10 best places to visit in the Italian Alps and the Dolomites

Few mountains in the world are more dramatic than the Tre Cime di Lavaredo. Three massive peaks rise side by side above a sea of boulders. Their nearly vertical sides rise to pointy peaks.

Only by hiking the Tre Cime loop can you see the most iconic views of these Italian mountains. The paths are simple, but the rewards are spectacular. Various perfectly placed rifugios offer a refreshing lager, a warm coffee, and delicious Italian food throughout the hike. Tre Cime is a popular Dolomite photography location and a great half-day outing in the mountains.

We recommend staying at The Caravan Park Sexten. It is a fantastic spot for camping in the Dolomites. The numerous awards and great reviews from guests highlight its uniqueness and popularity. Surrounded by nature with a view of the peaks of the Sexten Sundial, the location alone is impressive. An extensive wellness & spa area, several restaurants, a shop, a climbing hall, a Kid’s Club, and much more add that extra something to your stay.

Lago di Braies (Pragser Wildsee) is a beautiful lake in Valle di Braies/Pragser Tal, a side valley of Alta Pusteria/Pustertal in South Tyrol.

Early summer (June) or late autumn (late September – October) are the best times to visit Lago di Braies. The water level drops as the summer season progresses.

The first place most people want to visit in the Dolomites is Lago di Braies. It's a zoo during peak season. The majority of visitors come solely for the photograph. Many people will walk the lake's circuit trail. The smartest visitors, on the other hand, get to Lago di Braies at sunrise and hike up nearby peaks like Hochalpenkopf.

South Tyrol's Sesto/Sexten Valley is a beautiful side valley of the Sesto/Sexten Valley. It's a good starting point for exploring the northern Sexten Dolomites and the Three Peaks Nature Park. For a low-key adventure, hike the Val Fiscalini valley trail from Bad Moos to Rifugio Fondovalle/Talschlusshütte for a low-key adventure. From here, you can continue ascending Valle Sasso Vecchio/Altensteintal valley all the way to Rifugio Locatelli/Dreizinnenhütte (2405 m) and Tre Cime di Lavaredo/Trei Zinnen. 

The Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm in German, Mont Suc in Ladin) is Europe's largest high-alpine pasture, covering 56 square kilometres. This rolling alpine plateau in South Tyrol stretches from the foot of the Sassolungo Group (Langkofel) to the base of the Sciliar (Schlern).

Alpe di Siusi attracts photographers, hikers, cyclists, and skiers alike. The plateau is easily accessible by gondola from both Ortisei in Val Gardena and Siusi Allo Sciliar. The entire pasture is peppered with alpine pasture huts (Alm/Malga/Schwaige), which are ideal lunch spots. Rauchhütte sells homemade dairy products, Gostner Schwaige sells wine, and Malga Sanon sells regional cuisine. If you visit during the summer, we recommend hiking the exhilarating Alpe di Siusi – Rifugio Bolzano – Rifugio Alpe di Tires circuit trail. This 21.6 km loop takes approximately 8 hours to complete.

We recommend staying in the Camping Seiser Alm. It is in the tourism area of Alpe di Siusi a 4-star campsite located in the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Dolomites. South Tyrol camping is located in the northern part of Italy, and it is the second-largest province, with the capital and largest city being Bolzano. A large portion of the local population speaks German. The major cities of Bolzano and Meran are primarily spoken in Italian. Camping in Alpe di Siusi includes an outdoor heated swimming pool that is open from May to October. Laghetto di Fiè/Völser Weiher swimming lake, a 20-minute walk from the campsite, has a stunning Alps backdrop and is located in the heart of Schiller nature park. Guests staying at the campsite can use the local buses for free and receive discounts on public transportation throughout South Tyrol.

As the Italian Alps' mountains erode into foothills and rushing rivers carry more and more water, great lakes form. Lake Como is the largest and most beautiful of these. The town of Como, the lake's main centre, is one of the best places to visit in the Italian Alps.

Stroll through the old town, which is filled with beautiful squares, charming churches, and a plethora of interesting and quirky museums. The cathedral is one of the city's most impressive structures, and the funicular to Brunate offers a breathtaking view of the lakes.

Is there anything more picturesque than a lakeside Italian town? And, without a doubt, Bellagio is the most beautiful. It is the jewel of Lake Como because it is in the middle of where the Y-shaped lake splits into two parts.

As seen from its perch on the lakeshore, the facades of its golden villas, houses, and churches reflect in the rippling blue waters. Hidden behind these structures is a charming and intriguing village. Narrow laneways and twisting staircases hide designer boutiques and local artisan shops selling Europe's best silk. It's one of the most picturesque villages in the Italian Alps.

This picturesque mountain town is known as the "Pearl of the Dolomites." It's easy to see why this town is so popular with visitors, with its charming streets and mediaeval architecture. Numerous films and television shows have been filmed in the area. Cortina d’Ampezzo will play host to the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Breuil-Cervinia high-altitude ski resort has over 160 kilometres of pistes, the majority of which have stunning views of the Matterhorn, which is just across the border in Switzerland. While the resort isn't the most picturesque in Italy, the long runs and high-alpine views are hard to beat.

Cervinia's already fantastic winter playground is set to receive a significant upgrade in 2021. A new cable car will connect Cervinia and Klein Matterhorn, making skiing a year-round activity. Cervinia's already long season will be extended to year-round skiing thanks to the one-hour drive to Zermatt's glacier paradise.

The Italian Alps differ from the rest of the Alps. They stand out due to their unusual shape and pale Dolomite rock. Around 250 million years ago, the rock was formed from fossilised coral reefs. When the African and European tectonic plates collided, mountains were formed.

The collision produced a wide range of shapes. This diversity is best seen from the top of the cable car that runs from Passo Pordoi to Sass Pordoi. View table-top mountains, undulating grassy meadows, soaring pointy peaks, and desolate moonscapes from here.

The Italian Alps are the birthplace of Via Ferrata, which translates as "iron path." Climbers are held in place by a steel cable that runs along with near-vertical rock faces. Climbers without much experience can use the cables, iron rungs, pegs, carved steps, and ladders to get across narrow ledges and hard peaks.

In the Brenta Dolomites, via ferratas have been linked together to create extensive multi-day hiking tours with overnight stays in mountain refuges. It's a heart-pounding adrenaline rush. Even if that isn't your thing, the hiking in this rocky wonderland is fantastic.