Nature
Helm
The Helm is a mountain in the Puster Valley in South Tyrol, Italy.
What Helm is
Helm is a mountain above the Puster Valley in South Tyrol, on the eastern side of the Dolomites. It's a good spot for wide views over the valley and the surrounding peaks without a technical climb — the kind of destination visited for the panorama and the walking or skiing on its slopes rather than for a single landmark feature.
Getting there
From the Puster Valley, Helm is reached by local roads and cable car access points serving the mountain; allow a short drive of around 15-20 minutes from towns in the valley floor, followed by a cable car or chairlift ride up if you don't want to hike the full ascent. Exact routes depend on which village in the valley you're starting from.
How much time to allow
Plan on at least half a day if you're combining the ride up with some walking at altitude, or a full day if you intend to hike a longer route or spend time skiing in winter.
When to go
Summer is best for hiking and clear views; winter draws skiers to its slopes. Mornings tend to offer calmer weather and clearer visibility before afternoon cloud can build over the ridges, and midday in high season on the lift can get busy, so an early start is worth it if you prefer quieter trails.
Combine it with
The Puster Valley itself is close by (3.1km) and makes an easy add-on for exploring the valley towns before or after the mountain. Dreischusterspitze (7km) and Elferkofel (8.8km) are further Dolomite peaks worth considering if you have extra time for mountain scenery, while the Drava river (10.3km) offers a lower-altitude, easier stop for a change of pace.
Sources: open data from Wikipedia and OpenStreetMap · Updated August 5, 2026 · Edited by the World by City editors
