The Dolomites
The Dolomites, in a few days
Pale limestone towers at Tre Cime di Lavaredo, the green water of Lago di Braies and the rolling pastures of the Alpe di Siusi make up a UNESCO-listed range in north-east Italy. Days are spent walking from hut to hut, evenings over dumplings and speck, in a region where Italian, Austrian and Ladin cultures meet. Cortina d'Ampezzo and Val Gardena are the usual bases.
- Day by day
- D1 Day 1 2 things
- D2 Day 2 2 things
- D3 Day 3 2 things
- D4 Day 4 2 things
- Worth sorting before you go
- Words that help
- The practical page
- Packing checklist
Day by day
Day 1
- Morning · Tre Cime di Lavaredo · half a dayThe three limestone towers that stand for the Dolomites; a 10 km loop from the Auronzo hut passes the Locatelli hut, facing the north walls.
- Afternoon · Lago di Sorapis free · a full dayA small milky-turquoise lake, two to two and a half hours' walk from Passo Tre Croci on a ledge path with some cabled sections.
Day 2
- Morning · Cortina d'Ampezzo free · about 1 h 30An upmarket resort in a ring of peaks, with a pedestrian main street and lifts up to the Cinque Torri and Faloria.
- Afternoon · Passo Giau free · about 1 h 30A 2,236-metre road pass below the Nuvolau, whose meadows give all-round views of the Marmolada, the Tofane and Monte Pelmo.
Day 3
- Morning · Lago di Braies · about 1 h 30An emerald lake at 1,496 metres below the Croda del Becco; the easy shoreline loop takes about ninety minutes, and rowing boats can be hired.
- Afternoon · Seceda · about 1 h 30A cable car from Ortisei climbs to about 2,500 metres, where grassy ridges drop suddenly towards the spires of the Odle group.
Day 4
- Morning · Val Gardena free · half a dayA Ladin valley of three villages, Ortisei, Santa Cristina and Selva, below the Sassolungo, known for woodcarving and lifts in every direction.
- Afternoon · Alpe di Siusi · half a dayA vast high pasture between 1,800 and 2,200 metres facing the Sassolungo, with gentle paths and mountain huts serving dumplings and homemade cakes.
Worth sorting before you go
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Flavours & local habits
🍽️ Worth tasting
- Neapolitan pizza: soft dough, wood fire, and best eaten in Naples.
- Regional pasta: carbonara in Rome, ragu in Bologna, and never the same twice.
- Gelato: artisan ice cream. Walk past the tubs piled high and glowing.
- Aperitivo: a spritz and small plates at the end of the afternoon.
- Espresso: standing at the bar, and no cappuccino after a meal.
⚠️ Best avoided
- Restaurants with photo menus and a man outside waving you in, especially near the monuments.
- Check the bill for coperto and service before you add anything.
- Cappuccino after midday marks you out. An espresso works at any hour.
- Shoulders and knees covered in churches, and that includes the big ones.
Words that help
English ↔ Italian
| English | Italian |
|---|---|
| Hello | Buongiorno |
| Thank you | Grazie |
| Please | Per favore |
| Yes | Sì |
| No | No |
| Excuse me | Mi scusi |
| Goodbye | Arrivederci |
| Do you speak English? | Parla inglese? |
| I don't understand | Non capisco |
| How much is it? | Quanto costa? |
| Where are the toilets? | Dove sono i bagni? |
| The bill, please | Il conto, per favore |
| Help! | Aiuto! |
| Cheers! | Salute! |
The practical page
Scan to open this guide online, always up to date.
https://offwegooo.com/en/guides/dolomites
Packing checklist
Have a good trip.
Guide made on offwegooo.com · Photos via Pexels · Details are indicative, check before you leave.