10-Day Dolomites Road Trip Itinerary: Hikes and Lakes

Last Updated on May 14, 2026 by Charlotte

We spent ten days road tripping through the Italian Dolomites, and by the end, we were already scheming how to come back! Every valley we rode into felt like a different world. From the wildflower meadows of Alpe di Siusi to the jagged towers of Tre Cime di Lavaredo, the Dolomites kept one-upping themselves at every turn.

This Dolomites road trip itinerary is built around two home bases: Ortisei in the Val Gardena valley, and Cortina d’Ampezzo in the east. Rather than packing up and moving hotels every night, you’ll settle into each base for several days and day-trip out to hikes, lakes, and scenic viewpoints. The structure of this itinerary is flexible, and you can swap days around based on the weather, your energy levels, or whether you’d rather spend your afternoon on a trail or with an Aperol Spritz in hand.

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Days 1 to 5: Homebase at Ortisei (St. Ulrich | Urtijëi), Val Gardena

Ortisei won us over immediately. Alpine hotels with window boxes of petunias, balconies looking straight at the Sassolungo, and a walkable town center with enough restaurants, cafés, and outdoor shops to keep you happily busy on a rest day.

It’s small enough to feel cozy but connected enough to be practical — two cableways link the town directly to the Seceda Ridgeline and Alpe di Siusi, so you can be on a mountain trail within minutes of finishing breakfast.

If you’re staying at a Tourist Association-affiliated accommodation, you’ll receive a free public transit pass called the “Val Gardena Mobil Card” (note: it does not cover cable cars).

If you’re planning to ride multiple cableways, the “Gardena Card” is available as a 3-day and a 6-day pass and offers unlimited rides on the 17 lifts in Val Gardena during the summer season. Even better, with the Gardena Card, your dogs can ride for free!

Seceda Ridgeline

The Seceda Ridgeline was the first thing we did in Val Gardena, and it set the bar impossibly high for the rest of the trip.

At the Seceda Lookout, wildflower pastures stretch to the edge of striking cliffs where clouds billow over Seceda’s steep stone spires. At 2,518 meters (~8,200 ft), the Seceda Summit Station offers an unparalleled panoramic view of the mountains and alpine pastures of the Dolomites.

From up top, you can pick from several day hikes of varying difficulty, or if you’re not big on hiking, you can simply park yourself at the cable station café with a coffee and stare at the Sassolungo. There’s no wrong way to spend time at Seceda.

Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm)

Located on a plateau above Ortisei, Alpe di Siusi is the largest alpine meadow in Europe with over 700 unique plant and wildflower species. While the pasture has limited access by car, the Alpe di Siusi is conveniently connected by cableway to the towns of Ortisei and Siusi allo Sciliar.

The alpine pastures are perfect for outdoor recreation, including hiking, mountain biking, and Via Ferrata. There are over 450 km (279 miles) of hiking trails and more than 50 mountain huts with restaurants up here, so you could easily fill an entire day.

We recommend spending at least half a day at Alpe di Suisi, although there are enough hiking trails to entertain a whole day’s worth of activity.

Karersee (Lago di Carezza)

About an hour’s drive south from Ortisei, Karersee is a small emerald lake backed by the Latemar and Rosengarten massifs. It’s not a big destination, but there are easy walking trails around the lake and through the surrounding woods, and you can see the highlights in a couple of hours.

That said, I thought that the color of this lake is genuinely startling in person, especially on a clear morning when the peaks reflect in the water and it’s an otherworldly shade of blue. If you pair it with a relaxed afternoon back in Ortisei, then you’ve got a nice day outing!

Val di Funes (Villnöss): The Adolf Munkel Trail and The Church of Santa Magdalena

An hour north of Ortisei, Val di Funes is quieter and more pastoral than the other stops on this itinerary, and the views here rival everything else in the region! We started our day in Val di Funes on the Adolf Munkel Trail in the Puez-Odle Nature Park. This easy trail loops through forests at the base of the Geisleralm mountain group, with wildflower meadows and rifugio stops along the way.

Closer to the small town of Santa Magdalena, the view of The Church of St Magdalena against the backdrop of the Geisleralm is one of the most photographed scenes in the Dolomites, and it lives up to the hype.

You can easily combine both the Adolf Munkel Trail and the church viewpoint in a single day.

Day 6: Travel from Val Gardena to Cortina d’Ampezzo

On Day 6, you’ll drive from Val Gardena to the town of Cortina d’Ampezzo. The drive takes around 2 hours given favorable traffic conditions. We recommend taking the Autostrada toll roads even if Google Maps says that the winding mountain roads are a shorter distance geographically. We had a TERRIFYING experience trying to take the mountain backroads, which ended in me having to do a 300-point turn on a single-lane road at the edge of a cliff. I was very thankful for the Autostrada toll roads after that!

Along the drive, make an optional sightseeing stop at the picturesque lake Durrensee (Lago di Landro), and enjoy the free parking along the lake, and the nearby cafes across the road. After enjoying some time at the lake, continue along toward Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Days 7-9: Homebase at Cortina d’Ampezzo

Cortina d’Ampezzo is a different vibe from Ortisei — more polished, more upscale, and a bit more cosmopolitan. It’s best known as a winter ski destination (it hosted the 1956 Winter Olympics and the 2026 Winter Olympics with Milan), but in summer it transforms into a fantastic base for hiking, with boutiques, restaurants, and gelato shops lining the pedestrian center.

Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Drei Zinnen)

The three iconic stone towers of Tre Cime di Lavaredo are the focal point of some fantastic day hikes in the Sexten region of the Italian Dolomites, including the Tre Cime Loop and the Cadini di Misurina Lookout. Tre Cime is extremely popular with large crowds in July and August, but rightly so. The jagged pinnacles of Tre Cime and the sharp peaks of Misurina were unlike anything I’d ever seen in my life.

The drive to Tre Cime di Lavaredo takes about forty minutes from the center of Cortina. We recommend spending at least one full day at Tre Cime, and to plan to arrive early in the day.

Lago di Misurina

Lago di Misurina sits between Cortina and Tre Cime, making it an easy add-on before or after your hike. It’s a calmer, less Instagram-frenzied alternative to Lago di Braies, with affordable rowboat rentals (no reservation needed) and a handful of restaurants and cafés within walking distance.

You can spend anywhere from a few hours to a full day at Lago di Misurina, or even simply stop by after visiting Tre Cime di Lavaredo.

We saw these incredibly cute palomino horses in a pasture near Lago di Misurina, and I really can’t think of a more beautiful place to get to live your life as horse.

Lago di Braies (Pragser Wildsee)

Lago di Braies is championed as a pristine, isolated lake across Instagram and Pinterest. However, in real life, this lake and the surrounding trails can get extremely crowded and unpleasant, especially in the peak visiting months of July and August. This lake is approximately a one-hour drive from Cortina and is located in the Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park.

Increased popularity at this spot has led to driving restrictions in the valley leading up to Lago di Braies, which we cover in our full guide to Lago di Braies. Rowboat rentals are available in the summer months. You can reference the most up-to-date information, including hours of operation and driving restrictions, on the official website: https://www.prags.bz/en.

Lago di Sorapis *

Lago di Sorapis is a turquoise alpine lake tucked beneath the towering Sorapiss massif, and it can only be reached on foot. The out-and-back hike from Passo Tre Croci (Trail 215) is about 12 km round trip and takes 4–5 hours. The trail is rated moderate, but don’t underestimate it (especially if you are afraid of heights) because there are narrow, exposed sections with metal cables and ladders that require a head for heights and reliable shoes.

Photo credit: Lago di Sorapis, Photo by Carmine Bonanni, Wikipedia Commons

The trailhead for Lago di Sorapis is located at the Passo Tre Croci, which is only a 15-minute drive from Cortina. The parking area is free, but it fills up fast in summer, so it helps if you aim for an early start. Rifugio Vandelli sits near the lake and serves lunch (cash only), but it is only open from late June through September. We sadly didn’t get to do this hike due to stormy weather, and it’s honestly one of our biggest regrets from the trip.

Passo di Giau *

Passo di Giau is one of the most panoramic mountain passes in the Dolomites, sitting at 2,236 meters with 360-degree views of peaks including Marmolada, Civetta, and the Nuvolau group. It’s about a 30-minute drive from Cortina, and the winding road up (29 hairpin turns from the Selva di Cadore side) is an experience in itself.

Photo Credit: Passo di Giau, Photo by Frisia Orientalis, Wikipedia Commons.

From the free roadside parking at the top, you can walk five minutes to a viewpoint above the pass for jaw-dropping photos, or commit to the Passo Giau to Cinque Torri loop (Trail 452/443). This trail is an easy-to-moderate 10 km circuit that takes 3–4 hours and passes through a WWI open-air museum and multiple rifugios. In retrospect, we wish we had visited Passo di Giau instead of Lago di Braies, because it offers the kind of wide-open, dramatic Dolomites scenery that’s harder to find at the crowded lake stops.

Day 10: Depart from the Dolomites

If you’re flying out of Verona or Venice, the drive from Cortina takes 2–3 hours, depending on your airport. Leave yourself extra time because mountain traffic and toll plazas can add up, especially on weekends.

If your flight isn’t until the evening, the town of Bolzano is a worthwhile stop on the way back, with a walkable old town, outdoor markets, and the famous Ötzi the Iceman exhibit at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology.

Planning Your Dolomites Road Trip

For general travel info, including visas, currency, cell service, and languages spoken in the Dolomites, check out our complete Dolomites travel guide.

The Best Time of Year to Visit the Dolomites

For hiking and lakes, mid-June through early September is the best time of year to visit the Dolomites. While you could visit earlier or later in the shoulder seasons of May or October, cable cars might not be in operation, and many Rifugios and restaurants will be closed.

Weather in the Dolomites

In the summer, the weather in the Dolomites can be erratic with “four seasons in one day.” However, mornings tend to be sunny, with thunderstorms and rain in the late afternoon.

We encourage you to try to start any long hikes early in the day, and to identify nearby Rifugios and other places of shelter along your hikes if you plan to be out until early evening. You do not want to be caught out in the middle of an open pasture in a thunderstorm. If there is thunder and lightning, cablecars will cease operation until the storm has passed.

How to Travel to the Dolomites

Conveniently, the Dolomites are near several international airports. For those arriving by land, the region is serviced by high-speed train lines within Italy and by long-distance buses. If you arrive by air, we recommend renting a car at the airport for additional flexibility. If you arrive by train or bus, there are car rentals available in the city of Bolzano. Note that some rental companies charge extra for crossing borders.

Nearest Airports to Val Gardena

Airports in Italy

• Bolzano (BZO): ~1 hour drive
• Verona Airport (VRN): ~ 2 hour drive
• Venice Marco Polo International Airport (VCE): ~ 3 hour drive
• Treviso International Airport (TSF): ~ 3 hour drive
• Milan Malpensa International Airport (MXP): ~ 4h30m drive

Airports in Neighboring Countries

• Innsbruck (INN), Austria: ~1h30m drive
• Munich (MUC), Germany: ~3h30m drive

Long Distance Trains and Buses

Bolzano in the Dolomites is well connected to major cities in Italy and neighboring countries by high-speed train. When in Europe, I usually purchase train tickets online in advance through Omio or Trainline. Long-distance buses, like FlixBus, also service the region and can be a more affordable option. You can check train and bus schedules using rome2rio.

Driving in the Dolomites

A rental car is far and away the best way to do this road trip. Public transit exists, but the flexibility of having your own car, especially for early morning trailhead arrivals and spontaneous lake stops, is hard to beat! The roads in the Dolomites are generally in great condition, and much, much better than what I’m used to at home.

Hiring or Renting a Car

We rented through Auto Europe with pickup and drop-off in Verona.

But Americans, do not assume that your car will be an automatic transmission vehicle! Stick-shift cars are very common in Italy. Be sure to confirm that you are reserving an automatic car. Automatic cars are typically slightly more expensive than stick manual transmission hires in Europe. Be aware that non-EU drivers are required to carry an International Driver’s Permit.

Car Insurance

We highly suggest purchasing full insurance coverage on your rental vehicle in the Dolomites. Rental car companies in Italy are notorious for charging thousands of euros for minor cosmetic damages.

(ZTL) Zones and Speed Traps

In the Dolomites, many small towns have areas known as “ZTL Zones” that are prohibited from visitor car traffic. Traffic cameras at ZTL zones will take a picture of the license plate, and you will get an unpleasant charge from your rental car company months later when they get the ticket.

Even if you see other cars entering a ZTL zone, you should not enter the ZTL zone, because the people you see entering might be residents who have the proper permits.

In addition to ZTL zones, many of the rural roads through the Dolomites have speed camera traps. These speed traps look like orange boxes, and can be hidden around bends in the road, and at the bottom of great declines.

Even more puzzling, a good number of the roads in Italy do not have speed limit signage, and there are some “default” speed limits that you are somehow just supposed to know.

Autostrada Toll Roads Versus Local Roads

We recommend taking Autostrada toll roads and major highways whenever you can, as opposed to local mountain roads. While two places might look close together on a map, these mountain roads are often only a single lane wide and take significantly more time to cross.

Google Maps can be notoriously inaccurate with estimated drive times on mountain roads. If you meet a car coming from the opposite direction, one of you will have to back up along a sheer cliffside until there is room to squeeze past each other.

Ready to Plan Your Trip to the Dolomites?

The Italian Dolomites are one of my favorite places on earth! If you don’t have a full ten days to road trip, check out our shorter 3-Day Dolomites Itinerary from Cortina or our 3-Day Dolomites Itinerary from Val Gardena. And lastly, check out our guide on the best places to stay during your Dolomites vacation!

We hope this helps you plan an incredible Dolomites road trip! If you have questions, drop them in the comments below.