Dolomites · Italy · Itineraries
Six days in the Dolomites by car: the loop from Bolzano
Six days is enough to drive one loop through the Dolomites from Bolzano. The route passes Lago di Carezza, Val di Funes and the Seceda ridge above Ortisei, crosses to Cortina d'Ampezzo for Tre Cime di Lavaredo, and returns by Lago di Braies. It is about 340 kilometres of mountain road. In summer, Tre Cime and Braies both need booking.
Day by day
- 1
Lago di Carezza
The first stop, about half an hour from Bolzano on the Great Dolomites Road. Carezza is a small lake of clear green water with a dark spruce forest behind it and the pale Latemar peaks above. A fenced path circles the shore in about twenty minutes, and you cannot go down to the water. The paid car park is a short walk away across the road. Early morning gives calm water and the reflection. It is a stop of an hour, not a place to stay.
- 2
Val di Funes
A side valley north of Val Gardena, known for one view: the small church of Santa Maddalena on a green rise with the jagged Odle peaks behind it. A short marked walk from the village leads to the viewpoint. Further up the valley, the tiny chapel of San Giovanni in Ranui stands alone in a meadow. The valley is farmland, so stay on paths and roads. One night here is quiet and gives you the view at sunset and again in the morning, before day visitors arrive.
- 3
Seceda
Two nights in Ortisei, the main village of Val Gardena. Two cable cars in sequence climb from the village to the Seceda ridge at about 2,500 metres, where a grass slope ends in a sheer drop and a row of rock spires. The famous view is a few minutes' walk from the top station. Marked trails lead down across the high pastures, past mountain huts that serve lunch. The lifts run in summer from around June to October. Go up early, since cloud tends to build around the peaks by afternoon.
- 4
Cortina d'Ampezzo
About an hour and a quarter east over the passes. Cortina is the largest town of the eastern Dolomites, in a wide bowl ringed by peaks, and the base for the next two stops. It has the widest choice of hotels and restaurants on the route. Cable cars rise from the edge of town, and short drives lead to lakes and trailheads, including the Cinque Torri rock towers. Two nights give one full day for Tre Cime and time to walk the pedestrian main street in the evening.
- 5
Tre Cime di Lavaredo
A day trip from Cortina. Three rock towers stand side by side above a high plateau, and a loop trail of about ten kilometres circles them, mostly level and manageable for anyone used to walking. The trail starts at Rifugio Auronzo, at the top of a toll road. In summer the drive up needs an online reservation tied to your number plate, booked ahead. Buses from the valley are the alternative. Start early. The north faces, the classic view, come about halfway round.
- 6
Lago di Braies
The last night. Braies is a mountain lake with a wooden boathouse on stilts, rowing boats for hire in summer, and a wall of rock rising straight from the far shore. A path circles the lake in about an hour and a half. From July to mid-September the valley road is closed to cars without a booking between morning and late afternoon, so arrive early, come late, or reserve parking ahead. Evening and early morning are the calm hours. Bolzano is about an hour and a half away.
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Plan it
- Best time
- Mid-June to September, when the cable cars run and the passes are clear of snow. Late September and early October bring autumn colour and fewer people, with some lifts already closed.
- How long
- Six days for the loop. With four, choose either the western side around Val Gardena or the eastern side around Cortina.
- Getting around
- A rental car from Bolzano, Verona, Venice or Innsbruck. Roads cross high passes with many bends, so distances take longer than they look on a map.
Good to know
- Book the Tre Cime toll road and Lago di Braies parking before the trip in July and August.
- Place names appear in Italian and German. Lago di Braies is also Pragser Wildsee, and Ortisei is St. Ulrich.
- Carry a warm layer and a rain jacket even in August. Afternoon storms are common.
Frequently asked
How many days do you need in the Dolomites? +
Five to seven days suits a first visit. That covers Val Gardena and Seceda in the west, Cortina and Tre Cime in the east, and one or two of the lakes. With three days, pick one base and take day trips.
Do you need to book Tre Cime di Lavaredo? +
In summer, yes, if you drive. The toll road to Rifugio Auronzo requires an online reservation for a set time slot, linked to your number plate. Without one you can take a bus from the valley or walk up. Rules have changed in recent seasons, so check the official site before you go.
Can you drive to Lago di Braies? +
Yes, but in peak summer the road is restricted during the day. From July to mid-September cars need a parking reservation to enter between about nine in the morning and four in the afternoon. Outside those hours, or outside that season, you can drive in freely.
Where should you stay in the Dolomites? +
Split the stay between two bases. Ortisei or another Val Gardena village suits the western side, with Seceda and Val di Funes close by. Cortina d'Ampezzo suits the eastern side for Tre Cime and the lakes. Moving once saves long drives over the passes.
