The Dolomites, Italy | What to know before you go.
- Aug 1, 2023
- 10 min read
Exploring the Dolomites is an experience that you'll never regret and, in fact, may want to do again and again. The only regret you might have is not staying long enough. Before planning your stops, I want you to be prepared to have the best experience possible.
If you are at the point of starting to research your travels here, you have a clear reason of why you're coming. I can't imagine you haven't seen any pictures (if that was the case, you'd get a lot from this post)...but assuming that you have, I probably don't need to tell you how beautiful this place is. Fun fact: pictures don't do it justice. Which leads me to my next point...
You probably want to see as much as you can.
You do. And I want to make sure that you can do that. I describe those plans on separate posts. But, so that you can utilize those details, you have to know some sh*t beforehand. I have put together all of the things that I was happy to know prior, what I learned there, and what I wish I knew.
Basically, my trip was easy and great (understatement) but I want yours to be even easier and phenomenal.
Let's Talk Days Needed
Italy, and just traveling in general, is expensive. If you don't consider it to be, then I am genuinely happy for you, but that ain't me. It's also tough for those in certain career fields due to restrictive rules about consecutive time off. Still, vacation, is something that should be far more prioritized...but hey, 'Merica.
We were in the Dolomites for 4 days and although do-able, we wish we could have stayed longer.
Due to fitting so many plans in such a short time, I have a pretty great way to make a lot happen if you don't have many days there. But, I definitely recommend 4 days being a minimum. The Dolomites is a place to get lost, explore the many options and routes it gives you, and feel like you're living in a painting.
There is no maximum amount of time. The longer that you want to stay, the better.
We did one trail/path per mountain and we would have liked to do more if we had additional time.
The slower that you can go in the Dolomites, the better. We all love to get *the photo* but this ends up being a place that you put the camera down and just stare for a while. You also should definitely get *the photo*.
Let's Talk *The Photo*
Don't judge me and I won't judge you about wanting to get a great photo of everywhere I went. But, in our quest to get the perfect photo, we learned a lot. If you don't care about this, skip ahead.
You can justify really wanting your great pictures by the fact that a majority of the time, you worked to get the view. But, a lot of people are willing to work to get the view and it's great to be there when those people are at a minimum. Your first thought might be to just go early as hell in the morning and you will be partially correct.
There is a seldom chance that you will be alone (don't get me wrong, it can happen). But, you will be surrounded by people who also care about getting the shot. That means that there is a good chance they are courteous and take their photo and move on so you can get yours, too. Plus, getting there earlier just means a longer day to do the most with.
Surprisingly, there were also pockets of the day where these beautiful places would seem emptier with people than early morning. For instance, some places were most empty right before sundown as the majority of visitors came for the day and have left. This ended up being the best photos as the crowds had left and the sun was no longer the brightest, so the mountains showed up better.
The best way to make sure you get what you want is to dedicate your day to that specific place. If you go just for the picture, you'll probably end up not getting it. If you are there early, during the day, and as the evening starts, you get to find those random empty pockets and take advantage. Not too mention, places look completely different at morning than night. I used to think it was just very different edits and filters, but no...We learned this because we stuck to a rule of thumb when booking our accommodations: Pick hotels closest to the area you want to explore. That allowed us to watch and learn how the crowds move and see if we preferred a certain time.
Let's Talk Hotels
Considering factors like cost, services, amenities, location...find the one that works with all of your requirements with an emphasis on location.
We stayed at Hotel Lago di Braies and Sonus Alpis.
The closer you are to your activity makes you one step ahead from the people who aren't. Sounds kind of cold when you say it like that. But, combine that with going early and you are doubling you odds for a great photo...even if you don't care about getting one. It's really just a head start to being there with less people. If being there with minimal people isn't that big of a deal to you, closeness may not be a huge factor.
Services & amenities are almost one in the same, but also not. I don't know the literal difference between the two by definition. But, to me, a service signifies a potential or known additional cost and an amenity is included in your booking cost. I like my hotel with more 'amenities' because I enjoy checking out of a hotel with a $0 incurred balance and a breakfast buffet. I do, however, like having the option to pay for room service if it's ever a wild night. You may want/need transportation services or the option to eat dinner there at night.
Both of our hotels had an included breakfast buffet and dinner restaurants. Both were amazing.
The hotel's location in the Dolomites is actually more critical than you'd think.
Dependent on where you choose to stay might grant you some additional perks. More than not, hotels within a certain distance to the parks partner with companies to give you discounts or early access to places.
As one example, Hotel Lago di Braies gave us a discount on our boat rental & Sonus Alpis provided us with a guest pass for access on the surrounding shuttles and sky lifts.
A close location also ensures that you can park your car at your hotel and leave it without having to figure out too much transportation in the middle. You'll pay for enough parking through your time here, when you don't have to, it's nice.
Let's Talk About That Car
You will definitely be parking your car because I do not recommend being in the Dolomites without having one. Unless you are an avid hiker enthusiast and you're wanting to backpack on foot and hike the entire time. But, if so, I don't think you're in the right place. The Dolomites is just better with a car and honestly, one of the easiest places to do so in Italy.
I talk all about driving in Italy on a separate post, so be sure to read that as well to know what to have prepared.
On paper, everything appears to be a longer drive than it is because your gps might be estimating the time it would take to drive up to the peak or overlook point that you'll end up at. 90% of the time, you aren't taking your car up that far so you'll want to use your parking location as your gps end point.
From those parking locations, you can take a shuttle ride to get you closer or if you want to start your journey further away, you can do so. But having a car gives you the freedom to be on your time, for the most part. Going at your pace in the Dolomites is a luxury that you want.
There is also so much to see in the Dolomites that aren't just a mountain, lake, or landmark. The towns are all unique and filled with vast farmland that invite you to bask in their beauty. It's just better to be able to go where you want to go, but sometimes let the roads take you on an unexpected path.
When it comes to those paths, there are a few things I recommend. Have your gps set to 'satellite' mode. Getting an aerial view of a route that you are already taking may end up showing you some surprise beauties along the way. Have all of your routes saved and downloaded. I don't mean just put Seceda in your directions - you should have the location of the parking lot that you are arriving to, instead. Lastly, ask your hotel staff for recommendations on what to see. Many times, they know gorgeous spots that aren't huge tourist traps.
Our hotel owner recommended driving to a castle in Austria. We did not realize it was only a one hour trip from us and we wish we made the plan to do that.
To add to the benefits of driving, having a car with you is a convenience factor in itself. It gives you the ability to leave things in there without carrying them around while you explore. It's a great idea to leave a case of water in the trunk or a change of clothes if you need them.
Let's Talk Clothes
I am not sure what vibe you are going for when you are there, but I can tell you from my first climb at Tre Cime di Lavaredo, I was glad I dressed the part.
Because the Dolomites were only part of our trip through Italy, I contemplated packing hiking boots as they would take up a larger chunk of my luggage space. I was wearing my tennis shoes through the airport, so I figured I could just wear those. But, I opted to pack the boots.
Thank God I did.
Hiking boots are important if you are exploring any of the peaks and trails here. Even if you aren't doing one of the longer or more difficult options, the terrain is a lot of gravel that makes for a slippery surface. These are critical in making sure you not only survive, but thrive.
The Dolomites is in northern Italy and because it is so much further above sea level, even in the summer months it can be chillier. This is a good place to have a lighter cover up or jacket on, but thin enough to tuck in a bookbag or around your waist when the wind isn't blowing.
The nicest outfits I saw people in were near Alpe di Suisi and Lago di Braies. These locations don't take a lot of work to get to, so it's understandable. However, both locations have areas to hike and explore, so if you want to do that, bring a change of clothes.
Let's Talk Additional Tips
There are many more things that I was happy to know prior to my trip, but so many things that I learned while there. Not all of these things fall into a category or need a whole paragraph dedicated to them. Nonetheless, here are some things I feel should be said.
Don't let the German words overwhelm you. A lot of the town and road names here have German names that are long and difficult to pronounce. Even still, it's just a name. Just use your gps and follow the same rules of the road that you are used to.
Many places here don't have AC. We stayed at two nicer hotels and neither option had AC. Opening a window provides a nice breeze, but this is a time I recommend browsing my Dolomites Essentials list as our personal fan saved our lives.
When it comes to important information, use official websites. If it's a bus, cable car, or train schedule, those are subject to change for numerous reasons. Ticket and parking costs change and road closures do happen. Take a blog recommendation or information regarding those things with a grain of salt as we can only speak to our visit.
Know your route. Don't just go somewhere based on a picture you saw. The route that leads to that picture may not be the one you take if you aren't familiar with them. I do give this information in my detailed posts.
If you ask a stranger to take your picture, be specific. I learned there's no shame in telling someone exactly what I want them to do. My asks - keep the phone vertical, do not ever zoom in, and take at least 100 from different angles. Or like a salon, show them a reference photo.
Some hotels require a minimum night stay. Our hotel, Hotel Lago di Braies, required a 3 night minimum. There were a lot of considerations taken when we decided to continue with booking there. Make sure you check these requirements during your search as it may impact your routes.
The food reflects the town. By that, I mean this is a hiking and biking town. Surrounding all of these beautiful places are a ton of options to eat, but expect food tailored to the majority. That means there are a lot of quick, easy offerings but maybe not a ton of variety or high quality meals. Not to say there aren't amazing restaurants. There are. But those are in the towns themselves, not spread across your route.
Wear a bright color if you want to stand out. Basically, don't be me or my wife. Somehow, every outfit we chose matched the surrounding scenery. We saw a guy get pictures on the peak with a red jacket on and it looked way better. Wear whatever your favorite color is that *pops*.
Download Apps that will make your life easier. As an avid Apple Maps user at home, Google Maps is my go-to for travel. Using Google Translate is also beneficial here. All Trails will help you along your hikes and DolomitiBus will help you find your rides. There may be more that tailor to specific places.
Let's Talk What's Next
So, you know the basics and it's time to plan your itinerary - the most exciting part. Good news is that I have dedicated entire posts to a lot of must sees.
Although driving around the Dolomites is a fun experience, it's always better when you know you're exploring in a way that makes sense for your time and gas. Choosing your order of events can depend just as much on convenience as it can on preference.
While you don't have to divide your travels like we did, we found that being particular about the order in which you explore makes for a better trip. That is why I have broken down your Dolomites itinerary in a way that works if you have limited days and works even better with more. Be sure to check out the location specific blogs for helpful information about places to see, stay, and the best way to do it.
Wondering what you may need to make international travel easier on your luggage? I've put together the best of travel essentials here.
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