Below is an overview of which towns are best for each attraction: CORTINA DAMPEZZO | Best for Cortina town, Lago di Sorapis, Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Lago di Misurina, Cinque Torri, Croda da Lago, BOLZANO| Best for Bolzano town, Strada del Vino (wine region), Merano, ALTA PUSTERIA / THREE PEAKS | Best for Lago di Braies, Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Lago di Dobbiaco, Kronplatz, VAL GARDENA | Best for Ortisei town, Alpe di Suisi, Seceda peaks, Sella Massif, Gran Cir, Passo Gardena, ALTA BADIA | Best for Gran Cir, Passo Gardena, Piz Sorega - read our Alta Badia Guide. From the south, trains connect the rest of Italy with the region through hubs including Bologna (Rome, Florence) and Verona (Milan, Venice). However, one of the most fascinating things about travelling here, is discovering the tumultuous history of this region's to-and-fro between the two countries, particularly post World War One - and how it continues to cause issues on identity and national belonging for those who live in South Tyrol. Located in northeast Italy, the Dolomites are one of the most beautiful places to visit in Europe. Passo Pordoi | How to plan a trip to the Dolomites. favorite place in the world to go hiking. And if Alpine mountains are more your thing than the single-tracks and scenery of the Scottish Highlands, then it wouldn't be controversial to switch those two positions. Dolomites Travel Guide: Top Attractions, Hotels, Tips & More | The We use RentalCars.com to book rentals - check prices and availability here, BOOK | Check prices and dates for car rental here, PLAN | Our 7-day Dolomites road trip itinerary. list of things you can do in the Dolomites with little to no hiking. Learn more here. Same goes for Airbnb hosts. Great views of the Odle/Geisler group and the food is very good. Initially we planned to take Bus 444 from Toblach to Aunzo The capital of the area is the beautiful city of Bolzano (Bozen), however main cities and towns include Trento, Bressanone (Brixen), Cortina d'Ampezzo and Brunico (Bruneck). In the Dolomites, the food is a wonderful blend of Italian, Austrian, and German cuisine. Dolomites Travel Guide Resources & Trip Planning Info by Rick In our opinion, its even better than the more popular Marmolada. May and September offer a cooler 24 average temperature, which would be perfect for hikes. You can search and book rental cars here. Grab the presets we use on every photo here, RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL | Responsible travel is important. In the summer, the morning sun lights up the water around 8:30am. From the You come here to move, to explore, to get aching feet; this is an adventure rather than a holiday. Or, rent a car and then road trip through the Dolomites. Therefore, it isn't just to view these mountains that one travels here, it's to bask in the way the cliffs play off the pastures and meadows, the valleys and villages, the roads and the rivers, creating an inimitable alpine symphony in northern Italy. View on the drive into Cortina dAmpezzo | How to plan a trip to the Dolomites. This article has the best overview about how they work and what you need to know in advance to get organised. Plus, we would seek out cheaper family restaurants for pizza or pasta, or cook in and prepare packed lunches in our Airbnb rather then dine out at fancier restaurants. Laghi dei Piani, Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike | How to plan a trip to the Dolomites. Approach: between 10 and 20 minutes (depending on the chosen towers). ), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited. Indeed, they're a bargain in comparison to the mountains of Switzerland. However, as visitation to the Dolomites increases, you may want to make your reservations as early as January or February for the summer months. I expected mediocre food from these rifugios but some of our best meals on our trip came from these small mountain huts. If you plan on seeing the Tre Cime (Drei Zinnen), Lago di Braies and Cortina, we recommend flying to Venice and basing yourselves in Cortina. Photography and written content may not be reproduced without our permission. This range of flight routes is great for snagging affordable tickets, flexibility for your home airport choice, and tagging a city break elsewhere in northern Italy onto the end of start of your Dolomites adventure. CAR. It also depends on which region you are in. Looking for where to stay in the Dolomites? With its geography, twisting roads, long list of things to do, and multiple options on where to stay, it can feel like a daunting task to know how to plan a trip to the Dolomites. A day hike from Cortina is a very reasonable endeavor - take the gondola up and pick a trail - great views and tremendous mountains! As we mentioned in the introduction, neither of us ski or snowboard, and so our Dolomites guide is very much geared towards spring / summer trips and sunshine, rather than the slopes and snow! Have you ever visited a place and even before you left, you were planning your next trip back to that area? Geisler Alm/Rifugio delle Odle. Tips For Visiting Lago di Braies. That means it goes by the following three monikers: St Ulrich (German), Ortisei (Italian), and Urtiji (Ladin). Marmolada. Need help - Toblach to Tre Cime di Lavaredo and Lake Misurin Because, after all, travel shouldn't just be about the planning and the plotting, but about being bloody excited to go somewhere new, and explore somewhere beautiful. This gives you the freedom to explore the towns, drive the passes, and get to the lakes and trailheads on your own schedule. WebBus: From Venice Marco Polo or Venice Mestre train station the Cortina Express or ATVO bus services are the quickest option because they are direct ( www.cortinaexpress.it, Dolomites The Dolomites are a mountain region in northern Italy, which spans across the provinces of Sdtirol (South Tyrol), Trentino, and Belluno. I wouldnt let it discourage you. Dolomites.org's core audience is located in United States followed by Netherlands, and United Kingdom. Tre Cime di Lavaredo. Read Next | 7 Steps To Avoid Being A Dick in The Outdoors (published soon, we promise!). And of course, if we missed something, feel free to ask us in the comment section at the end of this article. Depending upon which part of the Dolomites you're trying to reach first, or base yourself in, certain airport may also be slightly better positioned for access. Dolomites For all travellers | HeyMondo - COVID-19 coverage, comprehensive travel + medical insurance, an app with 24-hour medical support, and no out of pocket fees. Here are the hikes I did. Best Ways to Get From Venice to Dolomites 2021 Rainfall usually falls as a thunderstorm, but it is possible to get a solid day of rain. / Free Website Traffic Checker / dolomites.org Check Traffic dolomites.org May 2023 Traffic Stats Travel and Tourism Global Rank Worldwide 1,116,535 Country Rank United States 642,088 Stay Ahead of the Competition with Up to Date Monthly Traffic Stats! Top tip | As vegetarians (and a nearly vegan in Emily), we usually have no problems dining out in Italy. From Falzarego Pass, ride the cable car to Lagazuoi, enjoy the view, and you can even hike back down to the pass. Simply driving around and enjoying the beautiful views from your car window is of course absolutely fine if that's your travel style or you have limited mobility, nothing wrong with that at all. If you're simply wanting to enjoy the hikes, then you don't need to get up at a ridiculous hour - that really is more of a photographer's alarm call. So good in fact, that in 2026, Cortina dAmpezzo will be hosting the Winter Olympics. We stayed in this very small town on our first visit to the Dolomites. Lago Di Braies On a map, the Dolomites can look confusing to a first-time visitor. But rainstorms would often appear out of nowhere (one on Tre Cime saw us hiding in an abandoned refugio for an hour), or an increase of a few 100 metres saw quite a rapid drop in the temperature. Visit Val di Funes. For digital nomads | SafetyWing - COVID-19 coverage, comprehensive travel & medical, and policies can be purchased while already abroad. Theyre a place where alpine and Mediterranean traditions collide, where influences from Italy and Austria blend together to create a wonderfully welcoming and enchanting destination for travellers (find out more about South Tyrol here). Most trains coming from Northern Europe will follow through the Brenner pass, stopping at central hubs such as Bressanone/Brixen, Bolzano/Bozen, and Trentino/Trento. We have visited the Dolomites twice, both times in July. In the summer months, the Dolomites is our favorite place in the world to go hiking. If you're planning to fly directly to the Dolomites, you're in for a shock - there is no 'Dolomites' airport as such, understandably so given their position in the alpine region of northern Italy. Wed recommend hiring a car in Bolzano, which is pretty much the gateway to your Dolomites adventures, or at your arrival point in the surrounding regions and cities. We would love to return to the Dolomites in September, when the weather is cooler. Difficulty: from III (UIAA) to 8b (French). The prioritisation of fast travel over slow. Dining in a Rifugio is Better than You Might Expect. Dolomites Itinerary Travel Planning Guide. Towards the end of September into October, you could also see some fall colors. The rental car is a big expense, but it gives you more freedom to move around the Dolomites, which can save you some time, which is extremely valuable, especially on a quick trip to the Dolomites. There are a handful of beautiful lakes you can visit, including Lago di Braies, Lago Federa, Lago di Misurina, and Lago di Carezza. Rain hammers the windshield as the shuttle van stops at the edge of the village of Sesto, Italy. Bolzano is a small city on the western edge of the Dolomites. Cadini di Misurina viewpoint | How to plan a trip to the Dolomites. Book here, BUS | Catch a Flixbus to Venice, then Cortina Express from Venice to Cortina. Go shopping, visit Basilica Minore dei Santi Filippo e Giacomo, and ride the Faloria cable car or the cable car to Tofana di Mezzo. Here are the links to see the bus schedules in the Dolomites: While in the Dolomites, we have always rented a car and I truly think that is the best way to get around here. For buses, Flixbus is the best budget option for travel. This is one of our favorite places in Europe and our favorite place in the world to go hiking. WebHow to get to the Dolomites? It also appeared to be quite a dog-friendly destination, but please do keep your four-legged friend on a lead where the signs advise it. For us, and a lot of other people we have spoken to, its like that in the Dolomites. Once Emily had decided that we were visiting the Dolomites, the only point of contention about their viability was on the potential costs. From here, you can catch regional trains and buses to your required destination, including all the major towns, sites and attractions. Aug 17, 2022 by Christos Vasilopoulos Venice offers plenty of old-world charm in its beautiful historic metropolis, but how about a day trip from Venice to Flights are cheap to reach the region, but we've both grown up believing that anything involving mountains in Europe is likely to be exclusive, expensive, and not for us. can be reached by car from Venice in 2 hours, and from Milan in 4 hours. If you simply want to drive through the Dolomites and visit a few highlights, two to three days is all you need. If you have three or more days in the Dolomites, consider staying in two different places, one in the eastern Dolomites and one in the western Dolomites. An alternative option on how to get to the Dolomites is via private transfer. Alternatively, Innsbruck is a great option, although cross-border car hire charges may apply. DOLOMITES DESTINATION GUIDES | A guide to Val di Funes, A complete guide to Alpe di Siusi, How to visit Lago di Carezza, our guide to Lago di Braies, HIKES TO REMEMBER | 7 of the best day hikes in the Dolomites, including the famous Tre Cime De Lavaredo loop, Violet Towers hiking guide, Hiking to Lago di Sorapis, Cadini di Misurina, SOUTH TYROL | 19 amazing things to do in South Tyrol during Summer, plus everything we love about the beautiful South Tyrol region, PHOTOGRAPHY | Love our photography? Ortisei or Sankt Ulrich. Florence to the Dolomites To hike to mountain hut, have a meal, all while gazing out across some the most magnificent landscapes in Europe, is a must-have experience in the Dolomites. Cinque Torri The view from Cima Tofana | How to plan a trip to the Dolomites. Venice, Verona, Bolzano, and Milan are all great options. And to help you plan your time, take a look at our one day in Venice itinerary and two days in Venice itinerary. How to Get to the Dolomites, Italy: Car, Bus, Train, or Plane At at Rifugio Auronzo, the parking lot for Tre Cime di Lavaredo, there are a set number of parking spaces. Get marketing insights and Monitor trends dolomites.org Website Traffic by Country. From these green rolling hills, you get a jaw-dropping view of the Odle/Geisler Group and Santa Maddalena Church. In our opinion, flying to Venice is the best way to get to the Dolomites. To get to Val di Funes from major airports in the region: Milan | 3.5 hours/318km by car What is It Like Driving in the Dolomites? Our website uses cookies. The area known as the Dolomites is actually a mountain region in northern Italy, which spans across the provinces of Sdtirol (South Tyrol), Trentino, and Belluno. Early starts are absolutely essential for the best light, the best positions, and the best experiences of the cyan jewels of Lago di Braies and Lago di Carezza or the Ambrossian meadow of Alpe di Suisi, whilst patience is essential at Lago di Sorapis. Croda da Lago Circuit | How to plan a trip to the Dolomites. That being said, shuttle buses from major airports or train stations are a cheap and efficient way of getting to your accommodation. A short, easy hike around one of the most recognizable rock formations in the Dolomites. We cover the best hikes in the Dolomites later in this guide. We have hiked extensively in the Dolomites and it is safe and easy to navigate without a guide. If youre not keen to hire a car, the public transport system in South Tyrol is exceptional - the region is very well connected via a system of buses, regional trains and cable cars. Tre Cime di Lavaredo | How to plan a trip to the Dolomites. Today, the Via Ferrata are a unique draw for visitors and adventurers. Please note that some links on our blog are affiliate links. This officially recognised linguistic duality also impacts places names in the Dolomites. Read how to get to the Dolomites here. We pile out without enthusiasm. If you are traveling on a budget, get our money saving tips for the Cinque Terre. Scores of people swimming in pristine lakes that you're not allowed to swim in (just for photos), flying of drones illegally disrupting the serenity of early morning peace and birdsong at other lakes, going off trail or beyond fences in order to mimic someone else's photo, trampling over wildflowers to get a more perfect shot. As the current pandemic has taught many people, things can go wrong anywhere in the world and insurance is the only way of mitigating any issues with minimal expense or stress for you. Italy's Dolomites Region: The Complete Guide - TripSavvy So, if you have the time in your schedule, you could easily spend 7 to 10 days hiking in the Dolomites. Once these are filled, you will not be permitted to drive up to the rifugio (instead, you can take a bus). one of the most iconic views in the Dolomites. Add this on to the Cinque Torri hike and enjoy one of our favorite views of the Dolomites (and dine in a mountain hut). Number of routes: more than 140 single-pitch plus dozens of classic and modern multi-pitch routes. Rusting iron bars hammered into the rock face, linked by lengths of cable and ladder, are quite common place in this part of Italy, and have a fascinating history. The list is as long as it is dispiriting. To simplify where things are in the Dolomites, the Dolomites are sometimes split into the eastern Dolomites and western Dolomites. Bear in mind cross border fees may apply for those arriving in Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airport. Within the valleys are small towns and the roads that link these towns together. Related to the above, when planning for your own summertime Dolomites adventure, we think the best approach is to find out which hikes or sights you want to visit most, decide upon how many you can realistically include in your itinerary, and then find your accommodation based upon proximity, practicality, and preference. From Venice Marco Polo Airport and Venice Mestre train station, the Cortina Express service takes you directly to Cortina d'Ampezzo for just over 10, a great starting point for many of the Dolomites' best attractions. There are a number of options for those short of time, or looking for a more comfortable route to mountains. The choice of town or village in and of itself isn't tooooo important if you have your own rental car, just as long as you are in proximity of a hike start point, cable car, or destination, and a sensible enough driving time away them. To be honest, getting to the Dolomites by bus is best avoided, flying, train or car rental are better options. Our first rifugio experience was on the Puez-Odle Altopiano hike, during our first visit to the Dolomites. Republishing this articleand/orany of its contents (text, photography, etc. Passing the cyclists on these roads take patience, because with the curves and hills, your visibility to see oncoming cars isnt the greatest. Other major international airports within a 4-6 hour radius include: Munich International Airport Germany | 3-4 hours, TIP | There are several daily Shuttle buses to South Tyrol from the airports of Innsbruck, Salzburg, Munich, Treviso, Venice, Verona, Bergamo and Milan Malpensa. The main reason for doing this hike is to reach the viewpoint of the Cadini di Misurina but you also get a very unique view of Tre Cime di Lavaredo. You have the option to turn the hike into a loop and venture high into the mountains and leave the crowds behind. Many small towns and cities near Venice are worth visiting, like Verona, Padova, and Ravenna. After all, it was June in Europe and all about exploring the outdoors in sunny weather! Similarly, have Google Maps and / or Maps.Me on your phone so that you can have an offline trail to hand if you do take a wrong turn or get a little lost. Santa Maddalena Val di Funes Panorma Trail Loop Trailhead: Santa Maddalena Village, Val di Funes | Google Maps Santa Maddalena Car Parks: Berger Square, Filler, and Putzen Distance: 9.5 km circuit Time Needed: 3:30 hours Elevation Gain/Loss: 380 meters Difficulty: Easy Minimum Elevation: 1196 meters Maximum Elevation: 1394 meters On the way, you will visit the lovely Lago Federa and climb up to Forcella Ambrizzola and Forcella Rossa for more panoramic views of the Dolomites. In this guide, learn how to plan a trip around the world. Therefore, our recommendation for first-time visitors to the region is to stick to including two or three of the most popular Dolomites day hike options when making your itinerary and leaving room for a wildcard option if you have the time or get a recommendation. Our guide on how to get to the Dolomites includes all the essential information you need to plan and enjoy a hassle-free holiday in the region. Your email address will not be published. However, whilst there was usually a simple tomato pasta or Pizza Margherita on the menu here, we found the Dolomite region to have much more meat heavy offerings. THE COMMON WANDERER LTD 2015-2023All rights reserved. Whether youre coming to the Dolomites to do a road trip and hiking, or serious cycling, mountaineering or rock climbing, always make sure youve got travel insurance which covers your travel style appropriately. WebThe train trip from Munich to the Dolomites (Brunico - Kronplatz) would take about 4hr via Innsbruck. Earlier in this guide, we listed what you can do in each one of these areas. There are easy ones to very difficult ones, and navigating them by hooking and unhooking carbiners attached to your harness is great fun despite the wobbly knees at moments. We also have a detailed 10 day itinerary that includes Rome, Florence, the Cinque Terre, and Venice and a 10 day northern Italy itinerary that includes the Dolomites and Venice. We adore Italy, and it's the country we return to again and again. In the eastern section of the northern Italian Alps, the Dolomites mountain range is universally heralded as one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in Europe. Monte Cristallo (view on the hike to Lago di Sorapis) | How to plan a trip to the Dolomites. Alternatively, if you are staying in Selva di Val Gardena, it will take two hours to get the parking lot for Tre Cime di Lavaredo and an hour and 45 minutes to get to Lago di Braies. And Sassolungo, with its jagged, rocky peaks, looms over the area. When booking train tickets to the Dolomites, we highly recommend planning in advance to find the most affordable prices and availability. We highly recommend you read this excellent Guardian article - "The South Tyrol identity crisis: to live in Italy, but feel Austrian" - before or during your Dolomites travels. It is a large town with a long list of hotels and restaurants, including a few Michelin-starred restaurants. Also, due to that Austrian cultural identity, first-time drivers in Italy will also be very reassured to know that the approach to normal driving standards like, y'know, using indicators and overtaking in a non-Madhatter way are much more common than elsewhere in Italy. If you stay in two towns, are there worthwhile hikes relatively close or do you need to spend an hour or two in the car each day? Unfortunately, as in the Faroe Islands, we saw and heard of far too much of this behaviour in the Dolomites to not let it go unsaid or unmentioned here. See more here. There is no 'fixed' Dolomites road trip route and, as we've mentioned, the region is actually quite vast and open to interpretation. During the summer months, you cannot drive through the Pragser Tal Valley from 9:30 am to 4 pm. The summit sits over 3,000 meters (10,000 feet) making it another place to get panoramic views of the Dolomites. This aquamarine lake attracts hundreds of hikers every day. Cortina is easy to access from several airports. Through thoughtful storytelling, practical guides, and beautiful photography, we inspire and empower curious travellers to explore the world, sustainably and responsibly. May through August tend to be the wettest time of the year to visit the Dolomites. ITALY ITINERARIES: If you are just beginning to plan your Italy itinerary, take a look at our 10 Days in Italy Itinerary for five different ways to spend 10 days in Italy. However, if you speak neither Italian nor German, then don't worry too much. Dolomites Suncream - it's really really strong up there. We highly recommend hiring a car for the duration of your stay in South Tyrol - it makes reaching all the wonderful natural attractions very easy and gives you far more freedom than public transport. I recommend getting the Trainline app, where you can search for trains in Italy and have your mobile ticket right on your phone. Because of the history of this region and its Austrian and Italian influences, there are two names for almost everything, an Italian name and a German name. Youll never be too far from finding someone who can give an answer or help you out! Ortisei, Italy, is the perfect base for exploring the Dolomites, especially for those without a car. The best time for landscape photography at Lago di Braies is early morning. From Cortina, most nearby trails and cable cars are 30 minutes to 1 hour away. No matter where you stay, you will have to drive at least a little bit, to get to the hiking trails. That, of course, would be unfortunate. Depending on your arrival airport will determine which drop-off point - ie. the Venice airport shuttle bus will drop you in Cortina d'Ampezzo, the Milan shuttle in Bolzano. VENICE AIRPORT TO CORTINA | A private transfer directly from Venice Marco Polo Airport to your hotel in Cortina dAmpezzo. You see, the Dolomites, an alpine pocket in Italys northern reaches, are something else; a land of jagged peaks, which thrust upwards from rolling alpine meadows, endless alpine lakes, incredible hiking, quaint medieval towns, luxurious wellness areas of equally luxurious accommodation, and some of the best cuisine anywhere in the world. Val Gardena or Grden. In this guide, we hope to clear up this confusion and hopefully answer some questions that you didnt even know you had. What's more, despite their position, the region is also very well serviced by train and has a wonderful internal public transport system. We've shared all the essential information to help you prepare in this standalone post: 5 Things To Know Before You Visit Alpe di Suisi (published soon, we promise!). Dolomites Lago di Sorapis | How to plan a trip to the Dolomites. Aside from those serendipitous moments like those which only come from the independence and flexibility of a road trip, renting your own wheels is also the most practical way to visit and experience the most iconic and beautiful areas of the Dolomites.