Should You Go To The Dolomites In July Or August?

The answer is, of course – it depends.

July and August are the highest of high seasons in the Dolomites, with August being especially busy.

There are a few reasons to go – and a few more to try and avoid these two months.

Why go? Well, if you can’t go in a different time (hello, school holidays). If you’d like the highest possibility of summery weather, and the public transport, among other reasons.

Why not go? Loooooads of people, lines at the most popular places, higher prices, and thunderstorms possible.

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I know you’re saying – so, shall I go? Give me the answer!

Outdoor seating area with umbrellas and lounge chairs on a sunny day, surrounded by green hills and pine trees. A rocky mountain forms the backdrop under a clear blue sky. People are relaxing and enjoying the scenery.

Well, if you can’t go at another time, then yes, of course. There are a few ways that you can enjoy the Dolomites even if you’re going in the highest of high seasons.

I think that if you can’t go at another time, then it’s ok to go in July and August. We visited the Dolomites multiple

So – why go?

A rustic wooden house and smaller buildings sit on green grass near a rocky pond, with dramatic jagged mountains rising in the background under a partly cloudy sky. — This is in July

There are many reasons to go to the Dolomites, and I want to tell you – it’s ok to go in the high season.

Yes, there will be more people, but that’s just life.

Here are my reasons:

It’s good weather in the summer

Crystal-clear turquoise lake surrounded by lush evergreen trees with majestic mountains in the backdrop under a clear blue sky. Pink flowers frame the foreground, adding vibrant color to the picturesque landscape.

We’ve been lucky, and most of the times that we’ve visited in the shoulder seasons, the weather has been great to us. Sun, minimum rain, no snow in October! Let me tell you, we’re lucky.

As a side note, we had snow on our last trip in July 2025. So, yeah.

If you’d like the possibility of the longest and sunniest days, summer is your friend.

Having a car is not an option for you

A man wearing a blue shirt and backpack waits beside a modern green and black bus on a sunny day, with trees and mountains visible in the background.

In the shoulder seasons, there is a high possibility of the public transport having reduced – or no – service. So, if you can’t have a car, going in July and August is your best option at having more convenient bus schedules for getting around.

It’s the only time you can go

A smiling woman, a man in sunglasses, and a young child in outdoor jackets pose for a selfie on a grassy hillside with mountains and a partly cloudy sky in the background. The child's face is blurred.

This is our biggest reason for going in the high season. We have a school-aged child, and although we could take her out for of school for a week or so, we just don’t want to.

The learning she could do on the trip, that wouldn’t be such a problem, but for us, it’s important that she’s among peers – she’s an only child, so being with other kids is extra important for us.

What should you know about going to the Dolomites in July and August?

A large wooden frame labeled “#enjoyeggental” stands on a grassy mountain slope, perfectly framing a scenic view of green hills, forests, and distant blue mountains under a clear sky.

Prices, crowds, accessibility are the three main things.

Crowds

A group of people, some with backpacks and hats, walk along a narrow dirt trail beside a clear lake surrounded by green hills and tall trees under a bright blue sky.

There will be crowds in the most popular places, which is like the 5th time I’ve said it at this point. But believe me, I mean crowds.

I still encourage you to visit the non-negotiables for you (for us, it was Rifugio delle Odle), but the other places? Try and see them from afar, so to say.

Prices

A young girl in an orange dress stands on a chair on a balcony, looking out at a scenic view of mountains, pine forests, and a cloudy sky. Pink flowers line the balcony railing.

The hotels are much more expensive in July and August. And I mean quite a lot. It’s better to book them in advance, as that way, you might still catch some promotion or just lower prices.

Or stay out of the main areas, where the prices still haven’t hiked up that much.

Accessibility

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.

With crowds come lines. Plan for some time waiting in lines if you have some non-negotiables to visit.

What to do to avoid the crowds?

A winding dirt path leads through green pine forests on a sunny mountainside, with rolling hills and valleys stretching into the distance under a bright blue sky scattered with clouds. — Crowd-less

There are many reasons why you’d like to avoid the crowded places.

It’s not just that it’s frustrating being in a huge crowd for many people and that it takes longer to get to see the place if you wait in a line.

It’s also important to try and preserve the environment that are the Dolomites, and huge amounts of people is definitely bad for the mountains.

So, how to preserve it?

Try and avoid the hotspots – or make adjustments

A dirt path winds through a grassy meadow toward distant mountains under a partly cloudy blue sky. Two people walk along the path, surrounded by green fields and scattered rocks. — July

Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Lake Braies, Lake Carezza, Seceda, Alpe di Siusi are the first that come to mind.

I believe by now all of us have seen the image of the incredible, hours-long line near Seceda that shook the whole internet. Or the long lines for the Cadini di Misurina viewpoint.

If you’d like to go to these places, know that you might have to wait.

But there are ways that you can still go there and avoid some of the people!

Go early or late

A serene mountain lake with several wooden boats floating on the calm water. The surrounding landscape features tall, rocky mountains partially covered with clouds and dense green forests along the shoreline.

The biggest lines, from what I’ve seen, are from approximately 10am to 4pm. If you can avoid going to places at these times, you just might miss the crowds!

Sunrise and sunset are even better. It’s two in one – amazing colors and smaller crowds!

You’ll definitely need a car for going at these times, though.

Hike up where you can!

A scenic mountain landscape with a winding road leading to a building nestled against rocky cliffs. Clouds partially cover the mountain peaks, while patches of green grass and rocky terrain dominate the foreground. A few cars are visible on the road, offering a glimpse of the Cadini di Misurina viewpoint hike nearby. — View towards rifugio Auronzo

Seceda and Alpe di Siusi can be reached by hiking, as can Tre Cime di Lavaredo and Cadini di Misurina. It means that it’s gonna be much harder and take a longer time, but at least you’ll avoid the crowds by the parking lots and cable cars.

Go from different directions

A scenic mountain landscape with towering peaks and patches of snow. A winding dirt path leads through a lush green meadow dotted with trees. Two people walk along the path under a partly cloudy blue sky. — Val Fiscalina

Seceda? You can visit it by hiking from Dantercepies, for example. Or see it from the hiking trail to Resciesa!

Sassolungo? Hike from Monte Pana!

Tre Cime? If you’re up for it, you can hike from Val Fiscalina. The most of the crowds are at the beginning of the loop hike, so this way, you avoid them!

Or hike less-known trails

A winding dirt path leads over green hills toward distant rocky mountains under a bright blue sky filled with puffy white clouds. A small building sits on the left side of the landscape. — Mont de Seura

We can help you with some trails that are less known – book a call with us!

Some options that we found were Resciesa hut, Baita Seurasas, and even a tiny little lake in Alta Badia that looked a bit like lago di Carezza.

Or visit areas that are less popular in general. We were surprised how few people there were in Alta Badia and Plan de Corones!

The main reason to not go…

A modern wooden lounge chair with a cushion sits on a wet wooden platform in a grassy field, surrounded by pine trees and mountains under a cloudy sky.

Is that you’ll be adding to the crowds.

As I said, the environment is quite fragile, and more crowds mean more damage to it.

So, if you can go at any other time, please, do so. Except for April, May, and November – that’s when most everything shuts down. People prepare for the main seasons, hotels are being refreshed, and, well, people and the environment needs some rest.

In conclusion – should you stay or should you go?

A picturesque village nestled in a green valley with forested hills, white houses, and dramatic, jagged mountain peaks in the background under a clear sky. — October

Well, if I had the option, I’d go in June or September. Or even October.

If I didn’t have the option?

Yes, I’d go in July and August.

All in all, you need to figure out the two main things: can you afford to go in July and August? And are you ok with being in the crowds? And a bonus thing: are you ok with missing the main “hotspots”?

Answer those questions, and you’ll know if you should go.

Should you go to the Dolomites in July or August?

I know you’re saying – so, shall I go? Give me the answer!