August suits hikers in the Dolomites, with the lifts, the huts and the high trails open.
The month has a catch: it rains on about 12 days in Cortina, and the nights drop to the low 50s°F. Plan the big outdoor sights for the morning, and keep a warm layer and a rain shell in the daypack.
At a glance
- Afternoon high in Cortina d’Ampezzo: 71°F (22°C)
- Night low in Cortina d’Ampezzo: 51°F (11°C)
- Rainy days in Cortina d’Ampezzo: 12
- Afternoon high in Bolzano: 85°F (29°C)
- Sunshine in Bolzano: 7 hours a day
- Cadini del Brenton free guided tours: daily all month
What is the weather like in the Dolomites in August?
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rain | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July | 73°F (23°C) | 52°F (11°C) | 4.8 in (123 mm) | 12 |
| August | 71°F (22°C) | 51°F (11°C) | 4.1 in (104 mm) | 12 |
| September | 63°F (17°C) | 44°F (7°C) | 2.9 in (73 mm) | 8 |
*Long-term monthly averages.*
August in the high Dolomites is mild by day and cool at night. Cortina d’Ampezzo reaches 71°F (22°C) in the afternoon and falls to 51°F (11°C) after dark. Down in the valley, Bolzano is a different climate: 85°F (29°C) in the afternoon and 62°F (17°C) at night.
Cortina sees 12 rainy days in the month, so roughly one day in three brings measurable rain. Bolzano has 9 and averages 7 hours of sunshine a day. Start hikes early, carry a light waterproof, and keep a town visit or a museum for the wetter afternoons. On the valley floor, light summer clothes do the job.
July is a touch warmer in Cortina, at 73°F (23°C) by day, with 12 rainy days as well. September is clearly cooler: 63°F (17°C) in the afternoon, 44°F (7°C) at night and 8 rainy days. August sits close to July and well above September for warmth.
Where to go in the Dolomites in August
Tre Cime di Lavaredo
The three peaks stand between the Province of Belluno and South Tyrol, inside the Tre Cime Nature Park. The area stretches between Auronzo di Cadore, Misurina and Dobbiaco. August is the month for the loop walk, since the high trails are open and the afternoons are mild.
Seceda
The Seceda meadows lie beneath 8,264-foot (2,519 m) Mt. Seceda in the Odle Group. In summer the area is a hiking ground with many paths to mountain huts such as the Curona Hut. The meadows border the Rasciesa High Alp and the Mastlè Alpine Pasture, so a day can link several pastures.
Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm)
This high plateau is described as the largest in Europe. Villages around it, Kastelruth, Seis am Schlern, Völs am Schlern and Tiers am Rosengarten, all work as bases. In August the walking is the draw, and the sights nearby add rainy-day options, among them Castle Prösels and the Visitor Center of the Schlern-Rosengarten Nature Park in Seis.
Val Gardena
This South Tyrol valley has three villages: Ortisei, Selva di Val Gardena and S. Cristina. Ortisei has a lively pedestrian zone with shops, food and Ladin tradition. Selva sits at the foot of the Sella massif, and S. Cristina is the sunny village below Sassolungo. The valley offers 19 miles (30 km) of hiking trails.
Cadini del Brenton
Among the most iconic sights of the Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park, the Cadini are reached on a free guided tour. The tours run daily in August. The meeting point is the Infopoint Cadini in Valle del Mis.
What to do in the Dolomites in August
The Tre Cime loop in August light
The loop is about 6 miles (9.5 to 10 km) and takes 3 to 4 hours, easy to moderate. It runs from Rifugio Auronzo to Rifugio Lavaredo, Forcella Lavaredo and Rifugio Locatelli, then back on a scenic return loop.
Free guided tours of the Cadini del Brenton
The park offers free guided tours of the Cadini.
Meet at the Infopoint Cadini in Valle del Mis, municipality of Sospirolo, near the botanical garden Campanula morettiana. Arrive early enough to find the Infopoint without rushing.
LUMEN, the mountain photography museum at Plan de Corones
LUMEN sits at 7,431 feet (2,265 m) in a former upper cable car station, now a museum of mountain photography. The lifts that serve the mountains in summer are open from May to November, so August is well inside the season.
A museum this high is a good answer to a gray afternoon. Bring a warm layer, because it will be cooler than in the valley.
Auronzo-Misurina for families
Auronzo-Misurina has a summer toboggan run of 2 miles (3 km) near Monte Agudo. You can also fish and canoe there.
The forest of Somadida, near the Palus San Marco nature reserve, can be explored on foot, on horseback or by bike. This is an easy day away from the high trails.
Are the Dolomites busy in August?
The Dolomites offer a wide choice of beds: hotels, holiday apartments, guesthouses, private rooms, farm holidays and mountain huts around the Seiser Alm, and apartments, B&Bs, hotels, hostels and huts in the Dolomiti Bellunesi park.
In a mid-summer walking month, book the nights early, and book huts and the popular bases (Seiser Alm villages, the five holiday villages of the 3 Zinnen region) ahead of the rest of the trip.
A tourist tax is added to the room rate everywhere in South Tyrol, by law, paid on site by guests aged 14 and over.
What to pack for the Dolomites in August
August asks for layers: mild afternoons, cool nights and a rain shower on roughly one day in three.
- A fleece or light down jacket for nights near 51°F (11°C) in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
- A waterproof shell, since Cortina has 12 rainy days in the month.
- Broken-in hiking shoes for the Tre Cime loop, which takes 3 to 4 hours.
- A warm layer for LUMEN at 7,431 feet (2,265 m), cooler than the valley.
- Sun hat and light clothes for Bolzano, at 85°F (29°C) in the afternoon.
- A refillable water bottle for long high-trail days.
What to know before visiting the Dolomites in August
The summer lifts run from May to November.
Is August a good time to visit the Dolomites?
Yes, August is a good time for hikers and anyone who wants the lifts, the huts and the high trails open, with mild afternoons.
Compared with July, the month is a little cooler in Cortina, at 71°F (22°C) against 73°F (23°C), with about the same rain. September is cooler again and drier, with 8 rainy days instead of 12.
With children, the Auronzo-Misurina toboggan run and canoeing are the easy wins. For heat, the valley around Bolzano has July highs of 86°F (30°C), against 73°F (23°C) in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Sources
- seiseralm.it (https://www.seiseralm.it/en/plan-your-holiday/search-book/all-accommodations.html?%3Futm_source=seiseralm.it), checked 2026-10-30
- valgardena.it (https://www.valgardena.it/it/), checked 2026-10-30
- seiseralm.it (https://www.seiseralm.it/en/enjoyment-experience/experience/sights.html), checked 2026-10-30
- ncei.noaa.gov (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/wmo-climate-normals), checked 2026-10-30
- dolomiti.it (https://www.dolomiti.it/de/sospirolo/veranstaltungen/gefuhrte-besichtigungen-der-cadini-del-brenton), checked 2026-10-30
- dolomiti.it (https://www.dolomiti.it/en/passes-and-mountains/tre-cime-di-lavaredo), checked 2026-10-30
- valgardena-groeden.com (https://www.valgardena-groeden.com/en/highlights/the-dolomites/high-plateaus-and-alpine-pastures/seceda-meadows/), checked 2026-10-30
- suedtirol.info (https://www.suedtirol.info/en/en/experiences-and-events/plp-experiences/regions/dolomites/culture-sights.page4), checked 2026-10-30