Hi, we will be spending time in the Dolomites in mid-October. Neither of us is a hiker--my husband has a bad back and my knees are shot. Are there particular spots we should aim for to see the best views without significant hiking? Surely we will get out of the car and walk around, but cannot commit to trails that are not accessible for us. Thank you for your guidance.
Posted by
Seattle
119 posts
Try the Seceda lift out of Ortisei. Incredible views as you get off the gondola.
We did not have a chance to hike in the Alpe di Suise, but Laurel Barton, who posts here frequently, has written a book "Walking in Italy's Val Gardena" and she describes the Cabinova Alpe di Suisie lift as "one of the most dramatic lifts in the area.
I found her book on Amazon. It describes 23 easy hikes with information about bus transportation, lifts and places to to get food/beverages. Some of the trails she describes are accessible for strollers, so perhaps would be forgiving to knees and bad backs.
Posted by
Firenze, Italy
1652 posts
Cable cars at Passo Sella and Passo Pordoi are very dramatic. From the top of the second one you see huge landscapes, at the top of the first you are in a very narrow fork in the middle of two huge peaks. In both case you have the options of climbing up, walking down or the "nuclear" option of having a strudel (local apple pie) at the top refuge and then going down by cable car.
Posted by
Boston
1782 posts
Any one have experience with the weather in mid to late October?
Posted by
Boise, ID, USA
2257 posts
Out of Ortisei, a funicular goes up the hill on one side of town. At the top is a restaurant, and this spring we noticed a person in a wheelchair there enjoying the view. On the other side of town, you take a gondola up the hill and again find a restaurant (and wonderful views). Almost no walking is required to enjoy these sights. That is the wonderful thing about that area.
Posted by
Vancouver, BC
375 posts
We drove up to Seiser Alm (Alpe di Siusi) in May. It was very much shoulder season and early evening so we just drove around, but there are definitely parking lots and easy strolls from there. Because it was shoulder season, the chair lift was closed.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11680 posts
There are several lifts in the area where you can simply go to enjoy the view, or have coffee or a meal with a view. The lift from Ortisei to Mont Sëuc, the funicular to Rasciesa from Ortisei, the gondolas (2 parts) to Seceda as Jennifer mentioned, the lift to Col Raiser from Santa Cristina, and the gondolas at Siusi to Compatsch in the Alpe di Siusi are all good. (At least if you are staying in or near the Val Gardena they are good options! If you are elsewhere in the Dolomites, please tell us where, exactly, you plan to stay.)
Some lifts close down starting October 13, so that is a factor as well. If you ar staying in the Val Gardena, the Val Gardena Card can be a great value for joyriding.
Jennifer, thanks for the shout-out!