fischleintal valley to the Fondovalle/Talschlusshütte mountain hut, then climb ever higher to the A. Locatelli–S. Innerkofler/Dreizinnenhütte hut. Ambitious hikers can also reach the Three Peaks via the Passo dei Toni/Büllelejoch. Those who enjoy climbing might also appreciate the Cima Grande/Große Zinne, the Cima Ovest/Westliche Zinne, or the Cima Piccola/Kleine Zinne directly.
Distance: 29.5 kilometres
Made world-famous by the Italian TV series “Un Passo dal Cielo” starring Terence Hill – known in English as “One Step from Heaven” – Lake Braies/Pragser Wildsee enchants visitors year-round. Nestled at nearly 1,500 metres above sea level, this stunning Alpine lake was formed by an ancient mudslide.
Legend has it that a gate at the southern end once led to the mythical underground kingdom of Fanes. Today, you can stroll along the circular trail around the lake or hire a nostalgic wooden rowboat to glide across its crystal-clear waters.
Distance: approx. 6 kilometres
“A place of quiet grandeur” – that’s the new Reinhold Messner House on Mt Elmo/Helm in a nutshell. Located in the former mountain station, it serves as a centre for sustainability, environmental awareness, art, and culture. But it’s more than just an exhibition. It’s a space to pause, reflect, and engage in dialogue – a place where past and future meet.
Distance: 3 kilometres
A landscape like no other. A wide, pushchair-friendly trail winds gently through Val Fiscalina/Fischleintal, flanked by towering peaks and offering stunning views of the Dolomites. From the Val Fiscalina/Fischleintal car park, you can enjoy an easy, level walk to the Fondovalle/Talschlusshütte hut.
Feeling energetic? Continue past the hut and you’ll eventually reach the Three Peaks.
Distance: 12 kilometres
They are one of South Tyrol’s most iconic landmarks. Striking and pointed, the Three Peaks pierce the sky and tell stories from millions of years ago. You can hike to the Three Peaks directly from the Family Resort Rainer: first, hike through the gentle Val Fiscalina/Fischleintal valley to the Fondovalle/Talschlusshütte mountain hut, then climb ever higher to the A. Locatelli–S. Innerkofler/Dreizinnenhütte hut. Ambitious hikers can also reach the Three Peaks via the Passo dei Toni/Büllelejoch. Those who enjoy climbing might also appreciate the Cima Grande/Große Zinne, the Cima Ovest/Westliche Zinne, or the Cima Piccola/Kleine Zinne directly.
Distance: 29.5 kilometres
Made world-famous by the Italian TV series “Un Passo dal Cielo” starring Terence Hill – known in English as “One Step from Heaven” – Lake Braies/Pragser Wildsee enchants visitors year-round. Nestled at nearly 1,500 metres above sea level, this stunning Alpine lake was formed by an ancient mudslide.
Legend has it that a gate at the southern end once led to the mythical underground kingdom of Fanes. Today, you can stroll along the circular trail around the lake or hire a nostalgic wooden rowboat to glide across its crystal-clear waters.
Distance: approx. 6 kilometres
“A place of quiet grandeur” – that’s the new Reinhold Messner House on Mt Elmo/Helm in a nutshell. Located in the former mountain station, it serves as a centre for sustainability, environmental awareness, art, and culture. But it’s more than just an exhibition. It’s a space to pause, reflect, and engage in dialogue – a place where past and future meet.
Distance: 3 kilometres
A landscape like no other. A wide, pushchair-friendly trail winds gently through Val Fiscalina/Fischleintal, flanked by towering peaks and offering stunning views of the Dolomites. From the Val Fiscalina/Fischleintal car park, you can enjoy an easy, level walk to the Fondovalle/Talschlusshütte hut.
Feeling energetic? Continue past the hut and you’ll eventually reach the Three Peaks.
Distance: 6 kilometres
Famous for its rolling larch meadows and remarkable variety of Alpine flowers, Valle di Innerfeld/Innerfeldtal near Innichen leads past Baranci/Haunold, Monte Serla/Birkenkofel, and Punta dei Tre Scarperi/Dreischusterspitze into the Three Peaks Nature Park.
At the valley’s end, the Tre Scarperi/ Dreischusterhütte mountain hut is the perfect place to refuel with a hearty snack.
Distance: 9 kilometres
Right in the heart of Innichen, this impressive church began its life as an 8th-century Benedictine monastery dedicated to Saint Candidus. Over the centuries, it evolved into a collegiate church, was expanded with a lobby, chapel, and atrium, and today stands as a three-nave Romanesque Basilica. A highlight is the crypt, with its baptismal font and wooden sculpture of Saint Candidus.
Distance: 9 kilometres
At the DoloMythos museum in Innichen, both children and adults can immerse themselves in the magical world of the Dolomites. This interactive space takes you on a journey through the region's origins – deep into the story of what makes it a UNESCO World Heritage site. Explore the dinosaur exhibit, participate in exciting events, and test your detective skills on a treasure hunt.
Distance: 4 kilometres
Bellum Aquilarum is an open-air museum on the Croda Rossa/Rotwand that explores the Dolomites’ role as a WWI front. Here, you can walk through historic camps, trenches, and galleries, and see exhibits that tell stories of soldiers enduring the extreme cold, snow, and isolation of the mountains.
From the top station of the Croda Rossa/Rotwand cable car, it’s a 45-minute hike with a 400-metre elevation gain to reach the museum at 2,150 metres above sea level.
Distance: 6 kilometres
Famous for its rolling larch meadows and remarkable variety of Alpine flowers, Valle di Innerfeld/Innerfeldtal near Innichen leads past Baranci/Haunold, Monte Serla/Birkenkofel, and Punta dei Tre Scarperi/Dreischusterspitze into the Three Peaks Nature Park.
At the valley’s end, the Tre Scarperi/ Dreischusterhütte mountain hut is the perfect place to refuel with a hearty snack.
Distance: 9 kilometres
Right in the heart of Innichen, this impressive church began its life as an 8th-century Benedictine monastery dedicated to Saint Candidus. Over the centuries, it evolved into a collegiate church, was expanded with a lobby, chapel, and atrium, and today stands as a three-nave Romanesque Basilica. A highlight is the crypt, with its baptismal font and wooden sculpture of Saint Candidus.
Distance: 9 kilometres
At the DoloMythos museum in Innichen, both children and adults can immerse themselves in the magical world of the Dolomites. This interactive space takes you on a journey through the region's origins – deep into the story of what makes it a UNESCO World Heritage site. Explore the dinosaur exhibit, participate in exciting events, and test your detective skills on a treasure hunt.
Distance: 4 kilometres
Bellum Aquilarum is an open-air museum on the Croda Rossa/Rotwand that explores the Dolomites’ role as a WWI front. Here, you can walk through historic camps, trenches, and galleries, and see exhibits that tell stories of soldiers enduring the extreme cold, snow, and isolation of the mountains.
From the top station of the Croda Rossa/Rotwand cable car, it’s a 45-minute hike with a 400-metre elevation gain to reach the museum at 2,150 metres above sea level.
