r/dolomites

Reposting from r/travel as I wasn‘t getting a lot of answers:

Please don’t rip my head off because everyone and their mother is currently going to the Dolomites 😅

I’m invited to a wedding in June 2027 and since it’s a ~7-hour drive from my hometown (I’m German), I decided to turn it into a little vacation as well. I’m an avid hiker and have somehow never been to the Dolomites, so I’m very excited!

While doing my research, though, I’ve now realized that apparently it can be insanely crowded and that you basically have to be at parking lots at the crack of dawn if you want any chance of getting a spot. 😅

My current plan is:
19–22 June → Ortisei
22–25 June → Innichen (San Candido)
25–28 June → Bolzano area for the wedding

Unfortunately, I won’t really have any time to explore during the wedding itself, as it’s a multi-day ordeal.

So… any tips and tricks for me?
Any hikes I absolutely cannot miss? Any other activities I should do besides hiking? (Although hiking is definitely my main priority.) Any areas that are worth visiting that might be a little less crazy?
Also, I actually don’t mind hikes being a bit crowded. I’ll be hiking alone, so if I happen to fall off a cliff, at least someone can let my mother know. 😂

Just looking for any advice, recommendations, or things you wish you had known before visiting!

Hi everyone! Looking for some advice on my Dolomites itinerary for 12–17 October 2026.

We’ll be staying in Ortisei for all five nights, with a rental car. Mainly looking for scenic places and easy - moderate day hikes of 4-6 hours per day.

This is what we have planned:

12 Oct: Arrive Bolzano by train at 5.30 pm, taxi to Bolzano airport to pick up rental car → Ortisei by 7 pm.

13 Oct: Alpe di Siusi in th morning, till lunchtime. Any other close by place we can drive to? From 2 pm - 7 pm?

14 Oct: Seceda from Col Raiser. We'll take the return cable car to Col Raiser and hike up & down.

15 Oct: Adolf Munkel trail in the day, followed by St Magdalena for sunset.

16 Oct: No plans yet!

17 Oct: Check out at 9 am→ car return by 4 pm at Bolzano airport

For those who know the area well:

1. Does this overall plan make sense for mid-October? The cable cars seem to be open till Nov 2.

2. Is Lake Braies realistic as a day trip from Ortisei on 16 October if the weather is clear? Should we do Lago di Carezza instead?

3. Anything you would swap, add or avoid at this time of year?

4. On 17 Oct, We'll have about 6 hours from checking out to returning our car at Bolzano airport. Anything we do can during this time rather than just hang around ortisei?

All and any advise will be highly appreciated!

Hi! I’ll be in the Dolomites from 4–12 October and would love some food recommendations from locals or people who know the area well.

4–5 Oct: San Candido
6–9 Oct: Santa Cristina / Val Gardena
10–12 Oct: San Cassiano / Alta Badia

I’m mainly looking for authentic, local places — farmhouses, small family-run restaurants, rifugi/huts, masi, etc. Good traditional food, local ingredients and somewhere that feels genuine rather than fancy/touristy.
Since it’s early October, I’m also looking for places that are still open on those dates.

Any hidden gems or personal favourites would be hugely appreciated!