Considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Dolomites had been on my bucket list for years. I knew I was definitely going to have to go there eventually, but I confess I wasn’t expecting to go there so soon 🥰 And what did I think about it? The Dolomites are one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited, so I was super excited to write this post with my Dolomites itinerary.

Despite being located in Italy, given the history of this region and the proximity of the border with Austria, we often almost forget that we are still in Italy 😉 You find signs written in German, you hear people speaking German, you see typically Austrian and German food on restaurant menus.

When I booked my trip to the Dolomites, I had very high expectations. I know we shouldn’t do this to avoid disappointment, but it was impossible not to create expectations when I saw the photos of the places I was going to visit. And do you know what? Expectations were totally surpassed!

If visiting the Dolomites is not yet in your plans, I recommend you continue reading this post so you convince yourself to book a trip there. If you have already booked your trip to the Dolomites, then keep reading to learn all about my Dolomites itinerary.

The Dolomites are a mountainous region where it snows a lot. In fact, you can easily see this when you look at the map of the region and see dozens and dozens of ski lifts and chairlifts. There are plenty of areas to do some snow sports, so if this is your main goal when visiting the region, then you should clearly visit the Dolomites in the peak of winter when there is more snow.

However, this Dolomites itinerary does not include snow sports. My trip to the Dolomites took place in the third week of May. Although rain threatened every day, it actually only rained on the first day!

If you want to do some trails (and there are some very interesting ones!), the best time to do this Dolomites itinerary is from August to the beginning of October. I ended up not being able to explore everything I wanted and had planned due to the still-existing snow. In fact, I heard from some people that in July they still found snow on some trails.

The number of days for the perfect itinerary in the Dolomites depends a lot on what you want to visit, as there are incredible places we can visit there. In my case, I chose to spend 4 days exploring the Dolomites and in my opinion, it was a good length for a first visit.

I managed to visit the most important lakes, one of the largest plateaus in Europe and breathtaking scenery and landscapes 😍

However, there is so much more to visit and so if you have a few more days available, don’t hesitate to increase the number of days in your Dolomites itinerary. At the end of this post, I will leave some additional suggestions for those who have more than 4 days available.

Being located in Northern Italy, one of the fastest ways to reach the Dolomites is through Verona airport. Alternatively, you can also use the airport of Venice or Treviso or even Milan. However, I warn you that in the latter cases the distance to get there is much greater.

In reality, it all depends on which part of the Dolomites you are going to visit. Nevertheless, this Dolomites itinerary includes some of the best-known places that are closest to Verona airport. I suggest you check out what flights you have available to Northern Italy and then try to rearrange this Dolomites itinerary in the best possible way.

Another option is to use the Innsbruck airport in Austria. In this case I warn you that car rental companies often charge extra for crossing borders. So you should definitely check out the rental conditions beforehand.

This itinerary through the Dolomites assumes renting a car, since this is undoubtedly the easiest way to visit the region. In my case, I chose to rent the car with an Italian company – Noleggiare. Noleggiare has service available in any of the 3 strategic airports to access the Dolomites (Verona, Milan and Venice). 

As soon as I landed in Verona, I headed to the meeting point where a shuttle takes us to the Noleggiare offices near Verona airport. The trip took about 5 minutes. We took all-risk insurance (I never risk it!) and rented a Toyota Aygo. It’s tiny but perfect for two people 😉

💡 EXTRA TIP: The shuttle is shared with some parking companies and thus has no Noleggiare identification on its exterior. Ask the various shuttles that are arriving if they are in service of Noleggiare.

Although it is more difficult to visit the region without a car, there is also a public transport system, and you can purchase the South Tyrol Mobilcard which gives you access to transport for several days: 1 day (15€), 3 days (23€), 7 days (28€).

There wasn’t a day in the Dolomites that didn’t surprise me. The Dolomites are undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited and I will certainly come back one day to visit what I didn’t get the chance to 😊

This Dolomites itinerary focuses on the most popular spots in the region. You can check out the map version of the itinerary here:

This first day includes the journey from Verona to the first stop on this itinerary through the Dolomites. This first journey is the longest, but still quite accessible.

We followed the road, without any restriction to avoid tolls and, quite honestly, I was immediately amazed by the landscape along the way 😊 The tolls (round trip) were 24€. We passed through a gate where it was necessary to take a ticket and we paid (in cash or card) further ahead by presenting the ticket. Super simple!

Bolzano was our gateway to the Dolomites. It is a lovely small town with a colourful central square, full of terraces and streets full of life due to the markets that exist there.

Our visit was quite short because, despite the heat, it rained a lot. Even so, it was enough to get to know the main points of interest in Bolzano:

• Walther Square
• Bolzano’s Cathedral
• Dominican Church
• Obstmarkt (where the street market is held)

After a short stroll through the centre of Bolzano, we also took a trip (by car!) to the incredible Roncollo castle. Built on a cliff, this 13th-century work of architecture looks like something out of a fairy tale.

💡 EXTRA TIP: If you have some extra time in Bolzano, I also suggest the Renon cable car that takes you from Bolzano to the Soprabolzano plateau. Although I haven’t tried it, from the photos I’ve seen it seems that from the top we get incredible views of the Dolomites.

🚗 WHERE TO PARK IN BOLZANO: The historic centre of Bolzano is pedestrian, with a few exceptions for locals and delivery services. There are several car parks available in the city (paid), but I ended up parking in this one.

The second stop on this Dolomites itinerary is Carezza Lake. This was one of the lakes I most wanted to visit because of the incredibly crystal clear colour of the water. However, it was raining quite heavily when we arrived at the lake and it was not possible to enjoy the space much nor admire the lake in its full splendour.

Even so, you could tell the colour of the water was incredible. On sunny days, this can really be one of the most incredible lakes in the Dolomites. In addition to visiting the lake, you can walk a short trail around the lake that takes about 20-25 minutes to follow.

Access to the lake is quite simple and you don’t have to walk along any trails to get there.

🚗 WHERE TO PARK TO VISIT LAKE CAREZZA: There is a car park right next to the lake, which is free for the first 15 minutes. After that, you pay 1€ for the first hour and then the amount increases according to the duration of the parking. They only accept cash, so it’s best to be prepared!

And to finish this first day of this Dolomites itinerary, I suggest a stop in Ortisei. Ortisei is another cute village of colourful tiny houses, surrounded by the majestic mountains of the Dolomites. It is a well-sought-after destination for tourists visiting the region, so expect crowds during the day in high season. As I visited Ortisei in the low season and at the end of the day, I almost had the village to myself.

Quite honestly there isn’t much to see, other than the pedestrian area between the chapel of Saint Ulrich and the chapel of Saint Anthony. In between, you will find a few restaurants, accommodations and small shops selling handicrafts and souvenirs (almost all closed when I visited!). However, don’t miss this village. Although it’s small, it’s worth it.

🚗 WHERE TO PARK IN ORTISEI: There are some parking spaces (paid during the day) on the streets of Ortisei, before entering the pedestrian zone. However, during high season, I doubt it will be easy to find a parking space. Therefore, I believe that the best thing to do is use the paid parking spaces available.

By the time I visited Ortisei it was almost dinner time and I opted to stay there. Problem with travelling in the low season? We went to the only restaurant that was open – Cascade Ristorante Pizzeria. Although it wasn’t the best restaurant on the trip, I enjoyed it. The menu is quite diverse and for all price points. We ended up opting for the pizzas which were tasty 😉

The accommodation chosen to visit the region will depend a lot on the itinerary chosen. In my case, I chose to stay two nights in Fiè allo Sciliar and it was an excellent decision for exploring the Dolomites in these first two days.

I chose Pension Fellis – a truly lovely family-run accommodation. The accommodation has a few rooms available and some have balconies with incredible views. The location where Pension Fellis is situated is breathtakingly quiet. The room I stayed in was quite spacious and very comfortable. In addition, there are several parking spaces, perfect for those who are doing a road trip in the Dolomites.

Finally, I must also mention breakfast. The breakfast room has an unbelievable view and is a great way to start the day. In addition, the breakfast had plenty of variety and even some homemade products. For example, the jams were very tasty.

Apart from Fiè allo Sciliar, if you are following this Dolomites itinerary, you may also consider other locations for your accommodation, such as Ortisei, Siusi allo Sciliar or Castelrotto.

Day 2 of this Dolomites itinerary starts at one of my favourite places on this road trip 🥰 Alpe di Siusi (or Seiser Alm in German) is a plateau and the largest alpine meadow in Europe. Get ready to think you’re in a Heidi movie.

In low season the road to get around the Alpe de Siusi is open, however, the beauty of the Alpe de Siusi is in letting yourself get lost on those green paths. In high season, the road is closed from 9 am to 5 pm, although it is possible to go down at any time. So, I suggest you try to arrive before 9 am and park the car in Compatsch. As I went in low season, I drove up to Compatsch after 9 am and still had parking spaces available in this park.

📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: As we visited in the low season (3rd week of May), the park cost “only” 10€ and we could park there all day. In high season, the park costs 20€.

In high season, there is a cable car that takes you from Siusi allo Sciliar to Compatsch. It is possible to leave the car next to the station of Siusi allo Sciliar in a free car park. The trip lasts 15 minutes and the price varies depending on the time of year but is around €13 (one way) and €20 (return). The cable car does not run all year round so I recommend you check the most up-to-date information here. Alternatively, you can also take a cable car from Ortisei. 

There is also a bus service to Alpe di Siusi. You can find more information about this service here.

Once we left the car behind, we walked to the famous viewpoint of the Alpe di Siusi. From the car park, it takes about 50 min to get there (3,7 km). Although the viewpoint gives some of the most beautiful photos of the Alpe di Siusi, the whole way there is ridiculously beautiful. I felt like a child, almost wanting to roll around in the grass 😝

After a good photo session at the famous viewpoint, we also ended up going to visit the instagrammable swing that is located next to the Malga Sanon refuge. It’s a short diversion and it ends up being funny!

In total, we walked about 10km and only spent one morning on Alpe di Siusi. However, the landscapes are breathtaking and there are dozens of trails you can explore. If you are a nature lover, I suggest a more extensive research to choose the trail that interests you the most. I am sure of only one thing: you will not be disappointed.

After lunch, we made a quick stop at Siusi allo Sciliar. It is a small village with only 2000 inhabitants. As you can imagine, the list of points of interest is quite short, so 1-hour maximum is enough to get to know this village.

Castelrotto is the next stop on this itinerary through the Dolomites and, in my opinion, more interesting than Siusi allo Sciliar. Although it is also a small village with little more to visit than its church, the colourful houses and narrow streets make us fall in love with this Italian region all over again.

As if the superb views of the Alpe di Siusi hadn’t already surprised me in the morning, the afternoon would still present us with more soul-warming views. We parked the car for free here and there we went for a short walk of about 25 minutes to the famous viewpoint over the church of Santa Magdalena. It is not possible to take the car up to the viewpoint as the road is closed.

The path is pleasant despite being mostly uphill to the viewpoint. At the top, we have a bench where we can rest for a while and then contemplate that magnificent view.

💡 EXTRA TIP: Relatively nearby, you can also take the opportunity to visit the Church of Saint John in Ranui. Currently, to get close to the church it is necessary to pay 4€, which also gives access to its interior. However, we opted to observe it only from afar as at that time it was no longer possible to visit.

And to finish the day, I decided to explore Fiè allo Sciliar, a village where I was staying and which wasn’t even in my plans. The village is as small or smaller than Siusi allo Sciliar or Castelrotto, but it was impossible to resist it.

We tried a very nice space – Alpin Roof Flora. In addition to a varied menu ranging from burgers to pasta or meat, we opted for two pastas that were quite appetizing. The restaurant also has a terrace – perfect for the hottest days.

On day 3 of this itinerary through the Dolomites, we changed accommodation as we would be moving further to the right in the region. Thus, the first stop of the day was right at the Gardena Pass – one of the best-known roads in the Dolomites at over 2000 metres altitude.

It connects Val Gardena to Val Badia and is clearly one of the unforgettable experiences in the Dolomites. We parked the car next to Rifugio Frara and from there we took the opportunity to explore the surrounding area a bit.

We hadn’t visited any lake since day 1 and so this 3rd day of the Dolomites itinerary was going to be very rich when it comes to lakes. So the first one we visited was Lake Valparola.

There is a refuge (Rifugio Passo Valparola) where it is possible to park the car for free. From there we can immediately see the lake, but it is possible to walk about 5 minutes to get closer to it.

💡 EXTRA TIP: Depending on the time of year you visit the Dolomites, I also suggest a stop at Lake Limides. You can park your car next to Rifugio Col Gallina and from there you need to walk about 20 minutes to the lake. Unfortunately, when we visited there was a lot of snow at the very beginning of the path and for that reason, we were not able to visit the lake.

It was time for lunch and we headed to Cortina d’Ampezzo – probably one of the best-known towns in the Dolomites. We only visited the historic centre, which has a few streets with colourful small houses and rather expensive shops.

To be very honest, I found the streets photogenic, but it wasn’t one of my favourite places on this road trip. Still, I think it’s worth a stop there.

For the first time in a few days, we felt like we were really in Italy and had pizza for lunch at Porto Rotondo. The restaurant has a nice terrace and an absurd amount of pizzas available. The hard part was choosing, but they were both quite good. The price was quite high though.

💡 EXTRA TIP: If you are following this Dolomites itinerary before you reach Cortina d’Ampezzo, I suggest you stop for a few minutes to enjoy the view from this viewpoint: Gallery Lookout.

We set off from Cortina d’Ampezzo towards yet another lake – Lake Ghedina. We searched in Google Maps “Lake Ghedina” and drove here, where we ended up parking the car as the road to continue towards the lake was closed.

Due to our mistake, we ended up walking almost 2km to the lake, mostly uphill. However, when we arrived at the lake, we realized that there was a road on the other side where it was possible to drive. Enjoy this tip so you don’t have to walk to the lake 😉 The lake has an amazing colour and there’s a small restaurant there that opens at certain times of the year.

The itinerary through the Dolomites continues to another… lake, surprise surprise! Lake Misurina is very easy to reach, as there are several parking spaces next to the lake.

The lake is enviably framed by the mountains and the yellow hotel in the background. It was quite overcast when I visited, which brought some mysticism to this visit. There is also a small walkway by the lake if you want to spend some extra time there.

The day ended at yet another lake – Lake Antorno and our accommodation was right there (I’ll talk about it in a second)! There are some parking spaces next to the lake, so you certainly won’t have any trouble finding a spot.

The lake is right there by the road, with all its natural beauty. There is a small path around the lake that you can walk if you are interested 😊

I stayed at Chalet Lago Antorno, right in front of Lake Antorno. It is a relatively small but wonderful accommodation. The room we got had a balcony with a superb view of the lake, making it a perfect choice for those seeking tranquillity.

The conditions of the accommodation far exceeded my expectations, with a relatively modern and simple decor. In addition, the buffet breakfast had some variety and was included in the price of the stay.

If you are following this Dolomites itinerary, another option is to stay overnight in Dobbiaco. Here are some suggestions:

• Aparthotel Germania
• Romantik Hotel Santer
• Nigglerhof
• Park Hotel Bellevue

Day 4 of this itinerary turned out to be the most adventurous of all and did not go at all as expected.

The initial idea for this day was to walk the trail that takes us to a fantastic view of one of the most famous spots in the Dolomites – Tre Cime di Lavaredo. The trail starts at Rifugio Auronzo and the round trip is about 10km.

There are 3 options to get to Rifugio Auronzo:

• By car: if you choose this option, you have to pay 30€ to drive on the road which is private (the fee only gives you access for 24 hours). There is a toll road shortly after Lake Antorno. The price varies depending on the type of vehicle and even bicycles pay. If you choose this option, go early because in high season the car parks at the top fill up easily and you may not be able to go up the road.
• On foot from Lake Antorno and two routes are available: option 1 – tarmac road where the cars pass (the trail is always uphill); option 2 – trail that starts near the toll road (it’s less steep, but the probability of finding snow until June/July is high)
• By bus: There are buses from Dobbiaco (nº 444), Misurina (nº31) or Cortina d’Ampezzo (nº30/31) to Rifugio Auronzo

When we arrived at Lake Antorno the day before, we immediately saw that the road to Rifugio Auronzo was closed, supposedly due to snow and ice on the road. We looked at the options we had, but because it was low season, the only option left to us was to hike to Rifugio Auronzo.

We decided beforehand that when we got to Rifugio Auronzo, we would not walk the whole trail to Tre Cime because it would be too many kilometres for the time we had available. We decided to follow the trail in the middle of the vegetation until Rifugio Auronzo.

And of course, it was the worst decision ever! Although it was hot, there was still lots of snow and we weren’t wearing proper shoes. We went very slowly over some parts with a bit of snow, until we reached a part with lots of snow and we had to sit down to pass through the snow 😂 Looking back now it seems like a very funny moment, but the truth is that I didn’t find it funny at the time.

After such an adventure, we arrived at Rifugio Auronzo with a feeling of victory. We walked a bit more to see if we could see the famous Tre Cime, but nothing. A lot of snow started to appear again and we questioned two people who told us that it was not possible to go much further on the trail. Conclusion: we went all the way down again (this time on the tarred road without snow) to Lake Antorno without having seen Tre Cime ☹

We promised that we would return at a time when it is guaranteed to be snow-free and possible to walk the trail (ideally August, or September). That said, I think you should only add this point to your Dolomites itinerary if you have experience and snow gear or are visiting at a time without snow.

After the adventurous morning, we needed a quiet afternoon and so we started by exploring Lake Landro. Access to the lake is via the road that crosses it. Just park your car and walk half a dozen metres.

There isn’t much hype about this lake in the Dolomites and I’m not sure how it’s possible because it’s beautiful! The colours of this lake easily compete with Lake Carezza or Lake Braies.

On the way between Lake Antorno (where we had the car parked for the walk to Tre Cime) and Lake Landro, there is a viewpoint over Tre Cime by the side of the road.

We continue this Dolomites itinerary to Lake Dobbiaco. A very serene lake, with the possibility of walking along its shores.

Access to the lake is also quite simple as the car park is situated right next to the lake. However, you have to pay for the car park.

💡 EXTRA TIP: If you have the opportunity, don’t forget to take a walk around the village of Dobbiaco, it’s really cute 😊

I ended up having dinner one of the days in a typical restaurant in Dobbiaco and it was great. The Schlosskeller Toblach has an intimate space and what I liked most was the tagliatelle with ragu and the apple strudel for dessert.

And of course, I left the best for last. Lake Braies I think needs no introduction as it is one of the most famous lakes in the world thanks to social media. Expectations were sky-high, needless to say! But you know what? It really is as beautiful as in the photos 🥰

I had the opportunity to visit it at the end of this 4th day (when it was overcast) and the next morning and with the sun it is even more beautiful. During the day and in the warmer months, you can rent boats and stay between half an hour (19 €) or 1 hour (29 €) on the lake.

Additionally, there is also a trail around the lake with a distance of about 4km. Anyway, you can always just “visit the lake”.

🚗 WHERE TO PARK ON LAKE BRAIES: There is more than one car park for Lake Braies. However, I believe that in high season they fill up very easily, given the high demand for this lake. The prices for the park are absurdly expensive. The first 15 minutes are free, but from then on cars pay 8€ to park for 3 hours from 7 am to 5 pm, 5€ from 5 pm to 8 pm and 3€ (no time limit) from 8 pm to 7 am.

On my last night in the Dolomites, I ended up staying in yet another rustic accommodation. Despite a slightly old-fashioned decor, the Gasthof Huber is only a 10-minute drive from Lake Braies, has incredible views from its balconies and has a very complete breakfast.

However, I leave you other suggestions for accommodation in the surroundings:

• Guesthouse – Cultural Center Gustav
• Hanslerhof
• Gasthof Albergo Dolomiten
• Waidacherhof Apartments

My last dinner in the Dolomites was probably one of the best meals of this trip. We went to the Gasthof Albergo Dolomiten and tried the pork loin with roast potatoes and the ravioli with ricotta and spinach. Everything was VERY GOOD!

And to finish my recommendations, if you are lucky enough to go more than 4 days to the Dolomites, here are some suggestions to add to your itinerary:

• Lake Sorapis: one of the most beautiful lakes, but you have to walk a trail of about 5 hours
• Seceda: beautiful mountain area, but only accessible by cable car (not all year round) or by footpath
• Lake Limides
• Passo Giau
• Lake Federa

I remind you that these are just a few ideas as the Dolomites are a true paradise for nature and trail lovers. I’m sure if you do a deeper search you will find many more amazing places to add to this itinerary 😉

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