The Italian northeast is once again putting its full focus this summer on its mountain regions. From July through September, the cable cars and chairlifts at the most important alpine destinations in Friuli-Venezia Giulia are open, complemented by a packed calendar of guided hikes, outdoor activities, bike experiences, and family-friendly formats. For the 2026 season, there is also a genuine novelty: the Bike Arena Ravascletto-Zoncolan, which significantly expands the region's already well-developed mountain biking offerings.
Adrenaline on Two Wheels: New Bike Arena and Bike Park Tarvisio
For mountain biking enthusiasts, the newly opened Bike Arena Ravascletto-Zoncolan is the highlight of the season. Three trails rated blue, red, and black start at the mid-station of the Funifor cable car and descend to the valley station. Riders can choose the route that best matches their style, or take on the challenge of completing all three back to back.
Also in operation is the already well-established Bike Park dell'Angelo in Tarvisio, open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. through September 13. From the upper station of the chairlift, three routes lead down to the valley: an easier blue run and two more technically demanding red trails, catering to different experience levels. Together with the new Ravascletto facility, Tarvisio rounds out the regional offering to a standard that holds its own against the Alps' most recognized bike destinations.
Hiking Through Forests and Panoramic Scenery
Those who prefer to explore on foot will find an extensive network of panoramic trails, guided hikes, and nature activities in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, curated by PromoTurismoFVG in partnership with local networks. The 2026 summer program is designed for visitors of all ages and covers everything the region has to offer in terms of hiking, from leisurely forest bathing to high-altitude ridge routes. For a deeper exploration of the region, our feature on alpine lakes and high-altitude hikes presents 19 mapped hiking tours through Carnia, the Gemona area, the Friulian Dolomites, and the Julian Alps.
PromoTurismoFVG also provides a free digital hiking companion in the form of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Outdoor app . The app offers hundreds of routes for varying skill levels, themed tours to mountain lakes and summits, and detailed maps that work offline as well. This is a practical safeguard, particularly in areas with limited cell coverage.
Small Villages, Big Experiences
Part of the appeal of Friuli-Venezia Giulia lies in its Carnian villages, which this summer are presenting special programs and formats. In Arta Terme , family-friendly activities follow the trail of the Sbilfs, the legendary mythical creatures of Carnian folklore, alongside fossil hunting in the But Valley, forest bathing sessions, and ceramics workshops. In Sutrio, visitors can join a cooking class and learn to prepare traditional Friulian Cjarsons, or set off on a guided hike along the ridge of the Carnic Alps.
In Paluzza, the caves of Timau open their doors, revealing limestone landscapes shaped by water over millennia, while Tolmezzo follows a musical route tracing the town's local violin-making tradition. All of these formats connect the mountain world with local culture, without allowing the character of the villages to be overshadowed by mass tourism. This approach has positioned Friuli-Venezia Giulia as one of the Alps' more quietly captivating regions for years.
Cable Cars in Summer
The backbone of the entire program is provided by the open cable car and lift systems. Chairlifts, gondolas, and aerial tramways are in operation during the summer months in Forni di Sopra, Piancavallo, Ravascletto-Zoncolan, Sappada, Sella Nevea, and Tarvisio , with varying hours on weekdays and holidays and extended weekend opening times in September at select locations. For those looking to reach higher elevations, summit access is possible without a multi-hour ascent on foot.
The offering is complemented by several summer attractions that have become regional staples. These include the summer toboggan run in Piancavallo, the Fun Area dell'Angelo in Tarvisio, and the special Friday evening openings of the Lussari cable car throughout August. PromoTurismoFVG continuously updates current changes to opening hours and offerings in the Infosummer section, making last-minute trip planning straightforward.
Getting There and Practical Information
Friuli-Venezia Giulia is comparatively easy to reach from Germany and Austria. From Munich via the Tauern motorway and Villach, the A23 leads directly to Tarvisio; from Vienna via Klagenfurt, the drive is approximately four hours. Rail connections run through Villach with onward service to Udine or Trieste, from where regional trains and buses serve the mountain villages.
