Things To Do In The Dolomites In Winter: Ski And No Ski

The Dolomites are generally a ski destination in the winter. The Dolomiti SuperSki is amongst the biggest and best ski regions in the world, after all.

But luckily, there are a lot of things to do in the Dolomites in the winter besides skiing!

There are your traditional winter things to do, of course, such as ice skating, walking on frozen lakes, tobogganing, and Christmas markets.

But there are also some more unique ones – paragliding, ziplining, helicopter rides, and snowshoe walks!

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Winter activities in the Dolomites besides skiing

A snowy mountain scene with snow-covered buildings and trees. The sky is overcast, and mist partially obscures the mountain peaks in the background. The road in the foreground is clear with visible snow piled on the sides.

If you want to go to the Dolomites in winter and not ski, know that it is completely possible!

Here are quite a few of the activities that you can do: unmissable ones, adventurous ones, and some that are just a “must”.

1. Tobogganing

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This is one of the most fun family-friendly winter activities that we’ve done on our trips to the Dolomites.

And we’re talking adventurous tobogganing – on kilometers-long trails, specifically designed for it.

We did the ride in the Carezza ski resort, but there are also others, of course, for example, from Rifugio Auronzo by Tre Cime.

For most of these, you get up the mountain by a cable car, snowmobile, or similar, and then go down with the toboggan.

If you’re figuring out how to fit this into your Dolomites itinerary, I recommend going earlier in the morning, as in the afternoons, the track is bumpy.

– Hiking and sledding in Cortina
– Bolzano Winter Hiking & Sledding Experience
– The Great Dolomites road drive and sledding in Obereggen

2. Snow shoe hiking

Snow covered landscape with narrow ski tracks leading into the distance toward a range of rugged mountains under a bright blue sky. A few small wooden huts sit scattered on the rolling hills, emphasizing the quiet and remote winter setting.

This is one of the things on our bucket list. One of my planning customers wanted me to add snowshoeing to his itinerary, so I did some extra research, and boy oh boy! There are so many amazing hikes available!

Some of the places that interested me the most were snowshoeing in Tre Cime and Cinque Torri. It’s honestly such a unique way to see them!

Book now:

– Snowshoe tour at Cinque Torri
– Snowshoe tour at Tre Cime di Lavaredo
– The Dolomites at night with snowshoes

3. Christmas markets

Festive town square at dusk with people walking along a cobblestone street in Ortisei, Val Gardena lined with lit Christmas trees and glowing string lights overhead. Hotel buildings decorated with warm lights include one with a clock and the word "ADLER" and another reading "CAVALINO BANCO" set against dark mountain silhouettes in the background.

If you’re visiting in December, don’t miss out on the Christmas markets. There are quite a few all over the Dolomites, but the ones that caught my eye the most where the ones in Val Gardena – Selva and Ortisei.

They are easily reachable and look so cute! Especially the one in Selva, which has a “cable car” riding over the market.

And of course, the one in Bolzano, which is the biggest Christmas market in the area.

4. 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.

Yes, surprisingly, ziplining can be done in also in winter! At least the Zipline Monte Pana in Val Gardena, which we rode on in the summer.

The views from the zipline and from the mountain are just incredible, so I hope that we’ll be able to do it in the winter.

Make sure to dress warmly, though! The speed is such that you’ll feel colder than the air actually is.

Learn more about ziplining + video

5. Paragliding

a green paraglider prepared to launch on a snowy ridge in Monte Pana with wide alpine views of rolling hills and jagged peaks in the distance. Another skier moves downhill nearby while a second paraglider floats over the forested valley under a clear blue sky. — Paragliders at Mont de Seura – Val Gardena

Another one of those adventure activities that you’d think are only done in the summer, but in reality, can be done pretty much any season.

Paragliding is still one of the craziest things I’ve done in my life, and I think I’d gladly do it again, especially if I could go to a different area, for example, Seceda.

For paragliding in the Norther/Eastern Dolomites, look into Tandemflights Kronplatz – that’s the company I used. If you’re somewhere around Val Gardena, GardenaFly seems to be the best.

More info about paragliding

6. Enjoying the snow

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. — Lake Braies

There are many ways how you can enjoy the snow itself in the Dolomites.

I love the landscapes, to be sure. My favorites are the Braies and Pusteria valleys – there are lots of fields here so you can really see far, and it looks incredibly gorgeous all white.

And only in winter can you walk on top of the famous lakes of the Dolomites, such as lake Braies. It should technically be ice that you’re walking on, but the snow is usually so deep that it feels like walking on snow. And you can see such interesting angles of the places around when in the middle of the frozen lake.

7. Road tripping through the mountain passes and sightseeing

A snow-covered landscape with distant mountain ranges under a partly cloudy sky. Pine trees are scattered across the snowy ground, and the mountains are dusted with snow, contrasting with the blue sky above. — Carezza pass

Roadtripping through the mountains is such a quintessential thing to do in the Dolomites in winter. I honestly loved our November trip for that – the roads were lovely and empty, and the views – incredible.

The peaks and the meadows are filled with snow, and it looks like a fairytale.

There are many possibilities of where to drive. One of the most famous ones is the Great Dolomites Road, but basically, you can just put together any route, and it will be great.

If you’d like some help, reach out, and we can put the best trip together for you!

8. Cable car rides for views

A ski area sits in a snowy valley with chairlift lines descending through evergreen trees toward lodges and open beginner slopes. Forested mountains rise in layered ridges beyond the resort, with warm late day light touching the distant peaks. — View from the Mont de Seura chairlift in Val Gardena

If you don’t go in the off seasons, you also have the opportunity to go up to some of the most beautiful places in the Dolomites by cable cars.

Seceda, Alpe di Siusi, Lagazuoi, Cinque Torri – although the places will be filled with skiers, you can still just go up and enjoy the views.

And boy are the views worth it!

9. Snowmobile riding

Person in a helmet drives an orange snowmobile across a snowy path beside a wooden alpine lodge with balconies. Ski racks, outdoor seating with people, and a red flag sign are visible near the building with forested slopes rising behind it. — Not the snowmobile you want to ride, this one

Yes, it’s possible to ride a snowmobile in the Dolomites!

And you can be a passenger or the driver!

The most incredible is probably going up to Tre Cime di Lavaredo. Take a snowmobile, go snowshoeing to Forcella Lavaredo, and go down on a toboggan. Awesome!

Book now:

– Snowmobile rides in Cadore region
– Snowmobile + Sledding and The Great Dolomites Road Private Tour
– Snowmobile + dinner/lunch at Tre Cime

10. Enjoying the SPAs

View from inside a modern indoor pool area with large windows showcasing an outdoor pool and scenic landscape. Snow-covered ground and trees are visible outside, with a sunrise or sunset illuminating the horizon and reflecting on the pool water.

The Dolomites have quite a few spas with thermal baths and pools. They are available both in hotels and just with day access.

There is really no better feeling than resting in a nice and warm room or pool after a day out in the cold, skiing or hiking.

We stayed in a QC Terme hotel in Bormio, which is not in the Dolomites, but also not way too far away. It was amazing – the quality of the hotel and the staff, the food, the wellness and spa was amazing.

And I can see that there’s a QC Terme in Val di Fassa, both as a day spa and as a hotel.

There are quite a few interesting SPA hotels:

Search for more spa hotels in the Dolomites

11. Fat biking

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.

Did you think bicycle rides in the Dolomites are only available in the summer? No, they’re possible in the winter, too! But you need quite good and fat tires for that. Luckily, you can rent these in the Dolomites.

One of the places to go fat biking is in La Crusc in Alta Badia, where you take the ski lift up to the top station and go down the trails to the Armentara Meadows or (for experts) the locality of San Cassiano.

Just know that you’ll need a guide with you for this, as otherwise it can get dangerous.

– Fat Biking in Alta Badia
– Fat Biking in Val di Sole

12. Ice climbing and frozen waterfalls

A dramatic snow covered mountain cliff rises above a winter ski area with dark rock faces dusted in fresh snow. In the foreground colorful gondola cars hang from a cable line over a white slope with small wooden huts and sparse trees below. — Val di Mezdi is one of the places for ice climbing – in the picture, you see Cascate del Pisciadu

If you’re a climbing enthusiast, did you know that you can also do it in winter? And no, I don’t mean climbing walls inside.

In the summer you can enjoy the waterfalls roaring, and in the winter – go up on them ice climbing!

Of course, unless you’re an experienced ice climber, it’s important to remain safe and go with a guide. Luckily, since there are a lot of waterfalls all over the Dolomites, there are also lots of tours all over these mountains.

Book now

– Ice Climbing – adjusted to your skills – near Cortina d’Ampezzo

13. Horse-drawn carriage rides

Two horses wearing harnesses and blankets stand in the snow beside a red carriage near a ski area. Skis are lined up on racks to the right while chairlifts, small wooden huts, and distant mountains sit under a bright sunny sky.

Quiet, snowy landscapes, with only the horse’s hooves going clack, clack, clack…

Sounds like a paradise, right?

One of our bucket list items is going on a horse-drawn carriage ride in Alpe di Siusi. The largest high-alpine meadow in Europe is already incredibly romantic, so adding a quiet-ish ride behind a horse to it sounds perfect!

14. Dog sledding

A dramatic mountain peak rises above a dense green forest and grassy meadow under a blue sky with scattered clouds. A small building is partially visible among the trees in the foreground.

If adventurous activities are more your thing, why not try dog sledding?

I was surprised to learn that there are actually quite a sleigh rides with Siberian huskies available! It’s possible to enjoy the Passo delle Erbe and the Puez-Odle Nature Park with a bunch of cute doggies in front of you – what could be… cuter?!

And as an added bonus, if you’ve gone on one of the tours with Husky Sleddog, you can become a Musher for a day – they have a Huskysleddog School!

15. Visit museums

A modern white building labeled "LUMEN" sits on a grassy hilltop, with large glass windows overlooking a scenic mountain landscape. Several people stand outside under a cloudy sky.

If the cold and the wet becomes too much for you, there are quite a few museums scattered all around the Dolomites.

You can learn more about the history of mountaineering in one of the Messner Mountain Museums, for example. Or there are a number of museums where you can learn more about the Ladin Culture.

We went to one of the Ladin museums in Alta Badia – San Cassiano, to be precise. It was about bears, and it was interesting for both me and Emma!

16. Mountain cuisine with a view

A snowy ski slope under a clear blue sky with mountains in the background. A small cluster of buildings and trees can be seen in the distance. Yellow barriers are scattered on the snow. — View from the mountain restaurant Franzin Alm which sits at the top of a cable car

One of the coolest things about the mountain huts is that they’re not only apres ski, but available for the non-skiers. You can enjoy a lunch in one of the Rifugio just by taking a cable car up.

Or, to make the experience more interesting, there are guided night tours with a dinner and a drink in some rifugios.

17. Ice skating

An adult and a child, both bundled up in winter clothes, hold hands while ice skating on a frozen lake surrounded by trees under a clear sky. — Skating near our home on a frozen fish pond

Emma and I are both figure skating, so iceskating in unique places is definitely on our radar. I was excited to see that there are many open-air rinks in the Dolomites, so for our next winter trip, we’re packing our skates with us, for sure!

There are so many to choose from, but my eye is on Alpe di Siusi, and the Issinger Weiher/Lago d’Issengo pond, which is a natural pond that’s just frozen.

Skiing and snowboarding in the Dolomites – Dolomiti SuperSki

The numbers are the ski resorts, and the red-ish pins are the best places to visit in the Dolomites in winter.

Adult and child in ski gear stand on a snowy slope in front of trail signs while smiling at the camera. Signs behind them read "CHARLIE M4" "BRAVO M3" and "ALPHA" with directional arrows and a larger board that says "THE LEGENDARY 8 Val Gardena" and "BRAVO". Snow covered mountains and a clear blue sky stretch across the background.

Of course, since the Dolomiti SuperSki is one of the biggest ski areas in the world, there is lots and lots of skiing and snowboarding available. Here are the best and most popular options.

There are 12 ski resorts covered in the Dolomites which are covered by the Dolomiti Superski card. Each of them is great in their own ways.

One of the most famous is, of course, the Cortina d’Ampezzo ski resort. From the people in my Facebook group, I’ve learned that Cortina is for more advance skiers, but there are also lots of resorts around it for beginners.

A great one if you have a mixed group, which is our case, is Carezza ski resort. We stayed in Hotel Alpenrose in Carezza, which is a ski-in ski-out hotel, and enjoyed the slope right there.

Val Gardena and Alpe di Siusi are also great for all levels.

Winter holidays and events

A snow-covered landscape with a winding river, surrounded by evergreen trees. In the background, tall mountains are illuminated by golden sunlight at their peaks under a clear blue sky.

Here are some events you should pay attention on, as some of the places might not be open, such as restaurants or shops.

8th December: Feast of The Immaculate Conception (Festa della Concezione Immacolata).
National Holiday. Some businesses might be closed, although most are open so that people can start their Christmas shopping. Public transport might be affected – check the schedules.
24th December: Christmas Eve (La Vigilia di Natale)
It’s not a national holiday, but many businesses might close earlier or be closed on this day. Dinner reservations are essential.
25th December: Christmas Day (Natale)
National holiday. Expect businesses to be closed. Make sure to have dinner and lunch reservations!
26th December: St. Stephen’s Day (Il Giorno di Santo Stefano)
National holiday. Shops, restaurants, and other businesses might be closed.
31st December: New Year’s Eve (La Vigilia di Capodanno)
Observance day, not a national holiday. Expect businesses to close earlier on this day. Dinner reservations are essential.
1st January: New Year’s Day (Capodanno)
National holiday. Businesses might be closed. Lunch and dinner reservations are essential.
6th of January: Epiphany (La Befana)
National holiday. Businesses might be closed.

Keep in mind that the national holidays also will affect how many people are visiting the Dolomites. Expect lots and lots of people and be prepared for crowds and lines.

It’s essential that you have dinner reservations because lots of people and restaurants being closed might make it hard to find an empty table.

So, what to do in the Dolomites in winter?

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

There are lots of things to do in the Dolomites in winter, of course, and it’s not all about skiing. We enjoyed different activities, and we have even more on our bucket list now.

If you’re thinking of going to the Dolomites in winter, reach out, and I’ll plan your trip for you! Or I can check what your trip plan to see if it’s realistic.

Check out our services right here.

Do you have any questions? Ask them here in the comments or in the Facebook group!

Things To Do In The Dolomites In Winter: Ski And No Ski