Can you get to the Dolomites without a car?

It's absolutely possible to visit the Dolomites without a car. The Dolomites are well connected by regional buses, making it relatively easy to travel between destinations during peak seasons.



Yes, you can absolutely explore the Dolomites without a car, as the region boasts an incredibly efficient and integrated public transportation network. Most travelers fly into Venice Marco Polo (VCE) or Innsbruck (INN) and use dedicated shuttle services like the Cortina Express or FlixBus to reach major mountain hubs like Cortina d'Ampezzo or Bolzano. Once in the mountains, the SüdtirolMobil system provides a dense network of buses and trains connecting smaller villages, trailheads, and cable car stations. Many hotels also provide guests with a guest pass (such as the Val Gardena Mobil Card) for free unlimited travel on local transport. In 2026, apps like SüdtirolMobil offer real-time schedules and digital ticketing, making it easier than ever to navigate the peaks. While a car offers more flexibility for remote sunrise spots, the public system is the preferred choice for eco-conscious hikers and those wanting to avoid the stress of narrow mountain driving.

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The easiest way to get to the Dolomites is to fly to a nearby airport (Bolzano, Venice, Treviso, Verona, Innsbruck, Milan, or Munich), rent a car, and drive to your base in the Dolomites. Depending on your point of arrival, it may take anywhere between 1 and 4 hours to drive to the Dolomites.

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The easiest and most direct route to the Dolomites is by car. We recommend renting a car as you'll have the convenience of going wherever you'd like, whenever you'd like. If you don't wish to drive in Italy, taxis are always available from the Venice area and also within the Dolomites to get you where you need to go.

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Bus services are readily available for both getting to the Dolomites, and getting around the region. The bus from Venice to Cortina is probably the fastest option if you are taking public transportation.

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THE DOLOMITES ARE EXPENSIVE BUT ALSO AFFORDABLE WITH THESE TIPS. We're not going to lie, the Dolomites can be very expensive, and for many travellers, prohibitively so. Accommodation, especially in popular areas, can exceed €200 per night and will likely be your largest cost.

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If you simply want to drive through the Dolomites and visit a few highlights, two to three days is all you need. If you love hiking, spend as much time here as you can. I recommend five days at a minimum. So far, we spent 12 very busy days in the Dolomites and still have more that we want to come back and do.

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Venice is one of the closest major cities in Italy to the Dolomites. If you're flying in, I suggest Venice's Marco Polo or Treviso Airports. And you can reach the popular Cortina d'Ampezzo ski area in less than 2 hours by train from Venice.

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The Dolomites are farther east and slightly north, concentrated around Trento/Bolzano. The mountains surrounding Lake Como are the Pre-alps or Alpine foothills. Looking north, up toward Colico from Bellagio, you can see part of the Bernina Range of the Alps. In a word no.

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Cortina d'Ampezzo This town makes an excellent home base to explore the Dolomites, with a great location near Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Lago di Sorapis, the Croda da Lago Circuit, and Lagazuoi. While in Cortina d'Ampezzo, take a stroll along Corso Italia, the pedestrian street that runs through the city center.

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The dolomites are a major tourist destination so, as with all tourist destinations in Italy in August, they get crowded and expensive. If you can't do July, try end of June or the beginning of September.

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The winter skiing season runs from mid-December until early April. We've personally visited the Dolomites in May, June, July, August, September, and October. The best time of year to visit the Dolomites is mid/late June, early July, and September.

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It is the perfect tour for those who have only one day to visit the splendid Dolomites: you will travel in full “The Great Dolomites Road” from Bolzano to Cortina d'Ampezzo, with the best of the Western and Eastern Dolomites and all the most beautiful alpine lakes.

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PRO TIP: Hiking is NOT all difficult in the Dolomites. There are plenty of trails that are rated easy and medium on the challenge scale, and everything is very well marked. In fact, some of the most iconic views from the Dolomites can be accessed by an easy hike!

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Cortina d'Ampezzo is the best place to stay in the Dolomites if you want a vibrant town atmosphere along with access to some of the most celebrated Ampezzo Dolomites attractions.

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The little villages in the bernese oberland valley are charming and certainly worth experiencing. We found the Dolomites to be less touristy as compared to BO/swiss alps. You will find tons of tourists in July Switzerland. And the Dolomites will be cheaper as compared to BO.

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Even if you regularly hike in tennis shoes or sandals, you'll want hiking boots with good ankle support for hiking in the Dolomites. The Dolomite rock is slippery, the trails can be muddy, and the stones are loose and tend to slide around. You need the ankle support and extra grip of a proper hiking boot!

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PRO TIP: Hiking is NOT all difficult in the Dolomites. There are plenty of trails that are rated easy and medium on the challenge scale, and everything is very well marked. In fact, some of the most iconic views from the Dolomites can be accessed by an easy hike!

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Roads in the Dolomites vary from excellent condition to dirt roads, but most will be narrow and winding. Don't worry if people will honk at you for driving too slowly – safety is important and if you feel comfortable driving slower, then that's what you should do.

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