Dolomites for Non-Hikers: What to See & Do

There’s no denying that the Dolomites are synonymous with hiking, skiing, and other outdoor pursuits. But is it still worth visiting the Dolomites if you don’t hike, or can’t?

It’s a question I’ve found myself reflecting on over the past year, particularly as we’ve been living in the Dolomites while Kati has spent months recovering from an injury. I have so much empathy for anyone who is unable to hike because of physical limitations, and I’m equally aware that some people simply have no desire to.

The good news is that you don’t have to be a hiker to experience the magic of the Dolomites. Here’s my advice for experiencing the best of the Dolomites without hiking, based on a decade of exploring the region.

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1. Mountaintop Dining in Summer and Winter 

Thanks to the Dolomites’ extensive ski lift network, visitors can travel easily from valley villages to high alpine summits via gondolas, chairlifts, and aerial cable cars. Many mountain stations are located steps away from a scenic rifugio (mountain hut) or mountaintop restaurant.

Cableways operate seasonally, so be sure to plan your visit during the summer or winter peak holiday seasons. If visiting in summer, plan your trip between mid-June and mid-September. In places like Val Gardena, some popular cableways operate until the end of October. 

The winter ski season usually runs from early December until the end of March. Non-skiers can purchase reasonably-priced pedestrian tickets at any cable car valley station. 

Here are the best mountaintop restaurants and huts in the Dolomites, easily accessible by cable car in summer and winter:

• AlpiNN by Norbert Niederkofler (2000 m) in the Kronplatz Ski Resort
• Oberholz Hütte (2096 m) in the Latemar Ski Center
• InAlto Alfio Ghezzi Dolomites (2514 m) in the San Pellegrino Ski Resort
• KELINA Fine Dine (2200 m) in the Alta Badia Ski Resort
• Rifugio Scoiattoli (2255 m) next to Cinque Torri in the Cortina d’Ampezzo Ski Resort

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2. Folk Festivals and Parades 

Across the Dolomites, local folk festivals celebrate the unique cultural heritage, transhumance traditions, and ancient pre-Christian roots of the region.

If you’re planning a non-hiking trip to the Dolomites, consider timing your visit to coincide with one of these vibrant celebrations. Folk parades, traditional costumes, music, and centuries-old customs offer a fascinating glimpse into local life that many visitors miss.

Here are some unmissable events worth planning your trip around:

Rait de San Linert – Leonardiritt | The Leonardiritt horse parade is a traditional Ladin celebration held in the hamlet of San Linert in Alta Badia, honoring Saint Leonard, the patron saint of horses, livestock, and farmers. The event takes place each year on the second weekend of November.

Almabtrieb Cattle Drive | An Almabtrieb (La Desmontegada in Italian) celebrates the safe return of livestock from the high alpine pastures at the end of the summer grazing season. Locals and visitors gather in villages to welcome home herds of goats and cattle, adorned with floral headdresses and large ceremonial bells. In the Dolomites, these cattle drives usually take place in September. I recommend taking a look at:

• Sextner Almabtrieb in Sexten in Alta Pusteria, South Tyrol
• La Desmontegada di Moena in Val di Fassa, Trentino
• Gran festa del Desmontegar in Valle di Primiero, Trentino

Krampus Runs | The Krampus tradition lives on in mountain towns in the Eastern Alps in the form of Krampus run events during the Advent season. In such processions, participants dress up in extravagant furry costumes and don demonic Krampus masks. The most renowned Krampus parades take place in Sexten, Toblach, and Kastelruth (held every other year), typically in early to mid-December.

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3. Spa Hotels & Day Spas

While I skied Val di Fassa last winter, Kati spent the day in the QC Terme Dolomiti thermal day spa in Pozza di Fassa. Honestly, I don’t know who had a better day.

While day spas and thermal bathhouses are relatively rare in the Dolomites, the region is home to an abundance of exceptional spa hotels. Many feature extensive wellness facilities, including saunas, relaxation zones, indoor and outdoor pools, and treatment rooms, all designed to promote deep relaxation and rejuvenation.

In South Tyrol, unlimited access to wellness facilities is typically included in the room rate. In Trentino and Belluno, however, access to in-house wellness areas may incur an additional fee.

Here are some of our favorites:

The best of the best | Forestis Dolomites is an adults-only, 5-star hotel overlooking the Geisler Peaks near Bressanone/Brixen. Stay here for the alpine-modern spa, slow food restaurant, and utter peace. This hotel is not only one of the best hotels in Italy, it is one of the best hotels in the world.

Treehouse concept | My Arbor – Plose Wellness Hotel is a 5-star hotel high on Plose above Bressanone. Cloaked in woodland, this treehouse-like property offers an exceptional modern spa, superb cuisine (book half board), and spacious rooms. Read my My Arbor Hotel Review.

Thermal water | Bad Moos Dolomites Spa Resort is a 4-star superior hotel, located at the entrance to Val Fiscalina in Sexten. Boasting a 2500 m2 wellness area and its own sulphur source, this wellness hotel offers guests the greatest gift of all: relaxation. The extensive sauna complex lures you in with its cavernous, candlelit sulphur grotto, cold sulphur plunge pool (6.1°C), Kneipp trail, and multiple saunas.

Eco-friendly | Naturhotel Leitlhof is a 4-star-superior, climate-neutral wellness hotel above San Candido. Stay here for the peak-gazing wellness facilities and exceptional half board dining. Read my Naturhotel Leitlhof Hotel Review.

Affordable | AMA Stay is a 4-star design hotel in San Vigilio with an excellent a la carte restaurant, bistro & bar, and modern spa area. Read my Ama Stay Review.

All-inclusive and adults-only | Sensoria Dolomites (formerly Ritterhof Hotel) is a newly renovated hotel in Siusi with divinely-crafted spa interiors and harmonious architecture.

Above the clouds | Alpina Dolomites is a modern 5-star hotel located on Alpe di Siusi, designed with the philosophy: ‘Nature, our origin, is also a basic need, like the air we breathe.” Highlights include a panoramic indoor-outdoor pool, Finnish and herbal saunas, a saline steam bath, and a gourmet restaurant.

Unbeatable Dolomites Views | Hotel Kolfuschgerhof is 4-star retreat in Colfosco, Alta Badia, known for its exceptional wellness facilities, spectacular Dolomite views, and refined local and Italian cuisine.

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More Dolomites Travel Guides

Where to Stay:

• Best Hotels in the Dolomites
• Where to Stay in Cortina d’Ampezzo
• Where to Stay in San Candido
• Where to Stay in Sexten
• Best Val Gardena Hotels 
• Best Alta Badia Hotels
• Ski-in Ski-out Hotels Dolomites

Towns:

• Cortina d’Ampezzo Travel Guide
• Ortisei Travel Guide
• La Val in Alta Badia

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