Best of the Dolomites

Top itineraries and travel advice in and around Dolomites

Each season in the Dolomites presents a new face of the mountains, whether it's the vibrant wildflowers of spring, the lush greenery of summer, the vivid colors of autumn, or the pristine snowscapes of winter. This majestic mountain range in northern Italy has some of the most memorable landscapes in the world. A UNESCO World Heritage site, this range is famed for its beauty, characterized by towering peaks, lush valleys, and serene Alpine lakes. This region is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, offering a wide array of activities throughout the year, from skiing and snowboarding in the winter to hiking and climbing in the summer.

Explore charming mountain villages like Cortina d'Ampezzo, a jewel in the Dolomites and a renowned winter sports hub, or the quaint Val Gardena, with its rich Ladin culture and history. The region's network of hiking trails leads you through some of the most dramatic scenery in Europe, including the iconic Tre Cime di Lavaredo and the verdant valleys of Alpe di Siusi. For the more adventurous, there are numerous via Ferrata routes, offering a thrilling way to experience the mountains' rugged beauty.

Culinary enthusiasts will delight in the Dolomites' gastronomy, which combines Italian, Tyrolean, and Ladin influences to create distinct and delicious dishes. Local specialties like canederli (bread dumplings), speck (smoked ham), and strudel reflect the region's diverse cultural heritage.

Kimkim travelers have cherished experiences such as guided nature walks, mountain biking through scenic trails, and relaxing in the region's luxurious Alpine spas. For families, the Dolomites offer a range of activities, from educational nature parks and adventure playgrounds to cable car rides that provide panoramic views.

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Dolomites Essentials

Italy
How Many Days to Spend in the Dolomites

Some of the best hiking, cycling, and skiing in the world can be found in the Dolomites, a portion of the Alps that crosses northern Italy. Even with 24 hours, there are great outdoor options, like day hikes in the gorgeous Ampezzo Valley. Come for three days and combine hiking with cycling for tours of remote prairies, glaciers, and limestone peaks. With a week you can cycle and hike from one side of the region to the other, stopping at high-altitude lakes, charming mountain towns, funky art installations, and relaxing day spas along the way.

Cycling in the Dolomites
Best Time of Year to Visit the Dolomites

Spread across Alto Adige, Trentino, and Veneto in northeastern Italy, and wedged between the Swiss and Austrian Alps, the Dolomites are a year-round mountain destination. Snow sport enthusiasts will have much to enjoy in winter, while hikers, mountain bikers, and travelers seeking more relaxed pursuits can enjoy the other three seasons. Read on to discover the best time of year to visit the Dolomites.

Dolomites Itineraries

Take in the views of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo peaks on your multiday hikes through the Dolomites
Map of Dolomites High Traverse: Hut-to-Hut Hiking in Italy - 7 Days
Dolomites High Traverse: Hut-to-Hut Hiking in Italy - 7 Days

On this seven-day trek, you'll encounter some of the world's most beautiful alpine scenery, including Tre Cime di Lavaredo, a mountain group that includes three of the most famous peaks in Italy's Dolomites. It's a rugged adventure where you'll hike between mountain huts, traverse sheer rock walls on the famous via ferrata routes, and enjoy authentic Italian cuisine in cozy refugi lodges along the route.

Tre Cime di Lavaredo
Map of Dolomites High Traverse - 10 Days
Dolomites High Traverse - 10 Days

Traverse the northern Dolomites starting at the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, three of the range's most famous peaks, and make your way to the Grupo Latemar near Bolzano. You'll hike through a number of national parks, crossing desert rocklands, forests, and green pastures as you travel the cultural and historic border between Europe's southern Latin and northern Germanic regions.

Mountain roads in the Dolomites
Map of Cycling Tour of the Dolomites - 8 Days
Cycling Tour of the Dolomites - 8 Days

Perfect for active travelers looking to enjoy one of Italy's most picturesque regions, this cycling trip will take you along snowy peaks and tranquil lakes in the Dolomite Mountains. Begin and end your trip with a bit of relaxation in the charming town of Pian dei Pradi before beginning your adventure through this lush region's hills, valleys, vineyards, farms, and quaint villages. Along your loop, you'll have time to sample authentic cuisine, soak in thermal baths, explore a nature preserve, and sip wine by the lake.

Riva del Garda, Lake Garda
Map of Mountains and Lakes in Northern Italy: The Dolomites, Lake Garda, Verona & More - 14 Days
Mountains and Lakes in Northern Italy: The Dolomites, Lake Garda, Verona & More - 14 Days

On your two-week trip to Italy, experience the beauty of alpine living in the Dolomites and on Lake Garda. Visit unique museums and quaint towns, including Ortisei and Cortina d'Ampezzo. Go hiking and ride funicular cable cars, marveling at the panoramic views. Stay in the historic towns of Riva del Garda and Desenzano del Garda, and take a guided tour of the Roman villas and castles protecting the lake.

A lake in the Dolomites
Map of Mountains and Lakes in Northern Italy: The Dolomites, Lake Garda, Verona & More - 15 Days
Mountains and Lakes in Northern Italy: The Dolomites, Lake Garda, Verona & More - 15 Days

Spend 15 days traveling through the dramatic Dolomites in Northern Italy to Lake Garda. Enjoy self-guided hikes in Belluno and Ortisei, visit a castle and monastery near Bolzano, and experience scenic Lake Garda by boat. Explore the Old Towns, and the fortresses guarding them, in Malcesine and Sirmione. Finish your trip in Verona by delving into Roman history on a guided city tour and visiting a local winery.

The Three Peaks of Lavarone, Dolomites
Map of Mountains and Lakes in Northern Italy: The Dolomites, Lake Garda, Verona & More - 9 Days
Mountains and Lakes in Northern Italy: The Dolomites, Lake Garda, Verona & More - 9 Days

See the best of the Dolomites and Lake Garda in 9 days. Explore medieval and baroque churches, interesting museums, and stunning nature throughout. Hike beautiful trails around Belluno and Cortina d'Ampezzo. Meet with local guides in Bolzano and Bressanone and learn the fascinating histories of these winding and narrow medieval town centers. Be charmed by Lake Garda's natural beauty and the colorful houses lining the lakeside promenades.

Alpine Town, Dolomites
Map of Mountains and Lakes in Northern Italy: The Dolomites, Lake Garda, Verona & More - 10 Days
Mountains and Lakes in Northern Italy: The Dolomites, Lake Garda, Verona & More - 10 Days

Spend 10 days amidst the mighty Dolomites as you visit the Tre Cime di Lavaredo peaks and Odle Mountains. Stay in charming towns full of colorful architecture. Explore regional history at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology and the Bronze and Stone Age Museum at Lake Garda. Soak in the lake's tranquility and amazing views as you take a boat ride to Malcesine and ride a cable car to the top of Monte Baldo.

Hiking Trails, Dolomites
Map of Mountains and Lakes in Northern Italy: The Dolomites, Lake Garda, Verona & More - 11 Days
Mountains and Lakes in Northern Italy: The Dolomites, Lake Garda, Verona & More - 11 Days

Make the most of your trip with this 11-day itinerary to the Dolomites and Lake Garda. Balance free time exploring nature with guided tours of the beautiful and fascinating towns of Northern Italy. Hike trails and visit stunning spots at Belluno National Park and Misurina Lake. Take a day trip to Bressanone and the peaceful Novacella Abbey, a monastery with landscaped gardens and a winery. Stay in Sirmione on Lake Garda, climbing up to the iconic 13th-century castle and touring the ruins of a Roman villa. Linger in the past, learning about the Arena in Verona's Piazza Bra from a local guide.

Enjoy views of Lago di Braies on your six-day hike through the Dolomites
Map of Explore Venice & Conquer the Dolomites - 11 Days
Explore Venice & Conquer the Dolomites - 11 Days

Begin your 11-day northern Italian adventure in Venice, where you'll discover highlights like St. Mark's Basilica, the Rialto Bridge, and the Grand Canal at your own pace. Then, spend a day in Bressanone before transferring to Val Campo di Dentro to start your six-day hike through the Dolomites. Trek through Alpine meadows, past a glacial lake, and see majestic towering peaks. Following the hike, return to Venice to unwind, ride a gondola, and explore more of the city's historic palaces and museums.

Visit towns at the heart of the Dolomites
Map of Mountains and Lakes in Northern Italy: The Dolomites, Lake Garda, Verona & More - 12 Days
Mountains and Lakes in Northern Italy: The Dolomites, Lake Garda, Verona & More - 12 Days

Discover the Dolomites and Lake Garda on this 12-day journey. Experience unspoiled nature and the Northern Italian culture, heavily influenced by Austria and Germany. Visit popular ski towns and wander the medieval Old Towns of Belluno, Cortina d'Ampezzo, and Bolzano. Take a day trip to Tre Cime di Lavaredo (the Three Peaks of Lavardo) mountain range and do a short trek between refugios. On a guided tour of Lake Garda, explore historic villas and museums, and travel to the charming fishing village of Malcesine by boat. In Verona, expect Shakespearean romance, Roman history, and delicious wine before you head home.

Dolomites
Map of Mountains and Lakes in Northern Italy: The Dolomites, Lake Garda, Verona & More - 13 Days
Mountains and Lakes in Northern Italy: The Dolomites, Lake Garda, Verona & More - 13 Days

With this 13-day itinerary, visit the most spectacular mountain ranges and lakes in Northern Italy. Spend a day hiking through a national park in the Dolomites region, and take a day trip to the magical Lake Misurina. Breathe in the clear alpine air as you walk around the towns of Bolzano and Bressanone in the Funes Valley. On Lake Garda, enjoy views from the top of Monte Baldo and the Scaliger Castles in Malcesine and Sirmione. Round off your trip in Verona, going wine tasting in the Valpolicella region.

Ferry across the palm-lined shores of Garda Lake
Map of Cycling Northern Italy: Dolomites to Venice, Slovenia to Croatia - 14 Days
Cycling Northern Italy: Dolomites to Venice, Slovenia to Croatia - 14 Days

Featuring two weeks of cycling through beautiful and diverse landscapes in northern Italy, you'll also pedal along the Slovenian and Croatian coastline. Begin your journey in Bolzano, the gateway to the Dolomites, and work your way south to Peschiera before turning east to Venice and following the Adriatic Sea around the Gulf of Trieste, where you'll end along the Istrian coast in Croatia's Poreč. Discover romantic Verona, marvel at architectural masterpieces in Vicenza, and soak weary muscles in thermal waters in Padua.

 Lake Carezza in the Dolomites
Map of Discover Milan and Italy's Lakes Region - 7 Days
Discover Milan and Italy's Lakes Region - 7 Days

Explore Northern Italy's Lakes district on this weeklong getaway trip. Tour the Royal Palace, see art in the Castello Sforzesco, and enjoy the nightlife on Milan's Navigli canals. See da Vinci's The Last Supper, then head to Lake Como and Lake Garda to enjoy small lakeside villages, sprawling summer villas, and a day trip to the Dolomite Mountains.

Town of Varenna on Lake Como
Map of Discover Milan and Italy's Lakes Region - 15 Days
Discover Milan and Italy's Lakes Region - 15 Days

Get away from the hustle and bustle on this 15-day Lakes District itinerary. See da Vinci's "The Last Supper" and catch a football game in Milan, then enjoy the city's buzzing nightlife. Tour resplendent summer villas on Lake Como, shop flea markets on Lake Maggiore, then end your trip on Lake Garda, where sunny beaches, charming Tyrolean villages, and the Valpolicella wine region await.

Lake Garda
Map of Discover Milan and Italy's Lakes Region - 14 Days
Discover Milan and Italy's Lakes Region - 14 Days

Spend two relaxing weeks enjoying art, culture, and food. Shop for treasures at the Quadrilatero della Moda district and join the locals at the Navigli canals for high-energy nightlife in Milan. Spend four days on peaceful Lake Como, touring sleepy fishing harbors and learning to make the perfect pasta dish. Visit serene lakeside estates on Lake Maggiore, then end on Lake Garda for award-winning wine tasting and Tyrolean charm.

Town of Bellagio
Map of Discover Milan and Italy's Lakes Region - 12 Days
Discover Milan and Italy's Lakes Region - 12 Days

This twelve-day itinerary in Northern Italy is perfect for adventurous travelers with some time to spare. Start in Milan, the fashion and cultural capital, to see world-famous art and shop for luxury and designer items. Explore botanical gardens and family restaurants in Bellagio, then tour the Borromean Islands and browse the lakeside market in Lake Maggiore. End at Lake Garda for a Dolomite day excursion and wine tasting.

Dramatic Skies over Lake Maggiore
Map of Discover Milan and Italy's Lakes Region - 11 Days
Discover Milan and Italy's Lakes Region - 11 Days

Spend eleven days visiting the fashion and culture capital of Milan and relaxing on Italy's northern lakes. See world-famous art by da Vinci and shop for luxury items in the city, then head to the countryside for 8 days of sunshine. Explore sprawling summer villas and take a pasta-making class on Lake Como, then tour medieval castles and see Juliet's balcony in Verona near Lake Garda.

Lake Maggiore
Map of Discover Milan and the Italian Lakes - 13 Days
Discover Milan and the Italian Lakes - 13 Days

Thirteen is considered a lucky number in Italy, so take time off and explore Northern Italy for thirteen days. Take in the history and amazing street food in Milan, then head to beautiful Lake Como for a week of sunshine, sprawling lakeside gardens, and wine tasting. Continue to Lakes Maggiore and Garda for Sunday mornings at the market, Napoleon-era villas, and the stunning Dolomite Mountains.