il Dolomiti in October, w or wo a car?

https://www.trenitalia.com/en.html

Milan to Verona about 75 minutes. About 20 euros per person.

We love Lake Garda too. Accessible by train to the south end of the lake. Or Accessible by bus from Verona very cheaply too in about an hour.

http://www.visitgarda.com/en/garda_lake/

Verona to Bolzano about 90 minutes. 10 to 20 euros per person.

The South Tirol website has all the other information you need.

https://www.suedtirol.info/en

I usually stay in Santa Cristina because it is right at the base of the Sassalongo gondola for skiing, but Ortisei is much larger town with a bit more to do.

The public bus takes about an hour from Bolzano main station to Ortisei, for about 7 euros I think. Once you get to a hotel in Val Gardena you will get a bus pass for wandering for free.

https://www.suedtirol.info/en/information/how-to-get-there/by-bus

There are also shuttle buses from Milan airport to the South Tirol.

https://www.altoadigebus.com

Gillian Price's Walking Guides to the Dolomites has lots of day hikes too.

Have a great time!

For Ortisei, look at Hotel Grones, family owned and run. Beautiful place, great dinners available too.

Hello! I have a similar question. My husband and 10 month baby and I will be making our way from Switzerland to Venice via the Dolomites from Nov 2-6. Our plan is
Nov 2- FlixBus from Lucerne to Lake Como, spend the night in Como
Nov 3- Como to Bolzano to Ortesei
Nov 4- 5 Explore South Tyrol/ Dolomites- Puez Park
Nov 6 Drive back to Venice
Nov 7, fly out of Venice

Is this a good way to get to Ortesei, or do you have a more efficient recommendation?
At Como, should we rent a car and drive to Bolzano so we have easy access to see the Dolomites? Will it be too expensive to return it in Venice? How doable is this road for an American first-timer to Italy? Or, should we take public transport?

Thanks!

Four nights at Lago di Garda strikes me as a long time in October but if you do go there, a car is a good idea. Four nights in Ortisei (or anywhere in the Val Gardena) is just a good start. Luckily some lifts are still running and once there you won’t need a car to enjoy the area. as NickB mentioned, your lodging will give you a pass to use the buses between the villages all the way from Bolzano to the Alta Badia.

Thank you! re lodging, Gronos is not open. Garni Aniston is filled (which comes up on another thread), so if you have lodging recs for the Val Gardena area, we’d appreciate it! (Has anyone stayed at the Adler?)

Have not stayed there, but the Adler is gorgeous! We did stay outside of town at the Hotel Albion one year. It is on the bus line and they have an excellent shuttle. Half-pension.

You might look at the Hotel Genziana or B&B Aurelia.

Thank you all for the helpful suggestions! Lake Garda is stunning, Riva del Garda was crowded for our taste. We’d base ourselves from Arco or even Mezzolago (Lago de Ledro) if we went back. The hikes were really nice, especially the trek from Monte Baldo to Val Driita and back.

Val de Gardena was unbelievable; any of the three towns were beautiful. We plan to do hut-to-hut next year for a week - but the Adler sure is a nice treat at the end! It exceeded our expectations; what a gem. Thanks again for the advice - and you’re right, no need for a car.

Happy you had a great trip and that you want to go back! We have gone to the Val Gardena every year since 2012.