Dolomites question + Itinerary Help

By all means go as late as you are able to. The Val Gardena and environs is slow to open in June. This year the Seceda lifts opened May 23 but chances are it was still quite chilly. Snow in late May is not uncommon. Many other lifts don’t open until mid-June.

Can’t comment on driving to Lago di Braies. We never drive to or in the area. There is plenty to see and do in the Val Gardena for two full days…or two full weeks!

I can only address your question about timing. Most of the lifts near Ortisei don't open until mid-June but there are a few that open a week or so earlier. 2026 schedules are not posted yet but you can look at the 2025 schedule to get a good idea and see whether any of the ones you want are likely open when you would be there.

Ortisei is not really a base for Braies, it is a long drive.

It is a long drive and your drive time estimates are not realistic. . We just spent four nights in the Dolomites basing in Selva di Val Gardena with a car rental and found all the drive times were underestimated by Google Maps by about 35% to 50%.

With 3-4 passengers in a car —including a toddler— you will need to add about 50% to the drive times for bathroom breaks, slow trucks and drivers ahead of you, road construction that stops traffic in one direction or another, missed turns, etc. Keep in mind that you will want to stop to take photos of the spectacular scenery which also adds time to driving.

Driving from Ortisei to Lago di Braies is a half-day job. Don’t even think of continuing to Venice on the same day.

With 3 days and Venice in the plan, I think you’ll have a much better trip foregoing the western Dolomites ( Ortisei, Alpi di Siusi) and focusing on the eastern Dolomites near Cortina d’Ampezzo ( Lago di Braies. ***CINQUE TORRE, Rifugio Nuvolau, Colle Santa Lucia, etc.). The scenery in the eastern Dolomites is far more spectacular and it will work in well with your plan to visit Venice, which is only a drive of 2+ hours.

Have a great trip!

Based upon my experience this past May (20, 21 and 22), I would try to delay the Dolomites until early June. I had read that May was the "quiet" season. What I hadn't realized was that so many places would be closed, especially restaurants in Ortisei. I felt that we were very limited in dining options since more places were closed than were open. Even the restaurant in the hotel we were staying in was closed. Some shops were closed as well. The weather was not ideal as it was cold and rainy. Snow was predicted for the afternoon on the day we left. We did have a few hours of dry weather one of the mornings and we took the lift up to the Alpe di Siusi. We had a lovely hike, with spectacular views. The restaurant where the Alpe di Siusi lift exits was open but other places along the hiking trails were still closed.

Thanks for the replies.

@CD IN DC thank you for posting the schedule. I see lifts to Ortisei and Alpe de Siusi 23.05.2025 & 01.06.2025. Seems maybe I should wait a week into June to go or possibly do Venice first then go up to the Dolomites.

@Kenko I think also the main reason I wanted to go to Ortisei and see Seceda/Alpe de Siusi is because my wife really wanted to see it. I might have to just skip Lago di Braies or possibly add it as a whole other day. The trip is getting expensive!

@mmk Thanks for the reply. Seems from others said in Reddit replies to me and what this post is saying, I may have to just wait. I like shoulder season but I understand the Italian Alps isn't recommended until June.

Another question....if I leave Ortisei but want to see Lago di Braies. What's another city I can stop for the night afterwards. Something that's like on the way to Venice.

If you are looking for a place near Braies, the closest villages are Monguelfo, Villabassa and Dobbiaco. Monguelfo is a just bit gloomy but the other two are nice, especially Dobbiaco. The drive from Dobbiaco to Venezia is easy but only half of it is on freeway.

We were in the Dolomites the last week of May (from May 29 through June 1) for 4 nights. The cable car from Ortisei to Alpe di Suisi opened on May 11, and the cable car to Resciesa opened on May 18. I know that weather changes from year to year, and maybe we were just lucky, but we had spectacular weather when we were there. Bright sunshine and warm temperatures every day. I wore a jacket the day we went to Alpe di Suisi but I took it off when we got to the top and wrapped it around my waste. Much too hot. I was comfortable in a short-sleeved shirt. But if you can delay the trip by a week, that would be better. But the end of May isn't necessarily a wash-out.

A tip: if you can't postpone the trip by a week, and the cable cars are not open yet, I highly recommend going to Val Di Funes. This was a highlight of our trip. There are low elevation trails, two churches set in stunning surroundings, and amazing views of the Dolomities. This is a beautiful place to visit if the upper elevation hiking conditions aren't good.

I would second basing in the eastern Dolomites - much more spectacular IMO.We had 4 nights in Cortina, loved the town and the options for easy walks at height via toll road or cable car etc was just incredible.We also had 2 nights in Ortisei but didn't find that area as appealing compared to where we had been.Ortisei itself didn't have the allure for us either, as Cortina and its stunning surroundings.
Seceda was of course worth a look ( it was by far the most expensive cable car, over 100 euros each) but to me, it just didn't match the mountain grandeur further east.
It's also a much shorter drive to Venice from Cortina - just over 2 hours. We drove TO Cortina from Venice (a stunner of a drive too) and drove back to Venice from Ortisei which was less spectacular and very long (albeit with various interesting stop offs of course.)
You will have to check when various lifts operate due to snow - that may be more of a factor in the Tre Cime walk (superb for a family even if you only go as far as Rifugio Lavaredo, a flat, broad, easy 25 mins on an excellent path/gravel road.
We drove about 1 hour from Cortina to Lago di Braies which is another 'don't miss' - stunning and a great easy walk round the lake even in the rain!
I hope to post a trip report of our week in the Dolomites (with Venice) this September.The weather was mixed but still gave us some wonderful days to see this incredible area.Temperatures at 8,500 ft were very pleasant - we sat in T shirts having our coffees and food but we may have been lucky - not a breath of wind on any day.

I highly recommend that you budget some slack in your itinerary. Alpine weather is fickle throughout the year and therefore you may not get all days with clear skies. Also, traveling with a toddler and a senior is a challenge. Don't jam too much in your itinerary. Less is more. Then, you have more time enjoying the views, not on moving around.