The Ultimate Road Trip in the Italian Dolomites

The Italian Dolomites offer some of the most heart-in-your-mouth scenery in Europe. Reminiscent of the Canadian Rockies in the dramatic vistas offered, the area is punctuated with cute alpine churches and sleepy villages. The glacier lakes are particular spectacular, as are the hiking opportunities and hairpin roads. Here are some tips for planning the ultimate road trip in the Italian Dolomites – with ideas for 2-5 day itineraries.

Planning a road trip in the Dolomites

What are the top places to see in the Dolomites?

If you’re short on time, these are the top spots to make sure you see:

• Lago di Carezza – Lake Carezza (also known as Karersee) is a shade of turquoise which seems too intense to be real. Located east of Bolzano, with a custom built parking lot, cafe and access, it is one of the most accessible lakes in the Dolomites. With a backdrop of the Latemar mountain range, you will be captivated.
  
  Karersee is a small lake, and you are unable to get down to the water itself. There is a trail with lookouts all the way around that you can walk in about 15-20 minutes.

• Lago di Braies – The most photographed of all the lakes in the Dolomites, Lago di Braies is worth braving the crowds for. It is exceptionally beautiful, and you are able to swim and rent row boats too. As well as walk around the entire lake, visit the tiny chapel, and even stay the night in the hotel which owns the land. The walk around the lake takes about 1.5-2 hours, and there are lots of lovely lakeside spots to enjoy a picnic. Also known as Pragser Wildsee, it is the Dolomites version of Lake Louise in the Canadian Rockies!

• Passo Pordoi – There are so many amazing roads to drive in the Dolomites, but I think Passo Pordoi is my favourite. Skirting Piz Boè, and cutting through the Belvedere ski areas, you get epic views, switchback roads and an opportunity to go on a gondola up to Sass Pordoi for even more views!

• View of Tre Cime di Lavaredo – Tre Cime (the Three Peaks) of Lavaredo is one of the most iconic views in the Dolomites. Luckily, they have created a Panorama view point on the road between Lago di Misurina and Lago di Braies. Complete with wildflower field in the foreground, it is an easy viewpoint for those who don’t have time to do the Tre Cime hike.
  If you stay in the Dolomites a bit longer, a hike up to Cappella degli Alpini and along some of the border markers between Trentino-South Tyrol and Veneto offers more great Tre Cime views.

• Lago di Misurina – In the shadow of Monte Piana, Lake Misurina is a genteel place to base yourself, or to stop for a picnic or lunch. It was a hotly contested area in World War I between the Italian and Austrian armies, and there is an open-air museum where you can see remnants of this conflict. These days it is a great spot to relax on your road trip around the Dolomites.

• Gondola ride – Take a ride up one of the many gondolas in the Dolomites. From tiny pod-gondolas and ski lifts to the huge runs up to big ski centres, there are gondolas all over the Dolomites. Many run during the summer too, and offer tourists and hikers amazing views.

Transport around the Dolomites

While it is possible to reach some places by train and local buses, by far the easiest way to experience the Dolomites is by car. This allows you to drive those crazy roads at your own pace. This also offers plenty of opportunities to drive some of the smaller roads, discover picturesque villages, and to follow your nose sometimes too. Perhaps even get a little lost too!

During the warmer months, a lot of the smaller roads are accessible, whereas during the winter, many of the main roads require snow chains, and close regularly due to snowfall.

The other option is to take a tour which combines transfers between mountain hotels, guided hikes, or sightseeing.

Dolomites Itinerary Ideas

1 day in the Dolomites

Bear in mind that weather is very changeable in the mountains, and cloud coverage is common, even between mountain ranges (one may be sunny, but drive 30 minutes to the next peak and it’ll be stormy). I missed having a good view of the Tre Croci on our last visit because cloud cover rolled in quicker than I could drive there.

One day in the Dolomites – short itinerary

If the full-on loop is too much for you, try this route – 3.5 hours of driving / 150 kms / 93 miles

2 days in the Dolomites

If you have two days in the Dolomites, I would recommend staying in the Fassa Valley overnight and adding the below loop to your itinerary for the second day – 4 hours of driving / 170 kms / 105 miles:

Longer visits to the Dolomites

If you have the chance, spending one week in the Dolomites will give you time to add in hikes, downtime at a spa hotel, and time to explore the gorgeous little towns of the Badia Valley, Livinallongo, and Santa Magdalena (to name a few).

Take the time to drive to the Austrian border at Brenner, or Prato Alla Drava Winnebach (with a heart-stopping church view); or to explore Val Fiscalina, on the east side of the Parco Naturale Tre Cime in the Sexten Dolomites.

Where to stay in the Dolomites

There are many great areas to base yourself for you visit:

• Bolzano – for those who want the city vibe, nightlife and good road access, Bolzano is a good call. It is also home to an Archaeology museum, where the mummified remains of Ötzi the Iceman is housed. Hotels to consider include: La Briosa (luxury), Sir Thomas Bed & More (mid-range), and B&B Hotel Bolzano (budget).
• Campitello di Fassa – for nature-lovers, Campitello offers an absolutely gorgeous mountain-view spot to base yourself for a longer visit to the Dolomites. It also has a supermarket, and multiple restaurants and bars. Hotel options are: Olympic SPA Hotel (Luxury, Vigo di Fassa), Hotel Medil (mid-range with Spa facilities), or Hotel Rododendro (budget).
• Remote Albergi – for those who want to be up in the mountains and away from it all, there are lots of cute mountain albergo, B&Bs and guesthouses in the Dolomites. Try these mountain getaways: Rifugio Fidaia (view of Marmolada), Hotel Pordoi (vegetarian hotel on Passo Pordoi), or Rifugio Lagazuoi (above the Falzarego Pass).

Road trip Tips for the Dolomites

Road tripping in the Italian Dolomites is exhilarating, breathtaking, and a good work-out for your car’s breaks. If you are a nervous driver, some of the roads might be a challenge. Not because they aren’t safe, but because they are winding and narrow in parts. The switchbacks and steep passes are hard on your car, so I would recommend not driving these in an older or unreliable vehicle.

While I’ve seen many campers enjoying the Dolomites, there will be some limitations to access for larger vehicles. Most of the major sights have camper van parking available.

Luckily there are lots of pull-outs and carparks to stop and take photos. I would recommend visiting outside of the height of summer (July & August), so that you can more easily find parking and reasonably priced hotels.

Petrol stations in the mountains are often small and just consist of a couple of pumps outside a garage or shop. In Italy you will likely have two options – self-pump or service (which is more expensive). Read more road trip tips for Italy.

Dolomites FAQ

All photos & content © Hannah Henderson and may not be used without permission (sharing this blog post is fine, though!). Images shot with a Canon DSLR T3i Rebel + Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM; and an iPhone.