Start with the Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop, the Alpe di Siusi plateau and the Seceda meadows above Val Gardena. Summer is when the lifts run and the trails are open.
At a glance
- Top sights to see first: Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Alpe di Siusi, Seceda, Val Gardena
- Main access: Alpe di Siusi cable car from Siusi, about 15 minutes; public line 443 to Prato Piazza
- Suggested length of visit: Tre Cime loop, 3 to 4 hours
- Best season to visit: summer, when the Tre Cime road is open and all trails are accessible
- Lifts open: May to November (Dolomiti SuperSummer)
What are the best things to do in the Dolomites?
Tre Cime di Lavaredo
The Tre Cime lie between the Province of Belluno and South Tyrol, inside the Tre Cime Nature Park. The area stretches between Auronzo di Cadore, Misurina and Dobbiaco.
The loop hike 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 returns on a scenic loop. Go in summer, when the road is open. In winter the road is closed to vehicles and access is only on foot, snowshoes or ski touring.
Alpe di Siusi
The Alpe di Siusi is described as the largest high alp and the largest plateau in Europe. The Seiser Alm region around it has churches, chapels, castles, ruins, museums and viewpoints, among them Castle Prösels in Völs am Schlern and the Salegg ruins in Seis am Schlern.
The cable car from Siusi to the alp takes about 15 minutes. The Visitor Center of the Schlern-Rosengarten Nature Park in Seis am Schlern is a good first stop for the area.
Seceda Meadows
The meadows lie beneath 8,264 ft (2,519 m) Mt. Seceda, in the Odle Group. They border the Rasciesa High Alp and the Mastlè Alpine Pasture.
In summer the Seceda is a hiking area with numerous paths to mountain huts such as the Curona Hut. In winter it becomes a ski area and hosts the Gardenissima giant slalom race.
Val Gardena
Val Gardena is in Alto Adige (South Tyrol) and has three villages. Ortisei has a lively pedestrian zone with shopping, food and Ladin tradition. Selva di Val Gardena is the highest village, at the foot of the Sella massif. S. Cristina is the sunny village at the foot of Sassolungo, with a view of the Dolomites.
Pick the village by mood: Ortisei for strolling and eating, S. Cristina for sun and views, Selva for the Sella massif.
Cadini del Brenton
The Cadini del Brenton are among the most iconic sights of the Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park.
The meeting point for the park’s guided tours is the Infopoint Cadini in Valle del Mis, municipality of Sospirolo, near the Campanula morettiana botanical garden.
LUMEN, Museum of Mountain Photography
LUMEN sits at Plan de Corones, at 7,431 ft (2,265 m). It occupies a former upper station of the Plan de Corones cable car, turned into a 1,800 sq m museum.
Skip it if photography is not your thing. For anyone who wants a high-altitude indoor stop, it fits well on a day at Plan de Corones.
Other places worth a stop
Pragser Wildsee lake is in Prags/Braies. The Three Peaks Nature Park visitor center is in Toblach/Dobbiaco. La Crusc/Santa Croce is in Badia, in Alta Badia. Andraz Castle, built in 1027, is the symbol of the Livinallongo valley. Puez-Odle Nature Park covers more than 10,000 hectares. Cortina d’Ampezzo is called the Queen of the Dolomites.
When is the best time to visit the Dolomites for sightseeing?
Summer is the season for sightseeing: the Tre Cime road is open, all trails are accessible and the lifts run from May to November. July in Cortina d’Ampezzo has a high of 73°F (23°C) but also 12 rainy days, so pack a rain layer. In winter, with highs of 33°F (1°C) in January, the Tre Cime road is closed to vehicles and the mountains turn to skiing.
Beaches and outdoor things to do in the Dolomites
For a swim, Völser Weiher in Völs am Schlern is listed as a swimming lake. Misurina is a scenic spot on its lake with direct views of the Dolomites, and Auronzo-Misurina is described as a holiday by the lake, with fishing and canoeing.
Summer activities include panorama hikes on high trails and bike and mountain bike tours through UNESCO landscapes. The Tre Cime loop is the classic walk. The Somadida forest, near the Palus San Marco nature reserve, can be explored on foot, on horseback or by bike.
- Völser Weiher: swimming lake in Völs am Schlern · for a dip near the Alpe di Siusi
- Misurina: lake with views of the Dolomites · for fishing and canoeing
For a lazy day, head to the lakes. For long days on foot, take the Tre Cime loop or the Seceda paths.
Day trips from the Dolomites
Prato Piazza is reached directly by public line 443 from Monguelfo or Dobbiaco/Villabassa. The Alpe di Siusi is a 15-minute cable car ride from Siusi.
- Prato Piazza: line 443 from Monguelfo or Dobbiaco/Villabassa · bus · for travelers without a car
- Alpe di Siusi: about 15 minutes · cable car from Siusi · for a short outing
Without a car, take the bus to Prato Piazza or the cable car to Alpe di Siusi.
Things to do in the Dolomites in the evening
Merano WineFestival runs November 6 to 10, 2026, in Merano.
Things to do in the Dolomites with kids
In winter Val Gardena offers 311 miles (500 km) of slopes, reachable from the three villages with modern lifts as part of Dolomiti Superski.
Sources
- ncei.noaa.gov (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/wmo-climate-normals), checked 2026-10-30
- dolomiti.it (https://www.dolomiti.it/en/passes-and-mountains/tre-cime-di-lavaredo), checked 2026-10-30
- seiseralm.it (https://www.seiseralm.it/en/enjoyment-experience/experience/sights.html), checked 2026-10-30
- valgardena.it (https://www.valgardena.it/it/), checked 2026-10-30
- dolomiti.it (https://www.dolomiti.it/de/sospirolo/veranstaltungen/gefuhrte-besichtigungen-der-cadini-del-brenton), checked 2026-10-30
- cortina.dolomiti.org (https://cortina.dolomiti.org/en/event-details-en/?id=588503dc-99cd-40f1-a06c-13722494ad58), 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
- dolomiti.it (https://www.dolomiti.it/de/auronzo-misurina), checked 2026-10-30