Beyond the OverlookThe Dolomites
Build the trip around the hikes, stay close to them, and leave time to enjoy the hotel afterward. That combination is what makes the Dolomites one of our favorite mountain trips.
Firsthand guide · How we review our guides
What we would prioritize
Come for real hiking with a comfortable place to return to. The Dolomites pair dramatic peaks, alpine lakes and mountain huts with hotels where a spa and dinner can be part of the day. We would give the region several days rather than trying to collect the famous viewpoints in one rushed visit.
- West: prioritize Seceda via Col Raiser and Sassolungo. Puez is the hike we would cut first if time is short.
- East: make time for Tre Cime. Sorapis earns the effort if you are comfortable with a narrow, exposed trail; Cadini is an optional add-on for hikers comfortable with heights.
- For an easier scenic stop: Lago di Braies gives you a big payoff without a demanding hike.
Use two bases if you want to explore both sides
Our biggest planning recommendation is to sleep close to the hikes you want to do. Mountain roads make distances take longer than they look on a map. For a trip covering west and east, we would change hotels rather than commute across the mountains every day.
Ortisei or Val Gardena: our western choice for Seceda, Sassolungo and Puez. San Candido: our eastern base for the second half of the trip, including Tre Cime, Cadini, Lago di Braies and the Sesto Dolomites. Choose the location around your exact hiking plan.
We recommend a car for early starts and the base change, using lifts, local buses and bike paths where they suit the day. For a shorter visit, focus on one side rather than forcing both into the schedule.
Choose your hikes
Western Dolomites: our two priorities
Seceda via Col Raiser turns the famous view into a fuller hiking day. Sassolungo is the longer commitment, with enough changing scenery to make the effort worthwhile.
Seceda via Col Raiser
A better way to turn the famous viewpoint into a real hiking day.
Sassolungo Loop
Hard, long and one of our favorite hikes.
Rifugio Puez: add it if you have time →
A hard climb and great strudel, but we would put Seceda and Sassolungo ahead of it on a shorter trip.
Eastern Dolomites: match the hike to your comfort level
Tre Cime rewarded our early start. Sorapis was magnificent, but the narrow two-way trail was a bigger consideration than the lake photos suggest.
Tre Cime
Why we started at 6:30 and went counterclockwise.
Lago di Sorapis
The lake is magnificent; the narrow two-way trail is the challenge.
Cadini di Misurina: optional, especially if heights bother you →
The short distance undersells the exposure. We loved the view, but it felt much scarier than expected. Tre Cime gives you plenty of scenery without making this add-on compulsory.
Leave room for an easier stop
Our recommendations here come from the places we visited. Adolf Munkel and Cinque Torri were on our plan but remain unvisited.
Choose hotels for the location and the evening
In the Dolomites, we would give the hotel more weight than on a trip where it is only a place to sleep. Our favorite rhythm was a substantial hike followed by spa time and dinner without another outing to organize.
Alpin Garden was our smaller boutique choice in the west, with excellent half board and service. Naturhotel Leitlhof was our eastern choice in San Candido, with a substantial spa, pool and bike access. Pick the base first, then decide which hotel experience is worth the cost to you.
Alpin Garden
Our boutique pick: intimate, excellent half board and great service.
Naturhotel Leitlhof
Our east-side pick for Tre Cime, Cadini and Lago di Braies, with bike access, a serious spa and San Candido below the hotel.
Put the hikes and hotel bases together in our 5-day itinerary →