Dolomites Travel Guide

Pale rock spires towering over green alpine pastures, Ladin villages, and the alpenglow in the evening: The Dolomites have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009 (9 sub-areas), reach an elevation of 3,343 meters at the Marmolada, and span South Tyrol, Trentino, and the province of Belluno in Veneto. Their most iconic feature is the Three Peaks, and they also include the Seiser Alm, Europe’s largest high-altitude alpine pasture—in winter, Dolomiti Superski connects 12 ski areas with approximately 1,200 kilometers of slopes.

On this page, you'll find an overview of all the articles about the Dolomites from italien.news: from the Ski vacation in Val Gardena about Alta Badia up to the Plätzwiese in the Puster Valley. You'll also find key facts, accommodation options, and answers to frequently asked questions—plus guides to neighboring areas South Tyrol and Trentino right away.

Which towns and valleys in the Dolomites are worth visiting?

Every valley has its own character—in a nutshell: Val Gardena and Alta Badia for skiing and Ladin culture, the Upper Puster Valley for the Three Peaks, Cortina for the big stage, and San Martino for the quiet Trentino side.

• Val Gardena: Selva, Santa Cristina, and Ortisei are located right on the Sellaronda. In winter, they’re a classic destination for Ski vacation in Val Gardena, a starting point in the summer for Sunrise Tours in Val Gardena or the hike to the Lech de Ciampedel in the Langental Valley.
• Alta Badia: Corvara and its neighboring villages offer ski slopes, Ladin cuisine, and mountain views—read more about this in the article on the Ski vacation in Alta Badia.
• Upper Puster Valley: From Dobbiaco, you can reach the Three Peaks, Lake Braies, and the Plätzwiese in the Fanes-Sennes-Prags Nature Park – a high plateau overlooking the Hohe Gaisl.
• Cortina d’Ampezzo (Belluno): The most famous town on the Venetian side of the Dolomites, surrounded by the Tofane and Cristallo mountains—host of the 2026 Winter Olympics.
• San Martino di Castrozza (Trentino): Located at the foot of the Pala Group, quieter than the big-name resorts—easily combined with the Trentino Travel Guide.

What makes the Dolomites so special?

The name gives it away: The light-colored dolomite rock led the locals to pale mountains speak. When the setting sun turns the walls of Rosengarten or Sella red, you'll experience the Enrosadira – the famous alpenglow of the Dolomites. This unique landscape and its geological significance led to the Dolomites being designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009, divided into nine sub-areas spanning South Tyrol, Trentino, and Belluno.

Added to this is a culture found nowhere else: In Val Gardena, Val Badia, and Val di Fassa, Ladin is still spoken today—a distinct Rhaeto-Romanic language with its own cuisine, folklore, and craft traditions, such as Val Gardena woodcarving. Just how closely German, Italian, and Ladin cultures are interwoven here is also demonstrated by our South Tyrol Travel Guide.

What activities are worth doing in the Dolomites?

In the summer, the Dolomites belong to hikers and climbers: the circuit around the Three Peaks is one of the most famous high-altitude trails in the Alps; the Seiser Alm, Europe’s largest high-altitude pasture, offers gentle panoramic trails; and the rock faces feature via ferrata routes whose origins date back to World War I. Mountain bikers use the cable cars in the valleys or circle the Sella massif on the Sellaronda MTB route.

In winter, it’s all about Dolomiti Superski: 12 ski areas with about 1,200 kilometers of slopes on a single ski pass. At the heart of it all is the Sellaronda, the ski circuit around the Sella massif through Val Gardena, Alta Badia, the Fassa Valley, and Arabba—doable in a single day of skiing, in either direction. You can read about what that’s like in our articles on Val Gardena and Alta Badia.

What should you eat and drink in the Dolomites?

Mountain hut culture is part of the mountain experience here: At staffed alpine pastures and mountain huts, you’ll find bacon dumplings in soup, cheese dumplings made with mountain cheese, and, to finish off the meal, Kaiserschmarrn with lingonberries. In the Ladin valleys, you’ll get to try Turtres (stuffed dumplings) and Cajincì – Dishes that you’ll only find in the Val Gardena and Val Badia regions. They pair perfectly with a glass of South Tyrolean wine or a Trentodoc sparkling wine from Trentino.

Which events are worth attending?

The event calendar follows the seasons: In summer, mountain races such as the Drei Zinnen Alpine Run in Sexten or the Seiser Alm Half Marathon take runners right through the heart of the World Heritage Site; in winter, the Moonlight Classic—a nighttime cross-country ski race on the Seiser Alm—and ski races in Val Gardena and Alta Badia draw visitors. In the run-up to Christmas, the Val Gardena transforms into the Christmas Valley in the Dolomites, and Cortina d’Ampezzo was in the spotlight as the host city for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The Dolomites offer a different experience in every season. Browse through the article overview above—or start planning your route right away with the guides for South Tyrol and the Trentino.

Note: Disclaimer - Italien.news is not the owner or organizer of the sights, accommodations and events published here and therefore not responsible for program changes, cancellation of the event and possibly incorrect information. The editorial team of Italien.news always endeavors to provide detailed and accurate information. However, it is possible that events, attractions, etc. may be changed and not updated promptly. Exact details of dates, times and programs can be obtained directly from the owner of the attractions and accommodation.

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