Pastel peaks. Strudel-fuelled hikes. Mountain huts you’ll dream about forever. Whether you’ve got 3 days or 14, this is your no-bullshit, all-wow Dolomites itinerary — built for wild-hearted adventurers, and anyone who’s ever whispered “fuck it, I’m booking it” into their espresso.

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Planning a trip to the Dolomites can feel a bit like trying to pack light for a mountain holiday — gorgeous, exciting, and absolutely overwhelming. Do you chase the best hikes? Hit the photo-famous lakes? Base yourself in one place, or brave the switchbacks and sleep somewhere new each night?

This post is here to uncomplicate it all. Whether you’re looking for a quick alpine escape, a 5-day hit of scenic glory, or the kind of 2-week itinerary that makes you question why you ever liked cities, use this guide to make every day in the Dolomites feel like the adventure you deserve.

So if you’re searching for the best Dolomites itinerary, whether that’s a 3-day trip, a flexible road trip, or a full-blown slow-travel immersion, you’re in the right place. This is the exact guide I wish I’d had when I first started mapping out my own chaotic, magical adventure through the Italian Alps.

We’ll walk through where to base yourself, how to get around, what to see, and — most importantly — how to build a route that leaves room for wine, wonder, and watching the sun drop behind a ridge while you cry into your polenta. With joy.

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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When to Visit the Dolomites

The Dolomites are at their dazzling best between June and October — what kind of trip you’ll have depends entirely on when you go. Think wildflowers and long hiking days in July, golden larches and cool mornings in late autumn, and everything in between.

Here’s a very quick guide to help you plan:

✔️ June to mid-July → Early summer magic, fewer crowds, wildflowers starting to bloom
✔️ Late July to August → Peak season for weather and humans — book early and bring your crowd tolerance
✔️ September → The holy grail: stable weather, fewer tourists, still fully open
✔️ October → Larch season, quiet trails, but shoulder-season unpredictability as cable cars, rifugi and trails start to close

✖️ November to May → Not ideal for hiking or road trips. Most trails, lifts, and rifugi are closed, and snow lingers well into spring. Unless you’re here to ski, this is the Dolomites in hibernation mode.

Each month has its pros, cons, and personality — and if you’re torn between wildflowers and autumn colour, I totally get it.

Just wondering when the hell everything actually opens?
⤷ I’ve broken it all down in my Best Time to Visit the Dolomites guide

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Where to Base Yourself for a Dolomites Itinerary

Trying to pick the perfect Dolomites base town is like swiping through dating profiles for mountain villages — they’re all beautiful, mildly confusing, and come with their own pros, cons, and altitude issues.

Some are best for hiking. Some are best for road-tripping. And some are great if you want to wake up to alpine views without hearing cowbells at 6am. The good news? Unlike those dating matches, there’s no “one” perfect option — just the perfect match for your kind of trip.

Here’s a quick overview of the main towns and what they’re great for:

Cortina d’Ampezzo

Perfect for: Day trips to Tre Cime and Cadini di Misurina, Lago di Sorapis and Croda da Lago
Vibe: Alpine glam meets mountain grit — think espresso bars + epic hikes
Best for: 3–5 day trips, east-side hikes, October larch hunters

Ortisei (Val Gardena)

Perfect for: Alpe di Siusi, Seceda, and photogenic cable car rides
Vibe: Cute, walkable, and good restaurants — a crowd favourite
Best for: First-timers, hikers, soft girls in their summit era

Corvara (Alta Badia)

Perfect for: Road trips, mountain passes, and quieter hiking trails
Vibe: Slow mornings, quiet trails, mountain luxury without the attitude
Best for: 7+ day trips, scenic drives, luxe-but-lowkey travellers

Dobbiaco / San Candido

Perfect for: Quick access to Tre Cime, Lago di Braies, and Austria
Vibe: Smaller, sleepier, great for sunrise missions
Best for: Photographers, early risers, people who say “I just want nature”

Bolzano

Perfect for: Starting or ending your trip with wine, castles, and pizza
Vibe: City energy with alpine edge
Best for: Pre/post-trip base, especially if you’re flying in/out of Verona or Innsbruck

Want help choosing a base town that fits your travel style?
⤷ I’ve reviewed the best towns (and the dreamiest hotels) in my Where to Stay in the Dolomites guide.

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How to Get to the Dolomites (and How to Get Around)

The Dolomites don’t exactly make your life easy when it comes to getting there. There’s no major international airport in the middle of the mountains — although honestly, that’s part of the charm. You’ve got to earn it a little. Like all good love affairs.

Flying In

The best airports for most Dolomites itineraries are:

➔ Venice (Marco Polo) – best for Cortina and the east
➔ Innsbruck – good all-rounder
➔ Verona – handy for Val Gardena and Alta Badia

✔️ All three are within 2.5–3.5 hours’ drive of most Dolomites base towns.

TOP TIP | You’ll want to check where your itinerary begins and ends before picking an airport. Example: flying into Venice and out of Verona works great for an east-to-west road trip.

Getting Around

If you want freedom, flexibility, and the ability to stop every time the light hits the peaks just right, you’re absolutely going to want a rental car.

➔ Roads are safe and well-maintained
➔ Parking is easy in most towns (though some hotels charge overnight)
➔ You’ll thank yourself when you don’t have to schedule your whole trip around buses

TOP TIP | If you’re planning a Dolomites itinerary as part of a longer trip, you can rent a car from Bolzano, saving yourself one-way transfer fees.

If driving in a foreign country makes you break out in hives: yes, it’s possible to explore the Dolomites by public transport — but it’s much slower, especially if you want to hit multiple areas in one trip. Perfectly doable if you’re sticking to one base and doing day hikes or taking local buses, though.

Need help planning your transport route?
⤷ My How to Get to the Dolomites guide breaks down all the options with maps, driving tips, and public transport info.

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Choose Your Dolomites Itinerary

You don’t need a military-grade spreadsheet or 47 open tabs to plan the perfect Dolomites trip — you just need the right base towns, a solid loop, and a little room for magic.

Whether you’ve got a long weekend or two full weeks, here’s how to turn your mountain cravings into a realistic, ridiculously scenic plan. Pick the number of days that fits your life (and your annual leave), and I’ll show you what to do with them.

Want more freedom or just extra ideas?
⤷ Build Your Own Dolomites Road Trip with my detailed guide

Each sub-section includes a teaser, map snippet, and CTA link to full post.

➤ 3-Day Dolomites Itinerary (Short but Epic)

Short on time, big on vibes. This route focuses on one home base and maximises your “holy shit” views with minimal driving.

→ Base yourself in Ortisei or Cortina
→ Perfect for: Seceda, Alpe di Siusi, Tre Cime or Lago di Sorapis
→ Best for: hikers, soft adventurers, and road-trippers on a tight schedule

Planning a long weekend?
⤷ I’ve got 2 options for you | Dolomites 3 Day Itinerary from Cortina or Ortisei

➤ 5-Day Dolomites Itinerary (Classic Highlights)

The Goldilocks itinerary. Enough time to see the best bits without burning out or booking six hotels. This is basically the smart person’s Dolomites sampler – a sublime intro to both east and west sides of the Dolomites

→ Split your time between Cortina and Val Gardena
→ Perfect for: epic hikes, scenic drives, and proper aperitivo stops
→ Best for: first-timers, hikers, and those with a few more days off

Got 5 days in the Dolomites?
⤷ Here’s my Dolomites Itinerary for 5 Days

➤ 7-Day Dolomites Itinerary (More Time, More Magic)

A week in the Dolomites is the sweet spot for hikers, photographers, and anyone who wants to actually breathe between cable cars.

→ Loop from Cortina to Val Gardena via Alta Badia and Passo Gardena
→ Perfect for: Cadini, Seceda, Tre Cime, Alpe di Siusi, and more
→ Best for: combining iconic hikes with a few slow mornings

Got a week and grand ideas?
⤷ I can help you plan it | My 7-Day Dolomites Itinerary that hits the highlights

➤ 10 to 14-Day Dolomites Itinerary (The Dream Trip)

The perfect Dolomites visit for anyone with the time. Go deep, go wide, and add those slower, off-the-map places that never make the highlight reels.

→ Start east (Cortina), swing west through Alta Badia, Val Gardena, and beyond
→ Perfect for: multi-day hikes, long rifugio lunches, quieter valleys and hidden gems
→ Best for: road-trippers, serious hikers, photographers, and people who want it all

Want to create your own version?
⤷ Build Your Own Dolomites Road Trip — customise your route with map highlights and suggested stops.

Coming soon: Read the 10 to 14-day itinerary

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Add-Ons + Detours (For the Curious and the Bold)

Some days in the Dolomites are for hiking mountains. Others are for eating speck, sipping wine, and accidentally ending up in Austria. If you’ve got time to spare (or an appetite for unexpected magic), here are some experiences that go beyond the guidebook and deeper into the soul of the Dolomites:

➤ Madonna della Corona – A cliffside church that looks like it was carved by devotion itself. Haunting. Unforgettable. Worth the detour.
➤ Olpererhütte & the Suspension Bridge – Technically in Austria, but close enough to tempt. One of the most dramatic hikes you’ll ever take.
➤ Your first via ferrata – Clipped in, slightly terrified, completely alive. There’s no better place to try it.
➤ A multi-day hut-to-hut hike – When one day isn’t enough, and you want the stars, the silence, and a rifugio bed at the end of it all.
➤ Paragliding over Seceda – For the moment when standing still just won’t cut it anymore.
➤ Val di Funes – A real-life postcard with perfect views of the Odle peaks. Go for golden hour, stay for the cheese.
➤ South Tyrol Wine Road – A dreamy detour through vineyards, hilltop castles, and lazy lunches.
➤ Lunch at a rifugio with a view – Because sometimes your best memories aren’t hikes — they’re pasta on a mountain terrace.
➤ Spa afternoon in Alta Badia – Detox before your next trail. Or don’t — you’re on holiday.

Want more ideas?
⤷ I’ve rounded up the best unexpected and essential experiences in my Things to Do in the Dolomites guide

Dolomites Itinerary FAQs

Final Thoughts on Planning Your Dolomites Itinerary

The Dolomites aren’t really a checklist destination — they’re a choose-your-own-adventure. Whether you’re here for the summit views, the slow mornings, or the wine-soaked lunches that accidentally last four hours, this region gives back exactly what you ask of it.

So, however many days you have, plan boldly, leave room for detours, and don’t be afraid to change the plan if the light looks better somewhere else.

Because in the Dolomites? The real magic always happens when you miss the turnoff.

Cat x

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