We will be traveling from Hallstatt to the Alta Badia area in the Dolomites and plan to spend one night somewhere on the way. I'm looking for a beautiful and charming place - scenery, accommodations, etc. Any suggestions? Also wondering which route to take - what would be the most scenic? We will be leaving the area to the east on our way to Graz and Vienna, so would like to enter the area from the west.
Thanks for the help!
Assuming that you travel by car:
Take the Grossglockner High Alpine Road. Quite expensive, but the most spectular way to cross the Alpine divide. The road ends at Heiligenblut, which is a beautiful village below the Großglockner and a nice place to spend the night. Or continue, pass Lienz (which is quite interesting too) and drive to the Defereggen valley. This is one of the most untouristy and unspoilt valleys of the Alps. At the end of the valley is a very cool pass into Italy, the Staller Sadle, which is a narrow one way road controled by a traffic light. Even if you spend the night in Heiligenblut drive via the Defereggen valley into Italy, it's much more spectacular than the main road.
Thank you so much Martin!!! Wow!!! Exactly the help I was hoping for. I'm really getting excited about our trip. We leave in less than two weeks. Thanks to you we are spending four nights in the Dolomites. I tried to get one more night there, but not available, but this option of seeing more beautiful mountains will be even better!!!
Hi patti,
I agree with going via the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse and maybe staying a night in Heiligenblut. We loved our 1 night in Heiligenblut at the Pension Ederhof. We also loved our 2 stays in the Alta Badia at the Ciasa Montanara. While in the area, be sure to drive the Giau and Gardena Passes.
http://www.worldisround.com/articles/355539/index.html
http://www.worldisround.com/articles/324599/index.html
http://www.worldisround.com/articles/324504/index.html
Paul
