Are you planning a trip to the Italian Dolomites for the first time and confused about the best places to visit in Dolomites? The Italian Dolomites have many beautiful mountains, picturesque mountain lakes, scenic roads, hiking trails, and countless charming villages. The people of these villages usually speak Italian. German and Ladin, but some of them also speak English, so you can easily talk to them.
Five Best Places To Visit In Dolomites
The Italian Dolomites are a must-visit place for adventure lovers who like to explore the beauty of nature. Here you can do many fun activities like trekking, hiking, and camping. Below are some of the best places to visit in the Dolomites.
1. Tre Cime Di Lavaredo
Image Credit: Tiia Monto for Wikipedia Commons
Tre Cime di Lavaredo, also known as Drei Zinnen, are the three iconic mountain peaks. They are one of the best-known mountain groups in the Alps. The names of these three peaks are Cima Piccola / Kleine Zinne (little peak), Cima Grande / Große Zinne (big peak), and Cima Ovest / Westliche Zinne (western peak). These peaks are composed of well-layered dolomites. Before 1920, these peaks worked as a border between Italy and Austria-Hungary, but now they lie on the border between the Italian provinces and South Tyrol. Tre Cime di Lavaredo rises on the southern edge of the extensive pinnacle plateau. The most easily available support point around Tre Cime di Lavaredo is Rifugio Auronzo. If you travel one kilometre east of Rifugio Auronzo, you will find a wide hiking trail.
If you talk about the elevation of these peaks, Cima Grande has an elevation of 2,999 m (9,839 ft), Cima Piccola has an elevation of 2,857 m (9,373 ft), and Cima Ovest has an elevation of 2,973 m (9,754 ft). It just takes 20 to 30 minutes to trek to Tre Cime di Lavaredo, while trekking you will get an amazing view from the top. This is one of the famous places that every tourist likes to visit. So, if you are planning a trip to Italy, don’t forget to visit here.
Elevation: 2,999 m
Highest Point: Cima Grande di Lavaredo
Also Read: Tourist Places In Italy
2. Val Gardena
Image Credit: luca.sartoni for Wikimedia Commons
Val Gardena is one of the famous tourist places in the Dolomites. This valley is surrounded by three main towns: Selva, Santa Cristina, and Ortisei. This place is mainly popular for skiing, rock climbing, and wood carving. It offers 500 km of slopes, 30 km of hiking paths, and 115 km of skiing slopes. The best way to reach here is by taking the cable car from Ortisei town and then hiking in the direction of Santa Christina. If you are not able to hike, you can simply enjoy the area by exploring some shorter trails on the mountain. You will also find many first-class hotels and restaurants here. You can also try the local food if you wish to. You can also go to see the Derjon River, which is the main river of this valley.
It is not easy to mention all the highlights of this place since the whole place is very stunning. If you want to see the real beauty of nature, this place is for you. The most attractive scenario of Val Gardena can be found in Seceda. So. If you are a real nature lover, come and visit this place. You will consider this a value-for-money trip.
Elevation: 3,181 m
Highest Point: Sassolungo
3. Marmolada
Image Credit: Marco Bonomo for Wikimedia Commons
Marmolada is the highest mountain in the Dolomites and it is also known as the Queen of the Dolomites. This mountain is mentioned in every list of the best places in the Dolomites, as it is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This place has a unique vibe in it where you will find the best for views. In 1864, Paul Grohmann was the first person to reach the highest elevation from the north route; later, in 1901, Beatrice Tomasson, Michele Bettega, and Bartolo Zagonel reached the highest elevation from the south route. There are five peaks in this mountain; the names of these peaks are Punta Penia 3,343 m (10,968 ft), Punta Rocca 3,309 m (10,856 ft), Punta Ombretta 3,230 m (10,600 ft), Monte Serauta 3,069 m (10,069 ft), and Pizzo Serauta 3,035 m (9,957 ft).
As this is the highest mountain in the Dolomites, it offers an incredible view of the entire Dolomites region from the top. This will give you a next-level experience. In addition, you can also visit the Museum of Marmolada Great War (3 km) and the WWI Fortress (3 km). It is very easy to visit the highest point of Marmolada with the help of cable cars, and it also doesn’t take a long time. So. If you are planning a trip to the Dolomites, don’t forget this place to visit.
Elevation: 3,342 m
Highest Point: Punta Penia
Related Post: Best Honeymoon Destinations In Italy
4. Cortina D’ Ampezzo
Image Credit: Ailita Liteva for Wikimedia Commons
Cortina d’ Ampezzo is one of the famous mountain resorts of the Dolomites. This resort is located in Cortina town, which is surrounded by beautiful mountains. If you come to visit the Dolomites, Cortina d’ Ampezzo is the best resort to stay with plenty of hotels, stores, restaurants, and shopping centres. It is an expensive place, so it will cost you more money, but along with being expensive, it is also worth the money. You won’t regret staying here. In addition, the Cortina town itself is an outdoor attraction; you will find many attractive places to visit even in the town.
There are many cable car services that will bring you to different sides of the mountains from Cortina. You don’t need to go far to see other attractions; this place has a whole bunch of attractions nearby. So. If you don’t have much time, you can easily cover all the places here without wasting your time.
Elevation: 1224 m
Highest Point: Tofana di Mezzo
5. Lago Di Misurina
Image Credit: Zairon for Wikimedia Commons
Lago di Misurina is the largest lake of the Cadore. It lies on the route of the Dolomites Gold Cup Race. In the 1956 Winter Olympics, this lake hosted speed skating events. It is about 2.6 km long and 5 m deep. You will find about 10 hotels with accommodation for around 500 people near this lake. This place is mainly famous for its scenario; you will get a calm and pleasant environment without the noise of traffic. You can also rent paddle boats at affordable prices to explore the lake. In addition, there are several restaurants, stores, and shopping centres as well. This lake is near the famous Tre Cime di Lavaredo, so you can easily visit two places at once without travelling a long distance.
Elevation: 1754 m
Highest Point: Cima Cadin di San Lucano
You May Also Like To Read: National Parks In Italy
Thus, we have discussed the top five places to visit in Dolomites. There are also many places you can explore in the Dolomites, but these are the most famous places you should visit once in your life. These places will give you different experiences in different seasons. During the winter, these places are covered with snow, and you can enjoy the snowfall and ice skating, but in the summer, you can only experience trekking and hiking. So. Plan a trip to Italy and experience the adventure in your life.
For our editorial codes of conduct and copyright disclaimer, please click here.
Cover Image Credit : Chensiyuan for Wikipedia
Frequently Asked Questions About Best Places To Visit In Dolomites
Which is the closest airport to the Dolomites?
The closest airports to the Dolomites are: Venice Treviso, Venice Marco Polo, and Bolzano Regional Airport. In addition. Innsbruck Airport (Austria) and Munich (Germany) are also great options for visiting the Dolomites.
Is the Dolomites worth visiting?
Yes, the Dolomites have many outdoor attractions, restaurants, resorts, and shopping centres that you can explore. The best part of the Dolomites is that you will find the largest mountain, Marmolada, and the view from the top of the mountain is incredible. If you find yourself in Italy, you must visit these places once.
Where shall I stay in the Dolomites?
The Dolomites have several hotels. guest houses, and restrooms in every budget segment. Some famous hotels in the Dolomites are Hotel da Beppe Sello, Hotel Villa Gaia, Nord Hotel, and Royal Hotel Cortina.
What is the best time to visit the Dolomites?
The best time to visit the Dolomites is from October to January (winter season), because in winter you can do more activities like trekking, ice skating, bloating, and hiking. Even you can also experience snowfall during winter.
How many days is sufficient to explore the Dolomites?
Around 4 to 5 days is sufficient for exploring all the famous places and outdoor attractions of the Dolomites.
People Also Read:
Places To Visit Near Rome Places To Visit In USA Places To Visit In North India
With a passion for exploring and travelling to the roads long forgotten, experience the world through enthralling stories and adventures. Join me as I share my experiences at some of the world’s most popular tourist destinations and quench that pestering curiosity with something exciting!