11 Most Magnificent Lakes in the Dolomites: And a MAP!
There are many, many lakes in the Dolomites, Italy. Each of them has its own beauty – some have incredible colour (Sorapis!), some backdrop, and others reflections.
In this list, you’ll find some of the most popular Dolomites lakes, such as Lake Braies, Lake Carezza, Lake Misurina, and Lake Sorapis. But I’ll mention some more unique ones, too. For example, one of my favourites, which isn’t that famous, is Lake Dobbiaco. It has that beautiful emerald colour and a perfect mountain lake backdrop.
Most of the lakes here are very easy to visit, but some do require you to hike. In this
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My favourite Dolomites lakes
So here are my 10 favourite lakes in the Dolomites. I’ve listed them in the order from my favourite to least favourite – which still is incredibly beautiful.
And they offer different activities that you can do – in most of the lakes in the Dolomites, you can swim as the water quality is great – as long as you can take the ice-cold glacial waters. In many others, you can go paddleboarding, boating, fishing, hiking, and many other things.
A clarification about the names – in the Dolomites, there are three languages spoken: Italian, German, and Ladin. In the headings, I’ve listed the names in Italian and German, or just Italian. In the article itself, I use English and Italian interchangeably.
1. Lago di Dobbiaco – Toblacher See
Location: Val di Landro in Alta Pusteria, South Tyrol (Sudtirol/Alto Adige) (map)
Best time to go: any time
How to get there: Car or bus – there’s a paid parking just next to the lake.
For me, Lake Dobbiaco is one of the best lakes in the Dolomites. It has an amazing colour (emerald green), crystal-clear waters, and a backdrop of a valley. Plus, it’s perfectly easy to reach Lago di Dobbiaco – it’s located just on the side of the road from Dobbiaco (town) to Cortina d’Ampezzo, on the border of the Three Peaks Nature Park. There’s a parking lot (paid) just next to the lake.
There are hiking trails in the area, including one that goes around the lake. It has 11 informative plates about the flora and fauna that you can see there. The trail is only 2.5km long and very easy, good enough for pushchairs.
At the western end of the lake, there is an observation deck from which you can watch rare birds that are only found occasionally in South Tyrol. Nearby, there are bunkers that you can explore – just make sure to bring a flashlight.
Some other activities that you can do in and around Lake Dobbiaco are fishing, paddleboarding, swimming, and even iceskating (in winter, obviously).
The best thing about Lago di Dobbiaco? It’s still quite a hidden gem, so you can still enjoy it in relative peace.
➣Where to stay: SkyView Chalets am Camping Toblacher See
➣Where to eat: Ristorante al Lago
2. Lago di Braies – Pragser Wildsee
Location: Fanes-Sennes-Braies nature parkin Alta Pusteria, South Tyrol (map)
Best time to go: any time
How to get there: Drive, hike, bike, or take a bus
Lake Braies is called the Pearl of the Dolomites. It’s also one of the most instagrammed lakes in the world, so expect crowds and lots of photosessions here. Nevertheless, it is an absolutely beautiful lake that is a must-see.
And you’ve probably seen pictures of it – the wooden boathouse with the huge mountain Croda del Becco (Seekofel massif) in the background. Maybe there even were tied wooden boats in the image.
As with other lakes in the area, there are quite a few hiking trails near Lago di Braies. One is, of course, the loop trail that goes around the lake. The trail is quite easy, and you don’t even have to go all the way around the lake.
The trailhead to the famous Alta Via 1 trail is located by Lake Braies, too.
Another thing that was much more fun than I thought it would be is boating on the lake. You can rent boats – private or shared – and enjoy the views from the water level. The price is not the lowest – plus, you have to row yourself! But it’s definitely an Italian bucket list thing to do.
Maybe you are brave enough to enjoy a bit of a dip in this glacial lake? Surprisingly, we saw quite a few people do it. Otherwise, enjoy the walk, the views, and have a glass of wine in one of the restaurants nearby.
➣Where to stay: Hotel Lago di Braies
➣Where to eat: Ristorante Lago di Braies; Bar Chalet
Important to know: the car park by the Braies lake is quite pricey. And in the summer between July 10th and September 10th from 9:30am to 4:00pm the road in the Braies Valley is open only to public transport, pedestrians, bicyclists, or those who have a parking space reservation or a valid transit permit. A shuttle service (with mandatory booking) has been set up.
3. Lago di Carezza – Karersee
Location: By the Carezza village, Val d’Ega (Eggental), South Tyrol (map)
Best time to go: summer, early in the morning for the best view
How to get there: car (there’s a parking lot), bus (bus stop is right by the lake), hiking, ski lift
Known as the rainbow lake because of its colours that range from emerald green to yellow (and of course because of the legend of the Nymph of Karer See), Lake Carezza is a small lake located just near the village of Carezza.
It’s one of the few lakes in the Dolomites where you can’t swim. In fact, there’s a wooden fence all around the lake with signs saying that it’s forbidden to cross it.
If you visit lago di Carezza in the correct weather at the correct time, you can see a perfect reflection of the Latemar mountain range in the emerald green waters. If you go there during a bad time when the weather is rainy, you can kind of see the reflection – and of course, as you can see in the picture above, that’s when we visited.
There’s a loop trail around Lake Carezza, which takes approximately 20 minutes to do, is well maintained and easy. You can go up to another lake – lago di Mezzo, as well as do the Sentiero delle Perle trail.
When visiting lake Carezza, don’t miss the hanging bridge that is located right at the end of the Carezza lake parking lot. It offers beautiful views of the surroundings.
And if you plan to visit in winter, know that there is an incredible ski resort nearby.
➣Where to stay: hotel Alpenrose in Carezza
➣Where to eat: there’s a café at the parking lot
Check out the Lago di Carezza guide
4. Lago di Sorapis – Sorapis
Location: mountain range Sorapiss, Belluno, Veneto (~12km from Cortina d’Ampezzo) (map)
Best time to go: summer
How to get there: you need to hike; 2h one way; quite a strenuous hike
Lake Sorapis (sometimes it’s spelled Sorapiss with 2 s’s at the end) is a mountain lake quite high in the mountains near Cortina. It’s definitely one of the most beautiful lakes in the Dolomites, with a milky turquoise blue colour.
The hike there, though, is not so easy. It requires you to be in very good shape, and it requires the weather to be good, too – I wouldn’t want to be on the trail if it’s raining, to be honest.
Once at the lake, though, the ice cold water is incredibly pleasant for dipping in – or at least stepping in for the feet to relax.
The starting point of the hike is at Passo Tre Croci. And since it’s a there-and-back or a loop hike, you finish it at the same location.
We visited lago di Sorapis in August, and it had very little water left. So if you can go earlier, you’ll probably have higher water levels.
➣Where to stay: hotel Passo Tre Croci
➣Where to eat: take food with you or have something at Rifugio Vandelli near the lake
5. Lago di Anterselva – Antholzer See
Location: Kronplatz holiday region, Antholz Valley, South Tyrol (map)
Best time to go: summer
How to get there: Car or Bus
Lake Anterselva is the third largest natural lake in South Tyrol. It’s very close to the Italian-Austrian border – in fact, there’s a viewpoint right on the border called “Two Lakes” where you can see lago di Anterselva and lake Obersee. The border is actually located on Passo Stalle, just so you know.
Lake Anterselva, in our opinion, is a really nice – and much less crowded – alternative to Lake Braies. It has that emerald water colour and nice backdrop of the mountains. As an added bonus, there’s a mountain torrent flowing in the water – we visited in June, so it was full of water.
There’s a circular trail around the lake, as well as bike paths around it. And the trailhead to the hike from Lake Anterselva to the Steinzger mountain hut.
There’s a also a children’s playground and a nature walk with informative signs, which makes lago di Anterselva the perfect place to visit for the whole family.
➣Where to stay: Seehaus – Mountain Lake Resort
➣Where to eat: Enzianhutte
6. Lago di Landro – Dürrensee
Location: Val di Landro in Upper Val Pusteria, South Tyrol (map)
Best time to go: summer – June, as that’s when there’s the most water
How to get there: car, bus. There’s a parking lot (paid) right next to the lake
Lake Landro is definitely one of the hidden gems in the Dolomites, which is a shame because it’s beautiful and one of the easiest to visit. It’s located literally next to the main road from Dobbiaco to Cortina.
There are many hikes that start from lake Landro, for example, Monte Piano in the Sesto Dolomites or Rifugio A. Locatelli (Dreizinnenhütte) in the Tre Cime Natural Park. There’s an open-air museum dedicated to the First World War on top of Monte Piano. On the sides of the lake Landro, you can find a carriage wheel that has been restored.
When visiting the lake, don’t miss the smaller one on the other side of the road. It looks interesting, too.
➣Where to stay: in Dobbiaco
➣Where to eat: Ristorante Lago di Landro
7. Laghi dei Piani – Lakes of the Plains
Location: by Rifugio Locatelli on the Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Drei Zinnen) hike, Veneto (map)
Best time to go: Summer
How to get there: hiking the Tre Cime di Lavaredo circuit
Although the Tre Cime hike is very, very famous, the Laghi dei Piani (literally translates to “lakes of the planes”) are not so popular. They are located just a little bit away from Rifugio Locatelli, which is pretty much the middle point of the hike.
They are 2 colourful alpine lakes, located right next to each other. If you have the time and energy, you can go further on to a third lake. It’s a bit of a detour, but I’ve read that there are almost no people there.
To get to them, you do need to work your muscles a bit, as this hike is not completely easy. I’d rather say it’s moderately difficult. But the views – of Tre Cime, the mountains around, and the little lakes is great. Reward yourself with a meal at Rifugio Locatelli to make the experience complete!
➣Where to stay: In Cortina or in one of the mountain huts
➣Where to eat: Rifugio Locatelli or Rifugio Auronzo
8. Lago di Misurina – Misurinasee
Location: Town of Misurina, in the region of Cadore, Veneto (map)
Best time to go: summer when the lake is not frozen
How to get there: drive your car
Lake Misurina is not my favourite lake in the Dolomites, but it is still one of the most beautiful ones. For sure, it offers some incredible views of the surrounding mountains. The yellow building and the beautiful mountains reflected in the calm waters of lake Misurina looks amazing. On one side, there’s Tre Cime di Lavaredo, and on the other side you can see the Marmarole mountain range.
As for the things to do, of course, there’s the circular walk around the lake. And from Misurina, it’s easy to reach the hiking trails of Tre Cime and Cadini di Misurina viewpoint. And looks like there’s paddleboating available, too.
For me, Misurina lake is an ideal place for stopping for a short time on the way to Tre Cime or Cortina d’Ampezzo. Although the lake is beautiful, there are more stunning places to see in the area.
But the Misurina village does make a really good base for exploring the area.
➣Where to stay: Chalet Alpenrose in Misurina
➣Where to eat: there are many restaurants in the area
9. Lago d’Antorno – See Antorno
Location: on the way from Misurina to Tre Cime, Veneto (map)
Best time to go: summer – in winter, the road might even be closed
How to get there: drive your car or bus
Lake Antorno is another one of the best Dolomites lakes that is very overlooked by tourists. Which is a shame, because it’s just on the side of the road to Tre Cime, with a free parking lot just by it.
It’s a small alpine lake, surrounded by grasses and trees, with a nice view of the mountains of Tre Cime nature park and Cadini di Misurina.
Lago d’Antorno is also a starting point for many hikes. For example, if you do not want to pay the toll for the road to Rifugio Auronzo, this is where you’d park your car.
➣Where to stay: Chalet Lago Antorno
➣Where to eat: Restaurant Lago Antorno
10. Lago di Valparola – lake Valparola
Location: by rifugio Valparola, 1.5km afterPasso Valparola, Province of Belluno, Veneto (map)
Best time to go: summer
How to get there: drive your car or take a bus
Another one of those Dolomite’s lakes that are really easy to reach. It’s located a little bit after Passo Valparola, just on the side of the road. We checked it out on our way from Val Gardena to rifugio Lagazuoi. To go up to the mountain hut, you have to start at Passo Falzarego, and Passo Valparego is just on the way.
Lago di Valparola is a small alpine lake so it doesn’t take long to enjoy it, but if you want to have some peace, it’s the perfect place. It’s not the most popular one which means – just a few people, if any, will be there.
And there are lots of other things to do in the area, most famously – going up to the Lagazuoi mountain. We did it, and the views from up there are spectacular! You can see the Marmolada glacier, lots of mountain ranges, and even the Odle/Geisler peaks.
➣Where to stay: Rifugio Passo Valparola
➣Where to eat: rifugio Passo Valparola
11. Lago di Valdaora – Olanger Stausee
Location: Kronplatz in Val Pusteria, Sudtyrol/Alto Adige (map)
Best time to go: spring
How to get there: bus, car, or bicycle
Lake Valdaora is a 44ha big artificial lake in Val Pusteria, just by the towns of Rasun di Sotto and Monguelfo-Tesido. It’s a water reservoir on the River Rienza. When we visited the Dolomites in April, it was pretty much an accidental find – a happy accident indeed.
The waters were that perfect blue and the snow-capped mountains around it looked magnificent.
As for the things to do around lake Valdaora, of course, there are hiking paths there. And the Pusterbike Cycle Path goes by it. Fishing in Lago di Valdaora is popular with locals – we actually observed some fishermen while having our picnic.
The hotel Seehof, which is located just on the lake, offers a spa and wellness with a view.
And the Kronplatz holiday region has lots and lots of activities available – that’s where I did my tandem paragliding flight!
➣Where to stay: Hotel Seehof
➣Where to eat: picnic or hotel Seehof
Lakes in the Dolomites on a map
To make your Dolomites trip planning easier, here I have put these 10 incredible Dolomites lakes on a map!
FAQ: Dolomites lakes
Is the Dolomites worth it?
Yes, most definitely. The Dolomites are an incredible destination for mountain and nature lovers.
Can you swim in the Dolomites?
Yes, you can swim in most of the lakes in the Dolomites.
What is the most beautiful lake in the Dolomites?
Lake Braies is largely considered the most beautiful lake in the Dolomites, but I’d say that Lake Dobbiaco is my favourite one.
Conclusion about lakes in the Dolomites
There are many wonderful lakes in the Northern Italy, most famously Lake Como and Lake Garda. it is the “Italian Lakes” region after all. But if you want to see the something a bit more special, I’d say the Dolomites lakes are a great idea.
Which ones were your favourites? Let me know in the comments!
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