The general overview and locations of the Dolomites

The Dolomites can basically be split into the Western Dolomites and the Eastern Dolomites, with each of them having a few mountain ranges each. They also each have one or two main towns where you can use as a base to visit the western and eastern side. They are Selva di Val Gardena and Ortisei for the west, as well as Cortina d’Ampezzo on the east (see labels in red below).

The Western Dolomites comprise mainly the regions and nature parks of Puez-Odle, Val di Funes, Alpe di Siusi and Marmolada, while the Eastern Dolomites for Tre Cime, Fanes-Sennes-Braies and Croda da Lago. In between both the west and east is a plateau in the central area called the Moviment area with the Pralongia plateau.

The main towns

Cortina d’Ampezzo

Cortina d’Ampezzo is a town in Eastern Dolomites and with it playing host to the 2026 Winter Olympics, is evidently a key place in the Dolomites. Within its vicinity, you can easily get to hikes such as Cinque Torri, Rifugio Averau and Nuvolau, Lagazuoi to Falzarego Pass and the tougher Croda da Lago trail. Also from the town, you can take a cable car to the Tofana peaks. Slightly further out but still within reach are the Tre Cime Nature Park (with the Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike and the hike to the Cadini di Misurina Viewpoint) and Lago di Braies.

These form a huge chunk of the popular Dolomites hikes and sights, therefore, Cortina d’Ampezzo makes for a very good place to stay in and act as a base for your hikes in Eastern Dolomites.

The town is also a good place for restaurants and shopping.

Selva di Val Gardena, Ortisei

Both Selva di Val Gardena and Ortisei are two of the main towns in the Western side of the Dolomites and they make good locations as bases for exploring the western side. Especially so when the popular cable car to Seceda is located in Ortisei, and the Dantecepies cable car that leads to one of the best hikes (Puez-Odle Altopiano hike) is in Selva di Val Gardena.

Popular sights in the west such as Val di Funes and the Alpe di Siusi are also within good reach. Slightly further is the Marmolada range, where the highest two peaks of the Dolomites can be found (Punta Rocca and Punta Penia).

Overall, these two towns are great locations to stay in when exploring the Western Dolomites.

Bolzano

This is the largest city in the vicinity and sometimes considered to be the capital of the Dolomites. Despite that, I do not recommend that you stay here as Bolzano is located on the far western side of the Dolomites. It will be extremely inconvenient to visit the various places in the Dolomites due to the longer drives involved.

The main sights – what you can do

1. Visit the lakes

There is an abundance of scenic lakes in the Dolomites, with a few of them located particularly in the northeastern parts. For example, the most famous lake in the Dolomites is Lago di Braies (also named Pragser Wildsee), where you can rent a wooden rowboat too. Also in the northeastern area are Lago di Dobbiaco and Lago di Misurina. Additionally, you can walk the loop trails round all of the abovementioned lakes.

2. Take the cable cars

If you are not into hiking or do not wish to walk much, then the best thing to do in the Dolomites is to take the cable cars. There are more than 100 of them so you don’t need to break a sweat in order to reach many of these peaks. Below are some of the most popular ones that you can consider for your Dolomites itinerary:

Cima Tofana – from the town of Cortina d’Ampezzo, the cable car takes you up to a great viewing point with amazing views of peaks in the area such as Croda da Lago, Cinque Torri and Averau. You can also do a very short walk up to the Tofana di Mezzo (the 4th highest peak in the Dolomites).

Marmolada – nicknamed the ‘Queen of the Dolomites’, the cable car takes you up to the highest peaks of the Dolomites. Specifically, you’ll reach Punta Rocca at 3,310m (the second highest peak) from where you can get views of the highest peak of Punta Penia at 3,343m.

Seceda – this is one of the most popular cable car rides taking you to the Odle-Geisler mountain range together with views of the Sella and Sassolungo mountain ranges.

3. Go on a few hikes

When there are such great views, it is not surprising that there are numerous scenic hikes in the Dolomites. And there are so many hikes that you can easily find one that fits your preferences and fitness levels. Below are some of the most popular ones that you can consider for your Dolomites itinerary:

Cinque Torri (and optional add-on to Rifugio Averau and Rifugio Nuvolau) – This is one of the more interesting hikes in the Dolomites with WWI trenches and bunkers integrated into the hike, as well as amazing views all around.

Tre Cime di Lavaredo – Significantly one of the most popular hikes in the Dolomites, the route gives you an all round view of the iconic Three Peaks

Cadini di Misurina – This short but very scenic hike gives you the best views of the Cadini di Misurina and Tre Cime di Lavaredo.

Puez-Odle Altopiano – For those seeking a more challenging and longer hike, this 15.5km hike brings you through constantly evolving landscapes, from green valleys to rocky formations.

4. Visit some towns and villages

In addition to the three towns (Cortina d’Ampezzo, Selva di Val Gardena and Ortisei) mentioned above, the Dolomites is dotted with many picturesque villages all around. Whether you are stopping by for a driving break, photo stop or a meal, some of these villages are so pretty they are worth a short walk in.

One village that stands out in particular is Santa Magdalena, where there are two very scenic churches set against the beautiful peaks of the Odle-Geisler mountain range.

Other worthy mentions include Compatsch in Alpe di Siusi, as well as La Villa or Corvara in the Alta Badia region (where you can also do the hike from Piz La Ila to Pralongia plateau).

Getting to the Dolomites

Unfortunately, there are no airports within the area of the Dolomites itself, so getting to the Dolomites may take a bit more effort. For most people, this means flying into one of the neighbouring cities before finding a way to get to the Dolomites. The nearby cities are Venice, Milan, Verona, Bolzano and Innsbruck to name a few.

By car

I would recommend you to rent a car for getting to, as well as getting around the Dolomites. That is if you can and are confident enough to drive in mountainous areas on the right side of the road. And if you are doing so, then Venice is by far the closest city to Cortina d’Ampezzo at 150 km with a 2 to 2.5 hour drive. Innsbruck comes next closest at 160 km for a 2.5 to 3 hour drive, but you have to drive through the Austrian-Italian border, which may add complication to renting a car.

The drive from Innsbruck to Selva di Val Gardena in the Western Dolomites is shorter though, at 120 km over 2 hours. The other options in the west include Bolzano (47km, 1 hour) Verona (192 km, 2.5 hours) as well as Milan Malpensa (356 km, 4-5 hours)

All driving distances and times quoted above are generally based on travelling from their respective airports. Most of the quickest routes do have tolls charged and may take longer in case you choose to avoid them.

As can be seen above, the closest city is Bolzano and you can also rent a car from there.

By train (and then bus)

Unfortunately again, there are no trains traversing the Dolomites region. However, you can arrive by train at Bolzano or one of the towns along the west. From there, you can then take buses 350 or 360 to Selva di Val Gardena. You can also rent a car from Bolzano before driving into the region.

There is also a train station at Dobbiaco that connects you from Austria. From there, you can then take bus 445 into Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Getting around the Dolomites

As I have said above, I would recommend that you rent a car for your days in the Dolomites. That is if you can and are confident enough to drive in mountainous areas on the right side of the road. This allows you to be in better control of your time, not having to rely on public transport schedules and also gives you the flexibility to make impromptu photo stops (which you will really want!).

Things to note when driving in the Dolomites

Due to the high popularity of some of the sights in the Dolomites, certain roads have road and car-parking restrictions.

Road and parking restrictions

The Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike, the Cadini di Misurina Viewpoint hike, Alpe di Siusi as well as the Lago di Braies are four of the attractions that may have road and parking restrictions in the Dolomites.

1. Rifugio Auronzo (starting point of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo and Cadini di Misurina Viewpoint hikes): It is mandatory to reserve your parking space online and in advance, in order to access the road leading to Rifugio Auronzo and its carpark. This costs €40 per car for a 12-hour window, otherwise you will need to take public transport.

2. Lago di Braies: During the period of 1 July to 15 September inclusive, the entire road network in the Pragser Tal Valley is closed to the public from 9am to 4pm. This is unless you reserve your parking space online and in advance.
3. Alpe di Siusi: The road leading to Alpe di Siusi is closed to the public between 9am and 5pm, during which you have to take public transport or the cable cars.

There may be other road restrictions to other attractions, or planned road works during your trip to the Dolomites. For planned road works, I have found Google Maps to be well updated so check your routes for specific days and times there.

By public transport

If you do not drive, or are not confident with driving through winding mountain roads, then you still have the option of getting around by public transport. The Dolomites area is largely served by two bus service companies, specifically the Sued Tirol bus and Dolomitibus.

The Sued Tirol bus company serves largely the western Dolomites area and so will be useful to cover areas around Val Gardena and the surrounding areas. You can plan your journeys with the Sued Tirol bus website.

Dolomitibus covers mostly around the Cortina d’Ampezzo area and will be useful to cover its surroundings such as Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Lake Misurina, Falzarego Pass and Cinque Torri. You can check their timetables with the Dolomitibus website.

By cycling or biking

For the more adventurous, there is always another option of cycling or biking around.

Cable cars

You will soon find that we are quite reliant on the cable cars to access the higher peaks and mountains without having to break a sweat to climb them. However, do note that the cable cars are usually not operational all year round. Please do check the operational days and hours of the cable cars at the Dolomiti Superski / Supersummer website prior to your visit.

In general, the cable cars are normally open during summer for hiking and biking, and in winter for skiing. There is a higher risk of closure during spring and autumn. Check the schedules nonetheless.

Where to stay in the Dolomites

As I have said above, the main towns are Cortina d’Ampezzo in the east, and Selva di Val Gardena and Ortisei in the west. Due to their close proximity to the respective hiking spots and cable car stations, these three towns are the most ideal places to be in.

For example, the Dantecepies cable car station is located in Selva di Val Gardena, the Seceda cable car station in Ortisei, and the Cima Tofana cable car station in Cortina d’Ampezzo.

They also have shops and restaurants, making it convenient for your daily supplies and needs. Particularly in Cortina d’Ampezzo, where I’ve found to be very self-sufficient.

If you have more than 4 days, then I think it is worth switching your base between the east and west as it will hugely reduce your travel time. Especially so if you are relying on public transport to get around. If you have less days than that, then I’d recommend that you pick from one of the west or the east and focus your Dolomites itinerary there. On the whole I have enjoyed the eastern side slightly more, if that helps you to make a choice.

Where I stayed

I was in the Dolomites for a total of 8 days, and so I split my visit 50-50 into the west and east. In particular, I stayed 4 nights about a 5 minutes drive from Cortina d’Ampezzo, and another 4 nights in La Villa in the Alta Badia region.

Ideally I would have chosen to stay in Selva di Val Gardena or Ortisei, but I planned the trip too late and couldn’t find suitable accommodation there. I thought I would be fine making the additional drive of 45 minutes from La Villa, but the mountainous routes made driving quite a hassle and a chore sometimes. So I will definitely recommend to book early and find accommodation in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Selva di Val Gardena or Ortisei.

There are definitely lots of other towns and villages dotted everywhere in the Dolomites and depending on how much you intend to cover in the Dolomites or how much you wish to drive, they can still be good options if they satisfy your needs.

But generally for a visitor with a mainstream Dolomites itinerary, go with the three above.

Number of days in the Dolomites

My first answer will be, as many days as you can. Because there is so much that you can do and see in the Dolomites. Especially if you are intending to do a few hikes and take a few cable car rides.

While you can definitely do a day trip up, you’ll probably be missing out on a lot. I’d say then, that you should aim for at least 3 days so you can do a hike, drive to a few scenic areas and get to enjoy the extraordinary beauty.

What I did

I spent 8 days in the Dolomites, half the time in the eastern Dolomites and then the other half in the western Dolomites. I still didn’t get to complete the hikes that I wanted to do or the sights that I wanted to see, but it was just about the right time for a first trip I thought. In case hiking is not quite your thing, it is definitely up to you to cut the Dolomites itinerary down according to your preferences.

When to visit the Dolomites

If you intend to visit the Dolomites for summer activities such as hiking, biking and cycling, this is best done in the months from June to September. However, there is still a likelihood that some of the hiking paths will be covered in ice and may be closed in the earlier parts of June. For example, the route from the Cima Tofana cable car station to Tofana di Mezzo was still closed due to icy conditions when I was there in mid June.

July and August are expected to be very busy months, so if you wish to avoid the crowds, end June or September will be best.

If you are intending to visit the Dolomites for skiing, then the winter months of December to April is the best time. Visiting in December may pose some risks though, as there may not be enough accumulated snowfall if there is any delay in the arrival of winter.

Managing costs in the Dolomites

Especially with its rising popularity with tourists, the Dolomites is increasingly getting expensive. Although it is still much more manageable than its neighbour, Switzerland.

So, be prepared to visit the Dolomites with a better budget. Especially when some of the popular cable car rides can be very expensive. For example, it costs €74 just for the return cable car trip to Seceda, and €45 for the return cable car trip from Cortina d’Ampezzo to Cima Tofana.

Dolomiti superski / supersummer pass

One of the ways to get around the expensive cable car fares is to get the Dolomiti superski (winter) or supersummer (summer) pass. This pass will allow you to ride on all cable car and chairlift rides in the Dolomites (except for all lifts for Seceda). You can purchase either a day pass, a 3 out of 4 day pass or a 5 out of 7 day pass. Refer to their online website to find out more in detail and make your purchase.

Choose the cable cars that you intend to go for and do your sums before deciding whether the card is worth for your Dolomites itinerary.

Notes:

1. There is a Points Value card which I think does not help much with savings compared to the Superski / Supersummer pass.
2. You need to pick up your Dolomiti Superski / Supersummer pass from a point of sale office or a pick-up box. Refer to this link for all the pick up points. Do note that the nearest from Cortina d’Ampezzo is Piz Sorega or Piz La Ila cable car stations, whereas in Selva di Val Gardena and Ortisei, you can pick them up at Dantecepies and Seceda cable car stations in the town itself. You should plan your Dolomites itinerary to factor this in accordingly.

Regional passes

If the Dolomiti Superski / Supersummer passes aren’t suitable for your Dolomites itinerary, you can also consider the regional passes. For example, you can consider the Val Gardena pass when staying in the area, and the Cortina d’Ampezzo pass when there. You can view the list of cable cars in each area and then decide which regional pass may make sense purchasing for your trip.

There is also a Moviment Pass which covers a subset of the Alta Badia regional pass, specifically the area in the map below. You can consider using this pass in particular, for the Piz La Ila to Pralongia hike.

Convenience vs budget

Especially for the Dolomites, there is a need to think about how to balance convenience versus budget. This is because most of the time, reducing the budget and costs may end up with sacrificing convenience.

For example, you may want to skip paying €40 for parking at Rifugio Auronzo for the Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike, or skip the €40 for the road and carpark access at Lago di Braies. But that would mean taking the public transport and relying on the bus schedules.

It may be cheaper to take public transport instead of renting a car, but that would mean not being able to make impromptu photo stops at scenic spots (plenty of them!), and reduced flexibility in your Dolomites itinerary.

All in all, assess your options and decide how much budget you are willing to trade for added convenience.

Suggested Dolomites itinerary

I have written the suggested Dolomites itinerary in the form of modules, with each module generally representing activities for a single day. Other than the first day as well as the day of driving between the western and eastern Dolomites (which I label as Day X), each itinerary day is prefixed with ‘W’ or ‘E’. This represents ‘West’ or ‘East’, indicating the location of the activity for that day.

For ‘W’ activities, you should stay in the Val Gardena region (Selva di Val Gardena or Ortisei), while for ‘E’ activities you should stay in Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Then you can pick and choose those days that interest you and piece them up into a complete Dolomites itinerary.

Seasonality

Firstly, this suggested itinerary is mainly for visitors during the summer months of June to September when hiking trails are open and clear of ice.

In case you are travelling during the months outside of June to September, you should drop all the hikes from this itinerary. You can then replace them with skiing if travelling during the months of December to April. Make sure to also check the opening days of the cable cars prior to your visit.

As a day trip

I wouldn’t really recommend doing the Dolomites on a day trip as you will spend hours on the travel journey and then cover only a tiny tip of the iceberg. However, if your stay in Italy is short and you’d like to get a flavour of the Dolomites, then I’ll suggest doing one of the day tours departing from Venice. This is so that you can maximise your time in the day to see the Dolomites, ensuring no time wastage by following an experienced guide.

Day 1 – Travel to the Dolomites

The first day of your Dolomites itinerary will obviously be mostly about getting there. If travelling from Venice, it will then be closer to arrive at Cortina d’Ampezzo in the east. Otherwise from Milan, Verona or Bolzano, you will be closer to the west where Selva di Val Gardena and Ortisei are. If travelling from Innsbruck, then you can choose between the two.

Option A: From Venice / Innsbruck to Cortina d’Ampezzo

Pick up the car and drive about 2.5 hours to Cortina d’Ampezzo. If you begin the drive early enough, you should arrive at Cortina d’Ampezzo around lunch time. This is a great time and place to have lunch and after that, you can pick a short hike to do in the region. One good option is the Lagazuoi to Falzarego Pass hike which should take you around 3 hours.

Alternatively, you can either explore the town of Cortina d’Ampezzo, or take the Tofana cable car to Cima Tofana and then do a very short walk to Tofana di Mezzo.

Option B: From Milan / Verona / Innsbruck / Bolzano to Val Gardena

Pick up the car and arrive first at Val Gardena in the west, especially if arriving from Milan, Verona or Bolzano. Depending on where you are driving from, you may arrive at Val Gardena in the early afternoon.

After lunch, you can either choose to visit Seceda from Ortisei, take the cable car to eastern Alpe di Siusi also from Ortisei, or just explore the town.

Day E01 – The Lakes of the Dolomites

Lago di Braies

Lago di Braies (also known as Pragser Wildsee) is one of the most scenic lakes in the Dolomites because of its turquoise-green coloured waters, the wooden boathouse and its surrounding towering mountains.

The advantage of getting here first thing in the morning is that you are less likely to see crowds, especially at the wooden boathouse.

A typical visit here includes spending 45 minutes on a rented rowboat, taking a 1.5 to 2 hour hike around the lake for a complete view (3.4 km / 2.1 miles) as well as having some refreshments or lunch.

Lago di Dobbiaco (optional)

After that, take a 25 minutes drive to Lago di Dobbiaco, another scenic lake in the Dolomites. Here, you can take another walk around the lake (2.6 km / 1.6 miles) or simply just enjoy the views from the lake-side restaurant.

Vista Panoramica Tre Cime Lavaredo (optional)

A 7-minute drive from Lago di Dobbiaco brings you to Vista Panoramica Tre Cime Lavaredo, which is a viewing point of the Tre Cime (Three Peaks). However, you can skip this if you intend to do the Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike as you will have much better views of it on the hike.

Lago di Misurina

An 11-minute drive brings you to yet another beautiful lake at the Dolomites. Particularly at this lake, you can get good views of the Tre Cime (Three Peaks). Once again, I’d recommend you to do this easy Lago di Misurina loop if you do not intend to do the Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike.

If you still have time for the day, you can take the cable car up to Tofana (normally closes at 5pm), explore Cortina d’Ampezzo, or just relax and rest at your place of accommodation.

Day E02 – Tre Cime di Lavaredo and Cadini di Misurina

Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike

Drive or take the public transport (bus 51 and then bus 50 from Cortina d’Ampezzo) to Rifugio Auronzo, which is the starting point of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike.

Take note that if you intend to drive to Rifugio Auronzo, then you need to make sure to book a parking space online and in advance. Otherwise, you will have to take the bus from Misurina Genzianella.

The hike measures 10.3 km (6.4 miles) in total and brings you all round the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, thus giving you a complete and full view of the famous three peaks. It should generally take you around 4 hours to complete, although you can add on some detours or cut down certain parts of the hike.

Hike to Cadini di Misurina viewpoint 

If you are still up for more after the Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike, then go on the hike to Cadini di Misurina viewpoint. If you need some food and refreshments before the second hike, you can do so at Rifugio Auronzo.

This hike also begins from Rifugio Auronzo and takes you on a very short trail to the Cadini di Musiruna viewpoint, where you can get very up close to the impressive jagged peaks of the Cadini di Misurina range. You may have to queue for your turn to get onto the viewpoint though, but the wait might just be worth it!

Also, this short hike gives you very impressive views of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo along the way.

The hike measures 3.3 km (2.1 miles) in length and can be completed within 1.5 hours (excluding the queuing time for the viewpoint) so is a fairly short add-on to the Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike.

After that, return to Cortina d’Ampezzo for a nice dinner after a full day’s hike.

Day E03 – Cinque Torri, Rifugio Averau and Rifugio Nuvolau

Cinque Torri

Firstly, this is a very short and interesting hike through and around the ‘5 Towers’, which is the english translation for ‘Cinque Torri’. It also acts as an open-air museum about the warfare that took place in the area during WWI. I love how they have integrated the WWI bunkers and trenches into the hike, with informational panels about the history and events that took place here.

This is a 2 km (1.2 miles) short hike through and around Cinque Torri, though there are also numerous other routes in and around that you can take. The suggested 2 km route should generally take you around an hour to complete.

Rifugio Averau and Rifugio Nuvolau

Then, go on the hike to Rifugio Averau and Rifugio Nuvolau, which is a slightly more difficult hike than Cinque Torri. The hike brings you to amazing viewpoints of the neighbouring mountain ranges, including the Croda da Lago and Tofana di Rozes.

This is a hike measuring 4 km (2.5 miles) in total length to and fro and generally takes about 2 hours to complete. You can have lunch either at one of the Rifugios (if they are open) or at the start and end point, Rifugio Scoiattoli.

The combination of both hikes should take you around 4.5 hours inclusive of a lunch meal at one of the rifugios. Therefore, you will have some time in the afternoon. You can either do the Lagazuoi to Falzarego Pass downhill hike (which is just a short drive away) or return to Cortina d’Ampezzo to take the cable car to Cima Tofana (if you haven’t done so yet).

Day E04 – Croda da Lago trail

I have not been on this hike before, but I have seen pictures and read about how spectacular the views are on this trail. Especially so with the views at Lago Federa. Furthermore, it is only a 20-minute drive from Cortina d’Ampezzo.

You will be able to see this spectacular mountain range from Cima Tofana, Tofana di Mezzo as well as the hike to Rifugio Averau and Rifugio Nuvolau.

In particular, this is a 13.1 km (8.1 miles) trail with significant elevation gains and losses so is a fairly moderate to difficult hike. You may refer to this guide by Earth Trekkers where you can get quite a good account of the hike in detail. Expect to spend about 5-6 hours on this hike.

Day E05 – Lago di Sorapis

This is another hike that I have not been on, but is again one of the highly talked about ones in the Dolomites. Similarly, the starting point of this hike is close to Cortina d’Ampezzo and is only a 15-minute drive away.

There are two possible ways to hike to Lago di Sorapis, either to-and-fro, or in a loop. Hiking the former is slightly shorter at 11.6 km (7.2 miles) and is moderately difficult, whereas the latter is longer at 13.2 km (8.2 miles) and much more strenuous. This guide by Earth Trekkers gives you a very good account of both options in detail. You should generally expect to complete the hike in 3-5 hours and 5-7 hours respectively.

Depending on which option you choose to take, and how long you take to complete the hike, you can then take the cable car to Cima Tofana or explore the town of Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Day X – Drive between the east and west Dolomites

Which option to take

While you drive between the east and west of Dolomites, you can either (A) drive via the north where you can do the hike to Pralongia, or (B) via the south where you can visit Marmolada.

I’d recommend taking option A if you are visiting as a family with children, or you’d like to do a manageable and easy hike. This is because during the hike to Pralongia, there are many family-focused activities at Piz La Ila and Piz Sorega where children can have some fun. Also take this option if you’d like to do a panoramic hike with views of the Sassongher and Sella mountain ranges. This option also involves a shorter drive.

Take option B if you’d like to visit and see the tallest two peaks in the Dolomites, especially if you wish to do minimal walking or hiking. Compared to Pralongia, I think the views from Marmolada are better and there is a viewing platform where you can take great pictures. Also, you can visit the Museum of the Great War, which documents the life of soldiers during the WWI at Marmolada.

Overall, I’d choose option A if I’m bringing children, want to have a panoramic hike or want a shorter drive. And I’ll then choose option B if I want to visit the highest peaks, capture more impressive views or understand more about its history.

Option A: Piz La Ila, Piz Sorega and hike to Pralongia

The cable car to Piz La Ila is located in the town of La Villa, and is about a 50-minute drive from Cortina d’Ampezzo. Then it is just another 40 minutes drive to Selva di Val Gardena in the west Dolomites.

After taking the cable car to Piz La Ila, you can then do the panoramic hike to the Pralongia plateau. The Pralongia plateau is also nicknamed ‘the Amphitheatre of the Dolomites’ due to the all round views of mountain ranges. Displayed all around you at Pralongia, are the mountain ranges of both the west and east Dolomites.

Following that, you can then hike to Piz Sorega before taking the chairlifts or hiking back to Piz La Ila. Both Piz La Ila and Piz Sorega also have children’s playgrounds, restaurants and water features where you can just rest and relax. Which is also precisely why I think this option is suitable for family-oriented trips.

Option B: Marmolada – the highest peaks of the Dolomites

Unlike the journey to La Villa, it is a longer journey to take to get to Marmolada. Firstly it takes about 65 minutes to drive from Cortina d’Ampezzo to the cable car station in Malga Ciapela. And then another 60 minutes to get to Selva di Val Gardena. This is in total about 35 minutes longer than Option A.

You will take a series of three cable cars, first to Antermoja, then to Serauta and finally to Punta Rocca.

At Serauta, you can visit the Museum of the Great War for free, where you can learn more about the soldiers’ life in the mountains during WWI. You can also take a short walk to some of the WWI bunkers and remains.

Then at Punta Rocca, this is where you can have a photo at the viewing platform, view Punta Penia the highest peak in the Dolomites, and visit the chapel – Grotto of the Madonna.

Seceda

Whether you choose to go for option A or B, you are likely to have some time left for the day. If you’d like to, you can also take the cable car from Ortisei to reach Seceda in the Odle-Geisler mountain range (that is if you are travelling from the east to west).

From there, you can also do a short and easy 1.5 km Seceda Ridge Trail for just under an hour.

Cima Tofana

And if you are travelling in the opposite way from the west to the east, then you can do the Cima Tofana cable car from Cortina d’Ampezzo if you have some time left in the afternoon.

Day W01 – Alpe di Siusi

Alpe di Siusi is the highest alpine meadow in Europe and has numerous walking trails available as well as restaurants to dine in. There are two ways you can visit it, either the cable car from Ortisei to the eastern side, or the Seiser Alm Aerial Cableway from Siusi to the western side.

Ortisei – Alpe di Siusi cable car

Firstly, just a 10 minute walk away from the Ortisei – Seceda cable car station is the Ortisei – Alpe di Siusi cable car station (indicated as Seilbahnen St.Ulrich – Seiser Alm on Google Maps). This cable car however, takes you to the eastern side of Alpe di Siusi while the more commonly visited is the western side where the town of Compatsch is located.

Seiser Alm Aerial Cableway

Secondly, you can choose to take the Seiser Alm Aerial Cableway from the town of Siusi which will then take you to Compatsch. From Ortisei to Siusi is either a 25 minute drive or a bus service 172 away.

From Compatsch, you can then choose one of the hikes available, including one that goes downhill into Saltria.

Alternatively, you can also drive from Ortisei to Compatsch, but this is restricted to only before 9am and after 5pm. The road up to Compatsch is otherwise closed to public outside of these hours.

Day W02 – Puez-Odle Altopiano hike

This is a fairly long day hike measuring 15.5 km (9.6 miles) and is moderately difficult not only because of the distance, but also the 580m elevation gain and 1,200m elevation loss involved in this hike. However, you will be well-rewarded with the ever-changing dynamic landscapes during the hike. From green valleys to rocky formations and plateaus, the constantly changing environment makes the hike interesting and exciting.

The route should generally take you 6-8 hours to complete. But due to its moderate difficulty, it may not be a hike that everyone will want to include in their Dolomites itinerary.

Given that the hike itself takes 6-8 hours, this will likely be your sole activity for the day. I was so tired after the hike that I didn’t even want to do anything else. So, return to your place of accommodation and have a good rest for the day!

Day W03 – Val di Funes

Val di Funes is a beautiful valley located at the northwestern corner of the Dolomites, which is also part of the South Tyrol province of Italy. The region is surrounded and dominated by the dramatic Odle-Geisler mountain range, thus making it highly popular among photographers and hikers. It is part of the wider Puez-Odle Nature Park and is dotted with a series of lovely villages such as San Pietro, Colle, San Valentino and of course, Santa Magdalena.

Adolf Munkel Weg

One of the most popular hikes to do when visiting the Val di Funes is Adolf Munkel Weg. The trail begins from Zanser Alm and then takes you along the Odle-Geisler mountain range and a couple of rifugios. The total distance for the hike measures 9.5 km (5.9 miles) and is a moderate hike with a constant elevation gain and then elevation loss of about 400 metres. It should generally take you around 3-4 hours to complete the loop.

You may also want to have lunch at one of the rifugios along the way.

Santa Magdalena

After that, take a short 10-minute drive to the picturesque town of Santa Magdalena, where you can capture some of the best pictures of the Odle-Geisler mountain range.

You can visit the two scenic churches as well as their corresponding viewpoints by walking the modified version of the Santa Magdalena Panoramic Path. Specifically, they are the Church of St John, and the Church of Santa Magdalena.

In total, the trail measures 5.6 km (3.5 miles) and takes you to both churches and both their viewpoints. Although relatively easy, the trail is hilly and quite uninteresting. But the pictures you get are arguably some of the best and most iconic in the Val di Funes. The route should generally take you around 2 hours to complete.

If you still have time for the day and have yet to visit Seceda, then you can also consider fitting it into the day. Otherwise, explore your town of accommodation or relax for the day.

Piecing together the Dolomites itinerary

As I have said above, days prefixed with ‘E’ refer to the East Dolomites, and those prefixed with ‘W’ refer to the West Dolomites, with Day X referring to the day for driving between the east and west.

With the help of my opinion on the hikes I have done, you can then pick and choose the hikes that suit your level of fitness and preferences.

Once you have made your choices of hikes and activities in the east and west, you can then piece together a Dolomites itinerary, connecting them with Day X (the driving day in between).

Example

For example, if you wish to do the hikes and activities in days E01 to E03 and days W01 to W02, then your Dolomites will look like the following:

• Day 1 – Travel to the Dolomites
• Day 2 – E01: The lakes of the Dolomites
• Day 3 – E02: Tre Cime di Lavaredo and Cadini di Misurina
• Day 4 – E03: Cinque Torri, Rifugio Averau and Rifugio Nuvolau
• Day 5 – X: Drive from East to West (choose between the Pralongia hike or Marmolada along the way)
• Day 6 – W01: Alpe di Siusi
• Day 7 – W02: Puez-Odle Altopiano hike

Based on this example itinerary, you should then plan to stay in the east (near or in Cortina d’Ampezzo) for Days 1-4 and in the west (near or in Selva di Val Gardena / Ortisei) for days 5-7.

My itinerary

There were a few reshufflings due to the weather during my visit to the Dolomites, but my final and actualised Dolomites itinerary is as follows:

• Day 1: Drive from Venice to Cortina d’Ampezzo (Lagazuoi to Falzarego Pass hike abandoned due to weather)
• Day 2: Cinque Torri, Rifugio Averau and Rifugio Nuvolau
• Day 3: Tre Cime di Lavaredo
• Day 4: Cadini di Misurina viewpoint, Lago di Misurina, Lago di Dobbiaco, Lago di Braies
• Day 5: Cima Tofana cable car, Marmolada
• Day 6: Sass Pordoi, Seceda Ridge trail
• Day 7: Puez-Odle Altopiano hike
• Day 8: Piz La Ila to Pralongia and Piz Sorega, Santa Magdalena
• Day 9: Boe and Vallon cable car, return drive to Venice

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