Cool Things To Do In The Dolomites: From Hiking to Flying

1. Hiking the most iconic trails

Hiking is definitely one of the most popular things to do in the Dolomites in summer, and it’s for a good reason. The scenery that you get to enjoy when on a hike is impossible to replicate – and so are the feelings.

And the feelings I’m talking about are not just the “oh dear, what have I done, my legs are killing me!”, but also the complete awe and the “wow, this can’t be real”.

One thing that I haven’t seen people talk about, though, is how the temperature can change in a split second. 

Yes, everyone and their mom tells you to pack layers, but that’s generally because a rainshower can surprise you at any time. The fact, though, that on our first trip the temperature during the hike was switching from “I’m gonna boil!” to “where’s my winter jacket?!” as soon as the sun hid behind a cloud (or a mountain) was definitely a surprise.

Anyways, as far as hikes go, these are some of the most iconic ones that everyone should experience at least in some capacity.a

Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike

Tre Cime was our first big hike in the Dolomites – the first one we did after moving to Italy together, in August, that is. We had only a vague idea of what we were getting into – we knew it’s gonna be awesome, though.

The circuit trail around the three peaks starts at Rifugio Auronzo, and there’s a toll road up to the parking lot. It’s on the pricey side, and you need a reservation in advance or you won’t get through. 

If you’re thinking “I’ll just take the bus!”, you also need a reservation if going from Dobbiaco with the shuttle. And not just for the way to the rifugio, but also the way back. And coming from Cortina is quite complicated, which still surprises me every time I talk about it.

For the hike, the hike to the first big viewpoint at Forcella Lavaredo from the parking lot is relatively short and easy. After Rifugio Locatelli, it gets harder – more elevation, more exposed, more rewarding.

The temperature at the rifugio even in August felt cold. Bring a warmer jacket with you when packing, not just the thin one you packed “just in case”, as the temperatures in the mountains can get weird.

One thing worth knowing: if you don’t want to pay for the toll road, there’s a roadside viewpoint between Cortina d’Ampezzo and Dobbiaco where you can see the three peaks clearly. It’s not the same as being up there, but it’s good – we used it in April when the toll road was closed.

Info: the parking is Rifugio Auronzo parking lot

👉Book a guided Tre Cime hike

Cadini di Misurina viewpoint

Remember Mordor from Lord of the Rings? The Dolomites have their own version – and it’s called Cadini di Misurina.

If we had to pick one hike for the best views-to-effort ratio in the entire Dolomites, Cadini di Misurina would win by a large margin. It takes only approximately 2h roundtrip and starts from the same parking lot as Tre Cime loop – Rifugio Auronzo, so you can actually do both of them together.

One thing to know: about halfway there’s a fork. The trail on the left is more exposed – a narrow path with a mountain wall on one side and a serious drop on the other. The views are better, but we watched people turn back because they were too scared to continue. 

The right branch is less exposed if heights are a concern. We recommend it on the way back, as from there, you can enjoy the views of Tre Cime easily.

When we hiked Cadini di Misurina, we were surprised by a rainshower. It wasn’t that great not just because it looked like a thunderstorm might come, but also because there was still snow and ice on the trail – the rain made it much more slippery. 

But we did get a rainbow as a reward, so that was nice.

Parking and trailhead: Rifugio Auronzo parking lot

Lago di Sorapis

The Lake Sorapis hike is moderate to hard, so you need to be in good shape for it. And it’s extremely popular, so expect crowds whenever you go.

And another thing to know is, that at times you need to do almost rock climbing and going up stairs. And you sometimes have to walk on just a narrow trail with a drop on one of your sides and a mountain wall on another.

So if you’re scared of heights, not exactly good for you.

Anyways, the whole hike, if you do it out and back, is just below 12km (7.2 miles), takes approximately 3-5 hours, and has a 460m elevation gain. There’s a loop option, too, which is longer and harder.

Parking and trailhead: close to hotel Passo Tre Croci, “Lago di Sorapis Hike Start point” on google maps.

👉Book a private guided Lake Sorapis hike now!

Cinema delle Odle (Adolf Munkel trail)

Cinema delle Odle was a non-negotiable for me on our July trip – as in, no matter what, I was gonna do it. 

And boy am I glad we managed! 

Because the weather wasn’t exactly cooperating on that trip – at one point, it snowed. In July. 

Anyways, the trail is not the hardest – Emma ran most of it, actually. But she was 6, so yeah. 

It also largely goes through a forest, which you’d think might get boring, but it really wasn’t. At points, you can see the Odle peaks through the trees, and just… wow. They look impressive. 

It’s quite a different feeling from the Eastern Dolomites.

There are a few huts along the way for food and drinks, including the Rifugio delle Odle where the “Cinema” is. And as a little treat, you might also encounter some horses and goats by the Dusler alm – just don’t touch them.

One practical note: there’s no phone signal on most of the trail so download the map before you go. 

Parking and trailhead: at Malga Zannes. Reservation recommended.

Short hikes

One of the biggest misconceptions about the Dolomites is that you need to be an extra-fit hiker to enjoy the best views. That’s just plain wrong.

As I already kind of showed with the Cadini di Misurina viewpoint hike before, you can go for short walk-ish hikes and still have amazing rewards.

So if you’re afraid that you won’t enjoy things because you can’t really hike – we have some rewarding walks for you.

2. Paraglide over the Dolomites

I’m genuinely terrified of heights – which is funny coming from a former flight attendant. Up to the very moment I was in the air, I couldn’t believe that I’m actually going tandem paragliding.

Flying. Without a plane.

And then I was up in the air, floating between the Dolomites and the rest of the Alps from Kronplatz, and it was one of the best things I’ve ever done. 

And I felt safe. Like in a cinema, actually.

The thing about tandem paragliding is that it’s nothing like falling through the air when you jump from an airplane with a parachute. You’re strapped to an experienced pilot, sitting in what feels like a comfy chair – it feels more like a very scenic chairlift, just… a bit more sideways.

My pilot Chris from TandemFlights Kronplatz had 15 years of experience and was actually born in the area. He even pointed out his house from the air!

And the pilots don’t really do anything that you’re not comfortable with. Chris asked me if I wanted to do a bit of acrobatics, and I agreed – because, well, why not? 

Kids can actually go too, which surprised me. They need to weigh at least 15kg, though. Emma was 5 at the time and desperately wanted to come, but we decided she wasn’t quite ready. She disagreed loudly. 

Now that she’s older, we’re planning to surprise her with a flight – probably somewhere in Val Gardena at this time, though. 

Practical notes: Flights can get cancelled if the weather is not good. And dress in clothes that you’d wear if you were going hiking.

👉 Book your paragliding experience in the Dolomites here

3. Or go ziplining!

IIf you’d like an adventure that is a bit less “flying” than paragliding, ziplining is the next best thing.

We’ve tried two very different ziplines in the Dolomites at this point – and they differ so much from each other.

The first one was the Cascate di Riva zipline in Campo Tures, Val Pusteria. The company is FlyLine Wasserfall – it’s a forest zipline right next to a series of waterfalls. 

You wind between trees, and at points, you genuinely feel like you’re about to go straight into one. At the very end, you cross over the torrent. 

It’s fast and it’s a little bit terrifying – you get to feel a bit of “danger” with this.

The other one was Monte Pana Zipline in Val Gardena – and that’s our favorite for now. 

It runs down from Mont de Seura to Monte Pana, and you reach speeds up to 100km/h (60mph)! The views are indescribable – the valley, the mountains, all in front of you.

All three of us went together – there’s a setup for that, even with a small child. It’s actually the better way to go if anyone in your group is on the lighter side – they get more speed this way.

Emma was so excited about the ziplining she spent the rest of the trip asking to go once more. 

Another one that’s on our list is the San Vigilio di Marebbe zipling in Val Badia, which is considered Europe’s Longest Zipline.

👉Book the Zipline Monte Pana right now!

4. Biking or e-biking

E-biking in the Dolomites is one of those things that we’d really like to try – it’s actually on our itinerary for this summer. Michal has gone biking (in Vallunga), but we want to try Alpe di Siusi. 

I’ve planned many bike trips on Alpe di Siusi for my itinerary clients, and all of them have been completely thrilled after their rides.

You might think – why not just go on a normal bike there? It’s kind of a meadow, isn’t it? 

And yes, it might seem so, and that’s also what I thought until I went snowboarding all over Alpe di Siusi. 

That place is hilly. It’s going up and down constantly. And it’s also huge – so you can cover a lot more ground on an ebike than hiking or normal biking.

Michal was also laughing that his legs feel really tired after winter hiking on the “meadow”.

Some other routes that seem really interesting and you might like to try:

• Val di Braies – around the lake Braies, up to Prato Piazza, and even all the way to Val Pusteria in general
• The Sellaronda E-bike tour – it follows the same iconic circuit as the winter Sella Ronda ski route which around the Sella Group 
• Dobbiaco to Lienz, Austria – also known as the Drau/Drava cycle path starts in Dobbiaco and follows a gently descending route all the way to Lienz in Austria – about 44km. Take the train back to save your legs for hiking or more biking – it’s cyclist-friendly.

5. Go chasing waterfalls!

I had seen quite a few waterfalls when driving through the Dolomites – you can see them from the car when driving – but I’d never thought about visiting them as an actual activity. You know, there are so many hikes in the Dolomites, who would go for waterfalls? 

That was until the trip with my friend in April, when we accidentally ended up at the Forra del Felizon near Cortina. 

The Forra del Felizon itself had barely a tickle, but there was a surprise waiting for us at the gorge – the river Boite showed us quite a waterfall.

Then on our June trip, we ziplined right next to Cascate di Riva in Campo Tures, and a few days later walked to Cascate del Pisciadu in Val Badia. We could also see so many tumbling down the Sella group.

June is great for waterfalls because of all the snowmelt.

Since then, I’ve been hooked. I want to find as many waterfalls in the Dolomites as possible.

• Cascate del Pisciadu in Colfosco, Alta Badia – an 80m waterfall falling through the crevices of the Sella group. Easy 3km return from Hotel Luianta, barely any crowds even in high season, and picnic tables right by the falls. Make it a loop by going to Val di Mezdi while you’re there – it adds maybe 30 minutes and is definitely worth it.
• Cascate di Riva in Campo Tures, Val Pusteria – the waterfalls we ziplined right next to with FlyLine Wasserfall. You first need to hike up to the launching platform, so you get to see all 3 waterfalls on the way. 
• Cascata del Lago di Dobbiaco – easy walk from Lake Dobbiaco, good for combining with the lake visit.

6. Admire the Odle/Geisler peaks from different sides

The Odle/Geisler Mountain group is located between the valleys of Val di Funes and Val Gardena, in the heart of the Puez-Odle Nature Park. It’s one of the most famous views of the Dolomites, so I’m sure you’ve seen it before.

There are actually more ways to enjoy these peaks, though!

From Santa Maddalena di Funes

You definitely know this view – a charming little church with impressive mountain peaks in the background.

It’s actually quite easy to reach the viewpoint for it – the hike is not that strenuous.

Park your car in the town of Santa Maddalena and follow the signs for the photo spot. It took Michal less than 30 minutes to go all the way and take pictures.

Don’t just stop at the Santa Maddalena church! The real viewpoint is a bit further away. If you go around the sunset time, you’ll definitely see a lot of photographers where the best viewpoint is.

From Cinema delle Odle

Adolf Munkel trail, part of which is the hike to Cinema delle Odle, is another one of the nicest hikes in the Dolomites.

I would describe it as an easy-to-moderately hard hike: Emma could do it, but altogether, it took some effort to finish.

The Adolf Munkel trail itself is a circuit hike starting at Parcheggio Zanes, but the Cinema delle Odle can also be done as a point-to-point.

During the hike, most of which is in the forest, you’ll get to see the Puez-Odle from different angles, and what is the most impressive, it will feel like you’re just under them.

With the church of San Giovanni in Ranui in the foreground

The small church of San Giovanni (St. John), surrounded by green meadows with the Odle/Geisler mountains in the background, might be one of the most photographed spots in the Dolomites.

there are parking spots almost by the photo spot for the church, as well as a bit further away. We chose the further parking, as it was cheaper, and then walked less than 10 minutes to get that picture.

7. Go to the largest high Alpine meadow in Europe – Alpe di Siusi

Alpe di Siusi – known as Seiser Alm in German – is the largest high-elevation Alpine meadow in Europe. It’s a very idyllic place, with rolling hills, cute little huts, and hotels that really work in the landscape, not against it. And of course, the Sassolungo group in the background.

The area of Alpe di Siusi is almost car-free, only allowing visitors who stay in the hotels to go there at specific times of the day. Day trippers are not allowed at all.

Even with all that, it’s easy to reach Alpe di Siusi with a cable car which leaves from Ortisei or Siusi or by bus.

We went by cable car and found it quite convenient – you go straight up to the mountains. There’s a café there with a view of the meadow and mountains. And the trailhead for the Alpe di Siusi Meadows Circuit trail is there, too.

Michal hiked the trail, while me and Emma did a bit of the hike and returned to the cafe next to the gondola station to have an apfelstrudel and cocoa with a view. It’s easily one of the most beautiful places that I have ever visited. One of my bucket list items is staying in the Adler Lodge in the Alpe di Siusi.

As with Seceda, check when the cable car runs on the website.

8. Visit the mountain passes to get great views of the valleys

One of our favorite activities in the Dolomites is enjoying the views from its multiple mountain passes. If you’re not up to hiking, this might be the best way to see the nicest views, actually.

And for hikers, many of the trails start at the mountain passes – luckily, there are usually parking lots available.

Here are some of the most beautiful ones:

Passo Giau (2236m)

Passo Giau is one of the most impressive mountain passes in the Dolomites. The main feature of it is the huge rocky cliff called Ra Gusela. This pass connects Selva di Cadore to Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Passo Gardena (2136m)

As the name suggests, on one side of the Gardena Pass there’s Val Gardena. On the other side there is Val Badia. The view that you get from Passo Gardena is incredible.

Funnily, we were planning to cross it on our way to Santa Cristina di Val Gardena, but while we were driving, a rock fall happened so we couldn’t. To get to our hotel – which was some 15 minutes from the top of Gardena pass -, we had to go back through Alta Badia, Bressaone, which took us more than an hour.

Passo Falzarego (2105m)

Funny thing – the first time we visited passo Falzarego, there was a thunderstorm covering everything and we actually had to drive through the storm cloud. Actually, scratch that “funny” – it was rather closer to “scary”! But luckily, when we visited it last time, the skies were sunny.

From Passo Falzarego, you can hike or take a cable car to rifugio Lagazuoi – do it, and hike the small hike towards the mountain top! The views are just magnificent.

But anyways, this pass connects the Cortina d’Ampezzo to the territory of Agordo. If you have time, go up the Lagazuoi cable car for some beautiful scenery.

Passo Sella (2218m)

I think passo Sella has one of the best views of the Italian Alps. We saw them in November covered in snow, and it was quite a magical view.

Sella pass connects Val Gardena in South Tyrol with Val di Fassa in Trentino Val Gardena in South Tyrol with Val di Fassa in Trentino.

Passo Pordoi (2239m)

Passo Pordoi is located between the Sella group in the north and the Marmolada group in the south and it connects Arabba and Canazei.

You can get some great views of Piz Boe and Marmolada from here. And the winding roads with little huts and mountains look very cute.

9. Explore the (numerous) valleys

Each valley in the Dolomites is beautiful in its own way. All of them have something similar, but at the same time unique!

Honestly, for each of the valleys, I wanted to write “this is the most beautiful one!” And that’s because each of them has something that is just incredible.

Val Pusteria

Val Pusteria encompasses some of the most famous views in the Dolomites. Here you’ll find, as an example, the Fanes-Senes-Braies (Fannes-Sennes-Prags) Nature Park where Lake Braies (Pragser Wildsee) and Tre Cime di Lavaredo are located.

Val Gardena

Honestly, one of the most beautiful valleys in the Dolomites. Here you’ll find easy access to Seceda, Alpe di Siusi, and a number (a big number) of hiking trails. Spend the day exploring the endless possibilities and in the evening, relax in a wellness and enjoy the incredible cuisine.

Val di Fassa

In Val di Fassa, you’ll find the Sella group, Sassolungo, and Catinaccio mountains, including Marmolada. And one of the most beautiful lakes in the Dolomites is here – the Carezza lake.

10. Marvel at the lakes

It wouldn’t be a trip to the Dolomites without checking out at least some of the lakes. There are many, many of them, all beautiful, and many of them easily accessible by car.

Lake Braies

The jewel of the Dolomites, lake Braies, also known as Lago di Braies or Pragser Wildsee is one of the most Instagram-famous lakes in the Dolomites. There’s a boathouse where you’ll definitely see a lot of people taking professional photos.

You can rent one of the boats to ride on the lake, do a hike around it (~4km/2.3 miles), or just enjoy the view from one of the restaurants.

There’s a hotel right on the lake where you can spend a night, even. The sunrise on lake Braies is beautiful.

Lake Dobbiaco

Although Lago di Braies is, arguably, the most famous lake in the Dolomites, my favourite one is Lake Dobbiaco near the town of the same name. Located just a few kilometres out of Dobbiaco, the lake is what I consider to be the perfect Alpine lake.

There’s a hotel there that’s on my bucket list – SkyView Chalets. It’s just as it sounds – chalets with a window on the ceiling where you can see stars (weather permitting) straight from your bed.

And there are multiple trails that you can walk, including to the Dobbiaco waterfall.

Lake Landro

Lago di Landro is part of the Three Peaks Nature park, and it’s honestly a hidden gem. Located just next to the road, not many people stop here and, honestly, they miss a nice view.

Emerald green in colour and with beautiful mountains, including the Cristallo group, surrounding it, you should definitely visit Lake Landro – especially since it doesn’t take any effort.

Lake Misurina

Lake Misurina is that famous lake with a huge building on the other side of it. There’s a parking lot next to it, as well as a number of restaurants and shops. And a hotel!

Lake Carezza

Lago di Carezza is called also the rainbow lake because of the colours of the water. It’s a small lake – there’s a trail around it which can be done in 20 minutes. Unless you go with a kiddo in winter – it took us more than an hour to get around it.

Lake Sorapis

Lago di Sorapis, as I mentioned already, requires quite a hike to reach it, but if you’re in the right physical shape, believe me, it’s worth it.

A milky-blue lake with mountains all around it?

Yes, please!

On the way, there’s a rifugio where you can spend a night or just have a drink or lunch. But we recommend packing a picnic – it’s so great to have a picnic in a beautiful location!

11. Wander through the cute little towns

There are a lot of cute little towns in the Dolomites that you can explore!

Some of our favourites are Cortina d’Ampezzo, Ortisei, Santa Cristina di Val Gardena, and Dobbiaco.

These small towns encompass the mountain spirit – they have cobblestone streets, beautiful churches, and the typical houses with wooden balconies and flower boxes. We’re more nature people than town/city people, but even we found these little fairytale towns enchanting.

Spend some time wandering around the streets, get a gelato or a drink, and just soak in the atmosphere.

Most of the towns I mentioned actually make a great base for staying in the Dolomites. They’re well connected, have good restaurants, hotels, and shops, and are fairytale-like.

12. Get a view of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo without hiking

A trip to the Dolomites wouldn’t be complete without seeing the Tre Cime di Lavaredo – or Drei Zinnen, as it’s known in German.

I know it’s one of the most popular hikes in the Dolomites, but if you don’t want to pay for the parking and you’re not up to hiking the trail, there are still ways to see the three peaks.

One of the easiest is the “Tre Cime di Lavaredo” viewpoint between the towns of Cortina d’Ampezzo and Dobbiaco. There’s paid parking (you can pay at the machine or using the EasyPark app) from which you can already see the Tre Cime, but the “proper” viewpoint is just a short walk further.

We used this viewpoint in April when I visited the Dolomites with my friend – the initial plan to go up and hike the trail was thwarted by snow.

13. Enjoy the food – Austrian, Italian, or Ladin

One of the most interesting things about the Dolomites is that the region has an incredible Austrian influence – especially in the South Tyrol. That means that in addition to the typical Italian pasta you get to enjoy sauerkraut and schnitzel!

The cuisine in the Dolomites is rather meat heavy so it’s not exactly a great place for vegans, although vegetarians will find quite a few options.

Some typical things are polenta (cornmeal), knodel (dumplings made with speck, cheese, or spinach), bread with fennel, and deer meat.

And you can find these things in so many places – from malga (alpine hut, sometimes called Alm or Baita) to rifugios to Michelin-starred restaurants.

14. Relax in a spa and wellness

So many of the hotels in the Dolomites have spa and wellness areas that it would be a shame if you didn’t get to enjoy one of them.

Relaxing in a sauna or a hot tub after a long day of exploring the mountains is heavenly – let your muscles relax and just enjoy the moment.

Another good reason for visiting a spa in the Dolomites? Weather. We’re generally lucky and usually have pleasant weather during our visits, but it’s the mountains so rainy days can happen. So when on one of our stays the day was very rainy, it was nice just sitting in a warm relaxation room in the hotel and looking at the rain outside.

15. Don’t miss Enrosadira (inrosadöra) – when the mountains turn pink during sunset or sunrise

Inrosadöra literally means “coloured in pink” in the Ladin language. The phenomenon, also known as Alpenglow, according to scientists, happens because of the specific mineral makeup of the Dolomite rocks. When the sun sets, it colours the mountains in different shades of red, yellow, pink, and orange. And when it rises, you get to see the peaks in colours from soft purple to bright orange.

If you’re lucky – like we were – you can see Enrosadira from your hotel room.

Or, there are tours that you can take to enjoy the Alpenglow in all its glory on different famous peaks or ranges in the Dolomites.

16. Go up the Marmolada

Marmolada, known also as the Queen of the Dolomites, is the highest mountain and mountain range in the Dolomites. The two highest peaks are Punta Penìa (3343m) and Punta Rocca (3265m), and you can actually go all the way up on the latter with a cable car.

The main reasons to visit Marmolada?

One is the Marmolada glacier, the largest one in the Dolomites. It’s actually possible to touch the glacier by taking a lift down to it.

And another one is 360-degree panoramic view of the most popular places in the Dolomites: the Catinaccio group, the Pale di San Martino, Croda da Lago peaks of the Ampezzo Valley and Alta Badia, and so much more.

Marmolada has rock climbing and via ferrata routes for those who are more adventurous.

It’s also a historically important place, where Italians and Austrians fought during WW1. There’s a museum – Museum of the Great War in Marmolada (Marmolada Grande Guerra) which is the highest museum in Europe, located at 3000mt.

17. Learn the history of the Dolomites

There are many Open-air museums in the Dolomites – such as the one above, which is by Cinque Torri. Or the tunnels that lead from Passo Falzarego to Mount Lagazuoi which were made during the WWI.

But if museums and history is your thing, there’s no better place to visit than the Messner Mountain Museum (MMM). There are actually six of them in South Tyrol, each with a bit of a different focus. One in Corones focuses on mountaineering; Firmian near Bolzano – on the history of the mountains; and so on. Learn more about them on the website of Messner Mountain Museums.

Things To Do In The Dolomites In Winter

In winter, the Dolomites transform into a paradise for those who enjoy the typical winter activities, such as skiing. But there’s so much more to do even if you don’t ski!

Of course, since the Dolomiti Superski is one of the best and biggest ski areas in the world, it’s the perfect place to hit the slopes whether you’re skiing or snowboarding.

And it’s also one of the best places to learn either of those things. On our last winter trip, I took 2 lessons with an instructor to learn to snowboard, and advanced from barely being able to going down a slope once to doing the whole Alpe di Siusi Ronda by myself without any problems. That’s how good they are.

If skiing isn’t your thing, there’s still plenty to do, as I said.

• Tobogganing – we went in Carezza, and it was SO MUCH FUN! But there are options all over – Alpe di Siusi, Tre Cime, and more. Go in the morning, though, because by the afternoon, the slopes get kind of destroyed so you’re more jumping on them than tobogganing.
• Christmas markets – in December, you will find Christmas markets in many towns. We loved the one in Ortisei, but – and this is an unpopular opinion – the Bolzano one was underwhelming.
• Snowshoeing and winter hiking – Michal went in Val Gardena and on Alpe di Siusi, and he loved it. Our next goal is going in the Eastern Dolomites – Cinque Torri, Passo Giau, and also Tre Cime. If you’re going winter hiking, make sure that you have crampons and hiking poles, though.
• Paragliding and ziplining – yes, it’s also possible in winter! The same companies run winter paragliding flights, and zipline Monte Pana also runs in winter.

And there are plenty more winter activities in the Dolomites available if that’s when you’re planning to visit.

Practical tips before your visit

Here are a few things worth knowing before you go – we learned some of these the hard way.

In short: book early, rent a car, and don’t underestimate the weather.

• Where to stay.
  Val Gardena is the best overall base, especially for a first trip – it has a lot of the highlights of the Dolomites right there. For the eastern Dolomites, Cortina d’Ampezzo is the strongest alternative with great access to the major spots. If you have a week or more, split your stay between them to avoid driving for hours each day.
• Book your accommodation early.
  The best hotels (and best-value ones) fill up months in advance for July and August. Book yours as early as possible so you don’t have to pay double for a hotel or stay hours away from places you want to visit!
• You almost certainly need a car.
  The Dolomites are spread across a huge area and multiple regions, so the bus connections can get… weird. If you’re staying in one area, like Val Gardena, you can get by without driving. But if you want to explore more than one area, not having a car will limit you a lot.
• Layer up.
  Valley temperatures in July can hit 30°C, but the higher in altitude you go, the colder it gets. I actually wore a winter jacket at lake Braies in August! Always pack a rain layer too – afternoon thunderstorms in summer are common and they come fast.
• Best timing within summer.
  June means waterfalls at peak, wildflowers, and fewer crowds – but some cable cars aren’t open yet. July and August means everything is open and absolutely packed. September is the best kept secret – trails become quieter, prices get a bit lower, and the weather often still good. Make sure you match when to visit with what you want to do.
• Motion sickness warning.
  The mountain roads are narrow and winding so if you’re prone to motion sickness like your girl here, bring something for it and plan frequent stops. The upside? Those stops usually turn into some of the best viewpoints.

Final thoughts…

These pale mountains in the Northeastern Italy have stolen my heart. And there are just so many amazing and interesting things to do in the Dolomites! We’re returning again and again, and the list is still long.

If you’d like to have a trip of a lifetime, contact us, and we can set it up for you!

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