Thinking of day trip or overnight in Zermatt? BOOK | Search for car rental options in Bolzano here. The cover photo for this guide was taken in Val di Funes. Surrounded on all sides by sleeping mountain giants, its impossible not to feel moved by the sheer beauty. We will be doing the following hikes: Mannlichen to Klein Scheidegg and the Eiger Trail: Eigergletscher to Alpiglen, Schynige PLatte to Faulhorn to first, Murrent Via Feretta. The sporting good store that rents the via ferrata gear was very particular about the shoes we wore, in that they had to have very good traction and the soles werent worn down. All rights reserved Earth Trekkers. Its essentially a more thorough version of the dream itinerary wed send our friends or family with the caveat of you HAVE to visit these places. We believe the absolute best time of year to visit the Dolomites is during September and early October. This beautiful hike is also one of quietest trails that we hiked in the Dolomites. Ride the cable car from Passo Pordoi for panoramic views of the Dolomites. If you leave at 9 am, you will be in the Dolomites by 11:30 am. Seceda | Dolomites Itinerary Passo Pordoi | Dolomites Itinerary Day #2: Tre Cime di Lavaredo + Cadini di Misurina Viewpoint Location: Eastern Dolomites We rented a car twice in Italy in 2022 and both times had an automatic. You absolutely must have the risotto with wild garlic and wood sorrel (18), washed down with a mountain Spritz (South Tyrols version of an Aperol Spritz) or local wine. Haven't been to the Dolomites or Zermatt. You can train to Como and rent a car and explore the areas of the Dolomites you wish and return the car in Milan. For each Dolomites itinerary, I also list where in the Dolomites it is located (eastern or western Dolomites, or both). 1 Week In Switzerland Itinerary: All The Highlights - Expert World Travel . Again, if you have a few more days, wed recommend spending the night in the Fanes Htte, which was one of the more comfortable mountain huts weve ever had the pleasure of sleeping in! For example, if you want to hike Tre Cime di Lavaredo and visit Lago di Braies, it is best to stay in Cortina dAmpezzo. As you enter the park, towering mountains and spruce pine forests surround you from all angles, providing the most memorable of drives. With that being said, I did the Murren via ferrata in a pair of On trail running shoes, but the soles met the companys requirements. For the full list, and more information about each activity, take a look at our article Best Things to Do in the Dolomites. Follow the path to the right, up a small incline through the forest, before the path again flattens out towards Fanes Htte. Peaks of Europe: The Alps to The Dolomites featuring France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany and Italy. From these, you can pick your favorites and string them together into a multi-day itinerary. Youre not actually allowed to drive into Alpe di Siusi unless youre staying at one of the hotels in there (theres a pretty hefty 150+ fine if you do), so we suggest parking at Compatsch and walking into the meadow at your own pace. You can also walk the Santa Maddalena Panorama Trail, a 10 km/6 mile loop that has several stunning viewpoints of the area. Alternatively, check prices and availability in San Candido here. From Zrich Airport ( where you will fly into ), there is a train that will take you downtown. Italy and Switzerland itinerary - Travel Passionate It is a 17 km (10.6 miles) hike that takes 6 to 9 hours. Writing an itinerary for 8 days in Switzerland is no tiny task. My question is, we normally hike in Merrill Moab hiking shoes but last year in Norway hiked and biked in Brook Trail runners. PLACES TO GO: For ideas on what to do, read our article Best Things to Do in the Dolomites. Julie Last updated: April 19, 2023 Italy, Itinerary 17 Comments. After two early mornings in a row, we recommend chilling out during the midday hours. We stayed in Selva di Cadore. Take the Glacier Express from Zermatt to Chur. While Kronplatz is known for its myriad of outdoor pursuits, from hiking and biking to paragliding, we recommend changing the pace of your Dolomites itinerary and visiting the modern, architecturally designed museums at its summit (take the cable car to the summit - 19 return). If you click the icons on the map, you can get more information about each point of interest. Switzerland, Lake Como and the Dolomites Itinerary In the afternoon, spend some time at Lago di Misurina, spend a leisurely afternoon in Cortina dAmpezzo, ride the Freccia nel Cielo cable car, or drive to Val Gardena and check into your hotel. From Cortina dAmpezzo, it takes 10 to 15 minutes to drive to the trailhead parking lots. It is a popular destination for locals and used as a gateway to the Dolomite Mountains. hike to the Cadini di Misurina viewpoint. If you do have more time spare, wed definitely recommend a stay overnight in the Drei Zinnen Htte / Rifugio Locatelli during the summer months, as sunrise over the three peaks is an insanely beautiful experience. First things first; if youre doing a road trip to the Dolomites, youre probably going to need a car! From Obereggen we recommend hiking up to the next stop on our Dolomites itinerary, Oberholz (its also possible to take a cable car!). Via Ferrata Guided Walk Duration: 7 days The Dolomites are known across the world as the home of great climbing adventures, and this 7-day tour is the place where dreams are fulfilled, and both experienced and beginner climbers will overcome new challenges. one of the most beautiful places in Europe. From Oberholz, take the road back towards Nova Levante and Lago di Carezza, to Plan del Graba and the start of the Dolomites most impressive road, Passo Gardena (1.5 hours, follow the roads SS241, SS48 and SS242). The Dolomites are one of the most beautiful places in Europe. Depending on your arrival time, you may want to try a short hike from town or enjoy wellness at your hotel. Only in Nepal have we come close to feeling as we do in the Dolomites; a sense of pure awe and elation at the epic landscapes surrounding us. However, Lagazuoi is beautiful and there is a hut here. Best of Switzerland, Lake Como & Milan | Fully Personalized Vacations - BTC Cheers, Julie. Cheers, Julie. In the afternoon, drive to Passo Giau and ride the chairlift to Rifugio Averau for a late lunch, spend a leisurely afternoon in Cortina dAmpezzo, ride the Freccia nel Cielo cable car, or drive to Val Gardena and check into your hotel. The Dolomites are one of those places that you could visit at any time of the year and still have a memorable experience. Many thanks for the time you put into it! Milan To Venice: A Perfect Road Trip Through Northern Italy - TravelAwaits It takes anywhere from 2.5 to 5 hours to do this hike, depending on your speed and how much you add on. To get a parking space, get here no later than 9 am, although earlier is even better. At this point, we should add that the Dolomites really do look their best in the early morning, or late evening, so there may be a few early mornings in there - but trust us - you wont regret waking up and enjoying the natural environment before everyone else does. Youre welcome! STAY | Continue enjoying the amazing rooms, wellness and food at the family-run Hotel Petrus, Riscone. Whether it be a hiking injury, car accident, theft, or lost baggage, things can go wrong in Italy, and insurance is your only way of mitigating the issues! If possible, stay around for sunset to enjoy the three peaks at their most beautiful. 8 Days in Switzerland: A Perfectly Magical Switzerland Itinerary The time spent there is up to you. of the road, like us Aussies. After reading them all, we updated our itinerary to 2 nights in Lucerne, 4 nights in Murren, 2 nights in Zermatt taking the glacier express to St Moritz / Upper Engadine area for 3 nights before jumping on the Bernina express to Tirano. Along the way, you can fill up your water bottles at the Kalkbrundl natural spring. The shoulder season is when the crowds in the Dolomites are far less, yet the weather is still comfortable (think crisp mornings and beautiful clear days). Weve written a detailed guide to hiking the Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop, including some alternative ways to access the park and avoid the 30 fee for car entry - so we recommend checking that out here. This has lead to some pretty bad behaviour in and around the area, as well as the dreaded impacts of over-tourism. Both the Glacier Express and Bernina Express are very scenic train trips. The dolomites in Italy have something for you lasting two weeks or more so stay there and leave Switzerland for another voyage when you might have more money. I like what response # 5 says. We also have a detailed 10 day itinerary that includes Rome, Florence, the Cinque Terre, and Venice and a 10 day northern Italy itinerary that includes the Dolomites and Venice. There are two ways to go, either taking SR48 over the Falzarego Pass (46 km, 1.25 hours) or SP638 over Passo Giau (43 km, 1.25 hours). 13 Days 20 Meals. Yes, you should be able to rent a car in Milan and return it in Vienna. Pick up a rental car in Milan, Verona, or Bolzano and drive to Val Gardena. HIKES IN THE DOLOMITES: And if you want to go hiking, in our article Best Hikes in the Dolomites, we cover 15 epic trails in the Dolomites. Featuring underground galleries and a cantilevered viewing platform over the valley, the building itself is enough to visit. From here, theres a mix of hiking, scrambling and rock climbing to get to the Gran Cir peak just in time for sunrise. Spend a couple of nights in Milan and from there you can fly to Amsterdam. Biodegradable Wet Wipes | Keep clean on hikes without destroying the planet! The Appenzell rural route. Tour of the Alps in Europe featuring the Dolomites & More If youre arriving from further abroad, flying may be the best option. If skiing is your thing, visit the Dolomites from December through March, although some ski resorts will open sooner than this or close later than this. Hi all and thanks in advance for the recommendations My wife and I will be traveling to Europe in September, we are looking to fly into Zurich from London and work our way to the Lauterbrunnen area to stay for a couple of days, explore the region, do some hikes/ walks/ etc. The hike is steep but easy and should take around 2 - 3 hours to complete. You can pick out your favorite daily itineraries and then put them together to create your perfect Dolomites itinerary. Croda da Lago Circuit Hike (+ Lago Federa & Forcella Ambrizzola), How to Plan a Trip to the Dolomites: Things to Know Before You Go, Where to Stay in the Dolomites 2023: Best Locations & Hotels, Best Things to Do in the Dolomites (With Little to No Hiking). Croda da Lago Circuit | Dolomites Itinerary. Breakdown of your Dolomites itinerary Day 1: Visiting Lago di Carezza and arriving to Ortisei Day 2: Visiting the Santa Maddalena church and the church of Saint John in Val di Funes, seeing the sunset in Alpe di Siusi Day 3: Hiking at the Seceda ridgeline, driving through Passo Gardena, and arriving at La Villa or Cortina d'Ampezzo In the Western Dolomites you will find Val Gardena, the Puez-Odle Nature Park, Alpe di Siusi, Val di Funes, Marmolada, Seceda, and the Sciliar-Catinaccio Nature Park. Tour Detail. Your email address will not be published. Grab the presets we use on every photo here, RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL | Responsible travel is important. Do you have any suggestions for 2-day hut routes & a good town to stay in for the other nights to get a good feel of the area? Note, it can also be done in the opposite direction, if traveling from Val Gardena to Cortina dAmpezzo. 3-Day Dolomites Itinerary: How to Explore Trentino-Alto Adige by Car The stunning emerald waters of Lago di Carezza are just a 10-minute drive from Hotel Stella Stern in Nova Levante, and are best witnessed in the early morning just prior to sunrise. The surrounding peaks of the UNESCO World Heritage listed Dolomites are just as impressive, while the hike takes in beautiful turquoise mountain lakes, verdant alpine plains and endless valleys. The view from Marmolada | Dolomites Itinerary. You can also drive to the Falzarego Pass and ride the Lagazuoi cable car for another great view. Spend 2 nights in Chur. how to day trip to Lake Como and Bellagio. 8. The Cinque Torri is a short, easy loop hike (2 km/1.2 miles) around the five pillars of rock that are an iconic landmark in the Dolomites. across four floors. Passo dello Stelvio is another place to see close to the Swiss border.