How to Visit Lago di Carezza (Karersee Lake)
Lago di Carezza is one of the best lakes in the Dolomites/South Tyrol, so you can’t miss it on your Dolomites Itinerary. Karersee is a beautiful alpine lake offering fantastic photo opportunities and easy hiking trails. After Lago di Braies, it was our favorite lake in the Dolomites.
Wondering how to hike around Lake Carezza? You can visit it as a day trip and combine your trip with Seceda and Alpe di Siusi/Seiser Alm.
This ultimate guide to the Karersee includes the best time to visit, how to reach the stunning mountain lake, what to expect on the hike, and practical information.
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Where is Lake Carezza?
The Dolomites are a bilingual region, so most towns and attractions have both Italian and German names.
Lago di Carezza, also known as Karersee, is located in the Italian Dolomites/South Tyrol, about a 35-minute drive from Bolzano (via SS241), 1 hour from Ortisei, and 2 hours from Cortina d’Ampezzo.
How to Get to Lago di Carezza
The best way to get around the Dolomites is to rent a car. The quickest way to reach Lake Carezza is by car. From Ortisei, you can get to the parking lot in about 1 hour. After arriving at the car park, you can reach the lake a few minutes walk through a tunnel. In winter, the tunnel is open from 9 AM to 5 PM.
Check car rental prices and availability HERE.
Lake Carezza is free to visit. Karersee is also accessible for wheelchair users.
It takes 50-60 minutes by bus from Bolzano to Karersee. The No.180 bus runs every 20 minutes from Bolzano bus station and costs 4.5 EUR one way.
Lago di Carezza Parking
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.
Best Time to Visit Lake Carezza
You can visit the 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 Lake Carezza is from April to October. 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.
Before you visit, check the weather forecast. Try to visit on a sunny day and enjoy the magical scenery with the Latemar Mountain Range in the background. We visited Karersee in mid-July, and the weather was fantastic.
TIP
For the best experience, visit Karersee at sunrise or sunset.
Read our → Ultimate Dolomites Road Trip Itinerary
Lago di Carezza Legend & Facts
According to the legend of the lake, the wizard Masaré fell in love with a beautiful mermaid, Ondina, who lived in the lake and attempted to seduce her. He teamed up with Langwerda, a local witch who designed a jewel merchant disguise for him and stretched a rainbow from the mountains to the lake.
But the sorcerer forgot to wear his disguise, and the mermaid escaped into the lake. In his rage, the wizard destroyed the rainbow and threw the pieces into the lake with his jewels, which is why Karersee is known as “Rainbow Lake” or “Fairytale Lake of the Dolomites”.
Karersee is located at 1,520 meters above sea level, about 300 meters long, and 140 meters wide. The depth of the lake varies. The highest level ever recorded is 22 meters, and the lowest is 6 meters.
Hike around Lago di Carezza
Start your morning at one of the most beautiful lakes in the Dolomites. We drove from San Vigilio, and it took about 1.5 hours to get to the Karersee car park. After arriving at the parking lot around 7:30 AM, we reached the lake through the tunnel in a few minutes.
When you arrive at the lake, read the information boards about Karersee and the devastation of storm Vaia in 2018 at the wooden viewing platform. Take some beautiful photos there, and then hike around Lake Carezza.
Good to know
There is also a visitor center near the parking lot with toilets, a restaurant & cafe, and a gift shop.
See also → Best Hikes in the Dolomites
The best part of our visit was taking amazing photos on the viewing platform with the crystal clear emerald green lake and majestic mountains in the background.
Swimming in the water is prohibited, and the lake is surrounded by a wooden fence. But you can take a refreshing morning walk around the lake, which takes 20-30 minutes with photo stops. The Karersee circuit is mostly flat, making it an easy hike. If you have more time, we recommend staying longer and enjoying the scenic views or exploring nearby hiking trails.
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 you’ve taken enough photos at Karersee, we suggest you head to Ortisei. Then, enjoy one of the best hiking trails in the Dolomites at Seceda.
Read the full post → Seceda Ridgeline Hike
What to Pack for Hiking
- Small backpack
- Light raincoat
- Hiking shoes or boots & socks
- Hat and sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Camera gear
- Reusable water bottle & extra water
- Snacks
- Personal medication
- Local money
- Powerbank
- Trekking poles
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.
Where to Stay near Lake Carezza
Ortisei/St. Ulrich is just a 1-hour drive from Karersee, making it a fantastic base for visiting nearby hiking trails. Alternatively, stay in Bolzano. These are our recommendations.
Best hotels in Ortisei
- Luxury: Alpin Garden Luxury Maison & SPA
- Mid-Range: Hotel Hell or Hotel Luna Mondschein
- Budget: Hotel Pontives
We hope you found our guide to the Lago di Carezza hike useful 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
eSIM: – Airalo
Travel Insurance – Heymondo
Tours & Attractions – GetYourGuide
Bus/Transfer – Bookaway
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