The Very Best Time to Visit the Dolomites

The Dolomites in the Spring

Spring in the Dolomites stretches from March to May and changes drastically from that time. In general, March and April are still ski season but May things are typically closed and quiet. The exact dates the ski resorts work will change year to year, based on the weather and snowfall.

Spring Weather

On average, the weather in spring in Cortina d'Ampezzo looks like (highs first, lows follow):

• March: 15°C / 59°F, 2°C / 35.6°F
• April: 19°C / 66.2°F, 5°C / 41°F
• May: 23°C / 73.4°F, 9° C / 48.2°F

All temperatures courtesy of dolomitemountains.com.

Know that the higher you climb from Cortina, the colder you can expect the weather conditions to be and also, the lower you get, the more it should warm up.

Spring is also the rainiest season in the Dolomites, with the most amount of rainy days coming through in May.

Best Things to Do in the Spring

Given the fact that spring is shoulder season in the Dolomites, the weather can be a little precarious. We snowboarded this past year in March in Cortina and the lower slopes were turning to slush. We took the gondola over to Cinque Torri and had perfect snow conditions. But, a few weeks later in April, Cortina was covered in a fresh blanket of snow and the ski season was extended.

If you plan your ski trip to the Dolomites in the spring, schedule it for as early in March as possible to be a bit safer.

If you'd rather hike, bike, or mountain climb, you'll need to wait until summer or early fall because even if the slopes are closed, it's likely the snow won't be melted and trails, ski lifts, and gondolas will be closed.

For those looking to simply enjoy mountain views and take advantage of spa days, late spring is a very affordable time to visit the Dolomites, just know that many things will be closed, unless you go to a bigger city like Bolzano.

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The Dolomites in the Summer

Summer in the Dolomites includes June, July, and August. Although it's summer, you can expect drastically cooler weather than in southern Italy or even just at a lower elevation in northern Italy.

For example, I live in Trieste and went to San Cassiano in South Tyrol in August and enjoyed a 7°C/20°F dip in the temperature.

Know that early summer, meaning June, you can still expect snow on some hiking trails and for some ski lifts to still be closed. June through early July the snow melts. July and August all of the trails and lifts are back open, making it the perfect time for summer sports.

Summer Weather

On average, you can expect the summer weather in Cortina to feel like:

• June: 27°C / 80.6°F, 13°C / 55.4°F
• July: 29°C / 84.2°F, 15°C / 59°F
• August: 28°C / 82.4°F, 15°C / 59°F

Our days in August were actually much cooler than this and required a light jacket or long-sleeve, until you started to build up a sweat on the trails.

Best Things to Do in the Summer

Summer is a fantastic time to visit the Dolomites for all outdoor enthusiasts. If you want to get outside, there's really no shortage of mountain biking and hiking trails, via ferrata routes, and mountain huts to dine at.

Most ski lifts and gondolas are open in the summer so even if you're not able or willing to hike or bike, you can still enjoy the views from many of the peaks.

Since summer is one of the peak seasons in the Dolomites, you can expect a lot of people to be there. Here's what I've realized though: If you plan your trip based on social media and are chasing the most iconic locations (like Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Lago di Braies, Lago di Sorapis, or Seceda), you're likely going to share the trails and the views with too many people.

Personally, this takes away from the beauty and the tranquility of the mountains themselves. In reality, there are 1000s of trails throughout the Dolomites, all incredibly beautiful and most super quiet.

If you're willing to forgo the famous viewpoint of Santa Maddalena Church or at Alpe di Siusi mountain lodge, for example, I guarantee you won't feel like you missed out later on.

Search for trails near your accommodation and I'm sure you'll find 100s all offering a stunning view, without you having to wait your turn to snap a picture. I like using AllTrails for this.

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The Dolomites in the Fall

The fall is a special time in the Dolomites, at least to me. It's still considered one of the shoulder seasons, like spring, but if you get lucky with the weather you're in for a real treat.

The fall in the Dolomites stretches from September to November. November is similar to May where most things are closed and there's too much snow for hiking and mountain biking but not enough yet for winter sports to start.

September should be the perfect time for getting outside and likely October is perfect for fall leaves and colors but know that it can snow as early as October, cutting your fall trip short.

Fall Weather

The average fall weather in the Dolomites (based on temperatures from Cortina) are:

• September: 25°C / 77°F, 11°C / 51.8°F
• October: 19°C / 66.2°F, 6° C / 42.8°F
• November: 11°C / 51.8°F, 0°C / 32°F

You want to pack warmly for the fall because as you climb altitude, the temperature can drop drastically.

Best Things to Do in the Fall

Compared to our trips to the Dolomites in other seasons, fall seems to have fewer tourists, making it a better time to visit the alpine lakes or other popular destinations in the region.

While we haven't yet been to the area in the real shoulder seasons of May or November, late September felt like the perfect time to visit the Dolomites compared to the other months we've been. That being said, August was the perfect trip to avoid hot summer temperatures.

In early fall, you can still enjoy most of the hiking trails and mountain biking routes. In early September most mountain huts should be open for either just a meal or to stay overnight. Come mid-October though, it's likely most will start to close to open back up in the winter.

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The Dolomites in the Winter

Winter is a dream come true in the Dolomites, especially for those that love winter sports. Winter season starts in December and lasts through February.

There's a chance that the slopes aren't open in December but instead you'll get to enjoy a variety of Christmas markets to get you in the holiday spirit. While not as big as those in Austria and Germany, they're still a great way to enjoy the local culture.

Come January though, ski season should be well underway, with it hitting its peak in February.

Winter Weather

You can expect these average temperatures for your trip to the Dolomites in the winter:

• December: 7°C / 44.6°F, -4°C / 24.8°F
• January: 6°C / 42.8°F, -5°C / 23°F
• February: 9°C / 48.2°F, -2°C / 28.4°F

Best Things to Do in the Winter

These months are a winter sports paradise so the best things you can do in the winter is gear up for the snow.

Even in December if the slopes aren't open, it's likely you can already enjoy cross country skiing or snowshoeing. Once January comes around though, there should be enough snow coverage to open all of the slopes.

Cortina d'Ampezzo is one of the most popular places to go skiing in the Dolomites, along with the Sella Rondo loop in Alta Badia. I haven't yet done the Sella Rondo but did find Cortina far more crowded than other lesser-known ski resorts in the region. Cortina is a good base though as they have cable cars that can connect you to the quieter Cinque Torri area.

There are a lot of websites that show you which ski resorts are open and provide basic stats on them but I recommend Bergfex. This website helped us understand our options and where to stay since each of our many times to the mountains in the winter we wanted to try out new slopes.

Just know that wherever you choose to go skiing or snowboarding in the Dolomites, expect incredible views or snow covered peaks so good that you might take a few extra tumbles getting distracted by them. Speaking from experience...

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A Few Bonus Travel Tips

Now that you're planning when you want to visit the Dolomites, you need to keep in mind a few travel tips.

• Don't plan too many day trips. If you're just in town for a few days, I'd aim to hang right around from where you're staying. I promise each mountain town has so much to offer that you don't need to drive across the region to enjoy your trip.
• Skip the famous spots. Unless you're here for weeks and have time to do it all, I would skip out on the famous spots and get off the beaten path. There aren't any shortage of incredible trails, quaint villages, and delicious mountain huts. Don't let social media fool you into thinking otherwise.
• You'll hear Italian, German, and Ladin. South Tyrol was part of Austria until 1919 so most locals still speak German and also the regional dialect, Ladin. It's not uncommon for signs and menus to be in all 3 languages. Many who work in hospitality also speak English.
• Don't forget your hiking boots. Even if you can't make it up or down a trail on your own, you can rely on the ski lifts in the winter or summer to get you to some great look-out points. From there, you'll want to be able to roam around and see all the incredible view points.
• Typically the rifugios, or mountain huts, have the best food. In my experience, it's better to eat at those on the trails than to eat in towns, although they're usually more expensive.

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When Will You Visit the Dolomites?

The Dolomites are well worth visiting. The hype this mountain range has is legitimate. Regardless of the time of the year you choose to visit, there's always something to do and epic views at every corner.

From winter skiing and snowboarding to summer hikes, the best time to visit the Dolomites will really depend on what you want to do while visiting northeastern Italy.