Hi! We'll be leaving Ortisei (driving our rental car) after three nights in the Dolomites and driving to Venice. Our plan is to stop in Bolzano in the morning, visit Otzi, have lunch, and then be on our way to Venice to spend the night there.
Approximately how long should we allocate for the drive? I do want to take the "scenic" route, not the fastest.
Thanks!
Google maps will show the logical routes. When I looked, it showed 3 routes taking anywhere from 2 3/4 hours to 3 1/2. If dropping your rental in Venice, check what time they close for the day.
I would visit Otzi during the days you are in Ortisei. Bolzano is about 50 min drive from Ortisei. By doing so you avoid having to deal with having your luggage in the trunk while visiting Bolzano. Doing otherwise would basically mean that you will end up taking the freeway to Venice, because by the time you are done with Otzi you won’t feel like taking the longer mountain route.
If you visit Otzi during your days in Ortisei, then, on the last day, you would simply go from Ortisei to Venice through many of the scenic roads through the mountains. There are several routes you could take, and the drive is from 3.5-4 hours and up, depending on which one you choose. If you want you can swing by Cortina as well without adding much to the time. Obviously by the time you consider the pit stops for photos and snacks, it will take you way longer than 4 hours.
@Roberto, I am also interested in the most picturesque way to get to Venice from Ortisei and considering a few routes. I had planned to take A-22 to Bressanone, S-49 to S-51 then onto Venice. Yesterday, I discovered the "Great Dolomite Road", which goes through the Sella and Gardena passes then to Cortina on to Venice. I'm hoping that if I do the "short Dolomite Loop Drive", per RS (Passo Sella, Passo Gardena, Passo Campolongo, Passo Pordoi), during our stay that I pick up the highlights of the Great Dolomite Road and then we'd stick to my initial plan??
A beautiful route I recommend through the mountains starts in Ortisei, passes through Cortina d'Ampezzo, then Sexten (Sesto), and finally Venice. This journey takes you along the Great Dolomites Road and through the Tre Cime di Lavaredo Nature Park. Along the way, you can stop at Lago di Landro for an epic view of the Cristallo Group: https://throneandvine.com/lago-di-landro-durrensee/. Also, just beyond the lake is a portal where you can soak in wonderful views of the Three Peaks themselves from the valley floor.
