Dolomites
The Dolomites are pale limestone mountains in northeastern Italy, best known for multi-day walks between mountain huts.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
The Dolomites are pale limestone mountains in northeastern Italy, spread across South Tyrol, Trentino and the province of Belluno. Most of what you see from a trail is jagged peaks, high grass plateaus and deep valleys. UNESCO has listed the range as a World Heritage site since 2009. Many areas are bilingual, so Italian and German appear on signs, menus and trail markers.
Walking draws most visitors. Marked trails link valley towns with mountain huts called rifugi, so you can hike for several days carrying a light pack. Other trips focus on via ferrata routes, which use steel cables and ladders, or on driving between valley villages and high passes. A week leaves time for a hut route or a few day hikes from one valley base. Most huts and lifts run in summer and early autumn, so check opening dates before you go.
Dolomites in five
- Huts open from about mid-June to late SeptemberOutside that window most rifugi are closed and some lifts stop. Dates vary by hut and snow, so confirm each one before you plan a route.
- Book huts months aheadJuly and August weekends fill first.Hut to hut in the Dolomites
- Expect limits on the busiest spotsLago di Braies and the Tre Cime road restrict car access in summer. Book ahead or take the bus.
- Start earlyAfternoon storms are common in summer. Be off the high ground by early afternoon.
- Pick one valley by what you wantCortina d'Ampezzo for the Tre Cime and Cinque Torri, Val Gardena for the Alpe di Siusi and lifts, Alta Badia for food and easy walks.Cortina d'Ampezzo
Things to do in Dolomites
See all attractions in Dolomites
Need to know
- Nearest airports
- Venice, Innsbruck or Bolzano
- Getting around
- Summer buses and lifts; a car helps
- Best base
- Cortina d'Ampezzo, Val Gardena or Alta Badia
- Season
- Huts open roughly mid-Jun to late Sep
- Time needed
- 5–7 days for two valleys; a week for a hut route
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuarySki season
- FebruarySki season
- MarchLate snow
- AprilMud, huts closed
- MaySnow on trails
- JuneHuts reopen
- JulyHiking, storms
- AugustBusiest
- SeptemberClear, quiet
- OctoberLarches gold
- NovemberHuts closed
- DecemberSki opens
Right now in Dolomites
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
-4
- Feels like
- -8°
- Humidity
- 82%
- Wind
- 8 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 10%
Dolomites
11:39 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today-2°-6°10%Monday: Snow. High -2°, Low -6°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Tue-3°-5°18%Tuesday: Snow. High -3°, Low -5°. Chance of rain 18%.
- Wed-4°-5°35%Wednesday: Snow. High -4°, Low -5°. Chance of rain 35%.
- Thu0°-6°0%Thursday: Fog. High 0°, Low -6°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri1°-3°15%Friday: Cloudy. High 1°, Low -3°. Chance of rain 15%.
- Sat-1°-4°28%Saturday: Fog. High -1°, Low -4°. Chance of rain 28%.
- Sun-2°-5°32%Sunday: Snow. High -2°, Low -5°. Chance of rain 32%.
Updated 09:47 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
Day trips from Dolomites, the full guide- Lago di Braies and nearby lakesabout 1 hour by car from Cortina d'AmpezzoQuieter lakes past the busiest stop, reached on foot and by local bus.Read the guide
- Hut-to-hut trekkingabout 1 hour by car to most trailheads from Cortina d'AmpezzoA multi-day walk between mountain huts. Book beds ahead before you set out.Read the guide
- Trentino and South Tyrolabout 2 to 2.5 hours by car to Trento from Cortina d'AmpezzoThe wider region, with Trento and Bolzano as its main cities and a blend of Italian and Austrian traditions.Read the guide
Before you go to Dolomites
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Dolomites, checked
- Many non-EU visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. Check entry rules on the Italian visa site before you book.Source
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Italy.
- Road signs and menus in South Tyrol are often in German and Italian, and some valleys also use Ladin. Use the place name on the map you carry.
- Stay on marked trails, and check fire rules with the park or the local tourist office before you cook or light a stove outdoors.
Plan around Dolomites
Regions, rail, entry rules and money
Read the guideCortina d'AmpezzoTre Cime, Cinque Torri and the eastern Dolomites
Read the guideBolzanoThe South Tyrol gateway, with lifts to the Alpe di Siusi
Read the guideTrentino and South TyrolValleys, lakes and the western Dolomites
Read the guideTransport planningBuses, trains and rental cars compared
Read the guideTravel insuranceMountain rescue and alpine injury cover
Read the guideDolomites FAQ
When do the Dolomites huts open?
Most rifugi open from about mid-June to late September, with some extra weeks in the ski season. Exact dates vary by hut and snow, so confirm each hut before you book your route.
What is the best month to hike in the Dolomites?
Late June for flowers and fewer people, July and August for the most reliable conditions and the biggest crowds, September for clear days and quiet trails. Afternoon storms are common in summer.
Do you need a car in the Dolomites?
A car gives the most freedom between valleys, but summer buses and lifts cover the main hubs. Some well-known spots, such as Lago di Braies and the Tre Cime road, restrict car access in season.
Do you need to book Dolomites huts?
Yes for July and August weekends, and months ahead for multi-day routes. Booking and cancellation rules vary by hut, so check each one before you commit.
Where should I base in the Dolomites?
Cortina for the Tre Cime and Cinque Torri, Val Gardena for the Alpe di Siusi, Alta Badia for food and gentle walks. Pick one valley and use buses and lifts rather than hopping between three.