How To Plan An Epic Trip To The Dolomites Of Italy

Yes, we’ve all seen that beautiful glassy lake with the wooden boats and towering mountains in the Dolomites of Italy. But the real question is, how do you get yourself there ASAP??

The Dolomites have been popping up a lot lately online as it’s been a growing and popular tourist location for mountain lovers in Italy.

However, coming from the PNW, it’s a daunting task to figure out how to get yourself up in the Dolomites of Italy, let alone all the logistics that come with a European adventure like this.

In this post, we’re here to give you clarity on how you can plan your own Dolomites road trip and everything to see along the way.

You’ve probably seen on our Instagram posts and stories that Berty and I went to the Dolomites in Northern Italy at the end of December. It was the last stop on our Euro trip, after spending Christmas time in London and Prague.

We learned a lot from our time in Italy, and we’re here to share our Dolomites travel guide to make planning your trip a lot easier!

This is an all-inclusive, meaty blog post with lots of information. Make sure to save this post to read later, or subscribe to our email list so you can be reminded to come back and read it when you’re ready to plan your trip to the Dolomites!

Pin these for more inspiration for the Dolomites in Italy!

How To Plan A Trip To The Dolomites

Thank you Alta Badia Tourism and Visit South Tyrol for hosting us during our stay. We are SO grateful for your generous hospitality! As always, all opinions are our own and we talk about our own real experiences in Italy!

1. Get To Know The Dolomites In Italy

You know you want to plan a Northern Italy trip, but where exactly is this place and why is it so special?

The Dolomites were established as a world heritage site as of 2009. What makes a place qualify for this status? Here are just some of the UNESCO qualifications:

  • “containing superlative natural phenomena or areas of exceptional natural beauty / aesthetic importance” (vii)
  • “to be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes” (ix)
  • “to be outstanding examples representing major stages of earth’s history” (viii)

The Dolomite mountain area consists of 9 mountain ranges (see picture below) that cover 142,000 hectares, and have 4 official languages spoken among the area (Italian, German, Ladin, and Friulan).

The Dolomites are often referred to as the most beautiful mountain landscapes on earth which include features like towers, spires, pinnacles, and contrasting landscapes.

Some areas of the Dolomites in Italy have standalone stars of the show like Tre Cime di Lavaredo or Drei Zinnen, and others have sweeping panoramas.

Convinced yet? Read on to learn how to plan a trip to Northern Italy!

Plan the ultimate trip to Northern Italy and explore the Dolomites! TheMandagies.com
Plan the ultimate trip to Northern Italy and explore the Dolomites! TheMandagies.com

 

2. Book Tickets To Northern Italy

There are many ways to get to the Dolomites in Italy.

The easiest way would be to fly into nearby cities in Europe (like Venice, Zurich, or Munich) and then driving into the Dolomites by car.

There are lots of airports to choose from, it all depends on the route you want to take. Here are some drive times to the Dolomites to give you a good idea of where you can fly into:

  • Munich (Germany) International Airport: 3 Hours 45 minutes
  • Malpensa Airport (Milan, Italy) 5 hours
  • Marco Polo (Venice, Italy) International Airport: 3 hours
  • Bolzano Airport: 1 hour 40 minutes

You can also choose to fly into a cheaper (but farther) airport and spend a few days on an Italian road trip! Just make sure to obtain an International Driver’s Permit to cross borders and keep yourself safe. If you find yourself traveling through multiple European countries, it’s best to find out how to get an international driver’s permit, so you can be safe and legal on the roads.

Really, permits are only $25 for a whole year for driving anywhere in the world, so it should be an essential purchase!

When Should You Visit The Dolomites in Italy?

Depending on what activities you prefer, there are ideal seasons to visit the Dolomites. Here are some suggestions to narrow down your search…

  • Winter – Come to the Dolomites in Italy during this time for epic snow sports. Skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, ice skating – they have it all.
  • Spring – We were told by many locals that spring didn’t exist for some reason. Check out this weather chart to see what the temperature may be like for the month you want to visit. Be prepared for winter conditions!
  • Summer –  Perfect weather for outdoor activities like horseback riding, golfing, hiking and biking. This is also a great time to see wildflowers in the valleys.
  • Fall – The ideal time for a road trip in the Dolomites. Mild weather and shorter days make it easier to capture sunrises and sunsets on the amazing peaks.

Read More: Genius Tips On How To Conquer Jet Lag
Read More: 7 Tips For Surviving The Airport During The Holidays

Plan the ultimate trip to Northern Italy and explore the Dolomites! TheMandagies.com

 

3. Find The Best Place To Stay In The Dolomites

The Dolomites are a popular area for tourists, snow sports enthusiasts, and outdoor lovers.

That being said, there is no shortage of beautiful places to stay in the Dolomites. Typical houses in this area of the Italian Alps are double farmhouses (one side for living one side for farming), ski chalets, and stone houses with large wooden frames.

Here are some places to stay in the Dolomites from a range of price points:

Also, if it’s your first time booking with Airbnb, click here to get $40 off your first reservation!

Plan the ultimate trip to Northern Italy and explore the Dolomites! TheMandagies.com
Plan the ultimate trip to Northern Italy and explore the Dolomites! TheMandagies.com
Plan the ultimate trip to Northern Italy and explore the Dolomites! TheMandagies.com

 

4. Getting Around (Driving In The Dolomites Italy)

If you are interested in exploring the Dolomites in Italy, you will most definitely need transportation. We suggest renting a car in Italy, to give you the most flexibility and access around the area!

Many of the attractions of the Dolomites themselves are far away from one another, and relying on a bus or taxi to take you around could be expensive and time-consuming.

On our trip to the Italian Dolomites, we went with Sixt which was located in Venice Marco Polo Airport.

We would recommend researching the airport you are planning to fly into and see which rental companies are provided at your location. Reserve a car for driving in the Dolomites in advance (make sure it’s four-wheel-drive!) and you will be good to go.

Read More: 30 Necessary Road Trip Essentials You Need To Pack

Plan the ultimate trip to Northern Italy and explore the Dolomites! TheMandagies.com

 

5. Map Out The Places To See In The Dolomites

Attractions in the Dolomites in Italy are surprisingly far away from each other. From Bolzano to Valle di Anterselva, there is so much to see across this area of South Tyrol!

Note: When Google maps may say to expect a 1-hour drive, they don’t take into consideration road conditions, traffic, and the twists/turns in the mountain passes and valleys.

When planning out your days, give yourself a lot of extra time for those unexpected delays and extra time to pull over for photos too. This is especially true driving in the Dolomites in winter. Check road closures, alternative routes, and give yourself extra time.

Here’s a trick we use at all our destinations in the Dolomites (and you can find more tricks on our road trip planning post!): Use the “save” feature on Google Maps.

Whenever we discover a new place we want to see, I’ll quickly look it up on google and “star” the location on my map. This way, when we are planning out our driving route, we will know where locations are along the way.

Read More: Tools To Make Road Trip Planning 1000x Easier

Plan the ultimate trip to Northern Italy and explore the Dolomites! TheMandagies.com (Map of the Dolomite Mountains)

Some popular spots to visit in the Dolomites:

We also suggest that you make your own Dolomites road trip route, and then consult a local for them to suggest a better one.

They know the roads better than you do! Our friends made tons of suggestions that actually saved us hours of driving!

Read More: 8 Steps For Planning A Flawless Weekend Trip

Plan the ultimate trip to Northern Italy and explore the Dolomites! TheMandagies.com
Plan the ultimate trip to Northern Italy and explore the Dolomites! TheMandagies.com

6. Get Local Food Recommendations

Many of the dishes on the Dolomites of Italy are from the Ladin culture – North Italians or communities who have lived in the Dolomites for centuries.

The food has roots in farm culture, where you used things available to you and got creative with minimal ingredients. From local cuisine to traditional Italian appetizers, here are some things you should try in the Dolomites:

  • Turtres – spinach and ricotta stuffed tortellini
  • Cajinci – ravioli filled with sharp Graukäse cheese
  • Barley soup and venison fillet
  • You can find more food examples from this Ladin cuisine PDF by Alta Badia Tourism.

In addition to the local cuisine, many restaurants serve Italian favorites like pasta, pizza, and of course, wine.

We also discovered the wonderful experience of taking an Aperitivo. In short, this pre-meal is designed to prepare your stomach for the next meal. You will usually be served with wine, cheeses, meats, and bread.

It’s a fun way to chat with friends, tide your stomach over until the next meal, and nibble on snacks in a cozy setting.

Plan the ultimate trip to Northern Italy and explore the Dolomites! TheMandagies.com
Plan the ultimate trip to Northern Italy and explore the Dolomites! TheMandagies.com

 

7. The Perfect Packing List For the Dolomites In Italy

Remember that no matter what time of year you visit, you are going to the mountains and it still gets very cold at night!

Pack on the warmer side.

Berty and I visited in the winter and we were really happy we brought these gloves – they let us handle our cameras in the freezing cold without an issue!

We also got lots of use out of our beanies, scarves, and cozy winter coats, which was a huge help in the blizzard-like conditions on our snowshoeing adventure.

We definitely recommend checking the weather before you go! This will help you get an idea of what to expect, and to help you pack accordingly.

For more list and ideas for packing, here are some posts we’ve created that will help you out:

  1. 30 Essentials For Carry-On Only Travel
  2. 6 Winter Coats and Jackets To Wear This Season
  3. 20 Favorite Carry-On Bags For Travelers
  4. 40 Essentials For Every Winter Travel Packing List

That’s all we’ve got! We are sharing tips and tricks based off of our own short experience here in the Dolomites.

Thanks for reading along and we hope that you can find use out of it when you plan your own trip. Let us know if we should add anything to this list – our ears are open to hearing from North Italian lovers, locals, and fellow adventurers.

Have you ever been to the Dolomites in Italy? What advice might you have for someone who is traveling there for the first time? Let us know in the comments!

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Plan the ultimate trip to Northern Italy and explore the Dolomites! Pin TheMandagies.com