The Dolomite Mountains – which straddle three areas of north-eastern Italy and border the Austrian Alps – are a UNESCO world heritage website extensively thought to be some of the stunning mountain ranges on the earth. For millennia, they’ve been nearly lower off from the remainder of the world, with their very own dialects and customs nonetheless working robust.
Tourism and sport started growing within the Dolomites within the early 1900s, with the founding of the Cortina d’Ampezzo Ski Membership in 1903. The winter season, which is greatest from December to March, continues to be dominated by snowboarding: The Dolomiti Superski area has an astonishing 1,200 km of pristine slopes to discover, unfold throughout 15 resorts, making it the world’s largest ski vacation spot.
In 2026, Cortina and Milan will maintain the Winter Olympics for the primary time since 1956, and the entire space is alive with anticipation. New accommodations, bobsled runs, ski routes and stadia are being constructed, all with an eye fixed to the charming historical past of the city and area. Plans allegedly deal with sustainable tourism, with new developments aimed toward serving the neighborhood lengthy after the winter video games are completed.
For the remainder of the 12 months, holidays within the Dolomites are additionally all about out of doors pursuits – lengthy strolls alongside mountain ridges and thru verdant inexperienced meadows; horse using alongside grassy tracks, swimming in waterfalls and biking alongside historic routes. Couple this with some wonderful positive eating (there are 14 Michelin-starred eating places within the Dolomites) and native delicacies, and there’s rather a lot to like. Right here, we’ve curated a journey information for the Dolomites spanning every thing from gourmand eating places to boutique accommodations.
[See also: A Long Weekend Guide to the Aeolian Islands]
What to do within the Dolomites:
Hit the slopes
Our journey information for the Dolomites kicks off with actions. Probably the most picturesque areas embody the 12km lengthy Pista Bellunese and the Vitelli run in Faloria, whereas the difficult Saslong run and the World Cup Gran Risa run are highlights for superior skiers. Ensure to spend a morning in Armentarola, the place native Alpine Noriker horses pull skiers between runs, to the delight of youngsters and horse lovers. For a extra unique expertise, e book a personal information to take you ski mountaineering at daybreak, adopted by breakfast in a secluded mountain hut, or spend the day heliskiing to get pleasure from the most effective off-piste motion within the Dolomites.
Discover the venues of the 2026 Winter Olympics
There are many different winter sports activities to be loved within the Dolomites too, particularly because the city of Cortina D’Ampezzo prepares to host the 2026 Winter Olympics. Have a go at ice skating or curling on the Olympic Ice Stadium within the middle of Cortina, which dates again to the final time the Olympics had been held right here in 1956. A brief stroll away, you’ll be able to witness the legendary Eugenio Monti bobsleigh run, in addition to the Olympic ski soar in Zuel (each of that are at the moment out of use). There are many sledging runs to take a look at for all of the household, most notably in Valle Isarco and Val Gardena. Lastly, don’t miss the well-known snow tubing run and cross-country ski route on the Viote plateau, on the ft of the three peaks of Monte Bondone.
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Bask in some wellness
Put your ft up and permit your self to be pampered at one of many Dolomites’ many spas and wellness sanctuaries. In Cortina, Rosapetra Spa Resort has not too long ago undergone a refurbishment, with a 40 ft indoor pool, Finnish sauna, Mediterranean baths and Turkish hammam open to resort company and day spa guests. For a extra wilderness-style wellness providing, company at high-altitude Rifugio Scoiattoli (on the base of the Cinque Torri close to Cortina) can get pleasure from a scorching soak in a larch picket barrel bathtub whereas sipping champagne below the starry sky.
Discover the gourmand Dolomites
Alta Badia has the sting with regards to positive eating, because of a gradual and regular marketing campaign to place the semi-autonomous area on the map as a culinary hotspot, however the entire space is wealthy in native gastronomy. Attempt casunzei from Cortina, mazzano from Trentino, schlutzkrapfen from South Tyrol and turtres from Alta Badia, in addition to all kinds of conventional cheeses, pine-infused spirits and the well-known slope facet bombardino, Italy’s reply to eggnog.
All year long, you’ll discover gastronomic occasions celebrating each native and worldwide cooks. In Alta Badia, there’s an annual gourmand ‘ski safari’ route between numerous mountain eating places, providing an opportunity to style a spotlight dish from every Michelin-starred visitor chef, accompanied by South Tyrolean wine. In March, La Crusc hosts a standard Ladin meals occasion Roda dles Saus on the slopes of the ski resort.
Go strolling in nature
From Might onwards, the barren mountains change into inexperienced and luscious pastures, ripe for strolling and climbing. When the timber start to show golden in September, observe half or all the 60km Chestnut Path cross by way of picturesque Brixen, persevering with onwards to the attractive abbey of Novacella, and ending in Bolzano. For extra severe hikers, there are multi-day lengthy routes by way of Puez-Odles and Fanes-Senes-Braies pure parks, in addition to organized summit ascents.
The place to remain within the Dolomites:
Forestis
First up in our journey information for the most effective locations to remain within the Dolomites is Forestis. This swish but sustainably minded resort made severe waves when it launched just a few years again, bringing a brand new period of cool to the Dolomites. At 5,900 ft, the CO2-neutral retreat is all about discovering wellness by way of nature. The resort is hidden in a secluded forest, its pure supplies mixing seamlessly into the environment, and depends on 100% renewably-sourced vitality. Of the 62 rooms and suites, the 200m2 penthouse is essentially the most mind-blowing, with a personal rooftop pool, spruce wooden sauna and terrace.
From €512 per night time. Contact reception@forestis.it. +39 0472 521 008. forestis.it/en/
Resort de len
Cortina’s first new opening for fairly some time, Scandi-chic Resort de Len doesn’t disappoint. With simply 22 rooms in whole, the service is bespoke and intimate, with a personal automobile taking company to and from the slopes, and a concierge workforce solely too joyful to level out the world’s hidden gems. The rooftop spa, which features a panoramic view over the mountains from the jacuzzi, is the cherry on high. Breakfast can be a welcome change from commonplace mountain fare, with freshly pressed inexperienced juices and native, seasonal produce centre stage.
From €329 per night time. Contact bianca.quaranta@sandomenicohotels.com.+39 0436 4246. hoteldelen.it/en
San Luis Retreat Resort and Lodges
Someplace between a resort and a collection of ultra-private chalets, the stilted ‘treehouses’ nestled in a nature reserve make for a bucolic mountain escape with much less deal with snowboarding and extra on switching off. In the summertime, cycle by way of wildflower meadows and take a plunge within the mirror-calm lake; in winter, go ice skating earlier than warming up on deck in your individual sunken scorching tub. Surrounded by wilderness, the restaurant takes inspiration from the remainder of Italy, whereas staying firmly rooted within the flavours and components of the mountains. For a extremely particular room, climb up into Treehouse E, a loft-style retreat with its personal kitchen and eating room.
From £261 per night time. Contact data@sanluis-hotel.com. +39 0473 279570. sanluis-hotel.com
Chalet L Piz
On the foot of the Sassolungo Ski World Cup Slope in Val Gardena, this unique four-person mountain chalet is an architectural feat surrounded by nature. In winter, you’ll be able to throw in your skis and entry the Sellaronda – a 27km ski route connecting 4 Ladin valleys – out of your entrance door. In summer time, it’s a super start line for mountaineering and mountain biking, campfires and whirlpools below unpolluted starry skies.
From €2345 per week in off-season. Contact data@lpiz.it +39 0471 790163. lpiz.it/en/
[See also: A Luxury Guide to a Long Weekend in Malta]
Eating places within the Dolomites:
Membership Moritzino
There are such a lot of eating places to select from within the Dolomites however we solely picked the perfect to incorporate in our journey information. When hearty mountain dishes get an excessive amount of, head to Moritzino, among the best and solely mountainside fish eating places within the Dolomites. At 6,800 ft above sea stage, virtually all of the components must be introduced in by snowmobile in the course of the winter, however this doesn’t cease the dynamic chef workforce from getting artistic: assume squid ink tagliatelle, scallop carpaccio, and loads of native black truffle. Later within the day, the restaurant transforms into a cultured apres-ski spot, with DJ units, cocktails and dancing most evenings.
La Stüa de Michil
It might need a Michelin star, however this impossibly cozy restaurant in Corvara is all about taking the most effective Alpine produce and elevating it to new heights. The restaurant is separated into intimate Stube-style eating rooms, fastidiously restored from the 17th-century constructing, with wood-clad partitions and frilly curtains. Select from a 5 or eight-course tasting menu, paired with wines from throughout Italy and Europe. Arrive early for a drink on the adjoining bar L’Murin, a favourite amongst locals and regulars alike.
laperlacorvara.it/en/eat/la-stua-de-michil
Masi Wine Bar, Cortina
Masi Wine Bar Al Druscié opened on the finish of 2018, bringing the most effective wines of Valpolicella on to the Dolomites. For oenophiles extra involved with quaffing an unforgettable Amarone than dancing on tables, it’s quick turning into a legendary spot simply above Cortina.
At 5,883 ft, you’ve bought broad open views throughout Mount Tofana, Mount Cristallo and the entire valley past. The meals is joyously and surprisingly unpretentious, with a powerful leaning in the direction of the Veneto area.
Finest time to go to the Dolomites:
Final however under no circumstances least in our journey information for the Dolomites, we discover the most effective time of 12 months to go to. There’s all the time one thing happening however the prime seasons are roughly divided into summer time (Might to September) and winter (December to March). For snowboarding, Christmas and New 12 months are the busiest occasions, with Italian households benefiting from the vacation. All through December, Christmas markets take over the piazzas of many historic cities and villages, bringing festive market stalls, mulled wine and conventional nativity scenes with them. Picturesque Bolzano is without doubt one of the greatest.
There’s a welcome lull from mid-January to early February, regardless of among the greatest snow circumstances, making this a super time for empty pistes and prime chalet availability. Later in February, Cortina hosts the inimitable Winter Polo occasion.
Every July, Coppa d ‘Oro delle Dolomiti is a classic automobile rally through which almost 200 groups race alongside winding scenic roads. Later in the summertime, centuries-old harvest traditions akin to Törggelen are nonetheless a serious occasion, with road parades, new season wine tasting and farmhouse banquets.
