Ultimate Dolomites Itinerary For 7 Days Or More (2025)

As avid hikers, we knew we had to come to the Dolomites. From the jagged mountain peaks, epic multi-day hikes, turquoise glacial lakes, to rolling pastures straight out of a fairytale, the region has landscapes like no other. Plus, we had just finished an unforgettable road trip through Sicily where we may or may not have indulged in one too many cannolis and arancinis, so getting active in the Dolomites seemed like the perfect plan! But such a vast region to explore, figuring out where to go, what to do, and how to structure the itinerary was no easy task. Now that we have completed our Dolomites road trip, we have put together the ultimate Dolomites Itinerary for 7 days or longer!

We spent just under two weeks hiking and exploring, and we’ll be sharing our exact route—plus alternative options if you’re short on time.

Let’s get right into it!

Best Experiences in the Dolomites

When we share itineraries, we love to start with the top experiences you’ll get to enjoy. This way, with just a quick glance, you can see if this itinerary matches your travel style!

So, without further ado, here are our favorite highlights from our Dolomites adventure:

Where to start this Dolomites Itinerary

The best starting point for reaching the Dolomites is by arriving at Venice Airport and then renting a car from there. From Venice Marco Polo Airport it is only a 2 hour drive through some stunning landscapes to reach the main town of the Dolomites, Cortina D’Ampezzo. Alternatively, there is a convenient shuttle bus by ATVO that brings you straight to Cortina D’Ampezzo.

It is also possible to start from Treviso, Verona, or even Innsbruck in Austria but they are far less convenient. Since Venice Airport is a primary hub receiving many regional and international flights, this would be the recommended starting point.

Dolomites Itinerary: 12 days road trip in the Dolomites

This Dolomites Itinerary will start from Venice airport and will end at Venice Airport.

We spent close to two weeks exploring the Italian Dolomites so this itinerary will reflect almost the exact route we took. However, in the following section, we will highlight how to plan your Dolomites road trip if you only have 7 days. We will provide suggestions of what to remove so that you can still make the best of your time there!

Quick Dolomites Itinerary Summary

• Day 1: Arrival in Venice, rent car, drive to Lago di Misurina (2 hours, 160km)
• Day 2: Lago di Sorapis (10 min drive each way)
• Day 3: Via Ferrata Tour or Helicopter Tour (30 min drive each way)
• Day 4: Lago di Braies and Caravan Park Sexten (60 minutes each way)
• Day 5: Hike to Rifugio Fonda Savio and spend the night (no driving)
• Day 6: Cinque Torri and stay at Lago D’Alleghe (1h20 driving)
• Day 7: Drive to Val Gardena and explore Ortisei (1h30 driving)
• Day 8: Seceda Ridge (no driving, can take bus)
• Day 9: Alpe Di Siusi (no driving, can take bus)
• Day 10: Val Gardena Active activity (no driving)
• Day 11: Drive to Val di Funes and viewpoint hike (45 mins drive)
• Day 12: Adolf Munkel hike in Val di Funes (20 mins drive)
• Day 13: Return to Venice (3 hours drive)

How many nights in Each Town in Dolomites itinerary

• 4 nights in Lago di Misurina | Hotel Dolomiti Des Alpes
• 1 night at Rifugio mountain hut | Rifugio Fonda Savio
• 1 night Lago D’Alleghe | Sport Hotel Europa
• 4 nights in Val Gardena | Hotel Alpen Royal
• 2 nights in Val di Funes | My Arbor-Plose Wellness Hotel

Day 1: Arrival in Venice, Drive to Lago Misurina

On your first arrival day, you will be renting your car from Venice Marco Polo Airport before embarking on the 2 hour drive to Cortina D’Ampezzo, and then heading to your hotel at Lago di Misurina.

⚠️ Important Car Rental Recommendation at Venice Airport

The first step in your itinerary is to have a car rental arranged at Venice Marco Polo Airport.

We highly recommend booking a car with their rental office right within the airport. We’ve rented cars twice at Venice Airport, and both times, the rental offices weren’t actually in the airport but required a short shuttle ride. Unfortunately, both experiences came with a lot of hassles and unexpected delays.

The first time, the shuttle pickup was not where they said they would be and we had to ask to borrow the cellphone of a parking attendant in order to call them for them to come get us. They did not have any Whatsapp contact.

The second time, the shuttle instructions were unclear and again we had to wait a long time before we were picked up. Having travelled to over 40 countries now, this has never happened to us before so that is why we recommend if possible to rent your car within the airport.  

Morning: Driving to Cortina D’Ampezzo

The drive from Venice Airport to Cortina d’Ampezzo is smooth and takes you through some breathtaking landscapes. Along the highway, you’ll encounter several tolls, but luckily, the system is modern and hassle-free.

You can pay with either cash or credit card, and we found that using the tap function on our credit card made the process quick and effortless!

Afternoon: Explore Cortina D’Ampezzo and Enjoy a Lunch

After the two hour drive, enjoy a break exploring Cortina D’Ampezzo. It is a beautiful town in the Dolomites filled with shops, restaurants, boutiques, and more!

If you haven’t had lunch yet, then we would recommend checking out Pizzeria Porto Rotondo. We enjoyed a delicious pizza and a huge salad there!

There is a free parking lot a short 5-10 minutes walk from the central street of Cortina D’Ampezzo. Alternatively there is a paid parking lot here which costs 2€ for the first hour, and then 1€ every hour after that.  

Lago di Misurina or Cortina D’Ampezzo as your base

You have the option of using Cortina D’Ampezzo or Lago di Misurina as your base for the next 4 nights. We ended up choosing Lago di Misurina for two reasons.

We wanted an area that is more quiet and closer to the nature, and second of all, Lago di Misurina was more affordable.

Many of the accommodations in Cortina D’Ampezzo required a minimum stay of over 4 nights to book. Lago di Misurina was also a perfect base since it is at the midpoint between Lago di Braies, Lago di Sorapis, and Sexten. 

where to Stay in Lago Di Misurina (4 nights)

Hotel Dolomiti Des Alpes (Budget)

We stayed at Hotel Dolomiti del Alpes located just a short 5-10 minutes walk from Lago di Misurina. It was a very comfortable stay and the owner is very kind and helped me with a lot of logistics during our trip. 

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Chalet Alpen Rose (Mid-Range)

Alternatively, if you want direct views and access to the lake, we would recommend staying at Chalet Alpen Rose. They have beautiful modern apartments ranging from a standard apartment to a three bedroom apartment, free parking, free breakfast, and all the amenities you need for your stay.  

Download our Free PDF guide and get our top 6 easy to medium Day hikes in the Dolomites, including 2 special hikes not included in our Hiking post! 💎

Day 2: Lago di Sorapis

On your second day, we highly recommend hiking to the stunning Lago di Sorapis—one of our absolute favorites from our two weeks in the Dolomites!

This moderate 11km out-and-back trail takes you through forests, scenic mountain valleys, and a few slightly exposed sections before rewarding you with the breathtaking sight of Lago di Sorapis, a mesmerizing turquoise-blue lake surrounded by dramatic peaks.

The entire hike took us around 5.5 hours, including 1–1.5 hours spent simply soaking in the views at the top. If you’d like to enjoy a meal with a view, Rifugio Alfonso Vandelli sits right beside the lake, making for a perfect lunch stop!

If you’re up for an epic photo, there is a big boulder located close to the edge of the water. By stepping over a couple of stones, you can reach the boulder and climb on top of it. Be careful though as the boulder is quite high and climbing it isn’t the easiest! 

📝 Curious about more epic (yet totally doable) day hikes or adrenaline-pumping adventures in the Dolomites? Check out our Dolomites activity guide for all the best ways to explore this stunning mountain playground! We also share how to get to each hike!

Where to Stay

You will be still be staying at Lago di Misurina. We would recommend using Hotel Dolomites del Alpes or Chalet Alpen Rose as your base. 

Day 3: Via Ferrata experience or Helicopter experience

Today, you will have a couple of exciting options to choose from. 

Option 1: Via Ferrata

For those who want an adrenaline-packed adventure, we would recommend trying out a Via Ferrata. For those unfamiliar, via ferratas are protected climbing routes that weave through the mountains, equipped with metal fixtures, cables, ladders, and sometimes even suspension bridges. You have protective equipment including a helmet, and a harness that attaches you safely to cables fixed along the mountain wall. 

These thrilling routes lead to some of the most dramatic and hard-to-reach spots in the Dolomites, but fair warning—they’re not for the faint of heart. Expect sheer drops, exposed sections, and epic mountain views that make the challenge totally worth it.

If this sounds like your kind of adventure, you have two options:

• Rent your own equipment and do the Via Ferrata independently
• Join a guided tour, which we HIGHLY recommend. Having done it on our own, we can confidently say that a guide will keep you safe, help you navigate tricky sections, and ensure you get the most out of the experience.

Option 2: Epic Helicopter Ride

For those who want to see the epic mountaintops without the perilous journey of a via ferrata, there is an incredible helicopter ride experience. 

You’ll soar high above the mountains, zipping through valleys and between those iconic jagged peaks. In fact, on this 50 minute ride, you’ll get to see many of the Dolomite’s most epic views including Lago di Braies, Tre Cime, Cortina, Val Gardena, Geisler Peak, and Brunico.

It’s like experiencing all the highlights in one unforgettable journey!

After the ride, you can drive over to Sexten and do a 3 hour hike in Val Fiscalina. This hike starts from Bad Moos, heading to Zsigmondyhütte, before circling back to the starting point.

Where to Stay

You will be still be staying at Lago di Misurina. We would recommend using Hotel Dolomites del Alpes or Chalet Alpen Rose as your base. 

Day 4: Lago di Braies and Caravan Park Sexten

After two days of intense adventure, today is all about relaxation and stunning scenery.

You’ll start your morning at one of the most iconic glacial lakes in the Dolomites—Lago di Braies, before wrapping up the afternoon at a spa like no other (trust us, you won’t want to miss this!).

Morning: Lago di Braies

Lago di Braies is easily accessible by car, with just a short 2–5 minute walk from the parking lot. Once there, you can choose between:

• A scenic 1.5-hour hike around the lake. This is an easy hike.
• Renting a canoe and paddling across the breathtaking turquoise waters.

Afternoon: Caravan Park Sexten SPA

Caravan Park Sexten is hands down one of the most unique spa experiences in the Dolomites. What sets it apart? A strong German and Austrian influence that shapes the way the spa operates. 

Textile-free Spa

First, this is a textile-free spa, meaning you go in completely naked. Second, in true Austrian tradition, the spa is actually mix-gendered. Although I have gone to fully nude onsens in Japan, it was not mix-gendered, so this was completely outside of my comfort zone.

With that said, once I got past the initial awkwardness, it turned out to be a surprisingly freeing and unique experience. 

Unique Sauna Aufguss Ritual

Then to top it off, you can also participate in this ritual called Sauna Aufguss. This is a ritual where everyone gathers inside a sauna while the Saunameister pours fragrant essential oils over hot stones and then whips the air around with a towel to intensify the heat. 

The whole thing happens with music playing in the background, making it an experience that’s odd, invigorating, and incredibly relaxing—all at the same time!

Option to Stay at Caravan Park Sexten

For those who are interested, you can even stay at the Caravan Park. They offer Caravan campsites, treehouses, and beautiful room and suites. In addition, if you are staying at their property, then you automatically receive free entry into their pool and spa complex. 

📝 This was hands down one of our favourite relaxing experiences in the Dolomites! Looking for more chill, non-hiking adventures? Check out our Dolomites activity guide for relaxed or non-hiker travelers.

Day 5: Hike up to Rifugio Fonda Savio and spend the night

Get ready for an epic adventure! Today, you’ll tackle a moderate hike up to Rifugio Fonda Savio, your cozy mountain retreat for the night.

The real treat? Sleeping high above the peaks in a scenic alpine hut, indulging in a hearty Tyrolean feast, and soaking in jaw-dropping sunrise and sunset views—because everything looks better from above the clouds! 

While there are several rifugios where you can do this, we chose Rifugio Fonda Savio for its relatively accessible hike and its convenient location near Lago di Misurina.

The hike itself is about 3.5km each way, with an altitude gain of 560m. In total, it took us about 2.5 hours to hike up to the Rifugio, and around 1.5 hours to hike back down the next day. 

How to Reach the Trailhead for Fonda Savio Hike

The trailhead is very easily reached if you are staying at Lago di Misurina. We stayed at Dolomiti des Alpes and were able to leave our car there for the night while we embarked on the hike to Rifugio Fonda Savio.

From Dolomiti des Alpes, you can just walk up the road in about 15 minutes to reach the trailhead here. 

Where to Stay: Rifugio Fonda Savio

You will be spending the night at Rifugio Fonda Savio. When staying at mountain huts, you will usually be sleeping in dorm style rooms with up to 9 people.

At Rifugio Fonda Savio, there are one or two private rooms for two people, but they book up fast—so reserve early! All accommodations are on a half-board basis, which includes a bed, dinner, and breakfast.

Day 6: Cinque Torri and spend the night at Lago D’Alleghe

Today, you will be departing from the Eastern region of Dolomites and heading towards the West.

Departing from Lago di Misurina, you will first go to Cinque Torri to explore the incredible open-air museum showcasing bunkers and tunnels used during WW1, before spending the night around Lago D’Alleghe. 

Morning: Cinque Torri

Cinque Torri is easily one of the most fascinating spots in the Dolomites. Not only is it a stunning and easy hike, but it’s also a walk through history.

As you wander the trails, you’ll uncover the history of the dramatic WWI battles between Italy and Austria-Hungary, where these remote peaks became crucial strategic points. Along the way, you’ll explore bunkers, trenches, tunnels, and artillery positions—all while soaking in jaw-dropping mountain views. It’s the perfect mix of history, adventure, and epic scenery!

📝 For more details about the hike, how to get there, and what you’ll see along the way, check out our best hikes in the Dolomites guide. 

Where to Stay: Lago D’Alleghe (1 night)

You will just be spending 1 night nearby Lago D’Alleghe.

From Cinque Torri, it is a around a 45 minutes drive through some of the scenic passes. Alternatively, if you prefer just heading straight to Val Gardena where you’ll be spending the next 4 nights, that is possible as well. However, the drive is around 1.5 hours. 

SportHotel Europa (Budget)

We spent the night at SportHotel Europa right next to Lago D’Allegue and it was a beautiful stay. They even had their own indoor jacuzzi, sauna, and spa area, and after dinner we were able to take a serene walk along the lake. 

Hotel La Montanina (Mid-Range)

Alternatively, if you want a hotel that even more conveniently located and a shorter drive, then check out Hotel La Montanina.

Day 7: Drive to Val Gardena through the Passes

On Day 7, you will be driving from Lago D’Alleghe to your hotel in Val Gardena. The drive takes around 1.5 hours, however you will be crossing through either the breathtaking Sella or Gardena Pass. Make sure to drive slowly and make some roadside stops to admire the incredible views!

Once in Val Gardena, where you’ll be spending the next 4 nights, we recommend choosing a hotel that is part of the Val Gardena Active Program.

This program provides you with a free bus pass throughout your stay, and also access to a catalog of interesting activities at highly discounted prices. These activities include wood carving, farm tours, e-bike tours, hiking tours, and more, all for over 50% off of the original price. 

For the rest of the day, we recommend exploring the charming town of Ortisei, where you’ll find adorable boutiques, cozy cafés, delicious restaurants, and plenty of souvenir shops to browse.

If you’re up for something different, check out the Val Gardena Active Program—depending on the season, they offer a variety of evening activities to make the most of your time in the Dolomites! If the timing is right, you can catch one of their evening activities! 

Where to Stay in Val Gardena (4 nights)

Hotel AlpenRoyal (Luxury)

Hotel AlpenRoyal in Val Gardena is a luxurious 5-star retreat and a proud member of The Leading Hotels of the World. Its wellness area is an architectural masterpiece, offering breathtaking views of the Sella Massif while providing one of the largest spa experiences in Italy, ensuring both space and exclusivity for its guests.

They also have an incredible array of restaurants, serving everything from Mediterranean flavours to traditional Ladin cuisine. For those looking for a truly special stay in the Dolomites, AlpenRoyal is hard to beat!

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Hotel Continental (Mid-range)

Hotel Continental in Val Gardena is the perfect mountain retreat, offering cozy rooms with stunning alpine views, a relaxing spa featuring a rooftop Sky Pool, and a restaurant serving a delicious mix of Italian and South Tyrolean cuisine.

Ideally located with direct access to the mountain top and just steps away from the Dantercepies cable car, the hotel ensures a seamless experience for both winter sports enthusiasts and summer adventurers. Guests also benefit from the Val Gardena Active Program, which offers a variety of seasonal activities—perfect for making the most of your Dolomites getaway!

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Hotel Belmont (Budget)

We stayed at Hotel Belmont in Santa Cristina for 4 nights during our visit to Val Gardena. This a budget hotel but was perfect for our stay, offering cozy rooms, half-board with restaurant, and a small spa. Hotel Belmont is also perfectly located nearby the Col Raiser Cable car that brings you up to Seceda Ridge. Alternatively, if you are staying in Ortisei, there is another cable car that can bring you up to Seceda. 

Day 8: Seceda Ridge

Today, you will see one of the most iconic viewpoints in all of the Dolomites. Seceda ridge features dramatic, jagged peaks that drop off into rolling green meadows, creating one of the most breathtaking landscapes in the region.

You can either embark on a hike to admire the views, or simply take the cable car up to reach the primary viewpoint. Either way, you’ll be rewarded with jaw-dropping panoramic views—especially during sunrise or sunset! 

If you want to embark on a hike around Seceda, you can take the chairlift up from either Santa Cristina (Cable car Col Raiser), or Ortisei (2 cable cars to reach the peak of Seceda). The hike is a loop of around 9km and you will be returning back to your starting point where you can then take the cable car down.

If you don’t want to hike, then we recommend taking the two cable cars up from Ortisei which will bring you right up to the primary Seceda viewpoint. 

📝 For more details about the hike, the best viewpoint, where to park, and how much it costs for the chairlifts, check out our Dolomites Day hike guide. We also have a free PDF-guide of the top 6 easy-to-moderate day hikes you can do in the Dolomites that you can download below!

Where to Stay in Val Gardena

As explained above, you will be staying in Val Gardena from Day 7 to Day 11. We recommend checking out Hotel Belmont for a budget stay, Hotel Continental for a mid-range stay, or Hotel Alpen Royal for a luxury stay. 

This post is part of our series about Italy. If you want to learn more about Italy, planning your trip, and some of the best experiences there, check out the guides below:

Perfect Sicily Itinerary for One to Two Weeks: Without a Car

Things to do in Catania for 1-2 Days: Itinerary Guide

Best Things to do in the Dolomites Without Hiking – Perfect For Families

Best Things to do in Dolomites: For the Hiker/Adventure Traveler 

Your Essential Guide to Ragusa: What to See, Do, and Eat

17 Things to do in Taormina, Sicily: Ultimate Guide

Things to do in Syracuse and Ortigia, Sicily

Day 9: Alpe Di Siusi

Alpe di Siusi is one of those fairy-tale like landscapes that looks straight out of a postcard. With endless rolling green pastures, dotted with little rifugios, and with the backdrop of the stunning mountains, it is absolutely breathtaking.

You can either spend the day strolling through its easy hiking trails, mountain bike through it, visit the rifugios and enjoy a hearty lunch, or go on a horse-drawn carriage ride. 

We chose to do the hike and rifugio lunch during our stay. The hike was a 7km loop and took us around 4 hours, but this includes a lot of photo-taking and relaxing on the rifugio terraces over an Campari Spritz! The hike itself is very easy and is accessible to all fitness levels and kids. 

To reach Alpe di Siusi, you can either drive to Compatsch and then hike up, or take the chairlift straight up from Ortisei. We go through the exact details for each option as well as the exact hiking route we did in our Dolomites hiking guide. 

Where to Stay in Val Gardena

As explained above, you will be staying in Val Gardena from Day 7 to Day 11. We recommend checking out Hotel Belmont for a budget stay, Hotel Continental for a mid-range stay, or Hotel Alpen Royal for a luxury stay. 

Day 10: Participate in Val Gardena Active Program

After multiple days of hiking, on Day 10 you will have the option of participating in some of the Val Gardena Active programs. You can take it easy by joining in on a food or cooking tour, or go adrenaline-pumping by trying out a guided via ferrata or rock climbing tour! 

They have dozens of activities which change on a daily basis so try to check it out beforehand so you plan your schedule accordingly. Since hiking Seceda and Alpe di Siusi is flexible, you can always move them around to accommodate a particular Val Gardena Active activity you are interested in.

👉 If you want some inspiration of some other amazing non-hiking activities in the Dolomites, we share in that guide our favourite photography viewpoints, luxury spas, our favourite meals and more!   

Day 11: Drive to Val di Funes, hike to viewpoint

Today you will be heading even further west to explore Val di Funes in the Dolomites. Val di Funes is a lesser explored area but is incredibly beautiful and peaceful. The drive from Val Gardena to Val di Funes takes only around 45 minutes and we recommend staying 2 nights there.

On your first day, after checking into your hotel, you should do the village scenic walking trail to reach one of the most iconic viewpoints in Val di Funes. Fortunately, if you are staying in Santa Maddalena, the trail starts right there and takes only around 20 minutes to reach the viewpoint. 

From the viewpoint, you can see the entire town of Santa Maddalena low in the valley, with the famous Chiesa Santa Maddalena and the snow-capped mountains in the background. 

After the pleasant stroll, you can head to Waldschenke for dinner. We recommend this restaurant not only for the delicious food, but the drive there also brings you through some breathtaking viewpoints. 

Where to Stay in Val di Funes (2 nights)

Hotel Fines (Budget)

Hotel Fines is a 3 star hotel located right in Santa Maddalena, making it very convenient to explore Val di Funes and the idyllic Santa Maddalena church. While staying here, you’ll find the typical South Tyrolean hospitality and an open, warm, and relaxed atmosphere. They have both apartments as well as rooms and serves as an ideal base for all your summer and winter activities. 

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Hotel Kabis (Mid-Range)

Hotel Kabis is located in the town of San Pietro just a short drive away from Santa Maddalena. This beautiful traditional house is nestled in the romantic natural landscapes directly beneath the peaks of Villnösser Geisler.

Hotel Kabis also features ‘slow-food cuisine’, where they have their own farm and provide some of the best fresh farm to table products including the Brillenschaf sheep. They also have a wellness center with a Finnish sauna, steam bath, swimming pool, and physiotherm infrared cabin. 

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My Arbor – Plose Wellness Hotel (Luxury)

MyArbor, just a short way north of Val di Funes, provides a world-class adults-only wellness retreat. Inspired by a floating-tree-house design, My Arbor offers lodging perched on stilts in the heart of the Dolomites, blending modern elegance with nature.

They feature a panoramic spa, infinity pools, saunas, and non-stop mountain views. With their gourmet dining, top-tier wellness treatments, and direct ski-in/ski-out access, MyArbor is the perfect wellness escape in the Dolomites.

Day 12: Adolf Munkel Trail in Val di Funes

On your final day in the Dolomites, you can embark on one of Val di Funes’ most famous hiking trails. The Adolf Munkel Weg Trail brings you all the way up to Geisler Alm Rifugio (Rifugio Odle) and is a perfect medium difficulty hike. This loop hike is 8.2km and should take around 4.5 hours to complete, including a nice break at the rifugio.

You first hike through the pine tree forests before emerging at the Rifugio Geisler Alm.

Here you’ll get stunning views of the Odle Mountain group and can stop by to sample the delicious Tyrolean Food. By doing a loop trail, you will then hike up close to that mountain range before winding back down to the starting point.

While it may not be the most dramatic trail in the Dolomites, it’s still a lovely hike that leads you to the iconic spot where the famous photo of the circular lake reflection capturing the rifugio with the mountains in the background.

For more information about the hike, how to get there, where to park, and our other 5 favourite hikes, download our FREE PDF Dolomites Hiking guide below! ⤵️

Day 13: Departure from Val di Funes to return to Venice

Today, you will be driving back to Venice Airport from Val di Funes. This should take around 3 hours and wraps up your trip.

If you have extra time, consider heading to Venice to explore its charming canals and historic streets! Or, if you have a lot more time, take a flight from Venice down to Catania where you can explore Italy’s famous Sicilian Coast!

If You Only Have 7 Days in the Dolomites

With 7 days in the Dolomites, you still have a lot of time to do many of the highlight experiences.

In order the make the itinerary fit, we would remove staying the night at the rifugio, the via ferrata/helicopter tour day, Val Gardena active program day, and the two days at Val di Funes.

In this way, you will be able to optimize most of the central highlights in the Dolomites without feeling too rushed. 

Check below the overview of the 7 days Dolomites itinerary:

• Day 1: Arrival in Venice, go to Cortina, Lago Misurina
• Day 2: Lago di Braies and then Caravan Park Sexten
• Day 3: Lago di Sorapis
• Day 4: Cinque Torri then Val Gardena
• Day 5: Seceda
• Day 6: Alpe Di Siusi
• Day 7: Return to Venice 

How Long to Visit the Dolomites

To fully experience the Dolomites, we recommend spending at least 5 days, but ideally 10-14 days.

We spent 12 days exploring from Sexten and Lago di Misurina to Cortina d’Ampezzo, Val Gardena, and Val di Funes. For us, 12 days was the sweet spot—it gave us enough time to tackle all our favorite adventurous activities in the Dolomites while still leaving room to relax and soak in the scenery. 

With just 5 days, your itinerary will be more limited, likely focusing on Cortina d’Ampezzo with a few day trips to spots like Lago di Braies, Lago di Sorapis, and Cinque Torri.

With 7 days, as described above, you will be able to see most of the must-see highlights.

For this reason, we recommend staying around 10 days in the Dolomites.

How to get to the Dolomites

You can reach the Dolomites from Venice, Treviso, or even Innsbruck in Austria. However, by far the easiest is arriving at Venice (VCE) airport and then either renting a car or taking the shuttle bus.

From Venice Airport (Best option)

From Venice airport you can take the ATVO bus from VCE airport to Cortina D’ampezzo, which takes 2.5 hours. Otherwise you can check on Omio for the route from VCE to Cortina.

From Treviso

From Treviso, there are buses that can bring you to Cortina D’Ampezzo however it requires two transfers and takes close to 4 hours. For this reason, we recommend taking this route only if you will be renting a car from Treviso. 

From Bolzano

Bolzano is located around 2 hours drive from Cortina D’Ampezzo. However, there are no buses or trains that directly connect Bolzano to Cortina. For this reason, it is only recommended if you are arriving at their regional airport and will be renting a car.

From Innsbruck Austria

From Innsbruck Austria, you can take a train (with 1 transfer) to reach Dobbiaco which is one of the main terminals on the road between Lago di Misurina and Sesto.

The train takes 3.5 hours and costs around 11€ one-way per person. From there, you can either take a private transport or use the dolomiti buses to get to Cortina D’ampezzo, Lago di Misurina, or Sesto.  

How to Get Around in the Dolomites

Although the bus network in the Dolomites is fairly good, the best way to get around in the Dolomites is still by renting a car. There are often large lineups for the buses and during the high season, many of the buses need to actually be booked in advanced. In one case, when we wanted to go back from Sesto to Misurina, all the bus times were booked other than the last two around 5pm.

Instead, we recommend renting a car and using the buses for shorter distances, or when parking may be challenging to find. We used the buses during our trip to bring us between Val Gardena, Ortisei, and Santa Christina as the parking in those towns are quite costly.

Also, as mentioned above, by staying at a participating hotel in Val Gardena’s active program, we were able to get those bus passes for free!

Finally, having a rental car gives you the ultimate freedom to explore the Dolomites at your own pace. No rushing for buses or sticking to rigid schedules—just pure, stress-free adventure.

Plus, it makes the whole trip way more relaxing (which is exactly what we’re aiming for in this guide!).

Do you need a Car to Visit the Dolomites

As mentioned above, we highly recommend renting a car to visit the Dolomites. One of the best aspects of traveling through the Dolomites is the freedom of doing a road trip, driving through those epic mountain passes, and being able to soak in the sights at your own pace.

Although buses are available, it would be challenging when you need to move from one region of the dolomites to another, for example when we went from Lago di Misurina to Val Gardena, or from Val Gardena to Val di Funes. In the case of Val Gardena to Val Di funes, it would’ve required 2 different bus transfers, and a 2.5 hour bus ride, while carrying our luggage.

Car rental prices are normally quite affordable in the Dolomites, especially if you are renting from Venice Airport like we did. When we rented through DiscoverCars for 13 days, it costed us around 311$, or around 23$ per day.

Tip | You will need to present an international Driver’s permit when renting a car in Italy!

Is the Dolomites Expensive to Visit

The Dolomites are undeniably breathtaking, but one thing to keep in mind is that a trip there can be quite expensive.

Accommodation tends to be on the pricier side (average 150-250€/night), and many of the top attractions require a cable car ride, which typically costs €25-35 per person round trip. On top of that, there are parking fees at most of the sights which can add another €8-10.

The price of dining out is above-moderate, with most dishes ranging from €15-25. If you ever need private transportation, like a taxi, expect to pay around €80 for a 45-minute ride.

Compared to other regions in Italy, such as Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast, and Sicily, the Dolomites were definitely the most expensive. However, the quality of service and infrastructure is excellent for what you are paying for.

Plus, if you’re dreaming of an alpine adventure, the Dolomites are still a much more budget-friendly option than Switzerland!

Safety in the Dolomites

The mountains in the dolomites can be unpredictable. A sudden change in weather, a landslide, or altered trail condition can put you in a rather risky situation. For this reason, we highly recommend getting travel insurance as well as a local rescue insurance with Aiut Alpin Dolomites or CAI. 

Keep in mind that most travel insurances do not include helicopter search and rescue. We have had insurance with Genki and SafetyWing and when checking their terms and conditions, search and rescue is specifically not covered. For this reason, we recommend paying the membership fee for AAD or CAI, normally costing only around 50€ for your entire family, which covers you for helicopter search and rescues.

To give you an idea, if you need to be rescued in the mountains in the dolomites, it costs about 140€ per minute that the helicopter is in the air. This can easily add up to over 10,000 € for a rescue. 

Using WISE card in Italy

When taking cash out of an ATM while abroad, you will most likely be charged both a foreign exchange fee and a foreign transaction fee by that country’s ATM. With my Canadian card, this can easily be 3-4$ + 2.75% + a markup on the exchange rate charged by my bank, and then another 3-5$ charged by the foreign ATM.

This can be really costly. For this reason, we recommend using WISE card which has only minimal fees and just about no foreign currency exchange markup. This helps me save at least 5-7$ every time I take out money from an ATM. If you want to see our full review of the card showing exactly how WISE can help you save, check out our WISE Travel card Review post.

Recap: Dolomites Itinerary

Whether you’re an avid hiker, a photographer, a luxury traveler, or just looking for a relaxing escape, the Dolomites has something for everyone! This itinerary blends some of our favourite hikes, spa experiences, food spots, and top photography locations from our time exploring the region. We hope this guide helps you plan your trip and leads you to some unforgettable adventures!

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