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The ULTIMATE Dolomites Itinerary for 1-5 days (with Maps!)

So, you want to visit the Dolomites but only have a few days. You need a  short Dolomites itinerary  for a day trip, weekend or visit up to 5 days which gives you ALL the best places in the most sensible order. You need to know  what’s worth your time , what you can forget and where you should stay. 

And here it is- the perfect Dolomites Itinerary for short road trips.

Our Dolomites travel blog posts cover most of our favourite places in more detail, but this is an overview of the routes and itinerary we took, along with driving distances and stops.

Grab a coffee and let’s get started.

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Why visit the Dolomites?

The Dolomites are unlike anywhere else we have been. We’ve road-tripped around Europe for years- and  this place took our breath away. 

We’d always hurried past Northern Italy before, wanting to explore the Italian lakes, the Alps, or Slovenia- all of which are beautiful and totally worth a visit- but we REALLY wish we’d stopped at the Dolomites earlier.

It’s hard to explain the beauty of these mountains, or how they differ from the Alps or other European mountains we’ve seen. The combination of HUGE green meadows, jagged peaks, hiking trails and some of the most beautiful places we’ve ever seen- the whole package is captivating.

Dare we say it, but after 4 short days, we had completely fallen in love with this region- every corner is another ‘wow’ moment.  And after  Norway , our ‘wow’ meter is set pretty high. 

The Dolomites are now firmly in our top 3 favourite places to road trip in Europe- they really are THAT impressive.

Convinced it’s somewhere you want to visit? Even if you only have a short break? Good- let’s plan your perfect Dolomites itinerary.

What is there to do in the Dolomites?

There are SO MANY THINGS to do in the Dolomites.

It’s a place for outdoor explorations, especially hiking, photography, dog walks, star-gazing, road trips, picnics and just feeling awe-struck at the beauty of nature. Seriously, it’s one of those places where you just want to be outdoors ALL. THE. TIME. Even when the weather isn’t at its best.

In winter, many of the towns become ski resorts, which would be a wonderful way to enjoy the views.

We didn’t have much time to spend in the area, so we didn’t add any of the big or best hikes into our Dolomites itinerary. If you’d like to know more about hiking to a glacial lake or which mountains are easiest/ most fun to hike,   this book  will tell you everything you need to know.

Also, make sure you know   what to wear while hiking  and dress for whatever the weather may have in store- these are big mountains and it’s easy to get sucked in by their beauty and forget the dangers of hiking if unprepared.

Instead, we focused on some of the most beautiful lakes which were just a short walk or short hike away, so we could see as much as possible in the short time we had.

Of course, you can do an all day hike if you wish, but that might not be the best option if you’re short on time. 

Must-Know Tips for your Dolomites Itinerary

Where are the dolomites.

The Dolomites are in northeastern Italy and one of the most beautiful mountain ranges I’ve ever experienced. As well as mountains, there are plenty of quaint towns and fantastic driving roads- making it one of the best road trips in Italy.

The area is protected as a Unesco World Heritage site due to the  ‘series of highly distinctive mountain landscapes that are of exceptional natural beauty. Their dramatic vertical and pale coloured peaks in a variety of distinctive sculptural forms are extraordinary in a global context.’ (taken from the UNESCO website )

Why Is It Called ‘the Dolomites’?

The 250-million-year-old formation also known as the “Pale Mountains” took its name from the French geologist Dieudonné Dolomieu, who studied the region’s geology and dolomitic limestone formations in the 18th century.

When is the best time to visit the Dolomites?

I visited the Dolomites in early October and in my opinion that’s a great time to visit- much better than in high season (which is July and August). 

What is the best way to explore the Dolomites?

Ideally, you want to explore the Dolomites in your own car or vehicle. We visited as part of our motorhome tour in Italy . Foolishly, because we were heading to Croatia, we didn’t take our motorcycles with us, but it’s a fantastic place to go motorcycle touring in Italy. 

If you have a rental car, make sure you take time to add the Dolomites to your itinerary. If you’re only using public transportation, you can still explore the Dolomites, but services might not be as regular as you are used to, so you may wish to spend more than one day in the area.

The town of Ortisei or Cortina D’Ampezzo are the main towns to aim for, especially from Venice – it’s a beautiful drive at any time of year although the route has many hairpin turns and is not advised for those prone to motion sickness.

You can take the train to Bolzano and Val Gardena from Venice, Milan, or Verona.

Where is the closest airport to the Dolomites?

The closest airports to the Dolomites region are in Venice – Marco Polo and Treviso. You can reach Venice from most major hubs across Europe and the US. 

Are the Dolomites Italian or German?

The Dolomites are a bit of both. The language is bilingual – and even trilingual in some places – so expect to find towns and villages sharing Austrian and Italian names, and sometimes even Ladin, the ancient Roman language passed down by the first valley inhabitants.

Almost everyone speaks Italian, German, Italian and English, but don’t be surprised if you find most Dolomites speaking the native Ladin.

What is the Currency in the Dolomites?

The currency in the Dolomites is the Euro, just like in most parts of Italy. All major debit and credit cards are widely accepted, but be prepared for those $5 withdrawal fees if you need to use an ATM for cash and plan for these expenses in advance.

What are the opening hours in the Dolomites?

Opening hours for the lifts, cable cars, and hotels in the Dolomites vary, but you can expect a standard 8:00 am to 7:00 pm timetable for most services. Restaurants hours extend until 10:00 pm or later.

A word of caution: make sure to check your hotel’s check in time carefully as some do not offer reception service after 5 p.m. in selected areas.

How Good is the Internet in the Dolomites?

The four major mobile networks in Italy are  Vodafone, Windtre, TIM,  and  Iliad .

Some town provide free WiFi in the main squares and lift facilities, but if your smartphone supports it, you can have internet on the road with a regional Eurolink e-sim (prices start from $5).

Hiking in the Dolomites

The Dolomites and South Tyrol are a great place for those who love to hike in mountainous areas. The most popular hikes can get busy in summer, so you might wish to start in the early morning for longer day hikes in order to get the route to yourself as much as possible.

For even longer hikes, there are mountain huts (rifugio) all over the place which can be booked in advance and are a great option for multi-day hikes. One of the most popular of these is Rifugio Auronzo on Tre Cime, one of the favorite hikes for many visitors. 

Dolomites for non-hikers

What we really liked was that you  don’t HAVE to go for long hikes if you don’t want to ; many of the most popular locations and lots of the   best lakes in the Dolomites  are quite close to the road and easily accessible. So you can pick and choose exactly what you do or don’t want to see. 

Driving in the Dolomites

In the Dolomites, you can enjoy a few of the most scenic routes Europe has to offer. Driving across the mountains might seem like an intimidating option, especially if it’s your first time in Italy, but driving in the Dolomites is actually way easier than you think!

Is it Safe to Drive in the Dolomites?

The roads are well maintained with road signs in both German, Italian and sometimes English. All passages through the mountains are fairly easy to cross, except for instances of heavy snowfall when you will find them usually closed.

In the Dolomites, people drive on the right side of the road just like in most other places in Europe. The speed limit is 50 km/h in towns and 90 km/h on country roads. As long as you keep an eye out for fuel signs and toll roads, you are sure to have a safe journey in the Dolomites.

NOTE: Be sure to watch out for cattle! They tend to cross the roads frequently in many farmed areas, often without warning signs.

Driver’s License & Autostrade (Toll Roads)

Toll Roads, or  Autostrade  are the common Italian highways, motorways, and freeways marked by easy-to-spot green signs. You’ll need a full driving license or international driving permit to travel on those by car, campervan, or trailer.

If you are traveling on a budget, you can avoid those by taking alternative, longer routes–just be sure your map is up to date.

How Many Days Do You Need in the Dolomites?

As many as you can- and it still won’t be long enough! In this guide, you will discover various options for experiencing the beauty of the Dolomites, whether it’s for a duration of a one day visit, a weekend/ two days or 3-5 days. Aim to spend at least five days if you enjoy hiking and plan to go on Alpine hikes or try a cycling trip.

How to plan YOUR perfect Dolomites Itinerary

Below, I’ll share our 3-day Dolomites itinerary, but before I do, I want to share a couple of quick tips to help you plan your own trip.

• Decide on what is important to you . With only 3 or 4 days in the Dolomites, you will not be able to see it all. Heck, you couldn’t see it all in an entire week! There are just too many things to do. So pick a few things which you REALLY want to see, and enjoy those.
• HIRE/ TAKE a vehicle.  The Dolomites are MADE for road trips. They are perfect for picnics up mountains with incredible views, hiking, late-night photography and getting up early to see the sunrise. This itinerary is designed for road trips- taking public transport will take you much longer, but there are options for bus, train, and shuttle service. 
• If you can,  travel the Dolomites in a motorhome or campervan.  That way, you can stay in some INCREDIBLE locations for much less money than the price of a Dolomites hotel. It’s definitely a more cost-effective option and   campervanning in Italy  is awesome anyway.
• Go out of season . Either May/ June or September/ October. We went at the beginning of October, and it was the PERFECT time- clear days, cool nights with bright stars and incredible foliage. The Dolomites in Autumn are breathtaking.
• Use Google Maps. We plotted all the things we wanted to do and see on Google Maps, and then drove between them. It’s definitely the best way to plan a trip.   Learn how to use Google Maps to create an epic itinerary.

Our 3-4 day Dolomites road trip itinerary & highlights

We didn’t mean to go to the Dolomites at all; we detoured on the way to Slovenia without any plan at all.

Therefore, we didn’t really have a Dolomites itinerary planned and instead just crammed as much as we could into 3 days  (technically, we were there for 4 days but we spent one full day camped at the top of Tre Cime- we’ll get to that shortly!)

One of the most iconic shots in the Dolomites- but is it REALLY worth your time?

Italian Dolomites Itinerary Road map

Map of our dolomites road trip itinerary.

Here’s the route planner for our Dolomites itinerary. You can see the roads we took. Below, I’ll break it down into day-by-day and mileage/ stop points/ things to see in the Dolomites on the way.

Our starting point was Bolzano (A) and finished in Tre Cime (J). Of course, you can add and amend this itinerary or do it in reverse order if you wish.

NOTE- Not every point we stopped at is listed on the map above- Google Maps only allows you to plot up to 10 points at one time for a route map. But it shows all the roads we drove over the three days so you can use it as a Dolomites route planner for your own road trip. 

Dolomites Route Planner

One day in the Dolomites itinerary- what to see, what to avoid and how to plan your route!

Day One (or One Day in the Dolomites Itinerary!)

If you only have one day in the Dolomites, this is the route we would take- unless you go to Tre Cime!

Dolomites One Day Itinerary & Route Planner

Bolzano (A) to Val di Funes (F) • 170km • 5h 40 mins (including stops)

If you only have one day in the Dolomites, this is the itinerary I would pick. It showcases some of the best views, roads, lakes, mountains and more! 

It’s a loop which is easily driveable in daylight hours (both in summer or winter) and is a fantastic introduction to these beautiful mountains. As a first day introduction to the area, it was incredible. 

Day One Route & Highlights

• Driving the Great Dolomite Road (SS241) from Bolzano to Canazei- 2 hours • 76km (Point A- Point C)  READ: 9 essential tips to drive the Great Dolomites road
• Stop at Lake Carezza (Lago di Carezza) en-route (Point B)- this is where we had a late breakfast (TOP TIP: get there early- even in October there were a lot of tour buses arriving.)
• Sella Pass towards Ortisei (SS48, becoming SS242) – 3 hours • 76km  (Point D)- stopped for lunch near the top where you can see Alpe di Siusi- the largest alpine meadow in Europe
• Ortisei to Val di Funes, to see Santa Maddalena church (accurately called St Johanns Church)- the little chapel in the field and one of the most photographed churches in the world. Only a short drive at 40 mins and arrived late afternoon • 32 km (D to E)
• Stayed overnight near Santa Maddalena (see exactly where  here )

Day Two- Dolomites Travel blog

Map and route planner for Dolomites roadtrip planning for two days

Weekend/ Two Day Dolomites Road Trip Itinerary

If you’re visiting the Dolomites for a weekend or two days, I would do Day 1 and Day 2 to showcase some of the best spots in the region. It’s best to have an early start and get as much done as possible- it also means you can take advantage of spaces in the free parking lots.

Val di Funes (A) to Lago di Braies (Lake Braies) (D) on the map above • 130km • 2h 30 mins (NOT including stops)

• Val di Funes to Ortisel (Col Rainer or Seceda Cable Car) – 31 mins • 39km
• Gardena Pass (B/C) – 49 mins • 32km 
• Lago di Braies for evening – 1h10 mins • 59km

This hotel at Lago di Braies  is RIGHT ON THE SHORE of the lake and would be perfect to stay in if you don’t have a campervan.

If you stay nearby and it’s a clear night, getting up to photograph the stars over the lake is a great idea- it’s seriously beautiful.

Day Two – Highlights for where to visit in the Dolomites

• Val di Funes- St Johann’s Church/ Santa Maddalena-   READ : Val di Funes perfect itinerary .
• Col Raiser/ Seceda/ Alpe di Siusi Cable car–visit the top of  Seceda if you can, but motorhome parking at the cable car station is a NIGHTMARE, so Col Raiser is easier for vans to visit.
• An alternative option is to visit Alpe di Suisi (called Seiser Alm in German) on the opposite side- it’s the largest high-alpine pasture in Europe.
• Gardena Pass –  this was breathtaking–well worth going this way instead of the quicker autoroute to Lake Braies.
• Lago di Braies –  we arrived the night before and stayed overnight. If you’re not staying on site, get here REALLY early or you will be overrun by Instagram photo hunters… many in wedding dresses… #notevenkidding.

Day Three- Dolomites Travel blog

Day Three Dolomites Road Trip Itinerary

Lake Braies (A) to Tre Cime (D) • 73km • 2 hours

A shorter road trip route today, with plenty of pretty lakes and stunning views. Don’t miss  Tre Cime di Lavaredo – despite the expense it was our favourite part of the Dolomites.

If you can, stay up there for the night, either in a camper or a tent or at a hostel. You won’t regret it!  

Day Three Dolomites – Things to do and things to miss

• Next morning, get up EARLY to see Lago di Braies at sunrise for the best experience of this beautiful lake. The good news is you’ll see the sunrise and avoid the hundreds of Instagrammers!
• Lake Braies to Lake Misurina – 43 mins • 35km (you pass Lake Dobbiaco and Lake Landro on the way- both pretty and worth a stop)
• Lake Misurina to Cortina d’Ampezzo – 23 mins • 15km (missable- we only went for fuel and shopping)
• Cortina to Tre Cime – 42 mins • 23km
• Stay up Tre Cime for the evening so you can see sunset and sunrise. Both are stunning. We chose to spend two nights up here, but you don’t need to if you’re short on time. 

If you can’t stay up Tre Cime itself (an extra cost, but worth it),  this is one of the closest hotels to Tre Cime – the views are SPECTACULAR!!

Some common questions about the Dolomites:

Dolomites Itinerary for non-hikers- do I HAVE to walk or hike?

We didn’t do many BIG hikes in our 3-day Dolomites itinerary. On the 4th day, we spent it hiking and exploring Tre Cime. But you can easily spend three or four days in the Dolomites and not hike at all if you don’t want to.

When Should I visit the Dolomites?

In our opinion, Autumn is perfect. It’s actually one of our favourite   places to experience Autumn in Europe.  The trees are a beautiful backdrop to the views, the weather is still warm enough to go outside and yet the visitor numbers are much fewer than in summer, which makes the whole experience much better.

September/ October is beautiful. Don’t come any later than mid-October as many of the cable cars/ mountain passes in the Dolomites will be closed and not re-opened until April-ish. Snow and ice can cause difficulties reaching many of the best things to do in the Dolomites during winter, so while it can be pretty, you may not see everything you want to. (Here are some more   incredible places to enjoy in Europe in October )

If Autumn isn’t an option, try and visit May or June, which is a perfect time to enjoy the spring flowers on the alpine meadows. The weather will just be warming up, snow will be mostly melted, and you should get many opportunities to enjoy the spectacular views!

Where can I visit the Dolomites?

The Dolomites are in Northern Italy, about an hour north of Lake Garda. 

How do you get to the Dolomites from Venice/ from Milan?

If you’re doing a Dolomites Road Trip Itinerary (which we highly recommend), you can easily get to the Dolomites from Venice or Milan. 

Venice to Bolzano (the start of our Dolomites itinerary) will take you about 3 hours (267km)

Milan to Bolzano is about 3 and a half hours (278km)

How much does it cost to visit the Dolomites?

One of the advantages to visiting an area with a lot of hiking and photography spots is that it can be visited quite cheaply, especially out of season.

Our 4-day Dolomites itinerary didn’t cost us much at all:

• 4€ parking at Lake Carrezza, plus gifts and souvenir postcard (we collect them)= 25€
• Breakfast and bread for lunch from bakery = 6€
• Col Raiser Cable Car- 40€ for 2 adults and a dog (dog free)
• Cake and coffee at top of Col Raiser = 17€
• Overnight parking at Lake Braies = 8€ (15€ as of 2022)
• Gift shop at Lake Misurina = 35€  (bought amazing woolly slipper socks – worth it!)
• Tre Cime for 2 nights with a motorhome = 70€
• Fuel and LPG = 80€
• Not a thing- we were up Tre Cime! Although there is a restaurant and a shop there, we didn’t use it.

TOTAL costs for Dolomites road trip = 351€

This doesn’t include travel to or from the Dolomites, or food which we already had in our motorhome, but should give you an idea on what you could expect to spend on your own road trip.

Where to stay when you visit the Dolomites?

I’ve mentioned it a couple of times already, but we highly recommend visiting the Dolomites with a motorhome or campervan. That way, you can stay in campsites or use aires (called Sostas in Italy.)

You can either bring your own van, or hire one nearby.

If that’s not an option, hire a car and be prepared to move hotels each night, so you’re not wasting time returning to a hotel back where you started.

The hotels we recommend are:

• Val di Funes- hotel with a hot tub and views of the Dolomites?  Yes please!
• Lago di Braies- right on the shores of the lake!
• Near Tre Cime- you won’t believe these views!

Travel Essentials for your Dolomites Itinerary

Whether it’s a surprise hailstorm in the middle of summer or a spontaneous hike, it doesn’t hurt to be ready to face the unexpected in the Dolomites. Read on and make a list of the essentials that will allow you to relish in the Alpine experience, rain or shine!

What to Wear in the Dolomites

A rain jacket   – ideally lightweight and insulated to accompany you in every exploration.

Sun hat & Sunscreen  – depending on when you visit. Dolomite summers are mild with average maximum temperatures in July and August rarely spiking over 25°C –  but, let’s face it, an unexpected sunburn can really ruin a holiday so it’s best to be prepared.

Sturdy shoes or sandals  – able to withstand spontaneous hikes and the tricky cobblestone streets of the scenic towns along your trip.

What to Pack for the Dolomites

A power bank, travel adaptor, hiking shoes, and your trusty reusable water bottle go a long way in any vacation and will prove essential in your outdoors adventures in the Dolomites. Visiting in May or during the summer months? You might want to pack your swimsuit, but  only if you’re brave enough to try the cold waters in Lake Braies. 

If you want to see more photos of the beautiful Dolomites,  check out our Instagram.

There is so much to see in the area, it can be overwhelming trying to narrow it all down. Here are some of our favourite guides to help:

• Shorter walks in the Dolomites
• The best photo locations in the Dolomites
• Dolomites UNESCO tourist map

We hope you found those itinerary ideas for the Dolomites useful. You might find these posts helpful too:

Kat never planned to buy a motorhome. She also never planned to quit her job as an air traffic controller, go touring around Europe in said motorhome, start one of the UK’s largest motorhome travel websites… or get a cocker spaniel.

Find out how she went from stuck in the rat race to being a digital nomad and inspiring thousands of people to have their own epic adventures here.

If you’d like to connect with Kat, send her an email or follow her adventures on social media.

Last update on 2024-06-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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12 comments.

Do you have any suggestions on motorhome or camper van rentals in that are?

Love this blog post! I’m planning to go September or October and am inspired by your pictures! Thank you

Love this post! We’re in Bolzano now and about to embark on your 3 day roadtrip suggestion!! VERY excited.

Awesome!!! Let me know how it goes 🙂

The Dolomites are great for your camper I agree, but if you want to see the really dramatic sceneries, a hike is required don’t you think so?

Hikes are awesome, but not everyone is capable or has enough time. But yes- the higher you go, the better the scenery. That’s why we loved Tre Cime so much 🙂

Hi! How were the roads for large (8.5m) motorhomes?

Most of them you’ll be absolutely fine- just go early to avoid buses or other vans coming the other way. And maybe sound a horn before blind bends where you might swing out into the road.

can we do this road trip in a scooter ( vespa )

Absolutely- it would be fun on a scooter. Just remember the roads can be steep, so it would need enough power to get up them and you’ll need to make sure you have fuel.

What an amazing and detailed blog, must say you have shared some really good information. The ideal Dolomites itinerary.

Thank you. Hope you make it there one day. The Dolomites are beautiful.

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Username or password is incorrect, welcome back,, dolomite express and the historical renon (ritten) train, this day-trip from milano takes you to one of the most celebrated alpine landscapes.

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Come with us on a tour through the Dolomite Mountains and explore Renon Plateau and the charming mountain town of Bolzano. You will admire the "earth pyramid", a unique rock formation that populates the area, and enjoy the Tyrolean atmosphere of Bolzano on a walking tour with your local guide.

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• Available: all year round, on Thursdays
• Departure Time: 7:00am
• Duration: 13 hours
• Departure Meeting Point: Foro Bonaparte 76, at the corner with Via Cusani or Milan Metro stop (red line) MM1 Cairoli
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• One-day trip to the Dolomites from Milan
• Take the Renon cable car from Bolzano to Soprabolzano
• Enjoy a scenic journey on the Ritten Railway train up to the Renon Plateau
• Free time in the mountain village of Collalbo and admire the Dolomites’ earth pyramids
• Walking tour of Bolzano stopping for photos in Piazza Walther and Piazza delle Erbe

Meet your guide in Milan city center and leave for a 2.5 hour bus journey to the Dolomites – Italy’s beautiful mountain range featuring 18 peaks which rise to above 3,000 meters (close to 10,000 feet) and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

After you arrive in Bolzano, the capital of Italy’s South Tyrol province, and after a walk through town, take the Renon cable car to Soprabolzano – a tiny little village half-way up Renon Plateau. Traveling to an altitude of 1,221 meters (4,006 feet), the cable car will give you a stunning panoramic view of the snow-capped mountains as you rise out of the plains.

In Soprabolzano, you will get on board a 100-year-old electric train, the “Ritten Bahn,” for a picturesque ride to Collalbo on top of the Renon Plateau. Upon arrival, enjoy free time for lunch (not included) or for exploring the charming little village. From Collalbo, the unspoiled mountain scenery will offer you a view of the most celebrated natural features on the Ritten, the earth pyramids, impressive rock pillars rising out of the ground.

In the afternoon, meet your guide for your bus transfer back to Bolzano, a city proud of its Austrian roots, which only became part of Italy in 1918. Most of its citizens still speak German and middle-European influence can be seen in its Rationalistic architecture. Your guide will help you immerse yourself in the Tyrolean atmosphere, with a walking tour taking you through the history and culture of Bolzano. Don’t miss the opportunity to take some pictures in Piazza Walther and in the vibrant Piazza delle Erbe before returning to Milan on the bus.

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4 Days DOLOMITES TOUR - from Milan

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USA • Traveled in July 2022

• Introduction
• Day 1 Milan / Verona / Pieve di Cadore / Cortina
• Day 2 Cortina/ Lago Misurina / Lago Dobbiaco / Badia and Pusteria Valleys / Cortina
• Day 3 Cortina / Marmolada / Canazei / Lago di Carezza / Merano / Bolzano
• Day 4 Bolzano / Route of the Wine / Trento / Milan

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• SB Sandra Toff · 20th October 2023 Wonderful trip to the Dolomites. Our tour leader Didi was terrific. Trip date: September 2023
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Italian Dolomites Itinerary (1-10 Days)+ Tips for Planning Your Trip

By Author Jurga

Posted on Last updated: May 25, 2024

The Italian Dolomites is one of the most beautiful mountain regions in the world. So if you are planning a trip to Italy in the summer, we highly recommend including the Dolomites in your itinerary. Even if you have just one day, it’s worth it! But there’s so much to see and do in the Dolomites that you could easily spend weeks and even months here and still not see it all…

In this article, we share our best suggestions for Dolomites itinerary, for any (road) trip duration from 1 day to 10 days or even more . So no matter how much time you have, you can see some of the very best places in the Dolomites and make the most out of your trip.

Good to know: We visited the Dolomites in Italy several times and spent several longer vacations here hiking some of the best trails in the Dolomites , exploring the most beautiful lakes , and visiting many places in the region. For these itinerary suggestions, we selected only the top places that we think are worth your time the most if visiting Dolomites for the first time.

And while some of the best places in the Dolomites require hiking, you can also see a lot even if you do not hike. So for each of the shorter trips, we share several options, one of them with tips for those who don’t hike much and simply want to see the nicest scenery. Find out!

Dolomites Itinerary – OVERVIEW

• Planning tips

READ ALSO: Where to Stay in the Dolomites

Here are some suggested Dolomites itineraries:

One Day in the Dolomites

If you only have one day in the Dolomites, your itinerary will highly depend on where you are traveling from and whether you have a car or not.

If you don’t have a car , by far the best way to visit the Dolomites for a day is by taking an organized day tour . There are tours from Lake Garda, Venice, or Bolzano and they’ll bring you to some of the nicest places that are feasible as a day trip from these areas. There are tours that run during any time of the year, with some special winter itineraries as well. So if you only have a day and don’t feel like driving or planning much, you can still visit this beautiful region.

If you have a car , a lot will also depend on where you are coming from, so you will have to adjust your 1-day itinerary based on that. Below are some suggestions on how to spend one day in the Dolomites. We selected the VERY BEST places that you can see in a day and linked to more detailed guides for more information. Take a look at our self-drive itinerary suggestions below.

We included two options: one without much hiking and one for those who want to do one of the best hikes in the Dolomites.

This 1-day itinerary brings you to some of the must-see places in the Dolomites. You won’t have much time to explore deeper, but you’ll see some of the best scenery in the shortest time possible. If you can walk for about 30-60 minutes, you can see some jaw-dropping scenery at Tre Cime. You can also start this itinerary at any other location and just make a loop.

• Val Gardena.
• Gardena Pass.
• Lago di Braies (Pragser Wildsee).
• Lago di Dobbiaco (Toblacher See).
• Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
• Lake Misurina.

Start in Val Gardena and drive through Gardena mountain pass to Lago di Braies (2 hours drive). Visit Lago di Braies/ Pragser Wildsee (count at least 30 minutes for a quick visit). Try to be here before 10 AM (ideally before 9 AM) because in high season, they close the road and you have to take a shuttle if you come here during the day. Continue in the direction of Misurina and stop at Lago di Dobbiaco .

In the afternoon (and only if the weather is good and there are no thunderstorms), visit Tre Cime di Lavaredo . With one day in the Dolomites, don’t plan on doing the entire hike here, but you can hike the first part to Forcella Lavaredo (about 30 minutes one way and the first part is very easy). The views are amazing and well worth the 30 EUR fee in order to drive up here! Afterwards, take a quick photo stop at Lake Misurina and continue your trip.

If you are driving back to the Val Gardena area, you can take the mountain roads via Cortina d’Ampezzo and Falzarego Pass – this will take you at least 2 hours without any stops. If you take the road via Passo Pardoi, be prepared for some serious hairpin turning and count at least 3 hours. Alternatively, stay in Cortina d’Ampezzo – depending on where your trip takes you next.

This itinerary is for those who want to do one of the iconic hikes in the Dolomites and see a few of the best lakes.

• Hike to Lago di Sorapis OR Tre Cime di Lavaredo Loop.

Start in the Cortina d’Ampezzo or Lake Misurina area and choose one of the most beautiful hikes in the Dolomites – Lake Sorapis hike or Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop trail . Both these hikes are very popular and either one of them will take you about 4-5 hours in total. Ideally, you start as early in the morning as possible, so that you can beat the crowds and avoid parking issues.

Afterwards, visit Lake Misurina and continue in the direction of Lake Braies. On the way there, you can stop at Lago di Landro (Dürrensee) and/or at Lago di Dobbiaco (Toblacher See ). These are both just short photo stops that don’t require much time.

End your day at Lago di Braies (Pragser Wildsee) . Try to arrive here after 3-4 PM so that you can avoid having to take a shuttle and drive all the way to the lake. It’s very busy at this lake during the day but very quiet and magical in the evening. If you still have some time and energy, you can walk around the lake or rent a rowing boat and enjoy the scenery from the water.

Two Days Dolomites Itinerary

If you have two days in the Dolomites, we highly recommend that you rent a car and make a mini road trip. Check this website for some of the best car rental deals (we personally use it for all our trips).

If you don’t have a car , make your way to a bigger town like Cortina d’Ampezzo (there are buses to Cortina from Venice). From her – in high season – you can take buses to some of the nearby areas like the earlier mentioned Tre Cime or Lake Sorapis, or to Passo Falzarego and Cinque Torri . You really can’t go wrong with any of these places.

If you do have a car , you could split your visit between two different areas, so that you spend less time driving and more sightseeing. Or you could still stay in just one area and explore deeper. There are so many ways to plan a 2-day Dolomites road trip itinerary! Once again, we focus on some of the very best places and give you two options (one for hikers and one non-hikers) of how you could plan your time. Take a look!

This itinerary is for those who hike and want to get the absolute most out of their two days in the Dolomites.

Day 1 – Cortina d’Ampezzo area

• Hike to Lago di Sorapis OR Tre Cime di Lavaredo Loop .
• Lago di Dobbiaco ( Toblacher See ).
• Lago di Braies ( Pragser Wildsee ).
• Stay in Val Gardena.

This itinerary is pretty much the same as ‘option 2’ in the 1-day itinerary. So please see above for more details. We recommend that you end your day in Val Gardena – that way, you can make the most of your second day as well. There are many hotels in Val Gardena , but for this itinerary, it’s probably best if you stay in Ortisei .

Day 2 – Val Gardena & Val di Funes

• Val Gardena: Seceda – Pieralongia hike .
• St. Magdalena church (the most iconic view of the Dolomites).
• Adolf Munkel Trail and/or Geisler Alm.

In the morning, take a cable car from Ortisei to Seceda and make a short hike there. You can find more info about this hike in our Dolomites hiking guide (see Seceda – Pieralongia). Afterwards, return to your car and drive to St. Magdalena in Val Funes (Villnöß). It’s about 40 minutes drive but can take longer if the traffic is busy.

In St. Magdalena, drive or walk up to the church and from there, follow the road even higher for stunning views of St. Magdalena church with Dolomites mountain peaks in the background. This is the most photographed view in the Dolomites!

If the weather is good and you are up for a nice hike of about 3 hours, consider hiking the Adolf Munkel Trail to Geisler Alm . Geisler Alm is a very picturesque mountain hut with great local food, a nice outdoor seating area, a playground for the kids, and the most amazing views. If a longer hike is too much for you, there’s a short trail that leads from the car parking at the parking area in Zans straight to Geisler Alm. You can find more info about these places in our Dolomites hiking guide that I linked to above – see Adolf Munkel Trail.

This itinerary is for those who want to drive around, enjoy the scenery, see some WWI sites, but rather not hike too much.

Day 1 – Val Gardena to Cortina d’Ampezzo

• Tre Cime di Lavaredo .
• Cortina d’Ampezzo.

This itinerary is pretty much the same as ‘option 1’ in the 1-day itinerary – see above for more details. We recommend that you end your day in Cortina d’Ampezzo. It’s a popular mountain resort with a cozy town center where you can also find a nice restaurant for dinner.

If you would make this trip starting in Cortina, then do it in the opposite direction (starting with Misurina – Tre Cime) and maybe skip driving to Val Gardena altogether. Driving in the Dolomites always takes longer than you estimate, and some roads are not for the faint-hearted.

Day 2 – Cinque Torri & Mount Lagazuoi

• Cinque Torri
• Passo Falzarego – Mount Lagazuoi

In the morning, leave Cortina d’Ampezzo in the direction of Falzarego Pass. It’s just a short ride of less than 20km, and takes about half an hour. There are two main places we recommend visiting here and since they are so close to each other, you can choose where you want to start first.

The first stop is Cinque Torri , where you can take a cable car to the top, so no hiking required. Cinque Torri (aka the Five Towers) is a beautiful area with some amazing mountain scenery and a WWI museum. There are many hiking trails here, but even if you don’t want to hike, you can just walk around this open-air museum. It’s a really interesting place to see and the scenery is some of the best in the Dolomites. Pictures don’t do justice to how beautiful it is here. Well worth it! Here you can read more about visiting Cinque Torri and the easiest nice hike you can do there.

Afterwards, head to Falzarego Pass , just a bit further. Here, you can also take a cable car and visit another beautiful area with WWI history – Lagazuoi mountain . Also here, there are lots of hiking trails, including hiking via some of the WWI tunnels. But you can simply walk around a bit, enjoy the jaw-dropping views, and take the gondola back down the mountain.

Depending on whether you hike at all, a little bit, or not at all, a visit to these two places can take you a good part of the day or just 3-4 hours. If you have some time left, you can visit the nearby Forte Tre Sassi Museum and/or take an easy short hike to a nearby mountain lake, Lago di Limides .

The rest of your itinerary depends on where you are staying. The easiest and the most relaxing option is to stay in Cortina, just as the previous night.

3 Days in the Dolomites

If you are planning to spend more time in the Dolomites, we assume that you’ll want to do at least some hiking. So all our longer itineraries include some hiking suggestions. Use these just as an indication of what can be done, and what’s worth your time the most.

Here’s how your three-day Dolomites itinerary could look like:

Day 1 – Tre Cime

• Hike Tre Cime di Lavaredo Loop.
• Lago d’Antorno.

Start your day as early as possible to beat the crowds and do the iconic Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike . This is the only major activity today, so take your time to really enjoy this beautiful area. See our detailed guide via the link above for all the details.

In the afternoon, stop at Lago d’Antorno and Lago di Misurina – both just a short drive down from Tre Cime. You don’t need much time for any of these lakes, so it can be just a quick photo stop. But if you still have some energy, you can do some short walks. At Lake Misurina, you can also rent pedal boats, get some ice cream, etc.

End your day with a relaxing walk and dinner in Cortina d’Ampezzo. There are lots of accommodations in Cortina , so this is a good place to stay the night as well.

Day 2 – Most Beautiful Lakes

• Lago Sorapis hike.

Also on this day, start as early as you can and head to Passo Tre Croci for the Lake Sorapis hike . Parking here is very limited, so if you want to start close to the trailhead, try to be here at around 8 AM at the latest. The good news is that you’ll still have a lot of time left for other places after this hike.

In the afternoon, drive to Lake Braies (Pragser Wildsee) . On the way there, you can also stop at Lake Dobbiaco where you can also have (late) lunch if you didn’t have the chance for it earlier.

If you are visiting in the high season (beginning of July to mid-September), the road to Lake Braies is usually closed to private vehicles until 3 PM, so it’s anyway better to visit Lake Dobbiaco instead of rushing straight here. If you get to the lake too early, you’ll have to take a shuttle.

If you come after 3 PM, you should still have plenty of time to enjoy the scenery at Lake Braies and then drive to Val Gardena via the Gardena Pass towards the evening. However, please check the most up-to-date info for the Lake Braies shuttle, to be sure that the hours are still correct.

Afterwards, drive to Passo Gardena and from there to one of the Val Gardena villages for the night. If you are too tired, you can also take the main roads and highway A22 to get there quicker. The distance between Lake Braies and Ortisei is about 90 km no matter which road you take, but the drive via Gardena Pass will likely take at least 20-30 minutes longer. However, this road is incomparably nicer too and the pass isn’t very challenging, so I recommend avoiding the bigger roads. You’re here to enjoy the scenery, after all.

There are many hotels in Val Gardena . Selva town is a nice place to stay with lots of hotels and nice restaurants, or you can also stay in Ortisei which is where you’ll go first thing the next morning.

Day 3 – Val Gardena & Val di Funes

For more details, see day 2 in ‘option 1’ in the two-day itinerary above. If you want to start your day very early, you could also head to Val di Funes first and visit St Magdalena church and do the Adolf Munkel hike first before returning to Val Gardena and visiting the Seceda area.

In that case, keep in mind that you have to take a cable car for Seceda – Prolongia, so be sure to get there no later than 1 PM to still be able to enjoy it and do some hiking at the top.

4 Days Dolomites Itinerary

If you have 4 days in the Dolomites, we suggest following the 3-day itinerary above and staying in Val Gardena an extra night. So the first three days would be the same (see above for more details), and on the 4th day, you could choose to do more hiking or visit Marmolada, the highest mountain in the Dolomites. See our suggestions below.

Here’s how your Dolomites itinerary for fours days could look like:

Day 1 – Tre Cime Loop

• Hike Tre Cime di Lavaredo Loop .

Day 2 – Lake Sorapis, Lake Braies, and more

• Lago Sorapis hike .

Day 4 – Val Gardena, Passo Pordoi, or Marmolada

On this day, you have a choice to do some more hiking or visit the highest peak of the Dolomites. Below are three different options on how you could spend this day:

1. If you are looking for a nice full-day hike, check out the Selva – Rifugio Puez hike . It’s a bit challenging and long, but the scenery at the beginning and at the end of the hike makes it worth it.

2. Another – very popular – option is to take a cable car from Passo Pordoi to Terrazza Delle Dolomiti, and hike to Piz Boè mountain peak from there. Only do this on a clear day when the weather is good and be sure to get to Passo Pordoi very early to avoid parking issues.

3. The third option – ideal for those who don’t want to hike much – is to visit Marmolada , aka the Queen of the Dolomites. This is also best done on a clear day as you’ll be high above the clouds and won’t see much otherwise. Marmolada also has a WWI museum and it’s a good place to get to know the history of the region a bit better.

The drive from Val Gardena to Malga Ciapela (where you can take the cable car to Marmolada) is just 40 km, but count at least an hour for it without any stops. The roads are crazy here! On the way, you’ll pass Passo Sella and Canazei town – both could be nice stops in addition to Marmolada. But I suggest going to Marmolada first and then you can decide afterwards where you want to stop on your way back, depending on how much time you have.

If you feel like taking another detour, you could also visit Lago di Carezza on your way back. Stay in Val Gardena – same accommodation as on the previous night.

5 Days in the Dolomites

If you have five days in the Dolomites, you could simply follow our 4-day itinerary above and choose two of the three recommended options on days 4 and 5. Alternatively, add a day in the Cortina d’Ampezzo region (day 2 in the itinerary below). Here’s how this road trip itinerary could look like:

Day 1 – Tre Cime di Lavaredo

• Cinque Torri .
• Passo Falzarego – Mount Lagazuoi.
• Stay in Cortina d’Ampezzo.

You can see more details of this itinerary under ‘option 2’ in the 2-days Dolomites itinerary above.

Day 4 – Val Gardena & Val di Funes

• Val Gardena: Seceda Pieralongia hike .

Day 5 – Val Gardena, Passo Pordoi, or Marmolada

See ‘day 4’ in the four days itinerary above.

6-10 Days in the Dolomites (or more)

If you have 6-10 days in the Dolomites or more, I recommend staying in the Cortina d’Ampezzo area and in the Val Gardena area for 3-5 days each and exploring some of the best places in those areas without having to drive too much.

Below, are some of the best places to see and things to do in each area, and you can easily plan your time around this. Or you can see our more detailed itineraries above for how you could plan each day.

Cortina d’Ampezzo area

• Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike and Lake Misurina.
• Lago di Sorapis.
• Cinque Torri.
• Passo Falzarego, Mt Lagazuoi and Lake Limides .
• Hike from Passo Giau to Lake Federa .
• Pragser Wildsee (Lake Braies) and Toblacher See (Lake Dobbiaco).
• Cable cars in Cortina d’Ampezzo town.
• Adventure parks, swimming pools, etc.

With 3-4 days in Cortina, you could visit most of these places, but you’ll likely need at least 5-6 days if you want to do all these hikes. You can read more about all these places in our guide of the best places to see in the Dolomites and the best lakes in the Dolomites .

Val Gardena area

• Passo Gardena.
• Seceda – Pieralongia hike.
• St. Magdalena church in Val di Funes (the most iconic view of the Dolomites).
• Passo Pordoi.
• Passo Sella.
• Lago di Carezza.
• Rifugio Puez hike.

With 3-4 days in Val Gardena, you could visit a few of these places, but if you also plan to do some hiking, you can easily spend a week here and still not see it all. You can find more info about all these places here: Dolomites best places .

Tips for planning your Dolomites trip

Visit in summer. Even though it’s the peak season and it will be busy, summer months are by far the best time to explore the Dolomites to the fullest. If you want to avoid the crowds and still want to be able to do all the hikes, visit in September. At the beginning of June, some of the highest places will usually still have some snow.

Rent a car. If you want to really make the most of your Dolomites trip, be sure to rent a car . Car hire in Italy isn’t expensive and it will give you so much more flexibility! If you don’t have a car, take a bus to Cortina d’Ampezzo or one of the Val Gardena towns and stay there. There’s a lot to see/do in these regions and you should be able to see some of the best places by using public transport.

Plan longer hikes in the morning. Afternoon storms are common in the Dolomites, so plan all your longer hikes as early in the morning as you can. Also, some hikes are so popular that it will be difficult to find a parking spot if you arrive after 9 AM. If the weather is really nice, you can often also do some hiking in the afternoon, so keep an eye on the weather forecast when you are there and see how you can make the best of it. Also, don’t plan two long hikes on the same day, unless the weather is exceptionally good and you are very fit.

Be flexible. The weather in the mountains is often unpredictable, so try to foresee in advance how you’ll adjust your itinerary if it’s raining or if there’s a big chance of thunderstorms. Also, don’t look at the weather forecast a week in advance; sometimes, it will not even be accurate a day or two in advance. Often, rain is very local too, so if you can’t visit one area, you can usually find plenty of alternatives nearby. In the morning, be sure to check the weather for the exact location you are planning to visit that day and adjust your plans if needed.

Every time we visited the Dolomites, the weather forecast showed rain for almost every day. But it’s only twice that we had to leave the mountains completely in order to find the sunshine. Once, we took a day trip to Venice by car (from the Cortina area), and once we visited Bolzano and Merano for a day (from the Val Gardena area). We also had to cut our hike at Tre Cime short once because of a thunderstorm.

Travel slower. If you can, plan to spend more time in the Dolomites so that you can truly explore the region a bit deeper. Having more time also allows you to easier adjust your travel plans to the weather if need be. Also, you’ll enjoy your trip more if you take your time to really look around, stop for some apple strudel at a mountain hut when you are hiking, rent a boat at one of the lakes, and enjoy some amazing Italian food at local restaurants in the evening.

Stay at two different sides of the region if you want to avoid driving. No matter how long your trip is, if you want to see a lot without spending hours and hours in the car, it’s easier to do this if you don’t have to get back to the same place every time.

We recommend staying in Val Gardena as a good base for the western side of the Dolomites and Cortina d’Ampezzo for the eastern side. Here you can find our guide on where to stay in Val Gardena , and here you can see the best deals for Cortina accommodation .

Avoid the smallest roads around Passo Pordoi, Passo Falzarego, or Marmolada if you are just passing by . The roads and the mountain passes in some parts of the Dolomites region are really narrow and winding, with countless hairpin turns, so you really can’t drive fast.

If you are planning to travel through the heart of the Dolomites region – especially the areas mentioned above – be prepared for average speeds of maximum 30-40 km/h. So only come here if you are actually visiting these places, and take bigger roads if you just need to get from one side of the region to another.

LEARN MORE: Best Places to Stay in the Dolomites

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Wednesday 1st of May 2024

Hi, Jurga! Thanks for the great article--you have been such a lifesaver as I've been planning my solo trip to Europe this summer! I was wondering if you could elaborate more on your tip on renting a car. I'm travelling via train and sometimes bus for the vast majority of my trip, and this is the only case where I'm considering it. Most times, from what I've read, a rental car can actually slow you down. In the case of the Dolomites, however, is it a quicker, more reliable method of transpiration compared to whatever public options there are, despite potential issues with parking (although I definitely don't mind getting up earlier to secure a parking spot)? Similar to others' concerns in this thread, I'm a younger American driver and I'd like to be able to reassure my friends and family that the roads are drivable for me in the case that I get a rental car. If it's any help, I plan to go in early August, get there in the late morning or early afternoon to spend a half day, then 4 full days. Thank you so much, once again!

Friday 3rd of May 2024

@Jurga, thanks for the response! Well, it sounds like I'll stick to public transport then, if I'll be able to do everything I could normally do with a car (the one-way hikes are an added bonus)! Do you happen to know when the buses start/stop running? It sounds like I'll be making a lot of early hikes and it would be a shame if the buses only started running once peak crowds begin. Otherwise, I'll look into the public transport system and, hopefully, all of the locations you listed will be accessible--I'm so looking to it! Thank you once again!

Thursday 2nd of May 2024

Hi Tony, yes, having a car is the best way to explore Dolomites. That said, since you are visiting in high season, public transport is a very viable option as well. Val Gardena has a good bus system to bring you to the nicest hikes nearby and so does Cortina. The good thing about not having a car is that you can easily do some amazing one-way hikes without having to get back to the starting point. August is the absolute peak season everywhere in Italy, so expect the roads, car parks, and hiking trails to be very busy. If you want to avoid the biggest crowds, you will probably have to be somewhere by 8 am (at the most popular hikes maybe even earlier). If you have driven in the mountains and done mountain passes before, there isn't much to worry about. However, it really depends on your experience, the car you would rent (you may want to get an automatic car if you are not used to driving 'a stick' and a rather small one because the roads are narrow), and where you would go and at what time of the day. Expect lots of campers, buses, and bikes on the narrow roads. Most likely, traffic will be slow, so patience is key. Hope this helps to get a better idea of what to expect. Whatever you decide, have a wonderful time in Italy. You'll love it!

Saturday 24th of February 2024

Can you kindly let me know the best option for saving on cable car trips please.

Tuesday 27th of February 2024

Hi Stef, the best way to save on cable car trips is to stay in one region longer and get a regional pass for several days. If, however, you want to see the best of the Dolomites and visit many different areas in just a few days, then you'll usually have to pay the full price. Sometimes, your accommodation might have a 'guest card' which gives a small discount for cable cars in that area, so ask your hotel if there's something like that in their region. That being said, many of the top places and best hikes in the Dolomites do not involve a cable car. In some places, you can also walk to the top (if you have plenty of time and strong legs and heart). So a lot depends on the choices you make and the exact places that you decide to visit. Have a great trip!

Thursday 11th of May 2023

Hi Jurga, love your website, it has so much useful information. We would love to stay in the Dolomites for a week, but only have 1 day unfortunately during our Italy trip. We would be coming from Bardolino, so my plan was to drive straight up the A22 to Ortisei and do the Seceda cable car -then drive to Val di Funes to St Magdalena and then to the Ranui church. Then drive back to Bardolino.This way we would get a high mountain view and also the iconic churches in the valleys which I enjoy the most. I know this is weather permitting, we'll be there end of May and I believe the Seceda lift opens the 26th but we would check that as well before we go. Do you think this is doable in a day? I would love to add many other things, but know we will be pressed for time. Originally I was thinking of taking the Great Dolomite road but feel I would rather be outside in nature instead of in a car for a longer time. Hopefully someday we can return and do all that you mention that sound amazing! Thank you

Hi Lori, yes, I think it could be doable. It's about 2hr ride from Bardolino, so if you start early, you should be fine. Indeed, do check if the gondolas are open already and see how the weather is. If not, you could maybe try to do (part of) the Adolf Munkel Trail instead. It's in the same valley as the places you want to visit afterward. You don't need any gondolas there and the hike is at a lower altitude so - I think - it should be fine at the end of May. You can find some info about it in this guide with the best hikes in the Dolomites. Have a great trip.

Tuesday 7th of March 2023

Hi, this is so helpful! If we are arriving from Milan, what towns do yo suggest we pass by and stay in en route to Val Gardena and Cortina? We have 14 days and want to see all the beautiful lakes and do the most scenic easy hikes.

Thursday 9th of March 2023

@Jurga, sorry my question was incomplete with details. We're actually following your Dolomites itinerary for 14 days already. Only the leg between Milan to the Dolomites is what we're overwhelmed with given the sheer number of options. We've already been to Lake Como so I guess I'll check Lake Garda and Verona...will look into Trento and Bolzano as well...I was hoping I can overnight in just one place after our stay in Milan and use that as base...

Wednesday 8th of March 2023

Hi Jing, there are too many places in that area for me to even try to suggest an itinerary for you. Just pick what interests you the most. You could visit Milan first and then go to Lake Como for a few days and also Lake Garda. Stop in Verona and maybe also in Trento and/or Bolzano. In other words, you can fill two weeks before you even get to the Dolomites :). Or you can just drive straight there and spend two weeks in the mountains, and you'll find plenty to see and do. For the Dolomites themselves, we already have so many suggestions in this article. For the other places, click on the links to read more. Hope this helps. Have a great trip!

Friday 24th of February 2023

This site is great! Thank you so much for sharing all that you have learned while traveling in the Dolomites! Really appreciate your knowledge and experience!

Once my friends and I are done traveling in the dolomites, we are returning our car to Bolzano. We need to catch a train to Venice. We will be staying near the airport. Any advice on trains?/the process of transportation to Venice from Bolzano?

Many thanks, Lily

Sunday 26th of February 2023

Hi Lily, I don't have personal experience with taking public transport in the region, but a simple google search 'Bolzano to Venice' gives you all the answers you need. If you choose the little 'train' icon on Google Maps, you see all the public transport options. Have a great trip!

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From Bolzano - Private Daily Panoramic Tour by car: THE BEST OF THE DOLOMITES IN JUST ONE DAY

Daily tour of a total of 300 km through the breathtaking Dolomites, one of the most beautiful and unique alpine regions in the world, a masterpiece of the nature included in the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2009.

It is the perfect tour for those who have only one day to visit the splendid Dolomites: you will travel in full “The Great Dolomites Road” from Bolzano to Cortina d’Ampezzo, with the best of the Western and Eastern Dolomites and all the most beautiful alpine lakes. A tour of about 10 hours that you will not forget very easily!

Departure from  Bolzano , the Gateway to the Dolomites, capital of the province South Tyrol.

We will cross the Ega Valley that begins at Bolzano and runs eastward between the Rosengarten and the Latemar mountains. This road was built in 1894 when the territory was part of the Austro Hungarian Empire.  

We will stop at Carezza Lake, the most beautiful lake of the western Dolomites: 30 minutes of staying with a walk around the lake if you want.

Then we will arrive to  Costalunga Pass . Near the Pass we will see the historical  “Grand Hotel Carezza” , built in 1893, the first luxury hotel in the Dolomites which hosted very important guests like the Empress Sissi, Winston Churchill, Agatha Christie.

From the Costalunga Pass we will reach the  Fassa Valley  in Trentino: we will pass through the towns of  Vigo di Fassa  and  Canazei  to arrive under the imposing peaks of the  Sella Group .

From here begins a long series of 27 hairpins bends (switchbacks) that will lead us to the famous Pordoi Pass at an altitude of 2.239 meters (7.350 ft) above sea level. One hour of staying if you decide to arrive with the cable car to Sass Pordoi (altitude of 2950 meters: the cable car is open from late May until end of October and from Christmas to Easter).

From the Pordoi Pass we go down to the village of Arabba and continue east until we reach the Falzarego Pass the gateway to the eastern Dolomites.

We reach then Cortina d’Ampezzo, the “Pearl of the Dolomites”, Italy’s premier mountain resort and home of the Winter Olympic Games of 1956. Cortina together with Milan will once again host the Winter Olympics in 2026.

From Cortina we reach then the Misurina Lake with the incredible panoramic view of the Three Peaks of Lavaredo. The lake, with the view of the Three Peaks to the north and the Sorapis to the south, is the most famous image of the Dolomites in the world.  

Just 20 minutes from Misurina we will have the opportunity for a brief stop at another important lake in the Eastern Dolomites, Lake Dobbiaco.

From Dobbiaco in about 20 minutes we reach the extreme North-East Italy a few kilometers from the border with Austria for the great final of the day with the visit to the famous Braies Lake.

From Braies in an hour and 40 minutes we return to Bolzano via the Pusteria Valley and then the Isarco Valley.

Highlights:

• Visit all the Dolomites in one day
• Admire beautiful Lake Carezza under the imposing peaks of Latemar mountain
• Travel a road of 27 dramatic hairpin bends en route to the Pordoi Pass
• Take the cable car up to Sass Pordoi for breathtaking views of the Dolomite Mountains
• Admire the 3 Peaks of Lavaredo, the true symbol of the Dolomites
• Visit Cortina d'Ampezzo, location of the 1956 Winter Olympics
• Admire Lake Dobbiaco
• Visit the famous Braies Lake
• Benefit from a private tour for your party only

Availability: all year long. Time/place of departure: 8:00 am in front of ParkHotel Laurin, via Laurin 4 – Bolzano; Alternatively and on request at the hotel of the Clients (pickup up to 20 km from Bolzano). Excursion duration: about 10 hours. Number of participants: 1–8 travellers. – One passenger private excursion: availability and price on request; – Private tour reserved for 2 people: € 890,00; – Private tour reserved for 3 people: € 990,00; – Private tour reserved for 4 people: € 1.100,00; – Private tour reserved for 5/6/7/8 people: € 1.300,00. Reservation deadline: bookable up to 24 hours before departure. Further information and booking at the mail [email protected]   Cancellation Policy: the cancellation of the reservation without penalty is possible up to 24 hours before the start time of the excursion.

The price of the tour includes:

• Tour Leader/Driver with license and English/Italian speaking;
• All costs for service car, toll roads and parking;
• 22% of taxes (VAT: Value Added Tax);
• Bottle of water.

The price of the tour does NOT include:

• Lunch break;
• Ticket for the cable car to Sass Pordoi   or Piccolo Lagazuoi (optional). The cable car is open from mid May to the end of October and from Christmas to Easter;
• Any other expenses not specified in "The price of the tour includes".

ARE YOU READY TO BOOK?

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Passing Thru

Dolomite Dare: 12 Adventures in Italy’s Rugged Paradise

Posted: June 17, 2024 | Last updated: June 17, 2024

The Italian Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is the awe-inspiring beauty of nature. This mountain range in northeastern Italy is renowned for its stunning peaks, deep valleys, and picturesque landscapes that change with the seasons. From thrilling outdoor activities to tranquil retreats amidst nature, the Dolomites offer diverse experiences. This guide explores the region, providing a comprehensive overview of twelve must-visit destinations and activities, each with unique insights and tips to enhance your journey.

1. Tre Cime di Lavaredo

Image Credit: Pexels / Elia Pinzin

Tre Cime di Lavaredo, the three iconic battlement-like peaks, are synonymous with the Dolomites. The surrounding area offers some of the most accessible yet profoundly stunning hiking trails, providing panoramic views of the jagged mountain landscape. The circuit around the peaks is a moderate hike, allowing even those with limited mountaineering experience to immerse themselves in the heart of the Dolomites. Along the way, historical sites from World War I, including tunnels and fortifications, tell the story of the region’s past.

2. Val Gardena

Image Credit: Pexels / Chavdar Lungov

Val Gardena is a valley in the Dolomites known for its rich Ladin culture, wood carving tradition, and as a world-class skiing destination. The valley, with its three picturesque towns of Ortisei, Santa Cristina, and Selva, serves as a gateway to the expansive Dolomiti Superski area and the Sella Ronda ski circuit. In summer, Val Gardena transforms into a hiker’s paradise, with trails leading through lush meadows and dense forests, beneath towering rock faces.

3. Lake Braies

Image Credit: Pexels / Francesco Ungaro

Lake Braies, known as Pragser Wildsee in German, is a pristine alpine lake nestled in a valley surrounded by forested mountains. Its emerald waters reflect the towering peaks, making it one of the most photographed spots in the Dolomites. Visitors can enjoy a leisurely walk around the lake or rent a traditional wooden boat to paddle the tranquil waters. The lake is also a starting point for several hiking trails, including paths leading to the Fanes-Sennes-Braies National Park.

4. Alta Badia

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Tampa

Alta Badia, a valley in the heart of the Dolomites, is renowned for its excellent skiing facilities, stunning natural beauty, and culinary excellence. The area is a blend of Italian and Ladin cultures, offering visitors a unique cultural experience. Alta Badia’s slopes are part of the Dolomiti Superski area, making it a paradise for winter sports enthusiasts. In summer, it transforms into a haven for hikers and cyclists, with numerous trails and routes crisscrossing the scenic landscape.

5. The Sella Ronda

Image Credit: Shutterstock / ecstk22

The Sella Ronda, a circular ski route around the massif of the Sella group, is one of the most spectacular skiing experiences in the world. It connects four Ladin valleys – Val Gardena, Alta Badia, Val di Fassa, and Arabba – and can be completed in one day. The route offers diverse scenery and ski runs, suitable for intermediate skiers. In summer, the Sella Ronda becomes a challenging route for cyclists and a scenic drive for motorists.

6. Cortina d’Ampezzo

Image Credit: Pexels / J?drzej Koralewski

Cortina d’Ampezzo, often referred to as the “Queen of the Dolomites,” is a stylish resort town known for its stunning landscapes, world-class skiing, and upscale shopping. The town has hosted numerous international sporting events, including the Winter Olympics, and is part of the Dolomiti Superski area. Beyond skiing, Cortina offers a wealth of activities, from hiking and climbing in the summer to cultural experiences and gourmet dining year-round.

Image Credit: Pexels / TheWonderOfLife

The Seceda mountain ridge offers some of the most dramatic views in the Dolomites, with its steep, grassy slopes dropping sharply to Val Gardena below. Accessible via cable car from Ortisei, the summit provides a starting point for numerous hiking trails, including the famous Odle peaks. The area is particularly stunning in the early summer when the meadows are in full bloom, and in autumn, when the larch trees turn a golden yellow.

8. Rosengarten Group

The Rosengarten Group, also known as Catinaccio, is a massif in the Dolomites known for its pink-hued limestone cliffs that glow at sunset. The area is steeped in legend and offers a range of hiking and climbing routes, from leisurely walks to challenging via ferratas. The Vajolet Towers, six striking peaks within the Rosengarten Group, are a particular highlight for climbers.

9. Marmolada

Image Credit: Shutterstock / mary416

Marmolada, the highest peak in the Dolomites, is often referred to as the “Queen of the Dolomites.” It boasts the region’s largest glacier, offering skiing even in summer. The peak is accessible via cable car, which takes visitors to breathtaking viewpoints and the starting point for several hikes. The Marmolada War Museum, located in a cave within the mountain, offers insights into the mountain’s role during World War I.

10. Lago di Sorapiss

Image Credit: Shutterstock / stu.dio

Lago di Sorapiss, with its distinctive turquoise waters, is a hidden gem in the Dolomites. The lake is reached via a moderately challenging hike through the Sorapiss mountain range, offering stunning views and a tranquil setting. The journey to the lake is an adventure in itself, featuring narrow paths, wooden bridges, and dramatic cliffside views.

11. Via Ferrata

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Inu

The Dolomites are the birthplace of the via ferrata, protected climbing routes that offer a unique way to experience the mountains. These routes, equipped with steel cables, ladders, and bridges, allow adventurers to tackle dramatic cliffs and peaks without the need for technical climbing skills. The Dolomites boast some of the most scenic and historically significant via ferratas, offering breathtaking views and a thrilling experience.

12. Fanes-Sennes-Braies Natural Park

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Fraank

This natural park encompasses a vast area of the Dolomites, featuring a diverse landscape of high-altitude plateaus, serene alpine lakes, and dense forests. It’s a haven for hikers, with trails leading to remote mountain huts, dramatic viewpoints, and tranquil lakes. The park is also rich in wildlife and flora, offering chances to spot marmots, eagles, and a variety of alpine plants.

When to Travel

Image Credit: Pexels / Jess Bailey Designs

The ideal time to visit the Italian Dolomites largely depends on the activities you wish to pursue. For winter sports enthusiasts, including skiing and snowboarding, the best months are from December to March, when the region is blanketed in snow, and the ski resorts are in full operation. This period offers a magical winter landscape and a vibrant après-ski culture.

If you’re interested in hiking, climbing, or simply enjoying the natural beauty and diverse flora of the Dolomites, the summer months from June to September are most suitable. During this time, the weather is generally warm and sunny, providing excellent outdoor activities and exploration conditions. Additionally, the summer months host various cultural and music festivals.

For those seeking solitude and the chance to witness the dramatic change of seasons, the shoulder months of May and October can be particularly rewarding. During these times, the crowds are fewer, and the natural scenery undergoes a stunning transformation, with wildflowers blooming in spring and the larch trees turning a golden hue in autumn.

How to Get There

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Olena Yakobchuk

The Dolomites are accessible by a combination of international flights, trains, and car travel. The most common entry points for international travelers are the airports in Venice (Marco Polo Airport) and Milan (Malpensa Airport) in Italy, and Innsbruck Airport in Austria. Each of these airports offers car rental services and access to regional train and bus networks, making it possible to reach the Dolomites with relative ease.

From Venice: The drive from Venice to the heart of the Dolomites, such as Cortina d’Ampezzo, takes approximately 2 to 2.5 hours. Regular bus services also connect Venice with the Dolomites, offering a convenient alternative to driving.

From Milan: Traveling from Milan requires a longer drive of about 4 to 5 hours to reach the Dolomites. Alternatively, you can take a train from Milan to one of the closer cities like Bolzano or Trento and then continue by bus or rent a car.

From Innsbruck: Innsbruck, Austria, is another gateway to the Dolomites, especially for visitors coming from northern Europe. The drive from Innsbruck to the Italian border and into the Dolomites takes about 2 hours. Train services are also available from Innsbruck to South Tyrol, with bus connections to various destinations in the Dolomites.

Regardless of the mode of transportation chosen, traveling to the Dolomites offers the opportunity to witness the stunning landscapes of Northern Italy and the Alps. It’s advisable to plan your journey in advance, especially during peak seasons, to ensure availability of transportation and accommodation.

The Bottom Line

Image Credit: Pexels / Pixabay

The Italian Dolomites offer an unparalleled blend of natural beauty, outdoor adventure, and cultural richness. Whether you’re scaling via ferrata, skiing the vast slopes, or simply enjoying the serene beauty of a mountain lake, the Dolomites promise an unforgettable experience. Remember, the best times to visit are summer for hiking and winter for skiing, but the shoulder seasons offer their own charm with fewer crowds. Access to the Dolomites typically takes place through major cities such as Venice or Innsbruck, with local transport options available to reach the heart of the mountains. Embrace the adventure, respect the natural environment, and discover the myriad wonders of the Dolomites.

Unveiling the 21 Places Single Women Should Avoid at All Costs

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Carles Iturbe

Traveling solo as a woman? It’s an adventure with its own set of challenges. From street safety to discrimination, some spots are riskier than others. We’ve used the Women’s Danger Index and other resources to craft a guide that helps you choose your destinations wisely. Unveiling the 21 Places Single Women Should Avoid at All Costs

Ghost Roads of America: 12 Haunted Highways with Tales of Terror and Creepy Rest Stops

Image Credit: Shutterstock / donvictorio

Discover chilling tales from the America’s spookiest roads complete with ghostly figures and eerie phenomena in this thrilling guide to paranormal hotspots—perfect for adventure seekers and ghost enthusiasts. Ready for a supernatural road trip? Ghost Roads of America: 12 Haunted Highways with Tales of Terror and Creepy Rest Stops

18 High-Crime Cities in the US You Should Avoid

Image Credit: Pexels / Adrian Newell

American cities dazzle with culture and history, yet rising crime rates demand cautious exploration. This guide ensures you stay informed and safe. 18 High-Crime Cities in the US You Should Avoid

20 Things That Americans Tolerate That Canadians Would Never Accept

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Nicoleta Ionescu

Canadians often find American customs ranging from amusing to astonishing. From the quirky to the confounding, let’s explore the U.S. through a Canadian lens—maple syrup and poutine in hand. Get ready for a journey that’s both odd and insightful, seen from the Great White North. 20 Things That Americans Tolerate That Canadians Would Never Accept

22 of America’s Most Charming Towns

Image Credit: Shutterstock / Nejdet Duzen

Hit the road and discover America’s coziest towns, real-life versions of those quaint settings from your favorite novels. Explore charming streets where every storefront tells a story and locals greet everyone with a hello. Ready to dive into the charm? 22 of America’s Most Charming Towns

The post Dolomite Dare: 12 Adventures in Italy’s Rugged Paradise republished on Passing Thru with permission from The Green Voyage .

Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / ecstk22.

For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.

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The Best Vintage Stores in Milan

By Selene Oliva

Vogue’ s guide to the best vintage stores in Milan is part of our directory of the very best vintage around the world , curated by editors from all over. Whether you’re traveling and searching for some superb stores to visit on your trip or are curious about your local vintage treasure chests, Vogue’ s directory has you covered.

Vintage lives outside the fashion universe—it exists beyond trends. It can represent a desire for renewal, the conversion of old to new, and, more poetically, adolescent reveries realized. There’s no greater satisfaction than buying the garment or accessory coveted in preteen years spent pouring over magazines. But where does the best vintage really live? Fashion capitals, of course.

Milan is now a hotbed of vintage activity. Tucked away in picturesque urban postcards, behind Piazza Castello, or just a stone’s throw from the Columns of San Lorenzo, Milan’s vintage boutiques are a must-visit destination for those who experience fashion in Milan. To narrow down the city’s vintage highlights, we’ve assembled Vogue’s guide to the best vintage in Milan, curated with the help of our editors at Italian Vogue .

Madame Pauline Vintage

You’ll find treasures in the cavernous wonders of Madame Pauline Vintage, a destination for vintage lovers and collectors of irreverent retro wares. Luring every generation with its offerings, the boutique is a must-visit address for both socialites and It girls and impeccable ladies of Milanese style—you know the types: silver hair, brooch on the chest, and heirloom bag on the wrist. With carefully selected offerings, the store also creates custom collections, including Bandana, a favorite among Madame’s most beloved frequenters.

Address: Foro Buonaparte 74, 20121 Milan

Cavalli e Nastri Vintage

An institution for vintage treats and its archive fabrics, colors, and inspirations, Cavalli e Nastri is one of Milan's most celebrated vintage stores. The store is like a whirlwind fashion history tour from 1920s hats à la Louise Brooks to 1950s housemaid Corolle skirts to the unabashedly glamorous 1990s Versace. A Mecca for designers and stylists, the boutique has the intimacy you’d expect of a tea room with its soft music, shapes, and colors.

Address: Via Gian Giacomo Mora, 3, 20123 Milan

Franco Jacassi Vintage Delirium

Located in a courtyard in old Milan and furnished with period furniture, Franco Jacassi’s Vintage Delirium opened in 1985 and has since become one of the world’s most extensive collections of vintage clothing. Beyond that, it’s also a trove for fashion researchers with its sizable selection of couture and vintage fabrics; the boutique features a fantastic button collection with more than 50,000 designs, as well as a true archive of magazines, buckles, antique appliqués, and much more.

By Emma Specter

By Hayley Maitland

By Kyle MacNeill

Address: Via Giuseppe Sacchi, 3, 20121 Milan

Vincent Vintage Bijoux

Manuel Menini’s personal wunderkammer, Vincent Vintage Bijoux in Porta Venezia, holds an endless collection of vintage jewelry and costume jewelry, with a particular focus on the Georgian period. An ideal stop for jewelry aficionados, the boutique knows how to surprise with its theatrical displays that bring each individual piece to life. For those nostalgic for the Golden Age of jewelry, the store is the place for British and 19th-century styles.

Address: Via Lazzaro Spallanzani, 11, 20129 Milan, tel. 3389743349

A destination for all those (of any age!) in their teenage rebellion phase Groupies is a nonconformist’s paradise. The shop focuses on street style, with an emphasis on the 1990s and 2000s. Between printed short-sleeved shirts and PVC bijoux straight out of our childhood manga dreams, it’s the perfect place to indulge in fun-filled shopping.

Address: Via Gian Giacomo Mora, 7, 20123 Milan

Tucked away in a side street of Piazza XXIV Maggio, PWC Milano is the location for club kids in Milan and beyond. The boutique’s assortment is consistent but not predictable, offering its coterie of loyal customers both the Cher Horowitz–inspired silk slip dress and the tie-dye prints to wear with black patent leather platform boots. The pièce de résistance is the accessories station, where Regency-style velvet bonnets and cloth brooches are merchandised alongside a total-leather look.

Address: Via Pietro Custodi, 12, 20136 Milan

Lipstick Vintage

Located somewhere between past and present on Corso Garibaldi, Lipstick Vintage has a flamboyant selection of ready-to-wear creations and endless accessories. Their wide assortment caters to everyone from the inconsolable romantic to the minimalists who refuse to wear color. The boutique offers its patrons muses of elegance, from the Mona Lisa to Cate Blanchett, and suggestions to mimic their style.

Address: Corso Garibaldi, 79, 20121 Milan

Much more than a vintage store; at Bivio , you can buy and sell your designer pieces. The store’s buyers buy exclusively from individuals, selecting pieces one by one and offering the seller the double option of receiving cash or a coupon to spend at the boutique—which wouldn’t be difficult to do.

Address: Via Gian Giacomo Mora 4, 20123 Milan

20134Lambrate

Just a stone’s throw from the art and design hub of Via Ventura, 20134Lambrate found its home beneath a 1940s barbershop sign. It’s the address to know if your wardrobe tends to mish-mash era; inside, 20th-century garments are shown on a mannequin adorned with 1980s accessories. And since fashion-lovers tend to love beauty in all its forms, there's a color-filled selection of furniture and furnishings such as lamps, chairs, vases, and mirrors.

Address: Via Conte Rosso, 22, 20134 Milan

Lo Specchio Di Alice

Though it opened in the 1990s, stepping into Lo Specchio di Alice is not unlike stepping into Lewis Carroll’s looking glass—only here, you’re in a world where the 1960s never ended. Shoppers will fashion memorabilia from the past, from Cherokee belts to hand-painted bomber jackets, from twist-dancing shoes to biker boots. It’s a space for true explorers—customers could spend hours searching for the perfect purchase among hundreds and hundreds of offerings.

Address: Corso di Porta Ticinese, 64, 20123 Milan

Humana Vintage Milan

Humana (also shoppable online) sees vintage as a way to live sustainably, but the store does much more than offer secondhand clothes—Humana is, in fact, a humanitarian organization founded in 1998 which (through the sale of its secondhand clothes) supports education, sustainable agriculture, health protection, and community development projects in Italy and beyond. The stores are filled with clothing, accessories, jewelry, and Italian fashion items from the ’60s to the present day.

Address: Via Cappellari, 3, 20123 Milan

Sous Vintage Shop

Opened in 2010 and located in the Navigli district, Sous Vintage takes the concept of second-hand to the next level, offering not only pre-loved clothing and accessories but also hosting collections and events by young indie creatives who upcycle discarded fabrics and materials to create something new. The shop was the brainchild of Eva Fiorucci and Carolina Ferrari.

Address: Alzaia Naviglio Pavese, 52, 20143 Milan

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