San Candido or Dobbiach for Summer?

San Candido and Dobbiaco have about the same size (actually, Dobbiaco has more residents, just a few more). San Candido is more compact, while Dobbiaco is built in a sparse way. As Dobbiaco is built in the higher and wider spot of the valley, it looks sunnier. The railway station in Dobbiaco is within walking distance from the center around the town center, but is separate and lower (so the walk from the station to the center is uphill). I can't advise about restaurants as I always had full board hotels when I went there.

The Dobbiaco lake looks to me quite somber, while Braies is sunnier. A few brave souls may occasionally try to get their feet in the waters, but they are quite cold - simply, there are no swimming lakes around. Braies looks to me even dangerous, as it is very deep.

If you have a car, both places have access to very beautiful hikes. Access with public transportation is possible but slower.

All the upper valley is quite crowded in August, but I think in June and July it will be fine. Also better prices when not visiting in August.

Thanks for this - v helpful.
Does anyone else have a view please?

We have visited San Candido from our base in Moso a couple of years ago. San Candido is pleasant enough, but we prefer the even smaller villages and for long stays get apartments so restaurants are not so much a problem. I can tell you that a car is pretty important. Yes, there are buses but it is not as easy without a car as say the Val Gardena. And not as many options. I felt the Sesto Dolomiti were more suited to winter sports

Thanks, interesting. Yes we also thought about Sesto/Moso the village, but it looked smaller than Dobbiaco, and although we'll be self catering, we prefer to eat out mostly, so choice of restaurants is important. We won't hire a car, but that train line along to Fortezza and bus to Cortina area looks good enough, no?

When I was a child in late seventies we went so many times on holiday in Villabassa that we finally got a prize from the town tourist office as the most affectionate tourist family. I think I have walked almost any trail in the a upper valley. Since then the valley has become more modern, the railway is now run by regional authorities and it really works, the trafficked main road no more crosses villages, a former large hotel in Dobbiaco that was a child summer camp has become a culture centre with the largest concert hall in South Tyrol and so many things. But if you are looking for restaurants and cable cars, I suspect Ortisei would be better. Pusteria has two advantages, first the railway line that makes for easy access and second, being a wide valley the weather is marginally better than in narrow valleys. But truly stunning walks and view are not in the main valley; if you have a car access to Braies, Prato Piazza, the area between Dobbiaco and Cortina, Misurina, Tre Cime di Lavaredo is easy; even the Cortina mountains, the most stunning ones, are not so distant, but by bus I suspect access would not be so practical.
Sesto/Moso is tiny, but has access through the val Fiscalina to the Tre Cime area. Stunning views but hikes are a bit on the strenuous side - you need to walk to gain elevation, while accessing Tre Cime from the Misurina side you can drive.

Hi, I sent a reply to your private message on this subject, but it looks like private messages are getting lost, did you read it?