Adventurous TRAVEL GUIDE TO the Dolomites

The best time to visit the Dolomites largely depends on what you want to do.

In general, June through September is peak season for hiking and outdoor activities. During this summer period, the weather is warm, days are long, cable cars and mountain huts (rifugio) are open, and most trails are accessible.

July and August offer the most reliably clear weather but are also the busiest with hotels and rifugios can book up far in advance.

My personal recommendation would be to visit in mid-September, as it usually provides good weather, fewer crowds, and easier accommodation bookings.

If you’re after Autumn scenery, then early October can be perfect especially when the fall colours begin to arrive.  You will have to pack plenty of layers and factor in the closure of high-elevation facilities.

If you to go for snow sports, then stick to visiting between December–March. The Dolomiti Superski area is one of the world’s largest ski networks, and winter transforms the region into a snow-covered wonderland.

Spring (April–May) is generally not recommended for visiting: this is because when most trails are still snowed in or very muddy. In addition, many lifts and huts are closed, and hotels often shut down between winter and summer seasons.

Similarly, November is an off-month to avoid – after the autumn hiking season but before ski season – during which many hotels, restaurants, and lifts are closed for maintenance or holidays

How long you should spend in the Dolomites is a bit like asking, “How long is a piece of string?”

It really depends on your interests, pace, and travel style.

If you're just aiming to tick off a few postcard-worthy highlights with scenic drives and quick stops, 3 days can give you a glimpse. But it will feel rushed, and you’ll spend a lot of time behind the wheel rather than out exploring.

For a more meaningful and enjoyable trip, I recommend spending at least 6 days in the Dolomites. This allows time for travel to and from the airport, gives you the flexibility to visit multiple areas, and lets you soak in the diverse landscapes without constantly driving or feeling rushed.

Ideally, you should split your stay across two regions, for example, basing yourself in both the eastern and western Dolomites, to cut down on transit time and maximise what you can see and do. (More on that below)

From personal experience, a trip of 7 to 14 days is perfect, with 10 days being the sweet spot, especially if you’re into hiking, photography, or outdoor adventure. The Dolomites are vast, and even after multiple visits, there is still so much I haven’t seen and want to explore.  

Keep in mind that travel in the mountains is slower than it looks on a map.  Winding roads, weather conditions, and elevation changes all impact your schedule. So, build in some buffer time or a rest day, stay flexible, and don’t overpack your itinerary. While even a short trip is worthwhile, an extended stay will let you truly appreciate the full beauty and diversity of the Dolomites.

How you reach the Dolomites will depend on your starting point and itinerary.

If travelling from outside of Italy or central Europe, the best way to get to the Dolomites is to fly into a major nearby city and then travel by road. Here are some of the closest airports and travel times to reach the Dolomites:

• Venice Marco Polo (VCE) - The closest major airport; direct shuttle buses run to Cortina and other towns. Good option for travellers who won’t rent a car. 2 hours to Cortina

• Venice Treviso (TSF) Smaller airport near Venice served by budget airlines. 2 hours to Cortina

• Milan Bergamo (BGY), Linate (LIN) or Malpensa (MXP) - Further away but sometimes cheaper flight, 3–4 hours to the dolomites

• Innsbruck, Austria (INN) - Convenient for the northern Dolomites; good train connections to South Tyrol. 2 hours to Cortina

• Munich (MUC), Germany - 3.5–4 hours to Cortina

Once you arrive in one of these gateway cities, you can either rent a car (the most flexible option; see below) or use public transport.

There are train lines that get you close to the Dolomites, where you can then connect to regional buses. Direct bus services also exist from some cities: besides the Venice–Cortina bus, there are summer bus shuttles from Milan or Verona to certain Dolomite towns, and even a Flixbus from Venice or Munich to Dobbiaco.

If coming from elsewhere in Italy or central Europe, then its worth driving your own car to visit the sights

The Dolomites are spread over a large area. Picking the right base(s) reduces driving time and helps you focus on nearby hikes. For short trips (3 days), stay in one town to avoid  the hassle of checking in and out. For longer trips, I would recommend split your stay across two or three areas. Recommended regions include:

• Western Dolomites – Val Gardena. Towns like Selva and Ortisei and offer access to the Sella massif, Seceda ridge, Alpe di Siusi and the Gardena & Sella passes. Val Gardena has one of the best bus networks, making it a good option if you are not driving.

• Central dolomites - Towns like Corvara and San cassiano around the Alta Badia ski resort offer easy routes west and east via the Pordoi, Gardena and Falzergo passes.

• Eastern Dolomites – Cortina d’Ampezzo, Misurina, Dobbianco. Closer to Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Lago Sorapis, Passo Giau, Cinque Torri, and Lago Di Braies. Cortina is busy and a lot  pricier but has good facilities

• Southern Dolomites – Val di Fassa & Madonna di Campiglio. Great for exploring the Brenta Dolomites and Passo Rolle.

When choosing accommodation, consider minimum‑stay requirements (often 2–3 nights in peak season) and book well in advance as July and August fill up quickly.

Personally I would look to stay 2 nights in one place before moving on, that way you can have a mini-base and not be constantly moving your stuff to and from your vehicle.

If I was going to stay for a week, I would look to split my route up as follows

• 2-3 nights in the West

• 2 nights in the central Dolomites

• 2 nights in the East

• Rifugio (mountain huts). One of the most unique experiences is spending a night in a rifugio. These high‑altitude huts (often accessible only by foot or via cable car) provide dorm beds or small rooms, dinner and breakfast at reasonable prices. You’ll wake up among the peaks, avoiding long descents to the valley and witnessing sunrise in the mountains. Advance reservations are essential in summer; many huts book out months ahead.

• Hotels & guesthouses. Ranging from simple B&Bs to luxury spa hotels. Many offer half‑board and ski‑in/ski‑out access in winter.

• Self‑catering apartments. Ideal for families or longer stays; often cheaper per night than hotels.

• Camping & campervan sites. The Dolomites have numerous campgrounds with facilities. Wild camping is generally not permitted; use designated sites or area sosta camper (overnight campervan areas).

My recommendation for getting around the Dolomites is to rent a car.

Driving through the Dolomites means you can set your own pace, stop at hidden viewpoints, take spontaneous detours, and explore lesser-known mountain villages that are hard to reach by public transport.

You can also reach places around sunrise and sunset, when public transport won’t be available.

Compared to a campervan or motorhome, a car is far easier to drive and more fuel-efficient, especially when tackling the Dolomites’ many winding mountain passes.

• I would avoiding renting a car with a low powered engine, otherwise you will be spending most of your uphill journey changing between 1st and 2nd gear. 

• If you struggle with clutch control then I would definitely opt for an automatic car

When booking your rental, I would recommend using Discover Cars.

I’ve used them multiple times because they search both local and international rental companies, helping you find the best deals. Their platform makes it easy to compare prices and customer ratings, so you can choose not just the cheapest option, but one from a company with a solid reputation.

I booked through them for my most recent Dolomites trip, and the experience was faultless from start to finish.

Another great option to explore the Dolomites is by campervan.

This stunning mountain region in northern Italy is perfect for van travel, offering total flexibility, panoramic pitches, and the freedom to stop wherever the scenery calls. Compared to booking hotels or mountain huts, a campervan is often more cost-effective and offers far more spontaneity.

If I was to recommend a company it would be Roadsurfer, although I haven’t used them in the Dolomites, I have used them in UK, North America and Other places in Europe  

They have a depot in Venice and Milan, which are close to the airport and easily accessible by public transport.  Their rentals come with unlimited mileage, and they offer a wide range of campervans to suit different needs.

I would recommend choosing the Couple Cottage model. It’s incredibly spacious and ideal for mountain driving and camping. Not only did it include everything I needed, but it was also a manageable size, easy to drive through mountain roads and park in normal-sized spaces.

If you're planning a road trip through the Dolomites, I highly recommend Roadsurfer. You can get 10% off your booking using the code: KNIGHT10. (I don’t earn any commission off this)