Milan Malpensa Airport to Dobbiaco [ South Tyrol ] - Scenic Driving Route

First, my congratulations for choosing Dobbiaco. I spent most of my childhood holidays up there, I have been recently back - it is an original choice and it is a nice place. BTW, it is one of the few places in Dolomites that could be reached by train.

After that: the fastest possible itinerary from MXP to Dobbiaco - highway through Verona, north to Bressanone and then the good old SS49 (about one hour driving from Bressanone) would take you something 4 1/2-5 hours without stopping.

Going through the Stelvio would be an extremely long trips on backroads. My guess would be sometime around 8 or 9 hours. It could be tried leaving early in the morning, but leaving at lunch time seems too late - you would have to drive the last hours in the dark.

Be sure Stelvio is still open as it can be already snowing in October.

My personal advice is to drive the non scenic highway. You will have plenty of scenic drives from Dobbiaco.
I can think a couple of alternate itineraries - for example through St. Moritz and the Swiss national park, but all seem too long if leaving at lunch time. Also consider weather - driving alpine roads in bad weather is not fun.

Thanks so much for your prompt reply, Lachera

What you suggest makes a lot of sense !!

I will save Stelvio Pass for next time and take the 4.5/5 hour route you suggested .

Any good stops for Lunch along the way ?

We are staying in the South Tyrol for 7 nights ... 3 Nights in Dobbiaco and 4 nights at Sesto .

Any useful info about these two places concerning Scenic Walking and Eating [ Vegetarian ] would be very welcome .

Cheers
Gunjan Zatakia

Can't really help about eating vegetarian. As the south Tyrol valleys belong mainly to Austrian/German culture, vegetarian cooking may not be their main field. I would even consider renting an apartment and cooking on my own - first class produces up there. Dobbiaco has a sort of dairy boutique to die for (but I do not know if dairy produces are good for you). Wines from the south tyrol region - Traminer, Sylvaner, Lagrein, Pinot - are top quality.

From Dobbiaco you could drive to Cortina - even the extremely scenic Falzarego pass is not impossibily distant - to Tre Cime di Lavaredo, to Braies lake. From Sesto (twenty minutes by car from Dobbiaco) you can walk along the Val Fiscalina on the back of Tre Cime, and I remember doing some hikes from Monte Croce Comelico.

All the area was a fighting theater during 1st world war. In the area of Monte Piana there you can still see the trenches where the war was fought (every now and then you can even find a boot sole or bullet shells or shrapnel splinters. The area on the higher station of Falzarego cable car was also a fighting area, there Italian soldiers built an helicoidal tunnel in a mountain and had the top of it exploded. The tunnel can be walked at present but a little dangerous if you do not have appropriate equipment including lights and heavy boots. Even if you do not walk the tunnel the area has a lunar landscape you would not believe. The cable car closes around mid-october (I read on the web their last day is Oct. 23rd).

Brunico and Bressanone are possible city visit within an hour driving.

As for having lunch around the way, my favorite stop is in Isera near Rovereto - stopped there three days ago - but it is not vegetarian and you would probably get there around 3pm - too late for lunch.

Thanks so much for your suggestions about the Historical sites and other scenic spots . Will certainly visit all the places you suggested .
We eat all Dairy Products and love Italian Cheeses . If you know the name of the Shop / Farm please advise .
We are staying at Hotel Schopfenhof in Dobbiaco and Hotel Monika in Sesto ... both have confirmed their ability to make delicious vegetarian food .. so that is a relief .
Cheers
Gunjan

http://www.3zinnen.it/it/home.html

Thanks Very Much Lachera for info on the Cheese Shop
All your tips are going to be very useful ...
Amazed to hear about the remnants of World War 1 and will definitely visit the area .
Most likely we will be joined by my sister and bro in law from London who have been in the Dolomites last year .
So its going to be a lot of fun .
Take Care
Gunjan

Bon Giorno Lachera .. We are in Dobbiaco and enjoying all the lovely treks around here ... Tomorrow we plan on visiting Monte Piana open air museum and possibly visit the Mondo Latte [ Cheese World ] .. I presume this is the same Dairy Factory / Boutique where they show you how they make the cheeses .

Thanks again for your tips which have been most useful .

Cheers
Gunjan

I hope you will like your destinations. Surely you are doing something different from all other people in this area :-)