The Italian Dolomites is the most spectacular alpine destination in the world. There’s no question. After 10 years of actively exploring this region, we’re still not satiated.
Visiting the Dolomites feels like stepping into a high fantasy novel. The scenery is mesmerizing, the cuisine comforting, and the hiking trails truly awe-inspiring. There are many ways to experience the Dolomites, but a road trip is certainly the best introduction.
The route outlined below is our itinerary from our first trip to the Dolomites, with some modifications for improvement. It will take you to the Dolomites’ most celebrated places, including Val di Funes (Villnöß), Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm), Puez-Odle Nature Park (Naturpark Puez-Geisler), Val Gardena (Grödnertal), Seceda, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Lago di Sorapis, Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Drei Zinnen), Cadini di Misurina, and Lago di Braies (Pragser Wildsee).
For a shorter trip, see our 5-Day Dolomites Itinerary; for a more extended journey follow our 10-14 Day Dolomites Itinerary.
Our Dolomites road trip is a bit unconventional because we integrated this fantastic 3-day Tre Cime di Lavaredo trek into our itinerary, a soft introduction to hut to hut hiking in the Dolomites. If you want to skip the hut-to-hut hike, you can easily modify our itinerary, so that you’re staying in the valleys instead. We’ve outlined alternative options for each day.
We promise that you’ll fall head over heels in love with this mountainous region and plot your return immediately.
1 Week Dolomites Itinerary
- Day 1: Val di Funes
- Day 2: Alpe di Siusi
- Day 3: Seceda
- Day 4: Great Dolomites Road, Sella Pass, Pordoi Pass, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Lago di Sorapis, Sesto
- Day 5: Tre Cime di Lavaredo Trek (Stage 1) / Sexten Dolomites Hike (Alternative Day 5)
- Day 6: Tre Cime di Lavaredo Trek (Stage 2) / Ampezzo Dolomites Hike (Alternative Day 6)
- Day 7: Tre Cime di Lavaredo Trek (Stage 3), Lago di Braies & Prato Piazza
With 3-Day Hut-to-Hut Hike
- 1 Night in Santa Maddalena, Val di Funes
- 2 Nights in Ortisei, Val Gardena
- 1 Night in Sexten or Val Fiscalina
- 1 Night in Rifugio Locatelli/Dreizinnenhütte
- 1 Night in Rifugio Pian di Cengia/Rifugio Büllelejochhütte
Without 3-Day Hut-to-Hut Hike
- 1 Night in Santa Maddalena, Val di Funes
- 2 Nights in Ortisei, Val Gardena
- 3 Nights in Sexten, Alta Pusteria
Dolomites Road Trip Map
How to use this map | Click directly on each icon on the map to find out more information about specific places (trails, photo spots, accommodations, etc…). The driving route is highlighted in blue and nearby airports are marked in gray. Each destination in the Dolomites is marked in a different color.
DOLOMITES REGIONS
Val di Funes
Val Gardena / Alpe di Siusi
Cortina d’Ampezzo
Driving Route
Sexten Dolomites
Braies/Prags Dolomites
How to Book this 1-Week Dolomites Road Trip
Dolomites Itinerary With 3-Day Hut Hike
Book 1 Night in Santa Maddalena in Val di Funes | Appartements Pension Sonia (budget), Fallerhof (budget), Hotel Fines (midrange), or Hotel Tyrol Dolomites (luxury)
Book 2 Nights in Ortisei in Val Gardena | Casa al Sole (midrange), Chalet Hotel Hartmann – Adults Only (midrange), Hotel Gardena Grödnerhof (luxury). More accommodation options: Best Hotels in Val Gardena.
Book 1 Night in Sesto/Sexten in Alta Pusteria | B&B Grüne Laterne (budget), Hotel Royal (midrange), Hotel Schoenblick (midrange), or Aparthotel Gamz (aparthotel), Alpenwelness Hotel St. Veit (4-star hotel)
Book 1 Night in Rifugio Locatelli/Dreizinnenhütte | Send a reservation request by filling out the form on dreizinnenhuette.com. If Rifugio Locatelli is fully booked, you can also stay in Rifugio Lavaredo.
Book 1 Night in Rifugio Pian di Cengia/Rifugio Büllelejochhütte | Send a reservation request by filling out the form on the hut’s website.
Dolomites Itinerary Without 3-Day Hut Hike
Book 1+Night in Santa Maddalena in Val di Funes | Appartements Pension Sonia (budget), Fallerhof (budget), Hotel Fines (midrange), or Hotel Tyrol Dolomites (luxury)
Book 2+ Nights in Ortisei in Val Gardena | Casa al Sole (midrange), Chalet Hotel Hartmann – Adults Only (midrange), Hotel Gardena Grödnerhof (luxury). More accommodation options: Best Hotels in Val Gardena.
Book 3 Nights in Sesto/Sexten or San Candido | B&B Grüne Laterne (budget), Hotel Royal (midrange), Hotel Schoenblick (midrange), or Aparthotel Gamz (aparthotel), Alpenwelness Hotel St. Veit (4-star hotel). For San Candido accommodation recommendations, read where to stay in San Candido.
Car Rental
We recommend using the Discovercars.com car rental reservation platform to search for and book car rentals in Northern Italy. This easy-to-use booking platform compares car rental deals from 500+ trusted providers, so that you can choose the best option for your trip.
Tip: If you can only drive automatic transmission cars, as opposed to manual transmission cars (stick shift), book your car rental as early as possible.
Day 1: Val di Funes and the Adolf Munkel Trail
Your Dolomites road trip begins with a drive to Val di Funes (Vilnöss), a 24-km-long valley in South Tyrol, stretching from Valle Isarco (Eisacktal) Valley to the Odle (Geisler) mountain range.
The best time to visit Val di Funes is in the late afternoon when the toothy Odle (Geisler) peaks are illuminated by the sun. To see the most captivating alpine scenes, follow the Santa Maddalena Panorama Trail.
Keen hikers who want to avoid the crowds with enjoy the summit hike to Tullen tremendously.
When you enter the valley, continue towards the village of Santa Maddalena, the best place to stay in the valley.
We recommend checking into your accommodation first. As an overnight guest of Hotel Fines and Hotel Tyrol Dolomites you get a free DolomitiMobil Discount Card, which grants you free use of public transit and a parking discount at the Zannes and Ranui parking lots.
Learn More: How to Visit Val di Funes
Hike the Adolf Munkel Trail
After checking in, drive to the head of the valley to Zannes/Zans car park (Google Maps), a popular trailhead in Val di Funes. The parking fee is 8 EUR per day. Discounts are administered to DolomitiMobil cardholders and those arriving after 1 pm.
From here, you can embark on many different hikes to scenic alpine pastures, mountain huts, and summits in Puez-Odle Nature Park, including Tullen peak, the Adolf Munkel Weg, and the Rifugio Genova loop hike.
The Adolf Munkel Trail (Via delle Odle) is a hiking path that runs along the foot of the Geisler/Odle Peaks. Starting at Zannes/Zans, this gratifying circuit trail strings together the picturesque alpine pastures of Gschnagenhardt Alm, Geisleralm, and Dusleralm.
This hike is all about savoring the journey. Go slowly, eat South Tyrolean specialities, drink beer (or your favorite drink), and enjoy the view. The whole loop is about 9.2 km and takes 3:30 hours to complete without breaks.
Learn More: Adolf Munkel Trail Guide
Hike the Rifugio Genova Circuit Trail
If you’re spending more time in the valley, we also recommend hiking from Zannes/Zans to Rifugio Genova/Schlüterhütte via Furcella de Furcia/Kreuzjoch.
Learn More: Rifugio Genova Circuit Trail
Stay in Santa Maddalena
Budget | Appartements Pension Sonia
Budget | Fallerhof is an active farm and a great-value apartment-style accommodation with stunning views of the Geisler Group. It’s a short walk to the Santa Maddalena Church (5 minutes) and the famous Chiesetta di San Giovanni in Ranui (15 minutes). It’s also an 11-minute drive (or 1.5-hour walk) to the Zannes/Zans trailhead. Breakfast is available upon request.
Midrange | Hotel Fines is a welcoming, 3-star hotel in Santa Maddalena, owned by a young and enthusiastic team. Guests love the rich breakfast buffet, central location, and hotel restaurant. Definitely book half board (breakfast and dinner) here. The DolomitiMobil Card is free for all guests.
Luxury | Hotel Tyrol Dolomites is a family-run hotel in Santa Maddalena. This is the best place to stay when you want to combine outdoor exploration with wellness and relaxation. Their wellness area encompasses a Finnish sauna, steam bath, outdoor pool, whirlpool, and a garden with sun loungers and parasols. However, the main reason to stay here is their South Tyrolean cuisine, made with locally sourced ingredients. The DolomitiMobil Card is free for all guests. Tip: book half board and book a room with a Dolomites view (“Geisler Blick”).
Look for accommodation in Santa Maddalena.
Day 2: Alpe di Siusi and Val Gardena
Drive to Ortisei in Val Gardena
Your Dolomites road trip continues 40 minutes to Ortisei (St. Ulrich in German, Urtijëi in Ladin), the largest village in Val Gardena.
If you’re staying directly in Ortisei (e.g. Casa al Sole), drive to your accommodation to take advantage of free parking. At check-in, you will receive a complimentary Val Gardena Mobil Card (free local transit card), which you may need during your stay.
If you’re not staying directly in town, you can also park in the paid parking garage located directly at the Ortisei-Alpe di Siusi Cable Car valley station.
From the village, walk to the Ortisei – Alpe di Siusi gondola valley station (Google Maps) and ride the cableway to Alpe di Siusi plateau.
Related: Ortisei, Val Gardena Travel Guide
Walk across Alpe di Siusi
Today, you’re going to explore Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm in German, Mont Sëuc in Ladin), the largest high alpine pasture in Europe.
Measuring 56 km², this expansive plateau is a great place for casual walking and spectacular views of the Sassolungo/Langkofel Group and the Catinaccio/Rosengarten Mountains.
Because driving up to Alpe di Siusi is restricted during the day, you have to take the Ortisei – Alpe di Siusi cable car up to the plateau.
Alpe di Siusi is etched with 450 kilometers of hiking trails. We recommend the Alpe di Siusi Meadows Circuit Trail, which takes 4:30 hours.
From the Ortisei-Alpe di Siusi gondola mountain station, follow trail 9 to Schgaguler Schwaige and continue all the way down to Saltria, a small settlement on the plateau.
Next, ascend the Hans and Paula-Steger Path (trail 30) in the direction of Compaccio/Compatsch, detouring to Gostner Schwaige and Rauchhütte along the way. Complete the circuit to the gondola mountain station via Malga Sanon.
Eat Dinner in Ortisei
We recommend eating at Tubladel for a slow and romantic dining experience, La Cërcia Enoteca wine bar for a light dinner, or Turonda for pizza.
Stay in Ortisei, Val Gardena
B&B – Top Choice | Casa al Sole is a newly renovated bed and breakfast in the center of Ortisei, only a short walk from the Seceda cableway and the Resciesa funicular. Highlights of staying here include the airy interiors, natural wine bar, and homemade breakfast. At Casa al Sole, Alexandra and Manuel host with great care and enthusiasm, and are always available to offer advice and help make dinner reservations. Read our Casa al Sole Review.
Midrange | Chalet Hotel Hartmann – Adults Only is an excellent hotel featuring tastefully furnished interiors, a delicious breakfast buffet, a complimentary afternoon snack, and a spa area (bio-sauna, steam bath and solarium). This is an ideal accommodation for couples and anyone traveling without children. It’s a 20-minute walk (1 km) to reach the heart of Ortisei.
5-Star Luxury | Hotel Gardena Grödnerhof is a 5-star hotel in the heart of Ortisei, home to the Michelin star Ann Stuben gourmet restaurant. This wellness hotel offers unparalleled spa facilities, flawless service, guided hikes and mountain bike tours, and a weekly fitness program. Guests are treated to a welcome cocktail, generous breakfast buffet, and afternoon cakes and snacks (3 – 5 pm).
Luxury | Hotel Angelo is situated directly in the village center of Ortisei, walking distance to the Resciesa funicular, Ortisei-Furnes-Seceda cableway, and the Ortisei-Alpe di Siusi gondola (Mont Sëuc Ropeway). We loved the central location, the courteous staff, the wellness and sauna area, and our spacious room.
Mountainside Luxury | Perched high above Ortisei, the newly-renovated La Cort My Dollhouse – Adults Only hotel offers 26 stylish rooms, a rooftop spa and pool, and fabulous views of Val Gardena. La Cort is a great choice for travelers who want more flexibility during their visit (no rigid eating times, etc..). Breakfast (7:30 am – 11 am) and Linner (4 pm – 7 pm) are included in the rate. If you stay here, you will have to drive 7 minutes into Ortisei to access the cableways (the only disadvantage).
Look for accommodation in Ortisei.
Day 3: Seceda and Puez-Odle Nature Park
Hike the Seceda Ridge
Day 3 of your Dolomites itinerary is all about experiencing the striking Odle/Geisler Peaks from the Seceda ridge – that view you’ve probably been dreaming about since you decided to travel to the Dolomites.
There are several ascent routes to the Seceda summit. The first two options require cableway ascents/descents. The third option does not.
Option 1: Easy | Ride the Ortisei – Furnes – Seceda Cableways (pre-booking required) to Seceda. From the mountain station, it’s a 10-minute walk to the Seceda lookout point. The best way to experience these stunning mountains is to hike along the Seceda ridge to the Pana Scharte and then continue to Pieralongia and Rifugio Firenze (Regensburger Hütte), as described in this Seceda to Rifugio Firenze Trail Guide.
Option 2: Difficult | From Ortisei, ride the Resciesa Funicular up to Resciesa plateau and then hike to Malga Brogles. Continue along the Adolf Munkel Trail and then cross the craggy heart of the Odle Group via the Mittagsscharte saddle. Hike to Seceda and return to Ortisei via the Ortisei-Furnes-Seceda cabelways. Learn More: Resciesca to Malga Brogles to Seceda Trail Guide.
Option 3: Moderate – No Cableway | If you’re visiting off-season, when the cableways aren’t operating, or you simply want to save money, you can also hike to Seceda without a cableway. Drive to the Cristauta/Praplan Parking Lot above Santa Cristina and hike up to Seceda via Baita Gamsblut and Rifugio Fermeda. Return to the car park via Monte Pic, as summarized in this Monte Pic and Seceda Trail Guide.
More Hikes in Val Gardena
If you plan on extending your stay in Val Gardena, also check out our Puez-Odle Nature Park guide and these trails:
- Best Hikes in Val Gardena
- Rifugio Stevia and Col dala Pieres Day Hike
- Piz Duleda Hike
- Sassolungo Circuit Trail
- Lake Pisciadù Day Hike
- Vallunga Valley and Val de Chedul
Via ferrata climbers will love the Sass Rigais via ferrata and the Oskar Schuster via ferrata.
Stay in Ortisei, Val Gardena
Stay another night in Ortisei: Casa al Sole (midrange), Chalet Hotel Hartmann (midrange), Hotel Engel Angelo (luxury), La Cort My Dollhouse – Adults Only (luxury), or Hotel Gardena Grödnerhof (5-star luxury).
Look for accommodation in Ortisei.
Day 4: Sella and Pordoi Passes, Cortina d’Ampezzo, Lago di Sorapis
Drive to Cortina d’Ampezzo
On day 4 of your Dolomites road trip, depart Val Gardena and drive to the town of Cortina d’Ampezzo in Ampezzo Valley, Belluno.
There are two main routes to Cortina d’Ampezzo:
- Via Passo Sella, Passo Pordoi, and Passo Fazarego mountain passes (2:00 – 2:30 hours)
- Via Passo Gardena, Alta Badia, Passo Valparola, and Passo Fazarego mountain passes (1:40 – 2:10 hours)
Both routes are stunning. In the first option, you’ll drive a longer distance on the Great Dolomites Road (Grande Strada della Dolomiti), a dramatic route that connects Bolzano with Cortina d’Ampezzo (110 km).
Along the way, you can hike the panoramic Viel dal Pan trail, starting at Passo Pordoi.
Sabrina’s Insider Tip | If you’re looking to expand this itinerary, we recommend heading to Alta Badia first. Spend at least 2 nights in Val Badia in Corvara, Colfosco, La Villa, Badia, or San Cassiano, before continuing your journey to Cortina d’Ampezzo via Passo Valparola and Passo Falzarego.
Hike to Lago di Sorapis
Lago di Sorapis is a glacial lake in the Sorapiss Group in the province of Belluno. Set in a natural amphitheater and ringed by forest and rock, Lake Sorapis enchants with its milky-turquoise hue and imposing mountain backdrop.
The easiest way to get to Lake Sorapis is from the Passo Tre Croci mountain pass, located about halfway between Cortina d’Ampezzo and Lake Misurina. It’s a 15-minute drive from Cortina d’Ampezzo to the pass.
From Passo Tre Croci, follow trail 215 in the direction of Rifugio Vandelli. Trail 215 is initially wide and level. After about an hour, the trail becomes increasingly steep and narrow. There are some exposed sections, secured with cables.
Shortly before arriving at the lake, you can detour to Rifugio Vandelli.
Most hikers will return to Passo Tre Croci along the same route. However, there’s an exciting alternative route via the Forcella Marcuoira saddle. The Forcella Marcuoira route is best undertaken by experienced alpine hikers, who are confident in steep rocky terrain.
Kati’s Insider Tip | If you’re visiting during high season, you may way to skip Lago di Sorapis. For a quieter trail experience, consider the Tofana di Rozes circuit trail, or even the Croda da Lago circuit trail.
Stay in Sesto / Sexten
Continue driving to Sesto/Sexten, a mountain village in Sexten Valley, wedged between the Northern Sexten Dolomites and Carnic Alps.
Budget | B&B Grüne Laterne – Lanterna Verde is a traditional, alpine guesthouse with an on-site restaurant.
Midrange | Hotel Royal is a 3-star-superior hotel with alpine-modern rooms and apartments in Sesto. Stay here for the hospitality, dreamy mountain views, and fantastic breakfast buffet.
Midrange | Hotel Schoenblick is a lovely 3-star hotel with sparkling clean rooms and apartments facing the Sesto Sundial. Breakfast is included and half board is optional. 3 nights minimum stay requirement in high season.
Luxury | Boasting a 2500 m2 wellness area and its own sulphur source, Bad Moos Dolomites Spa Resort offers guests the greatest gift of all: relaxation. Learn more about this spa hotel in Best Hotels in the Dolomites.
Luxury | Hotel Dolomitenhof & Chalet Alte Post is located directly at the Fischleinbodenhütte trailhead in Tre Cime Nature Park. The views of Val Fiscalina/Fischleintal Valley and the Sexten Dolomites are spectacular. Guests love the breakfast terrace, wellness facilities, restaurant, and of course the location.
5-star Luxury | Hotel Monika enjoys a splendid setting on the edge of a meadow with views of the Sexten Dolomites. The hotel spa dazzles with its sky infinity outdoor pool, indoor pool, five saunas, and relaxation zones. You can schedule massages and other treatments as well. Book half board to savor the full experience.
If you’re having trouble finding accommodations in Sesto, you can also stay in nearby San Candido: Residence Silvia (budget), Residence Kugler (apartments), ATTO Suites & Cuisine (luxury), or Naturhotel Leitlhof (luxury). Read my guide to Where to Stay in San Candido.
You can also stay in Cortina d’Ampezzo, but room rates are usually much higher than in Val Pusteria. Read Where to Stay in Cortina d’Ampezzo for a comprehensive guide to the best areas and accommodations in Cortina, with tips on finding affordable accommodation.
Day 5: Tre Cime di Lavaredo Trek Stage 1
Val Fiscalina to Tre Cime di Lavaredo
Today, you’ll begin this 3-day hut-to-hut hike in Tre Cime Nature Park, starting in Val Fiscalina/Fischleintal in Sesto/Sexten.
You can start stage 1 in the village of Sexten, Moos, at the Rotwand cableway valley station car park, or the Fischleinbodenhütte (parking fee applies).
The hike begins with a steady ascent to Rifugio Locatelli/Dreizinnenhütte (2438 m). It takes about 3:30 hours to reach the refuge via trail 102 from the Fischleinbodenhütte. Add an additional 1:15 hrs if you start in Sesto, or 30 minutes, if you start at the Croda Rossa car park.
Directly facing the north side of the iconic Three Peaks (Tre Cime/Drei Zinnen), Rifugio Locatelli is arguably the most perfectly positioned mountain hut in the Dolomites.
And luckily for all hungry visitors, the hut has a restaurant serving South Tyrolean cuisine.
Stay in Rifugio Locatelli/Dreizinnenhütte, or Rifugio Lavaredo
Tonight, you can stay in Dreizinnenhütte. Or, you can continue on Trail 101 to Rifugio Lavaredo, or even Rifugio Auronzo.
The location of the Rifugio Lavaredo is absolutely spectacular and definitely rivals that of Locatelli. The jagged, purple Cadini di Misurina mountains form the backdrop of the hut.
We stayed in a 6-bed dormitory-style room in Rifugio Lavaredo, which was clean and comfortable. However, in comparison to the other mountain huts, the food was subpar.
IMPORTANT: Make reservations for mountain huts months in advance of your Dolomites trip .
Alternative Day 5 Dolomites Itinerary
Tre Cime di Lavaredo Circuit Trail & the Cadini di Misurina Viewpoint
For those who opted out of the 3-day trek, you can still experience the beauty of Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Drei Zinnen, Three Peaks) by driving directly to Rifugio Auronzo via the Auronzo – Tre Cime di Lavaredo toll road.
- Toll Road Seasonal Opening Times: Late May/Early June – Late October/Early November, depending on weather conditions.
- Reservation: You must pre-book your toll road access and parking on pass.auronzo.info. If you don’t know your license plate number at the time of booking, you can add it to your reservation the day before entry.
- Pricing: 40 EUR for cars, 26 EUR for motorcycles, 60 EUR for campervans/caravans
From Rifugio Auronzo, you can circuit the famous three peaks along the well-trodden Tre Cime di Lavaredo Circuit Trail. Before or after completing the circuit, I recommend detouring to the Cadini di Misurina viewpoint (30 minutes one-way).
After the hike, stop at Malga Rin Bianco for a delicious lunch, or dinner.
Kati’s Insider Tip | If you’re looking for a more challenging hike in the Sexten Dolomites, consider the Sentiero Bonacossa Trail. This hiking trail traverses the Cadini di Misurina mountain group. We hiked the northern route, starting at Rifugio Auronzo. You can also start the hike at Lago d’Antorno (and skip the expensive toll road). Hikers must be comfortable with narrow ledges and exposure.
Sabrina’s Insider Tip | The Tre Cime di Lavaredo circuit is beautiful, but it’s not the only way to see the Three Peaks. My favorite ascent route is from Val Campo di Dentro, a side valley of Sexten. I outlined the route in this Torre dei Scarperi circuit trail guide.
Stay in Sexten or San Candido
Stay another night in Sexten: B&B Grüne Laterne (budget), Hotel Royal (midrange), Hotel Schoenblick (midrange), or Aparthotel Gamz (aparthotel), or Alpenwelness Hotel St. Veit (4-star hotel)
Or, stay another night in San Candido: Residence Kugler (apartments), Boutique & Gourmet Hotel Orso Grigio (4-star hotel), Wachtler Dolomite Apartments (apartments, read our Wachtler review), or Naturhotel Leitlhof (4-star spa hotel, read our Naturhotel Leitlhof review).
Day 6: Tre Cime di Lavaredo Stage 2
Tre Cime di Lavaredo to Büllelejochhütte
Continue the circuit trail around Tre Cime di Lavaredo to Rifugio Auronzo. From Rifugio Auronzo, Trail no. 105 begins at the end of the parking lot.
The trail continues to the saddle Forcella del Col de Mezo and then to the alpine pasture of Langalm.
Langalm is a wonderful spot to grab a mid-morning snack. tTheir cakes are always delicious.
From Langalm, continue to Rifugio Locatelli/Dreizinnenhütte. We recommend eating lunch here, before starting the ascent to Rifugio Pian di Cengia/Büllelejochhütte.
Stay in Rifugio Pian di Cengia/Büllelejochhütte
Büllelejochhütte is a place where dreams come true.
Remotely situated, surrounded by dramatic mountain scenery, and gracing the clouds, Büllelejochhütte is the most charming mountain hut we experienced.
The staff was beyond kind and friendly. And, the hearty food was divine.
Alternative Day 6 Dolomites Itinerary
Hike in the Eastern Sexten Dolomites
Drive to Kreuzbergpass, or Rifugio Lunelli, and hike to Vallon Popera basin in the Eastern Sexten Dolomites.
Or, Hike in the Ampezzo Dolomites
Alternatively, explore the Ampezzo Dolomites. Here are our favorite hikes near Cortina d’Ampezzo. None of these trails require cableways.
Tofana di Rozes Circuit Trail. This thrilling, little-known loop trail starts at Rifugio Dibona, at the foot of the north face of the Tofane Group. The path circuits the majestic Tofana di Rozes mountain, delivering splendid views of Travenanzes valley.
Croda da Lago Circuit Trail. This moderately-difficult trail loops around Croda da Lago, passing Lago Federa and Rifugio Croda da Lago along the way.
Passo Giau to Monte Mondeval. This easy hike starts at the Giau mountain pass and ascends to Mondeval, a high alpine plateau bounded by the vertical walls of Lastoni di Formin, Croda da Lago, and Monte Mondeval.
Rifugio Nuvolau and Cinque Torri. Starting at Col Gallina, this short hike links together popular destinations in the Nuvolau-Averau Group, including Lago di Lìmedes, Rifugio Averau, Rifugio Nuvolau, Rifugio Scoiattoli, and the Cinque Torri rock towers.
Stay in Sexten or San Candido
Stay another night in Sexten: B&B Grüne Laterne (budget), Hotel Royal (midrange), Hotel Schoenblick (midrange), or Aparthotel Gamz (aparthotel), or Alpenwelness Hotel St. Veit (4-star hotel)
Or, stay another night in San Candido: Residence Kugler (apartments), Boutique & Gourmet Hotel Orso Grigio (4-star hotel), Wachtler Dolomite Apartments (apartments, read our Wachtler review), or Naturhotel Leitlhof (4-star spa hotel, read our Naturhotel Leitlhof review).
Day 7: Tre Cime di Lavaredo Stage 3
Descend to Val Fiscalina/Fischleintal
After breakfast, start your descent to Fischleintal via Trail 101 and later Trail 103.
After an hour, the trail winds around the Rifugio E. Comici/Zsigmondy Hütte, a lovely mountain hut surrounded by bell-wearing donkeys.
From this mountain hut, it takes about 1:30 hours to get to Talschlusshütte.
The trail eventually intersects 102 (the trail you took on the way up). From the fork, hike the familiar flat trail back to Talschlusshütte and Parkplatz Fischleinbodenhütte.
After completing the hike, you have a few options. You could stay another night in Sexten to hike the Vallon Popera trail. You can drive to Braies Valley to visit both Lake Braies and Prato Piazza. Though, please be mindful of seasonal access restrictions during high season (summarized below).
Visit Lago di Braies
The iconic Lago di Braies / Pragser Wildsee is an alpine lake in the UNESCO World Heritage Site Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park. It’s located in Braies Valley (Valle di Braies in Italian, Pragser Tal in German), a side valley of Alta Pusteria in South Tyrol.
No matter what time you arrive, this Insta-famous destination will be busy. If you decide to brave the crowds, I recommend extending your visit to the summit of Hochalpenkopf (2542 m). This is a long hike, but well worth the effort.
If you’re spending more time in Braies Valley, don’t miss out on visiting the Prato Piazza high alpine plateau, the starting point for the easy Monte Specie summit hike and exciting Gaisl high trail.
Driving to Lake Braies
If you’re visiting Lago di Braies between July 1st and September 15th, you can only drive to Lago di Braies before 9 am or after 4 pm. There are no access restrictions before July 1st, or after September 15th.
If you’re visiting Lago di Braies during peak hours during the high season, pre-book your parking.
The P4 car park is the closest car park to the lake, followed by P3 (500 meters to the lake), and then P2 (800 meters to the lake). The P1 car park (formerly “Säge/Segheria car park”) is 5.5 km from the lake.
For information on parking and pricing, read our Lago di Braies travel guide.
Driving in the Dolomites
Driving in the Dolomites is riveting. Serpentine roads cut across mountain passes delivering nonstop memorable views. Generally, roads are in great condition and by no means perilous.
Though Italy has a reputation for aggressive driving, we didn’t get that impression in the Dolomites.
The only thing to be aware of is congestion. During peak summer months, some roads get really busy, especially the main road through Val Gardena. If you’re weary of traffic and backing up (to let buses pass), start your drive a bit earlier.
In July and August, there are also a lot of cyclists and motorbikes on the road (especially around mountain passes). That might be the hardest and most frustrating part about driving in the Dolomites.
Autostrade (Toll Roads)
There are toll roads across Italy called Autostrade. When you enter a toll road, marked by a toll gate, a machine will dispense a paper ticket (like in a parking garage), which marks where you entered the Autostrade.
When the toll road ends, or when you exit the toll road, you’ll drive through a second toll gate. Here, you’ll pay your toll, which is calculated by your Autostrada usage.
You can pay in cash, or by credit card. To be safe, always have extra cash for tolls.
In the Dolomites, we didn’t pay any tolls other than the road to Rifugio Auronzo.
However, if you’re starting your Dolomites road trip in Verona, Venice, Milan, Munich or Innsbruck (Brenner toll road) you will likely drive on an Autostrade.
Related | Munich to the Dolomites
International Driver’s License
An International Driving Permit (also called an International Driver’s License) is required for non-EU drivers.
When driving in Italy, you need to carry both your International Driving Permit and your overseas driver’s license.
Best Time of Year
We recommend doing this specific road trip in July, August, or September. Keep in mind that August is very busy and rogue snow storms are always possible in September.
Early October is still promising, but you wouldn’t be able to do this 3-Day Tre Cime Trek, because the rifugios (mountain huts) close by late September.
If you’re contemplating a spring trip, read visiting the Dolomites in May.
Learn more: Best Time to Visit the Dolomites
Languages
The Dolomites are located in 5 different provinces (within 3 regions) in Northeastern Italy.
One province, South Tyrol (Südtirol in German; Alto Adige in Italian), was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire prior to World War I.
German continues to be the primary language spoken in this province. When visiting South Tyrol, every town, street, sign, advertisement, nature park, mountain hut, etc… is written in both German and Italian.
Another language that you may encounter is Ladin, a romance language spoken in the provinces of South Tyrol, Trentino, and Belluno, by the Ladin people, who are the oldest inhabitants of the region.
When driving through the Dolomites, expect to see signage and names in 2-3 languages.
How to Get to the Dolomites
The closest airport to the Dolomites is Bolzano Airport in South Tyrol, which is recently back in operation.
The Bolzano Airport is serviced by the SkyAlps fleet, which offers nonstop flights to small and medium-sized cities in Europe including Berlin, Hamburg, Dusseldorf, Copenhagen, Billund, and Antwerp.
It’s only a 45 minute drive from Bolzano to Val di Funes, the starting point of this Dolomites itinerary.
If you’re flying from overseas, look for flights to these international airports.
- Munich International Airport, Germany
- Malpensa Airport, Milan, Italy
- Marco Polo International Airport, Venice, Italy
If you’re flying more regionally, also look for flights to these airports:
- Valerio Catullo Airport, Verona, Italy
- Innsbruck Airport, Austria
- Treviso Airport, Italy
From the airport, rent a car and drive several hours to Val di Funes/Villnöß. Here are the approximate driving times it takes to get from each respective airport to Val di Funes. You’ll probably want to add some buffer time, because… mountains.
- Munich to Val di Funes: 3 hours. Check out our Munich to Dolomites Road Trip guide for the best stops and sights en route.
- Milan to Val di Funes: 4 hours
- Venice to Val di Funes: 3 hours
- Verona to Val di Funes: 2 hours
- Treviso to Val di Funes: 3 hours
- Innsbruck to Val di Funes: 1:15 hours
Learn More: How to Get to the Dolomites
How to Shorten and Extend this Itinerary
5-Day Dolomites Road Trip
If you have less than 7 days in the Dolomites, we recommend following this 5-day Dolomites Itinerary. Stay 2 nights in Val Gardena and 2 nights in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Day 1: Drive to Val Gardena, Vallunga Valley
Day 2: Seceda, Baita Seurasas
Day 3: Alpe di Siusi, Passo Gardena, Armentara Meadows, Cortina d’Ampezzo
Day 4: Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Cadini di Misurina, Lago di Misurina, Lago d’Antorno
Day 5: Lago di Landro, Lago di Dobbiaco, Lago di Braies, Prato Piazza
10-14 Day Dolomites Road Trip
Read our 10-14 Day Dolomites Itinerary for guidance.
With more time, we suggest staying in San Martino di Castrozza in Trentino, the best base for hiking in the Pale di San Martino Dolomites (aka Pala Group). Sadly, this destination is almost always overlooked. And, it’s quite possibly the most impressive mountain range in the region.
Check out Baita Segantini (easy day hike), Val Venegia to Rifugio Mulaz (moderately difficult hike), and the Pala di San Martino Circuit (difficult day hike).
We also recommend staying in Alta Badia, the alpine resort region surrounding the upper Val Badia valley in South Tyrol. Top trails: Armentara Meadows (easy day hike), Cima Pisciadu (challenging day hike), Sass da Ciampac (moderate day hike), Gran Cir (easy via ferrata), Rifugio Fanes (moderately-difficult day hike).
More Dolomites Travel Guides
Car-Free Travel:
Where to Stay + Hotels:
- Where to Stay in the Dolomites in Summer
- Best Hotels in the Dolomites
- Best Hotels in Val Gardena
- Best Hotels in Alta Badia
Hiking:
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How experienced/trained do you have to be for the hikes you’re detailing here?
Hi Yves, All of the hikes detailed here are relatively easy, especially Adolf Munkel Trail, the Tre Cime Loop, and Seceda to Regensburgerhütte. No training is necessary. Paths are easy to follow and not technically difficult. The trail from Seiser Alm to Tierser Alpl is a bit more difficult b/c of the steep incline going over the ridge. Hope that helps! – Sabrina
What a lovely, detailed article! I especially like that you also included a map. Loved all the pictures – most of Pragser Wildsee.
Is there an alternative to renting a car though? What about using trains and buses to reach these places?
Hi Smita!
Thank you for your kind comment! Yes, it’s possible to visit without a car. In high season, villages are well connected by buses. You can use this site to help with your planning: http://www.sii.bz.it/en/
Brilliant itinerary. Saving this right away. Thanks 🙂
Thank you so much Priyanka!
This looks fantastic! We’re considering a trip to the Dolomites this summer and I love your ideas. Staying in a refuge/hut sounds like a fab idea and your walks sound just our cup of tea. Thank you for the inspiration 🙂
Thank you Alice! I hope you do plan a trip to the Dolomites!
This part of Italy has been all over my social media lately. I must admit I was getting a bit tired of hearing about it—but honestly, your photos are the most spectacular I’ve seen! This is a really concise and practical guide, exactly the kind of thing I’d be looking for if I were planning a visit. The Dolomites just shot up my wish list 🙂
Thank you Emily! Thank you so much for your comment! I can certainly sympathize with you. Luckily, there are many beautiful places that aren’t on the Instagram photography circuit – so if you do a little more research, you’ll find places that are untouched (and rarely photographed). But, there are definitely places that are victim to insta-tourism (like pragser wildsee). Don’t hesitate to reach out if you need help planning, or figuring out where to go off the beaten path. – Sabrina
Looks so beautiful! We don’t live that far so I will definitely consider the Dolomites! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you Laura! You’re very lucky to not live so far away from such a beautiful place!
wow your photos are incredible! I have had the Dolomites on my bucket list for a while, but I see a lot of pictures from there on social media, so I am a bit worried if its like a new Instagram place and full of people now.. but it looks stunning there!
Thank you Nana! I can totally understand where you’re coming from. I think most Instagrammers are replicating the same photo over and over again, so it looks like there are only a few places to visit. However, the Dolomites is a very large region – and most of it hasn’t been “discovered” by the Insta-photographers. My recommendation is to avoid traveling to places like Pragser Wildsee and even Lago di Sorapiss (especially on a weekend).
Very informative! Great post!
This guide is INCREDIBLE! I have yet to go here but now you made me want to go even more!
Thank you so much Helene!!
This is somewhere I would LOVE to go as the whole area looks so beautiful. I was actually looking into going this year but hopefully will end up visiting another year! Reading your guide was really useful and I like that you gave tips for how to improve each day too.
Thank you so much Tasha!!
What a fantastic post and your photos are stunning (though I’ve never seen a bad photo of the Dolomites). This post is extremely timely as I’m heading there in late June/early July and I’m starting to plan my trip as I’m sure you need to book early for rooms and refugios. I’m saving this to reference for when I’m madly planning. I’ve only budgeted 5 days there and now I wish I had more time. Thanks for the great insights!
Thank you so much April! Definitely book accommodation early to avoid disappointment. Have a wonderful trip in June/July!
This is gorgeous! I would love to do this trip and the photos are, as everyone says, just stunning.
Thank you so much!!
I am in love with your photos! Always wanted to see the Dolomites in Italy but perhaps we might not have full 8 days but this is a very helpful guide in choosing what to see in that region 🙂
Thank you Richa!! With less time, I recommend prioritizing Val Gardena and Tre Cime Natural Park. Good luck with your planning!
Hey! The sum up is so good, can’t wait to go there in July. I am going with 2 friends and we would really love to camp. Do you know if that is easy or even possible in Dolomites? Or only in certain areas? Thank you in advance!!
Hi Marine,
Wild camping (or dispersed camping) is prohibited in the Dolomites. You can only camp at designated camping sites or caravan parking areas. If you want to overnight in the mountains, I highly recommend booking a night in a rifugio (mountain hut).
Kindly,
Sabrina
This is exactly what I’ve been looking for! My boyfriend and I are doing a road-trip/hike through the Dolomites in August. We only have 5 nights/6 days though. Based on your itinerary, what hikes would you recommend the most? Our one “must-do” is a two night hut-to-hut in Tre Cime.
Hi Laura!
Consider cutting out Lago di Braies (Pragser Wildsee), or spend very minimal time there.
Do you like challenging hikes, or are you content with very scenic easy hikes? Adolf Munkel and Seceda (as I’ve described) are very easy, though wonderful.
You could cut the hike to Tierser Alpl. While we absolutely loved it (the food was amazing!), I think it’s a better destination as part of a longer 3-5 day hut-to-hut hike in the Rosengarten Dolomites. Of course, it’s possible as a day hike (you could eat lunch at the hut), before coming back down – if you’re planning on visiting Seiser Alm.
Hope that helps a little!
Sabrina
This is a great itinerary! My mom and I are planning an 8 day trip to the Dolomites in September and this is so helpful! Do you have any recommendations for hikes that are a little off the beaten track?
Thanks Kat! Unfortunately, I don’t have specific off the beaten track trail recommendations. Maybe you can reach out to the local tourist offices (wherever you’re staying) and they can help. Good luck!!
Hi, This is a great guide!
We plan to do a 7 day hike and would like to stay 2-3 days in refugios and the rest are hotels, Which refugios would you recommend with best views and not too difficult hike. Maybe 3-4 hours from parking lot
Thanks!
Hi Leo,
Thank you! Did you read through our Tre Cime guide: https://moonhoneytravel.com/europe/italy/dolomites/tre-cime-natural-park/
Kindly,
Sabrina
Thank you for sharing the itinerary! Sincerely appreciate the details and effort you have put in to write this post, it really helped a lot in my planning for this trip, to which previously I could only find scattered information which I struggled to piece the picture together. Your post helped tremendously!
Regards,
David Seow, Malaysia
Thank you so much David! Glad it was helpful!
May I know if I could reach the following destination through public transport?
-Seiser Alm
-Zanser Alm
I was thinking if there is a way to save cost to reach these places without having to rent a car, as I will be travelling alone
Thank you!
Hi David,
A car is going to be the easiest way to get around, but I’m sure there are bus connections. Use this site to figure out transit connections in Val Gardena: http://www.mobilitaaltoadige.info/en
Good luck!
Hi there,
Loved your itinerary, honestly it will be such a great help for me and my boyfriend as we plan on spending about 10 days there this September! Just wondering is it very expensive with the tolls, fuel and park fees as we plan on renting a car? We don’t really mind spending money to do hikes etc but we are two students which generally limits our funds but we don’t want it to limit our Dolomites experience!
Thank you 🙂
Hi Julie,
We didn’t come across any tolls stations during our trip. But, that’ll depend on where you’re driving from. If you’re planning on visiting Tre Cime di Lavaredo, the toll is 35+ EUR for the drive up Rifugio Auronzo. Also, the cable cars can be quite expensive (like the one to Seceda mountain station – 32 EUR per person round-trip). Parking seems reasonable. Gas is more expensive than in neighboring countries. The Dolomites/Italy isn’t a budget destination. Have a great trip!! Sabrina
Thanks so much for your blog Sabrina, I just love it! We are planning a trip to the Dolomites from Australia next July. With limited time I was wondering what you thought about doing a one night/2 day hike in the Tre Cime di Lavaredo? The loop walk looks amazing as does the 3 day hut to hut hike, but if we only have 2 days and 1 night can you suggest an overnight walk and accommodation option?
I look forward to hearing from you. With thanks
Catherine x
Hi Catherine!
So happy to hear that – thank you!
For a 2-day hike, you could potentially drive up to Rifugio Auronzo (30 Eur toll + parking). Hike 1/2 the circuit around Tre Cime di Lavaredo to the Dreizinnen Hütte and continue to Büllelejochhütte. Stay in Büllelejochhütte. The next day, retrace your steps back to Dreizinnenhütte and finish the circuit around Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
Hope that helps! Sabrina
This looks perfectly amazing!! Have you ever done the dolomites and then headed to a lake or somewhere relaxing?? If so, do you have suggestions for that?
Hi Emily,
We haven’t planned a post-hiking lake trip, but if you like wine tasting, you could head to Tramin and explore the Alto Adige wine region. I wrote about Tramin in our Italy Travel Guide. Have a great trip! – Sabrina
Hello Sabrina and Kati!
Just wanted to express my gratitude for your work and especially this road trip itinerary! It served as a major inspiration and base for our post-covid trek in the Dolomites, from which we just returned and enjoyed enormously. It was still quite busy (well, August…) regardless the current world pandemic. The busiest trek was undoubtedly Tre Cime di Lavaredo. It was a great idea to start the trail clockwise against the crowd current.
Just a couple of remarks here:
1. The trail up from Rifugio Brogles to Seceda was closed due to a rockfall. Apparently, it had been already shut off for a week prior to our trek (August, 21st). So we had to go down all the way back to the parking… which was a quite steep descent…
2. The boat rental was already open by the time we arrived to Lago di Braies and almost all the boats were already taken. So best time is to arrive before 8am.
Good luck with your blog (will keep an eye on other upcoming travel ideas) and stay safe!
Best,
Alina
Hi Alina,
So glad you enjoyed your time in the Dolomites. Thank you!! I’ll update the post accordingly.
Kindly,
Sabrina
Beautiful itinerary. Just wondering your thoughts in terms of a babymoon? I’m pretty active and healthy, but will be about 5-6months pregnant when we plan to visit. Are many of the day hikes doable in that condition?
Hi Lana,
Thank you! Honestly, I have absolutely no idea. Please consult your OB. Do you hike in the mountains regularly? The hikes described in this itinerary are very moderate, but they do involve 300-500 meters of ascents/descents. Also, you’ll be at elevations between 1230 – 2500 m above sea level… which takes time to acclimatize to.
All the best,
Sabrina
We just returned from the Dolomites and basically followed your itinerary here and loved it, so we just wanted to say thank you! We found it wasn’t too crowded now (late June, early July) and we got pretty lucky with weather. Our favorite part was definitely the 3 day hike around the Tre Cime di Lavaredo , where I think we were lucky in reserving refugios only 2 weeks in advance because people canceled after a snow storm in June! The patches of slippery snow on steep parts of the trail was a little scary at times, but in retrospect it just added to the adventure.
Anyway, thank you so much for the detailed and accurate itinerary!
-Erica and Yannick
Hi Erica and Yannick,
I’m so thrilled to hear that you had a fun and adventurous trip to the Dolomites. Also, so happy to hear that you included the hut-to-hut hike in your itinerary!!!!!
Happy hiking,
Sabrina
Hi! thanks so much for writing this awesome itinerary. We’re planning our honeymoon in the Dolomites region and this will be a huge help!
Question: We plan to honeymoon right after our wedding, for 1 week in late May. I imagine some things may not be open and some trails could still be snowy/icy (which we don’t mind as long as we come prepared) … do you have any experience with this region in Late May time frame? Thanks!
Hi Chelsea,
We visited the Dolomites once in May and vowed to never to do so again. If you can postpone your trip until June, you won’t regret it. All huts and cableways are closed in May. Many hotels are also closed, as it’s between the Winter and Summer seasons. May is too unpredictable because of the lingering snow from the winter season.
All the best,
Sabrina
What a great itinerary. So detailed. And Beautiful photos. Love to follow this itinerary. But I hate to move every day. Is it worth to stay one place for a 2-3 nights for a fewer places? If so, which places are worth to stay for more days? I love photography so beautiful scenery is my #1 concern, then lodging and food, hiking. Thank you so much
Hi Jo!
You definitely don’t need to move every day. Just choose 2 or 3 bases and stay in each base 3-4 nights. I would split my time between:
1. Val di Funes
2. Alta Badia
3. Cortina d’Ampezzo
4. San Martino di Castrozza
Also read: Where to Stay in the Dolomites
Thank you so much for such great details! And the photos are so beautiful! But just a quick question, do we need to prepare any documents for crossing the Austrian- Italian border?
Hi Christine,
We had to fill out the EU digital passenger locator form and show proof of vaccination, or proof of recovery. Travel regulations are regularly changing. Check this Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation website for up-to-date info.
All the best!
Sabrina
Hi Sabrina! Your blog is incredible, thank you so much for all this information.
I’ll be going to the Dolomites mid June and have a few questions.
1. Is mid June (June 8-15) too early for these hikes?
2. I see that two of the huts in your 3 day hut itinerary are not open until June 25 but the Büllelejochhütte hut is open June 11. How would you recommend fitting an overnight with just this hut with your itinerary instead of the 3 day hut to hut?
3. Is it quite easy to change course if the weather isn’t great? If so, what are your favorite early season hikes?
Thank you so much!!
Hi Rachel,
Thank you so much!
1. It’s possible to do almost everything on the route. However, there may still be snow at higher elevations, making trails like the Tofana di Rozes Circuit more difficult.
2. I would reach out to Büllelejochhütte shortly before your hike and ask them about the conditions and whether it’s advisable to hike to them via Büllelejoch saddle. If there’s still a lot of snow, I would do an out-and-back hike to Büllelejochhütte from Val Fiscalina via Zsigmondy Hütte (Val Fiscalina Alta/Bacherntal). If conditions are favorable, you should ascend Valle Sasso Vecchio/Altensteintal to Rifugio Locatelli/Dreizinnenhütte and then continue over Büllelejoch saddle to Büllelejochhütte.
3. Early season hikes:
– Adolf Munkel Trail
– Alpe di Siusi – lots of possibilities
– Val Fiscalina valley walk (Bad Moos to Talschlusshütte)
– Prato Piazza to Monte Specie
– Seceda – Rifugio Firenze Circuit
– Passo Giau to Mondeval Plateau – should be doable
Have a great trip to the Dolomites,
Sabrina
Hi Sabrina..!! What an incredible blog on Dolomites, covering everything.. loved it.. I am going to Dolomites tomorrow and just read ur blog now.. as we are traveling with a one year old ,have booked 4 nights in Laion ( 30km from Bolzano).. we love photography and nature, and would prefer easy hikes with beautiful views.. could u please suggest places to visit near the region, we are open to another 3 nights in the region ( which area would you recommend) would highly appreciate your advise. Thank you
Hi,
Thank you for the kind feedback!
Early May is quite early in the season, so there will still be snow in the mountains.
I recommend hiking in Val di Funes (Santa Maddalena Trail or Adolf Munkel Trail) and finding some valley trails to hike like Vallunga/Langental.
Have a great trip!
Thank you for the informative post! My husband and I are trying to plan a trip with this 7 day road trip itinerary as a guide. I have a few questions I was wondering if anyone can help with.
We would be driving from Innsbruck, Austria into Italy. Do you have recommendations on how to do this? What car rental company have you used? Any to avoid? Any pointers on what to expect in terms of average cost for 7 days of the car? Is it a waste of time to have a rental car sit somewhere if we plan on doing hut-to-hut hiking for 3 nights? I saw the suggestion to consider buses but wasn’t sure how feasible this is.
Also, is it an available service to get our luggage transported to the next hut if we wanted to use day packs on the trails (I have heard some popular hiking destinations offer this). Or do most people leave their large pack at a hotel for a few days and then loop back to it after their hut-to-hut trekking is done?
Thanks so much for the info!
Hi Brittany,
You’re very welcome.
For various trips to the Dolomites, we’ve rented cars in Ljubljana, Bratislava, and Bolzano, using the booking platform Billiger Mietwagen (unfortunately only in German).
Car rentals are very expensive this summer.
There is no luggage transport service that I know of. When we did this hike, we only needed a day pack (sleeping bag liner, sleeping clothing, a few cosmetics, rain jacket, sandals for the hut). We usually leave our luggage in the hotel we stayed in before the trek (or the one we’ll stay in after the trek).
If you decide to travel in the Dolomites without a car, it’s possible, but requires more planning (researching bus time tables).
You can take a train from Innsbruck to Bolzano and then take a bus from Bolzano to Ortisei, Val Gardena. I would stay in Ortisei 3 nights.
And then, it’s possible to travel to Cortina via Corvara, Alta Badia (Cortina Express Bus). Use the Rome2rio website to figure out the bus connections. Not all Dolomites bus lines are synced with Google Maps.
Have a great trip!
Sabrina
Love all your tips. Visited the Dolomites a few years ago and fell in love with the area especially the Alpe di Siusi area and Puez, Odle hikes. Headed to Austria for 9 days and I am having a hard time finding similar hikes with that kind of scenery and debating whether or not to just head in this direction from Vienna instead or give Austria a chance. I know you have been to both so looking for some experienced advice.
Thank you,
Nadine
Hi Nadine,
Austria is spectacular for hiking. Check out Hiking Destinations in the Austrian Alps for an overview. I think you would like:
1. Drachensee Hike, Tyrol
2. Wilder Kaiser range, Tyrol
3. Grosser Ahornboden in the Karwendel range, Tyrol
4. The Dachstein range. See this 5 huts trail.
5. Lech am Arlberg in Vorarlberg.
Have fun!
Sabrina
Thanks for the intinerary. We will be heading over there in a few days for 3 weeks, but still haven’t really figured out our route yet. With seemingly so many beautiful areas and so much information online I have to say it is a little daunting. This itinerary certainly helps, we’ll try to follow parts of it!
Cheers
Hi, Thank you for your information. It helps me a lot!!
We are going to travel Dolomites around June next year.
May I ask when will the accommodation in June be open for booking at the earliest?
Cause i check the booking.com website, it is not available for the room at May-June.
Hi,
You can book now for next summer. Sometimes, accommodations have a minimum stay. So, if you’re trying to book for only 1 or 2 nights, the platform blocks you. Also, many hotels are still closed in May and don’t open up until June.
-Sabrina
Love your IG posts and your website. The latter has been very useful in planning our trip to the Dolomites next September.
We have 7 nights there and based on your suggested itinerary (excluding the 3 day hut to hut hike), I am thinking of staying in Val de Funes, Ortisei and Cortina d’Ampezzo (in that order). If we want to visit Lake Braies, could we easily drive there from Cortina d’Ampezzo without having to stay in Braies?
Hi Michele,
Thank you for reading our blog! Yes, definitely. It’s a 50-minute drive from Cortina to Lake Braies. Between July 10 and September 10, there are road restrictions in Braies Valley. It’s all explained in our Lake Braies guide.
Kindly,
Sabrina
Hi Sabrina,
We are planing to go in July and we are driving with a campervan. Can you suggest us some places or recommend where to park for the campervan in the dolomities. We wann to stay in Alta Badia, near Lake Braise, to hike the Tre crime, and in Cortina dAmpezzo, Val di Funes.
Hi Sada,
We’ve listed out the official campgrounds in the Dolomites in our Dolomites Accommodation Guide.
Have a great trip!
Sabrina
Thank you for this guide, it is incredible. I am trying to decide whether I should rent a car or complete the dolomites with public transportation. My anticipated route is to start in Cortina (taking a shuttle bus from Marco Polo Airport), then make my way from Alta Badia to Val Gardena and Val Di Funes. My goal is to end on the other side because my next destination is Lake Como. Let me know if I’m better off renting a car, or using public transport. I am traveling solo.
Hi Blake,
It’s difficult to navigate from Cortina to Alta Badia/Val Gardena without a car, because the transit systems of South Tyrol are not coordinated/connected to those of Belluno/Veneto. You can travel from Cortina to Alta Pusteria (there’s a bus) and then take a series of train around the Dolomites to Val Gardena. Ultimately, a car will be easier and more efficient.
All the best,
Sabrina
Hi Sabrina,
This post and all your resources around the Dolomites are absolutely phenomenal and so robust. Two questions for you, if I can ask:
1) I was wondering if you’d still recommend this itinerary backwards? We are hoping to fly from the US to Venice, complete this itinerary, and continue on to Verona before cutting over to Como (fly out of Milan). It seems more “efficient” to do it this way versus backtracking, but also noticed the drive from the start to end (straight through) is only about 45 minutes, so not a huge deal.
2) Can likely answer on my own through further research, but in your opinion would it be feasible to train to Cortina de Amprezzo, pick up a rental car there to use for the 7 days, drop it off in Bolzano, and then train to Verona?
Thank you!
PS — love your blog and IG so much. Used it exclusively to plan our trip to Austria last year!
Hi Meryl,
Thank you so much for reading our blog and using it to plan your trips.
1. Of course you can reverse the route.
Note: the drive from Sexten – Cortina d’Ampezzo – Pordoi Pass – Sella Pass – Ortisei (Val Gardena) is 3 hours. Allow more time for breaks.
2. There is no train line to Cortina d’Ampezzo, but several bus/shuttle lines linking Venice with Cortina. Read our How to Get to the Dolomites for more info.
I don’t know of any car rental company that operates out of Cortina. So, it’s best to secure your car rental in Venice. You may be able to drop off the car in Bolzano and continue to Verona by train.
All the best,
Sabrina
Hi,
Thanks for putting together this road trip plan!
I’m also planning a road trip this summer.
Where did you guys rent the car? Do you have any recommendations?
Thanks a lot!
Hi Anne,
We’ve visited the Dolomites 12 times with and without a car. For our road trips to the Dolomites, we’ve rented cars in Bolzano (Italy), Vienna (Austria), Munich (Germany), and even Bratislava (Slovakia). If you use the Discover Cars platform, it’s easy to compare prices.
Tip: If you rent a car outside of Italy and drive into Italy, you will have to pay a cross-border fee. That fee varies between providers. Sometimes, we’ve paid a fixed fee for the whole trip (e.g. 30 EUR per country, or 30 EUR per select countries), but other times, the fee is per day (which can add up).
Have fun planning your trip,
Sabrina