Dolomites Packing List: Don't Forget A Single Essential +pdf

Creating a Dolomites packing list is not that easy.

It’s the mountains, which means that the weather is pretty much unpredictable. When we visited at the end of June, which in my opinion should be summery, there was a meter of fresh snow in the mountains!

But still, there are essentials that you need to take on any mountain trip, so that’s what I’m always basing my packing list on.

Then, just before the trip, I’ll check the forecast and add anything that might be missing.

So, here’s my Dolomites essentials packing list. Enjoy!

This post might contain affiliate links, which means that if you purchase anything via them, we might earn a small commission – at no extra cost to you. Check our disclaimer policy for more information.

Essential Travel Items

Two people relax on a wooden bench, overlooking a scenic valley with green fields and distant mountains. They wear athletic shoes—one green and black, the other pink and black—and jeans, surrounded by lush trees and a cloudy sky.

Passport or ID
Travel Insurance
Driver’s licence
Reservations – printed
Itinerary
Phone
Electronics’ chargers
Keys
Wallet + cash

These are the things that you should take on every single trip you go on.

Passport or ID are essential – without those, you can’t even check in in your hotel.

Don’t forget the driver’s license if you plan to rent a car.

I usually print my reservations. There has been more than one time when the hotel has tried charging me for items that were included in the reservation! And occasionally I’ll print my flight tickets, too – I’ll never forget the time that my phone died on the way to the airport…

By itinerary, I mean at least a rough idea of what you’d like to do. It doesn’t have to be set minute by minute or even for every day, but note down at least some things that you’d like to enjoy.

Phone, chargers, keys, and wallet are kind of clear, aren’t they?

For the Dolomites, it’s important you pack some cash with you – in many places, especially mountain huts, you can only pay with cash.

General Dolomites Packing List for Every Season

A messy room with clothes scattered on a dark wooden floor. An open wardrobe holds more clothes and luggage. A bed with a beige blanket is partially visible, with bags and garments strewn around.

This is a basic packing list for the Dolomites that you can use anytime you’re travelling – doesn’t matter when.

Don’t be surprised to see things that you’d expect for one season or another – the temperatures in the mountains can get weird, and you can sometimes even encounter snow in the summer! Yes, we had snow in June.

Clothing for every day

A woman and a child walk along a path bordered by a vibrant wildflower-covered hillside. In the background, there are rustic houses and mountains covered in dense green forest. The sky is cloudy, suggesting a cool, subdued day.

T-shirts
Long sleeve t-shirts
Jeans/Pants
Socks
Underwear
Jacket
Sweatshirt
Sneakers
Pajamas
Swimsuit

This is a pretty basic list for things to pack with you to the mountains, or actually pretty much anywhere.

Always make sure to pack something warmer with you – even if you’re going to the Dolomites in Summer! It sometimes gets really cold, especially in the higher altitudes.

As for the swimsuit – many, if not most, of the hotels have some kind of wellness or a pool, so you might need one!

If you plan to go to a fancier place for eating, pack some more official clothing than jeans and a t-shirt – there’s a high chance that you’ll encounter dress code. The same applies for dinners included in the hotel bookings.

Hygiene

An open bathroom drawer beneath a sink, organized with various compartments. It contains toiletry bags, a tube of toothpaste, a hairbrush, a hairdryer, and small containers. The drawer is neatly arranged for easy access to personal care items.

Toothpaste and toothbrush
Deodorant
Soap/shower gel
Shampoo
Small amount of clothes washing liquid
Sunscreen
Chapstick
Menstrual products
Hair brush and hair ties

Again, a rather basic list, right? The things that you might be wondering about seeing on it are shower gel, shampoo, and the washing liquid. I don’t mean full bottles, but the travel-sized ones.

I always pack a bit of these with me, as I generally dislike the shampoos that hotels offer (or rather, my hair dislikes them). Sometimes, the soap or shower gel in the hotel is bad, or there’s only one for washing hands by the sink and for showering. So, if I have a small travel-friendly amount with me, that’s great!

I like having a bit of washing liquid with me, as you never know what might happen with your trip. Extra dirty clothes, some delay for getting home, lost luggage… it’s just good to have, you know?

I’ll also mention sunscreen and chapstick (hygienic lip balm). Even if you’re travelling in not-summer, the sun in the mountains is strong, so it’s important that you protect your skin. And the air is generally rather dry – I sometimes have such dry lips that they burst to blood even if I drink enough! The only saving thing is a chapstick.

Accessories

A person wearing a pink jacket holds a black water bottle in front of a scenic mountain range with snowy peaks under a clear blue sky.

Sunglasses
Hat
Camera
Paper napkins
Electronics adaptors
Portable battery
Small zip-lock bag for trash
Water bottle

Sunglasses and hat are generally for sun protection, but you can take a beanie or a headband for the colder times.

I generally use my phone (Samsung Galaxy S22) for the images, but sometimes, that more professional camera is just better. It’s especially when you need longer exposure, such as for sunset or sunrise pictures.

Since I use my phone a lot, it’s always a good idea to have a portable battery with me. It’s really annoying when the battery runs out (like it did on our trip in April).

Paper napkins – well, I have allergies so I always need to clean my nose, but the changes in temperatures and air dryness sometimes just make the nose run.

A close-up of two wall sockets on a wooden surface. The left socket is a European-style power outlet, and the right socket includes connectors for TV and radio. A black power plug is partially inserted into the TV socket.

As for power adaptors, there are three plug types used in Italy: C, F and L. C is a plug with two round pins, F has two round pins and two earth clips on the side, and type L is a type which has three round pins. Italy operates on a 230V supply voltage.

When travelling anywhere I have a little zip-lock baggie with me for any trash I might create. It’s much nicer than just throwing it in the pockets or the backpack.

And don’t even think about leaving your trash in the nature!!!

I always take a few refillable water bottles with me to the Dolomites. The tap water is so good there that there is no need for buying bottled water!

I have multiple Owala bottles, including the insulated ones, and can recommend them.

Where to stay in the Dolomites – best areas

Health and first aid kit

A couple takes a selfie near a rocky waterfall. The man wears a light green shirt and a backpack, holding a camera. The woman is in a pink jacket. Lush greenery is visible in the background. They both smile at the camera.

Band aids
Medicine for fever
Pain medicine
Medicine for stomach issues
Something for sore throat
Nose spray
Medicine you take every day
Travel insurance

I have a small baggy where I keep our travel medical kit. It includes most of the things above, except for the medicine I need to take regularly. Before the trip, I check the expiration dates and if I need to fill anything in.

It’s always a good idea to have your own medicine with you, as you never know where the nearest pharmacy will be. Or if it even will have the thing that you need – and let’s not even think about language barriers and allergies! And medicine in Italy is crazy expensive.

Make sure to take the stuff with you if you go hiking, too! Who knows what can happen – especially blisters!

And never travel without travel insurance, even if you’re an EU resident travelling in the EU. I’ve had too many times when the travel insurance just was better than the EHIC, for example, on Tenerife, when the hospital was far away and, according to the reviews, no doctors spoke English.

I personally have Revolut Premium with a travel insurance included, and it covered most of our trip when we had to cancel it before going because I broke my sitbone.

Best short hikes and easy walks in the Dolomites

Dolomites Hiking Packing List

Michal hiking on rocks during the lago di sorapis hike in the dolomites in summer

If you plan to go hiking on your trip, here are the things you should pack.

Even for easy hikes, it’s good to have proper equipment. Although the trails are well kept, there are still screed and stones occasionally.

Here is my list of recommended products, check it out!

Hiking clothes

A person in a red and blue jacket stands on a rock by a tranquil lake surrounded by forested mountains. The sky is overcast with low-hanging clouds, creating a serene and misty atmosphere. The lake's surface reflects the mountains and trees.

If you’re travelling in the warmer months, you can pack just leggings or shorts instead of full-on hiking pants. But make sure to check the weather even if you’re travelling in Summer.

On our trip in June, I wore leggings to most of our hikes, but there was snow around. Usually, though, it’s possible to hike just in shorts.

A woman stands on rocks at the edge of a serene, turquoise lake. She gazes towards towering, rugged mountains under a bright blue sky. The landscape is lush with green trees. She is wearing activewear and has her hands on her hips. — Lake Sorapis

But it’s always a good idea to have something warmer with you, especially if you’re planning to go to the higher altitudes. Although even when we hiked Tre Cime, which was at the end of August, it was really cold at Rifugio Locatelli. So, layers, layers, layers…

Same for a wind and waterproof outer layer. Honestly, I usually have my coat or a winter hiking jacket with me. The same trip in August, I was happy to have it at lake Braies – it was cold.

T-shirts and long-sleeve shirts probably don’t need an explanation – they’re needed not only on the Dolomites packing list, but any hiking packing list. Which also goes for a warm-ish middle layer and socks.

As for the hiking shoes – make sure to take ones with a very good grip. They can be trail running shoes (unless you’re going for very technical hikes and Alta Vias). Michal has Nike trail running shoes, and they were perfectly fine for hiking the Cadini di Misurina viewpoint hike.

The trails are generally rocky and, thus, slippery, especially when it’s wet/snowy, so pack according to the weather conditions. I personally am clumsy enough that I have full-on hiking boots with hard toe protection and ankle protection to not hurt myself.

Hiking accessories

A person in a red jacket stands triumphantly on a rocky mountain edge, holding hiking poles aloft. Snow-capped peaks and a partly cloudy sky form a dramatic backdrop.

Backpack
Hiking poles
Waterproof cover for backpack
Micro fiber towel
Water bottle

For backpack, I always recommend having at least 30l. That ensures that you have enough space for layers, snacks, the first aid kit, water bottle, etc. We have Decathlon hiking bags, and they’ve survived a lot.

If you’re flying, you can use the hiking backpack as your carry on luggage.

Hiking poles – many people say that they’re not necessary, but I personally like having trekking poles with us. Even on hikes such as Tre Cime, I like having the extra support when I get tired.

If your backpack is not waterproof, make sure to take a waterproof cover with you – you can get covers even in Decathlon. The weather in the mountains is not exactly predictable, and rain showers often come in quickly.

Micro fiber towel is a great thing to have for washing hands and stuff. The water in the streams, rivers, and lakes in the Dolomites is generally very clean.

Speaking of clean water, the tap water in the Dolomites honestly tastes better than the filtered one at our home. So have a refillable water bottle with you and save on plastics and buying bottled water.

Packing list for summer

A person in a pink and purple outfit stands on rocky terrain with pine trees scattered around. Towering cliffs and a cloudy sky form the backdrop, creating a dramatic and scenic mountain landscape.

If you’re travelling in summer, there are a few things I would add to your basic packing list for the Dolomites.

Shorts
Flip flops or sandals
Mosquito repellant
Sun hat
Wet wipes
Lightweight rain jacket

Summer stuff is essential if you’re travelling in the warmer months – it can get hot in those mountains! But don’t forget your rain jacket – thunderstorms are normal, especially in the afternoons.

All you need to know about the Dolomites in summer

Packing list for winter

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.

When travelling in winter, pack warm things. You can exclude things such as hiking shorts from your general list, but make sure to have warmer socks, for example!

These are things that you should pack in addition or instead of the items mentioned in the general Dolomites packing list.

All you need to know about the Dolomites in winter

Clothing

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.

Winter jacket
Winter boots
Winter pants
Middle layer, such as a fleece jacket
Hat
Gloves
Thick socks

You get the gist, right? Pack your warmest winter stuff with you! It tends to get cold, especially in the evenings and mornings. Make sure the outer layers are water and windproof, as well as breathable, so that you can keep warm as long as possible.

Accessories

a kid sitting on a toboggan and a michal standing next to a toboggan before riding down the snowing mountain

Thermal underwear
Neck gaiter

If you’re going to be exploring the great outdoors for a longer time, pack a thermal base layer.

A neck gaiter/tube scarf is perfect for doing sporty activities, as it keeps you warmer and is more comfortable than a normal scarf.

Ski/snowboard list

A person dressed in a red and blue jacket, black pants, and a white helmet is standing on a snowy slope with a snowboard. Behind them is a ski lift and a marked-off area. The background features snow-covered mountains and a clear blue sky.

There are many greatly priced gear rentals all over the Dolomites, but if you’d like to pack your own winter gear with you, here’s the list!

Skis/snowboard
Boots
Helmet
Goggles
Gloves
Jackets
Pants
Travel insurance that includes mountain sports’ protection

For skiing in the Italian Dolomites – the Dolomiti SuperSki area, it’s mandatory to have insurance that includes high-altitude winter sports. Without such, you can get a fine.

The best ski-in ski-out hotels in the Dolomites

FAQs

What to wear in the Dolomites?

Layers are your friend in any season. The weather can change quickly, with it getting cold in the summer and warm in the winter. Make sure to have a big enough backpack with you for storing those layers while not needed.

Can you drink the water in the Dolomites?

Yes, the tap water is great and safe to drink in the Dolomites, so make sure to pack your reusable bottle with you. Even some streams in the mountains have safe drinking water – there are signs telling you if the water is safe to drink.

Do I need hiking poles in the Dolomites?

Yes, hiking poles are a good idea in the Dolomites. Even if the hike is easy, they are occasionally helpful. Make sure to pack such that you can fold and store in the backpack when not needed.

In conclusion about the Dolomites packing list

Packing for the Dolomites is rather easy, as you basically pack layers, layers, layers for any season. If you’d like to use your own winter equipment, then the list, of course, gets a lot longer, but I get you!

What do you think, have I forgotten anything?

Dolomites Packing List: Plus a Free PDF Printable!

Essential Travel Items