Despite what other travel blogs said, you absolutely do not need a car to see the best of the Dolomites, probably one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the world, up there with Patagonia and the Himalayas.
I have spent many days exploring the Dolomites using only buses and I was able to see the highlights of the Dolomites with no problem. It's just going to take a little bit longer than renting a car but not by much.
Within this guide, I will show you my exact itinerary, how I was able to travel the Dolomites without a car, where to base yourself, which hikes are the best, and so much more. Without further ado, here is the ultimate 7-day complete backpacking itinerary for the Dolomites without renting a car. Let's begin!
Note: Due to the bilingual nature of this region, I'll be using their German names as well as Italian names interchangeably depending on what is used most.
Here are the names I might use interchangeably in both languages (German and Italian) that you should know about: Bozen = Bolzano, Dobbiaco = Toblach, and Pragser Wildsee = Lago di Braies. Knowing both will help you navigate the region with public transportation a little easier.
- The Dolomites Itinerary Map
- 7 Days Dolomites Itinerary Without A Car
- When to Visit the Dolomites?
- How to Get to the Dolomites?
- How to Get Around the Dolomites?
- How Much Money Do I Need for 7 Days in the Dolomites?
- Is it Safe in the Dolomites?
- Which tourist SIM card is best for The Dolomites?
- What to Pack for the Dolomites?
- Further Reading for the Dolomites, Italy
The Dolomites Itinerary Map
| ☀️ Day 1: | Bolzano |
| ☀️ Day 2: | Seceda & Alpe di Siusi |
| ☀️ Day 3: | Hike the Adolf-Munkel-Weg |
| ☀️ Day 4: | Toblach |
| ☀️ Day 5: | Hike Tre Cime Trail |
| ☀️ Day 6: | Relax at Pragser Wildsee |
| ☀️ Day 7: | Bolzano |
7 Days Dolomites Itinerary Without A Car
Day 1: Bolzano (4 Nights)
Bolzano is a gateway to the Dolomites and is one of the best cities to base yourself in while you explore this beautiful region. It is also a great place to experience the rich cultural heritage of the region, with a mix of Italian and German influences you won't find anywhere else in Italy.
Spend your first day in Bolzano getting acquainted with your new surroundings. There are many notable landmarks you should visit while you are here such as Bolzano Cathedral, a beautiful Gothic church, hang out at Waltherplatz, a 19th Century plaza set against the Dolomites, or visit the South Tyrol Archeological Museum.
South Tyrol Archeological Museum, also known as the Ötzi Museum, is a museum dedicated to the "Iceman", a 5,300-year-old mummified corpse that was recently discovered in the region in 1991, thanks to global warming 🥲.
- Highlights of the Dolomites (8 days)
- Hiking in the Dolomites (8 days)
- Dolomites Adventure (9 days)
The museum displays the remains of the Iceman, mummified and all, as well as artifacts, and other items that were found with him. They were many speculations as to how he was trapped in the ice for centuries, but the ongoing theory that seems to have the most legs is that he probably got mugged and left for dead up in the mountains. Poor soul!
The museum is a fascinating destination for anyone interested in archaeology or the history of the region. It is one of the top attractions in Bolzano and I highly recommend you check it out while you are in Bolzano.
Also, be sure to visit the Tourist Information in town and grab your Mobilcard, a tourist card that will allow you to take as many buses and trains as you wish for free for a period of time. Since this itinerary is for 7 days, I highly recommend you get the 7-day one which should cost about 28 EUR per person.
Since we will be relying mostly on public transportation here, I think this is the most cost-effective way to see the Dolomites. Keep in mind that this card doesn't include the shuttle services to and from Tre Cime and Pragser Wildsee in Toblach. You will have to buy these services separately.
Once you are acquainted with Bolzano, you can spend the evening exploring the market street of Fontana Nettuno. Lots of nice restaurants around the area.
Day 2: Seceda & Alpe di Siusi (Day Trip)
For the second day, we are going to visit the stunning Secada in the morning and Alpe di Siusi in the afternoon so be sure to get up as early as you can to catch the bus to Ortisei/Urtijëi, where the cable car stations to these places are located.
To get from Bolzano to Ortisei, you will have to go to Bolzano Bus Station and catch bus #350 to Ortisei. The journey should take about an hour and you can use the Mobilcard you got yesterday, tap on the card reader machine, and off you go.
Once you arrive in Ortisei, you can then make your way up the escalator to the Seceda Cable Car Station where you can then buy a roundtrip ticket for 38 EUR, and it should take about 30 minutes until you reach Seceda.
The moment you walked off the cable car station, you will be greeted with an expansive panoramic view of the Odle mountain range, which is known for its distinctive jagged peaks.
To get to the iconic Seceda Ridgeline, you just have to turn left when you exit the cable car and follow the trail along the ridge, you will be in sight of the jagged peaks of the mighty Seceda mountain.
From the ridge, you will have a 360° view of the breathtaking scenery that truly shows just how magnificent the Dolomites are. There are a ton of hiking trails you can do here.
You can hike along Seceda Ridge and get up close and personal with the mountain or you can hike downhill and visit some of the mountain huts located down the valley.
You can spend half a day exploring all the beautiful viewpoints Seceda has to offer before you take the cable car back to Ortisei and stop there for lunch. There are many restaurants here but not as cheap and so if you want to save some money, I highly recommend you pack your lunch the day before in Bolzano.
After lunch, you can make your way to St.Ulrich Cable Car Station located just across the main road on the other side of the valley, buy a roundtrip ticket to Alpe di Siusi for about 24.9 EUR, and off you go to our next destination.
Alpe di Siusi is a high-altitude plateau that is known for its stunning alpine scenery and it is a popular destination for hikers, skiers, and nature lovers, with an incredible view over the valley and its surroundings. It is completely different from Seceda with its own beauty and charm.
With a short hike, you can get to Belvedere dell'Alpe di Siusi, a breathtaking viewpoint located at an altitude of about 2,200 meters (7,200 feet) in the middle of the valley and offers an iconic view of Alpe di Siusi and its golden rolling hills.
Supposedly, this viewpoint is one of the best places to see the sunset in the Dolomites but due to our limited time and the cable car operation hours, we only have time for a few hikes and that is it. Of course, if you really want to see the sunset at Alpe di Siusi, you can opt to stay overnight but it won't be cheap.
With the itinerary, you should have until 5:30 PM before you have to take the cable car down and catch the 7 PM bus #350 back to Bolzano and end your second day in the Dolomites.
Day 3: Hike the Adolf-Munkel-Weg (Day Trip)
On your third day, we are going to have our first proper hiking experience by hiking the Adolf-Munkel-Weg hiking trail, a 10 kilometers (6 miles) long trail that takes about 4-5 hours to complete.
Since you will be spending the entire day hiking, I highly recommend you pack your lunch in Bolzano the day before and start as early as you can. Go to Bolzano Bus Station and catch the train to Brixen, a beautiful small mountain with a German heritage we will be exploring in the evening.
From Brixen Train Station, you can catch bus #330 from the bus station right in front of the station and it will take you towards to Adolf-Munkel-Weg trailhead. Along the way, there is an optional stop at Ranui bus stop where you will be able to take photos and visit the iconic Church of St. John but you are going to have to wait another hour to catch the next bus to Adolf-Munkel-Weg.
I did stop here for a bit and spent an hour exploring the area. Not much to do except the church to be honest but I was there super early in the morning and I had plenty of time to catch the next bus to Adolf-Munkel-Weg trailhead.
If you choose to go all the way to Adolf-Munkel-Weg trailhead, the bus will drop you off at Rifugio Zannes, and then you can start hiking the Adolf-Munkel-Weg trail.
This 10 km hiking trail is one of the most photogenic hiking trails out here and it will take you as close to the jagged peaks of the Odle mountain range, the mountain you saw in Seceda, as you can get without needing mountaineering gear.
The trail's difficulty is quite moderate with a lot of ups and downs in the beginning and towards the end respectively. Most of the time, you will be on a flat trail along the foothills of the mountain which will allow you to catch your breath while hiking.
The trail will take you to the picturesque Gschnagenhardt-Alm, a mountain hut located right in the center of a natural amphitheater, formed by the towering cliffs of the Odle mountain range, which rise up to over 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) above the valley floor.
This incredible natural amphitheater was quite a sight to behold as you will find yourself in a vast green field of rolling hills, surrounded by the beautiful jagged peaks of the Odle mountain range, set against the beautiful blue sky. It is a worthy reward for a long hike such as the Adolf-Munkel-Weg trail.
I started hiking at 10:30 AM and arrived at Gschnagenhardt-Alm by 12:40 PM (2 hours). I was up there for about an hour until 1:30 PM before I started making my way down, arriving back at Rifugio Zannes by 3 PM (1.5 hours). Bus #330 to Brixen runs every hour between 9:43 AM and 6:43 PM so I was able to catch the bus at 3:43 PM to get to Brixen.
And that is it for the Adolf-Munkel-Weg hike. If you still have enough energy, I highly recommend you spend the evening in Brixen and explore its cute little town before heading back to Bolzano.
All in all, the Adolf-Munkel-Weg hiking trail is not particularly difficult but it is long and it can take you about 4 - 5 hours to complete the loop. The last train from Brixen to Bolzano is at 10 PM so plan accordingly.
Getting from Bolzano to Toblach
To get from Bolzano (Bozen) to Toblach (Dobbiaco), you can take one of the many trains that connect these 2 cities together. There are multiple trains running this route daily from 5:27 AM to 8:02 PM and most of the trains will have you switch trains at Franzensfeste-Fortezza. The journey should take about 2 hours and costs 16 EUR. You can book the train ticket here.
Day 4: Toblach (3 Nights)
As we are heading east, we are going to use Toblach as our base of exploration. Unlike, Bolzano, Toblach is not as big and as lively but it is still quite beautiful and offers a great base to explore other parts of the Dolomites such as Tre Cime and Pragser Wildsee.
Once you arrive in Toblach, spend the first day, exploring the town and pack some snacks and lunch for tomorrow as you will be going on another full-day hike, this time we hike Tre Cime, one of the best hikes you can do in the Dolomites.
Where to Stay in Toblach?
Day 5: Hike Tre Cime Trail (Day Trip)
Tre Cime is one of the best hikes you can do in the Dolomites and the trail leads to the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, a group of three distinctive peaks that rise up to over 2,800 meters (9,200 feet) above the surrounding landscape.
To get to Tre Cime, you are going to have to reserve a spot on the shuttle bus the day before. You can reserve a spot from here. Be sure to pick the earliest time slot so you will get the best light and be there before the crowds, and do it at least a week prior! There are reports that the morning slots get booked out for days in advance. The shuttle service to Tre Cime should cost around 16 EUR per person.
The shuttle service leaves from Toblach Train Station so be sure to be there on time. The journey should take about 45 minutes before you arrive at the Tre Cime trailhead. I took the 7:43 AM shuttle and I was there 8:34 AM.
The Tre Cime hike is a moderate to challenging trail that takes about 5-6 hours to complete, depending on your pace and the route you choose. The trail begins at Rifugio Auronzo and follows a circular route through the beautiful alpine landscape of the region.
Along the way, you will pass by several interesting landmarks and rest stops, including Cappella degli Alpini, Rifugio Lavaredo, and Dreizinnenhütte where you can rest, fill up your water, or even have lunch.
The trail circles the entire Tre Cime di Lavaredo with a bit of up at first and then it goes down to the valley in the middle before you have to hike all the way back up, around the peaks, and merge back where you began.
Despite the trail's popularity, I often find myself hiking in solitude, enjoying the view without anyone around me most of the time. It was an incredible experience to have in the Dolomites and I highly recommend you do it if you can.
Once you are done with the hike, you can catch the bus at this bus stop and you will be back in Toblach in no time. Spend the evening relaxing and enjoying yourself. You deserve a rest!
Day 6: Relax at Pragser Wildsee (Day Trip)
For the second day in Toblach, I highly recommend you spend the day resting at Pragser Wildsee, also known as Lago di Braies, a beautiful mountain lake situated at an altitude of about 1,500 meters (4,900 feet) and is surrounded by towering peaks and lush forests.
The lake is best known for its stunning beauty and clear, blue waters where you can hike around or rent a boat and row around the lake. It is a great place to relax and enjoy the scenery of the Dolomites, especially after all the hikes we just did.
To get from Toblach to Pragser Wildsee, you will have to rely on the shuttle service again and reserve the seat the day before. You will again have to choose a time slot and pay around 10 EUR for a roundtrip bus. The trip should take about 30 minutes and they will drop you off at Pragser Wildsee bus stop.
Spend the entire day here and relax or rent a boat and go out and explore the lake. There are several hiking trails in the area, offering a variety of routes through the beautiful alpine landscape.
In addition to outdoor activities, Pragser Wildsee has a number of other attractions to offer visitors. These include Hotel Lago di Braies, a historic hotel located on the shores of the lake, and a number of restaurants, cafes, and shops, for you to indulge yourself in.
Getting from Toblach to Bolzano
To get from Toblach back to Bolzano, you can make your way back via the same trains you took to Toblach but in reverse. You will likely have to transit in Franzensfeste-Fortezza before you arrive in Bolzano. The journey should take about 2 hours and costs 16 EUR. You can book the train ticket here.
Bolzano (and Back Home)
And that is it for your time in Toblach and the Dolomites. To get out of the Dolomites, you are going to have to make your way back to Bolzano and from there you can take the train or a bus to the rest of Italy or head over to Innsbruck to explore the Austrian Alps next.
When to Visit the Dolomites?
The best time to visit the Dolomites is from June - September when the weather is nice and warm, perfect for hiking. It is also when buses run the most often.
If you are planning to travel the Dolomites without your own car, it is important that you stick to this period as you will not be able to move efficiently enough to fit in the 7-day period unless you travel during the peak season.
The good thing about the Dolomites is that it is not as crowded at peak season as other places in Italy like Rome or Florence so you will still be able to enjoy the beautiful nature at your own pace. That's why I like visiting hiking destinations, it doesn't attract as many people 😂.
How to Get to the Dolomites?
There are several ways you can get to the Dolomites but most will require you to switch modes of transportation in between from planes to buses to trains, etc.
From the US, you can fly directly to either Milan or Venice which should take about 9 - 11 hours. From there, you can catch a train to Bolzano which should take about 5 hours with one to two transits. There is also a direct train from Venice to Bolzano once every day operated by DB so you can check that out too. You can browse through great direct flights from here.
From Europe, you have quite a bit more options here. You can fly to Innsbruck from places like the UK via Wizz Air, and then catch a train or a bus to Bolzano in about 1.5 hours. Flixbus is highly recommended when it comes to bus travel in Europe.
From Asia, there are also many direct flights to Milan and Venice operated by local carriers from cities like Bangkok or you can go with connecting flights which are often cheaper. There are many flights from Asia that connect via middle east countries like Emirates via Dubai or Etihad via Abu Dhabi. The journey should take approximately 10 hours. Once you arrive in Milan/Venice, you can catch a train to Bolzano.
To find a cheap flight to Italy, I would recommend you use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule so you can compare and pick the best one.
How to Get Around the Dolomites?
Despite what many bloggers said about having to rent a car to see the Dolomites, the region is extremely well-connected via buses that often come hourly throughout the day, and with a combination of buses and trains, you can go to most places in the Dolomites without problems.
By Train: The trains here are quite reliable with a strict schedule (by Italian standard), and it often connects big cities in the Dolomites together. For this itinerary, you will be using trains to travel between Bolzano and Toblach and that is it.
By Bus: For nearer destinations, you should be able to take buses everywhere if you base yourself correctly. In this itinerary, I'm basing you in Bolzano which is well connected by bus and you should be able to make day trips to places like Seceda and Alpe di Siusu easily and efficiently. Get the Mobilcard for free unlimited public transportation.
By Shuttle Service: For places around Toblach like Tre Cime hike and Pragser Wildsee, you can rely on the shuttle service they provided there that will take tourists from Toblach to these remote places for about 10 EUR. The shuttle bus runs quite frequently (every 30 minutes) and it will help organize all the logistics in that part of the Dolomites for you.
By Private Tours: If you do not want to bother with public transportation or you are there off-season, you can also go with a private driver who will take you to all the highlights around the Dolomites. You can find private tours here.
By Rental Cars: Of course, you can also rent a car but if that is an option for you, you are probably not reading this article. For completeness sake, you can see how much it is to rent a car with the link below:
How Much Money Do I Need for 7 Days in the Dolomites?
From this one-week itinerary, we can calculate approximately how much money you will be spending here as follows:
Accommodation: For 7 days in the Dolomites, you can expect to pay around 175 EUR for accommodation minimum considering you are staying in hostels. Be sure to book them in advance as it gets booked out fast in the summer.
Food: For 7 days, 3 meals a day in Italy, you can expect to pay around 210 EUR for food considering you eat out every meal. It will be cheaper if you cook it yourself.
Transportation: For this itinerary, you can expect to pay around 54 EUR for transportation in total. 16 EUR for Tre Cime shuttle service, 10 EUR for Pragser Wildsee, and 28 EUR for a one-week Mobilcard and that is it.
Activities: For this itinerary, you can expect to pay around 62.90 EUR for activities, 38 EUR for the Seceda cable car and 24.90 EUR for the Alpe di Siusi cable car and that is it.
Total Budget for 7 days in the Dolomites: 501.9 EUR
Is it Safe in the Dolomites?
The Dolomite is very safe in the cities, unlike other Italian cities. When it comes to the mountain, I'd considered it quite safe with well-marked and well-maintained hiking trails, but always exercise precautions like you would when you go hiking in the mountains anywhere else.
Bring lots of water, snacks, and packed lunches for your day hike. You won't find anything along the way except in mountain huts and it can be pretty expensive. Also, the roads are very curvy and narrow in the mountains so avoid walking on the road at night.
I heard stories of people getting thrown off the road by oncoming cars on a curvy mountain road at night. Other than that, you should be fine traveling around the Dolomites.
Which tourist SIM card is best for The Dolomites?
There are 4 major carriers in Italy, TIM, Vodafone, W3m, and Iliad, that offer prepaid sim cards tourists can buy while they are traveling in Italy. Unfortunately, with the rise of esims, having to be in the country to buy a sim card at a store is quite inconvenient and not ideal.
If you have a smartphone that supports esims, I highly recommend you take a look at this esim. They have a variety of data packages, price points, and durations for you to choose from ranging from 1 GB for 7 days costing only 5 USD to 10 GB for 30 days costing 22.5 USD.
The setup is fast and instant and you can buy it prior to your trip so you don't have to scramble your way to get one at the airport after a long flight. The data speed is also equivalent to what you get with a local sim card with 4G speed across the entire country.
Or if you are traveling to Italy as part of a bigger Europe trip, I highly recommend you get the regional Eurolink esim which will give you access to data from over 39 countries across Europe. I have personally used this esim on my 3-months trip around Europe and it has worked wonders.
For more information on esims in Italy, click here: Check Italy's Available eSim.
What to Pack for the Dolomites?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Dolomites, Italy:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Fleece Jacket: For colder weather, layering is the key, and a fleece jacket makes an excellent insulating layer. I recommend the Columbia Steens Mountain Fleece (for women).
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to start planning your trip! Here are some resources to help you get going:
Are you planning to travel independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for the Dolomites, Italy
I hope you found this Italian travel guide useful. If you want to read more about Italy, here is a selection of articles you might like:
- First time visiting Italy? Here are the 15 Best Places to Visit in Italy.
- Want to see the highlights of Italy in 2 weeks? Be sure to check out our 2-Week Backpacking Italy Itinerary.
- Want to travel around Italy for one month, from the Dolomites in the north to Sicily in the south? You're going to love this backpacking itinerary packed with information: One Month Backpacking Italy Itinerary
- Want to explore the Dolomites but not sure where to begin? Check out the 10 Best Places to Visit in the Dolomites.
- Bolzano is a great city to base yourself in while you explore the Dolomites. If you decide to stay in Bolzano, here are the 10 Best Things to Do in Bolzano.
- Tre Cime Hike is the best hike you can do in the Dolomites. Here is A Complete Hiking Guide to Tre Cime Di Lavaredo Loop.
- Adolf-Munkel-Weg Hike is the best way to get up close and personal with the Dolomites. Here is A Complete Hiking Guide to the Adolf-Munkel-Weg Trail.
- Looking for a complete itinerary for Northern Italy? Check out: 2 Weeks Backpacking Northern Italy Itinerary.
- For a complete 7-day backpacking itinerary in Central Italy that will take you from Rome to Pompeii to the Amalfi Coast, be sure to check out: 7 Days Backpacking Italy Itinerary.
- Not convinced by my words? Here are 125 photos that will inspire you to visit Europe.
- To see all the articles about Italy, visit the Italy Travel Guide page.
- Traveling in Europe can be cheap, really cheap. These are the 12 Cheap European Countries to Visit.
- Looking for more travel guides for Europe? You can find more on my Europe Travel Guide page.
- Or if you want something more specific to the region, visit our Southern Europe Travel Guide, Western Europe Travel Guide, or Central Europe Travel Guide pages.
- For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.
23 Comments
Wow, thanks a lot for such a great and detailed article on Dolomites. I certainly will leverage this for my 2024 trip planning. BTW, the suggested insurance link is excellent too. I plan to use it for my 2023 TMB hiking trip
Thank you for the comments! :) One of the most beautiful regions in Italy and not as crowded as places like Rome or Florence. You are going to enjoy it! :)
Hello,
Thanks for such a detailed post, it really helps and makes the experience smoother of such difficult to travel places with public transport.
I had some query about reaching Tre cime, my bus 444 travels Toblach - Tre Cime - Rifugio Auronzo, should I get off at Tre Cime or Rifugio Auronzo for the hike. And return bus need to catch from the same bus stop after the hike ?
Second query I had is bus 442 travels from Toblach to Pragser Wildsee lake, but unable to book tickets for 15 September 2023. Do you have any other website recommendation ?
Thanks a lot
Rifugio Auronzo. That's where the hike begins and ends. You can wait for the bus back at the bus stop in front of the parking lot right by Rifugio Auronzo. I have the bus stop's location linked on the last paragraph of the Tre Cime section.
They might be opening up the reservation a few weeks in advance or it might no longer run then. I was there in August and they were running the route but I'm not sure about September. I'd suggest waiting until a week before your arrival date to book. I provided the official website of the bus operator, and that's they only way to book it online.
I hope this helps!
Hi
Thanks for the informative blog on dolomites.
May I check if the buses between the cities (I.e Bolzano to Ortisei or Dobbiaco) operates daily? Or do they only start operation in the peak season from late June onwards ?
Hey Shalyn,
You can take the train from Bolzano to Dobbiaco even during the off-season. It runs about every 30 minutes with transit in Franzensfeste. For Ortisei, you should be able to take bus 350 from Bolzano. It still runs even now, but only once an hour. You can punch in your location on Google Maps and the app will provide you with time and where to catch the bus.
I hope this helps!
Thanks for the reply, Pete. As I’m just worried most shops or buses don’t operate during off peak season such as May.
No worries Shalyn. May should already be the beginning of peak season so you should be fine. Most of the cable cars should be operational by then, so you are all good! :)
Thanks for the assurance, Pete. Happy New Year to you and a greater travels for 2024!
I really love the details here! My partner and I are planned a 2-week dolomites and our itinerary is heavily based on this. Thank you for making our lives easier! :)