Lago di Braies in 5 days
An emerald lake at nearly 1,500 metres, a wooden boathouse and a 1,300-metre rock wall closing off the far end: the whole place fits in one picture, and that is the problem. Come before 9 am or after 4 pm, when the valley stops being a car park and becomes the start of the Alta Via 1 again.
The plan, day by day
Day 1
- Morning
The loop around the lakefree · about 1 h 30A 3.6 km loop of about an hour: easy on the west shore, then boardwalks, roots and uneven steps on the east, so no pushchairs.
- Afternoon
The frozen lake in winterfree · about 1 hFrom January to March the lake freezes over: no boats, no booking, no crowds, just snow-laden firs and the ice-bound wall to the south.
- Late afternoon
Rowing boats from the boathouseabout 45 minAbout thirty varnished wooden boats hired by the hour from late May to early November, privately or on a shared basis.
Day 2
- Morning
The lakeside chapelfree · a few minutesA small wood and stone chapel a few metres from the north shore, built in the late 19th century with the hotel and the boathouse.
Day 3
- All day
Croda del Beccofree · a full dayThe 2,810-metre peak above the lake: about 500 metres of climbing from Rifugio Biella, grassy then rocky, with some hands-on sections but no real climbing.
Day 4
- All day
Rifugio Biellafree · a full dayThe hike that leaves the crowds behind: path 1 climbs about 830 metres south of the lake to the hut at 2,327 m.
Day 5
- Morning
Prato Piazza and Picco di Vallandrofree · half a dayTwenty minutes by car, an open alpine plateau at 2,000 m with free-roaming horses below the 2,839-metre Picco di Vallandro.
- Late afternoon
Val di Braies and Ferrarafree · about 30 minFerrara, or Schmieden in German, is the last village before the final 4 km to the lake and the control point for summer access restrictions.
Where to sleep in Lago di Braies
- Hotel Chalet Olympia · €115 a night
- Hotel Kirchenwirt · €120 a night
- Hotel Laurin · €120 a night
- Hotel Erika · €120 a night
- Hotel Edelweiss · €150 a night
- Hotel Rose · €150 a night
- Hotel Lago di Braies · €250 a night
- Gailerhof · €220 a night
- Hotel Santer · €250 a night
Plan this trip
Hotel prices per room per night, checked when written. Some links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.