How to Spend 3 Perfect Days in the Dolomites

The Dolomites are a mountain range located in northeastern Italy known for its stunning mountain peaks, lush green valleys, and crystal blue lakes.  Spend 3 perfect days here with our itinerary below.

How to Get to the Dolomites

To get to the Dolomites, we recommend flying into Venice (Venice Marco Polo Airport), renting a car, and driving to the Dolomites from there.

Renting a Car

While it is possible to get to the Dolomites via bus or train, we would recommend renting a car.  The drive from the Venice Marco Polo Airport to the Dolomites is relatively easy and is a little over 2 hours.

If you don’t plan on renting a car,  you can use public transport, as the Dolomites have buses that run frequently and make stops at major points of interest.  Keep in mind that these buses are seasonal.  They run during the summer (mid/late June to mid/late September) and winter (late December to late March) peak seasons.

When to Visit the Dolomites

For this specific itinerary, we would recommend traveling in June before it gets too hot.  While June-August is considered peak season in the Dolomites, getting to hiking trails early can help you avoid the crowds.

Italy Travel Tips to Know Before Your Trip

While we do have a full blog post on Italy travel tips (to help you not make the mistakes we did), here are some important tips to know.

• You must have an international driving permit to rent a car and drive in Italy.  This can be acquired before your trip at your local AAA office.
• Make sure you know the different road signs and know the general speed limits.  Speed limits are not always posted, and speed cameras are everywhere.  If using Google Maps or Apple Maps, the speed limit posted in the app is not always correct.
• Italy has color coded parking spaces and traffic restricted zones.  Make sure you can identify both.
• While most places accept credit and debit cards, we would recommend having some cash.

Read More: Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting Italy 

How to Spend 3 Perfect Days in the Dolomites

Where to Stay

When visiting the Dolomites, you might want to split your time and stay in two different areas to save a lot of driving time.  We would recommend booking a 1-night stay in Dobbiaco or Cortina d’Ampezzo and a 2-night stay in Ortisei.  We stayed at Hotel Lago di Braies, and while it was beautiful, we regret not spending time elsewhere.

Day 1

Lago di Braies

Now that you’ve made it to the Dolomites, take it easy on the first day.  Lago di Braies is the perfect first stop.  This stunning lake is about a 20-minute drive from Dobbiaco.  While visiting this lake is free, you will have to pay for parking unless you are staying at Hotel Lago di Braies.  There are three lots, P4, P3, and P2.  P4 is the closest parking lot but fills up quickly.  The parking fees for each lot are different.

P4: €15 for 3 hours and €1 for each additional half hour up to €20

P3: €10 for the day

P2: €6 for the day

Once you make it to the lake, you can take in the views, rent a boat, or walk around the lake.  If you plan on renting a boat, arrive and get in line before 9 am or plan on waiting for awhile.  Reservations cannot be made online, and the rental price is 50 for 45 minutes.  The 2.3 mile trail around the lake is a pretty easy hike.  Hiking the loop counter clockwise (starting towards the chapel) is less crowded than starting near the dock, but be prepared for some stairs near the end of the hike.

Day 2

Cadini di Misurina Hike

Start the day early to hike to the Cadini di Misurina viewpoint, one of the most scenic views in the Dolomites.  To access this trail, you will have to drive along a toll road. It is €30 per car which includes parking.  Be prepared to wait in line at the toll booth. Once you park, walk to Rifugio Auronzo and head to the right.  Look for a sign that marks trail #117; this is where the trail begins.  If you have to park further down, you can access the trail from just below Rifugio Auronzo.  When you arrive at the viewpoint, there is a very narrow path that juts out for a clear view of the mountains.  If other hikers are already there, wait for them to walk back to the main trail.  Most hikers respect this and take their photos quickly, so others are not waiting too long.

We arrived at the trailhead right at 7:15 am and saw two other people on the trail.  As we were walking back to our car, the trail was getting crowded and the line at the toll booth was so long.  If you plan on doing this hike, we would recommend arriving around sunrise or sunset for the best experience.

After your hike, head towards Ortisei for the remainder of your time in the Dolomites.

Day 3

Seceda

From Ortisei, you can take a cable car to Seceda.  This is the fastest and easiest way to see the beauty of the Seceda Ridgeline, especially after hiking the day before.  There is a parking lot right next to the cable car station.  It is €1.90 per hour up to €13 per day.  From here, you will take a cable car from Ortisei to Furnes, then from Furnes to Seceda.  Tickets can be purchased online or on site; the cost is €35-45 per person for a roundtrip ticket.

Alpe di Siusi

Sunset at Alpe di Siusi is the perfect way to end your time in the Dolomites.  This gorgeous alpine meadow is the largest high-altitude meadow in Europe and shouldn’t be missed.  From 9 am to 5 pm, cars are not allowed on the road to Alpe di Siusi.  After 5 pm, you can park at the P2 car park in Compatsch for €28.50.  From here, you will have to walk about 2.5 miles to the viewpoint.

If you’re looking to spend more time in Italy, check out our 10-day itinerary here.

Read More: 10-Day Italy Itinerary: The Dolomites, Florence, Cinque Terre, and Rome 

We hope you found this guide on how to spend 3 perfect days in the Dolomites to be helpful in planning your trip!