Italy’s breathtaking Dolomites have it all – thrilling hikes, gourmet feasts, and adrenaline highs. Whether you’re chasing summit views, sipping local wines, or just looking to stop scrolling Instagram and actually live it — this guide to the best things to do in the Dolomites is for you.
Updated: April 2025

---

Ready to turn the Dolomites mountains into your personal playground?

Trick question.
Of course you are — that’s why you’re here.

When most people think of the Dolomites, they picture hiking boots, steep switchbacks, and that one viral lake photo that’s been haunting their Pinterest feed since 2017.

And look — the hikes are iconic for a reason.
But there’s a whole world up here beyond just trekking from peak to peak. Lazy lunches in mountain huts. Epic road trips along winding alpine passes. Aperol spritzes at altitude. And more jaw-dropping photo ops than your camera roll can possibly handle.

Whether you’re strapping on your hiking boots or plotting the ultimate wine-soaked road trip, this guide will show you the best things to do in the Dolomites — beyond just hiking.

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.

---

Epic Things to Do in the Dolomites

My love story with the Dolomites goes way back. I’ve travelled this insanely gorgeous region extensively, both solo in my van and with hiking and photography groups. I credit a lot of personal growth to the time I spent up here in the mountains, and I can’t wait to share my favourite things to do in the Dolomites with you.

Not just “walk around looking pretty” things (although, let’s be real, you’ll be doing plenty of that too).
These are the kind of adventures that will have you yelling “THIS. IS. A. CORE. MEMORY!!!!” at the mountains.

5 Things to Do in the Dolomites if You’re Keen to Lace Up Your Boots

The Dolomites are 100% where I fell in love with hiking — not just as a way to get somewhere, but as a journey. No post of mine about the best things to do in the Dolomites would be complete without mentioning the hiking trails that carve across these wild mountains.

Honestly?
I don’t think there’s a better way to experience the heart-stopping beauty of the Dolomites than by hitting the trails.

That said, I totally understand that some of you would rather “take a walk in the car” (my mum™), and the idea of hiking sounds about as appealing as a sandpaper massage.
Please reconsider.

You don’t need to be a hardcore trekker to enjoy hiking in the Dolomites — some of the best trails are perfect for hiking haters.
(Yes, I’m making that a thing.)

New to the world of hiking?
⤷ Check out my Beginner’s Guide to Hiking (coming soon) so that you can gain a bit of confidence before your big Dolomites adventure.

• Save

Hike to a rifugio for an overnight stay

You haven’t really done the Dolomites until you’ve watched the mountains set themselves on fire while nursing a glass of wine and a mild altitude-induced existential crisis.
Staying overnight at a rifugio isn’t just an activity — it’s a whole rite of passage. Stars, solitude, and the kind of sunrise that will ruin all future sunrises for you.

How to make it happen:
Pick Croda da Lago for a front-row seat to autumn’s golden larch fireworks, or Rifugio Vandelli for that glacial turquoise magic at Lago di Sorapis.
Book ahead (no, really, months ahead in summer), pack light, and be ready to share a dorm room — it’s part of the fun. Sunset beers mandatory.

Conquer Tre Cime — the Dolomites’ crown jewel

Tre Cime isn’t just a hike; it’s the Dolomites, distilled — raw, awe-striking, and slightly chaotic by noon when the crowds roll in.
But get there early in shoulder season, and it’s just you, three stone titans, and a silence so loud it’ll echo in your bones.

• Save

How to make it happen:
Drive or shuttle up to Rifugio Auronzo at dawn (coffee first, regrets later, guide here). Hike the full loop clockwise, detouring to Cadini di Misurina if you want a side-quest that feels secret and sacred.
Parking fees, weather swings, and sudden fits of weeping at beauty all included.

Keen to make Tre Cime a reality?
⤷ Here’s everything you need to make those dreams come true

Tackle a via ferrata for real adrenaline

There’s nothing quite like clinging to a cliff face by a steel cable while cursing your life choices and simultaneously feeling more alive than ever.

If you’re new to the term, think of vie ferrate as a ‘helping hand’ up the mountains. They’re laced with steel cables, steps, ladders, rungs, and anchor points drilled into the rock. You clip onto a cable, which, thank goodness, drastically reduces your chances of a base jump sans parachute.
See? Helpful.

Via ferrata = adventure, but make it engineered-for-safety. (Mostly.)

• Save

How to make it happen:
Newbies should start with Via Ferrata degli Alpini or Via Ferrata Innerkofler/De Luca ,right at Tre Cime.
Rent gear (helmet, harness, ferrata set) from a local shop or hire a guide if you’re feeling a bit “please don’t let me die.”
Non-negotiable: Check weather conditions. Lightning + metal cable = nope.

Don’t know your munter from your Messner?
⤷ Take this excellent Beginner Guided via Ferrrata trip (and yes, that was a climbing joke)

Summit Seceda for That Shot™ (and so much more)

That blade of rock you’ve been seeing everywhere? Yeah.
It’s called Seceda, and standing on that ridge — wind in your hair, world at your feet — is about as close as you’ll get to touching the sky without a private jet.

How to make it happen:
Two ways: lazy genius (cable car from Ortisei to Furnes, then up to Seceda) or glorious masochism (hike it from Col Raiser or Ortisei).
Bring layers, snacks, and either patience or sharp elbows if you’re chasing that empty-ridge sunrise shot. You earned this.

• Save

If you’re really lucky, you might get to see clouds rolling up over the ridge from below.

Keen to get That Shot™?
⤷ My guide to Hiking Seceda has all the details you need.

Brave the trail to Lago di Sorapis

Hidden deep within the mountains lies a lake so turquoise, haters will say it’s Photoshopped. That’s Lago di Sorapis — and yes, it’s just as ridiculous in real life as it looks online. This is a moderate-hard hike, not for the beginners (sorry).

How to make it happen:
Start early (like, beat the influencers early) from the trailhead at Passo Tre Croci near Cortina d’Ampezzo. It’s about a 2-hour hike each way, with a few spicy exposed sections — cables and common sense required, but it’s not technical. Pack snacks, a camera, and enough joy to last you through some steep existential switchback crises. But, oh man, is it worth it.

• Save

TOP TIP | If you can overnight at Rifugio Vandelli, you’ll get the lake almost to yourself at sunrise or sunset. Booking way, WAY ahead is crucial. And so is bringing cash.

Keen to make this happen?
⤷ Here’s my full guide to hiking Lago di Sorapis (complete with tips, logistics, and questionable life choices)

5 Things to Do in the Dolomites if You Prefer Forks to Footpaths

Taste wines along the South Tyrol Wine Road

Because life’s too short for bad wine — and South Tyrol does it very right.

The South Tyrolean Wine Road is 100+ kilometres of divine wines where enthusiasts (or complete beginners, we don’t discriminate round here) can explore the diversity of South Tyrolean wines. Think aromatic whites (this is the home of Gewürztraminer!), bold reds, and vineyard views that’ll have you questioning every major life decision that didn’t involve moving here.

• Save

How to make it happen:
Base yourself in Bolzano or Caldaro, hire a bike (or a driver if you’re feeling particularly vino-committed), grab a Winepass and absolutely time your trip with Wine Cellar Night if you can. Midnight tastings? Dangerous. Delicious.

TOP TIP | If you’re short on time and near Bolzano, just book this wine tasting and thank me later.

Feast on Michelin Starred Delights in Cortina

Cortina d’Ampezzo – the “Queen of the Dolomites” and ruler of increasing waistlines.

Pastas hand-rolled by someone’s nonna. Cheeses that taste like a meadow smells. Wine that somehow gets better with every sip. And they’ve got the Michelin-stars to prove it.

• Save

TIP | Book popular restaurants well in advance (think months, rather than days) in high season.

How to make it happen:
Book a table at SanBrite, for local and sustainably sourced food (have the tasting menu with paired wine and thank me later). Tivoli is where you’ll taste truffle risotto so good you’ll be wondering how to kidnap the chef. And you know I’m not forgetting the strudel – Pasticceria Alverà is the uncontested master of pastries in Cortina. Wear stretchy pants. Thank me later.

Dive deep into Bolzano’s culinary scene

Food tours with locals are my actual favourite thing when I’m travelling – no mass market tour bus tavernas for us! Want to eat your way through the cultural crossroads of Italy and Austria?
Bolzano’s your girl.
Think schnitzel and salami. Strudel and gelato.

How to make it happen:
Take Claudia’s Bolzano Street Food Tour to explore hidden gems, cozy taverns, and get super secret local recs for other places to eat and drink (you’ll just have to take the tour). Even if you just follow your nose (with a few strategic stops), you’ll still roll home happily.

Indulge in a luxury alpine spa stay

Sore legs? Tight shoulders? Existential malaise? There’s a sauna for that.
The Dolomites are peppered with some of Europe’s dreamiest spa hotels — all steaming pools, panoramic views, and the soft whisper of “you deserve this” every time you put your robe back on.

Here’s to sinking into a warm pool, muscles relaxing as the heat seeps in, glass of Prosecco in hand (optional, but highly recommended), and an alpine panorama as your backdrop.

How to make it happen:
Book early, book luxury and blow the budget for a night or two. My personal favourite is Hotel Kolfuschgerhof in Alta Badia, with its infinity pool, divine sauna, fabulous massage therapists and insanely great food. For Alpe di Siusi, look no further than Hotel Rosa Eco Alpine Spa Resort and in Ortisei, the Adler Spa Resort Dolomiti is to die for.

Planning a wellness session?
⤷ COMING SOON | My comprehensive guide to the Best Luxury, Boutique and Spa Hotels in the Dolomites

Sip a Hugo Spritz with mountain views

Forget your basic bitch Aperol Spritz. Up here, it’s all about the Hugo — elderflower syrup, prosecco, soda water, mint, lime.
Not hiking? Not a problem. Plenty of Dolomites rifugi are just a breezy cable car ride and a short stroll away. Zero blisters, maximum vibe.

How to make it happen:
Head to a rifugio accessible by cable car (no sweaty hiking regrets, promise). Try Rifugio Scoiattoli at Cinque Torri (the cable car is literally attached) or Rifugio Fermeda at Seceda Alp (a 15 minute flat stroll from the top of the Col Raiser cable car). Order a Hugo. Sit back. Soak in the view. Congratulate yourself on your current life choices.

5 Things to Do in the Dolomites if You Live for the Road Less Travelled

Most travellers come here for the greatest hits — a photo at Tre Cime, a stroll around Braies, an Aperol Spritz at altitude.
And look, no shade — those moments are magic.
But you already know that Hugo >> Aperol.

So if you want to feel the pulse of the Dolomites beyond the postcard views? It’s time to go a little further, a little higher, a little wilder.

These adventures aren’t just about ticking off tourist checklists — they’re about carving your own story from these mountains.
Here’s how to get gloriously, wildly off-track.

Buckle Up on the Legendary Great Dolomites Road

If you only do one drive in the Dolomites, make it this one.
Twisting through mountain passes, plunging valleys, and tiny stone villages, the Great Dolomites Road is the Italian Job of your Alpine dreams — minus the exploding Mini Coopers. (Hopefully.)

How to make it happen:
Start in Bolzano and end in Cortina d’Ampezzo (or the other way around — you’re a free spirit, after all).
Build in stops at Lago di Carezza, Passo Pordoi, and anywhere your instincts (or camera) scream at you to pull over. Early morning or late evening = fewer tour buses, more hairpin glory.

Thinking about renting a car?
⤷ Hire a car in Bolzano to make your Dolomites dreams a reality

Time to turn up your favourite playlist and get ready for the drive dreams are made of.

• Save

Cruise a mountain pass by e-bike

You don’t need Tour de France thighs to enjoy the Dolomites on two wheels — just a sense of adventure (and maybe a battery boost).

Tackle a single iconic pass like the Gardena Pass or Sella Pass by e-bike, soaking up the jaw-dropping views without weeping openly into your handlebars.
Or, if you’re feeling bold, sample part of the legendary Sellaronda loop — no shame in cable car shortcuts, Aperol pit stops, or strategic snack breaks.

• Save

How to make it happen:
Rent an e-bike from one of the local hire spots along the Sellaronda — here’s a full list of bike rental and tour offices across the Sella Group region.
My recommendation is a guided tour (aka: no map wrangling, all vibe). OnRocks comes highly recommended for easygoing e-bike adventures and insider photo stops.

TOP TIP | Morning rides = cooler temps and better light for “I’m so athletic” selfies. Trust me.

Go canyoning or whitewater rafting in Val di Sole

Love water? Love chaos?
Road-trip further west into Trentino, where Val di Sole serves up pure alpine chaos — canyoning through waterfalls, whitewater rafting roaring rivers, and laughing so hard you forget how cold the water is (probably).

It’s not technically the heart of the Dolomites, but it’s an awesome side-quest worth taking if you’ve got a little more time here.

How to make it happen:
Base yourself around Dimaro (bonus: great pizza) and book with a reputable outfit like Trentino Wild or MMove. Summer (June–September) is prime time. Expect cold water, wetsuits, waterfalls, and probably a fair amount of swearing. In a good way.

Paraglide over Monte Pana and the Sassolungo group

Is there anything more main character energy than running off a cliff attached to a stranger and some nylon?
No, there is not.

Val Gardena is the place to paraglide if you want views that look fake — the jagged Sassolungo group towering over rolling meadows, the horizon stretching toward infinity, and your heart hammering in your ears (from excitement, promise).

• Save

How to make it happen:
Book a tandem flight with Gardenafly who I went with and 11/10 recommend (local and woman-run business? Sign. Me. Up). Flights typically launch early morning when the air is still and the drama levels are high.

CAT’S TAKE | Paragliding in the Dolomites turned out to be one of my favourite experiences – the kind that makes you laugh and cheer and feel invincible. Even if it sounds a bit terrifying, give it a shot – no experience required. Just nerves of steel and a very firm handshake with your pilot.

Horse ride across Alpe di Siusi

Cue The Sound of Music soundtrack and prepare to question every previous life decision that didn’t involve galloping across flower-strewn alpine meadows on horseback.

Alpe di Siusi isn’t just a dreamy place to hike — it’s also pure magic on four legs, especially in early summer when the wildflowers are throwing a riot.

How to make it happen:
Unterlanzin Riding Stables offer an all-day ride to the beautiful Alpe di Siusi, but if you’re worried that your ass may not cope with that much time in the saddle, shorter rides are available too. No judgement here.

• Save

CAT’S TOP TIP | Book ahead for early morning rides — less heat, more misty-magic moments for your inner cinematic heroine.

5 Things to Do in the Dolomites if You’re a Photography Addict

Let’s be real: if you’re coming to the Dolomites and not planning to fill an SD card (or ten), are you even doing it right?
But you’re not just here to chase the same Instagram shots as everyone else — you’re here for the drama. The light. The moments that make you feel like the earth cracked itself open just to show you something beautiful.

Whether you’re rocking a battered DSLR or just your iPhone and sheer chaotic ambition, these are the places and moments that will absolutely wreck your camera roll — in the best possible way.

Snap sunrise at Lago di Braies + Lago di Carezza

Two lakes. Two very different moods. Both an absolute must.

Lago di Braies is the shot everyone’s chasing — the mirror-still water, the moody boat house, the drama of Croda del Becco reflected at sunrise. Yes, it’s popular. Yes, it’s early. Yes, it’s worth it.

Lago di Carezza, on the other hand, feels like a secret you stumbled into — a perfect, jewel-toned pool fringed by pine forest and jagged peaks. Hit it at first light or late evening to dodge the day-trippers and catch those legendary pastel skies.

• Save

How to make it happen:
Braies: Arrive before sunrise. Park at P3 (the closest lot), bring € for parking, and don’t forget — in peak summer, the road is restricted unless you pre-book.
Carezza: Easy stop right off the Great Dolomites Road. Go very early or after 5pm for the best chance at solitude (and sanity).

Want to visit Braies stress-free?
⤷ My Guide to visiting Lago di Braies without a breakdown

Chase golden hour drone shots at Lagazuoi

You want rugged? You want epic? You want to feel like you’ve stumbled into a CGI movie set?

Lagazuoi delivers.
Perched atop one of the highest peaks near Cortina, Rifugio Lagazuoi has views so wild they’ll make you question whether you’ve been living your life correctly. Sunset sauna here? Chef’s kiss.

• Save

How to make it happen:
Take the cable car from Passo Falzarego to Rifugio Lagazuoi (or hike if you’re feeling althletic). Stay for aperitivo, watch the mountains set themselves on fire, and if you’re serious about those golden hour shots, overnight at the rifugio to catch sunrise too.

CAT’S TOP TIP | Weather shifts fast up here — check forecasts and bring layers unless you want to shiver your way through magic hour.

Explore the hidden valley of Val di Funes

Some places look good on Instagram.
Val di Funes looks fake in real life.

This tucked-away valley is all emerald meadows, toy-town churches, and jagged peaks stabbing the sky. It’s storybook perfect — the kind of place that makes you want to ditch your life, buy a cow, and take up yodeling.

• Save

How to make it happen:
Drive (or bus) into the valley and wander around Santa Maddalena for peak vibes. Both the famous St. Johann Church and Santa Maddalena Church are worth a visit. Don’t miss the Adolf Munkel Weg and Sunsetweg for peak views.

Capture Alpe di Siusi at sunrise

If ever a place was designed to make even your phone photos look like they belong in National Geographic, it’s Alpe di Siusi.

The kind of place you dream about when you’re stuck in traffic or scrolling Instagram at 2am questioning your life choices — in early morning, the light turns soft and cinematic.
Rolling meadows, misty mornings, jagged peaks, and cows who look like they know more about mindfulness than you ever will.

• Save

How to make it happen:
Stay overnight in Alpe di Siusi itself, or down the mountain in Ortisei or Castelrotto and catch the first cable car up.
A tripod and a little patience will take you far here — skip the midday crowds; let the early light and empty trails work their quiet magic.

Want to make your alpine dreams come true?
⤷ How to visit Alpe di Siusi without the traffic fine

Shoot the stars on an astro tour (or DIY at Tre Cime)

When the sun sets, the Dolomites don’t stop flexing.

On a clear night, the sky here goes absolutely feral — the Milky Way sprawling across the black, peaks silhouetted against a riot of stars. Whether you book an organised tour or just hike up yourself for a DIY shoot, this is bucket list stuff.

How to make it happen:
Top spots? Tre Cime (hike in for absolute silence) and Passo Giau (easy access by car).
Pack a tripod, wide lens, and a headlamp (preferably red light to save your night vision). Oh, and snacks. Stargazing calories don’t count.

ASTRO TIP | Download Photopills beforehand so you can track the Milky Way — and time your shots like a boss.

Planning some astrophotography?
⤷ COMING SOON | My full guide with tips, tricks and cheatsheets

5 Wild Cards if You’re Feeling Bold (or Just a Little Bit Extra)

Not every adventure needs a helmet and a waiver form.
Sometimes the wildest things are the quite ones.

The secret valleys. The rooftop concerts. The nights under a sky littered with stars.
The kind of memories you don’t plan for — you just stumble into, and never forget.

If you’re the kind of traveller who likes your journeys with a side of magic, mystery, and mild emotional damage (the good kind), these Wild Cards are for you.

Here’s how to find the Dolomites most people never even hear about.

Spot the wildlife on the mountains

Sure, the peaks are flashy — but the wild locals are where the real magic hides.

Chamois leaping impossible cliffs. Marmots whistling their warnings. Eagles soaring across distant ridges. And if you’re lucky, deer at the forest edges or ptarmigan posing like they know you’re jealous of their cute boots.

• Save

How to make it happen:
Head early or late into the natural parks — Fanes-Sennes-Braies, Tre Cime, or Puez-Odle are all prime spots. Move quietly. Bring binoculars. Come at golden hour.

Get Nerdy at the Messner Mountain Museum

History nerds, architecture addicts, and mountain lovers unite:
The Messner Mountain Museum Corones, aka the MMMC is a deep dive into man’s relationship with the mountains where you can stimulate your intellect after a day of stimulating your muscles (see what I did there?).

Atop the Kronplatz plateau, Reinhold Messner’s vision meets Zaha Hadid’s futuristic design — and the result is absolutely worth the trip.

• Save

How to make it happen:
Take the cable car up from Riscone/Reischach near Brunico/Bruneck. Museum tickets can be bundled with your lift pass. Bring a jacket (windy AF) and your biggest existential questions. Summer only, usually June–September.

TOP TIP | You should also check out the MMM Dolomites, on Monte Rite, a converted WWI fortress turned into an ode to mountains, storytelling, and sky-high dreams. Built inside an old fort, topped with a glass dome, perched on a literal mountaintop. Absolutely casual.

Catch an open-air summer concert at a rifugio

Because sometimes a symphony needs mountain peaks for an audience.
(And also because what else are you going to do after your third Hugo spritz?)

During the summer, many rifugi host live music events — everything from classical quartets to bluegrass bands, often against the backdrop of an outrageous views and a crowd of half-drunk hikers.

How to make it happen:
Experience the Dolomites in full swing during the I Suoni delle Dolomiti music festival, where you can actually do things like listen to a live cello quartet while watching the sun rise over one of the mountain passes. Like, what?! How can this be a real thing??

TIP | Events are usually free with food and drinks available (bonus: polenta and sausage under the stars slaps harder than it has any right to).

Feast Above the Clouds at the Peaks of Gastronomy Series

Michelin-starred chefs. Sky-high rifugi. Plates of handmade pasta and local wines served literally on the edge of a mountain.
Welcome to Alta Badia’s Peaks of Gastronomy — where your biggest risk is crying into a plate of truffle risotto because life feels too good.

How to make it happen:
From June to September, select mountain huts in Alta Badia team up with Italy’s top chefs to create special menus featuring local, seasonal ingredients. Prepare for a meal you’ll still be daydreaming about at your desk in February.

Take a multi-day hut-to-hut trek (like the Alta Via 1)

Want to really go wild?
Pack your bag, lace your boots, and disappear into the mountains for a few days on a hut-to-hut trek. The Dolomites’ Alta Via 1 is one of the most iconic — a week (or more) of wild trails, tiny rifugi, and life boiled down to boots, bread, and breathtaking views.

You’ll come back sunburned, a little stinky, and full of stories.

How to make it happen:
Book your rifugi well ahead if you’re going July–September (they fill up fast). Carry light, walk steady, and remember: a slow hiker sees more marmots.

• Save

FAQ | Things to Do in the Dolomites

Final Thoughts: The Best Things to Do in the Dolomites

The Dolomites don’t just gently suggest a little adventure.
They rip the map out of your hands, stuff a Hugo in one, a camera in the other, and scream, “BABE, TRUST ME” as you sprint into the mountains like a feral goat in hiking boots.

If your soul’s already halfway to Seceda just thinking about it?
Save this guide, text it to that friend who’s somehow always packing for an imaginary trip, or tattoo it onto your brain for when the “fuck it, let’s go” energy hits.

Already planning your grand escape?
Come yell your Dolomites dreams at me on Instagram or in the comments below.
I’ll be the one throwing espresso at my laptop and plotting another “I swear this is the last trip” lie to myself.

Planning A Trip To Europe?