Where to Stay in the Dolomites: Best Areas & Hotels

Dolomites Travel Tips

Before we dive into the best areas and best hotels in the Dolomites, I want to cover a few travel tips first. While I usually add these in as a bonus at the end of articles, knowing this information first will better help you plan and make your decision about where to stay.

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Price Point of Accommodation

There's a really important thing to note if you're on any sort of budget when planning your stay in the Dolomites.

This region is famous, incredibly beautiful, and really in demand during the summer and winter but the prices are at their peak in winter from our experience.

If you want to stay within walking distance from a cable car, ski lift, or trail access in one of the best towns, be prepared to pay a premium. It's up to you and your budget to decide if the perks are worth the price tag.

For those that want to experience the Dolomites without ruining their bank account, I recommend staying in a small village outside one of the main towns. You'll likely have to drive to the ski slopes or to a trailhead but you'll still be in the Dolomites, surrounded by the natural beauty of the area.

In this article I'm outlining the best areas to stay in the Dolomites, with some exceptions of small villages nearby based on our experience. Use these areas as a guideline and don't be afraid to venture farther away from town and into the village for better prices.

Although I won't mention it here (another article for another day), there are some incredible mountains in the Friuli Venezia Giulia region. This region is just southeast from the heart of the Dolomites but offers great skiing, hiking, and biking at a much more affordable price point.

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How Many Days to Spend

As I made it clear already, I could live in the Dolomites so I'm a bit biased when deciding how many days to spend here. That being said though: the amount of time you need in the Dolomites directly coincides with what you want to do.

If you're happy to base yourself in one area and will take advantage of the nature right outside your hotel door, ~3 nights should be great.

If you're eager to explore more than one of the areas, outlined below, I suggest staying closer to ~5 nights.

If you want to see as much of the Italian Dolomites as possible, well, stay as long as you can. Even after about 8 trips to the region, I feel as though I've barely scratched the surface so even if you stay months, I don't think you'll run out of new trails to hike or bike or new slopes in the winter.

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Best Time to Visit

The Dolomites get 4 true seasons so the time you choose to visit will greatly change your trip. Grab more information on this in this article that dives deep into when is the best time to visit.

Summer/Early Fall

Summer is paradise in the Dolomites. The temperatures are much cooler than in the rest of Italy but usually prime for outdoor activities. This is the best time to visit to go hiking, biking, walking, or to soak up the views.

The only exception to the summer rule is June. The beginning of June is sometimes still considered off-season because snow can still be on the trails, making them closed for hiking or biking. It really depends year-to-year when summer unofficially begins.

Just know that weather can change quickly in the mountains so it's still safe to be prepared for 4 seasons in one day. Even in August, I've faced warm sun, a full downpour, and hail all on one trail.

Winter/Early Spring

It snows in Italy so winter and early spring are the perfect time to visit the Dolomites to enjoy winter sports. Skiing and snowboarding are super popular here and most mountains have a number of slopes for all levels.

The Dolomites created the Dolomiti Superski Area. That means on 1 lift ticket you can ride on any of the slopes in the region. Most of the mountains are even interconnected so you can spend days skiing here and never do the same run twice.

For more on the winter season, read our full article on skiing in the Dolomites.

Off-season

Personally, the only time that I don't think is great for a visit is late spring and late fall. That's because during both of these seasons most things will be closed. It's not yet safe for either hiking or biking trails from the accumulation of snow from winter still melting away or to hit the ski slopes because of not enough snow in fall.

Both late spring and late fall are considered off-season here. Prices will likely be better but know you won't be able to do many of the outdoor activities you've dreamed up if you visit during these months.

If you're craving a peaceful place to sit with a book and a relaxing spa, you might love it during this time.

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Car vs. Public Transportation

Most of Italy is well-connected by public transportation. That being said though, the routes to get from one area to another in the Dolomites aren't always the fastest anyways and by adding in public transportation, the time needed to get from Point A to Point B can really add up.

Know that there aren't many trains in the Dolomites, with the exception of larger towns like Bolzano, Brixen, and Belluno.

In order to really get around the Dolomites and explore more of this incredible region, you'll want to have a car. You can rent a car from all big cities or airports and drive in from there. The roads are curvy but incredibly scenic.

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Where to Eat in the Dolomites

Just like everywhere in Italy, the food is fantastic in the Dolomites. Here, you'll find your filling of pastas combined with Austrian classics (aka lots and lots of sausages).

No matter which area you choose to visit in the Dolomites, I recommend you eat at a refugio. Refugio is the word in Italian for a mountain lodge or hut. All around the Dolomites you'll find plenty of refugi (plural of refugio) to choose from.

Most of them are on actual hiking trails, at the top of cable car lines, or on ski slopes.

Very few can you actually drive to but you can get to many by ski lifts or cable car if you're not up for the walk, bike ride, or ski journey to get to them on foot.

Trust me, not only will you get to try the best mountain food at a refugio, you'll also be rewarded with incredible views.

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Dolomites Culture

The culture is incredibly unique in the Dolomites region, especially in South Tyrol and Trentino. Both of those provinces are semi-autonomous and are uniquely their own. They were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire until the end of World War 1 and have held onto their culture since then.

Most locals speak Italian, German, and the local dialect, Ladin. This is important for you to realize because most signs will have one town name in all 3 languages. Often the name is similar for you to realize it's the same place but not in all cases.

This mix of culture is apparent in the language, food, architecture, and spa culture.

Many hotels in the Dolomites offer a spa and/or sauna included in the room rate. Note that most of the spas don't allow clothing to be worn, even swimsuits. Some are gender divided but most are not. As an American, I was shocked the first time I went into a spa in a Dolomites hotel to see dozens of people, men and women, walking around confidently in the buff.

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Best Areas to Base Yourself in the Dolomites

Alright, now for the good stuff. As you can see above in the map, that's the general area of the Dolomites, with the sections highlighted that I absolutely adore and recommend for you when choosing where to stay.

Let's dive right in.

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San Cassiano

San Cassiano is also called San Ciascian and St. Kassian.

San Cassiano is one of my favorite small towns in the Dolomites. It's centrally located in Alta Badia and will put you in a great position to explore biking and hiking trails in the summer and skiing in the winter.

There's a cable car right on the edge of town for you to hit the slopes just a short walk or quick drive from your accommodation.

We stayed in San Cassiano last August. Right from our hotel (mentioned below), I hopped on the San Cassiano - Rifugio Fanes trail for a great day out in the Dolomites. This was a tough hike but incredibly scenic.

Given the central location, from San Cassiano, you can also drive the Gardena Pass. This is known as one of the most beautiful roads in the entire region and while I was worried it'd be overhyped, it really is impressive.

The heart of the road is about 20-30 minutes from San Cassiano making it a quick addition to your trip. From there, you'll find a number of trails you can hop on or ski slopes to take on.

Best Hotels in San Cassiano

Looking for the best place to stay in San Cassiano? I recommend:

• Budget Stay: Hotel Falzares: This was our accommodation during our stay. It's pet-friendly, has a spa, offers free breakfast, and has an incredibly nice and welcoming staff. For the price point, it's hard to beat.
• Mid-Tier Stay: Hotel B&B Frohsinn: Although you won't get a spa with this one, you will be right at the ski lifts so you can ski door to door here with ease.
• Luxury Stay: Hotel Tofana: This is easily one of the nicest accommodations in town and has everything you could ask for (and more) during your stay.

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Sexten

Sexten is also called Sesto.

Sexten is the first place we visited in the Dolomites and still one of my favorites. The town here is quite small and a little more spread out so you don't have as clear of a town center like you do in other areas on this list.

That said though, the homes here are incredibly charming with typical Austrian architecture and flower boxes in all of the windows.

Sexten is located directly north from Venice, just a short drive from the Austrian border. Although it's not a very central location in the Dolomites, some of the most popular places to visit are nearby here.

Lago di Braies, or Lake Braies, is an alpine lake that you've likely seen pop up once or twice on social media. Although it can get incredibly crowded, I still think it's worth the visit. That said, I'd only suggest visiting if you're willing to do the full walking loop around the lake. The loop trail is around 2 miles/3.5 km and is relatively flat. The main viewpoint gets crowded but from our experience, you can find quiet spots on the other side of the lake.

Another icon around Sexten is Tre Cime di Lavaredo. You've also probably seen pictures of the 3 "chimney" shaped mountain peaks. There is a really famous loop trail you can do to see these beauties but also about 10 other hikes that'll take you around them but not on the same congested trail. If you have the energy, I highly recommend you choose one of the alternatives.

I opted for the Croda Fiscalina Circuit Trail instead and found it fantastic. It's much more of a challenge than the more popular one but will lead you right to Tre Cime towards the end of the hike.

Best Hotels in Sesto

Looking for the best hotels in Sexten? I've got you covered:

• Budget Stay: Hotel Schoenblick: Enjoy free breakfast to give you plenty of energy to hit the slopes or the trails and rooms with great mountain views so you never have to lose sight of the Dolomites during your trip.
• Mid-Tier Stay: Alpenwellnesshotel St. Veit: This is where we stayed in Sexten and it was truly incredible. We don't always choose a luxury hotel but decided to splurge, mainly due to the reviews about the included meals. The food, the location, the staff, and the room was really something special. While this is an expensive place to stay, given the price point of the area, it would still be a mid-range price.
• Luxury Stay: Stabinger Hof: Prefer your own space and kitchen? This boutique hotel offers private chalets, ideal for families visiting the Dolomites. You'll also get access to the spa and some rentals have a private sauna.

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Cortina d'Ampezzo

Cortina d'Ampezzo is also called Anpezo/Anpez and Hayden.

Cortina d'Ampezzo is one of the most famous towns in the Dolomites. It's known as the bougie place to stay - similar to how most Americans see Aspen.

Given its central location, Raf and I visited last winter for a snowboarding trip. It's part of the Dolomiti Superski Area so by buying a lift ticket here, you can instead pay a little bit more and get access to the entire region. It makes for a lot of fun on the slopes but can be confusing on day 1 to navigate which way to go.

You can also take the cable car to the lesser-visited Cinque Torri in the winter for skiing or in the summer for hiking. Personally, I think this is one of the prettiest parts of the region and home to some of my favorite slopes.

The town of Cortina is super charming and is home to high-end boutiques and great restaurants. It's not really our style but if you're looking for what I'd considered the "nicest" area of the Dolomites, this is it.

Another well-known destination near Cortina d'Ampezzo is Lago di Sorapis. Unlike Lago di Braies where you can reach the lake just a short walk from your car, you have to hike to see this alpine lake. Given the heavy snowfall in the area, the trail is only open in the summer. Just like with Tre Cime, there are a number of trails to choose from to get you to the lake but this out-and-back hiking trail is the most popular.

I haven't yet done this hike because I've heard that it's gotten really crowded in recent years but if it's on your to-do list, I recommend staying in or around Cortina.

Best Hotels in Cortina d'Ampezzo

When booking your stay to Cortina, you'll need to decide if you prefer to be within walking distance of the vibrant town center, ski lifts, or stunning mountain views. I recommend you take a look at:

• Budget Stay: Villa a Borca di Cadore: This is where we stayed when we visited Cortina. You'll see it's a short drive from the town center in a small village. Personally, we enjoyed the tranquility of the area and the price difference than if we would have stayed right in Cortina. The views here are really fantastic. Check the hero picture to see what I mean.
• Mid-Tier Stay: Ciasa Vervei: If you're more interested in being near Cinque Torri and having direct access to the slopes or hiking trails, I recommend staying here. Although you'll be a drive away from Cortina, you're in the perfect place for nature.
• Luxury Stay: Cortina Luxury Home: If you're planning a trip to Cortina with a group of friends or family, this spacious rental home is in the perfect location to be able to enjoy downtown Cortina and access the cable car.

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Selva di Val Gardena

Selva di Val Gardena is also called Sëlva and Wolkenstein in Gröden.

Selva di Val Gardena is just on the other side of the Gardena Pass from San Cassiano. It's one of the main towns on the Sellaronda ski circuit making it a really popular place to stay in the winter.

If you dream of completing the Sellaronda, you can stay in either Val Gardena or nearby any of the other towns the circuit passes through. That includes Arabba, Canazei, Corvara, and Colfosco.

In the summer, Selva di Val Gardena is also a popular destination in order to see the unique mountain peak of Seceda. The cable car is a little further north in Ortisei but staying in Selva gives you the chance to also enjoy the Gardena Pass since you'll be right in the middle of them both.

I haven't yet visited Selva di Val Gardena but have been in the area all around it so I can only imagine it's a beautiful spot to stay.

Best Hotels in Selva di Val Gardena

Although I previously likened Cortina to Aspen, now that I've looked closer at the accommodation in Selva di Val Gardena, I'm starting to rethink this might be the nicest area. There's no shortage of luxury hotels here. Take a look:

• Budget Stay: Agriturismo Maso Larciunei: Agriturismo is a concept that exists in Italy, similar to what we in English would call a "farm stay." Here, they produce all of their own food, usually providing incredible meals. On top of the food, you'll be nearby the c
• Mid-Tier Stay: Linder Cycling Hotel: You'll be surrounded by ski lifts at this modern boutique hotel right in Val Gardena. Personally, I love the sleek style of this property and the scenic indoor swimming pool.
• Luxury Stay: Hotel Alpenroyal: This luxury hotel in particular is a 5-star stay that even has its own helicopter landing pad - ideal for those that are after the celebrity treatment.

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St. Magdalena

St. Magdalena is also called Santa Maddalena.

St. Magdalena is a small town outside of Brixen. This is in the western edge of the Dolomites region and is so impressive. Driving into the town, if you're lucky with a clear day, you'll have a fantastic view of very typical alpine pasture huts, bridget green grass, and mighty mountain peaks creating a wall behind it.

The view of the town itself is one of the reasons this is one of the best areas to stay in the Dolomites. Another is the Adolf Munkel Trail. This is another you've likely seen on social media thanks to the refugio that sits on the trail, Refugio Odle - Geisleralm.

Now, I want to be clear in saying that this trail is really fantastic and the views from this refugio are stunning. We didn't have great luck with the weather on the day we hiked but still were blown away. That said, there are countless other hiking trails and refugi that offer something similar in the Dolomites.

We made the mistake on our first trip to the region to drive from Sexten to St. Magdalena only for this hike. While it was doable, we've now realized it's not as unique as we thought and would have preferred to divide these into 2 separate trips instead of trying to squeeze everything into one.

Best Hotels in St. Magdalena

Since this is such a small town, there aren't many restaurants or hotels here. You'll either want to choose an apartment rental with your own kitchen or a hotel that provides food. Check out:

• Budget Stay: Residence Geisler Funes: Tucked away a bit from the village, this modern farmhouse is a great place to stay for those that want true serenity with nearby access to the area. The hotel also provides breakfast.
• Mid-Tier Stay: Haus Tannenburg: This house is right in the village center and offers direct access to the nearby mountains. You'll love the views and the quaintness of the area.
• Luxury Stay: Berghotel Schlemmer: Went we did the Adolf Munkel trail, this is where we stayed afterwards. The hotel itself has its own cable car, so you can explore more of Northern Italy right from your doorstep here. This isn't in the village but is a short drive away.

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Where Will You Stay in the Dolomites?

Now that you know my favorite areas of the Dolomites and my most recommended hotels, which will you choose? Each town in the Dolomites offers incredible views, a variety of accommodation, and plenty of outdoor activities all year round.

My biggest tip is to choose one area to fully explore before moving on to the next. Trust me, know matter which of these areas you choose, you're in for a real treat!