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Based on where I want to visit in the Dolomites, do I need a car?

Posted by on

Hi there,

My girlfriend and I are visiting the Dolomites for five days in July (incidentally where I hope to propose!). We want to do two moderate hikes and spend the rest of the time checking out the scenery via transport with small walks here and there. We haven't decided on a base for our trip, but we were considering Selva.

I've come up with the below list of places I'd like to visit.

Questions:
1. Are there any must-see's I have left off my list?
2. Should I rent a car to visit these places or can I easily get to these via bus?
3. Would Selva make a good base for this list?
4. Which two moderate hikes should we do? I was thinking of the circular hike around the three peaks.

Must-See Places:
Falzarego Pass
Sasso Pordoi
Alpe di Siusi
Tre Cime di Lavaredo
Sella Pass

Other places if we have time:
Gardena Pass
St Maddalena
Seis am Schlern
Val Venegia
Civetta
Monte Cristallo
Drei Zinnen Nature Park
Val Gardena
Parco Naturale Adamello Brenta
Lago di Braies
Passo Giau
Seceda

I really appreciate any help. Thanks.

Posted by
1757 posts

Your must-see pieces are a little spread on the map. If you are in Selva and want to see tre cime, you have to drive Sella, Pordoi and Falzarego passes - a 1h 45min drive on Google map, more than 2 hours in real world, and probably taking forever if done by public transportation, if possible at all. With the return trip, it is already 4 hours driving in a single day - more if you stop even a few minute at each pass; probably the circular hike around the three peaks will be too long for this day (it takes about 4 hours walking).

Distances on Dolomites road are deceiving, as driving is very slow. IMHO you should better focus on either the Gardena area (including Sella, Pordoi and Siusi) or Cortina area (including Falzarego and Tre cime).

Posted by
16193 posts

I’ve never been at the Dolomites without a car, so I don’t know how it would be with public transportation. However my general rule of thumb is:
- Big City to big City or within a big City = Use Public transportation.
- Small towns, mountains, countryside = rent a car.

Selva is good. Personally in the Val Gardena I prefer Ortisei (just minutes away from Selva) to Selva or Santa Cristina. Ortisei is a bit bigger and it has some life in the evening.

Posted by
37 posts

Thank you all for your replies. Really helpful.

In five days, do you suggest I

a) Rent a car and try seeing all places on my wishlist, or
b) Base myself in Cortina or Gardena and NOT rent a car?
c) Come up with a new itinerary?

If I get rid of Tre Cime di Lavaredo, could i base myself in Ortisei and bus to these spots?

Falzarego Pass
Sasso Pordoi
Alpe di Siusi
Sella Pass

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