How to Get to the Dolomites
The Dolomites, or Dolomiti, is a mountain range located in northeastern Italy. In 2009, the region was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With picture perfect landscapes of rolling green hills, curvy mountain roads, and sharp peaks, the Dolomites should definitely be on your bucket list!
The Best Time to Travel to the Dolomites
The Dolomites experiences two peak tourist seasons, Summer for hiking, climbing, and mountain biking, and Winter for skiing. The peak hiking season is June to August. If you want to avoid the crowds completely then I recommend visiting in the shoulder seasons of May or September.
What to Know Before Visiting the Dolomites
Before visiting there are a few key things that every traveler should know! Here is a list of some of the top things to know.
Where to go in Italy to see the Dolomites?
If you plan to visit Italy's stunning Dolomites mountain range, the city of Bolzano, capital of the South Tyrol region, makes a good starting point for explorations by car, train, bus, bike or foot. Considered the gateway to the Dolomites, Bolzano (which also appears as Bozen on maps and road signs) is easily reachable by train or car ...
Where to take the A4/E70?
Drivers should take the A4/E70 east from Milan in the direction of Verona. At Verona, pick up the A22/E45 heading north to Bolzano. Driving from Venice, you'll pick up the A4/E70 heading west, then jag north on the A22/E45 at Verona. The 170-mile (270 km) drive takes about 2 hours, 45 minutes.
Is it fun to drive to Bolzano?
If your budget allows for a private transfer to Bolzano, it's fun to relax and let someone else do the driving. North of Verona, the scenery gets increasingly more dramatic.
Should I travel to Bolzano by train?
If you're planning to hike or bike the region, arriving to Bolzano by train makes the most sense. If you want to explore the small towns, luxury spa hotels, and ski areas, and take day hikes across the region, then it makes the most sense to arrive by car, or at least rent a car upon arrival at Bolzano.
What is the best topographic map of Italy?
Tabacco Maps are arguably the best topographic maps in the Dolomites. They are scaled 1:25000 and cover the whole north-eastern part of Italy. You can buy the maps here.
How many ropes do you need for a cliff climb?
As far as length is concerned, for multi-pitch routes 55 or 60-metre ropes are advisable, for sport climbing 70 metres is better but be careful as some cliffs have pitches of up to 40 metres in length and for these you need an 80-metre rope.
What bus service goes from Venice to Cortina d'Ampezzo?
The Cortina Express Bus www.cortinaexpress.it and AVTO Bus www.atvo.it operate direct buses from Venice to Cortina d’Ampezzo. Another company is www.flixbus.it. Go to the web sites for schedules and more information. The bus takes about 2-3 hours.
Where to fly to Cortina?
There also are smaller airports in the region, in Treviso, Verona and Innsbruk (Austria). We recommend flying to Venice (Marco Polo) as a first choice. Once in Venice you can take a bus to Cortina.
Is Cortina d'Ampezzo a mountain resort?
But there is no point in denying that Cortina d’Ampezzo is universally acknowledged to be one of the most beautiful mountain resorts in the world. Known as “the pearl of the Dolomites”, Cortina’s is a privileged position in an extremely open and sunny valley (Ampezzo from the Latin àmplus) and is surrounded by a ring of magnificent mountains.
When can you climb the southern exposed faces?
Usually during the end of May it is possible to climb the southern exposed faces and climb some railroads. In some cases, after winter with heavy snow, the snow on the top of the mountains can restrict the access to the vie ferrate.
Is the weather in the Dolomites better than summer?
The weather is stabler than summer, which brings many dangerous storms. The colors of the forests and the fall’s lights make the Dolomites look even more beautiful!
How to get to the Dolomites in Italy?
The easiest way would be to fly into nearby cities in Europe (like Venice, Zurich, or Munich) and then driving into the Dolomites by car. There are lots of airports to choose from, it all depends on the route you want to take.
Where are the Dolomites?
The Dolomites have been popping up a lot lately online as it’s been a growing and popular tourist location for mountain lovers in Italy.
What culture is the Dolomites?
Many of the dishes on the Dolomites of Italy are from the Ladin culture – North Italians or communities who have lived in the Dolomites for centuries. The food has roots in farm culture, where you used things available to you and got creative with minimal ingredients.
What season do you go to the Dolomites?
Depending on what activities you prefer, there are ideal seasons to visit the Dolomites. Here are some suggestions to narrow down your search…. Winter – Come to the Dolomites in Italy during this time for epic snow sports. Skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, ice skating – they have it all.
What is the best time to visit the Dolomites?
Summer – Perfect weather for outdoor activities like horseback riding, golfing, hiking and biking. This is also a great time to see wildflowers in the valleys. Fall – The ideal time for a road trip in the Dolomites. Mild weather and shorter days make it easier to capture sunrises and sunsets on the amazing peaks. 3.
Do you need a car to visit the Dolomites?
If you are interested in exploring the Dolomites in Italy, you will most definitely need transportation. We suggest renting a car in Italy, to give you the most flexibility and access around the area!
Getting to the Dolomites
Airports: The nearest airports are Venice Treviso (for budget European airlines such as Ryanair) and Venice Marco Polo. Verona and Trieste are options if you are going to Cortina, Pieve or Auronzo, though on public transport these are much longer journeys, and Innsbruck is a good option for San Candido/Innichen.
Getting around the Dolomites
Self-guided walkers: our self-guided service includes help and advice on all transport to walks and we will also be happy to arrange private transport if preferred. Most of our walks have been chosen with public transport in mind but can also be done with your own or a rental car.
How long does it take to visit the Dolomites?
So, it’s important to recognise that visiting for 7-14 days, and travelling at a sensible pace, does mean you’ll not be able to do EVERYTHING in the Dolomites. It is however the perfect amount of time to have a wonderful introduction to the region, and experience several of its most beautiful spots.
Where are the Dolomites?
In the eastern section of the northern Italian Alps, the Dolomites mountain range is universally heralded as one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in Europe. Distinctive for their pale grey limestone hue, sharp peaks and intimidating clusters of jagged rock, they were formed approximately 200 million years ago.
How many nights do you stay in the Dolomites?
As we mentioned, the best approach for accommodation in the Dolomites is to focus on staying 2-3 nights across 2-3 towns or villages, rather than constantly moving onward to another room in another town. The choice of town or village in and of itself isn't tooooo important if you have your own rental car, just as long as you are in proximity of a hike start point, cable car, or destination, and a sensible enough driving time away them.
What is the average temperature in the Dolomites?
The Dolomites offer a lovely climate for the outdoors from June to August, with average temperatures hovering between 26° - 30°C in the lowlands (but this doesn't mean you should only be packing shorts and t-shirts....more on that later).
What color markers are used in the Dolomites?
There are SO many routes and trails in the Dolomites, and all those we visited were pretty well established and signposted out with the custom red and white markers.
How many peaks are there in the Dolomites?
It was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2009. Encompassing an area of 141,903 hectares and 18 peaks which rise to above 3,000 metres, 'The Dolomites' stretch across three Italian regions (Veneto, Trentino-Alto Adige / Südtirol (South Tyrol), and Friuli Venezia Giulia).
Why are Italian and German spoken in the Dolomites?
Due to the various disputes over the region between Italy and Austria, and its position as a place of cultural and commercial exchange between distinct languages and cultures , both Italian and German are widely spoken in the Dolomites.
from Bologna
from Milan Or Venice
- Duration: 3-4 hrs Travel to Bolzano from the Northern Italian cities of Milan or Venice involves changing trains in Verona. Travel time from Milan is between 2 hours, 45 minutes and 3 hours, 45 minutes. From Venezia Mestre, Venice's mainland station, travel time to Bolzano is between 2.5 and 4 hours. If you're traveling to Bolzano from Milan by car, it's a 175-mile (280 km) journey. Dri…
by Private Transfer
- If your budget allows for a private transfer to Bolzano, it's fun to relax and let someone else do the driving. North of Verona, the scenery gets increasingly more dramatic. If after you've hiked the Dolomites you're still up for more adventure, consider this 14-day Cycling Northern Italy: Dolomites to Venice, Slovenia to Croatiatrip, which starts at Bolzano.
Elsewhere in The Dolomites
- Direct trains and buses from Bolzano connect to the South Tyrol cities of Merano/Meran and Bressanone/Brixen in less than an hour, and either city is an easy drive from Bolzano. Getting to other cities in the region, such as the ski resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo or the village of San Candido/Innichen, the start of this 10-Day Dolomites High Traverse ...