Where to Stay in the DolomitesThe Best Valleys Compared

Which valley should you choose?

The Dolomites have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009 and spread over several valleys and three regions: South Tyrol, Trentino and Veneto. The valleys are linked by high mountain passes, so it pays to pick one base near the sights you care about most instead of driving every day.

Most hotels open for two seasons: winter from December to around Easter, summer from about June to October. In between, in spring and November, many hotels and lifts close.

Which base suits you?

1. 1
   Good for: First visit, hikers

   Val Gardena (Ortisei, Santa Cristina, Selva)

   A wide valley with three villages and lifts straight up to Seceda, the Alpe di Siusi and the Sella group. Ortisei has a lively pedestrian center; Selva is closer to the passes.

   • Seceda and Alpe di Siusi by lift from Ortisei
   • many hotels in every price range
   • good buses along the valley

   • busy in July and August
   • lift tickets are not cheap

   $$–$$$Not ideal for: Travelers looking for a remote village.

   Try here: Schlutzkrapfen, half-moon pasta filled with spinach and cheese.

   Hotels in Val Gardena (Ortisei, Santa Cristina, Selva) →
2. 2
   Good for: Couples, food lovers

   Alta Badia (Corvara, La Villa, San Cassiano)

   Small Ladin villages below the Sassongher and the Sella group, known for excellent restaurants and mountain huts. Quieter than Val Gardena, with the same high-alpine views.

   • calm villages, great food
   • huts and easy high trails
   • on the passes towards Val Gardena and Cortina

   • pricier hotels
   • fewer buses, a car helps

   $$$Not ideal for: Travelers on a tight budget.

   Try here: Turtres, Ladin fried pastries filled with spinach or sauerkraut.

   Hotels in Alta Badia (Corvara, La Villa, San Cassiano) →
3. 3
   Good for: Eastern sights, shopping

   Cortina d'Ampezzo

   The best-known town in the Dolomites, in Veneto, with shops, restaurants and a big choice of hotels. The closest base for the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Lago di Braies and Cinque Torri.

   • closest to Tre Cime and Lago di Braies
   • a real town with shops and restaurants
   • Cinque Torri and Lagazuoi lifts nearby

   • expensive
   • far from Val Gardena and Seceda

   $$$Not ideal for: Anyone who wants a village feel.

   Try here: Casunziei, Ampezzo ravioli filled with beetroot and topped with poppy seeds.

   Hotels in Cortina d'Ampezzo →
4. 4
   Good for: Families, budget

   Val di Fassa (Canazei, Campitello)

   A Trentino valley at the foot of the Marmolada, the highest peak of the Dolomites. Many hotels and apartments, often a little cheaper than South Tyrol, and close to the Sella and Pordoi passes.

   • often better prices
   • family-friendly villages
   • Marmolada and Pordoi pass nearby

   • less charming main road through the villages
   • far from Tre Cime

   $$Not ideal for: Travelers who want the famous photo spots on the doorstep.

   Try here: Canederli, bread dumplings with speck, in broth or with butter.

   Hotels in Val di Fassa (Canazei, Campitello) →
5. 5
   Good for: Photographers, quiet

   Val di Funes

   A small, green valley with the chapel of St. Johann in Ranui and the church of Santa Maddalena below the Odle peaks. Very quiet, with farms and a few small hotels.

   • the famous church view
   • peace and farm stays
   • hikes under the Odle peaks

   • few restaurants
   • a car is a must

   $$Not ideal for: Anyone who wants nightlife or many lifts.

   Try here: Lamb of the Villnöss spectacled sheep, a local breed with dark rings around the eyes.

   Hotels in Val di Funes →
6. 6
   Good for: No car, rainy days

   Bolzano

   The South Tyrolean capital with trains from Verona and Innsbruck, buses into the valleys and the museum of Ötzi the Iceman. A city break with mountain day trips.

   • train station and buses into the valleys
   • restaurants, shops and museums
   • more choice in winter and spring

   • about an hour from the high valleys
   • no mountain hotel feeling

   $–$$Not ideal for: Hikers who want to start walking from the door.

   Try here: Speck Alto Adige, smoked ham with protected origin, with dark rye bread.

   Hotels in Bolzano →

Do you need a car in the Dolomites?

It helps a lot. Buses run between the valleys in summer, but a car gives you early starts and freedom on the passes. Some famous spots are limited for cars: the toll road to the Tre Cime opens in late May and needs a booking, and Lago di Braies only lets cars in between 9 am and 4 pm with a reservation from July 1 to September 15.

The road up to the Alpe di Siusi is closed to most private cars during the day. Take the cable car from Ortisei or Siusi instead.

How do you get to the Dolomites?

The nearest big airports are Venice, Verona, Innsbruck and Munich; small Bolzano airport has a few flights. By train, go to Bolzano or Brixen on the Verona–Innsbruck line and take a bus into the valleys. Cortina is about two hours by road from Venice.

Your two days in the Dolomites

What does it cost?

• Toll road to Tre Cime€40 per carSummer 2026, booking required; motorbikes €26.
• Parking at Lago di Braies€20 per dayCar park P3, outside 9 am–4 pm in peak season; inside those hours only with a booking.
• Seceda lift, round tripabout €74Adults, summer 2026; children under 8 free.
• Braies park and ride€7 per dayCar park P1 with shuttle, July 1 to September 15.

✓ Facts checked · 2026-11-03 · Summer 2026 prices; they change every year. Check before you go.