The Dolomites.

EUROPE/ITALY/46.4102° N, 11.8440° E

Pink limestone walls catch the evening enrosadira while cattle bells clang through alpine pastures. Crossing the Gardena Pass, language shifts from German to Ladin to Italian in the space of twenty hairpin turns. This northern corner of Italy delivers serious mountain culture: steep rifugi serving canederli dumplings in hot broth, World War I via ferrata routes iron-pinned into sheer rock faces, and quiet high meadows where hay is still raked by hand.

Last updated 2 Sept 2026

Field notes

Photographs · Wikimedia Commons
Europe / Italy46.41°N 11.84°E
The Dolomites — Frea pass Sella group Pisciadu Dolomites South Tyrol
Frea pass Sella group Pisciadu Dolomites South Tyrol · Wikimedia Commons
The Dolomites — Santo Stefano di Cadore, Piave and Col Trondo, Monte Crissin, Dolomites
Santo Stefano di Cadore, Piave and Col Trondo, Monte Crissin, Dolomites · Wikimedia Commons
The Dolomites — Drei Zinnen Tre Cime di Lavaredo Dolomites
Drei Zinnen Tre Cime di Lavaredo Dolomites · Wikimedia Commons

What The Dolomites is about

Twelve ways to read the region. Pick a town below and you can turn any of these into a timed 1, 2 or 3 day plan.

MOUNTAIN HIKING

Tackle classic trails beneath the Tre Cime di Lavaredo or traverse the Alpe di Siusi plateau on well-marked paths between mountain huts.

ALPINE DINING

Settle into timber-lined rifugi for bowls of speck canederli dumplings, polenta with braised venison, and warm kaiserschmarrn shredded pancakes.

VIA FERRATA

Clip into iron cables pinned into sheer limestone walls along historic First World War military routes near Cortina and Val Gardena.

LADIN CULTURE

Hear ancient Rhaeto-Romance dialects and visit woodcarving workshops preserved across Val Badia and the tight side valleys of Fassa.

HIGH PASSES

Drive the legendary Great Dolomites Road linking Bolzano to Cortina across the Pordoi, Falzarego, and Gardena mountain passes.

REGIONAL WINE

Sip crisp Kerner, mineral Pinot Bianco, and earthy Lagrein reds produced on steep terrace vineyards along the Adige valley floor.

WINTER SPORTS

Cover hundreds of connected kilometres across the Dolomiti Superski carousel, including the celebrated Sellaronda circuit.

SACRED ARCHITECTURE

Spot shingle-roofed Gothic steeples and frescoed roadside shrines against rock spires in villages like Santa Maddalena in Val di Funes.

MOUNTAIN LAKES

Walk the perimeter trails around turquoise glacial waters at Lago di Braies, Lago di Carezza, and the quieter Lago di Dobbiaco.

CHEESE & DAIRIES

Sample mountain pasture cheeses like Puzzone di Moena and aged Trentingrana directly from working malga dairy huts in summer.

CYCLING & PASSES

Climb historic Giro d'Italia passes like the Passo Giau and Passo Sella on high alpine road circuits and gravel trails.

WAR HISTORY

Explore open-air trench systems and artillery tunnels carved directly into the rock faces of Monte Lagazuoi and the Cinque Torri.

Where to go in The Dolomites

The bases worth booking. Each one has its own field guide with 1, 2 and 3 day itineraries.

  1. 01
    Cortina d'Ampezzo

    VENETO / ITALY

    Sip an evening spritz in the corso before climbing towards the dramatic Tofane peaks.

  2. 02
    Ortisei

    TRENTINO-ALTO ADIGE / ITALY

    Ride the gondola up to Seceda ridge and explore long-standing Val Gardena woodcarving shops.

  3. 03
    Bolzano

    TRENTINO-ALTO ADIGE / ITALY

    Visit the 5,300-year-old iceman Ötzi before ordering speck and Lagrein under arcaded streets.

  4. 04
    Corvara in Badia

    TRENTINO-ALTO ADIGE / ITALY

    Base yourself here for immediate lift access to the Sellaronda circuit and warm Ladin hospitality.

  5. 05
    San Candido

    TRENTINO-ALTO ADIGE / ITALY

    Cycle the downhill trail into Austria and tour the Romanesque collegiate church in the town centre.

  6. 06
    Canazei

    TRENTINO-ALTO ADIGE / ITALY

    Ascend toward the Marmolada glacier from this energetic Val di Fassa mountain base.

  7. 07
    Bressanone

    TRENTINO-ALTO ADIGE / ITALY

    Wander the cloister frescoes at the cathedral and drink crisp white wines from the nearby abbey.

  8. 08
    Santa Maddalena

    TRENTINO-ALTO ADIGE / ITALY

    Photograph the timber chapel beneath the Odle peaks and walk peaceful forest tracks.

  9. 09
    Selva di Val Gardena

    TRENTINO-ALTO ADIGE / ITALY

    Step straight onto steep hiking trails beneath the craggy massifs of the Sella group.

  10. 10
    Alleghe

    VENETO / ITALY

    Stay beside the mirror-still mountain lake directly below the sheer rock walls of Monte Civetta.

  11. 11
    Castelrotto

    TRENTINO-ALTO ADIGE / ITALY

    Catch the morning bus to the Alpe di Siusi pastures from this painted, quiet farming village.

What to do in The Dolomites

The Dolomites encompass jagged limestone massifs, high alpine meadows, and trilingual valleys spanning South Tyrol, Trentino, and Belluno. Days here turn on the seasons: hiking high trails between mountain huts and eating canederli dumplings in summer, or navigating vast interconnected ski circuits in winter. It suits energetic walkers, lovers of hearty mountain food, and travellers who appreciate alpine clarity alongside Italian warmth.

When to go to The Dolomites

Late June to September opens high hiking trails and mountain rifugi, with wildflowers peaking in July and calm weather in September. Ski season runs from December to March on the Sellaronda. Spring and November are quiet transition periods when cable cars shut.

Getting around The Dolomites

A rental car offers maximum flexibility on mountain passes like the Gardena and Pordoi, though summer traffic demands patience. The South Tyrol bus and train network connects Bolzano, Bressanone, and the valleys efficiently, making public transit genuinely viable.