Dolomites travel guide: explore Italy’s Dolomite Mountains

Whether you’re into relaxing by a log fire with a drop of the local red or putting your best foot forward on walking trails and scenic cable car rides, our Dolomites travel guide is designed to whet your appetite for what lies ahead. From how to get there and what to do, to food and drink and the best time to go, read on to find out more about Italy’s Dolomite Mountains range.

The Dolomites – also known as the Dolomite Mountains – are in the furthest reaches of northeast Italy, straddling the regions of Veneto, Trentino Alto-Adige, and Friuli Venezia Giulia. They form a natural border with Austria and can be accessed via Venice, Milan, and Verona in Italy as well as Innsbruck on the Austrian side. The main international airport for the Italian Dolomites is Venice Marco Polo Airport. It’s approximately three hours by car from Venice Airport to Lake Molveno within the UNESCO-listed Brenta Dolomites.

Once you arrive in the Dolomites, there are several ways to get around including regular bus and train services, regional taxis, hire cars, and bike rentals. Real-time routes, timetables, and travel information can be accessed via the Trentino Transport website.

The 611 bus travels northeast of Molveno to the neighbouring village of Andalo in just a few minutes. It then continues its route to the village of Cavedago, situated 20 minutes’ drive away in some lovely rolling countryside with pretty pastures and views across the Val di Non valley.

South of Molveno, one of Italy’s most beautiful villages, San Lorenzo Dorsino, sits at the foot of the Val d’Ambiez and can be reached in around 25 minutes on the 208 bus. This is also the entrance to the Adamello-Brenta Nature Park and well worth the journey for the views alone.

Buses in the Dolomites can be infrequent and will have limited services on Sundays and public holidays. Best advice is to check with hotel staff or the transport website for up-to-date info.

Trains run from Mezzolombardo, which is a half-hour drive from Molveno. From here, you can access services to larger towns such as Trento and the popular alpine village of Dimaro in the Val di Sole valley. You can also take the train from Mezzolombardo to renowned Italian cities such as Verona, Venice, Brescia and Bergamo – although it can be up to a five-hour round-trip. Train tickets can be bought via the Virail website.

The main car rental centre in the Dolomites is in Cavedago, 15 minutes’ drive from Molveno. You’ll just need relevant documentation including your passport and driving license. Please ask your hotel reception if you need any help hiring a car while you’re staying in the Dolomites.

Local taxi firms operate around Lake Molveno and the surrounding area. Talk to your hotel reception and agree a price in advance to ensure you know how long the ride will take and how much it will cost.

You can hire a bike from Dolomiti Paganella Bike in Molveno. They offer a wide selection of bikes, safety gear, and useful information, and cater for everyone from mountain bikers to casual cyclists. They can also provide up-to-date weather information and assist with planning routes and suitable itineraries.

The Dolomites is a popular walking location

From alpine allures and medieval heritage to SUP boarding and hiking trails, here are a few of our favourite things to see and do in the Dolomites.

Photographers and picnickers love Lake Molveno almost as much as the swimmers and SUP boarders. Consistently voted Italy’s cleanest and most beautiful lake, this is where you can enjoy an afternoon messing about on the water or take a cable car up to the ski resort of Pradel to enjoy the views from up above. Watersports equipment, with life jackets included, can be hired at the Lido. Also, don’t forget your walking boots if you fancy the 11km lakeside trail.

Lake Molveno

The Dolomites are crisscrossed with well-marked and maintained walking trails of various degrees of difficulty and gradient. It’s the perfect place to immerse yourself in clean and fresh alpine air as you set off with a chunk of Grana del Trentino cheese secreted in your backpack.

The ridge walk from Rifugio La Montanara (mountain refuge) to Rifugio Croz dell'Altissimo is certainly one to try for lovers of jagged peaks and panoramas. If you prefer shaded woodlands and sun-dappled orchards, there’s a lovely 12-kilometre trail between Lake Andalo and Spormaggiore. If glaciers and waterfalls are more your thing, Parco Naturale Adamello Brenta is a mountain nature reserve filled with forested trails and stunning natural features. Keep your eyes peeled for marmots on alpine meadows and roe deer in between the beech trees.

The majestic Castel Thun is one of the last remaining fortified manor houses in the Dolomites, and a rare example of a fully furnished residence from the Middle Ages. It’s perfect for a day trip from Molveno with an impressive art collection, original furniture, and an extensive garden, providing a glimpse at the past surrounded by mountain scenery.

Situated in the centre of Molveno is the beautiful 13th-century Church of San Vigilio. This ecclesiastical work of art features a moon-shaped painting of Jesus, the Virgin Mary and St John on its exterior, and a mural of the Last Supper inside. Although small, it’s very special and stands in memory to Saint Vigilius, a bishop from Trento who was martyred around 400 BC.

Take time out from all that gorgeous alpine scenery on a visit to Trento. Located about an hour’s drive from Molveno, this cosmopolitan riverside city is home to one of the Dolomites’ most important historical sites, Castello del Buonconsiglio. Now serving as a museum and art gallery, this 13th-century fortress once housed the region’s ecclesiastical elite and still contains one of the world’s most precious Christian frescos, Ciclo dei Mesi – the Cycle of Months.

As you’d expect from this alpine area of Italy, the typical cuisine of the Dolomites is designed to keep you warm and sustained during all weathers. From spinach or squash stuffed ravioli (Casunziei) or smoked cheese potato gnocchi, to roasted meat and polenta covered in melted cheese, this is delicious and hearty fare to keep you active in the great outdoors.

And the drink is just as generous as the food, with the local Nosiola wine providing a refreshingly fruity and light accompaniment to any al fresco cheeseboard. Alternatively, if you’re pairing with a meat dish or a pasta or risotto, plump for a Vespolina red wine or opt for a Teroldego for anything coming directly from a wood-fired grill.

For dessert, there’s nothing better than a homemade tiramisu followed by a wild herb infused mountain grappa.

The Dolomites are ideal for warm summer days and snow-covered festive breaks. Here are our recommendations for the best time to visit the Dolomites on holiday.

Compared to roasting hot Italian cities like Milan, summertime in the Dolomites tends to be comfortably cool and mild, with temperatures reaching no more than the mid-twenties. However, it’s also been known to rain during July and August, so pack good waterproofs as well as sensible, grippy footwear. Layers are the key to a successful trip to the Dolomites in summer, especially if you’re planning to explore at altitude or enjoy al fresco evenings by the lake.

Although the shoulder months will be cooler than the summer, weather conditions are usually stable. You’ll still find plenty of blue-sky days for enjoying the great outdoors as well as smatterings of alpine flowers appearing in spring, and fiery woodland shades occurring in the autumn. There might be snow remaining on the mountaintops in spring and evenings can be cold – especially without any cloud cover. Wrap up warm for stargazing and carry a hip flask filled with fruit liquor to keep you cosy on cable car rides and lakeside strolls.

Snowfall tends to start in mid-December and continues all the way through to the end of March. Winter is the perfect time of year for skiing and snowshoe holidays however, if you’re thinking of hiking bear in mind daylight is in short supply Christmas in the Dolomites is magical and promises outdoor markets and scenic drives through snow-covered scenery as well as festive food and mugs of mulled wine around the fireplace.

Lake Garda and mountains in winter

From hand-crafted natural interiors to an outdoor pool and Jacuzzi, the family-run boutique hotel, Alle Dolomiti, is a brilliant base for relaxing and exploring in the Italian Dolomites.

Situated on the shores of Lake Molveno and backed by the beautiful Brenta Dolomites, this is where you can indulge in themed food & wine tasting tours, or put your best foot forward on walking holidays. And, if you’re searching for somewhere to enjoy an Italian Christmas, the Alle Dolomiti is definitely worth adding to your wish list.

Think a holiday in the Dolomites might be for you? Find out about our Italy and Lake Molveno holidays.