Hello,
We are wanting to hike to Alpe de Suisi on May 7th and 8 th 2018 and can't figure out where to stay. We are traveling by train from Venice and have no car to get around. It seems all the lifts are closed that week? What hotel can we find on a bus route that is as close to the hiking trail as possible? Also, should I expect snow on the trails that time of the year? Please advise.
Thank you,
Jitka
Posted by
NW England
693 posts
Venice by train would be via Verona to Bolzano-Bozen. This is OK time wise but the train from Verona to Bozen is run by the Austrians so getting a bargain though ticket can be a problem. However, there is a direct Austrian train from Venice at 13:50 arriving at Bozen at 16:34 without need to change, and for this you can get a cheap ticket from https://tickets.oebb.at/en/ticket
Once at Bozen you need a bus. Download this file http://www.sii.bz.it/sites/default/files/kursbuchweb.pdf it contains all the buses (and trains) in the region. There is a map in it where you can get an idea of the routes. The bus station at Bozen is a few minutes form the railway station, take the road through the small park and veer over to the left as the park ends.
No timetables or fares are set for next May but there shouldn't be much difference (beware the opening dates of mountain roads, some buses may have notes giving start dates). Snow on the trails depends on height.
Posted by
Green Bay
22288 posts
Its just the wrong time to go for hiking in the Dolomites. Ski season has just ended and the lifts do not start running until at least a week after you are leaving, and most don't start until the end of May into early June. Snow on the trails depends on how the winter went. This year was very dry snow-wise, so they got an early start. Next year, who knows. Could be a banner year for snow.
Maybe you could get a taxi to haul you up to the Alpe di Siusi. There are lots of hotels in Ortisei walking distance of the bus stops, some of them pretty luxurious. Zoom in on google maps.
Posted by
Firenze, Italy
1903 posts
International trains up north from Verona are run by Austrians, but the Italian network of fast trains runs up to Bolzano, so it should not be difficult to get a good fare on Trenitalia, even if with a change in Verona.
Posted by
NW England
693 posts
true, but there are only a couple of FrecciaArgento, so the Trenitalia connection would be a Regionale and I've been left waiting for those to arrive in the past. In fact I've just noticed that Trenitalia will sell tickets for the Austrian EC (each leg of the journey has a seperate price and then they add it up). And they sell the direct train for the austrians at the austrian price - thus undercutting themselves. Full marks for honesty! And you can select to collect the tickets from a ticket machine at Venice which is convenient (check box on the payment screen).
So, I'll amend my advice. First chocie is book the direct Austrian train (EC86 at 13:50). If that isn't convenient book a journey via Verona using any combination of FrecciaRosso, FrecciaArgento or Eurocity trains (but I'd avoid Regionale). And try the Trenitalia site