Dolomites

Check driving times on ViaMichelin.com . I don't have the RS guidebook anymore, but I think five days (or five nights, meaning a bit over four days) is a decent amount of time. It depends, of course, on what you want to do. Bolzano has about a day's worth of attractions itself.

If this is a summer trip and you are staying in Bolzano, be sure you lodgings are air conditioned, because it can get quite hot there.

I hope you are not staying in Bolzano all five nights. It is not in the mountains and does not have the lovely views you will find in the mountain villages.

Lola- is there a different town you recommend as a base camp, so to speak? My fiance and I are looking to hike and try via ferrata this summer. Thanks!

Wonderwillow, you should start your own thread with a new question so you get the answers directly instead of the OP getting response to your query. In short, though, look into the Val Gardena, Alta Badia, Merano, or some other are that is in the mountains. If you use the search bar above you will see many discussions about the Dolomites.

Castelrotto would be a good home base to explore the Dolomites. It is north of Bolzano. I don’t know what is on page 189 of RS book.

Ortisei is a wonderful base. There are gondolas and funiculars to take you up into the mountain meadows where the views are specular! The town is idyllic, charming.

5 days works nicely, Bolzano is worth an afternoon.Have stayed in Ortisei and Castlerotto. Both nice, Castlerotto much smaller. I will be in Ortisei this Sept, but adding Cortina.