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You will not find any Italian destination quite like a journey to the Dolomites. Actually, you will hardly realize you are in Italy after soaking up the fresh mountain air and seeing the seemingly endless, picture-perfect alpine meadows. It's an awe-inspiring place, not only due to the exhilarating hike, but also due to the breathtaking natural beauty that surrounds you. Planning a trip to the Dolomites soon? Discover the Dolomites like never before with this comprehensive guide!
Things to do in the Dolomites
- Discover the Dolomites by visiting its picturesque villages: As you travel through the Dolomites, be sure to stop at some of the many charming communities that dot the mountainous terrain. You can get the most unique souvenirs in artisan communities like Ortisei in Val Gardena, which is famous for its wood-carving history.
- Picnic at Europe's highest Alpine Meadow: The region's spring and summer are ideal for a visit to Alpe di Siusi, the largest alpine meadow in Europe, and the picturesque, verdant hills that surround it. Explore it on foot or with a family by taking the Alpe di Siusi Trail. Next, stay for a night or two at a charming boutique hotel like Sporthotel Sonne Dolomites. The property's pool has breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape.
- Go for the best bike rides: The area is perfect for pedal-powered adventures because to its vast network of bike paths, which includes the 20-mile Toblach-Cortina circuit. Several e-bike and cycling trips go through the woods; some of them even stop at wineries and cheese factories.
- Live the lake life: Lago di Braies is the most well-known of the many sparkling, gin-clear lakes found in the Dolomites. You can rent rowboats from the shore and go out on the blue waters of the 77-acre lake in Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park.
- Go skiing: Winter visitors may enjoy world-class skiing at popular resorts like Cortina D'Ampezzo, a trendy ski town with a lively après-ski scene. As a member of the Dolomiti Superski region, skiers and riders have access to eleven more resorts, spanning over 700 miles of terrain, in addition to Cortina's slopes.
Best hotels in Dolomites
Forestis Dolomites
Perched precariously amid the pine forests of South Tyrol's south-facing slopes, the angular minimalism forerunner Forestis is as intimidating as its eerily beautiful setting. The hotel's destination spa skillfully takes advantage of its therapeutic, high-altitude, pine-forest, spiritual setting with treatments and ceremonies that draw on Celtic influences and Alpine acoustics, or try the mystical scrubs and pummels that use local salts and oils infused with mountain botanicals. Guests can enjoy exhilarating yodel-country views from one of seven saunas, the stylish gym, or the indoor-outdoor pool, which steams into the dramatic valley panorama. The spa comprises one of the new tower constructions and is spread out over two levels. It is one of the best hotels in Dolomites if you want a spa getaway!
Miramonti Boutique Hotel
This mountain retreat is one of the most aesthetically pleasing hotels in Italy; it is a spa resort in the Alps with breathtaking views of the valley below. Located in the Dolomites and with a view of the Nutcracker-like spa town of Merano, it is a more traditional chalet in style than clean-cut Scandi, with subtle nods to South Tyrolean traditions. Stunning views are the centre of attention here; the Panorama restaurant lives up to its name, guestrooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows, and the outdoor pool juts out over the slope. All year long, winter ski-spa packages are offered, particularly when you combine a day on the slopes at Merano 2000 with a leisurely lunch at Baita Rotwand and a visit to the Forest Finnish sauna and onsen. It is one of the best hotels in the Dolomites if you want a spa day with a view!
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Lefay Resort and Spa Dolomiti
Lefay Resort, with its gloomily lighted pine and glass edifice ensnared in the Narnia-like grasp of the Adamello Brenta National Park, is already winning the location points, peering over the postcard-pretty hamlet of Pinzolo. Those in need of a simple health reset come here to enjoy the Alpine air that cleanses the lungs and the five elements of Chinese medicine that alleviate aches and pains. It is one of the best hotels in the Dolomites if you want a cosy getaway that heals you!
Hotel de Len, Cortina d’Ampezzo
The first venture into chic boutique hotel-dom by Cortina d'Ampezzo, Hotel de Len, shakes up a patchwork of faded grande dames, fruity family hotels, and ancestral chalets. The moment had come for Cortina, the poster child of elegant Italian ski resorts, to throw a party fit for the aperitivo-over-apres set, who would strut their stuff down Corso Italia in all their winter splendour. Hotel de Len has all the philosophical and aesthetic hallmarks of a contemporary high-end boutique: it is adorned with chiseled pieces of local, recycled fir; it is named after the Ladin word for wood; and the menu items and beverages are crafted with materials sourced from the surrounding area. One of the best hotels in the Dolomites if you want to experience upscale Italian living!
Best restaurants in the Dolomites
Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler—a standout restaurant
The "eat the mountain" chef who established the Dolomites' reputation for gourmet dining, Atelier Moessmer Norbert Niederkofler, is only open for lunch on weekends and serves food that has earned three Michelin stars. If you are wondering what to eat in the Dolomites, try Kaiserschmarrn, a sweet dish made of shredded pancakes, canederli bread dumplings, and schlutzkrapfen ravioli!
Delight in the flavours of Cortina
Many of Cortina's best restaurants serve their delectable fare in the warm, inviting ambience of classic Alpine stuben, which have been lovingly restored by enterprising chefs into some of the most riveting eateries in the Dolomites. Baita Fraina, a family business in the Faloria area that has been in business for three generations, offers creative twists on traditional dishes. In contrast, the Tofane slopes are conveniently located between Tivoli and Alajmo Cortina, two restaurants known for their superb modern cuisine served in historic dining rooms lined with timber.
Exploring Larieto's cuisine
Larieto is home to two restaurants that are doing some of the best regional cooking, so make sure to get there early to capture the last rays of sunlight. Located at an altitude of 1,800 meters (about 6,000 feet), SanBrite is a Michelin-starred restaurant housed in a converted barn. It was once a tiny alpine animal farm, but Chef Riccardo Gaspari and his wife, restaurant director Ludovica Rubbini, have turned it into SanBrite. El Brite, a less formal sibling right next, has a dining area with timber walls and serves mountain meals à la carte. Both restaurants have received Michelin's Green Star for their unique efforts in eco-responsibility; the vegetables come from the outside garden, and the dairy products are made by the cows and goats that graze here.