Dolomites Itinerary Help

Take the train from Venice to Bolzano. The Bolzano bus station is 100m north of the Bahnhof. Catch the local bus to Ortisei in Val Gardena. About 8 euros pp I think. Takes about an hour. Your hotel in Ortisei will give you a free local pass for the area. You can take a Gondola from Ortisei directly up to the northern edge of the Alpe di Siusi. Or, take the local bus from Ortisei to Castelrotto/Seiser Alm (a bit further on the 172 line) and take the gondola there up to Alpe di Siusi. Or, take the bus from Bolzano directly to Castelrotto and access the Alpe di Siusi that way.

Have fun.

No need for car. And I found traveling by bus to be both relaxing and a great way to sightsee on some (many) roads that are very steep and windy. I used almost all buses (except one cab over an avalanche prone pass where the normal bus service had been halted for the winter) on my three week trip to the Dolomites last month.

Some useful links too.

https://www.suedtirol.info/en

https://www.suedtirol.info/en/information/how-to-get-there/local-transport

http://www.mobilcard.info/en/mobilcard.asp

https://www.sii.bz.it/en

There are also buses into the Eastern Dolomites, such as Cortina d'Ampezzo. Cortina Express and ATVO.

https://www.atvo.it/index.php?lingua=en#

https://www.cortinaexpress.it/en/

I can mention a few lodgings we enjoyed very much if you message me.

Again, Have FUN!

Good advice from Nick. Ortisei is a perfect base. How many nights do you have for this portion of the trip? Are you avid hikers or more into easy hikes? I can suggest some specific ones once I know more about your interests and available time. It can all be done by public transportation. We go every year and have never rented a car.

I'd be interested in info on the easy/moderate hikes.

Gillian Price has several hiking guides to the Dolomites available on Amazon. We found them very useful.

A couple of specific easy hikes out of Ortisei, no bus required:

• Rasciesa Ridge. Take the funicular on the north side of the valley reached by riding the escalators and then the moving sidewalk up from the village center. At the top, enjoy the views from the chalet restaurant then lead up Trail #35 toward Rifugio Rasciesa, a “mountain hut” bu its own description but really a modest lodging and full service restaurant. It takes about 30 minutes to reach, then 15 minutes further is a tiny chapel with great views to the west. Return the way you came.
• Round Trip at Mont Sëuc. On the south side of the valley, ride the red ovoid gondola cars to Mont Sëuc, again with great views but this time of the marvelous Alpe di Siusi. Follow trail #6 to Contrin then continue of 6A toward Hotel Icaro. They serve great strudel and cappuccino with a view of the mountains. After Icaro, continue on 6A until it intersects 6B and follow 6B to Sanon (another rifugio ). From Sanon, take the path 6B across the meadow to Sporthotel Sonne/Sole. There you will find a chairlift (closed 1230 - 1330] that takes you back up to Mont Sëuc. Both the gondola and the chairlift (as well as the funicular for Rasciesa) are covered by the Val Gardena Pass, which I highly recommend.