The passes are already on your list and the routes are drawn. But where will you sleep? That choice determines how much of a head start you'll need each morning, and therefore how much you'll get out of your cycling week.

The Classic Sellaronda route on our site starts in Corvara in Badia, and that is no coincidence. Bike Rebel Corvara is named as one of the “designated common starting areas” on the circuit. However, it's not automatically the best choice for everyone. We'll compare the three hubs based on the criteria that really matter.

The short answer: Corvara if you wish to stack the cards, Canazei if you're looking for more value for your money, Ortisei if the village and off-road options are at least as important as the tarmac classics.

The comparison at a glance

• Corvara – Best for: pure road weeks. Sellaronda access: direct, from the doorstep. Extra driving: nil. Price point: mid-high. Village atmosphere: functional, no piazza. Off-piste bonus: limited.
• Canazei – Best for: value and flexibility. Sellaronda access: direct, on the circuit. Extra driving: minimal. Price point: friendliest. Village atmosphere: quiet, with an Italian and German culinary influence. Off-piste bonus: decent.
• Ortisei – Best for: overall experience and mixed groups. Sellaronda access: indirect, extra connectors needed. Extra travel: most routes. Price perception: high. Village atmosphere: charming, walkable, plenty of hospitality. Off-piste bonus: strongest (gravel, MTB, Alpe di Siusi).

Corvara – everyone is here

Corvara is literally on the loop. From the village, you start the four passes without any detour. Bike Rebel is going from Corvara 51.6 km with approximately 1,670 metres of elevation gain, in both directions. You can have breakfast in the morning, roll out of the village, and be on the first climb within minutes.

This makes Corvara suitable for short trips or first visits, when you want to make the most of every day of skiing. Multiple days? From Corvara, you can ski the Sellaronda clockwise, anti-clockwise, take variants towards Arabba or Falzarego, and build up ski days without the same approach each time.

Corvara isn't a village to fall in love with. No cute central square, more of a main street with cafés and restaurants along its axis. Ladin culture, excellent food, but you come here for the routes, not for the strolls.

Corvara is mid-range in price. KAYAK shows 4-star hotels from around £80 per night, with over 100 accommodations in total. Plenty of choice, but less extensive than Canazei.

Canazei – more hotel, more budget

Canazei is also a designated starting area on the Sellaronda. Fassa.com even gives an explicit recommendation: ride anti-clockwise from Canazei. The tour from Canazei is, according to Bike Rebel 62.6 km with 2,030 metres of elevation gain, a little longer because you return more to your starting point.

The big difference with Corvara lies in the hotel offerings and the price. KAYAK counts around 400 hotels in Canazei, 3-star from £77 and 4-star from £109. That is a significantly wider playing field, especially useful if booking with a group or looking for availability later in the season.

The village itself is quiet, with a mix of Italian and German-inspired food culture. Nice after the drive, although it's less “picture-perfect” than Ortisei.

Ortisei – charm and off-road

Ortisei is the most beautiful village of the three. Shops, restaurants, cafés, everything within walking distance. Several sources describe it as a place you quickly fall in love with. If your accommodation is at least as important as the mileage, then Ortisei becomes very appealing.

For the pure Sellaronda rider, there's a compromise here. Ortisei is not directly on the circuit. You have to complete a few steps to get onto the Sella Ronda from Ortisei, and the same applies to cyclists: you need extra kilometres towards Selva or Plan de Gralba before the real work begins.

Where Ortisei does offer an advantage is everything off the classic loops on the road. Here you'll find more than 50 gravel routes around the village, You also have fantastic MTB and trail running options, and direct access to Alpe di Siusi opens up a complete extra playing field. If you're riding with a group that also includes gravel riders or other off-roaders, then Ortisei suddenly becomes the smartest choice.

At what price is Ortisei the most expensive? You can be as extravagant as you like. There's bound to be a last-minute deal to be found. But it's not budget-friendly. You do get a lot of beauty in return.

Where can we find you?

• First Dolomites trip, pure tarmac, bucket list? Corvara. No warm-up, direct access to the Sella Ronda, the classic route, every day on the bike is important.
• A larger group, booked later, price-quality important? Canazei. More hotels, better for your budget, but still on the Sellaronda.
• Longer week, gravel added, village must be right? Ortisei. Best atmosphere, an off-road bonus, slightly more options to the Sellaronda.

A note on distances: the Sellaronda measures 55km. There are various figures in circulation, but we prefer to stick to 55km. You can find the route in our cycling in the Dolomites article.

Have you already chosen a base camp for your Dolomites week, or are you still undecided? We'd love to hear which village you've chosen and why. You can read more about the region in our overview. Cycling in the Dolomites.