This week-long Dolomites itinerary isn’t a slow, meandering amble through the mountains — it’s seven days of cinematic peaks, food comas, and hikes that’ll have your glutes writing home. I’ve mapped it all out, from cable car dodges to trailhead espresso stops, so all you have to do is show up and look heroic.

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Mountains. Pasta. Ridiculously photogenic cows.
If you’ve got seven days and a slightly unhinged glint in your eye, this Dolomites itinerary is your blueprint for a week that will ruin you for normal life. In the best possible way.

One week. Endless peaks. You’re in for the trip of a lifetime — from Cortina d’Ampezzo to Val Gardena, with a quick side-quest to Val di Funes. Think sunrise hikes, alpine lakes, panoramic cable cars, and one potential run-in with a goat called Steve.

This is for the solo adventurers, the wanderers, the women who hike hard and dream harder. East to west via spa breaks and enough strudel to derail your fitness tracker. Here’s your 7 day Dolomites itinerary.

Let’s go.

The features in this post were hand-selected by an obsessive travel nerd with strong opinions who doesn’t gatekeep good shit (hi, that’s me). Some of them are affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting my work and the occasional wine along the way – Cat.

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Who This Itinerary Is For

This 7-day Dolomites itinerary is for the bold. For travellers who want it all — the big-hitter hikes and the quiet moments. Perfect for solo adventurers, couples, or anyone who finds joy in golden light and mountain cheese.

You’ll love this itinerary if:
✔️ You’ve got a week, a hire car, and no intention of “taking it easy”
✔️ You want to balance iconic spots with quieter trails and local gems
✔️ You’re comfortable changing hotels every few nights to maximise adventure
✔️ You love a good sunrise mission, a cheeky aperitivo, and your quads are game

This itinerary is not for you if:
✖️ You don’t want to self-drive
✖️ You want to stay in one base for your whole visit
✖️ The thought of hiking makes you want to die

Need to hire a car? I’ve driven all over the Dolomites (solo, at altitude, with zero drama) and it’s absolutely the easiest way to make the most of your trip. I always use Discover Cars — it pulls together all the major companies so you can find the best deal without the scroll spiral.
→ Opt for full coverage and free cancellation — totally worth it
→ I usually pick Avis, Hertz or Europcar for peace of mind
⤷ MY PICK | Find a deal that doesn’t suck

How to Use This Itinerary

This isn’t a chill-out-and-see-what-happens kind of trip. It’s a full-throttle, Dolomites greatest hits tour — thoughtfully paced, but packed. You’ll be changing bases, tackling iconic hikes, and maybe even crying (just a little) (hopefully with joy) at sunrise. I’ve planned every day to maximise wow factor and breathing space — with optional detours if your soul says yes and your quads say maybe.

Follow it exactly, swap out a hike if the weather turns, or pad things with an extra night somewhere if you’ve got the time. You’re not chained to this itinerary — but if you do follow it to the letter, you’re in for an unforgettable week.

Where You’ll Go aka 7-Day Dolomites Itinerary Overview

This itinerary takes you east to west for a reason — we’re chasing the light, the views, and the logistical sweet spot. We start strong with the legends of Cortina, dip into rifugio life or alpine lake magic, cruise through Alta Badia, and end on a high in Val Gardena and Val di Funes.

Day 1 → Cortina d’Ampezzo: Kick off your Dolomites week with a classic. Hike the WWI tunnels at Lagazuoi or explore the dramatic rock spires of Cinque Torri. Optional aperitivo with a mandatory view.
☾ Overnight in Cortina.

Day 2 → Tre Cime + Cadini di Misurina: A double-header day. Start early for the Tre Cime loop (with bonus rifugio strudel if earned), then sneak over to the iconic Cadini viewpoint. It’s a Big Day™.
☾ Overnight in Cortina again.

Day 3 → Choose Your Own Epic: Two killer options. Early visit to Lago di Braies + Croda da Lago overnight loop or a bold ascent to Lago di Sorapis. Both routes include big views, alpine lakes, and your daily dose of awe.
☾ Overnight at Cortina, Croda da Lago or transfer to Alta Badia depending on your pick.

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Day 4 → Rest + Reset in Alta Badia: Finish the Croda loop (if you overnighted) or roll in from Cortina and take it easy. Explore villages, grab a spa session, or squeeze in a gentle walk. The calm before the next high-altitude hit.
☾ Overnight in Alta Badia.

Day 5 → Seceda + Paragliding Optional Madness: Big energy returns. Start with a sunrise Gran Cir hike, then check in with your adrenaline levels. Feeling brave? This is your moment to run off a mountain with a parachute. Otherwise, move on to the cable car up to Seceda for panoramic magic at golden hour.
☾ Overnight in Val Gardena.

Day 6 → Alpe di Siusi Dreamscape: Today is about space and softness (and cheese). Wander the rolling meadows of Alpe di Siusi, camera at the ready, and soak up those Sound of Music vibes.
☾ Overnight in Val Gardena again.

Day 7 → Val di Funes Finale: Your grand finale: the impossibly pretty Val di Funes. Take a slow scenic drive, photograph the iconic churches, and let your soul take one last stretch before reality kicks in.
☾ Overnight in Val Gardena, Val di Funes or continue on to your next stop.

ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS
➤ Tre Cime + Cadini di Misurina
➤ Lago di Sorapis or Croda da Lago + Lago Federa
➤ Passo Giau
➤ Alta Badia
➤ Seceda
➤ Alpe di Siusi
➤ Optional overnight rifugio stay

HOTEL RECOMMENDATIONS
⤷ Hotel Ambra in Cortina — woman-owned and full of character
⤷ Kolfuschgerhof Mountain Resort in Alta Badia — one of my favourite hotels in the world
⤷ Gardena Grodenerhof in Ortisei — central with a stunning spa, sauna and pool

Maps for this 5-Day Dolomites Itinerary

Feeling geographically confused? You’re not alone — the Dolomites are more of a delicious sprawl than a tidy loop. I’ve created two Google Maps to help:

➤ Eastern Dolomites: Tre Cime, Cadini, Sorapis, Cortina eats and sleeps

➤ Central Dolomites: Spas, sleeps and snacks for Alta Badia and beyond

➤ Val Gardena + Val di Funes: Hikes, huts, viewpoints, and vino stops from Days 3–5

Use them to plan your routes, pick your hotels, or just zoom in and whisper “soon” like I do when I’m procrastinating real life.

7-Day Dolomites Itinerary: Day-by-Day

A Quick Note on Day 1

This 7-day itinerary kicks off with a morning outing at Passo Falzarego — assuming you’ve rolled in the night before (Cortina, Dobbiaco, or Misurina all work).

➔ Flying in that morning? No worries — if your flight gets you to Venice, Innsbruck or Verona early enough, you can still reach the Falzarego pass by lunch. Instead of doing both the Lazaguoi tunnels and Cinque Torri, simply pick the option you like the look of best.

If you need more ideas for a chill half-day while settling in, check out my Build Your Own Dolomites Road Trip — it has short scenic stops perfect for a shorter day zero!

Day 1: Lagazuoi Tunnels or Cinque Torri + Cortina Aperitivo Vibes

Base: Cortina d’Ampezzo
Vibe: Jagged peaks, war tunnels, and spritzes with a view
Overnight: Cortina

We’re feeling Indiana Jones with a side of espresso this morning, starting with a one-two punch of jaw-dropping scenery and a crash course in mountain warfare.

Morning: Passo Falzarego + Lagazuoi Tunnels
Start strong with a cable car from Passo Falzarego to the top of Lagazuoi, where brutal history meets outrageous scenery. From here, descend the Kaiserjäger WWI tunnel route — a network of steep, hand-carved paths once used by soldiers to move through the mountain undetected. It’s part hike, part history lesson, part quad workout.
→ You’ll need a headtorch and good shoes (and probably a moment of quiet reflection once you’re out).

Late Morning: Cinque Torri Views + Open-Air Museum
From Lagazuoi, descend to Passo Falzarego, then take the chairlift from Bai de Dones or drive the short route to Cinque Torri. These iconic towers are a climber’s playground, and you can wander easy trails around the spires while exploring another outdoor museum, with reconstructed bunkers.
→ It’s less “drama and dark corridors” than Lagazuoi (perfect if you struggle with small spaces)

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Lunch: Rifugio with a View
Both Rifugio Averau and Scoiattoli deliver big on views and carbs. If the sun’s out, snag a table on the terrace and enjoy gnocchi with a backdrop of staggering peaks. Sit back, relax and watch climbers scale the towers like caffeinated spiders. Bonus points for ordering wine at altitude.
→ If you’re hiking rather than chairlifting between spots, Averau is slightly more effort, but 100% worth it.

Afternoon: Settle into Cortina d’Ampezzo
Make your way to Cortina, your home base for the next couple of nights. This glammed-up alpine town is where Patagonia jackets mingle with Prada sunglasses, and nobody blinks at a post-hike Aperol. Grab a gelato or an espresso, stretch out those trail-weary legs with a casual wander, or hit a boutique if you’re feeling bougie.

Evening: Aperitivo O’Clock + Dinner
The Dolomites’ unofficial religion. Grab a seat somewhere with a view (like Bar Sport or Bar Pierosa) and order a Hugo spritz — made with elderflower, prosecco, mint, and splash of local altitude. You earned it.
→ Aperitivo and dinner in town — Il Vizietto di Cortina is wonderful

Optional detour for early arrivals
→ Got time before dinner? A sunset drive up to Passo Giau is a banger — hairpin bends, goats with attitude, and one of the best panoramic spots near Cortina.

☾ HOTEL PICK | My top overnight choice for Cortina is Hotel Ambra — woman-owned and full of character

Want some more hotel inspo?
⤷ Here’s my full guide for Where to Stay in the Dolomites

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Day 2: Tre Cime Loop + Cadini Viewpoint

Base: Cortina d’Ampezzo
Vibe: Iconic peaks, dramatic cliffs, and a few thousand other people wondering where the crowds came from
Overnight: Cortina again

You’ve seen the photos. Now you’re walking into the postcard.

Today is about ticking off two of the most famous landmarks in the Dolomites — and doing it early enough that you still get a table at the rifugio for strudel. You’re heading up to Rifugio Auronzo to hike the Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop, with a quick side-mission to the Cadini di Misurina viewpoint that will get your jaw dropping before lunch.

Morning: Drive to Rifugio Auronzo + Cadini Viewpoint
Leave Cortina early and drive to Rifugio Auronzo — get there by 8am if you want to beat the queues and grab parking. After a coffee (and maybe a pastry) from the rifugio, you’ll do a quick warm-up hike to the Cadini di Misurina viewpoint. This narrow ridgeline view is Insta-famous for a reason — it’s breathtaking, vertigo-inducing, and surprisingly close to the parking lot.
→ The trail is short but exposed. Avoid if you’re scared of heights or the weather’s sketchy.

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Mid-Morning to Afternoon: Tre Cime Loop
The Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop is about 10km (6 miles) and fairly gentle by mountain standards, though it will still work your quads. You’ll pass three iconic peaks, alpine meadows, and some of the most famous rifugi in the Dolomites. Take it clockwise so you hit the views early and finish with Rifugio Auronzo’s terrace for your victory beer.
→ Allow at least 3–4 hours. Bring water, layers, and your best mountain energy.

Need to organise your morning logistics?
⤷ How to Get to Tre Cime and Cadini di Misurina
⤷ The Cadini di Misurina Viewpoint Hike
⤷ Hiking at Tre Cime di Lavaredo

Lunch: Rifugio Locatelli or Rifugio Lavaredo
Depending on your loop timing, stop for lunch at Rifugio Locatelli (around halfway, with a dead-on view of the peaks) or swing back earlier for a sit-down meal at Rifugio Lavaredo. Both have hearty mountain fare and views that’ll ruin you for all future dining experiences.
→ Rifugio Locatelli can get very crowded — be patient or bring a snack backup plan.

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Afternoon: Return to Cortina + Relax
After finishing the loop, head back down the toll road and return to Cortina. If you’ve got the energy, this is a good moment to hit the spa or find the best gelato in town. If you’re like most people, it’s more likely you’ll collapse on a bench with a cold drink and stare into the distance for a bit.

Evening: Dinner + Aperitivo
You’ve earned your carbs. Grab dinner at a mountain-inspired trattoria in Cortina — somewhere with wood-panelled walls, red wine that drinks like velvet, and something with mushrooms on the menu.
→ If you’re looking for recommendations, Al Camin is one of the best!

☾ Overnight: Cortina d’Ampezzo
→ My hotel pick: Hotel Ambra

Day 3: Choose Your Own Epic — Croda da Lago or Lago di Sorapis

Base: Cortina d’Ampezzo
Vibe: Lakes, lungs, and the exact moment your quads start questioning your life choices
Overnight: Cortina, Croda da Lago or Alta Badia (see below)

Remember when we thought Day 2 was a Big Day™? Cute.

Today, you’ve got two hike options — both jaw-dropping, leg-burning, utterly unforgettable. One leads to a hidden lakeside rifugio beneath golden cliffs. The other? A luminous turquoise alpine lake cradled in a rocky amphitheatre. Choose the one that calls to your wild heart (or your knees).

➔ TL;DR: Croda da Lago is ideal if you want a moderate, full-circle hike with optional overnight magic. Lago di Sorapis is shorter but steeper — a bold out-and-back with fewer people once you pass the lake. You can’t go wrong with either hike. Just don’t try to do both (ask me how I know…).

Option 1: Croda da Lago Loop + Optional Rifugio Overnight

Start early from the Ponte de Ru Curto trailhead. You’ll wind through forest, past waterfalls, and up into cinematic terrain straight out of a fantasy novel. The prize? Lago Federa, a glassy alpine lake reflecting the spiky peaks above — and Rifugio Croda da Lago, perched beside it like a Wes Anderson set piece.

If you’re lucky, marmots will squeak hello and you’ll snag cake and a Hugo spritz before the afternoon crowd. If you’re smart, you’ll book a night at the rifugio and wake up to sunrise over the water in total silence.

Route notes: The full loop is 11–13km depending on your start point and takes around 5–6 hours moving time. Elevation gain is manageable, but expect a few steep sections and some rocky terrain. Pack layers, water, and enthusiasm.

Choosing this option?
⤷ Here’s the complete guide | Hike the Croda da Lago Trail

☾ Overnight options:
→ If staying at Rifugio Croda da Lago, you’ll complete the loop the following morning before transferring to Alta Badia (Day 4)
→ If doing the full loop in one day, return to Cortina for a final night or transfer to Alta Badia (~1 hr drive time) this evening for a slower start tomorrow

☾ HOTEL PICK | If you decide to relocate to Alta Badia tonight, look no further than Kolfuschgerhof Mountain Resort — amazing food and a sauna/spa your legs will thank you for

Option 2: Lago di Sorapis Out-and-Back

Feeling bold and vertical? Lago di Sorapis is your moment. This hike kicks off from Passo Tre Croci just outside Cortina and winds up through forest, over scree, and along dramatic cliffside paths. Your reward: one of the most surreal lakes in the Alps, glowing glacial blue under a ring of cliffs. It’s popular for a reason — but hit the trail early and you’ll have it mostly to yourself.

Route notes: The out-and-back trail is ~11km round trip, with a 400m gain and some mildly exposed sections — there are cables for safety, but not ideal if you’re scared of heights. Give yourself 3–4 hours and don’t skip the coffee + cake at Rifugio Vandelli beside the lake.

Surreal mountain lake more your vibe?
⤷ Here’s what you need | Complete Guide for Hiking Lago di Sorapis

☾ Overnight options:
→ Return to Cortina for one last night
→ Transfer to Alta Badia this evening (it’s about a 90-minute drive and totally doable if you’re not wrecked)

Whichever adventure you choose, tonight you’ll toast yourself with wine, pasta, and the slow realisation that you may never emotionally recover from these views. Good.

Day 4: Rest + Reset in Alta Badia

Base: Alta Badia
Vibe: Mountain villages, spa steam, and guilt-free laziness (or not, if you’re a menace)
Overnight: Alta Badia

Today is your hinge day. Whether you’re finishing the Croda da Lago loop, road-tripping in from Cortina, or just emerging from a hotel breakfast in a pastry-induced daze, this is your permission slip to not do everything at once.

We’re swapping Cortina’s dolce vita drama for the softer alpine charm of Alta Badia — a cluster of mountain towns tucked between towering peaks and cable car hubs. The vibe here? Calm, clean, and unreasonably scenic. It’s also the perfect launchpad for tomorrow’s big adventures.

Morning: Finish Croda da Lago or Transfer from Cortina
If you overnighted at Rifugio Croda da Lago, enjoy a sunrise coffee by the lake (you absolute legend), then complete the loop back to the trailhead. If you stayed in Cortina, grab a final espresso and roll out towards Alta Badia — it’s about 1 hour by car, with options to detour en route (hello, Passo Valparola views).
→ If you’re road-tripping in the morning, take it slow. This is a spectacular section of the journey and you’ve got plenty of time to settle in.

Lunch: Arrive + Refuel in Alta Badia
Check in to your hotel, drop your dusty hiking boots, and go find something delicious — perhaps a cute local pizzeria if you’re in full-carb-recovery mode or a cheeky cable car ride up to Rifugio Col Pradat for lunch on the terrace. There’s no wrong answer. Pair it with wine and look (deservedly) smug about your life choices.

☾ HOTEL PICK | Kolfuschgerhof Mountain Resort in Colfosco is an absolute treat. Spa, views, quiet rooms — yes please.

Afternoon: Spa, Stroll, or Soft Adventure
This is your choose-your-own-pampering afternoon. Book a massage, sweat it out in a sauna, or wander the cobblestone lanes of La Villa or Corvara for a bit of shopping and scenery. Want a tiny hit of activity? Take a gentle walk to the Pisciadù waterfall — short, shady, and wildly photogenic.

Evening: Wine + Dolomite Glow
Watch the enrosadira (that rosy Dolomites glow) from your terrace, then head out for dinner somewhere with candlelight and carbs. Order local Ladin specialities — cajincì (spinach ravioli) or turtres (fried veggie pastries) — and toast to your excellent life choices.
→ Fancy something Michelin and delish? La Stüa de Michil is for you.

☾ Overnight: Alta Badia
→ My hotel pick: Kolfuschgerhof Mountain Resort
→ Get your beauty sleep… tomorrow, we fly off mountains.

Day 5: Gran Cir Sunrise Hike + Seceda with Optional Paragliding

Base: Val Gardena
Vibe: High-altitude highs, flying leaps of faith, and sunset scenes you’ll never recover from
Overnight: Val Gardena

This is the day your legs start whispering “please, no more stairs” — and your soul shouts back “TO THE SKY!” You’ve crossed the halfway point and now it’s time for the drama dial to go from cinematic to Oscar-winning altitude badass.

Very Early Morning: Gran Cir Sunrise Hike
Start strong (read: before dawn) and drive to Rifugio Frara parking area to hike up Gran Cir — a sharp, rocky peak with the best sunrise views in this stretch of the Dolomites. The hike is short but steep — think 90+ minutes of calf-burning glory to reach the summit cross. Bring headlamps, layers, and something warm to drink at the top. It’s worth every breath.

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Mid-Morning: Paragliding (Optional Madness)
Ready to literally run off a cliff? If yes, Val Gardena’s paragliding operators offer tandem flights that launch from mountain peaks and float you over sweeping valleys like a windswept bird with a GoPro. If no, that’s fine too — your reward is staying cozy with coffee and cake somewhere cute while your travel buddy screams joy into the clouds.
→ Want to book ahead? Gardenafly is who I went with, and they were amazing!

Afternoon to Evening: Seceda for Sunset
Next up: Seceda. One of the most iconic views in the Dolomites — those razor-sharp ridgelines that look like they were sketched by a moody teenage mountain god. If you’re not still flying, take the cable car up from Ortisei in the afternoon and hang out on the plateau for golden hour glory.

Feeling feisty? Stay for sunset — just know you’ll need to hike down afterwards, as the lifts stop running by 5 or 6pm depending on the season. The descent is long but not technical, and the views? Untouchable. Bring a headlamp, layers, and your sense of adventure.

→ Alternative plan: catch the afternoon light, skip the hike down, and enjoy a pre-sunset aperitivo back in town. There are no bad choices — just different flavoured bragging rights.

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Evening: Dinner + Recovery Mode
You’ve earned it. Whether you hiked, flew, or simply looked very good at altitude, tonight is for a hearty meal and maybe a slow pour of spirits. Look for places that do local specialities — or anywhere with a fireplace and someone who’ll bring you dessert without judgment.
→ For low-key, local and lovely, try Snetonstube or Turonda

☾ HOTEL PICK | Gardena Grodenerhof in Ortisei — central with a gorgeous wellness centre and staff who will make you feel like a Queen.

Day 6: Alpe di Siusi — Meadows, Mountains + Mild Delusions of Heidi

Base: Val Gardena
Vibe: Gentle trails, Sound of Music scenery, and the kind of mood where you take 300 photos of the same damn meadow
Overnight: Val Gardena again

You’ve earned a soft day. But make no mistake — just because it’s less vertical doesn’t mean it’s less epic. Today, you’re exploring the Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm), Europe’s largest high alpine meadow. Rolling pastures, tiny wooden huts, wildflowers, cowbells in stereo, and those photogenic peaks rising like a jawline in the background.

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Morning: Up + Into the Meadows
From Ortisei, take the Alpe di Siusi cable car up early (the meadow is best before the midday crowds roll in). Once you’re at the top, you’ll find endless trail options — from easy loops to longer meanders toward the Rifugio Molignon or Compatsch area. Your only job today? Wander and wonder.

PHOTO TIP | Mornings are best for catching the peaks lit from behind. Bring a zoom lens if you’ve got one — the detail shots of barns and mountain backdrops are *chefskiss*.

Lunch: Terrace Dreams
Grab a long lunch at a scenic rifugio. Try Sanon Hütte or Rifugio Molignon for proper food with an outrageous view. Order something with local cheese, don’t skip dessert, and take your sweet time.

Wondering about the best hiking at Alpe di Siusi?
⤷ I’ve got you | Explore Alpe di Siusi like a pro

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Afternoon: Chill, Spa, or Siesta
Head back down the mountain mid-afternoon and lean into the recovery arc. Nap. Spa. Aperitivo. Journal like you’re a 19th-century poet on retreat. Whatever your brand of peace looks like, today’s the day for it. No big plans. No staircases. Just vibes.

Feeling restless? You could always take to the skies the serious way with a sightseeing helicopter flight!

Evening: Candlelight + Local Wine
End the day with something low-key and lovely. Try Tubladel or Michelin-starred Anna Stuben — warm interiors, incredible local dishes, and wine that tastes like an alpine hug. It’s your second-to-last night. Make it count.

☾ Overnight
→ Me: a creature of habit at Gardena Grodenerhof in Ortisei

Day 7: Val di Funes Finale — Church Views, Ode to Odle + Goodbye Vibes

Base: Val Gardena (or optional overnight in Val di Funes)
Vibe: Pastoral perfection, cinematic churches, and the kind of beauty that makes you wish you’d brought tissues, not trekking poles
Overnight: Val Gardena, Val di Funes, or onward

Your final day in the Dolomites isn’t about bagging one more summit or squeezing in a last-minute hike. It’s about soaking it all in — the silence, the space, the absolute audacity of these landscapes — and letting the trip land in your bones.

You’re heading to Val di Funes, one of the most photogenic valleys in South Tyrol. It’s famous for those two little churches you’ve definitely seen on postcards, but it’s the painterly meadows and soaring peaks that will make you want to move here and write long letters in cursive about your feelings.

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Morning: Scenic Drive to Val di Funes
Enjoy a slow breakfast — croissants, coffee, wistful staring — and then drive over to Val di Funes. From Ortisei, it’s a 45–60 minute drive to Santa Maddalena, the main hub in Val di Funes. Take your time — this is one of the most beautiful drives in the Dolomites. Pull over for viewpoints. Blast something dramatic. Cry a little. It’s fine.

Late Morning: San Giovanni in Ranui Photo Stop
First stop: the San Giovanni in Ranui church. It’s tiny, Baroque, and so stupidly photogenic it feels made for postcards. Park nearby, grab your camera, and get the shot with the Odle mountains standing sentinel in the background.
→ Please don’t trespass onto the field — use the designated footpaths and viewpoints or pay for access to the church.

Late morning: Hike the Adolf Munkel Weg
From there, continue to the Zannes carpark and hit the trail for the Adolf Munkel Weg. It’s one of the most rewarding low-altitude hikes in the Dolomites — relatively gentle, absurdly scenic, and packed with those classic pine + peak combos that make your camera weep with joy.
→ The loop is around 9km, moderate difficulty, and packed with shade and photo stops.

Lunch: Geisleralm
This is not a snack stop. This is an emotional destination. Perched beneath the Odle range, Geisleralm serves proper food with panoramic views that will make you rethink your entire career path. Order the house pasta, sip on a spritz, and sit there until your heart’s full.
→ This is my favourite lunch spot in the whole of the Dolomites. And that’s saying something. Take your time. It’s your last day. Stretch it out.

Afternoon: Return Hike + Santa Maddalena
Finish the loop back to Zannes — ideally in a haze of alpine euphoria — then drive back through the valley and park up in Santa Maddalena. This is the classic sunset spot, with that perfect sweep of church, meadow, and mountain ridge behind it.

Evening: Stay for Sunset (and a Few Feelings)
Grab a final Hugo spritz, wander the meadows to the viewpoint, and watch the Odle peaks light up in that soft alpenglow that ruins you for all other sunsets. This is the mic-drop moment — so take the photos, breathe it in, and start planning your return.

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☾ Overnight: Up to you!
→ Head back to Val Gardena for a final night of luxury
→ Stay locally in Val di Funes for a quiet finale – Hotel Tyrol has the views to die for
→ Or hit the road if your next stop’s already calling

7-Day Dolomites Itinerary FAQ

Final Thoughts: That’s How You Do a Fucking Week in the Dolomites

Seven days. Dozens of peaks. At least three emotional meals and one questionable decision involving altitude.

If you made it through this itinerary — or even just read it and thought, “Hell yes, that’s my kind of chaos” — you’re my kind of people. This isn’t some sanitised, checklist-style trip. It’s a full-bodied, mud-on-your-boots, wine-on-your-shirt, scream-at-the-landscape experience. The kind of trip you’ll still be daydreaming about when someone says the word Italy and you go a bit glassy-eyed and mutter “Seceda…” like you’ve just seen God.

So whether you followed every step or just stole a few spicy detours — I hope you felt it. In your legs, in your lens, in your little wild heart.

If you found this post helpful:
→ Save it on Pinterest
→ Share it with your favourite chaos goblin (subject: flights to Italy are pretty cheap…)
→ Come yell at me on Instagram about which part made you laugh-cry or just plain laugh (hopefully not cry). I’ll be waiting — possibly in a spa, probably with a Hugo spritz, definitely already planning my next trip back.