The Best Dolomites Road Trip Itinerary for 5 Days

Are you visiting the Italian Dolomites for the first time and looking for the perfect 5-Day Dolomites Itinerary? The Dolomites are one of the most beautiful places in Italy and the most stunning mountain destination in the world. The Italian Dolomites are always worth a visit because every season offers a unique experience.

The Dolomites are home to magical places such as the Tre Cime di Lavaredo towers, endless alpine meadows, picturesque alpine lakes, and jagged mountain peaks.

Our Dolomites Travel Guide includes the best places to visit, how to get there, where to stay, and the best things to do in the Dolomites. You’ll also find all the useful tips and information you need to plan your best Dolomites Itinerary.

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5 Days in The Dolomites Road Trip Itinerary

How to Get to the Dolomites

There are several ways to get to the Dolomites, depending on where you are coming from and where you want to start your Dolomites Itinerary.

Are you spending limited time in Italy but want to make the most of your visit? For the ultimate experience, book a full-day tour from Lake Garda to the Dolomites via Viator or GetYourGuide.

The best way to travel to the Dolomites from a nearby country is by own car. Because it is easiest to explore the Dolomites by car, it is more comfortable and saves on rental costs. If you are traveling on a budget, you can get to the Dolomites by public transport.

Use iVisa to check if you need a tourist visa for Italy and apply for an e-visa online.

Recommended post → Best Day Hikes in the Dolomites

The best starting points for exploring the Dolomites are Bolzano or Trento, which you can easily reach by car or train. You can check train timetables and buy tickets on the Trenitalia or Omio.

The closest airport to the Dolomites is Bolzano Airport (airport code BZO) in Bolzano, South Tyrol, Italy. There are several major airports within a couple of hours’ drive. The most popular airports in northern Italy are Milan, Verona and Venice. You can rent a car at any airport.

During our travels, we always use Discover Cars for car rentals. Because they always offer the best deals and provide free cancellation 48 hours before your reservation.

Check car rental prices and availability HERE.

Alternatively, you can fly to one of the big cities and then take public transport or a rental car to Trento or Bolzano.

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You can combine your trip to the Dolomites with a visit to Venice.

Driving distance between Bolzano and other cities:

Italy, Milan Malpensa airport: 4-5 hours
Switzerland, Zurich airport: 5-6 hours
Austria, Innsbruck airport: 2-3 hours
Germany, Munich airport: 4-5 hours
Italy, Venice Marco Polo airport: 3-4 hours

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Best Time to Visit the Dolomites

The Dolomites are a unique destination not to be missed in any season.
Autumn is a popular time for photographers when the landscape is in fantastic colors.

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.

A winter visit to the Dolomites can be magical. But most hiking trails are probably not accessible due to snow, mountain huts are closed, and public transport is limited during the low season.

The best time to visit the Dolomites is from the end of May to mid-October, but the weather varies every year. July and August are usually the busiest months, so avoid this period if you can.

Keep reading → Two Weeks in Italy

How Many Days Do You Need for the Dolomites

The Dolomites are a beautiful destination with breathtaking sights and fantastic hiking trails. We recommend that first-time visitors plan to spend at least 5 days in the Dolomites. This period allows enough time to visit must-see attractions such as the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Alpe di Siusi, and Lago di Braies.

You can easily modify our 5-day Dolomites Itinerary to extend or reduce the days. But without a car, add extra days if you want to do this route.

If you are a nature lover and want to explore as many hiking trails as possible, you can spend 1-2 weeks in the Dolomites.

Buy an eSIM and data package for Italy.

Where to Stay in the Dolomites

The Dolomites are located in Northern Italy, in South Tyrol. As the Dolomites are a bilingual region, most towns and attractions have both Italian and German names.

The best places to start exploring 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

more hotels in Ortisei

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

more hotels in Cortina d’amPezzo

Alternatively, you can stay in another location and take day trips from there. First, choose the hikes and sights you want to visit in your Dolomites Itinerary. 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!

Getting Around the Italian Dolomites

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.

Public transport is limited in the Dolomites, especially in the shoulder season. In high season, buses run frequently, but you cannot reach all places by bus, and the journey time is too long.

We did this 5-day Dolomites Itinerary by car and enjoyed exploring the places at our own pace.

Book your car in advance to get the best price! Check car rental prices and availability HERE.

It’s good to know that Italian drivers drive fast and can be a bit aggressive when driving in traffic. There are many speed cameras, so obey the speed limit!

The roads are in good condition and safe to drive on. There are toll roads in Italy, known as Autostrade, where tolls are based on the distance traveled and can be paid by cash or card.

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Save money, avoid ATM transaction fees when going abroad, and pay in local currency with a Wise Card.

Dolomites Road Trip Itinerary for 5 Days

Day 1: Arrive in the Dolomites

On the first day of your Dolomites Itinerary, arrive in northern Italy. Book the hotel or campsite of your choice, which will be your base for exploring the region over the next few days. Depending on how long it takes you to reach the Dolomites on the first day, you can walk around your accommodation area or try local specialties in nearby restaurants.

We traveled from Austria to Bolzano in our car the journey time was 4 hours. We arrived in the afternoon at Camping Al Plan, where we stayed in the Dolomites. The campsite is located in the village of San Vigilio di Marebbe. We checked into the campsite, walked around the area, and then visited the Passo delle Erbe (Würzjoch), a 30-minute drive away.

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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Hungariandreamers readers get a 5% discount on Heymondo.

Day 2: Lago di Carezza, Seceda, Alpe di Siusi

Lago di Carezza

Start your morning at one of the most beautiful lakes in the Dolomites, at Lago di Carezza (Karersee). From Ortisei, it takes about 1 hour to the parking lot of Lago di Carezza. After arriving at the car park, we reached the lake in a few minutes through a tunnel.

Parking is free for the first 15 minutes and costs 2 EUR for 1 hour, 4 EUR for 1-2 hours, 6 EUR for 2-6 hours, 12 EUR for 6-12 hours and 24 EUR for 12-24 hours.

Parking with a campervan costs 9 EUR for 3 hours, 18 EUR for 3-12 hours, and 30 EUR for 12-24 hours.

Once you arrive at the lake, visit the wooden lookout, where you can learn more about the history of the lake and take some beautiful photos from here.

Swimming in the water is prohibited, and the lake is surrounded by a wooden fence. But don’t worry, you can still take some beautiful photos or take a refreshing morning walk around the lake, which takes 20-30 minutes.

Lago di Carezza is worth a visit at any time of day. But we recommend arriving early in the morning and enjoying the stunning scenery. After taking enough photos at the Karersee, it is time to continue the second day of the Dolomites Itinerary and take a wonderful hike at Seceda.

Seceda

Then, travel from Lago di Carezza to Ortisei, which is a 1-hor drive away. Hiking on the Seceda ridgeline is one of the highlights of your Dolomites Itinerary.

If you arrive by car in Ortisei, you can park right next to the cable car station for 13 EUR per day or 1.90 EUR per hour. 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.

Seceda offers one of the most beautiful views and most comfortable mountain experiences with breathtaking landscapes to enjoy without any effort. We think this is one of the best hikes in South Tyrol/Dolomites that should not be skipped.

Read the full post → Seceda Ridgeline Hike

Alpe di Siusi

Are you looking for one of the best places to visit in the Dolomites? After the easy hike on the ridgeline of the Seceda, it’s time to finish your day at the beautiful Seiser Alm. The Alpe di Siusi/Seiser Alm 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.

Keep reading → Best Day Hikes in the Dolomites

However, you can get a permit if you stay in one of the hotels in the Alpe di Siusi area.

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We recommend staying at the Piccolo Hotel Sciliar or Como Alpina Dolomites.

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.

Day 3: Visit Val di Funes

On the third day of the Dolomites Itinerary, start the morning with a visit to two beautiful churches, then take a wonderful hike in the Puez-Odle Nature Park. The Val di Funes/Villnöss is a magnificent valley, one of the most photographed places in the Dolomites, made famous for the incredible scenery of the Odle/Geisler mountains.

The church of San Giovanni in Ranui is located near the village of Santa Maddalena and costs 4 EUR to visit.

Parking is available near the church for 4 EUR per day, from 5 AM to 10 PM. If you don’t want to visit the inside of the church, there’s a lookout that offers fantastic photo opportunities. So it’s worth a quick stop.

Santa Maddalena Church

Only residents can drive up the road to the church, but you can park in the town center for just 4 EUR/day and get there in 20-30 minutes. You can see the stunning views from the panoramic path of the church of Santa Maddalena.

Unfortunately, the weather in Val di Funes was not ideal (as you can see in the photo above). After visiting the two churches, we drove to the parking lot of the Zanser Alm. Then, we started the Adolf Munkel Trail.

Adolf Munkel Trail (Geisler Alm)

The Adolf Munkel Trail is one of the best day hikes in your Dolomites Itinerary, which is simple and easy to complete for all ages. The Zanser Alm parking lot is a 15-minute drive from Val di Funes and a 5-minute drive from Santa Maddalena. 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

Day 4: Tre Cime di Lavaredo Hike

The loop hike around Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Drei Zinnen) is one of the best hikes in the Dolomites, and your Dolomites Itinerary is not complete without a visit to these three iconic peaks.

It takes 35 minutes to drive from Cortina d’Ampezzo to the Rifugio Auronzo car park and 20 minutes from Misurina. The starting and ending point of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo Loop Hike is Rifugio Auronzo.

The Rifugio Auronzo is a private road and costs 30 EUR/car, but the price includes parking. The road is usually available from late May to October.

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If you can only do one hike in the Dolomites, don’t miss the Tre Cime di Lavaredo.

Read the full post → Tre Cime di Lavaredo Hike

Cadini di Misurina

The Cadini di Misurina is one of the lesser-known places in the Dolomites, starting from Rifugio Auronzo, the same as the Tre Cime Di Lavaredo. 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 private road.

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.

Day 5: Lago di Braies, Passo Giau, Cinque Torri

Lago di Braies

The Lago di Braies (Pragser Wildsee) is one of the most beautiful lakes in the Dolomites and is magical in all seasons. Its popularity makes it incredibly crowded, so plan your visit early in the morning.

The best time to visit is between June and October, especially at sunrise. It was a wonderful experience to see the lake in the morning lights and enjoy the beautiful view without tourists.

Although Lake Braies is worth a quick visit, you should spend more time here. Take a walk around the Alpine lake, which is an easy 4 km hike and takes about 1 hour.

If you want to rent a boat and enjoy the lake from a different perspective, we recommend a visit during the summer months. A boat rental costs 19 EUR for 30 minutes and 29 EUR for 60 minutes.

Once you have spent enough time at Lago di Braies, continue your Dolomites Itinerary with a visit to Passo Giau, a 1-hour drive away, or head home.

Passo Giau Cinque Torri Loop Hike

The Passo Giau is an underrated hike in Italy, so you can’t miss it on your Dolomites Itinerary. 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

We spent 5 days in the Dolomites, which gave us enough time to explore the region and see the most beautiful places. We don’t recommend exploring the Dolomites without a car. When visiting the Dolomites, be flexible and start your road trip with the best photo spots. Because you may not be able to hike or enjoy the mountain views due to weather conditions.

We hope our 5-day Dolomites Road Trip Itinerary will help you plan your next trip. 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

The Best Dolomites Road Trip Itinerary for 5 Days