The Dolomites is a bucket list destination for so many travellers, with its towering peaks, lush valleys, and enchanting lakes. If you're a beginner eager to explore this alpine wonderland, you're in for a treat. In this guide, I'll dive into four of the most iconic and breathtaking locations in the Dolomites, Seceda, Cadini di Misurina, Tre Cime di Lavaredo, and Lago di Braies, and provide details on how to reach them along with what you can expect.
Contents:
📍Seceda
Seceda was on my bucket list for years, and to say that it lived up to my expectations is an understatement! The views are absolutely incredible from start to finish, and we even got to see cows, donkeys and horses on the trail.
Getting to Seceda
Seceda is located about an hour from Bolzano if travelling by car. If travelling by bus, take the 350 bus towards Val Gardena from the Bolzano bus station (next to the train station) which takes about an hour and a half. From the bus stop, you'll need to walk to your starting point, depending on where you want to begin (more on that below).
Once you have arrived, you have a number of options on how to see Seceda:
Option 1: The Col Raiser Chair Lift and Hike
The best way (in my opinion) to reach Seceda is by taking the Col Raiser lift which takes you about half way about the mountain, cutting down on some of the elevation. From here, the hike is a 9km loop and takes between 3-4 hours to complete (we took longer as we stopped for a LOT of photos - believe me, it's hard not to!). The first section is quite steep, but it's non stop views the whole time and worth the lactic acid build up in the legs! Once you reach the summit, you'll then loop around, passing many more incredible views and some restaurants (rifugios), before coming back to the starting point at Col Raiser. Find the All Trails link here.
Cost: €28 return per person. Parking is available for €7 per day.
Option 2: The Seceda Chair Lift from Ortisei
For those who aren't so much into hiking and want to go straight up to enjoy the views, start from Ortisei, a charming alpine town in Val Gardena. Take the Seceda chair lift, which whisks you to the top in just 15 minutes. From here, you have the option to embark on a short 20-30 minute hike to a viewpoint where you will see some of the most iconic views in the Dolomites. The hike is relatively easy and perfect for beginners.
Cost: €40 return per person. Parking is available for €12 per day.
Option 3: Ascending from the Bottom of the Mountain
Another popular way to conquer Seceda (and much cheaper) is by embarking on the trail from the bottom of the mountain, beginning at the same place as the Col Raiser chair lift. This option is longer and more challenging. It's a 17km round trip and takes between 6-7 hours, but keep in mind that this may be longer if you're stopping for photos and food etc. Find the All Trails link here.
Cost: Free! (unless you're paying for parking, of course).
Details about Seceda and the different chair lifts can be found here.
📍Lago di Braies
Lago di Braies (Lake Braies) is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been and one of the most photogenic spots in the Dolomites. The lake is nestled in the heart of the Dolomites and has the most incredible emerald water, surrounded by the towering peaks of the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park. It truly looks like something out of a film.
Getting to Lago di Braies
The easiest way to get to Lago di Braies is by car. You'll need to purchase a ticket for one of the carparks which can be online quickly and easily. If you arrive without a pre-paid ticket, the attendants will turn you around to do this before you can access the road that takes you to the lake. Save yourself the time and book ahead. Once you're through the entry gates, you'll drive for about 10 minutes and head to your allocated carpark. There are different prices depending on which carpark you choose; they range between 200-500 meters away from the lake so I recommend buying the cheaper ticket because they are all super close. From there, it's a short, flat walk over to the lake.
Things to know
- Lago di Braies has gained a lot of popularity over the last few years and can get very busy, so it's important to set your expectations before you get there. The fact is: there will be a lot of people, both in the morning and in the evening. If you want to avoid some of the bigger crowds, head to the lake early however keep in mind that it's likely you still won't have the lake to yourself, even at 5am. The car parks fill up quickly too and may close if they get full.
- The lake itself is free to enter. There is also a cafe and other small shops.
- Row boat rental is available from 10am each day however this is very popular and the line gets long. If this is something you're interested in, I recommend getting to the lake before 10am to line up.
- Walking around the entire lake takes just over an hour (longer for photo stops etc.). It's easy and relatively flat. Find the All Trails link here.
📍Cadini di Misurina
Cadini di Misurina is absolutely mind blowing and one of the most dramatic landscapes I have ever seen. While the trail is great for beginners, a quick word of caution: if you're scared of heights (like me) it may be a little more challenging (but definitely do-able and worth it!).
Getting to Cadini di Misurina
You'll need to park at Rifugio Auronzo which is just over two hours from Bolzano or just over an hour from Sappada. Parking is €30 per car for 24 hours which is reasonable considering the same car park also gives you access to Tre Cime di Lavaredo (more on that below).
Hike Details
The hike itself is quite short at only 3.4km there and back. There are amazing sights of the mountains before reaching the Cadini di Misurina panoramic viewing point. This is one of the most renown views in the Dolomites and is something you may have seen on Instagram or Youtube due to its impressive outlook.
This hike is naturally very popular so you'll likely encounter a number of people, and there may be a small line of people waiting to get their moment out on the view point. My biggest tip here is to be patient; a lot of people want to take pictures or fly their drone to capture this incredible, once in a life time opportunity. There's plenty of beautiful scenery to admire while you wait.
TIP: We found that the trail isn't well sign posted from Rifugio Auronzo, so we used All Trails to make sure we were going in the right direction. Find the All Trails link here.
📍Tre Cime di Lavaredo
Tre Cime di Lavaredo (aka The Three Peaks) is a stunning trio of towering spires known for their distinctive shape. This was one of my favourite places in the Dolomites and was such a blast to explore.
Getting There:
Head to the car park at Rifugio Auronzo (the same car park as Cadini di Misurina). As mentioned above, parking is available for €30 per day.
Hike Details
Once you’re on the trail, there are several hiking options. A popular choice for beginners is the circular trail around the base of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo which is about 7km. Find the All Trails link here. We did go slightly off course and down into the valley rather than staying on the main trail because it was so busy. The valley gave us some of the most stunning views of the Three Peaks and some solitude from all the people too. It's also a great place to launch your drone!
There are a number of rifugios on the trail so you can stop for food and drinks if needed.
Tip: If you’re like us and only have time to go to this area for one day, do Cadini di Misurina in the morning and Tre Cime de Lavaredo in the afternoon (the trail is a lot
quieter after lunch). It’s a big day but so worth it!
I hope this guide helped you to plan your trip to the Dolomites. Whether you're taking in the iconic views at Seceda, basking in the beauty of Lago di Braies, exploring the captivating rock formations at Cadini di Misurina, or encircling the iconic Tre Cime di Lavaredo, your Dolomites adventure is bound to be memorable. Enjoy every moment!