The snow-covered Passeiertal Valley offers outdoor winter sports enthusiasts all they could wish for. With its wide ski slopes, fast sled runs and stunning cross-country ski trails, the ski area near the village of Pfelders beneath the high summits of the Texelgruppe Nature Park, extends as far as the Lazinser Alm refuge. Even during the white winters, snowshoe hikers and mountain adventurers negotiate some of the more demanding routes in this pristine nature reserve. In the Passeiertal Valley, skating enthusiasts glide along icy ponds and frozen lakes, as well as in the skating rinks.

During Advent, the bustling Christmas markets throughout South Tyrol generate a vibrant atmosphere. With numerous stalls offering all sorts of local handicrafts and traditional delicacies for sale, the Christmas markets extend well beyond Merano and the other larger towns. In the villages of St. Martin and St. Leonhard, for example, the smaller romantic Christmas markets are even more congenial, welcoming visitors.