The best of the Dolomites on a 7-day itinerary

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The Dolomites occupy a large chunk of northern Italy and there a few airports you could fly in to. Verona, Venice or Innsbruck airports are all two to three hours’ drive away from Cortina where this itinerary starts. Verona is a slightly better option for this road trip as it’s closest to Madonna di Campiglio where this itinerary finishes.

DAY 1 / DRIVING THE GREAT DOLOMITE ROAD AND PASSO PARDOI

On the first day, begin your Dolomite itinerary by taking the stunning Great Dolomite Road. The road begins just southeast of Bolzano and heads west across dramatic mountain scenery to Cortina d’Ampezzo.

From Bolzano take the SS241 towards Nova Levante where you’ll see magnificent views of the Catinaccio. Soon afterwards, hop out of the car and collect some photos of the shimmering turquoise waters of Lago di Carezza mirroring the spiky Latemar mountains. The road now crosses the Costalungo pass and drops into Val di Fassa. Turn left onto the SS48 to Canazei.

Just through Canazei, the road winds to Passo Pordoi. It takes 22 hairpin bends to reach the top of the pass. Here, take the cable car to the 2,950m Sass Pordoi viewing terrace. To the west there are sensational views of the massive limestone blocks of the Sella and Sassolungo massifs. To the east lies the barren moonscape of Piz Boe. The rifugio at the top is a great spot for lunch.

It’s another 33 hairpins to descend down into the valley that sits beneath Marmolada and its mighty glacier. The road follows the valley through Arabba and Andraz before heading north to Passo Falzarego. Here, another excellent cable car ascends to the 2,835m high Rifugio Lagazuoi. The views from here are also excellent. You can also explore the trenches and tunnels from the First World War.

Returning to the car head east to finish your drive in Cortina.

DAY 2 / CIRCUMNAVIGATING ICONIC TRE CIME DI LAVAREDO

Tre Cime di Lavaredo are three soaring pinnacles of rock that have become one of the most iconic images of the Dolomites. The most famous view is just north of Drezinnenhütte: a magnificent rifugio tucked into the rock and scree. The only way to get the view is to walk, and it’s one of the best in the Dolomites.

To start the hike, drive from Cortina to the trailhead at Rifugio Auronzo (45 minutes). But, on the way stop at Lago Misurina and Lago Antorno. Both are beautiful lakes with views up to Tre Cime & Cadini massifs.

The trail is just over 10km with 400m of ascent and descent and takes just under 3 hours and 30 minutes. You can find all the details and more information for this walk on our guide to hiking Tre Cime.

After the hike, return to Cortina via Lago di Landro for some late afternoon snaps. The lake is beautiful, the café across the road serves a mean coffee and there are also excellent views back to Tre Cime from the Zinnenblick car park.

DAY 3 / CAPTURING INSTAGRAM FRIENDLY LAGO DI BRAIES AND VAL DI FUNES

Lago di Braies and Val di Funes are two of the most beautiful destinations in the Dolomites and have rightly become favourite Instagram destinations. Tucked into the northern valleys they are only a short drive apart.

Begin the day by taking the 1-hour drive to Lago di Braies. The turquoise waters of this picture perfect lake sit beneath the dramatic craggy buttresses of Croda del Becco. It’s a remarkable sight and worth savouring from the shoreline. There is a 1-hour walk around the lake, or you can hire a boat.

Hop back in the car and explore more of the beauty of the Braies valley. Only a few kilometres from the hordes of people at the lake, it is strangely quiet. In particular, the huts and flower-filled meadows that surround the ruined hotel in Bagni di Braies Vecchia is worth the short detour.

Next head to Val di Funes. The churches of San Giovanni and Santa Maddalena backed by the jagged peaks of the Puez-Odle massif are a photographer’s dream. But don’t just take photos and run, take the time to amble along the Panoramaweg and Sunnenseitenweg paths that meander through the meadows. They are a magnificent walk in the fading light and a great end to day 3 of this Dolomite itinerary.

DAY 4 / STUNNING SCENERY ON SECEDA AND ALPE DI SIUSI

The Puez-Odle massif that forms the magnificent backdrop to the churches in Val di Funes doesn’t just look good from afar. Up close those spiky peaks appear like the teeth of a mangled saw. And there is no better place to stare over this dramatic mountain scenery than from the top of the Seceda cable car.

Drive to Ortisei from Val di Funes (40 minutes) and take the cable car to the Seceda ridgeline. After a short walk, the reward is a magnificent array of vertiginous alpine scenery. Explore the ridge, grab a coffee at one of the rifugios and when you have had your fill take the cable car back down.

In the afternoon head up to Alpe di Siusi. This 2,000m alpine meadow is set below dramatic peaks and makes for a memorable half-day. Many head up here to hike, but the rolling meadows are long and wide and walking will only allow you to see a fragment of the area. So it’s better to hire a bike. It’s even better to hire an e-bike. That way, without too much huffing and puffing, and with zero emissions, you can see all the highlights.

The Bamby bike rental at the bottom of the Alpe di Siusi lift in Ortisei rents a range of bikes for full day 8:30 to 18:00 or half day 12:30 to 18:00. Whatever time you go makes sure you cycle to Saltria. The views across the meadows and up to Sassolungo are remarkable. Take the path that twists through the valleys back to Ortesei. It takes just over an hour, and you barely have to touch the pedals.

DAY 5 / HIKING THE MAGNIFICENT SASSOLUNGO-LANGKOFEL CIRCUIT

What makes the Dolomites so spectacular are the near vertical peaks that suddenly protrude like a knife through swaying green meadows. And nowhere is this dramatic contrast more emphatic than the Sassolungo – Langkofel massif. So today strap on your hiking boots and circumnavigate this beautiful limestone monolith.

It’s a 6 hour, 17.6km walk with 1,000m of ascent and descent. But if you are up for the challenge it is a truly memorable day hike.

Set off early, take your time and recharge whenever you want. You can find all the details on our Sassolungo hiking post.

DAY 6 / SAVOURING TRENTO AND ITS VINE COVERED VALLEY

Trento is a beautiful town in a beautiful valley and a great place to wind down for a day. Hop in the car and take the scenic SP64 and LS24 through Siusi and Presule towards Bolzano before entering the Trentino valley.

The Trento valley itself is impressive. Fortresses peer over the steep-sided walls. Vineyards line the valley floor. Little villages with cute churches perch on ledges or hide in crevasses. It’s all rather quaint if you can forgive the four-lane A22 highway that runs through the middle.

Fortunately, the old main road (SS12) winds around the valley and is much more enjoyable. Take this road and pick a couple of villages to explore. Potter round the beautiful pastel coloured buildings, little gardens and churchyards. When it’s time for lunch head to Alois Lageder, a family vineyard run on biodynamic principles. It serves up a delicious take on modern Italian cooking in a beautiful sunny courtyard. Obviously, their selection of local wines is excellent.

In the afternoon head to Trento and explore this attractive town. The highlight is the Piazza Duomo backed by the Cattedrale di San Viglio (where the infamous Council of Trento was held). But the real joy is just strolling the laneways, staring at the architecture and stopping at the bars and cafes perched on pavements or hidden in backstreets.

DAY 7 / EXPLORING THE LESSER VISITED BRENTA DOLOMITES

Not many head out west to the Brenta Dolomites. But there is one very good reason to do so: the remarkable walk that traverses under the peaks of the imposing massif. The hike begins from the top of the Grostè gondola lift, which rises from Madonna di Campiglio, a 1 hour and 30-minute drive from Trento.

From the 2,500 cable car station head southwest on path 316, weaving in and out of the towering peaks before arriving at Rifugio Tuckett (1 hour, 30 minutes), one of the best-located huts in the Dolomites. Take a well-earned break and peer into the soaring needles, where climbers cling to ropes and Via Ferrata enthusiasts dangle from steel cables.

There are two options now. Head down on path 317 back towards Madonna di Campiglio (3-hour walk) or take path 328 and continue contouring around the massif. This magnificent section traverses a rocky outcrop of large boulders before turning left on path 318 and heading deep into an amphitheatre of towering peaks. Right in the centre of this wonderland of rock sits Rifugio Brentei.

Return on path 318 and take the steep descent via Rifugio Casinei to Rifugio Vallisnella (5-hour walk). Here you can stop and take the bus (every 20/30 minutes) back into Madonna di Campiglio or just keep on going and finish the final 4.5km into Madonna on foot. Walking all the way takes around 6 hours. Whichever route you take it is a magnificent day in the mountains.