6 Best Hikes in the Dolomites
Are you looking for the best hikes in the Dolomites? The Dolomites are a popular destination for adventurers and hikers. But for nature lovers, relaxation seekers, and families, visiting the Italian Dolomites is also a great choice. The outdoor activities, iconic landscapes, easy hiking trails & Via Ferrata routes, and beautiful alpine lakes make the Dolomites a popular destination all over the world.
This ultimate guide to the best hikes in the Dolomites includes the best time to visit, where to stay, what to expect on the hikes and practical information. In this post, you’ll find the best day hikes in the Dolomites that you can easily complete.
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When to Hike in the Dolomites?
You can visit the Italian Dolomites at any time. However, during the low season, most hiking trails are probably not accessible due to snow, mountain huts are closed, and public transport is limited.
The best time to visit the Dolomites is from the end of May to mid-October, but the weather varies every year. August is usually the busiest month in the Dolomites. If you want to avoid crowds and high prices, you should visit during the low season.
Spring and summer are the best times for hiking in the Dolomites. All hiking trails are accessible, mountain huts are open, and buses run regularly during the peak season. It’s good to know that the Dolomites might be in bad weather in summer.
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In the mountains, the weather can be unpredictable. Always pack warm clothes, suitable hiking shoes, and a raincoat.
Read our → Ultimate Dolomites Road Trip Itinerary
Where to Stay in the Dolomites
The Dolomites are located in Northern Italy, in South Tyrol. The top places to stay for the best day hikes in the Dolomites are Ortisei/St. Ulrich and Cortina d’Ampezzo. It is ideal to stay 2-3 days in Ortisei, from where you can visit Lago di Carezza, Val di Funes, Alpe di Siusi, and Seceda.
Best hotels in Ortisei
- Luxury: Alpin Garden Luxury Maison & SPA
- Mid-Range: Hotel Hell or Hotel Luna Mondschein
- Budget: Hotel Pontives
After that, choose accommodation in Cortina d’Ampezzo, from where you can visit the eastern Dolomites such as Lago di Braies, Passo Giau, and Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
Best hotels in Cortina d’Ampezzo
- Luxury: Faloria Mountain Spa Resort
- Mid-Range: Radisson Residences Savoia Palace
- Budget: B&B Hotel Passo Tre Croci Cortina
Alternatively, you can stay in another location and take day trips from there. First, choose the hikes and sights you want to visit on your trip to the Dolomites. Then, find your base town and decide how much time you want to spend traveling and how much your budget is.
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In high season, we strongly recommend booking accommodation in advance!
Best One-Day Hikes in the Dolomites
Tre Cime di Lavaredo Loop Hike
One of the best hikes in the Dolomites is the Tre Cime di Lavaredo/Drei Zinnen loop hike. No Dolomites Itinerary is complete without a visit to these three iconic peaks. The quickest way to reach Rifugio Auronzo/Tre Cime di Lavaredo is by car or shuttle bus. It takes 35 minutes to drive from Cortina d’Ampezzo to the Auronzohütte and 20 minutes from Misurina.
The Rifugio Auronzo is a private road and costs 30 EUR/car, but the price includes parking. The road is usually open from late May to October, depending on snow conditions.
This is a moderately easy hike, accessible to almost everyone.
Read the full post → Tre Cime di Lavaredo Hike
Tre Cime di Lavaredo Hike Details
Hike Distance: 10 km
Duration: 3-4 hours
Hike Difficulty: Moderate
Hiking Trail: Rifugio Auronzo → R. Lavaredo → Forcella Lavaredo → Drei Zinnen Hütte → Malga Langalm → R. Auronzo
Seceda Ridgeline Hike
One of the best day hikes in the Dolomites is the Seceda Ridgeline hike. Seceda offers one of the most beautiful views and most comfortable mountain experiences with breathtaking landscapes to enjoy without any effort.
Seceda is located in the Val Gardena region and is easily accessible from the town of Ortisei/St. Ulrich. From Ortisei, the easiest and quickest way to get to Seceda is to take the Ortisei-Furnes gondola and then the Furnes-Seceda cable car.
Read the full post → Seceda Ridgeline Hike
Seceda Hike Details
Hike Distance: Short loop about 8 km
Duration: 2-3 hours
Hike Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Best Short Hikes in the Dolomites
Cadini di Misurina Hike
The Cadini di Misurina is one of the lesser-known hikes in the Dolomites, starting from Rifugio Auronzo, the same as the Tre Cime Di Lavaredo. Most people do the Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike first and then visit the Cadini di Misurina viewpoint. If you want to avoid the crowds on the Drei Zinnen hiking trail, start your day at the “Towers of Mordor”.
We recommend you do both hikes on the same day if you don’t want to pay twice for the toll road.
From the car park, head south and follow the road to the right from the Rifugio Auronzo, from where you can see the impressive peaks of the Cadini di Misurina. Follow the signposts for hiking trail 117 along a rocky path that leads up a hill that ends at Rifugio Col de Varda.
You don’t have to go all the way to Rifugio Col de Varda, as you can reach the iconic viewpoint in just 40-50 minutes.
Visit the lookout at your own risk, and if the weather is not good or the roads are slippery, we do not recommend you take the trail. The hike is not recommended for those who are afraid of heights.
Alpe di Siusi/Seiser Alm Hike
The Alpe di Siusi is one of Europe’s largest high alpine meadows, offering stunning views of nearby mountain peaks, especially at sunrise or sunset. The weather did not allow us to watch the sunset. But we enjoyed a beautiful rainbow.
The road to the Alpe di Siusi is closed to traffic between 9 AM and 5 PM. Do not use the mountain road during this period, or you will have to pay a high fine. So be sure to arrive before 9 AM or after 5 PM.
As it is one of the best hikes in the Dolomites, don’t miss it in your Dolomites Itinerary.
Drive to Compatsch and leave your car in car park P2. The parking costs 24 EUR per car. After that, it takes about 1 hour to walk from the car park to the iconic lookout. The hike is easy, mostly flat, and the views along the way are spectacular and you can spend as much time as you want here.
Another option is to take a cable car from Ortisei to Alpe di Siusi.
Best Easy Hikes in the Dolomites
Adolf Munkel Trail (Geisler Alm)
Most people only take a quick visit to Val di Funes to capture the spectacular view of the church of Santa Maddalena. But if you stay a little longer, you can do some fantastic hikes in the Puez-Odle Nature Park.
The Adolf Munkel Trail is simple and easy to complete for all ages. At the end of the hike, you can enjoy the breathtaking view from the Geisler Alm mountain hut.
Read the full post → Adolf Munkel Trail
Adolf Munkel Hike Details
Hike Distance: 9 km
Duration: 3 hours
Hike Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Hiking Trail: Zanser Alm → Adolf Munkel Trail → Gschnagenhardt Alm → Geisler Alm
Passo Giau Cinque Torri Loop Hike
Most visitors only make a quick stop at Passo Giau or take the chairlift up to Cinque Torri. In fact, this is one of the best hikes in the Dolomites, and the loop hike can be completed in a few hours. On the tour, you can enjoy panoramic views and walk through the open-air Great War Museum.
Read the full post → Passo Giau Cinque Torri Loop Hike
Passo Giau to Cinque Torri Hike Details
Hike Distance: 10 km
Duration: 3-4 hours
Hike Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Hiking Trail: Path 452 → Rifugio Averau → Rifugio Scoiattoli → Path 443
General Hiking Tips
- Find a hiking partner. Although you can explore the Dolomites on your own, it’s much better to share the experience with others and safer to hike.
- Don’t forget that the Dolomites are ideal for families, couples, and groups of friends. So if you can’t find a suitable partner among your friends, look for them in hiking groups on the Internet.
- If you’re planning a solo trip, tell someone about your plans before you go.
- Plan your Dolomites trip from the small details, like where you are going, how to get there, the best time to visit, which hikes you would like to do, and how much time you need.
- Whenever you explore the Dolomites, the weather can be unpredictable. So always bring suitable hiking shoes/hiking boots, raincoats, warm clothing, polarised sunglasses, sunscreen, a first aid kit, a headlamp, and hiking clothing.
Don’t forget to buy travel insurance! Travel insurance is the best way to avoid extra expenses due to unexpected accidents, cancellations, delays, loss of personal items, and emergencies.
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Dolomites Hiking Tips
- Always check the weather forecast and the mountain webcams before you go.
- Buy an eSIM and data package for Italy.
- You must follow trail etiquette: Leave no trace and respect nature.
- Book your accommodation in advance!
- If you are traveling to the region during busy months, start your hike as early as possible to avoid crowds on the trails.
- The hiking trails in the Dolomites are well-marked. But if you get lost, ask hikers for directions or use an offline map or compass.
- There are mountain huts where you can rest and have a delicious meal. Although you can pay by card in most places, in the mountain huts you can often only pay in cash.
- Always take some snacks and enough water.
The best way to get around the Dolomites is by car or campervan. Arrive in the Dolomites by car or rent a car at the airport.
Book your car in advance to get the best price! Check car rental prices and availability HERE.
We hope you found our guide to the best hikes in the Dolomites helpful and will inspire you to visit. If you have any questions or thoughts, let us know in the comment below.
Travel Resources
Hotels – Booking.com
Car Rentals – Discover Cars
Flights – Skyscanner
Travel Insurance – Heymondo
Tours & Attractions – GetYourGuide
Bus/Transfer – Bookaway
RECOMMENDED POSTS
How to Visit Lago di Carezza (Karersee Lake)
How to Hike to the Cadini di Misurina Viewpoint (+Map)
