Travel to the Dolomites – 23 photos that will inspire you to visit
Dolomites photogaphy
There’s one location in Italy that features heavily on my Instagram feed: the Dolomites. We spend many post-Christmas holidays traveling to the Dolomites, simply because it’s an ideal winter vacation destination.
It’s a vast area that encompasses several regions of Italy, with striking landscapes to photograph, especially come sunset.
Dolomites photography — the location
The Dolomites is a mountain range in north-eastern Italy. It’s shared by the provinces of Belluno, South Tyrol and Trentino-Alto Adige, from the regions of Veneto and Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol.
Given its close proximity to the border with Austria, you’ll see many signposting in German. In fact, Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol is an autonomous province, with around 62% of the population speaking German.
There are similar mountain structures in the surrounding regions to the Dolomites. This includes Dolomiti di Brenta and the charmingly named Piccole Dolomiti (Little Dolomites) between Verona, Vicenza and Trentino. UNESCO named the Dolomites as a World Heritage Site in 2009.
Dolomites photography — the prettiest towns to visit
Given its scale, there are a vast number of towns to choose from when traveling to the Dolomites. Where you decide to visit also depends on what you plan to do during your trip. Towns like Cortina d’Ampezzo or Corvara are ideal for travelers looking to do some winter sports, as well as shopping!
Cortina d’Ampezzo is also a former Winter Olympics host city. You can see signs of its hosting past with the famous Olympic rings still on display. These 2 towns are also typically known for being on the more expensive side.
Saying that, it’s normal to see women here dressed in fur coats and a bit of bling. Other noteworthy places also include Ortisei and Selva di val gardena. This pretty village at the end of the Gardena Valley offers a perfect combination of sporting and leisure activities.
From the Dolomites, it’s also possible to take a day trip to other photogenic places in northern Italy. We took a day tour to Lake Garda and had an awesome time.
“Put on your snow boots and heavy coat, discover your surroundings, and let the snow gently kiss your face”
FOLLOWING THE RIVERA
Selva di Cadore — Dolomites photography
This municipality is in Belluno, and takes around 3 hours’ drive if coming from Venice. The main villages include Santa Fosca and Pescul. Neighboring municipalities also worth visiting are Colle Santa Lucia, Borca di Cadore and Zoldo Alto.
A great base for skiing and snowboarding, the village of Santa Fosca is also nearby the major slopes and ski schools. However, for me, the most magical part of traveling to the Dolomites is the scenery. The Dolomites is known for its ever-changing light and colors depending on the time of day.
Dolomites photography — best time to take pictures
As a lover of sunsets, the best time in the Dolomites (for photography) is around 4pm. It’s the time when the sky turns ‘salmon pink’, and shades of orange, yellows and blues enter the picture. However, these colors only last for a few minutes, so you best be quick if you plan to capture them.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a skier or snowboarder in the Dolomites. Even for amateurs like me, I much prefer spending my time getting out into nature and observing the landscape.
Put on your snow boots and heavy coat, discover your surroundings, and let the snow gently kiss your face. If you love the outdoors, you’re going to fall in love instantly during your time in Santa Fosca.
“…I much prefer spending my time getting out into nature and observing the landscape”
FOLLOWING THE RIVERA
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Lisa Rivera
Founder
Welcome to my site! I'm Lisa, founder of Following the Rivera. I write primarily for a ‘flashpacker’ audience, a demographic (late 20s onward) that enjoys glamping over camping and staying at boutique/luxury boutique hotels. Flashpackers also like to indulge in the local food and wine, cultural activities, as well as a spot of wellness on their travels. Want to know more? Read on....
Nice Photos I love the Mountains; Wold love to visit there the Dolomites are incredible ?
Thank you! It’s a beautiful place to visit 😀
Amazing photography there of the Dolomites! I haven’t actually experienced winter and snow, so visiting the area in winter will definitely be an amazing trip 🙂 The natural landscapes are so picturesque – I’d love to visit and just admire it for myself!
You must! It’s an incredible place and it’s quite hard to take a bad photo 😀
These photo’s are phenomenal! I’ve been hearing so many great things about the Dolomites recently. They’ve definitely made it onto my bucket list now!
It’s an awesome area, and I feel lucky to have been there at the time 🙂
Lovely! Looks like winter paradise and reminds me of Scandinavia. Never knew there is such thing in Italy.
It’s a beautiful place and I’m lucky to have been there.
I have always wanted to go to italy. These mountain shots are absolutely beautiful.
Shame you haven’t been, it’s incredible!