How do you get around in the Dolomites?

The Dolomites are well connected by regional buses, making it relatively easy to travel between destinations during peak seasons. However, because the Dolomites span across five Italian provinces (South Tyrol, Trentino, Belluno, Udine, and Pordenone), there are several different bus systems to navigate.



Navigating the Italian Dolomites without a car is surprisingly simple thanks to an integrated network of regional buses, mountain lifts, and guest passes. Most accommodation providers in regions like Val Gardena or Val di Funes provide guests with a South Tyrol Guest Pass, which offers unlimited free travel on all regional buses and trains within the province. For hikers, an extensive system of cable cars and chairlifts (accessible via the "Dolomiti SuperSummer" pass) whisks you from valley floors to high-altitude trailheads, allowing for point-to-point hikes without needing to return to a parked car. Dedicated shuttle buses also serve popular hotspots like Tre Cime di Lavaredo and Lago di Braies during the peak summer months. For arrivals, "Südtirol Bus" and "Cortina Express" provide frequent shuttle links from gateway airports like Venice, Innsbruck, and Munich directly to major mountain resort towns, ensuring that a car remains entirely optional for a mountain holiday.

People Also Ask

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

Driving in the Dolomites, you'll encounter winding roads, narrow sections, and roads that may or may not have a shoulder or guardrail. Don't worry though – Dolomites driving is totally doable and will probably seem easy if you've come from other parts of Italy.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

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!

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS

Finding out where to stay in the Dolomites is the most important decision when planning a trip to this region of Northern Italy. The best places to stay in the Dolomites are Val Gardena, Alta Badia, Cortina d'Ampezzo, San Martino di Castrozza, Alta Pusteria, and Val di Funes.

MORE DETAILS

Getting to the Dolomites Train: Pieve di Cadore is very near a train station (Calalzo di Cadore, 10 minutes by bus or taxi) and San Candido has a train station (on a different line which does not interconnect and is convenient mainly if you are coming from northern Europe).

MORE DETAILS

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.

MORE DETAILS