Short on time, big on dreams? This 3-day Dolomites itinerary gives you two wildly scenic options — one from Ortisei, one from Cortina — so you can pick your flavour of unforgettable alpine chaos.

---

If you’re planning a long weekend in the Dolomites or squeezing a few mountain days into a longer Italy trip, three days is just enough to fall hard. Hard like “I could live here,” hard. And if you plan it right, you’ll leave with legs full of lactic acid, a camera roll full of mountain porn, and a deep, slightly irrational urge to Google “how to buy an old farmhouse in South Tyrol.”

I know this, because I’ve done this. Sadly, I am still not the proud owner of said farmhouse.

But I digress.

This guide gives you two carefully curated Dolomites 3 day itinerary options, depending on where you base yourself:

→ Cortina d’Ampezzo – for dramatic peaks and iconic lakes. Ideal if you’re coming from Venice or Innsbruck.
→ Ortisei – for lush meadows, ridge walks and soft girl hiking magic. Best if you’re coming from Innsbruck or Bolzano, or heading to Tuscany next.

Whichever itinerary you pick, I’ve made sure it’s:
✔️ Logistically smooth (you’re not zig-zagging the region)
✔️ Full of gasp-worthy views
✔️ Packed with photogenic hiking and mountain food moments
✔️ Doable solo or with your favourite chaos-enabling bestie

Let’s figure out your best base — and how to make 3 days feel like the best alpine escape.

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.

---

Who This Post Is For

This one’s for the adventurer who wants her long weekend to hit like a full-blown mountain love affair. You want the magic — the views, the vibes, the “is this real life?” moments — and enough pizza and Aperol to warrant a ‘holiday pants’ situation. You’re short on time but big on energy — and you want your three days to feel like freedom, not a logistical meltdown.

This post is for you if:
✔️ You’re planning a long weekend in the Dolomites
✔️ You want curated hikes, epic lunches, and zero wasted time
✔️ You’re solo, with a bestie, or soft-launching your mountain girl era
✔️ You value unfiltered views, good coffee, and well-earned Aperols

Transport note:
These itineraries are fully doable without a car during the summer season (early July to mid-September), thanks to cable cars, shuttle buses, and strategic base choices. If you’re travelling in shoulder season or want ultimate freedom to chase sunrises and spritzes, a rental car will definitely make your life easier — but it’s not a must.

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

This might not be for you if:
✖️ Your ideal trip is museums and Michelin stars (although we could make that happen!)
✖️ You want to cover every big hike in the region in three days (that’s a 10-day trip, my friend)
✖️ You hate mountains (in which case… bold choice reading this far)

Cortina or Ortisei: Which Base is Best?

Both of these mountain towns are drop-dead gorgeous — but they offer very different vibes. Your choice will shape your whole trip, so let’s make sure it fits.

If you’re coming from Venice, or you want the big-hitter views — Cortina is your girl. It’s the dramatic, craggy, “holy shit is this even real” side of the Dolomites. But if you’re leaning wildflowers, espresso at altitude, and mountain huts that serve spaetzle with a side of joy — Ortisei is the better choice.

Here’s your vibe check:

Choose Cortina d’Ampezzo if…
→ You’re coming from Venice (also fine from Austria)
→ You want drama: jagged peaks, cinematic lakes, hiking-heavy days
→ You’re keen to tick off icons like Tre Cime, Cadini di Misurina, Lago di Sorapis, and Croda da Lago
→ You don’t mind early starts and less time for spa-ing, strolling, or lingering lunches

Choose Ortisei if…
→ You’re coming from Innsbruck, Bolzano, or heading to Tuscany next
→ You’re into green ridgelines, soft meadows, and spa hotels with extensive wine lists
→ You want to hike Seceda, explore Alpe di Siusi, or day trip to Val di Funes
→ You’re into cable cars, charming boutiques, and mountain food with flair

Still not sure? Let the weather decide. The Dolomites run east to west — so if storms are brewing in one region, pivot to the other. Flexibility is the true mountain girl power move.

Dolomites 3 Day Itinerary From Cortina d’Ampezzo

Welcome to Cortina d’Ampezzo!

Say hello to your base for the next three days: a glitzy little town tucked beneath jagged peaks and glowing sunsets. Cortina’s got just enough boutique charm to feel special, and enough pizzerias, wine bars, and gelaterias to keep you fuelled for the trails. Park the car, grab a Hugo spritz near Piazza Angelo Dibona, and settle in — you’ve got mountains to meet.

☾ My hotel pick for a dreamy stay: Hotel Ambra – sleek rooms, great spa, walking distance to town
→ For delicious dinner vibes: Try Il Vizietto (local fave) or Ristorante Ariston for a pizza and tiramisu combo you won’t forget. If you’re feeling fancy, Michelin-starred SanBrite is a must.

Want the good stuff without the guesswork?
Here’s my personal Eastern Dolomites Google Map packed with trailheads, photo ops and food stops — so you can spend less time circling for parking and more time screaming “LOOK AT THAT VIEW!!”

Day 1 – Cinque Torri + Aperitivo with a View

Ease into your Dolomites adventure with altitude, Aperol, and some serious open-air history.

→ Ride the cable car from Baita Bai de Dones — or hike up if you’re feeling energetic — to Cinque Torri, one of the Dolomites’ most iconic landmarks
→ Wander the WWI open-air museum — trenches, tunnels, and surreal rock towers (it’s like walking through a history book that happens to be very Instagrammable)
→ Lunch or drinks at Rifugio Scoiattoli — outrageous views, cold spritzes, hearty mountain fare. (Yes, the wood-fired hot tub exists, but only in winter)

Extra time or energy? — drive further up Passo Falzarego, take the cable car up to Rifugio Lagazuoi and hike down through the WWI tunnels — a bit more effort, but if you’re feeling bold, it’s a hell of an opener

• Save

Day 2 – Tre Cime di Lavaredo + Cadini di Misurina Viewpoint

This is your “holy shit, is this place real?” day. Pack snacks, charge your camera, and prepare to fall wildly in love with the mountains.

→ Start early — seriously. Arrive at the Tre Cime toll gate by 7:30 am to beat the queues and snag a primo parking spot at Rifugio Auronzo
→ Hike the Tre Cime loop — it’s about 10km and takes 3–4 hours with photo stops, leg breaks and lunch at Rifugio Locatelli (or bring your own and picnic by a lake)
→ Detour to the Cadini di Misurina viewpoint — it’s a short (but narrow and exposed) offshoot near the start of the Tre Cime loop. Not for the vertigo-prone, but seriously iconic

Optional lake break — if your legs are still working, swing past Lago Antorno or Lago di Misurina on the way down for a gelato, a drink, or just a “look at me thriving” selfie.

Planning your Tre Cime + Cadini day?
⤷ READ | Complete Guide for Hiking Tre Cime and How to Get to Tre Cime
⤷ DON’T MISS | Cadini Viewpoint Tips

• Save

Day 3 – Lago di Sorapis or Croda da Lago Loop

Your final day, your final choice — but it’s a great one. Do you want icy blue magic at the end of a dramatic trail, or a ridgeline ramble with a rifugio that serves dumplings to die for? Both options are knockout. Pick your mood and go.

CAT’S TOP TIP | Set your alarm — both options are early starts, as parking is limited in summer. Croda da Lago, particularly, can be challenging mid-morning.

Option 1: Lago di Sorapis
This is the Insta-famous lake you’ve probably seen, and yes, it really is that blue.
→ Start at Passo Tre Croci and allow around 4–5 hours return
→ The trail is rocky and narrow in sections, with cables for support — not dangerous, but not a casual stroll either
→ Best early in the day (it gets crowded) and stunning in shoulder season when the light hits just right
→ Bring a picnic or grab lunch near the lake at Rifugio Vandelli — be sure to check they’re open for the season if you’re relying on them for fuel!

Option 2: Croda da Lago + Lago Federa
A circular route that hits all the alpine highlights — forest trails, ridgeline views, and a lake that looks like it belongs in a fairy tale.
→ Start from Passo Ru Curto, where there’s roadside parking
→ Loop takes 5-6 hours, with lunch at Rifugio Croda da Lago — save room for the dumplings
→ Less crowded than Sorapis, and glorious in autumn when the larches turn gold
→ Keep your camera out: this is a hike that over-delivers

Choose your own adventure
⤷ Option 1 | Stunning Lago di Sorapis Hike
⤷ Option 2 | Golden Croda da Lago Vibes

Feeling indecisive?
If you’re driving south after this, Sorapis is en route to Venice. If you’re sticking around or heading west, Croda da Lago is an easier loop to squeeze in before sunset spritzes.

Dolomites 3 Day Itinerary From Ortisei

Welcome to Ortisei, your base in the west!

Tucked into Val Gardena and surrounded by rolling ridgelines, Ortisei is the Dolomites’ charming west-side hub — a town where cable cars leave right from the village, rifugi serve dumplings with mountain views, and the post-hike spas are honestly worth the trip alone.

This is the gentler side of the mountains: less jagged chaos, more curated calm. That said — don’t mistake peaceful for boring. You’ll still be hiking ridgelines, photographing jaw-dropping views, and earning your carbs the proper way. Even better? You get to do it with a glass of local wine waiting at the bottom.

☾ My top hotel pick: Gardena Grödnerhof — central, luxe, and home to a spa that might change your entire personality.
→ Cute casual eats: Try Mauriz Keller for pizza and wine, or Tubladel for Alpine-Italian fusion done right.

Want my full Ortisei map?
Here’s my personal Google Map with trailheads, cable cars, rifugi, photo spots and local gems to help you roam confidently (and snack often).

Day 1 – Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm) Meadows + Mountain Feasting

Cue the Sound of Music soundtrack. Ease into your Dolomites weekend with rolling hills, photogenic barns, and meadows so perfect they look AI-generated. Welcome to Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm) — Europe’s largest alpine plateau and your soft-launch into this side of the mountains.

→ Ride the Ortisei – Alpe di Siusi cable car early to beat the mid-morning rush. Up top, the world opens into wide, undulating pastures backed by the iconic Sciliar and Sassolungo massifs.
→ Wander easy trails — no fixed plan required. Follow the signs toward huts like Malga Sanon, Gostner Schwaige, or Malga Contrin. Each one has good food and even better views.
→ Sit down for a proper lunch — dumplings, speck platters, Kaiserschmarrn. Order it all. You’re in the kind of setting where calories don’t count, they enhance the view.

• Save

Planning your Alpe di Siusi day?
⤷ READ | Alpe di Siusi Hiking + Transport Guide

Optional add-on: If you’re feeling like exploring a little further, e-bike rentals are available at the top cable car station in Compatsch — ideal for seeing more of the plateau without committing to a mega hike.

CAT’S TOP TIP | Golden hour is amazing for photography up here, but road restrictions can make things tricky. Your best best for sunrise is to drive to Compatsch (be sure to read my guide first!), and sunset means a roughly 4km walk back down into Ortisei from the meadow.

Day 2 – Seceda Ridgeline Glory + Aperitivo Altitude

This is your “I’m never going to emotionally recover from this” day. If Day 1 was about easing in, today is about levelling up — literally. You’re chasing razor-edge ridgelines, soft wildflower meadows, and that moment when the clouds part and the Seceda spires hit you right in the soul.

→ Catch the Ortisei–Seceda cable cars early. It’s a two-stage lift — first a gondola to Furnes, then a second cable car up to the Seceda ridge. At the top? One of the most famous views in the Dolomites, no hike required.
→ Walk the ridge trail toward the iconic jagged spires. You can do as much or as little as you like — wander the panorama loop, detour to Pieralongia for photo ops, or hike down toward Rifugio Firenze if you want to earn your lunch.
→ Sit down for something fabulous — my picks are Baita Sofie for wine-with-a-view vibes or Rifugio Troier for comfort food and crisp beer on a sunny terrace.

PHOTO TIP | This place is gorgeous at golden hour, but you’ll have to hike to get those shots or stay overnight at Rifugio Fermeda. Instead, plan to be on the first cable car up at 8:30 with side-lit peaks and fewer crowds.

Optional spa detour:
If you’ve followed my advice and stayed at Gardena Grödnerhof, head back down to Ortisei in the early afternoon, browse the boutiques, grab a spritz and hit the spa. You’ve earned it.

Planning a Seceda adventure?
⤷ ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW | Complete Guide to Seceda including How to Get there WITHOUT the Cable Cars!

• Save

Day 3 – Val di Funes Finale: Geisleralm, Church Views + Goodbye Vibes

Your final day. One last alpine mic-drop. Today’s about slowing down, soaking it all in, and letting the Dolomites mess with your emotions one last time.

→ Drive to Val di Funes — it’s about 45 minutes to Santa Maddalena from Ortisei so you can take it slow this morning and enjoy your breakfast!
→ Stop at San Giovanni in Ranui church — tiny, baroque, stupidly photogenic. It’s iconic for a reason
→ Continue to Zannes where you’ll park up and head off on the Adolf Munkel Weg trail for the highlight of the day — lunch at Geisleralm. Order the dumplings, sip a Hugo, and marvel at the Odle peaks towering over you.
→ Realise you cannot actually move in, before sadly winding your way back to the car, with a full belly and fuller heart.

Optional: Golden hour at the Panoramaweg viewpoint in Santa Maddalena
If you’ve still got daylight (and feelings left to feel), this is the place for one last scream-cry over nature’s audacity. And the light on those Odle peaks.

Travel Tips for a 3 Day Dolomites Trip

➤ When to Go
June to October is prime time — September wins for golden light and fewer crowds.

➤ How to Get There
Fly into Innsbruck for Ortisei or Cortina. Venice is perfect for Cortina only. Verona and Bolzano are solid backups for either base.

➤ Do You Need a Car?
Yes in shoulder season. Optional in peak summer if you base well and love bus timetables.

Need to hire a car? I’ve driven all over the Dolomites (solo, at altitude, with zero drama) and it’s hands-down the easiest way to make the most of your time. 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

➤ Where to Stay
→ Ortisei: wellness hotels, great walkability, dreamy views
→ Cortina: stylish stays, epic access to iconic hikes
⤷ MY PICKS | Where to Stay in the Dolomites – a curated guide

➤ What to Pack
Layers, sturdy boots, a reusable water bottle, and a camera with extra batteries. The weather changes fast, and the views don’t wait.
⤷ MY GUIDE | What to wear hiking in the Dolomites

➤ Solo Travel Friendly?
100%. I’ve done it solo and lived to tell the tale (and write the blog posts). Safe, empowering, and full of “look at me doing the fucking thing” moments.

➤ Driving Tips
Expect mountain switchbacks, occasional chaos, and breathtaking views. Rent something small but mighty, and download offline maps in advance. Parking can be a total pain at popular trailheads — do your research.
⤷ MY TOP TIPS | Driving in the Dolomites

➤ Timing Tips
If you’re taking a cable car up, and planning to ride it down, check the last lift time! Most shut by 5:30–6:00 pm, even in peak summer. No one likes a surprise 10km hike in the dark…

FAQ for a Dolomites 3 Day Itinerary

Final Thoughts: 3 Days in the Dolomites

There you have it. 3 days to start your own neverending Dolomites love story.

Whether you hiked your heart out, ate your body weight in dumplings, or just screamed “LOOK AT THAT” at regular intervals — you now understand why the Dolomites ruin people. In a good way.

And you definitely didn’t see everything. That’s fine. These mountains are an adventure you keep returning to. A feeling. A deeply scenic, slightly addictive, “wait, should I move here?” kind of feeling.

I’m still Googling those farmhouses in South Tyrol…

Did this guide ruin you for normal holidays?
Good.
Save it, pin it, send it to your therapist. Whisper “Tre Cime” into the void and see if flights magically appear in your inbox.
Still got questions? Leave a comment or slide into my DMs on Insta and I’ll do my best to sort you out!

Short on time, big on dreams? This 3-day Dolomites itinerary gives you two unforgettable options — one based around Ortisei, the other around Cortina — so you can pick your own alpine adventure.

---

If you’re planning a long weekend in the Dolomites or squeezing a few mountain days into a northern Italy trip, 3 days is enough to fall in love. And if you play your cards right, you’ll leave with legs full of lactic acid, a camera roll full of magic, and a deep, slightly irrational urge to Google “how to move to South Tyrol.”

This guide gives you two carefully curated itinerary options depending on where you base yourself:
• Cortina d’Ampezzo – for dramatic peaks and iconic lakes (ideal if you’re coming from Venice)
• Ortisei – for lush meadows, rolling ridgelines, and soft girl hiking dreams (perfect if you’re coming from Bolzano or heading toward Tuscany)

Whichever one you pick, you’ll get:
✅ Breathtaking views
✅ Delicious food + mountain huts
✅ Easy logistics with no zig-zagging across the region
✅ Time to breathe (this isn’t a forced march)

So let’s figure out your best base — and how to make 3 days feel like a whole damn adventure.

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.

---

ALL THE CONTENT

WHERE TO NEXT???
A soft call to your next destination