Ultimate 3 Day Dolomites Itinerary

I have been dying to visit the Dolomites for years, and finally got the chance in April! This stunning mountain region in northeastern Italy is the perfect destination for an Alpine escape. The summers offer endless hiking trails and winters offer some of Italy’s best skiing.

This region is quite big and you could spend a lot of time exploring it, especially if you’re hiking, but I’ve compiled my 3-4 day itinerary below If you only have 3 days, just skip day 4 from the itinerary below. Days 1-3 have my top recommendations.

You can also check out my full Dolomites Travel Guide here!

Disclaimer: This article contains some links where I earn commission through booking. There is no extra cost to you, and I only recommend things I’ve used and love or places I’ve stayed and enjoyed!

Dolomites Itinerary Map

Locations are color coded by day!

• Day 1: Green
• Day 2: Blue
• Day 3: Purple
• Day 4: Red

Day 1: Lago di Carezza & Bolzano

Lago di Carezza

Start off your trip by visiting one of the Dolomites most famous alpine lakes, Lago di Carezza. Lago di Carezza is an alpine lake with turquoise waters, pine trees, and the Dolomites in the backdrop. I was unfortunately there on a cloudy day, so you couldn’t really see the mountains in the backdrop.

Bolzano

Head to Bolzano (where I recommend basing yourself for you trip!) Bolzano has lots of hotels and restaurants and is good for exploring the rest of the Dolomites. You can check into your hotel, and then head to the cable car located right near the main train station.

The Bolzano cable car leads to some of my favorite Dolomites views! The cable car takes about 15 minutes to the top. A round trip ticket is ten euros, for 16 you can add on a ticket for the train at the top. The scenic train navigates between a few small mountain towns and offers amazing views of the Dolomites.

There are also a few great hotel restaurants to grab a meal or drinks with views at the top of the mountain.

After returning back to Bolzano I recommend taking some time to explore the city. It’s small, and filled with charming, colorful buildings. It’s a unique mix of German and Italian and makes it a fun city to explore. For a great spot for a drink with a view or dinner, head to Meta SkyBar and Restaurant, located right off the main square in Bolzano.

Where to Stay in Bolzano

• Parhotel Laurin – upscale, conveniently located, on-site restaurants, great breakfast, patio & on site bar
• Hotel Greif – mid-upscale, conveniently located, great breakfast

Day 2: Lago di Braies, Selva di Val Gardena & Jimmi Hütte

Lago di Braies

You’ve probably seen Lago di Braies on instagram at one point or another. This alpine lake features some of the most picturesque turquoise water with the Dolomites looming in the background. In the summer the lake also has a series of wooden rowboats that you can rent, or just take cute pictures of.

I visited in the spring, so the boats weren’t in the water yet, the lake wasn’t also completely full yet as the snow hadn’t fully melted!

Even in the shoulder season, this place was busy midday! So I can only imagine how the summer is. I would try to get there earlier in the AM if possible. There’s a few parking lots right near by, You’ll need to pay a couple euro an hour for parking.

Selva di Val Gardena & Jimmi Hütte

From Lago di Braies head to Selva di Val Gardena, one of the Dolomites most charming towns. From Selva di Val Gardena you can take the  Dantercepies cable car up into the mountains. From the top of the cable car you’ll walk about 10 minutes to Jimmi Hütte, a charming restaurant/bar that features some of the best views of the Dolomites.

Day 3: Seceda & St. Magdalena

Seceda

Start day 3 off with a trip up to Seceda, one of the most iconic Dolomites viewing points.  It is accessed by cable car from Ortisei (Urtijëi) There is plenty of parking in the area around the cable car. From the top of the cable car you only need to walk about 10 minutes or so to the viewpoint.

St. Magdalena

St. Magdalena is a one of the most picaresque towns in the Dolomites that offers views of rolling hills, charming churches with the epic backdrop of the rocky Dolomites on a clear day. Google maps has a few of the various viewpoints in St. Magdaela marked, so you can find them there! This town can be reached by car and some of the viewpoints need to be accessed by foot.

Day 4: Vipiteno & Brixen

If you have a fourth day to spend in the Dolomites, I recommend exploring two of the areas most charming towns. Vipiteno & Brixen.  The charming medieval towns feature a series of colorful buildings, making them look like something out of a storybook!