Dolomites In October: Is It The Best Time To Go?

We had a really great trip to the Dolomites in October. The weather was perfect, the crowds were small, and the prices – reasonable.

October is still a good enough time to go to the Dolomites – although some of the places are beginning to shut down for the off season, many of them, especially the more popular ones, are still accessible.

We had a family trip with our (at the time) 4-year-old, and we spent only 3 nights in the Dolomites, so all we managed to check was Seceda, Alpe di Siusi, and Val di Funes, but it was a really nice trip, to be sure.

So if you’re planning a trip to the Dolomites in October, go for it! Here’s what you can do.

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Sample Itinerary: What We Did

An adult kneels next to a child, helping them hold a large camera on a wooden fence in a park. Trees and a parked camper van are visible in the background under a sunny sky.

We were in the Dolomites from the 11th (day of arrival in the evening) until the 15th of October, so basically, we had 3 full days there. Since we were travelling with a kiddo who things vacations need to be spent in pools, we were doing only one thing a day.

If you’re looking for a relaxing long weekend trip, this would be perfect for you!

We stayed in Santa Cristina di Val Gardena – Sporthotel Monte Pana, and can recommend it as a great place to stay.

Day of arrival – Dobbiaco

A serene lake reflecting surrounding pine forest and steep mountains under a clear blue sky. Sunlight casts a shadow on part of the mountain, creating a tranquil and picturesque landscape.

Since we were driving from Slovakia, we spent a night in Austria and arrived in the Dolomites in the late afternoon of the 11th of October. We stopped in Dobbiaco on the way to visit my favourite lake – Lago di Dobbiaco, and continued on to Val Gardena through Passo Gardena.

As an unpleasant surprise, though, the Gardena pass was closed due to a rockfall!

Which meant we had to drive all the way back to Brunico and Autostrada del Brennero, which delayed the arrival to our hotel for a couple of hours.

Day 1 – Val di Funes

A small church with a bell tower stands in a lush green field, surrounded by dense pine forests. Behind the church, majestic jagged mountains rise against a clear blue sky, creating a serene and picturesque landscape.

The next day started with a good relax, and then after lunch, we went to Val di Funes.

This is one of those places which I recommend that you go to to enjoy incredible sunset colors.

A picturesque view of rugged mountains framed by autumn leaves. The trees in the foreground feature green and yellow leaves, contrasting with the rocky peaks in the background under a clear sky.

In the fall, the foliage looks incredible with the Puez-Odle in the background.

A picturesque alpine village nestled in a lush green valley with steep, pointed mountains in the background. A church and scattered houses dot the landscape, surrounded by trees and meadows. The scene is serene and illuminated by soft daylight.

The short hike to the Santa Magdalena panorama point is easy and offers some breathtaking views.

Day 2 – Seceda

Mountain landscape with jagged rocky peaks, grassy slopes, and patches of snow under a clear blue sky. Rolling hills and distant mountains are visible in the background.

Honestly, as much hate as Seceda gets for being overcrowded, it’s one of my favorite places in the Dolomites. October is the perfect place to go there, as the crowds are almost non-existent.

We spent a few hours on Seceda, just walking around and exploring the area.

Scenic view of a vast valley surrounded by mountains under a blue sky with wispy clouds. The landscape is dotted with small cabins and winding paths, with grassy fields and rocky mountain peaks in the distance.

There are even things to do for kids here, such as a little playground with a slide! And the walk along the ridgeline is easy and pleasant even for little – or older – legs.

The Baita Sofie Hutte has tasty food for a reasonable price, if you’re looking for where to have lunch. The view alone is worth it, to be fair.

Day 3 – Alpe di Siusi

view of the alpe di siusi meadow with rolling hills and trees with the huge mountains of sasso group in the background in the dolomites

We spent only a couple of hours at Alpe di Siusi, and I wish we could have had more time. And some e-bikes, so that we could explore a lot more of the area.

An adult and a child stand on a dirt path overlooking a vast, grassy landscape. The scene includes rolling hills, scattered trees, and a misty mountain range under a cloudy sky.

Just like Seceda, Alpe di Siusi are also great in October because of the low number of visitors to the area.

Unfortunately, this was it for our short October trip. The next morning, straight after checkout, we had to hurry back home. I certainly hope that we’ll manage to visit the Dolomites in October some more!

Best Things To Do In October

paragliders seen over the seceda mountains in the dolomites with Kristine and Emma walking towards them.

You can still do most of the things in October – weather permitting and closures permitting, of course. If you’re not sure about these things, though, look into if DIY planning makes sense for your dates.

Hiking

A picturesque landscape featuring wooden cabins scattered on rolling green hills, with tall, jagged mountains in the background. The sky is overcast, adding a serene and tranquil atmosphere to the scene.

If there is no snow, you pretty much don’t have limitations for the hiking trails.

As you probably saw, we did the Seceda and Alpe di Siusi without any problems.

Other trails we could have done were Resciesa, Baita Seurasas, and Cascate del Pisciadù in the Western Dolomites.

As for the Eastern, Lake Braies loop or overview, and even Tre Cime and Cadini di Misurina can be done if the Rifugio Auronzo toll road is still open.

Short and easy hikes that anyone can do

Sightseeing and road trip

Passo Giau with the huge and impressive Ra Gusela cliff in the background and relatively tiny restaurant house in front of it — Passo Giau

It doesn’t matter what time you visit, you can always do sightseeing in the Dolomites!

Make sure to check out as many mountain passes and lakes as you can.

My favorite passes are

Giau
Falzarego
Gardena
Sella

And as for the lakes,

Dobbiaco
Landro
Carezza
Braies

My favorite lakes in the Dolomites

Paragliding

One of the most incredible and adrenaline filled things that I’ve ever done is tandem paragliding in the Dolomites.

It’s possible to paraglide all over the Dolomites. I did my tandem paragliding from Kronplatz, but if you wish, it’s possible also, for example, in Val Gardena.

All you need to know about tandem paragliding

Ziplining

A scenic view of green hills and valleys with a mountain village below, under a blue sky with clouds. In the foreground, a zipline launch platform and equipment are visible.

There are multiple ziplines in the Dolomites, but the one that would be the best for October is the Monte Pana Zipline in Val Gardena. It runs as long as the cable cars do, so in October, it should still be open. From the mountain and from the zipline itself, the views that you get are mesmerizing!

More about ziplining

Boating

A person wearing a red life jacket and sunglasses is rowing a wooden boat on a clear turquoise Braies lake in the Dolomites surrounded by forested mountains. The sky is partly cloudy, and there are rocky mountain peaks in the background.

If the lakes are not frozen, there are a couple of them where you can go boating.

For example, lake Braies, of course. But also lake Misurina has boats, canoes, and water

What’s Open And What’s Closed

A lush green hillside with scattered pine trees under a blue sky, rugged mountain peaks in the background, and a ski lift running across the slope. Fluffy clouds partially cover the mountain tops.

Some of the lifts close earlier, but many of them, for example, in Val Gardena, run into November. Make sure to check the official Dolomiti SuperSki website for the times that the lifts run.

Most of the hotels and restaurants are still open in the beginning of October, but many of the mountain huts can be closed, especially if it starts snowing. If you’d like to visit the huts, make sure to double-check that they’re open right before the trip.

One thing, though, if you plan to rely on public transport, October is really not a good month to go – a lot of the public transport doesn’t run anymore. That’s why renting a car and driving is a much better idea.

Weather And Climate In October

michal holding Emma with seceda mountains in the background

October is a tricky month to visit weather-wise.

When we went to the Dolomites in October a few years ago, it wasn’t exactly summer hot, but we could easily be in windproof jackets at the higher altitudes, such as Seceda. Other years, though, there had been snow on Seceda already in September, so in October, it was all white and cold.

The weather is usually mild and cool, with average high temperatures around 13-19°C (55-66°F) and lows dropping near freezing at higher altitudes.

For the temperature – you “lose” approximately 6°C for each 1000m of altitude you gain (3.6°F for every 1,000ft).

What To Pack With You

A person relaxes on a lounge chair on a grassy mountain slope, while others walk nearby. A flag waves on a tall pole. Rocky mountains and a blue sky are in the background.

Layers, layers, layers.

It’s really important that you pack different types of layers with you – from warm, thermo-wear to t-shirts for the warmer valleys.

In short, for exploring outside, I recommend

Warm outer layer – jacket or coat
Middle layer – fleece jacket, for example
Long sleeve t-shirt as a base
Hiking pants or similar comfortable pants
Hiking shoes or shoes with good grip
Water bottle (Refillable)
A backpack where you can store snacks, water, and the layers you’re not wearing

We have a full packing list, where I’ve marked everything that you need for a comfortable trip. It also has a free pdf downloadable checklist.

Check the packing list

Where To Base Yourself

On our trip, we were based in Santa Cristina in Val Gardena, and can definitely recommend the place for exploring. There is a lot to do in the area, and at the same time, it’s central enough so that you can drive many places.

Budget: Garni Ossi– located centrally in Santa Cristina, a nice hotel with friendly staff and great buffet breakfast. Right next to public transport, so great for those who will use busses.
Mid-range: Smarthotel Saslong – close to chairlifts and a bus stop, making it a great base for exploring the area. The rooms are comfortable and bright.
Luxury: Monte Pana Dolomites Hotel– nice and quiet location, great view. We loved the hotel and the food. The hosts are extremely helpful. And there are hiking trails that start right at the hotel.

Best places to stay in the Dolomites

Practical Tips For An October Visit

A woman in a beige puffer jacket stands outdoors, smiling slightly, with green pine trees and rugged, snow-dusted mountains in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Rent a car – the public transport is not reliable in October and many lines have stopped running by the end of September
Prepare for rainy days – plan for visiting museums or spas
Pack for winter situations, as there might be snow
Be ready to change plans quickly in regards to weather

Conclusion: Is October a Good Month to go to the Dolomites?

a pedestrian street in ortisei town in the dolomites with cobblestone streets, little stores on the sides and a cute church at the end of it

October is still a great time to visit the Dolomites, although you must be aware of the possible weather changes.

It’s definitely going to be way less crowded than the summer and winter months. Just make sure to book your accommodation as much in advance as possible, to lock in the best prices.

If you need help planning your trip, make sure to reach out!

Faq

Is October a good time to visit?

Yes, October is a great time to visit the Dolomites, as the crowds are much smaller and the prices for hotels are lower.

Will there be snow in the Dolomites in October?

It’s quite possible that there will be snow, especially in the higher altitudes.

Is October a suitable to visit the Dolomites for children/families?

Yes, it’s a great time to visit for families with children, as smaller crowds mean less waiting. And the weather is generally good in October.

Can you use public transport in October?

I’d recommend renting a car if you visit the Dolomites in October, as lots of public transport is not running anymore.

Can you hike the Dolomites in October?

For sure, you can hike the Dolomites in October. There might be snow in the higher altitudes, though, so look into lower-altitude hikes, if possible.

Dolomites in October: is it the best time to go?