The Dolomites are an incredible mountain range spanning the majestic Alps of Northern Italy. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage, the Dolomites is a great destination all year round, being a dream place not only for hiking lovers, but also for those who love the nature, since there are many alternatives of easy trails, as well as more complex ones, perfect for all types of hikers. The nature offers an unique mountain scenery, which is simply spectacular: the cold peaks surrounding the area, gets a golden reflection as the sun goes down.
It was my second time visiting South Tyrol and I feel that I have much more to discover and explore, so I can’t wait o come back again. Every direction I would take there, the views are spectacular: the peaks of the mountains framed by endless wild flowers and the greenest grass fields and not to forget the cosy and traditional mountains huts.
Getting there
The best way to get to the Dolomites is to fly into one of the two international airports nearby, Verona or Venice. There are also several transportation options from the cities of Milan, Florence, and Rome, including car rentals, buses, and trains. If you are looking for a more scenic route, a car ride is the perfect option.
We started our journey by renting a car from Milan airport, driving to Colfosco in Alta Badia, which was our base location. From Milan airport, the drive should take between four to five hours depending on traffic.
What makes the Dolomites a unique and unforgettable destination?
The Dolomites are quite unlike any other place in the world, boasting stunningly jagged peaks, lush valleys, and breathtakingly beautiful landscapes that are sure to leave an impression. From skiing and snowboarding in the winter to hiking and countless outdoor activities in the summer, the Dolomites offer an array of activities for visitors.
The Dolomites are home to some of the most iconic peaks and villages in Italy. Make sure to consider adding the Marmolada, Tre Cime di Lavaredo, and the Church of Saint Osvaldo to your itinerary.
Accommodation
There are many great places to stay in the Dolomites, including the famous ski resort Cortina d’Ampezzo and villages such as Corvara, Colfosco and Selva di Val Gardena.
The villages of Alta Badia and Selva di Val Gardena are two of the most popular destinations and a great hiking base in the Dolomites, offering a wide selection of hotels and resorts. Additionally, selecting a mountain lodge or alpine hut is a great option and a unique experience for those who enjoy a more rustic stay.
We stayed in Colfosco which is a good starting point for many trails and day trips. The accommodation options there are pretty impressive from mid price range alpine guest houses to luxury resorts.
We stayed at Garni Cristin & Dep Antina a family owned traditional hotel, perfect located for our itinerary, close to Puez-Geisler Nature Park. Like all the hotels in the area, it has that charming Alpine style design, which makes it a very pleasant place to stay. I loved the wooden decorated room, and the scenic views over the mountains.
Discover the best hotels in Dolomites with a simple search:
The Dolomites region is vast, and exploring everything is just four days is not feasible. However, I am sharing our complete four-day hiking itinerary in the Dolomites, highlighting some of the most beautiful sights in the area.
Day 1: Hiking to Rifugio Puez, 2470 m
Rifugio Puez is situated at 2470 m and is one of the most popular destinations in the Dolomites. It offers amazing views of the surrounding peaks and it is possible to spend the night there.
This hike started at Rifugio Col Pradat in Colfosco to Rifugio Puez, at 2470 m, being a medium difficulty trail, which takes about 5-6 hours. The hike is a good introduction to the Dolomites, providing great scenery and plenty of options for exploring. Once arrived at Rifugio Puez, we stopped for a drink and something to eat and since it was raining during the afternoon, we took the same route back. Once arrived at Rifugio Puez, you can take various trails routes, from there being many options for all levels of difficulty.
One of the highlights of the route was the Edelweiss Hutte, which is a traditional restaurant located in a picturesque location, surrounded by the mountains, and a great place to stop eating or drinking, while enjoying the beauty of the nature.
Day 2: Hiking to Seceda, 2500 m
Seceda, 2500 m, is a majestic mountain peak in the Dolomites with breathtaking views of the entire region. The hike to Seceda is not difficult but can be quite long depending on your starting point.
We took the cable car from St. Cristina val Gardena to Col Raiser and from there we started hiking to Seceda. This route is an easy trail which takes about 3-4 hours, offering one of the most picturesque mountain scenery.
On the way, there are some amazing refugios to stop and have a drink or eat, while admiring the breathtaking views from all the angles, or just sit on the grass, enjoying the wild flowers fields surrounded by the mountains. After arriving at the top, we stopped to eat at Rifugio Seceda where, as always we enjoyed a great scenery during the lunch time. The views from the top of Seceda were extraordinary, making it hard to leave.
Day 3: Day-trip to Braies Lake (Lago di Braies)
Braies Lake (also known as Lago di Braies in Italian) is half an hour drive from Austrian boarder, being very popular for its picturesque beauty. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage, well known as “The Pearl of the Dolomites“, Braies Lake offers an epic scenery – the intense turquoise color of the lake surrounded by the mountains looks like something out of a fairy tale.
The hike around the lake normally takes 1,5 – 2 hours, the path is easy and well maintained, so you don`t need to be an experienced hiker to go to Braies Lake. It is also possible to rent boats and enjoy a leisurely ride on the lake. The view is so epic , it’s almost unbelievable – so don’t forget to get your camera ready to capture the beauty of this place!
Day 4: Selva Val Gardena to Rifugio Jimmy
In our last day in Dolomites we took advantage of the nice weather and enjoyed one more day of nature’s beauty, so we opted for the easier route and roamed the picturesque hillsides of Val Gardena, starting from Selva to Rifugio Jimmy. The scenery was simply breathtaking: the valley surrounded by the impressive peaks of Dolomites and the diversity of wild flowers fields we met on the way was the perfect way to enjoy ourselves before we left.
Stunning! No words, really! Thanks so much for sharing these experiences! 🙂
It truly was an amazing journey. So happy you like it 🙂
Gorgeous pics !!
Thank you 🙂
Hi! This looks amazing. Planning a similar trip this summer and wondered where you stayed along this route. Do you need to book in advance? We’re there lots of albergues / walking hostels or airbnbs? Thanks!
Hi, we stayed in Colfosco, in Alta Badia, which is a good starting point for many trails and day trips. The accommodation options there are pretty impressive, from mid range guest houses to luxury hotels (every house there is actually a hotel). I have updated the blog post with the details of our accommodations.
Hi,
may I ask, did you return to the car each day, or did you drive to a new spot daily?
Thank you for the informative and beautiful document!
Hi 🙂
We drove to a new spot each day, with our accommodation conveniently located close to the attractions we planned to visit. There are several mountain huts available for longer trails, but we opted not to take on any long-distance hikes.
This is incredibly helpful, thank you! We are thinking of staying in Ortisei. We prefer smaller towns. With 4 nights do you think we should stay only in Ortisei or split it and have 1-2 nights in Cortina d’Ampezzo? At the end we are going to Venice if that makes a difference.
The area is quite expansive, and with only four days, I personally wouldn’t recommend changing accommodations, as it often takes up a lot of time. Both Cortina d’Ampezzo and Ortisei are stunning destinations. If you’re interested in exploring both, you might consider finding accommodation somewhere in between. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preference. I hope this it helps 🙂