Travel Guide: The Dolomites

ITALY

The Dolomites are a place where dramatic peaks meet an unexpectedly refined way of life. Where jagged limestone cliffs rise above emerald meadows, alpine traditions meet modern Italian sensibility, and a day of wild adventure can end around a beautifully set table. I came for the hiking but stayed for the flavors: mountain-grown, deeply rooted, and often delightfully unexpected.

In summer, the region comes alive with winding trails, flower-filled pastures, rifugio lunches, and long evenings spent lingering over local wines and alpine-inspired cuisine. Here, a morning might begin with a sunrise hike beneath towering peaks and end with speck, handmade pasta, and a glass of Alto Adige wine. It’s a place where nature is the main event, but the food - and the culture surrounding it - makes you want to stay for dinner.

Can’t Miss

• Plan a day hike around Tre Cime di Lavaredo

• Ride a cable car to aperitivo at Seceda

• Treat yourself to a Michelin meal at SanBrite

• Visit the start of the Alta Via 1 at Lago di Braies

• Drive through the scenic views on the Gardena Pass

• Relax in the Finnish sauna at Rifugio Lagazuoi

• Picnic in the alpine meadow at Alpe di Suisi

72-Hour Dolomites Itinerary

Like a perfect three-course meal — each day is a journey of flavor, culture and adventure.

DAY 1 – CORTINA D’AMPREZZO

Morning

• Check into Hotel de la Poste

• Strudel & cappuccino at Bar Dolomiti

• Drive to Lago di Braies

Afternoon

• Lunch at Hotel Lago di Braies

• Rent a rowboat and explore the alpine lake

• Drive back to Cortina

• Optional: Massage at Rosapetra Spa Resort

Evening

• Michelin-starred, locally sourced dinner at SanBrite

• Cocktails & vinyl at Lanterna (inside the Ambra Hotel)

DAY 2 – TRE CIME & LAGAZUOI

Morning

• Check-out & breakfast at hotel

• Drive to Tre Cime di Lavaredo

• Enjoy a moderate hike to Rifugio Locatelli

Afternoon

• Lunch at Rifugio Locatelli

• Optional: Hike to Cadini di Misurina viewpoint

• Drive & cable car to Rifugio Lagazuoi

Evening

• Check into Rifugio Lagazuoi

• Enjoy the Finnish sauna(note: closes for overnight guests at 6:30pm)

• Dinner at Rifugio Lagazuoi

DAY 3 – VAL GARDENA

Morning

• Checkout & early breakfast at rifugio

• Drive to Ortisei via the scenic Gardena Pass

• Take the cable cars up to Seceda & hike around

Afternoon

• Lunch & spritzes at Baita Sofie Hütte

• Drive to Alpe di Siusi & relax in the alpine meadow

Evening

• Check into Mea Via Slow Farm Hotel

• Dinner at Mea Via Slow Farm Hotel

The Travel Edit

• Eats & Sips

  • Hotel Lago di Braies - A historic hotel set directly on the shores of the iconic Lago di Braies, with several dining options serving regional, seasonal fare. Come as much for the views as the food.

  • SanBrite - Chef Riccardo Gaspari’s Michelin-starred restaurant just outside Cortina, where modern technique meets deeply rooted Alpine cooking and ingredients from the family farm.

  • Mea Via Slow Farm Hotel - A working farm and hotel where much of the cooking centers around ingredients grown and produced on-site. Expect thoughtful, seasonal food rooted in South Tyrolean traditions.

  • Rifugio Scotini - One of the Dolomites’ most beloved mountain huts, famous for its open-fire grilling and hearty Alpine cooking. The mixed grill is the move, especially enjoyed on the sunny terrace.

  • Rifugio Vazzoler - If you’re hiking the Alta Via 1, make a point of stopping at Vazzoler for a meal. Tucked beneath the Civetta, it’s a cozy, welcoming rifugio with a beautiful terrace and some of the most memorable food you’ll find along the trail.

  • Lanterna by Zelda - A stylish cocktail and listening bar in Cortina that brings a little cosmopolitan energy to the mountains. Ideal for aperitivo, drinks, and a late-night change of scenery.

  • Janbo Disco Pub - A late-night spot for cocktails, DJs, and dancing. Less about the food and more about keeping the night going.

  • Bar Dolomiti - One of Cortina’s oldest bars, with more than a century of history and a charming atmosphere. Stop in for coffee, an aperitivo, or a glass of wine in the cozy tavern or on the terrace.

  • Baita Sofie Hütte - Perched at 2,410 meters on Seceda, Baita Sofie pairs spectacular panoramic views with excellent South Tyrolean cooking and an unusually impressive wine cellar. The cozy interiors and sunny terrace make it an ideal spot to linger over lunch or an aperitivo after exploring Seceda.

• Activities

  • Tre Cime di Lavaredo - One of the Dolomites’ quintessential hikes, the loop around the Three Peaks offers spectacular views of the region’s iconic limestone formations. Go early to beat the crowds and experience the mountains at their most dramatic.

  • Cadini di Misurina - A shorter, more dramatic hike with one of the Dolomites’ most spectacular viewpoints, overlooking the jagged Cadini peaks. It’s particularly beautiful in the early morning when the light hits the mountains.

  • Seceda - Take the cable car up from Ortisei and hike along the famous Seceda ridgeline, where the distinctive Odle peaks rise above rolling alpine meadows. Leave time to wander the surrounding trails and stop at one of the mountain huts.

  • Alpe di Suisi - Europe’s largest high-altitude alpine meadow is made for leisurely hiking, with expansive views, wildflowers, grazing cows, and plenty of mountain huts along the way. This is the place to slow down and enjoy the landscape rather than chase a summit.

  • Gardena Pass - Drive or cycle the spectacular Passo Gardena, stopping along the way for panoramic views of the Sella and Sassolungo groups. It’s also a great starting point for hikes and mountain-hut lunches.

  • Lago di Braies - Arrive early to walk the easy trail around this impossibly photogenic turquoise lake, surrounded by towering peaks. For the best experience, go at sunrise before the day-trippers arrive.

  • Alta Via 1 - For serious hikers, the Alta Via 1 is the ultimate way to experience the Dolomites: a multi-day trek linking dramatic peaks, alpine meadows, and some of the region’s best rifugi. Even if you don’t hike the entire route, consider doing a section for a taste of the experience.

  • Cinque Torri - One of the best additions to your list, especially if you’re staying in Cortina. Hike among the distinctive five towers while exploring remarkably well-preserved WWI trenches and tunnels - the area is essentially an open-air museum set in an extraordinary landscape.

• Wellness

  • ADLER Spa Resort DOLOMITI - A full-service wellness retreat in the heart of Ortisei, with an expansive spa, multiple pools, saunas, and direct access to the Seceda and Alpe di Siusi lifts. It’s an ideal place to pair active hiking days with serious relaxation.

  • FORESTIS - A serene, design-forward retreat tucked into the forest above Bressanone, where wellness is deeply connected to nature. Come for the panoramic spa, peaceful setting, and sweeping views of the Dolomites.

  • QC Terme Dolomiti - A sprawling thermal spa in Val di Fassa with panoramic pools, saunas, steam rooms, and treatments, all built around the area's natural thermal water. Stay for the evening aperitivo in your robe, which is part of the fun.

  • Bad Moos Aqua Spa Resort - Set at the entrance to the Tre Cime Nature Park, this wellness resort makes a particularly good pairing with hiking around the Three Peaks. Its extensive spa and thermal facilities are ideal for recovering after a long day on the trails.

  • Rifugio Lagazuoi - For something uniquely Dolomites, book the sauna at this mountain refuge perched high above Cortina. Sweating in a tiny mountain sauna while looking out over the surrounding peaks is hard to beat.

  • Rosapetra SPA Resort - A stylish, intimate spa resort just outside Cortina with pools, saunas, treatments, and a quiet setting away from the center of town. A great choice for a more luxurious recovery day after hiking.

• Accommodations

  • Hotel Lago di Braies - The ultimate location play: wake up directly on the shores of Lago di Braies and have the lake nearly to yourself before the day-trippers arrive. The historic property is worth choosing for its setting and easy access to an early-morning walk around the lake.

  • Mea Via Slow Farm Hotel - A small, design-minded farm stay where food, nature, and sustainability are central to the experience. Stay here for a slower, more intimate side of the Dolomites, with the added bonus of excellent farm-to-table cooking.

  • Hotel de la Poste - A Cortina institution dating back to 1804, with old-world Alpine character, a central location, and plenty of history woven into its rooms and public spaces. This is the pick if you want to experience Cortina at its most classic.

  • Rifugio Lagazuoi - For a truly memorable night, sleep at 2,752 meters atop Monte Lagazuoi, surrounded by some of the Dolomites' most dramatic peaks. The refuge combines rustic mountain-hut charm with an incredible panoramic terrace, excellent food, and a high-altitude sauna.

  • FORESTIS - A serene, design-forward retreat tucked into the forest above Bressanone, with sweeping views of the Dolomites, an exceptional spa, and a deeply nature-driven approach to food and wellness. This is the splurge for when you want the mountains to be the whole point.

  • Hotel de LEN - A contemporary boutique hotel in the heart of Cortina that blends modern design, local materials, and Alpine traditions. A great alternative to De la Poste if you prefer something more polished and contemporary.

  • ADLER Spa Resort DOLOMITI - A well-rounded base in the center of Ortisei, with easy access to both the Seceda and Alpe di Siusi lifts and a substantial wellness program. Ideal if you want to combine serious hiking days with a proper spa experience.

“Here, a morning might begin with a sunrise hike beneath towering peaks and end with speck, handmade pasta, and a glass of Alto Adige wine.”