If you click the icons on the map, you can get more information about each point of interest. We ate a very late lunch at Pizzeria Edelweiss. TRAIN. DO | Hike to Alpe di Siusi, Europes largest alpine meadow, TIP | Park at Compatsch and hike into Alpe di Siusi. It showcases some of the best views, roads, lakes, mountains and more! and some of the best hiking on earth, the Dolomites are worthy of your vacation time. We rented a car twice in Italy in 2022 and both times had an automatic. Spend the rest of the day relaxing at your hotel. If you simply want to drive through the Dolomites and visit a few highlights, two to three days is all you need. Lago di Braies is one of the prettiest lakes in the Dolomites. If possible, wed avoid visiting during the summer months of July - August as the Dolomites become extremely busy with Italian and German holidaymakers, as well as foreign tourists. Take the Bernina Express from Chur to Pontresina. The Ultimate 7-day Dolomites Itinerary | Road Trip Guide In July, we are planning on spending 3 days in Bernese Oberland hiking, etc and then a few days in Lake Como then the Dolomites for 5 1/2 days (staying in Selva and Cortina). The recently opened Lumen Museum of Mountain Photography is a one-of-a-kind space dedicated to mountain photography (Adults: 17, open 10 am - 4 pm, Monday - Sunday). If you come across rubbish on your travels here, collect it in a tote bag and take it off the trails with you to dispose of properly later. The Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike is an 8.8 km (5.5 mile) loop, but you can add on detours to viewpoints and alpine lakes. To get a parking space, get here no later than 9 am, although earlier is even better. BEST OF ITALY: In our Guide to the Best Places to Visit in Italy, we list 20 beautiful destinations to consider for your next trip to Italy. This popular hike takes you to another stunning lake in the Dolomites. During this time, you can walk, bike, or take the bus. Book here. Look up on the web. Post lunch, take a short walk to Messner Mountain Museum Corones, which is located on the west of the mountain (Adults: 10, open 10 am - 4 pm, Monday - Sunday). The train runs consistently between 5am and 12:30am and the actual station is situated at the lowest level of the airport at level 02. This is another place where there are morning cut-off times for driving to the parking lot. Hand sanitiser | not something wed actually recommend normally, but when hiking it can be a bloody great investment, READ | check out our eco-friendly packing guide to travel through Italy consciously and comfortably. You can get here by riding the cable car to the rifugio and from here, hike the Cinque Torri and/or to Rifugios Averau and Nuvolau. My 7 Day Switzerland itinerary starting from Geneva includes where to stay, things to do, where to eat, getting around and costs broken down into a day-by-day guide for: DAY 1: Geneva DAY 2: Bern DAY 3: Zermatt DAY 4: Jungfraujoch & Interlaken Day 5: Lucerne DAY 6: Mt Pilatus DAY 7: Zurich Again, if you have a few more days, wed recommend spending the night in the Fanes Htte, which was one of the more comfortable mountain huts weve ever had the pleasure of sleeping in! Have a great time in the Dolomites. Day 3 - Explore the Canyon Rio Sass. We recommend getting to the lake by 9 am. If youre planning to enjoy a few overnight hikes as well as the main sights, 10 nights might be a better option. Italy and Switzerland itinerary: Day 1 - Milan Milan Duomo Choose accommodation in the vibrant Brera district: it is close to the city center but way cheaper than the luxurious accommodations you'll find in the Duomo area. Some cable cars could have reduced hours or not be running (for example, the Freccia nel Cielo cable car only goes all of the way to the top to Cima Tofana in the summer but you can go part of the way up at other times of the year), so double check those before you go. Both the Glacier Express and Bernina Express are very scenic train trips. That way you will get to see different parts of the Dolomites. Afternoon Rafting on the River Noce. The Dolomites are a mountain range in northeastern Italy. Theyre a little crazy but incredibly fun to drive. If you return the car to the same city, you will avoid the drop fee which can help keep your rental car cost low. On the map below, I highlighted these two regions and labeled a few of the most popular towns and things to do, so you get a basic idea of where things are located. If you choose to purchase using these links, we receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Day 1: Arrive in Zrich We started our Northern Italy Switzerland journey in Zrich. Day Two: If you will be staying in Cortina dAmpezzo, take your pick from days 2 through 6. Have a great time in the Dolomites! Parts of the trail are a Via Ferrata (though it is possible to complete the trail without being roped in) and it requires a decent hiking skill set and level of fitness. With five days in the Dolomites, stay in both Cortina dAmpezzo and Val Gardena and spend some time visiting both areas of the Dolomites: With six days in the Dolomites, stay in both Cortina dAmpezzo and Val Gardena and spend some time visiting both areas of the Dolomites: With seven days in the Dolomites, stay in both Cortina dAmpezzo and Val Gardena and spend some time visiting both areas of the Dolomites: With each additional day you have in the Dolomites, you can add more time in Cortina dAmpezzo or Val Gardena. Take a leisurely stroll around the chic lake town of Lake Como and venture out onto the water to soak . Along this drive, you can stop off at the viewpoint of Tre Cime (called Vista Panoramica Tre Cime di Lavaredo) for a view of the three peaks. Afterwards, explore the town of Cortina dAmpezzo, check into your hotel, and then have dinner. 10 Days in Europe: 10 Amazing Itineraries - Earth Trekkers And keep your fingers crossed for good weather! Note, it can also be done in the opposite direction, if traveling from Val Gardena to Cortina dAmpezzo. Moreover, it is an artsy neighborhood and a modern cultural hub. Northern Italy Switzerland Itinerary - Brown Eyed Flower Child With one day in the Dolomites, I recommend starting as early as possible from your starting point (Venice, Verona, etc). There are public buses but these arent always reliable and you wont have the freedom to explore the Dolomites at your own pace. We use Rentalcars.com to book our rental cars, which is an aggregator of all the major car hire companies. Best road trip for rural Switzerland. Other major international airports within a 4-6 hour radius include: Malpensa Airport Milan, Italy | 4-5 hours, Munich International Airport Germany | 3-4 hours, BOOK | Check dates and prices for flights here. If Venice is the starting point for your trip, you could pick up the rental car upon arrival at the airport to save yourself another trip to the airport to pick it up. Where you can, avoid plastic altogether on your trek, and if you cant, carry it out of the national park with you. Verona Villafranca International Airport - Italy | 2.5 hours, Marco Polo International Airport, Venice - Italy | 2.5 hours. The toddler is not bale to walk very far. Depending on your starting point, you will arrive in the Dolomites from late morning to early afternoon. From Passo Pordoi, take SS242 north towards Selva di Val Gardena, driving over the Sella Pass, pass #4 for the day. I would suggest staying the overnight of day 2 in Cortina d'Ampezzo, the luxury ski town of the Dolomites. Explore three of Scandinavia's great cities on this Europe itinerary. If if were me and I planned to do all of the hikes on your list, plus the Murren via ferrata, Id bring my hiking shoes, both because they are waterproof (great if you come across snow on the trails) and to not take a chance Id get denied doing the via ferrata. I would probably add a night there rather than make the effort to go to Zermatt for a night - or skip the Berner Oberland altogether and spend all your mountain time in Zermatt. After all, nothing tastes sweeter than a good feed after an early morning hike and beautiful sunrise. Starting at 4 am (depending on the time of year, it could be earlier or later depending on sunrise times), the hike starts from Passo Gardena (Refugio Frara) before snaking its way up a scree gully towards the summit. Weve arrived in both Venice and Munich, and both were easy options to get to the Dolomites. How to Use This Map: Click the tab in the top left hand corner of the map to view the layers (places to go in the eastern and western Dolomites). Most popular tours in the Dolomites 1. I like what response # 5 says. DO | Enjoy the views from Seceda, explore parts of Cortina dAmpezzo, hike the Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop. Starting From $6,499 AUD pp* Save up to $250. We rode the Freccia nel Cielo cable car in the afternoon because the weather was perfect. Offset your travels | Consider carbon offsetting your travels, especially if you fly to the destination. The Dolomites? Or on to Switzerland? - Italy Forum - Tripadvisor We typically rent the car at the airport, which is easy to get to using public transportation from Venice. I am planning a trip to the Dolomites in the summer. Thanks, Good spots to go with a toddler are Lago di Braies, the Freccia nel Cielo cable car, the cable car to Lagazuoi (but Im not sure the walk down is toddler friendly), the cable car and short walks at Seceda, and a visit to Lago di Misurina would all be very nice. Home About Blog Hiking Hiking Gear Hut to Hut Hiking Packing List Europe Hikes Best Day Hikes in Europe Best Treks in Europe In summer, rest the legs and enjoy a beer or wine on the sun terrace overlooking the ridiculous view, before hiking (or taking the cable car) back down. Gornergrat (train ride to the top with views of the Matterhorn) Kleine Matterhorn Cablecar (Highest in Europe with year-round skiing) 5 Lakes Hike (2.5 hours with lake reflections of the Matterhorn) Hike at the Schwarzsee. We have a toddler and a new born. This gives you the freedom to explore the towns, drive the passes, and get to the lakes and trailheads on your own schedule. We've outlined our Dolomites road trip route and itinerary in the map below. Note: This post contains affiliate links. This hike starts at the Dantercepies gondola in Selva di Val Gardena. Once in Val Gardena, check into your hotel and have dinner. Helicopter ride with Air Zermatt. Tour of the Alps in Europe featuring the Dolomites & More On this most recent trip to the Dolomites we rented in Venice and returned it in Chamonix, France. I would stay no less than 4 nights. The itineraries listed in this guide are for a visit to the Dolomites in the summer months (June through early October), when the hiking trails are open. Cheers, Julie. Italy and Switzerland itinerary - Travel Passionate Both are great areas to stay in the Dolomites. So much to do. Book here. Pick up any trash you see | Although, thankfully, theres not much rubbish to be found around these parts, the odd piece can still pop up. Spend a couple of nights in Milan and from there you can fly to Amsterdam. In the Eastern Dolomites you will find Cortina dAmpezzo, Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Lago di Braies, Lago di Misurina, the Cinque Torri, Croda da Lago and Lago Federa, and Selva di Cadore. After lunch, continue the drive south on SS51. 7 Days in Switzerland Itinerary: Complete Guide for First-Timers Many thanks for the time you put into it! Book here, TIP | At Lago di Braies, P3 car park is free. I hope this helps and I hope you have a wonderful time on your upcoming trip! Take the Glacier Express from Zermatt to Chur. This initiative, which encourages people to leave their car at home and travel by more environmentally friendly means, allows travellers to book transfers to accommodation online at www.suedtiroltransfer.com/en. Marmolada is the highest mountain in the Dolomites and you can get to the top by riding a series of cable cars. Train from Pontresina to Varenna and spend a few nights and explore Lake Como. Take the Glacier Express from Zermatt to Chur.