The Italian Dolomites are not only one of the most beautiful places in Italy but they are one of the most stunning mountain destinations in the whole world.
Jagged peaks, breathtaking viewpoints, emerald alpine lakes, fairy tale towns, amazing hikes, and delicious food – you can have it all in the Dolomites!
This 5 days long Dolomites road trip itinerary will be perfect for you if you want to discover all the beauty the Italian Dolomites have to offer in a short period of time.
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Table of Contents
Useful Info for Visiting the Dolomites
How to get to the Dolomites
Although the Dolomites are undoubtedly one of the most beautiful dream destinations in the world, getting there is a little bit tricky as there is no dedicated airport in the area.
Since this Dolomites road trip itinerary will require you to have your own car, if you’re planning to arrive from a nearby country it’s best to take your own car and drive to the Dolomites from your home.
We personally arrived from Budapest and even if it was a 9-hour drive it was much better (and cheaper) to have our own car.
If this is not an option for you, there are many airports in the region to choose from. If you’re looking for a bigger international airport, the best option is to arrive at the Marco Polo Airport in Venice, from there you can reach Ortisei (the first base on this Dolomites road trip itinerary) within 3-3.5 hours.
Another great option is the Orio Al Serio Airport in Bergamo or the Malpensa Airport in Milan, it takes 3 hours to get to Ortisei from Bergamo and 4 hours from Milan. If you’re planning to go on a big Northern Italy road trip, you can easily visit all these places in one trip!
Munich Airport in Germany can be another great option, it takes around 3.5-4 hours to reach Ortisei from Munich. If you have more time you can include a few stops in Tyrol and Bavaria as well, like visiting the Neuschwanstein Castle!
The disadvantage of arriving at Munich is that you need to cross the German-Austrian and the Austrian-Italian border in order to get to the Dolomites and with a rental car it’s not the easiest thing to do.
There are a couple of other smaller airports in the area, like Treviso Airport, Valerio Catullo Airport in Verona, or Bolzano Airport so it’s worth taking a look at them as well.
No matter which airport you arrive at, you will need to rent a car for your Dolomites road trip. I recommend Discover Cars to check the best offers and availability!
Best time to visit the Dolomites
The best time to visit the Dolomites entirely depends on your personal preferences. Although each season has its own charm, for the sake of this Dolomites road trip itinerary I recommend visiting the Dolomites from the end of May until the end of September.
The simple reason is that before or after this the mountains are usually covered with snow and many hiking trails are not accessible anymore. Don’t get me wrong, visiting the Dolomites in winter is still a great idea, just not so much for a road trip!
If you want to avoid the crowds, the best is to visit either in early June or the middle of September. We personally visited in the middle of September and we had the best weather, but of course, it can change from year to year.
All the photos you can see in this article were taken in the middle of September so you can have an idea about what the area looks like around this time.
How much time to spend in the Dolomites
As much as you can! Seriously, the whole area is so gorgeous that you will not believe your own eyes.
As a first-timer, I recommend spending at least 4-5 days in the Dolomites. This will give you enough time to visit the must-see sights such as Alpe di Siusi, Lago di Braies or Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
There are countless amazing hikes in the Dolomites so if you’re an outdoor person and you love hikes, you can even spend weeks in the Dolomites without getting bored.
I’d say the perfect amount of time would be between 1 or 2 weeks but I understand that not everyone has that much time for a mountain vacation.
That’s why I created this 5 day Dolomites road trip itinerary so you could visit all the best places in the Dolomites in just a short period of time.
Overview of Your 5 Day Dolomites Itinerary
Below you can see an overview of your Dolomites itinerary with the highlights that you should visit on each day. For the first two nights, you will stay in Ortisei and you’re going to visit Lago di Carezza, Val di Funes, Alpe di Siusi, and the Seceda ridgeline.
La Villa or Cortina d’Ampezzo will be your base for the second part of your Dolomites road trip, from where you can visit some amazing alpine lakes such as Lago di Braies and Lago di Limides and you can also visit Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
Breakdown of your Dolomites itinerary
- Day 1: Visiting Lago di Carezza and arriving to Ortisei
- Day 2: Visiting the Santa Maddalena church and the church of Saint John in Val di Funes, seeing the sunset in Alpe di Siusi
- Day 3: Hiking at the Seceda ridgeline, driving through Passo Gardena, and arriving at La Villa or Cortina d’Ampezzo
- Day 4: Renting a boat at Lago di Braies, hiking to Lago di Limides and visiting Lago di Valparola
- Day 5: Hiking around Tre Cime di Lavaredo, hiking to Cadini di Misurina
Map for your Dolomites road trip
Below you can find a customized map that includes all the locations you will need for this Dolomites itinerary. Nearby airports, parking spots, interesting sights, viewpoints, literally everything!
If you open up this post on your phone and you click on the bracket in the upper right corner of the map, it will open up in your Google Maps app so you can always have it with you.
Day 1 of Your Dolomites Road Trip
The first day of your Dolomites road trip itinerary is all about arriving at the Dolomites and settling in your chosen accommodation in Ortisei/St. Ulrich, which is going to be your base for the next few days.
Fun fact: Did you know that there are three official languages spoken in the Dolomites? That’s the reason why you see multiple names for one place!
Usually, every place has a name in Italian and in German (even on the road signs and maps), and sometimes in Ladin. That’s why you will see names like Ortisei/St. Ulrich, Alpe di Siusi/Seiser Alm, Lago di Braies/Pragser Wildsee and so on. But back to the main topic!
If you’re planning to arrive in Italy by plane, it can take you anywhere from 1.5 hours to 4 hours to get to the Dolomites, depending on which airport you arrive at. However, if you’re driving from another European country, such as Germany or Austria, it might take you even longer to arrive at the Dolomites.
For more details about how to get to the Dolomites, please refer back to the beginning of the article!
Since you can arrive early in the morning or late in the afternoon, for the sake of this Dolomites itinerary we’re gonna take the first day easy and you will only have one stop before arriving at your hotel.
Of course, if you have more time, feel free to add some additional stops to the first day of your Dolomites road trip itinerary!
Lago di Carezza
Instead of heading straight to your hotel in Ortisei/St. Ulrich, first make a stop at Lago di Carezza/Karersee!
If you’re coming from either Venice or Bergamo, it’s only an extra 30 minutes (23 km) to get to the lake but if you’re coming from Innsbruck or Munich, you will need to drive an extra hour (45 km) to arrive at Lago di Carezza.
Nestled in the Val d’Ega valley, Lago di Carezza is often referred to as the ‘Rainbow Lake’ thanks to its impressive colors. Legend has it that once upon a time, there was a beautiful mermaid living the lake with whom a wizard deeply fall in love but the mermaid was impossible to win over.
In order to seduce her, with the help of a local witch, the wizard came up with a plan to throw a rainbow from the mountains to the lake and disguise himself as a jewelry salesman.
The wizard indeed stretched a rainbow but he forgot to dress up so the mermaid immediately recognized him and disappeared into the water forever.
The wizard got so angry that he ended up smashing the rainbow into million pieces and throwing it into the lake, where they still continue to shine to this day. Interesting story, right?
Rainbow colors or not, the emerald green alpine lake is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful lakes in the Dolomites and since it’s easily accessible, it’s a must-stop on everyone’s Dolomites itinerary.
There is a parking lot close to the lake where you can leave the car and then walk a few minutes to get to the lake. Parking is free for the first 15 minutes, then it’s €1 for 1 hour, €2 for 2 hours, and €4 for 6 hours.
There is a wooden viewing platform at the entrance of the lake where you can also learn more about the history of the lake, such as the destructive storm that struck in 2018, destroying more than 5,000 hectares of forest just in the South Tyrol region alone.
After that you can walk along the loop trail that goes around the lake, it takes around 20-25 minutes to complete it.
Although it’s undoubtedly one of the best photography spots in the Dolomites, it’s important to know that the whole lake is fenced off and it’s not possible to get close to the water.
That being said, I still keep seeing many photos on Instagram where people are standing or sitting on a rock, right by the lake.
Please be respectful and don’t break the rules just for the sake of a photo, you can take amazing photos by staying out of the fenced area as well!
Arriving to Ortisei
After visiting Lago di Carezza and taking a million photos of the beautiful scenery, it’s time to head to Ortisei/St. Ulrich that will be your base for the following days. From Lago di Carezza, it takes around 1 hour (55 km) to reach Ortisei at a normal pace.
Located right in the center of Dolomites Val Gardena, the charming little town of Ortisei is mostly famous for its hand-made wooden sculptures. The local woodcarver families kept the tradition alive to this very day!
Ortisei is one of the best places to stay in the Dolomites and hence very popular among travelers, thanks to being super close to the Seceda ridgeline and Alpe di Siusi/Seiser Alm. More about them later!
If you have some more time on the first day of your Dolomites road trip, it’s worth taking a stroll in the town and seeing the traditional hotels and gorgeous residential buildings.
A must-visit place is the pedestrian area between the chapel of Saint Ulrich and the Antonius Church which is often described as the most beautiful shopping street in the Dolomites.
In order to follow this Dolomites road trip itinerary, I recommend spending your first 2 nights in Ortisei. We personally stayed at Hotel Angelo Engel which is a 4-star family-run hotel with a large private garden, an indoor and outdoor pool, and an excellent SPA & beauty farm (pictured below).
We had an amazing time there and I can totally recommend this hotel for anyone! You can check the prices and availability here.
If you’re looking for something else or there is no availability at the hotel on your preferred dates, you can find some more recommendations below.
Luxury: Adler Spa Resort Dolomiti | Alpin Garden Luxury Maison
Mid-range: Hotel Pinei | Apartments Villa Venezia Luxury
Budget: Villa Moroder | Sule Hof Agriturismo
Day 2 of Your Dolomites Road Trip
Santa Maddalena church
On the second day of your Dolomites road trip head over to Val di Funes in the morning where you can visit two of the most beautiful churches in the Dolomites.
It takes around 45 minutes (35 km) to reach the town of Santa Maddalena from Ortisei and the first church of your day will be the Santa Maddalena church.
This picturesque little church with the Odle mountains in the background is the symbol of Val di Funes and it’s one of the most photographed places in the entire Dolomites.
It’s important to know that you can’t drive up to the church so you need to park your car in the center of the town. There are multiple parking spots in the city, I marked them on the map I shared at the beginning of the article so please refer back for the exact locations!
In order to get to the famous viewpoint, you need to hike for around 20 minutes but it’s a very easy hike, basically, you just need to walk up to the hill across the church.
Search for ‘Panchina Panoramica‘ on Google Maps and I’m sure you will find it easily! After that you can visit the church inside if you want, it’s open daily and it features a beautiful Baroque style altar and interesting wall paintings.
Church of St. John in Ranui
The second church of the day is the church of St. John in Ranui, which is another small little Baroque church with an insanely beautiful background.
It takes around 30 minutes to reach it from Santa Maddalena on foot, but if you’re feeling lazy you can go back to your car first and park in a closer parking spot from where you only need to walk 5-10 minutes to get to the church.
There is a built wooden viewing platform close to the parking lot and it’s an amazing place to take photos of the church with the mountains in the background.
The church itself can be also visited for €4 per person and it can be booked for small events and weddings as well.
Sunset at Alpe di Siusi
After visiting the two churches in Val di Funes it’s time to head over to probably the most famous place in the Dolomites: Alpe di Siusi/Seiser Alm!
It’s important to know that driving there is strictly prohibited and if you don’t want to get fined hundreds of euros, you need to follow the rules.
Alpe di Siusi is the largest mountain plateau in Europe and it grants amazing views over the peaks of Sasso Lungo, Sasso Piatto, and Sciliar. It’s a must-visit on every Dolomites road trip itinerary!
You have basically three options for getting there. You can book a hotel for the night, in this case, you are allowed to drive up in your car but only until you reach your hotel (no further) and you can only do it once on the day you arrive.
There are only a handful of hotels at Alpe di Siusi, these two are the closest ones to the famous viewpoint (pictured below): Hotel Icaro***S and Sporthotel Sonne.
From Ortisei you can take a cable car to get up to Alpe di Siusi, a one-way ticket costs €16.90 while a round-trip ticket costs €24.90.
The cable car runs from 8.30 am usually till 6 pm which is great if you want to visit during the day, but unfortunately, it’s not good for sunrise or sunset visits. The opening hours vary depending on the season, you can check the exact timetable on their official website.
If you want to visit for sunrise or sunset, the best thing you can do is to drive up to Compatsch and leave your car at the P2 parking lot (I marked it on the map that you can find at the beginning of the article).
You can’t drive up on the road between 9 am and 5 pm without getting a big fat check but if you go earlier or later it’s going to be fine.
After you left the car in the parking lot, you need to hike for around 1 hour to get to the famous viewpoint (pictured above).
I marked the coordinates on the map at the beginning of the article but if you search for ‘Belvedere dell’ Alpe di Siusi‘ on Google Maps you will also find it. The hike is super easy, it’s mostly flat and the views along the way are simply breathtaking.
If you have a little extra time before sunset, before reaching the viewpoint turn right and hike down to the ‘Malga Sanon‘ restaurant.
You will find a tiny playground in front of the restaurant with a swing, it’s so much fun to take photos there, not to mention the insanely gorgeous background!
Day 3 of Your Dolomites Road Trip
Since this is already the third day of your Dolomites road trip itinerary, you will need to check out from your hotel in Ortisei and move to another one either in La Villa or Cortina d’Ampezzo (more about this later).
But before that, it’s time to go up to the Seceda ridgeline and do a little hiking there!
Since the cable cars run from Ortisei, it’s best to check out from your hotel in the morning, leave your luggage in the car and go up to Seceda. After you’re done with the hike, you will still have time to drive to your other hotel and check out Passo Gardena on the way.
Hiking at Seceda
As I mentioned, the cable cars going up to Seceda run from Ortisei. In case you can’t leave your car at the parking of the hotel after you’ve checked out, there is a big parking lot at the cable car station as well.
A round-trip ticket for the cable car costs €39,50 per person and it operates between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm.
Located in the Puez Odle Nature Park, Seceda has one of the most dramatic ridgelines in the Dolomites with jagged peaks and huge drop-offs.
Once you’re up there, there are countless hiking trails and it only depends on your preference which one you take. If you have time, you can even hike all the way down to Ortisei as well!
Whichever you choose, walking along the ridgeline is a must when visiting Seceda. After you’ve arrived with the cable car, turn left and start walking uphill! There is even a sign on the road pointing to the viewpoint, you simply can’t miss it.
If you’re not much of a hiker, you can go back to the cable car station after you soaked in all the views, but if you’re up for a little exercise, you can hike down to the meadow to Baita Troier Hütte (they have amazing apple pies!).
From there you can either continue your hike to Pieralongia (twin spires – they kinda look like the rocks from Lion King) and then Rifugio Firenze, or you can just go back to the cable car station. Totally up to you!
Passo Gardena
Passo Gardena (Gardena Pass) is a super scenic mountain pass connecting Val Gardena with Val Badia.
Since you’re going to drive in the direction of La Villa/Cortina d’Ampezzo from Ortisei, you will drive through it anyway and since you’re already there, it’s worth stopping for a few minutes to soak in the views.
There is a small hütte called Rifugio Frara where you can park your car and from there you can walk up to the viewpoint (it only takes a few minutes to reach it).
Actually, this is a start of an 11.5 km long like but since it’s a very difficult hike, I wouldn’t recommend it to first-timers (we didn’t do it either).
It’s worth scheduling your arrival to Passo Gardena half an hour before sunset, this way you will be able to see the scenery during golden hour, which is super beautiful!
Arriving to La Villa or Cortina d’Ampezzo
For the second half of your Dolomites road trip itinerary, I recommend staying at another hotel either in La Villa, Cortina d’Ampezzo, or one of the nearby towns.
The simple reason is that the places you’re going to visit on the rest of your Dolomites trip are too far away from Ortisei and it doesn’t make sense to stay there and drive countless hours to reach these sights.
Although Cortina d’Ampezzo is the most popular choice among travelers, we decided to stay at Hotel La Majun in La Villa/Stern and absolutely loved the hotel!
It’s a 4-star family-operated hotel and what makes it even more special is that the owners actually live in the hotel and their mission is to make you feel at home too.
The hospitality was exceptional and the panoramic view from the hotel is simply breathtaking (pictured below). You can check the prices and availability here.
If you’re looking for something else or there is no availability at the hotel on your preferred dates, you can find some more recommendations below, both for La Villa and Cortina d’Ampezzo.
BEST PLACES TO STAY IN LA VILLA
Luxury: Hotel Cristallo – Wellness Mountain Living | Dolomites Wellness Hotel Savoy
Mid-range: Boutique Hotel Dolomit | Hotel Des Alpes
Budget: Casa Nives | Garni La Ciasota
BEST PLACES TO STAY IN CORTINA D’AMPEZZO
Luxury: Rosapetra SPA Resort | Dolomiti Lodge Alverà
Mid-range: Boutique Hotel Villa Blu Cortina | Hotel Villa Alpina ***S
Budget: Hotel Meuble Oasi | Ciasa Nonna Bon Bon
Day 4 of Your Dolomites Road Trip
Lago di Braies
Start the fourth day of your Dolomites road trip itinerary by visiting the most famous lake in the Dolomites: Lago di Braies/Pragser Wildsee. It’s a very picturesque alpine-like with turquoise-green colored waters and a beautiful mountain panorama.
It’s the perfect place for nature lovers and hikers but unfortunately due to its fame it usually gets insanely crowded during the day so try to plan an early morning visit to be able to enjoy the lake by yourself.
It takes around 1 hour 10 minutes (60 km) to get to Lago di Braies from La Villa, while it’s only 50 minutes (46 km) from Cortina d’Ampezzo.
There are 3 different parking lots close to the lake and although they are big, they can fill up really quickly (especially the closest one) so I can’t stress enough how important it is to get to the lake early.
Chances are that around 9-10 am you will not be able to find a free parking spot at all!
The best things to do at Lago di Braies include renting a rowboat from the boathouse and slowly paddling across the turquoise water and then walking around the lake which takes around 1-2 hours (the distance is 4 km).
The boathouse is open between 8 am – 7 pm pm in July and August, while it’s only open from 9 am to 5 pm between the end of May and the end of June. It opens at 10 am from the beginning of September until the beginning of November. A boat rental costs €25 for 30 minutes and €35 for 60 minutes, reservation in advance is not possible.
What you need to know about photography at the lake
I’m sure you’ve already seen many photos on Instagram, mostly where people are standing on a little pier, surrounded by wooden boats and a stunning reflection on the lake.
What most people don’t disclose is that the pier belongs to a private boathouse and you can’t access it unless you rent the pier for a photoshoot or rent a boat from the boathouse when they are open.
The boat rental only starts later in the day so even if you rent a boat, you will not be able to shoot a picture with reflections and a calm lake. Not to mention that people will be already lining up behind you and you will not have the time to take many photos.
So if you desperately want to have a similar picture (you can see an example here), your only option is to rent the pier for a morning photo shoot. It costs €150 for one hour, you can find more information about the rental here.
That being said, I’ve heard stories that many people choose to trespass early in the morning when the boathouse is still closed. But in order to do that, you need to wade through the ice-cold water and then climb onto one of the boats, and then jump from boat to boat until you reach the pier.
Yes, I know, this sounds super crazy and it’s clearly not an example to be followed (please don’t do stupid and illegal stuff like this for a photo).
If you don’t want to rent the pier, you can still get a photo of it if you rent a boat. It won’t be so perfect like the photos you see on Instagram but it’s still beautiful! And this way you can shoot some pictures in the boat as well (see my pictures below).
Lago di Limides
In the afternoon head over to Lago di Limides, which is one of the best hidden gems in the Dolomites. It’s a super picturesque little lake with insane panoramic views and reflections of the surrounding mountains (Mount Lagazuoi and Tofana di Rozes).
I still don’t understand why is it so overlooked by visitors but it just adds to its charm and you can basically have the lake all to yourself in the middle of the day!
In order to reach Lago di Limides, you need to drive to Rifugio Col Gallina and leave your car in the parking lot across the street.
It takes around 1 hour 15 minutes (62 km) to get there from Lago di Braies and the road goes through Cortina d’Ampezzo so if you’re not staying there and want to check out the town, you can include a short stop there.
After you park your car, you need to hike for around 25-30 minutes to reach the lake. Don’t worry, it’s a fairly easy hike (the distance is around 2 km) but the trails are not the best and you basically need to hike uphill almost all the way so wear proper shoes!
It can get slippery and muddy after rain so it’s best to visit when the weather is dry and it hasn’t rained in the last couple of days.
Lago di Valparola
The last stop of the day will be Lago di Valparola, which is a tiny alpine lake located on the top of Passo Valparola (Valparola Pass), not so far away from Rifugio Col Gallina (where you parked the car before going to Lago di Limides).
It’s like a 5-minute drive (3 km) in the direction of La Villa so if you’re staying there, you’re going to drive by it anyway.
There are parking lots on both ends of the lake where you can leave your car to check out the lake and the surrounding panorama.
The lake is visible from the main road but it’s also easily accessible from the road, it takes around 5 minutes to reach it by taking path nr. 24 that goes down to the lake.
Day 5 of Your Dolomites Road Trip
Hiking around Tre Cime di Lavaredo
The Tre Cime de Lavaredo loop hike is one of the best hikes in the Dolomites and no Dolomites itinerary is really complete without seeing the iconic three peaks.
The entire loop is around 10 km (6.5 miles) and since it’s a fairly easy hike, it’s accessible to almost everyone.
Usually, it takes around 3-4 hours to complete the loop, we personally did it in 3.5 hours with a few photo stops (half an hour break at Dreizinnenhütte is not included).
The hike starts and finishes at Rifugio Auronzo, where you can find multiple parking lots (you can even spend the night there in a camper). Unfortunately, there is only one road leading up to Rifugio Auronzo and since it’s a private road, you need to pay €30 to use it with a normal car.
Try to go early in the morning because later on when the parking lot is full they can close the road and you will have no other option to get up there (apart from a quite strenuous hike).
It takes around 1.5 hours (55 km/35 miles) to get to Rifugio Auronzo from La Villa and 40 minutes (22 km/14 miles) from Cortina d’Ampezzo.
It’s a very straightforward hike, you can’t really go in the wrong direction. The best is to do the hike counterclockwise and start by walking in the direction of Rifugio Lavaredo.
This part is the easiest one as it’s mostly flat, after that you will need to walk uphill so it gets a little more difficult.
The next checkpoint is the Dreizinnenhütte (Rifugio A. Locatelli) where you can find two lakes and a couple of caves as well.
The hardest part comes after this, as you need to descend to the valley, just to walk up on a hill again. It’s still not a hard trail but due to the elevation gain, it’s a bit more difficult.
The last checkpoint is Malga Langalm, after that the route heads uphill again, and not long after you will already see Rifugio Auronzo, from where you started the hike.
All in all, completing the Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike is a must on every Dolomites road trip itinerary! It’s a fairly popular hike due to the insane views so it usually gets busy during the day so try to arrive early in the morning to avoid the crowds.
If you want to know more about the trails, check out my step-by-step guide about the Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike!
Hiking to Cadini di Misurina
If you have some energy left after completing the Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop hike, I would recommend adding an extra hike to your day.
There is an insanely beautiful viewpoint along the Cadini di Misurina hiking trail and it would be such a shame for leaving it out of this Dolomites road trip itinerary!
Hiking to Cadini di Misurina is one of the lesser-known hikes in the Dolomites and not many people know about it, therefore it’s less crowded than the Tre Cime di Lavaredo trail.
They have the same starting point from Rifugio Auronzo so it makes sense to do both in one day (you’ve already paid the €30 toll fee after all) but if you want to do the Cadini di Misurina hike, you will have to hike in the opposite direction of Tre Cime.
It takes around 35-45 minutes to get to the viewpoint, depending on your fitness level. It’s only a 2 km (1.2 miles) hike from Rifugio Auronzo but it’s a bit steep (112 m/370 ft elevation gain) and it’s important to know that this hike is not suitable for people with a fear of heights.
If you want to know how to get to the viewpoint pictured above, read my step-by-step guide about the Cadini di Misurina hike!
Please only climb to the viewpoint at your own risk and don’t even think about doing it if the trail is muddy or wet. If you slip and fall from there you can hurt yourself pretty badly so please be super careful!
Planning a trip to the Dolomites?
Then you might want to take a look at all our other travel guides about the Dolomites. I promise, they are just as awesome as this article was!
- Where to Stay in the Dolomites: Best Areas & Hotels
- The Perfect Dolomites Road Trip Itinerary for 5 Days
- 11 Most Beautiful Lakes in the Dolomites You Can’t Miss
- 13 Best Hikes in the Dolomites You Don’t Want to Miss
- Tre Cime di Lavaredo Hike: All You Need to Know Before Visiting
- Cadini di Misurina Hike: How to Find the Famous Viewpoint in the Dolomites
- Hotel Review: Chalet Al Foss Alp Resort, Italy
- Hotel Review: La Maiena Meran Resort, Italy
Other Great Destinations in Italy: Cinque Terre | Florence | Lake Como | Lake Garda | Rome | Venice
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Seriously beautiful! We love a good road trip. I’ve only visited the Dolomites in the winter for skiing. Looks like a trip to hike and view the lakes in early autumn is a good call.
Yes I can only recommend going to the Dolomites in late summer/early autumn, it was absolutely amazing! I would love to go back in winter to see the beautiful snowy landscape too.
great work, i love the pins, photography and the useful information here! I lived in Italy for a year and never made it to the Dolomites – now im kicking myself! I think its time to go back!
Oh wow a year in Italy sounds wonderful, I’m sure you’ve seen so many beautiful places there! But yeah next time when you go to Italy I would really recommend going on a road trip in the Dolomites ?
Absolutely love your photos! You know, the entire area of Dolomites is just so magical in any time of the year. We have visited last year in first days of November and the color palette was just incredible. Though chances of getting a day with good visibility are less. I am saving your post for the next time I am there, because I am sure it is one of those places I would want to come back to.
Thank you so much Lena! You are so right, the Dolomites are really beautiful in every season. I would love to see the autumn colors there or the snowy landscape next time I’m visiting!
It was such a great guide to read Kriszti! Loved all the detailed explanations and. your photos are stunning! I would love to visit this part of Italy, maybe next year!
Thank you so much Ophélie! I’m sure you would love a road trip in the Dolomites, the landscape is just so incredibly gorgeous!
Such a detailed ultimate guide Kriszti! And the photos are all absolutely wonderful, it only confimed how high the Dolomites are on my bucketlist! Thanks a lot for all the tips!
You are so welcome Léa! Hope you will be able to visit soon!
I can’t wait to visit the Dolomites. Hiking at Seceda is on top of my list. Apparently I’ve been to South Tyrol and the Dolomites area with my parents and grandparents a couple of times as a child but I can’t remember. I save this for later when I can travel there again ?
Haha I can totally relate, I can’t remember many things from my childhood either. I really hope you will be able to go there next year, it’s such a stunning area!
Wow what a comprehensive post! I’ve pinned this so I can return to it because there’s so much useful information
Thanks so much Kelsey!
Wow what a stunning and unique range! I had no idea you could do so much around the Dolomites!
I was quite surprised too because I didn’t think it either, but it turned out that even spending 5 days in the Dolomites was not enough! Can’t wait to go back and discover more of this amazing area.
I saw a youtube video in quarantine of the Dolomites and have moved it to the top of my bucketlist. This post confirms that! THE LAKES. Your photos are incredible, too. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you so much Carley, I’m so happy you liked this guide! And I can only agree with you, the Dolomites are just simply stunning!
We’ve usually gone to the French Alps for hiking but this has convinced me that the Dolomites are next on the list. They look even more serene and your pictures are stunning!
If you love the French Alps I’m sure you will love the Dolomites as well, especially if you like hiking! There are so many amazing hiking trails in the Dolomites with stunning scenery.
Dolomites has been added to the bucket list. Alpine lake reminds me of Emerald Lake in Yoho National Park – Canada. Many of my trips are decided by something bright, rainbow, or sparkly. PS – your skirts are absolutely adorable.
Thank you so much Chelsea! I would love to visit Canada and all the beautiful national parks in the country!
This is such a great guide Kriszti and I will definitely saving this for my next trip to the Dolomites! Last time I was in the Dolomites it rained the entire 4 days and there were major floods so I couldn’t actually see anything. I hope to go back soon though!
I’m so sorry you had such a bad weather in the Dolomites! Hopefully next time you’re visiting it will be sunny and clear!
WOW!!!! this doesn’t even look real….it looks like something just out of a fairy book tail. I have seen the Dolomites before, but your pictures are absolutely incredible!!! Pinned this to the top of my bucket list. Your article is super complete for anyone looking to visit this amazing place. Thank you!
Aww thank you so much Paula, you just totally made my day! I’m so so happy you liked this article!
This area looks absolutely stunning, I had never heard of this place before! Being in nature is one of the best things to do and I love being in the mountains, so I am adding this to my list of places to visit. Thanks for sharing!
You are welcome! Hope you will be able to do a road trip in the Dolomites soon, I’m sure you would love it!
Amazing! I would love to see St. John’s church. Great guide for a beautiful location!!
Thank you Erinn, I’m so glad you liked it!
The Dolomites are absolutely gorgeous and you’re photos are amazing! I’ve been to Italy 4x and have never been to this area. On my next trip to Italy I’d love to get out of the cities and take this road trip to get in some great hikes!
Thanks so much Vanessa! I can only recommend visiting the Dolomites on your next trip to Italy!
Gosh the Dolomites never get old. The photos are stunning. I need to visit ASAP!
Thank you so much Alanna! Hope you will be able to visit soon!
I loved reading your post! I visited the Dolomites once when I was a kid, but I think I was too young to fully appreciate them. Now that I’ve been seeing beautiful photos all summer long, I can’t wait to go back and explore the Dolomites all over again 🙂
I’m so glad you liked it Sara! The Dolomites are so stunning, I’m sure you will enjoy your trip there!
So. Beautiful! A friend of mine lives in Belgium currently and did a big trip out there just a month or so ago…the envy was real! Saving this one for later. Great post!
Oh I can totally imagine! I would love to go back for a longer time and explore more of the Dolomites!
The Dolomites are stunning, and your photos are amazing! Driving is definitely the best option, but there are full day tours that leave from Venice, if you don’t want to drive yourself.
Thanks for the info Shannon! Luckily we had our own car with us so we didn’t need to look for another options but it’s good to know that taking day tours is a possibility as well!
Thanks for sharing this itinary. Your photos are stunning. I cannot wait to visit the Dolomites!
Thank you so much Kelli, I’m glad you liked the article!
Great post. We are hoping to visit the Dolomites next year. This will be a helpful travel planner
Thank you, I’m so happy that you liked this post about the Dolomites! Hope you will be able to visit next year!
Thank you for your post. I am planning a trip to the Dolomites in mid-October, and noticed that most cable cars will not longer be operating. For the Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike, do we need to get a cable car up? Thanks!
Hi Kate! No, you don’t need any cable cars for Tre Cime di Lavaredo, you can drive all the way up to Rifugio Auronzo where the hike starts. Alternatively you can use the public buses if you don’t have a car. Hope you’re gonna have an amazing trip!!
Looks amazing! Nothing better than a mountain vacation. Thank you for sharing this.
We are looking to go the first week in October 2022. Some of the hotels you recommended close October 1,2, or 3. Others are open. We are kind of stuck with these dates, due to another commitment afterwards. SO, would you recommend we continue pursuing this trip. Or postpone until another year.
Hi! I think this Dolomites road trip works best from late spring to early autumn because in the winter period, lots of roads and hiking trails are closed, and also some hotels close for the season as well. That being said, if you can only go in the first week of October, I think you can still make the best of it! Just be prepared that you’ll most likely need to modify this itinerary. Oh and also, it might already snow during that period!
Hi- I stumbled on your blog …amazing ….my family of four ( two adults and two teens ) are planning a winter ski trip to the Dolomites. The possibilities seem endless…your site mostly touches on spring/summer activities there – any places you can recommend there for the winter ski season ?
Hi Shira! Unfortunately I’ve only been to the Dolomites during summer and fall so I don’t have any personal experience in the winter season. However, I’m sure you’ll find lots of opportunities in winter as well, especially if you love skiing or snowboarding!
Hi, is it possible to go in last week of May? Nice post! Thank you so much!
Yes, I think the end of May is one of the best times to visit the Dolomites.
We a family of 5, two 55-year-olds and three in their mid-20s will be visiting the Dolomites for 5 nights in July/August and would love to follow your itinerary. A few questions we would like to ask would be: – Are all the hikes mentioned in your itinerary doable for normal physical level fitness people? We are not hikers but can walk a long distance (without climbing steep hills). We will also be renting an SUV. Is driving in the Dolomites difficult? What should we be aware of and which part of driving in your itinerary is the most difficult? Last question, How much would the hotels you mentioned and car rental cost (average)?
Hey! Yes, all the hikes are totally doable. We’re not huge hikers either but I found most of the hikes pretty easy so I think you’ll be able to do them as well. There are some winding roads you need to be careful with but other than that, driving in the Dolomites is an amazing experience. I can’t remember any parts that were difficult to drive in. Unfortunately, I can’t really tell you much about the costs – we came with our own car so we didn’t do any rentals and hotels usually use dynamic pricing so it’s hard to stay how much it will cost without checking them individually. I linked the two hotels we stayed at so I would recommend checking their availability/price during your travel dates.
Thank you very much for an informative post about the Dolomites. This unique area in Italy has been on our bucket list for very long time and your post fuels our wanderlust to explore the Dolomites this autumn. Thank you dear and safe travels. Martina x x x
Thank you so much for your sweet comment! I’m so happy I was able to help 🙂
thanks for the detailed post and beautiful photos you had! may i check if is possible for us to drive directly in alpe di suisi area, from your map compatsch to malga sanon swing? Instead of walking for 1 hour. Thank you.
Sorry to miss out this, if I am not renting car, can I reach St. Magdalena/St. John church by bus? I checked google maps there is this option, just not sure how reliable is the public transport in Dolomites area. If not, any car rental company you are aware of that offers affordable rate? Thank you.
I’ve never tried public buses in the Dolomites so I’m afraid I don’t have any reliable information other than the one you gathered on Google. We took our own car to the Dolomites but in other cases, we always check car rental sites like RentalCars, DiscoverCars, etc. and choose the one that has the best ratings and rates in the area.
Hey! No, unfortunately, it’s not possible unless you have a hotel booked in the area. In this case, you are allowed to drive up but only to your hotel, not any further, and you also need to obtain a special permit from your hotel. This is valid on the first day of your arrival, on other days you still can’t drive up between 9 am and 5 pm.
Just wanted to thank you for all this information! Super easy to comprehend, detailed, and informative. My family and I just got back from the Dolomites where we primarily used your blog for our itinerary and it was a fantastic trip. Much appreciated.
Aww I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing it with me 🙂
Thank you, Kriszti. All helpful info as we plan our trip for March.
So happy to hear that! Hope you’ll have a great trip!
Thank you so much for this post! Do you know anyone that has been to the Dolomites in May? I would really like to spend time there in May but certain information I keep reading makes it sound like a lot is closed in the area then or hikes may not be doable.
Unfortunately not, we’ve been twice so far but both of it was in September. I think hikes should be absolutely doable in May already, the only ones I would really double-check are the ones that require a cable car ride to the trailhead but most don’t. I would love to go back in May too so let me know how it goes! 🙂
Hi Kriszti ,
Did you see Lake Misurina on your itinerary ?
On this trip we only drove by but on our second visit we spent a bit of time at the lake too, it was really beautiful!
i love your frank tips which really help put things in perspective when planning for a trip!
would you by chance have any more info re driving a german rental to the dolomites? e.g. would it be easy to find a rental firm that allows it (i’ve heard some allow with extra fees), as the major rental firms aren’t really clear on this on their websites nor their online rental contracts/selections.
i’m keen on combining a trip to bavaria with the dolomites, but have not been very confident in the planning process due to the lack of info for a multi country trip with a german rental. if logistics are too much of a hassale, i may have to split the places into separate trips or look at renting separate cars in the different countries!
Thanks so much for your nice comment, I really appreciate it! Unfortunately I don’t have any experience with rentals in the area as we always drove our own car from Hungary. Generally speaking, crossing the border with a rental is always a bit complicated but I’m pretty sure that there are some companies who allow this, maybe for an extra fee, so I think it’s best to contact them directly. Sorry that I couldn’t help more!