Dolomites, Trentino-Alto-Adgie / South Tyrol
Overview
Discover Dolomites: Private Tours, Experiences & Custom Travel
Dolomites Travel Guide: Why Northern Italy's Mountains Belong on Your Itinerary
The Dolomites are the part of Italy that surprises people most. Instead of rolling vineyards and Renaissance piazzas, you get pale limestone towers rising above green meadows, wooden farmhouses, and mountain lakes the color of glass. Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009, this corner of the Italian Alps is one of the most rewarding places to travel in Europe, whether you want to hike, ski, drive scenic passes, or simply sit on a terrace with a view.
Where Are the Dolomites?
The Dolomites stretch across northeastern Italy, covering parts of Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto, and Friuli Venezia Giulia. The highest peak, Marmolada, reaches 3,343 meters. Most travelers base themselves in one of a few well-known areas: Cortina d'Ampezzo for classic alpine glamour, Val Gardena for easy access to trails and lifts, Alta Badia for food and quiet villages, or Bolzano for a lively town with a mix of Italian and Austrian character.
Top Places to Visit in the Dolomites
A first trip to the Dolomites usually centers on a handful of landmarks that live up to every photo you have seen.
- Tre Cime di Lavaredo: Three enormous rock towers and the most famous hike in the region. The loop trail takes around three to four hours and suits most reasonably fit walkers.
- Lago di Braies: An emerald lake framed by cliffs and forest. Arrive early in the morning for calm water and fewer crowds.
- Alpe di Siusi: The largest high-altitude alpine meadow in Europe, ideal for gentle walks, cycling, and family outings.
- Seceda: A dramatic ridgeline above Ortisei, reached by cable car, with one of the best viewpoints in the Alps.
- Great Dolomites Road: A scenic drive linking Bolzano and Cortina over high passes, perfect for travelers with a private driver or rental car.
Things to Do in Every Season
Summer in the Dolomites runs from mid-June to September and is made for the outdoors. Well-marked trails connect mountain huts called rifugi, where you can stop for lunch or stay overnight. Adventurous travelers can try a via ferrata, a protected climbing route with fixed cables and ladders, while cyclists take on legendary passes like Pordoi and Sella.
Winter turns the region into one of the largest ski areas in the world. The Dolomiti Superski pass covers about 1,200 kilometers of slopes, including the famous Sella Ronda circuit. Cortina d'Ampezzo, host of the Winter Olympics in 1956 and again in 2026, remains the most stylish base. Not a skier? Snowshoeing, sleigh rides, and spa hotels make a winter trip just as appealing.
In every season, stay outside at sunset. The peaks glow pink and orange in a phenomenon locals call enrosadira, and it is the moment most visitors remember longest.
Food and Culture
The Dolomites sit at a crossroads of Italian, Austrian, and ancient Ladin culture, and you will taste it at every meal. Expect canederli (bread dumplings), smoked speck, beetroot-filled casunziei, and warm apple strudel, paired with crisp white wines from Alto Adige. Many villages are bilingual or even trilingual, and the hospitality is famously warm. Alta Badia in particular is known for its Michelin-starred restaurants and gourmet mountain huts.
How to Get to the Dolomites
The closest major gateway is Venice, about two hours by car from Cortina d'Ampezzo. Verona, Milan, and Innsbruck are also practical starting points. Public transport reaches the main valleys, but the most comfortable way to explore is with a private driver or a rental car, since the best viewpoints and trailheads are spread across several valleys. The Dolomites also combine easily with Venice, Lake Garda, or Verona in a single northern Italy itinerary.
How Long Should You Stay?
Plan at least three to four days to see the highlights without rushing. A full week lets you split your time between two bases, such as Val Gardena and Cortina, and enjoy longer hikes or ski days. July and August are the busiest months, so book hotels and guides well in advance. For quieter trails, consider late June or September.
Start Planning Your Dolomites Trip
Few places in Italy deliver this much scenery, activity, and good food in one destination. Whether you dream of a summer hiking holiday, a winter ski escape, or a scenic stop between Venice and the lakes, the Dolomites reward every kind of traveler. Tell us your travel dates and interests, and we will design a Dolomites itinerary with the right hotels, drivers, and local guides to match.
Our own photographs
Dolomites Through Our Eyes
Photographed during our own travels and research, these images follow the journey through Dolomites, from the first view of the landscape to the small details that give the place its character.
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Multi-Day Holidays Tours
Whole journeys, planned end to end
Peaks, Palaces & Prosecco: A Grand Tour of Northern Italy including Venice, the Dolomites, Verona, Milan & More!
Northern Italy is a study in contrasts, and this private journey holds them all. You arrive in Venice by water taxi, glide down quiet canals by gondola, then climb into the Prosecco hills of Valdobbiadene where the wine is poured by the families who...
Private & Small Group Tours in the Dolomites
Days out with people who know the way
Majestic Dolomites: A Full-Day Private Alpine Adventure Through Nature's Wonders
Embark on a spellbinding full-day adventure through the heart of the Dolomite Mountains...
Private Day Trip to the Dolomites
A day trip from Venice to discover Italy's most beautiful mountains.
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Explore Towns and Cities in Trentino-Alto-Adgie / South Tyrol
Every town here has its own personality. We know them by name.
Getting here
The Road to Dolomites
Most of our guests arrive by private car, with a driver who knows these roads and where it is worth stopping along the way. These are the journeys we arrange most often.
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1 October 2026
Peaks, Palaces & Prosecco® Venice Is Only the Beginning…
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