What is the best base for exploring the Dolomites?

There are two best areas to use as your base for sightseeing in the Dolomites – Cortina d'Ampezzo for the eastern side and Val Gardena for the western side. Dividing your stay between these two areas will allow you to see the best of the Dolomites without having to spend hours in a car each day.



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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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Bolzano is sure the best basecamp to explore the Dolomites because have a optimal central position, and from here is located the central bus station of the SAD (local bus company) www.sad.it from where depart every bus for every destination on the valleys of the Dolomites.

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The city of Bolzano (Bozen in German) — blending Austrian tidiness with an Italian love for life — is the gateway to the Dolomites. And the village of Castelrotto (a.k.a. Kastelruth) is a good home base for your exploration of the Alpe di Siusi (a.k.a. Seiser Alm), Europe's largest alpine meadow.

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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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Posh Cortina Cortina d'Ampezzo is the perfect hub to wander and discover the Dolomites uniquely beautiful world of immense vertical walls, spires and pinnacles, green valleys, high mountain pastures and alpine lakes.

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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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Belluno & the National Park of the Belluno Dolomites The ancient town of Belluno, with 37,000 inhabitants, is the most important town in the eastern Dolomites.

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Located in the Dolomites, Cortina d'Ampezzo is renowned as a luxurious ski resort. Properties with panoramic views of the mountains and in close proximity to the main shopping street Corso Italia and the ski slopes are particularly sought after. Apartments in the city centre cost up to 14,000 euros per square metre.

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Canazei Canazei is a small town located in the Fassa Valley region of the Dolomites. It's surrounded by beautiful mountain peaks and is a great base for climbing trips. There are plenty of accommodation options in Canazei, including hotels, B&Bs, and apartments.

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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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Tre Cime di Lavaredo / Drei Zinnen: Probably the most famous and remarkable mountain peaks in the Dolomites. Plan at least half a day for this beautiful place in the Dolomites since there are many hikes to do, views to enjoy and hundreds of photo opportunities.

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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 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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