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Where to spend five nights in the Dolomites this September

My wife and I are spending two weeks in Italy this (early) September and have five nights at the end of the trip to spend in the Dolomites. We’ll have a car, driving up from Venice. When we leave we have to return the rental car in Venice and then immediately catch a train down south, so I was thinking of splitting up the time between two locations so we could end closer to Venice since it’s a long day of travel.

We’re in our 30s and mostly looking for shorter hikes, generally 8km or less, and just enjoying the alpine towns and villages. Horseback riding in Alpe di Siusi would be fun too. If there are areas that are less touristy we certainly wouldn’t mind that. Many people seem to recommend staying in Val Gardena - is three nights enough to enjoy it? For a second stop I was thinking about Belluno, as it has great hiking and close proximity to Prosecco country/Venice, so I would have two nights there.

Is this too rushed, or does it allow me to cover a lot of ground? Any alternative suggestions? Am I missing out on Tre Cime?

Posted by
7322 posts

It's a good plan, in my opinion! Alpe di Siusi/Seiser Alm has some mellow hiking, and the views from Seceda above Ortisei are out of this world.
Then, the mountains near Belluno are also stunning, and a bit less visited. The drive between the two, whatever route you take through the mountains, is not to be missed. You could perhaps plan a stop at the Marmolada cable car, for example.
Drei Zinnen / Tre Cime are incredible as well, but further from Venice, so maybe not best this time around!

Posted by
1660 posts

Splitting up the stay is a good idea because the drives are long and exhausting. I think 3 nights in Val Gardena is good.

Alpine weather is fickle and budgeting some slack between destinations is important.