Last updated on November 12th, 2024.
The Dolomites are a destination in Italy that everyone should see at least once in their lifetime.
A blend of fairytale scenery, towering peaks, clearwater lakes and alpine villages, it’s one region that comes pretty close to perfect.
But before booking your hotels and packing your bags there are some things to know about the Dolomites before visiting.
In this Italy travel guide, I’ll be outlining 10 helpful Dolomites travel tips. Knowing this information beforehand will help you plan your perfect Dolomites trip.
This Dolomites travel guide will ensure that you’re well prepared for everything the region has to offer. From how to get to the Dolomites to the prettiest Dolomites Italy towns, you’ll be one step ahead of the rest.
Where are the Dolomites?
Located across 3 regions in northern Italy, the mountain range was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009.
Known for their unique rock formations, the Dolomites are mainly composed of a type of carbonate rock called dolomite.
One of my top 5 regions in the country, use this guide to help plan your Italy trip.
How to get to the Dolomites
Most international visitors traveling to the Dolomites typically arrive at Venice or Verona Airport. They are two of many international airports in Italy and are the closest for visiting the Dolomites.
From this point, your journey route and the duration time depend on where you plan to stay in the Dolomites.
Here are some ideas of journey routes and times from Venice and Verona airports to several places across the Dolomites.
Verona Airport (Valerio Catullo) to:
- Cortina d’Ampezzo (car: 3hrs, train/bus: 4hrs 20mins)
- Ortisei (car: 2hrs, train/bus:3hrs 16mins)
- Bolzano (car: 1hr 25mins, train: 2hrs 20mins)
Venice Airport (Marco Polo) to:
- Cortina d’Ampezzo (car: 2hrs, train/bus (Cortina Express): 2hrs 17mins)
- Ortisei (car: 3hrs, train/bus: 4hrs 35mins)
- Bolzano (car: 2hrs 35mins, train: 3hrs)
10 helpful Dolomites travel tips
The Dolomites extends over 3 regions
One of the simplest, yet helpful, Dolomites travel tips to know is that the Dolomites extends over 3 regions.
While most of the mountain range is located in Trentino Alto-Adige/Südtirol, they also extend to Veneto and parts of Friuli-Venezia-Giulia.
It’s important to know this when planning a trip to the Dolomites. Given the vast amount of land that it covers, it’s essential for knowing which part/s you want to visit.
Most first-time visitors to the Dolomites tend to visit places like Cortina d’Ampezzo, Ortisei and Selva di Val Gardena. They’re perfect places to add to your Dolomites itinerary come winter or summer.
Car/motor vehicles are most convenient
When it comes to getting around the Dolomites, exploring the region by car is the most convenient mode of transport.
While some of the larger towns are accessible by car, some of the smaller villages and rural areas are not.
Because of this, hiring a car is one of my top Dolomites travel tips. There are ways of getting around the Dolomites without a car (more on that later) but this is the easiest.
Dolomites tours are worth booking
Booking a tour is a stress-free way to see the Dolomites. Transport is included — alongside other things — and they’re typically led by a knowledgeable, and local, guide.
To add to this, joining a tour removes the stress of having to rent a car in Italy. The cost usually works out cheaper plus tours make perfect day trip ideas.
Should you prefer to visit the Dolomites without hiring a car here are some tours that might fit your itinerary:
- From Venice: Cortina & Dolomites small group full day tour
- From Venice: private Dolomites day trip
- From Bolzano (or your accommodation): hidden Dolomites private tour
- From Venice: Dolomites, Lake Misurina and Cortina
- From Venice: Dolomites and Lake Braies day trip
- From Cortina d’Ampezzo: complete Dolomiti tour
- From Cortina d’Ampezzo: heart of the Dolomites
- From Lake Garda: full-day Dolomites tour
- From Milan: 4-day Dolomites tour
Public transport is available
While getting to the Dolomites is one thing, getting around the region is a whole other bag.
As I already mentioned, by car/motor vehicle is the easiest and most convenient way to explore the Dolomites.
Saying this, there are public transport options available while visiting the region. There are several pros to using them such as:
- they’re a cheaper way of visiting different places
- they offer a local perspective to seeing the region
The downside of this, and one of my Dolomites travel tips, is that public transport typically only services larger cities. This means that journey times may be longer, and more elaborate, given that it may involve taking several buses.
Because of this, having access to public transport solely depends on where you plan to visit.
For example, from Bolzano, it’s possible to visit popular destinations around the Dolomites. It requires a bit more patience compared to if traveling by car but it’s doable. Here’s an idea of some journeys to take from Bolzano using public transport:
- Bolzano to Braies Lake (Lago di Braies): 2hrs 36mins (two trains, bus and walking)
- Bolzano (Autostazione) to Carezza Lake (Lago di Carezza): 49mins (bus)
- Bolzano to Ortisei: 1hr 24mins (train, bus and walking)
- Bolzano to Selva di Val Gardena: 1hr 46mins (train, bus and walking)
Express bus services
Two bus services that operate regular timetables to places in the Dolomites are Cortina Express and Dolomiti Bus.
Dolomiti Bus services the province of Belluno, a predominantly mountainous territory in Veneto. Belluno, Feltre, Pieve di Cadore, Auronzo and Cortina d’Ampezzo are some of the places that it services. Visit the website for the most up-to-date timetables.
Cortina Express is a direct bus service that departs from Venice to Cortina d’Ampezzo. Cortina Express services also depart from Treviso.
Map of the Dolomites
The Dolomites is more expensive
There’s no other way of saying this but the Dolomites is expensive.
Compared to other regions across Italy prices tend to be higher here. One good example of this is the town of Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Prices of everyday basic items, like toothpaste, cost more than if buying it in another town/city.
We saw that our regular brand of Elmex toothpaste in a local pharmacy cost almost €10 ($11/£8). As outlined in my Cortina d’Ampezzo travel guide, it was more than double of what we’d pay in our city.
Another sound piece of advice is to book accommodation in neighboring smaller towns. We booked a modern apartment in Borca di Cadore, which is around 17 minutes’ drive from Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Because of this, being aware of the higher costs in the region is one of my top Dolomites travel tips. It’s important for travelers, especially budget and family travelers, to know so that they can plan accordingly.
Don’t stick to one place
The beauty of a region like the Dolomites is that there’s so much to see.
Though many visitors’ vacations here tend to be dictated by outdoor interests the Dolomites also has other non-outdoorsy activities.
Visiting smaller towns around the Dolomites is one of them, which for me, is one of the best things to do. We racked up plenty of miles and memories exploring several places during our Dolomites road trip.
Some of my personal favorite small towns include San Candido, Corvara in Badia, Bressanone and Dobbiaco.
Services/activities may be closed off season
If planning to visit the Dolomites during off-season, certain services/activities may be closed during this period.
This can range from hotels closing temporarily before the peak season begins, to certain trails being closed to visitors.
We experienced this during a trip to Bressanone and Vipiteno. Two of our hotel choices for both places were closed in the first half of November. We later discovered that it was usual for some hotels to close before the start of the winter peak season.
Along with our hotel choices not being available, we also found that a popular attraction was also closed. We’d hoped to take the Plose cable car to the top of the mountain to enjoy the views.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get the chance on that particular trip.
Making sure to research hotels and activities if visiting during off-season is one of my must-know Dolomites travel tips. It will help to avoid disappointment in the long run.
Weather can be unpredictable
In an age where we’re seeing more cases of unpredictable weather, the same goes for the Dolomites.
In recent years, the weather in the Dolomites has become notably unpredictable. Winters are becoming increasingly warmer and wetter while summers are becoming warmer.
Where the region was once renowned for having plenty of snow in winter, this is slowly changing.
Reduced snowfall levels caused by shifts in climate conditions have resulted in snow shortages. With snow cover becoming less consistent, it has disrupted seasonal activities like skiing and snowboarding. This isn’t to say that partaking in winter sports isn’t possible but the season may be shortened.
Temperatures in the Dolomites — Dolomites travel tips
In December in the Dolomites, daily highs can range from about 27°F (-3°C) to 36°F (2°C).
At night, average temperatures can range from 14°F (-10°C) to 21°F (-6°C). Suffice it to say, base layers, sufficient outerwear and the right footwear are essential when visiting the Dolomites in winter.
In comparison, August temperatures in the Dolomites are more moderate.
Average daily highs can range from 75°F (24°C) to 82°F (28°C). At night, average temperatures cool down between 55°F (13°C) and 63°F (17°C).
Speaking from my own experience, rainfall is common in the Dolomites even on a warm summer’s evening. Pack a waterproof jacket and appropriate footwear because the weather can change at the drop of a hat.
Meat dishes are everywhere
Good news for meat lovers but bad news for pescatarians when traveling to the Dolomites.
The mountainous region is renowned for its specialty meat products and dishes. Speck is a popular cured meat and one that’s served in restaurants and sold frequently around the region.
However, given the Dolomites’ location, fish dishes are pretty non-existent. I personally haven’t seen any fish or seafood dishes during our many trips to the Dolomites. If there are some fish dishes on a menu, they’re likely to be frozen.
Cuisine in the Dolomites is typically meat-based, hearty and sometimes heavy. It’s a wholesome and homely cuisine that’s designed to keep you fuller for longer.
One of the most essential Dolomites travel tips for travelers with dietary restrictions, make sure to check menus beforehand.
Vegetarian dishes include casunziei, which are half-moon ravioli stuffed with pumpkin, spinach or other vegetables. Potato or pumpkin gnocchi are another alternative and is a dish that can also be suitable for vegans.
The Dolomites is ideal for families
For a region renowned for its outdoor activities, it’s easy to write off the Dolomites as not being family friendly.
However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. On our last visit to the region, we took our then 3-month-old daughter and enjoyed every second of the trip.
While we didn’t engage in any outdoor activities, we visited several alpine towns and saw plenty of the Dolomites’ lakes.
Some of my tips for traveling with babies or young children to the Dolomites are:
- Rent an apartment over a hotel: it’s more convenient having a kitchen to hand
- Stay in an area in the Dolomites that has more services compared to somewhere completely remote
- Bring a baby sling if planning to hike or go for country walks: it’s more convenient than using the stroller
- Pack waterproof clothing as well as sun protection for babies and young children: the weather can be very unpredictable
- Stock up on any baby essentials and medicines: some pharmacies might be well stocked while others may not
For families with older children, or teenagers, the Dolomites is full of activities and attractions to fill up a vacation. Most popular activities usually involve some type of outdoor sport such as skiing, snowboarding and biking.
For a family activity you can do together, hike one of the easier trails in the region.
What are your thoughts on these Dolomites travel tips? Are they helpful for organizing a trip to the Dolomites? Let me know in the comments below.
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ABOUT me
Welcome to my site. I'm Lisa, an Italy-based travel and lifestyle blogger behind Following the Rivera. Find out more about me and my story.
We’ve never been but some great tips for anyone who is planning a visit soon
Thank you, I hope you visit one day
Awesome tips, happy that I visited the Dolomites finally. These tips are so practical even for the solo travel, awesome to see it even in the snow…
Thank you, I’m also happy! It is a beautiful region in the sun or snow 😀
I’ve never been to the Dolomites, but they’re definitely on my travel bucket list! The stunning landscapes, with their towering peaks, crystal-clear lakes, and quaint alpine villages, look like something out of a fairytale.
I promise you will not regret visiting, it truly is a beautiful region!
I appreciate you sharing this among travel post as I am wanting to go to Italy as my husband has family in Italy and I will make sure to check out Dolomites when we are there. The pictures are gorgeous!
Thank you so much, I hope you visit one day!
One more stunning spot to add to the Italy bucket list. Dolomites sounds like an awesome place and thanks for the tips.
You’re welcome! Hope to see you here one day!