There are so many beautiful hikes in the Dolomites that planning a trip can feel a little overwhelming. When I started planning our trip, my social media feed started getting full of "must see" and "hikes you have to do!" when you're in the Dolomites. I saved so many of those, but quickly found that some of the best hikes we did weren't ones anyone was talking about. And the ones they were talking about needed some revisions to make them feel less like a Disneyland trail.
After spending time hiking through the Dolomites, we came away with some new ways of thinking about what the best hikes were.
I don't necessarily want to do the longest hike or check the most famous trail off a list. I want a hike with incredible scenery, a trail that feels like an experience, and enough time to actually enjoy where I am. Sometimes that means hiking for several hours. Sometimes it means taking a cable car, walking for an hour or two and stopping at a rifugio for lunch.
And sometimes the best "hike" isn't really a hike at all.
If you're planning a Dolomites trip and wondering which hikes and outdoor experiences are actually worth putting on your itinerary, here are the ones I'd do again...and a few tips that made hiking in the Dolomites much easier.
The Best Hikes in the Dolomites: What I'd Actually Do Again
How to Choose the Best Hikes in the Dolomites
Before I get into specific hikes, here's something I wish more people understood about hiking in the Dolomites.
Many of the hikes you see have lots of different routes to get to them.
There are trails everywhere.
You can combine sections of different trails, use a cable car or funicular to eliminate a big elevation gain, stop at a rifugio when you come across one, and then continue in another direction.
In fact, some of our favorite days were the ones where we didn't follow a single trail from beginning to end. We essentially looked at the map, figured out where we wanted to go, and created our own hiking day.
That flexibility is one of the things I loved most about hiking in the Dolomites. And one thing I don't think people talk about enough.
Get a Good Trail Map
Before heading out, get a trail map for the specific area you're visiting. All of the towns we visited had guest information centers with incredibly detailed trail maps. Don't rely exclusively on Google Maps or AllTrails, though both can be helpful.
A good hiking map will show you much more than roads and basic walking paths. You'll be able to see trails, elevation, rifugios, lifts and alternative routes.
I also recommend downloading maps for offline use before you head into the mountains. Cell service can be inconsistent, and you don't want to find yourself standing at a trail junction wondering which direction you're supposed to go.
Don't Be Afraid to Create Your Own Hike
This was one of my biggest takeaways from hiking in the Dolomites.
You might see a popular five hour hike online, but that doesn't mean you have to do the entire thing. Maybe you take a lift up, hike for an hour, stop for lunch, and hike back.
Maybe you connect two trails and go down a different way than you came up. Maybe you hike to a rifugio and decide that the view from there is exactly what you came for.
The Dolomites make this particularly easy because of the extensive network of cable cars, chairlifts and funiculars.
You can make your hiking day as ambitious or as relaxed as you want.
So here are the hikes in the Dolomites that I'd do again and I'd recommend for your visit.
Best Iconic Hike: Tre Cime
If you've seen photos of the Dolomites, you've probably seen Tre Cime. The three distinctive peaks of Tre Cime di Lavaredo are probably one of the most recognizable landscapes in the entire region, and hiking around them is one of those experiences that lives up to the hype.
The classic Tre Cime loop is roughly 10 kilometers, or about 6 miles, depending on the exact route you take.
What I loved about this hike is that the scenery keeps changing.
You aren't walking toward one viewpoint and then turning around. As you move around the three peaks, you get different perspectives of the mountains, valleys and surrounding landscape.
There are also opportunities to stop at rifugios along the way, which makes this feel much more like a mountain experience than simply checking off a trail.
One Very Important Tre Cime Tip
Pay attention to the current restrictions!
If you plan to drive to the Tre Cime trailhead, you need to understand the current parking reservation system before your trip. The road to the trailhead is controlled, and parking availability isn't something I'd leave to chance.
I wrote an entire guide about how to reserve parking for Tre Cime and what you need to know before driving up, because this is one of those logistical details that can make or break your day.
And if you don't get a parking reservation, don't assume your Tre Cime hiking day is over. There are other ways to access the area and plenty of other beautiful hikes in the Dolomites that don't require the same parking logistics.
If Tre Cime is on your list, don't miss this post!
Best Lake Hike: Lago di Braies
If you're looking for that classic turquoise Dolomites lake photo, you're probably going to have Lago di Braies on your list.
But here's the trick:
Go early. Really early.
We visited Lago di Braies at sunrise, and it completely changed the experience. Like all things in the Dolomites, in an effort to control the amount of people visiting a location, they have put restrictions on the access road leading up to the lake. There is a fee to drive the road between the hours of 9-4 during the peak summer hours. You can arrive before 9 without needing a transit permit, but you do still need to pay for parking.
Pro tip: The parking price fluctuates based on time and day you visit. There are 4 parking lots, P4 is the closest parking lot to the lake. It costs the most. P3 is the next closest and about half the price for parking as P4. P3 and P4 are literally right next to one another and basically share a fence line. If you want close parking, there's no reason to pay extra for P4. Trust me.
We found that at sunrise, the lake is still very still. It makes for those great photos with the perfect reflection. I know we didn't have the idea to arrive early first. Lots of people come for sunrise. But here's what we discovered. People arrive, take the obligatory photos at the lake, pose by the famous boathouse and then leave.
Most people aren't actually walking the entire trail around the lake. Heck, they aren't leaving the shoreline directly in front of the boathouse. If you want a photo with no one in it, just walk a few minutes down the trail and you'll have it all to yourself!
We just kept walking around the lake and we were not disappointed. The hike around Lago di Braies is relatively short and manageable, but the scenery is spectacular. The lake changes as the light comes up, and watching the mountains reflect in the water at sunrise was worth getting out of bed early.
And because most people were there primarily to take their photos and leave, the trail around the lake felt virtually empty compared with what I expected.
This is one of those situations where getting up early isn't just about beating the crowds. It's about experiencing the place differently.
Pro tip: If you have your heart set on renting a boat and being on the lake, I'd skip going early. {check the website, the hours fluctuate during the summer} Just keep in mind that people will then be paying a lot to come experience the lake and this means they often "stick around" {for hikes, picnics, etc...}, so it will get more crowded.
Another Beautiful Lake Hike: Croda da Lago
If you want a lake hike that feels more like a true mountain hike, put Croda da Lago on your list. This was a completely different experience from Lago di Braies.
Instead of driving up, snapping a few photos and walking around a relatively short lake trail, Croda da Lago feels like you're heading into the mountains.
The scenery along the way is beautiful, and when you reach Lago Federa, you get that incredible combination of alpine lake, mountain peaks and open landscape that makes the Dolomites so spectacular.
Pro tip: While lago means lake, the actual lake is Lago Federa. The mountain peaks behind are Croda da Lago, which still confuses me!
This is also a good reminder that when you're searching for "lake hikes in the Dolomites," you shouldn't automatically default to the most famous lake. We heard about this one from our airbnb host who said it's one of her favorite places to bike. Full disclosure: we rented ebikes and rode there and it was HARD! Very steep hills and lots of elevation gain. I'd stick to finding a hiking route if you can.
Best Hike for a Quieter Experience: Resciesa to Brogen's Hut
One of my favorite hiking days was actually one that doesn't seem to get nearly as much attention as some of the Dolomites' headline hikes. Heck, I don't think I've ever seen anyone recommend taking the Resciesa Funicular up from Ortisei, not even once!
But this is where the fun begins.
Once you're to the top after riding the funicular, you can explore the trails around Resciesa {go right off the funicular} and head toward Brogen's Hut, a rifugio with beautiful mountain views.
This was one of those days where we felt like we had stepped away from the crowds. There was plenty of open space, spectacular scenery, loads of animals, and a much quieter feeling than some of the more famous Dolomites trails. I mean, not a single person on the trail but us!
We hiked to Brogen's Hut for a quick coffee stop. Unfortunately, the cloud cover was pretty heavy, and we didn't get the classic views of Seceda from there. But it was a lovely pit stop with a nice bathroom.
Pro tip: There is an option to continue hiking to Adolf Munkel trail from Brogen's hut. We didn't do it, so I'm not sure how difficult this hike was, but we did do the Adolf Munkel trail later in the week and it was a great hike!
We then headed back up to meet trail 5 and took that meandering through the forest {mostly downhill} until we got down to mid station at Fernes, which is the gondola before the big gondola at Seceda.
Pro tip: while Seceda has a reservation system in place, it didn't seem like any reservation was needed for this particular chair lift. We also had the Gardena Card, which gave us unlimited rides on 18 chairlifts and gondolas, so that might have helped.
We were waiting out the weather and decided to take the gondola up to Seceda just to see what the view was like. At this point you could also download back into Ortisei.
That combination made the day feel like an adventure rather than simply taking a lift to a viewpoint, walking around and taking the lift back down. And this is exactly why I recommend looking at a map before deciding what your hiking day will look like.
You can connect these areas and create an itinerary that works for you rather than following one specific "official" hike.
That's a very good Dolomites day in my book.
Best Hike If You Don't Want to Hike All Day: Alpe di Siusi Balcony Walk
Not every day in the Dolomites needs to be a six-hour hiking day. Sometimes you want the scenery without completely exhausting yourself. Or maybe you want to combine hiking in a few areas.
That's where Alpe di Siusi comes in. The Balcony Walk was one of my favorite options for a shorter hiking day because the views are absolutely ridiculous and you get plenty of opportunities to stop along the way.
One of the things I loved about this hike was the three rifugio stops.
Instead of thinking about the hike as one long push from beginning to end, you can make it a series of smaller experiences.
Walk. Stop. Take in the views. Have something to eat or drink. Walk some more. Stop again.
And, of course, take approximately 7,000 photos because you keep turning around and seeing another mountain view.
The Alpe di Siusi is one of those places where the landscape feels almost too perfect to be real.
Rolling green meadows. Distinctive Dolomite peaks. Tiny mountain huts scattered across the landscape.
It's a beautiful way to experience the Dolomites without dedicating an entire day to a strenuous hike.
Pro tip: full disclosure we only walked a portion of this. In an effort to make our hike longer {because we thought it wouldn't be long enough} we made a much BIGGER loop. It was a mistake! We ended up walking to Compatsch. That area was very crowded and under construction and not very pretty. Don't do what we did.
Best Hike for Someone Who Wants the Views More Than the Workout: The Coffin Cable Car
Let's be honest. Sometimes you want the mountain views without earning them through a four-hour hike. And that's okay.
For that kind of day, I'd recommend the Coffin Cable Car. It's also called Forcella del Sussolungo.
The Coffin Lift is an experience in itself. You're not simply using transportation to get from point A to point B. The ride is part of the adventure and the views along the way make it completely worthwhile.
Once you arrive, you can spend some time exploring and enjoying the scenery without committing to a long hike. In fact, there aren't many hikes you can do from the top. It's mostly climbing and via ferrata trails.
My favorite part? The rifugio at the top! Ride up. Take in the views. Have something to eat or drink. Walk around a little. Take approximately 500 photos. Then ride back down.
This is a great option for someone who wants to experience the mountains but isn't interested in making every day a physical challenge.
And honestly, there is something to be said for recognizing that a cable car ride can be the experience, not just the way you get to the hike.
Best Non-Hiking Outdoor Day: Bike From San Candido to Lienz, Austria
Not every outdoor adventure in the Dolomites has to involve hiking boots. One of our favorite active days was renting bikes in San Candido and riding toward Lienz, Austria.
This is such a fun way to experience the region because you're covering more ground than you would on foot {it's about 45 km}, but you're still outside and surrounded by the mountains.
You can rent bikes in San Candido and follow the well marked {mostly downhill} route toward Lienz. There are lots of great places to stop along the way, including the very popular Loacker cookie factory. Once you get to Lienz, you can return your bike to the bike shop there and pay a small fee before taking the train back to San Candido. You could bike back, but what goes down must come back up!
The ride is a great option if you're looking for something active that feels completely different from hiking. There's something pretty fun about starting your day in Italy and ending it in Austria.
If you've spent several days hiking, this is also a great way to give your legs a break while still having an adventure. You don't have to climb a mountain every day to experience the Dolomites. Sometimes you just need a bike.
Allow about 4-5 hours for your ride.
Pro tip: We actually did this ride after a sunrise hike around Lago di Braies. We came back to the hotel for breakfast, took a quick nap and rented bikes from Pepin Sport at 11 am. There were plenty of bikes and even with all our stops for chocolate and coffee, we made it back to our hotel by 4:30.
Best Views Without a Huge Hiking Commitment: Tofana
Not every spectacular Dolomites experience requires hiking to the top of a mountain.
Sometimes, take the cable car. This was the very first thing we did when we got to the Dolomites and it was the perfect thing to do on day one. We got an introduction to the mountains and the views without a big hike.
We took the Freccia nel Cielo chair lift to the top of Tofana di Mezzo, which is the third highest peak in the Dolomites and you can easily summit this peak without much hiking. The cable car gives you access to incredible mountain scenery without requiring you to spend hours climbing.
That's particularly nice on your first day, when you've just arrived and your body may still be adjusting to travel, altitude and a new environment. It also gives you a chance to get your bearings.
You can see the mountains from above, walk around, take in the views and decide how ambitious you want to be. There's absolutely no prize for exhausting yourself on day one.
We might have stopped at all the rifugios and used the lovely loungers to take a nap in the fresh mountain air. No regrets.
Don't Overlook the Rifugios
One of my favorite things about hiking in the Dolomites wasn't necessarily the trail itself. It was the rifugios. Could you tell?
These mountain huts are part of what makes hiking here feel so different from hiking at home. You can spend the morning walking through spectacular mountain scenery and then sit down for a farm to table lunch with an incredible view!
That changes the way I think about hiking.
I'm not necessarily trying to cover as many miles as possible. I'm hiking somewhere. I'm hiking toward something.
Maybe it's a lake. Maybe it's a viewpoint. Maybe it's a rifugio where we can sit down and enjoy lunch or grab a coffee.
That makes even a shorter hike feel like a full travel experience.
A Few Things I Learned Hiking in the Dolomites
Your mileage isn't the whole story
A five-mile hike in the Dolomites isn't necessarily comparable to a five-mile hike somewhere else. Elevation gain, altitude, terrain and the amount of climbing all matter.
Look beyond the distance when deciding whether a hike is right for you.
Build in flexibility
Weather matters in the mountains. I wouldn't plan every single day of your trip around one specific trail.
Have a few options.
If the weather is beautiful, tackle the hike you've been looking forward to.
If it's cloudy or rainy, take a cable car, explore a town, have lunch at a rifugio or choose a lower-elevation walk.
Use the lifts strategically
I don't think taking a cable car makes a hike "less authentic."
Quite the opposite.
Using a lift can allow you to see more of the mountains while saving your legs for the parts of the hike you actually want to experience. It also lets you create hikes that wouldn't otherwise be practical.
Don't chase every famous hike
The Dolomites are famous for a reason. But you don't need to spend your entire trip standing in line with everyone else to take the same photo.
Some of our favorite experiences came from getting a little farther away from the most famous viewpoints.
The quieter trails can be just as beautiful. And sometimes, they're even better.
Give yourself permission to have a non-hiking day
This might be the biggest lesson I took away from this trip.
You can hike every day if you want to. But you don't have to.
Ride a bike from San Candido to Lienz. Take the Coffin Lift. Ride the cable car to Tofana. Go paragliding.
Have lunch at a rifugio.
The Dolomites aren't just a hiking destination. They're a place to experience the mountains in lots of different ways.
Here's My Biggest Takeaway From Hiking in the Dolomites
Leave some space in the itinerary to make your own hikes.
You don't have to conquer the mountains. You don't have to hike every famous trail. And you definitely don't have to spend every day exhausted.
You can take the funicular up, walk toward a rifugio, stop for lunch, wander down a different trail, take a cable car, rent a bike, or simply find a beautiful place to sit and take it all in.
You can make the Dolomites as adventurous or as relaxed as you want.
And honestly?
That's exactly how I'd do it again.
Don't miss this post: Where to Stay in the Dolomites: Three Incredible Home Bases for Hiking and Exploring
How to Reserve Parking for Tre Cime
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