Dolomites in November: Perfect Weekend Getaway

lago di braies in november, with a boat house and mountains in the background

If you plan to visit the Dolomites in November, know that you’re going in the very, very off season. Most of the lifts, restaurants, and many hotels are closed for the month: for the staff to relax and for the places to prepare for the high winter season with everything that need to be fixed.

Our trip to the Dolomites in November was a really short: we did a short road trip in the Dolomites on the way to Venice to show the mountains to my parents.

The initial plan was to do a couple of hikes there, but when the time to visit was approaching, we realized that hiking will not be possible. There was just too much snow!

So we opted for sightseeing, which is actually what I suggest you do if you visit in the off season. Mountain passes, valleys, towns – that’s what you can do.

Here is a description of our short trip to help your planning.

Day 1 of the Dolomites road trip: Sarnico – Lake Garda – the Dolomites

Two pairs of hiking boots rest at the edge of a mountain, overlooking a scenic lake and green hills in the distance under a clear sky.

At the time of this trip, we lived in Italy – a small village called Sarnico on Lake Iseo. It’s a paradise, really.

A castle-like stone wall with towers stands near a road roundabout lined with cars, trees, and people walking. The sky is clear, and autumn foliage is visible on the right side.

So the road trip started there, and the first stop we planned was Lake Garda.

A couple wearing sunglasses takes a selfie by a lake, with mountains and a small town in the background. The man kisses the woman on the forehead as they both smile, enjoying a sunny day outdoors.

We just stopped for a little bit to take some pictures and enjoy the views, as the parking was very convenient. And of course, to touch the water. Because it’s pretty much mandatory to touch the water if you’re by one, haha.

A person in a pink jacket sits on a stone wall by a pebbly beach with clear water. Houses and greenery cover the hillside in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Especially when the colour of the water is this beautiful.

And the next stop was by Lago di Garda, too, just this time – Riva del Garda at the very Northern tip of the lake.

A scenic lakeside view with calm water, rugged mountains in the background, and cloudy skies above. A guardrail lines the road in the foreground.

After lunch and coffee, and of course, a bit of enjoying the views, it was time to go on! So much more remained to be seen and the days are so short…

Snow-covered mountains with jagged peaks rise behind a ski lift station. The building has signs and blue accents, and ski trails can be seen leading away from it. The sky is overcast, creating a tranquil winter scene.

And we were welcomed by snow!

That’s one of the things you have to keep in mind when visiting the Dolomites in November: there can – and probably will – be snow, especially at higher altitudes.

The situation is quite similar to what I saw when we went to Dolomites in April. Both of those months are just at “sides” of the winter season so snow can be expected.

Five people bundled in winter clothing smile for a selfie with snowy mountains, a road, and wooden buildings in the background. The scene looks cold and cheerful.

Hi! We’re really happy and surprised here. As you saw, it was nice and warm by lake Garda!

passo sella in the dolomites with big snowy mountains, snowy hills, and trees

The views, though… the views are incredibly gorgeous. And since there wasn’t any snow in the lower altitudes, we made sure to enjoy it!

A person in a bright orange jacket stands joyfully in a snowy landscape, surrounded by tall mountains and trees. The sky is overcast, enhancing the wintery atmosphere.
My mom throwing a snowball at me

We had so much fun!

We were lucky that the road was open – sometimes mountain passes and higher-altitude roads get closed because of snow. There are websites that show the road conditions and if it’s open, such as the Province of Bolzano one, but they’re not always 100% reliable.

At this point, though, it was starting to get dark so we quickly moved on to the next pass – passo Pordoi.

passo pordoi in the dolomites with snowy mountains and a winding road

The Pordoi pass covered in snow looks lovely!

Four people stand on a snowy path surrounded by high snowbanks, dressed in winter clothing. Two face the camera, one raises a hand, and two face away, capturing the snowy landscape. Mountains and cloudy skies are in the background.

And you can see how much snow there can be in the Dolomites if you visit at the end of November. My mom is approximately 160cm tall (5ft3in) and the snow is up to her waist. Lots and lots of snow!!

And off we went to the next mountain pass – Passo Falzarego -, as the night was coming on.

Snow-covered mountains and trees at dusk, with a pale blue and purple sky. A faint orange light glows on a distant slope, suggesting a cabin or chalet. The landscape is peaceful and serene.

We spent just a couple of minutes here, as driving in the Dolomites at night is not the most fun of things you could do.

A night view of a town with scattered streetlights and building lights glowing in the darkness; the surrounding area is mostly dark, highlighting the illuminated town center.

But we did get this lovely view of Cortina d’Ampezzo on the way! There are good things to say about night views in the mountains.

After checking in in our hotel, it was time for dinner!

A shiny black sculpture of a human head with intricate metal wires swirling above it stands in a well-lit cobblestone square, surrounded by shops and buildings at night.

We stayed in Hotel Meublè Oasi for the night. It’s a small and comfy bed and breakfast right in the centre of Cortina d’Ampezzo, in close vicinity to the Faloria cable car and all the attractions in the town. Since we were on a Dolomites road trip, it was important that we had parking included, breakfast, and a bed. All covered!

Plus, in November, it’s the off-season in the Dolomites with lots of places to stay closed, so the choice is smaller in usual. Keep that in mind and book your accommodation early!

Day 2 of Dolomites in November – Cortina d’Ampezzo, some beautiful lakes in the Dolomites, and Venice!

A man and woman stand on a balcony smiling. The woman wears a pink hoodie and sunglasses, and the man wears a gray sweater. Behind them, there are mountains, buildings, and parked cars under a clear blue sky.

The next day we were greeted by perfect weather.

Four people stand together outdoors in front of snow-dusted mountains and autumn-colored trees, wearing jackets and scarves, enjoying a sunny day with patches of snow on the ground.

It was sunny, which meant that even though the temperatures were low, the air felt pleasant. As you can see, there’s a lot less snow in lower altitudes.

Snow-capped mountains rise above a forest of orange and green trees in autumn, with a grassy field in the foreground under a partly cloudy sky.

We went over to some spots to enjoy some views of Cortina d’Ampezzo and the Dolomites. First was just by Baita Fraina – we actually had dinner there once with Michal (on a different trip). I can definitely recommend the place.

A picturesque mountain town sits below a large, snow-capped mountain; trees with golden autumn leaves cover the hills, and clusters of buildings fill the valley under a partly cloudy sky.

The second place we went to was on the other side of Cortina d’Ampezzo. I was trying to find the location on a map, but couldn’t. It was just in some residential part of Cortina – basically, we looked at the road and on the map, said “hey, looks like this road goes up!”, and went there.

A panoramic view of a mountain range with rocky peaks, some dusted with snow, above a forest of autumn-colored trees and a small town nestled at the base under a partly cloudy sky.

If you’d like a nice panorama of the mountains and the town, check out the spot we went to on our trip in April.

Snow-covered mountains rise above a calm lake, reflecting their snowy peaks. Pine trees with patches of autumn colors line the water’s edge, and the foreground shows snow on the shore under a bright, partly cloudy sky.

After saying by to Cortina, we went to lago di Braies. Lucky for us, the lake hadn’t yet frozen over so we could see that nice emerald color.

A person lies on their back in the snow beside a calm, partially frozen lake surrounded by pine trees and snowy mountains under a blue sky. A wooden dock and building are visible on the left.

And there was enough snow for snow angels and snowmen building!

A person squats in the snow, taking a photo of a large snowman on a snowy field near a forested area, with other people in the background.

The little villages in the Braies valley have hotels and restaurants where you can have lunch – we’ve been in multiple by now, and they all seem good.

A paved road leads into snowy mountains, flanked by evergreen and orange autumn trees under a clear blue sky. Snow covers the fields and hills, and distant peaks are visible.

Next up – my favorite lake in the Dolomites, lago di Dobbiaco.  

A tranquil lake reflects snow-capped mountains, pine forests, and a partly cloudy sky. The shoreline is lined with trees, and ducks float on the calm water.

This time, we didn’t visit at lake Landro, but we did make a quick stop at lake Misurina, as it was getting dark already.

Snow-covered mountains under a cloudy sky, with buildings nestled at the base and a frozen lake in the foreground, surrounded by trees on one side.

Keep in mind that the days are rather short in November.

A curved road leads through a mountain village with houses in the foreground and snow-capped mountains in the background, illuminated by a warm, golden sunset. A red van is parked on the right side of the street.

One last look at the Dolomites from the Cadore valley, and off we go to Venice!

Is November a good time to visit the Dolomites?

A white swan stands at the edge of a clear lake, surrounded by snow-dusted grass, with evergreen trees and snow-covered mountains reflected in the turquoise water.
Lake Dobbiaco

Well, yes and no.

If you go to the Dolomites in November, you will probably get to see them covered in snow. At some altitudes, there’s the autumn foliage as well. The mountains look gorgeous, as you’ll be able to see. And there are definitely fewer people around.

On the other hand, November in the Dolomites is the “off” season. That means there will be fewer hotels available and many restaurants closed. And even some mountain passes and cable cars don’t run for a month or so.

So all in all, if you can move the trip by a month, I’d say do it. If you can’t, enjoying the views on a Dolomites road trip is still worth it!

What is the weather like in November

View from beneath a wooden staircase covered in snow, with tall support beams, snowy mountains, and pine trees in the background against a partly cloudy sky. The ground below is wet and partially frozen.

Generally, the weather in November in the Dolomites is wintery – cold and snowy, especially in the higher altitudes. It will most probably be below freezing most of the time, including during the day.

If you’re lucky, you’ll get sun like we did, but quite a lot of the time, in general at least, it’s overcast.

Where to stay

A person in a colorful jacket stands by a parked car, facing away and holding their head. Behind them is a wooden sign reading "Baita Fraina Ristorante," with snow-capped mountains and autumn trees in the background.
Baita Fraina in Cortina

If you’re going on a road trip, I recommend staying in more than one place. In our case, as you saw, we stayed only in Cortina, but our trip was really short.

I’d recommend extending the road trip and staying in Bolzano or Val Gardena, in Alta Badia, and in the East, Cortina (your best bet for places like restaurants to be open).

As I mentioned, we stayed in Hotel Oasi in Cortina, and can recommend it. It’s a no-frills hotel in a great location, exactly what’s needed.

What to do

A person rides a bicycle on snow beside a calm lake, with tall evergreen trees and steep, rocky mountains covered in snow in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Sightseeing and visiting mountains passes are the best things to in the Dolomites in November for us casual hikers.

Most of the cable cars are closed in November, so it would not be possible to visit places like Tre Cime di Lavaredo or Seceda without a strenuous hike.

So my recommendations are:

  • Visit the lakes
  • Check out the towns such as Selva di Val Gardena or Cortina d’Ampezzo
  • Look into some lower altitude hikes, such as Cascate del Pisciadu
  • And of course, enjoy the pools and saunas in the area, such as Mar Dolomiti in Ortisei

What to wear and pack

A person in a black coat and boots stands on snowy ground holding a striped lollipop, with a wooden building and several other people in winter clothing in the background.

Since November is the shoulder season, pack warm layers with you. I’m sure that you’ll need some winter things, especially if you travel at the end of the month.

  • Warm shoes
  • Winter jacket
  • Hat and scarf
  • Gloves
  • Warm pants
  • And then, of course, all the other things that you should pack for every single trip.
Full Dolomites packing list

Summary – is Dolomites worth visiting in November?

Four people bundled in winter clothes stand on snow by a lake, with trees and tall, snow-covered mountains in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

The Dolomites are nice in November, although, if I could choose some other time to go, I probably would.

It’s an amazing time for a road trip or just a relaxing sightseeing trip, for sure.

If you’d like to go, make sure to book your accommodation in advance, as many places are closed, hence, less availability. We have listed the best areas for staying right here.

And pack lots of layers with you – here are the must-haves.

If you’re struggling to plan your trip or would just like to go over it, why not give us a call?

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