Are you thinking of doing a Dolomites day trip from Venice?
The Dolomites make the perfect day trip to arrange from Venice, or if you feel like it’s too complicated to plan it all by yourself, you can join one of the organised tours.
This group of mountains is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009 and the perfect destination to explore for all mountain lovers and outdoor sports fans.
Spending a day surrounded by nature, enjoying the stunning views of the Dolomites, and visiting alpine villages is all possible from the lagoon city.
Dolomites day trip from Venice
Most people don’t know that it takes about 2 hours to reach the wonderful Dolomites from Venice, so there’s no need to have more than a day available, even though I recommend spending longer than 24 hours once here.
So, if your days in Venice last more than just a weekend, keep reading to find out which are the best Dolomites’ day trips from Venice available to you.
Where are the Dolomites?
The Dolomites are a series of mountain groups in the Italian Eastern Alps. The mountain complex covers over 140 thousand hectares and extends over three regions (Trentino Alto Adige, Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia) and five provinces:
- Trento
- Bolzano
- Belluno
- Pordenone
- Udine
A small part of this mountain range is included in Austria with the Lienz Dolomites.
There are 9 Dolomites ranges, some of the most popular ones are: Marmolada, Pale di San Martino and Dolomiti Bellunesi and the Pelmo-Croda da Lago.
They are made almost entirely of dolostone, a rock mainly made up of the mineral dolomite. This particular rock gives the Dolomites their famous pale color.
See a map of the Dolomites below that gives you an idea of where they are located:
Are the Dolomites worth visiting?
The Dolomites are called by locals ‘the most wonderful work of architecture ever created’, and I can reassure after years of visiting them, that they really are, and they never stop enchanting me with their beauty.
So if you ask me, I’ll say yes, the Dolomites are worth visiting 100% and you should absolutely take them into consideration as a day trip from Venice.
Read below three valid reasons to visit the Dolomites:
- You can visit the Dolomites all year round. In winter, they are covered in snow and it’s the perfect time to go skating, skiing, sledging and have an adventure on the fantastic walks with your snowshoes on. In autumn, you can witness the best autumn foliage in the whole country, whilst in spring, nature comes to a new life and it’s lovely to go hiking. In summer, you can practise many sports: via ferrata, trekking, MTB, kayaking, slack line in the woods and around the most majestic peaks of the Alps.
- Relax by the shores of beautiful northern Italian lakes such as Misurina, Braies and Sorapis. They offer incredible views of the surrounding mountains and woods. The curious fact is that they all have a legend. There is the one who guarded the gateway to the underworld, the one that hides the palace of a mermaid and many more stories from local traditions worth getting to know.
- The Dolomites area is also famous for its traditional cuisine. In fact, one of the best ways to learn more about this part of Italy is through its extraordinary flavours. The must-try foods are: canederli, ravioli with alpine cheese filling, polenta with local meat-based main courses and apple strudel.
If you’re not yet fluent in Italian, why not carry this Italian Phrase Book as it will be useful for you to start to have conversations with locals in Italian during your trip?
Best time to visit the Dolomites?
The climate in the Dolomites is that of an alpine climate but due to the conformation of the mountains, it can vary, mostly depending on the altitude.
Summer is the best time to visit the Dolomites from Venice. More precisely, between mid-June to mid-September, temperatures are warm and there is plenty of sunshine, (which makes the ideal weather conditions to go hiking and climbing).
During the summer the average maximum temperatures can reach 20°C at altitudes above 1,500 metres. While the valley floors can go up to 25°C. Wear long technical pants, hiking shoes, a technical shirt and a UV cap to protect you from the sun.
Remember to carry a good pair of sunglasses and suncream for protection with you. Winters are very cold, luckily with fewer rainfall than the rest of the Alps.
This is the best season to go skiing, snowboarding and practise other winter sports. In winter, it’s highly recommended to wear snow boots, a warm coat and waterproof clothes, as well as a hat, some warm Etip gloves and neck warmer.
How to get to the Dolomites from Venice?
The Dolomites are a 2 to 3 hours drive away from Venice. This means that these mountains are more or less 190 kilometers away from Veneto’s capital city.
Depending on which location you decide to visit the journey can be a bit less or more. If you rent a car and drive then you may find it to be even quicker.
Here’s how you can get from the Dolomites to Venice:
- By car in Venice or from the airport. Take the A27 motorway and exit near Belluno and then continue towards your destination.
- By ATVO, Flixbus and Cortina Express bus lines you can reach Longarone, Val Zoldana, Cadore and the Ampezzana basin from Venice.
- By train from Venice Santa Lucia to Calalzo-Pieve di Cadore-Cortina with changes of trains and buses.
Note that many mountain villages are connected to each other by a local bus service and in winter the ski bus service is often added.
I personally recommend going on a day trip to the Dolomites from Venice by joining a guided tour and I’ll suggest some of the best tours from Venice to choose from.
Got travel insurance for the Dolomites?
World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while travelling and claim online from anywhere in the world.
Where to Stay in the Dolomites?
If you’re looking to spend more than a day here to enjoy these wonderful mountains and their landscapes, then you’ll be pleased to know that accommodation in the Dolomites is truly at the highest levels, possibly the highest in Italy.
As you can probably imagine, there’s a huge selection of hotels, B&B, apartments and camping sites to choose from, but see below my personal recommendations.
- Appartamenti Chalet al Lago in Alleghe and near Marmolada peak. The affordable alpine style apartments face the beautiful Alleghe Lake, have BBQ facilities and a children playground, making of it a great place to stay for families. They provide ski storage and free parking too.
- B&B Hotel Passo Tre Croci Cortina, near Misurina Lake, the Tre Cime of Lavaredo, the Sorapis Lake and 42 kilometres from the hotel there’s Braies Lake. The B&B is in a fantastic location to reach the main spots in the Dolomites and visit its picturesque lakes. The property features modern rooms with wood furnishings and mountain views. Free parking available as well as free Wi-Fi and breakfast.
- Hotel de Len in Cortina d’Ampezzo – this highly rated 4-star hotel is only 200 metres away from Cortina’s city centre. It’s the perfect hotel to stay if you’re here to go skiing since it offers ski storage and the ski lift bus stops just outside the property. After a day out, all guests are welcome to pamper themselves at their beautiful spa.
Dolomites tours from Venice
Now that you have a better idea of why to visit the Dolomites, the best time to visit and how to prepare, let’s take a look at the best Dolomites tours from Venice.
Cortina and Dolomites Mountains Day Tour
This Cortina and Dolomites Mountains day tour is perfect for you if you’d like to cover all the main highlights in these mountains in just one day.
This is great if you have 3 days in Venice lets say. You’ll leave from Piazzale Roma in Venice and head towards Cortina d’Ampezzo, also called the ‘pearl of the Dolomites’. Here you’ll get some free time exploring the streets and piazzas.
You’ll then get the cable car and reach Faloria from where you can enjoy fabulous views of the mountains around. The tour continues with a stop by Lake Misurina and the iconic Tre Cime di Lavaredo mountains.
Enjoy your time here surrounded by nature and go for a walk, have lunch at the restaurant before moving towards Lake Auronzo, your last stop. The tour includes round transportation from and to Venice in an air-conditioned minivan and the driver.
Dolomites, Lake Misurina, and Cortina Day Trip
Check out this Dolomites, Lake Misurina and Cortina day trip which is the ideal tour for you if you want to spend time going for walks in the Dolomites and stop to enjoy the scenic landscapes.
You’ll spend some time hiking in the Tre Cime di Lavaredo mountains and admire the beauty of these mountains and their valleys along the way. You’ll also have the chance to stop by the famous Lake Misurina and spend some time by its shores.
Your English-speaking driver will stop plenty of times to allow you to take photos of the main sights. Finally, you’ll visit Cortina d’Ampezzo and stroll around the streets there before heading back to Venice.
This organized day trip is perfect if you like travelling in small groups (max 8 people) and have the transportation from and to Venice sorted for the day.
Dolomite Mountains and Cortina Semi-Private Day Trip
This Dolomite mountain and Cortina semi-private tour is ideal if you like being guided but also have free time to go for walks or do what more pleases you.
It runs all year long but with different destinations in the winter. In fact, instead of Cortina d’Ampezzo and Lake Misurina, you’ll be visiting Lake Braies and San Candido in winter.
If you’re around here during Christmastime you’ll have time to stroll around the lovely Christmas markets of San Candido too. The usual day trip includes a visit to the village of Cortina and some free time exploring the city centre.
You’ll then head towards the Tre Cime di Lavaredo mountains, join an optional walk or take a seat to enjoy the views. Then you can do the same at Lake Misurina, go for a walk or have a coffee by the lake before heading back to Venice.
Dolomites Hiking tour
Has ‘go hiking in the Dolomites’ been on your bucket list for a long time? Then this Dolomites hiking tour is an unmissable experience to join!
With just a day to spend in the mountains, the only thing you have to think about is getting to Piazzale Roma in Venice from where you’ll meet your driver and guide.
You’ll spend a few hours hiking in the Parco Nazionale Delle Dolomiti Bellunesi accompanied by an expert environmental guide.
You’ll have the unique chance to admire dramatic views of the Dolomites and hopefully see the local fauna. Even though lunch is not included in the price, it’s worth stopping somewhere along the way to taste some local dishes in a refuge.
Dolomites day trip from Venice
Now you know what you need to do to enjoy the best Dolomites day trips from Venice and, why this mountain range is worth visiting, plus, exactly when to go.
By joining the recommended day trips above, it’s going to be fairly easy for you to get to the Dolomites from Venice, because that way, your transportation is sorted.
Take advantage of the trip by asking for advice from your guide to make the most of the day out surrounded by the most beautiful peaks and lakes in the country.
I hope you enjoyed this guide, if you’re looking for more inspiration for a day trip from Venice, be sure to check my guide that covers the best day trips from Venice.
📌 Like this article? Click to Pin it…
If you found this Venice travel guide helpful, feel free to buy me a virtual coffee here.
“Dear traveller! Some links in this post contain affiliate links. Meaning, if you click through and make a tour booking or reserve a hotel, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Your support means a lot to me and helps me to keep creating and maintaining the quality of this site for you.”
