Travel to the Dolomites – 23 photos that will inspire you to visit
The Italian Dolomites — 20 inspiring photos
There’s one location in Italy that frequently features on my Instagram feed: the Italian Dolomites.
We usually have a holiday in the Dolomites after Christmas. The snowy landscape and cozy surroundings make it an ideal winter vacation destination.
It’s a vast area that encompasses several regions of Italy, with striking landscapes to photograph, especially come sunset.
Where are the Italian Dolomites?
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.
The prettiest towns to visit in the Italian Dolomites
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.
High end — the Italian Dolomites
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 — Italian Dolomites
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....
Beautiful photography Lisa. Though maybe I’ll wait till spring. Great tip on golden hour too.
Thank you John 🙂 Spring is also a great time to visit, well worth the trip
The Dolomites are such a lovely place. We haven’t spent enough time exploring that part of Italy. There is always next time!
There is definitely always next time Kasia! x
Breathtaking photos!! That lighting is amazing. I would like to visit someday – we were at Lake Como last year and debated adding that stop but opted to go straight to Venice, I may have some regret!
Aw there’s always next time! It’s really worth visiting 🙂
I love, love, love the Dolomites! It is my favourite place to ski in the whole world. It is such an incredibly beautiful area and i have enjoyed several amazing holidays there. Unfortunately these photos and this post have simply served to remind me what we are missing this year. Wonderful photography Lisa. You have really captured the character of the place.
Thank you so much Jane! It’s really a beautiful region to visit. If it makes you feel a little better, we won’t be going this winter either x