Best Things To Do In The Dolomites In Autumn

The Italian Dolomites are one of the most beautiful places in the world! The whole area looks like it was made for the set of a fairy tale movie.

There are so many stunning places in the Dolomites, but these are the best things to do in the Dolomites and the places we wouldn’t miss on a first time trip.

One thing that is slightly confusing when you first start researching the Dolomites is that almost everywhere has 2 names – one in Italian and one in German. We have tried to include both names in the main headers for ease.

Santa Magdalena

One of the most picture perfect villages you’re ever likely to see. It’s easy to get to, but if you can, we highly recommend spending a night here. We stayed at Proihof which is highly recommended. Comfy beds, cosy, soundproof rooms and a great breakfast. We had a balcony overlooking the beautiful landscape and in the morning all you could hear were the cows with their bells. It was like stepping into another world.

Church of St Johann in Ranui/San Giovanni in Rauni

This cute little church has become a very popular spot in the Dolomites. So much so they have created a photo viewpoint platform for it. At sunset this can get extremely busy as there isn’t much room – especially if there is a photo tour. We also really liked the spot just behind the main viewpoint – up one of the hills behind the tree line.

Parking is very nearby to the viewpoint and is 4 euros. The closest parking is just before you get to the viewpoint and there is also another parking lot at the end of road, which costs the same price. If you want to get closer to the church it is 4 euros to go through the turnstile. For photography it is much better to be further back so you can get the mountains in the frame, so you don’t need to pay for the entrance fee.

If you’re looking for a place to eat in this area we highly recommend Waldschenke. It is just past the furthest parking for the church and the restaurant has its own car park. The pizza and beer were fantastic and it’s open for lunch or dinner – however it is closed on Mondays.

Viewpoint of Santa Magdalena Town

The view of this town really is perfect. Rolling hills doted with trees, a beautiful church and the mountain backdrop of dreams. This is another popular spot at sunset, but there is plenty of room on the hill for everyone. You can visit at any time of the day, but sunset with the golden glow streaming over the landscape is something special.

This village is small and unless you are staying in one of the hotels, the residents do not want cars driving through it. The road up to the viewpoint is also prohibited so you will need park in one of the car parks in the town and walk up. It will take about 30 minutes and is well worth it. There are a couple of different ways to walk up, but the car park we parked in was free and we just walked up along the road.

There is also another area a short drive away called Zanser Alm, but we didn’t have time to visit there on this trip. There are various hikes you can do in the nature park here and more amazing views. It is 8 euros to park for the day.

St Valentin Church/San Valentino

This iconic church perched on a hill in the town of Seis (Siusi) is another beautiful spot with another mountain backdrop.

You will need to park on one of the roads at the bottom of the hill and walk up. It is quite steep, but an easy path which takes about 20 minutes.

There are a few restaurants in the town, but as is common in the Dolomites, we couldn’t find many open at 4:00 pm – we wanted to eat before heading to Alpe di Suisi for sunset. We found that Santner’s Pizzeria Restaurant was open all day so headed there for pizza and pasta, which we would recommend.

Alpe di Suisi

The largest alpine meadow in Europe didn’t disappoint and it’s somewhere you have to visit in the Dolomites. Sunrise is the best time to visit as you may be lucky and get the magical mist/fog, but we also really enjoyed visiting at sunset when the golden, evening light makes the mountains and meadow glow.

How To Visit Alpe di Suisi

We found it a confusing place to plan before our trip as there are a few rules surrounding a visit there.

There is a road just before/after the main town of Suisi called Via S. Valentino that takes you up to the small area of Compatsh. Public vehicles can only drive up the road before 9:00 am and after 5:00 pm. If you drive up the road between those times we have read you can receive a fine. You can come down the road at any time.

Once you get to Compatsh you need to park your car for a fee of 20 euros and then walk to the main viewpoint at Alpe di Suisi. Follow the signs for Alder Lodge. The walk takes around 50 minutes, if walking briskly, and slowly takes you uphill. We visited the area several times and if you’re going there for sunset, in the autumn, you can just make it in time by going up the road at 5:00 pm. If you’re heading there for sunrise you will just need factor in the walking time, so it is likely to be a pretty early start.

Another option is to take the cable car up to Alpe di Suisi, but this is not an option you can use to visit for sunset or sunrise. The best cable car to get is from Orteisi as this takes you right up to the top of the meadow and you can walk down into it. It is quite steep getting back up to the cable car so just allow enough time for that. During autumn the cable car runs from 8:30 am till 5:00 pm – you can find other times and prices here. It was 23.90 euros for a return trip on our visit. You can also get a cable car from the town of Suisi, but this takes you to Compatsh so you will still have to walk to the meadow.

Staying In Alpe di Suisi

The final option is to stay in one of the hotels in the Alpe di Suisi meadow area, which we highly recommend. On our last night we stayed at the Icaro Hotel which had a great half board deal. If you stay at one of the hotels you can get a permit from the permit office on Via S.Valentino Road and drive up the road and to your hotel at any time. For us, being able to use the pool and spa and then have a short 15 minute walk to the main viewpoint was perfect. The food was also outstanding. Hotels in this area can be very expensive and some of them have minimum night stays. We felt it was worth the money for 1 night and wouldn’t hesitate to stay again on a future visit.

Eating in Alpe di Suisi

The rufigios are open to eat in October and we recommend Malga Schgaguler Schwaige. We have heard Sofia is a great place for food, with incredible views. We also highly recommend Icaro Hotel for lunch. It is only served between 12:00pm and 2:00pm and is a little pricier than the rufigios, but the food was delicious. The pumpkin ravioli was one of the best things we’ve ever eaten and they have a great selection of beers and wines.

Seceda

Seceda is one of the most breath taking places in the Dolomites. We had seen so many photos from there, but nothing can prepare you for the view from the top!

The cable car from Ortiesi is 39.50 each for a return trip, but when we saw how high it takes you, we would say it is well worth it. It is so steep at the end you have to change from a regular cable car to a cable way that takes you up the last section. In October the cable car ran from 8:30 am till 4:30pm. You can check out the times for other times of the year here. The cable car stops running at different times each year so be sure to check out the website before your visit.

At the top of the cable car from Ortiesi the views are simply epic, with mountain views in every direction. There is a rufugio at the top that was open in October, but we ate at Sofia, which is about a 10 minute walk down from the cable car. The views from sitting outside were incredible and we really enjoyed the food. It is a little on the pricy side, but we found it was worth the price for the location and quality of the food and drinks.

To get the main viewpoint of Seceda from the top of the Ortiesi cable car, it is a 10 minute walk uphill. We couldn’t believe how easy it was to get such incredible views of the iconic mountain. Seceda is one of the absolute best things to do in the Dolomites.

There is plenty of hiking you can do when you are up at Seceda, which takes you down into the valley. We didn’t do this, but we’re sure it is worth it. You can also take a cable car Col Raiser just past the town of Santa Cristina Valgardena, but the hike from the top of that cable car to the main viewpoint will be a lot more strenuous as it is all uphill.

In October there is nowhere to stay up there, although we did see some people with camping gear. If you don’t fancy camping then the only way to be at Seceda for sunrise or sunset is to hike either up before sunrise, or back down after sunset. The hike is around 7 kms and takes about 3 hours going up or 2 hours going down. We got very lucky with the conditions at Seceda during the day, so we used the cable car on both visits.

There is also a webcam you can check to see what the conditions are like up there. It may be worth going up when the cloud is moving through the area as it can create some incredible conditions.

Lake Carezza

Our visit to this stunning lake was a little rushed as we were trying to squeeze a visit here into an already packed day. The views on the way were amazing and we stopped a couple of times.

We arrived just in time for sunset, but had lost most of the light. The water level was a little low during our visit, but there was still plenty of the emerald green water there for it to be a stunning place to see. The lake, a layer of trees and a mountain backdrop almost seems too good to be true.

There is a parking lot just over the road from the lake which costs a couple of euros for an hour.

We couldn’t find many places that were open to eat nearby. It is only a small town, but Pizzeria Kupferkanne had good reviews so we tried it. Unfortunately it is one of the only places we don’t not recommend as the pizza didn’t have much flavour and the calzone was cold inside.

Peitlerkofel/Sass de Putia

Another stunning mountain that was very easy to reach once you parked up. It is along Passe Delle Erbe, which was very narrow in places. We had to back up a couple of times so other cars could get passed, so take it easy along this road, especially at night.

The parking is free in low season and it is a short walk to some incredible views of the mountains through the forest trees. If you walk for around 20 minutes, which is slightly uphill you reach a great rufugio called Munt de Fornella. We stopped there for a coffee with a view and would have eaten there if it wasn’t so early. You can carry on walking around whole the base of the mountain for a longer hike, but we didn’t have time to do this. We have read it is 12.8 km and it takes around 4 hours 30 minutes to complete from the car park.

There is a place to stay right opposite the car park called Utia de Borz, which would be perfect if you want to visit for sunrise and sunset. We will definitely stay there for a night on our return trip to the Dolomites.

On the way down from the pass on the way to San Martino In Badia, we stopped at a cute little pizza restaurant called Cristla Restaurant & Pizza. The pizzas and beer here were absolutely delicious and we highly recommend it.

Passo Gardena

Passo Gardena is probably the most beautiful pass of them all. We were lucky enough to see a wonderful cloud inversion there and we couldn’t believe our eyes. The autumn larches peaking out of the clouds and giant mountains dominating the skyline.

It is most likely you will drive on this pass without even planning to. There are a couple of places to park at the top where you can get out and admire the view. A short, but steep path takes you up even higher than the road and it is well worth the walk up. It took us up above the cloud inversion so we were able to watch as the cloud changed the landscape as the sun rose above the mountains.

In autumn there are a lot of golden larches all along the pass with a few places to pull over to take photos or for the driver to have chance to take in the views.

The popular Gran Cir hike starts at the top of the pass, although we didn’t complete this hike ourselves.

Falzarego/Lagouzui

This viewpoint is amazingly high with epic views in all directions. Unfortunately, during October the rufugio at the top is closed for food and to stay overnight, so the only way to be there for sunrise or sunset is to hike. We decided to go there for sunset and got the last cable car at 4:40pm. The last cable car back down was 5:00 pm. We were blown away by how many mountain ranges you can see from the top, but not long after the last cable car left, clouds started to creep up over the mountain. It created an incredible atmosphere and we were the only crazy people to still be on top of the mountain for sunset.

There were a few too many clouds on the horizon for us to experience an epic sunset, but watching as the clouds constantly changed the landscape was incredible. It got very cold once the sun had set and we started to hike back down the mountain. We had read this hike wasn’t too strenuous, but hiking it for the first time in the dark wasn’t that easy. It was very steep in places with gravel paths, that even with walking boots were tricky to get down. We also kept stopping to look at the GPS on our phone to make sure we were going the right way. It took us 1 hour 30 minutes to get back to the car, but it probably would have been quicker in the day time.

You can also hike the mountain through old WW1 tunnels, but as we are claustrophobic, this didn’t appeal to us. There are hikes you can do at the top of the mountain, which we would like to do next time.

The cable car is 17 euros one way or 25 euros for return, you can find more information here about dates and timings of the cable car. There wasn’t anywhere to get food at the cable car station and no restaurants around. There was a small shop over the road where we got some sandwiches and snacks, but it was very overpriced so we recommend bringing food with you if you’re going up there when the rufugio is closed.

Lago Federa

On a sunny, autumn day this hike is an absolute must. It is best to visit in the morning when the sunlight casts a beautiful glow over the golden larches and creates the most wonderful scene.

We visited for sunrise and it took us about 1 hour 20 mins to get from the car park to the lake. It was a tough hike first thing in the morning, as it was almost all uphill and steep in places, with lots of switchbacks. The effort was totally worth it though.

We highly recommend walking around the lake to the refugio. It is still open in October due to this being a popular spot. We enjoyed coffee and strudel for breakfast in the morning sunshine, surrounded by larches. The walk round the lake is just stunning and there are plenty of photo opportunities.

There are further areas to explore at the top and a longer hike which takes you around Croda da Lago mountain and back down the same way you came up. The hike up to the lake was enough for us and it was amazing to take it slowly hiking back down through the forest full of autumn colour. Be sure to check out the viewpoint just off the main path as well. There are incredible views spanning all around you of the nearby mountain ranges and larch trees below.

There are plenty of free car parking spaces just off the road where you start the hike, but as this is a popular spot they could all be full if you visit at peak time.

If you have a drone then Snake Road is just before the parking area for this hike and it is a great place to get an aerial view of this epic, winding road.

Passo Giau

Pass Giau is a very easy place to visit and absolutely beautiful. There is not much hiking, but a short walk up a hill gives you stunning views everywhere you look. This would be a great spot for sunrise or sunset. We visited at sunset and loved the pops of autumn colour and the golden light on the side of the mountain.

There are longer hikes that begin from this spot, if you have more time to explore.

There are plenty of free car parking places at the top, but when we visited in October none of the refugios or restaurants were open.

Tre Cime di Lavaredo & Cadini di Misura

These mountain ranges are an incredible place in the Dolomites and an absolute must-see. They are both in the same sort of location and you could easily spend a whole day in this area exploring both areas and hiking a lot.

Tre Cime di Lavaredo

One of the most well known and popular hikes in the Dolomites is Tre Cime Di Lavaredo. The 3 peaks are symbolic of the Dolomites and dominate the skyline from the hike. There is a circular hike that takes you all the way round the 3 peaks from the car park, which takes about 4 hours. However, if it you only want to see the classic view you can hike for around 45 minutes to an hour each way and take in the beauty of these imposing peaks. It is a relatively easy hike with it being mostly flat to begin with and then a shorter, steep uphill section up and over a ridge.

There are a few refugios along the way, but they are all closed for food and accommodation in October.

Cadini di Misura

This insane viewpoint has risen in popularity recently and for good reason. It is definitely one of the best things to do in the Dolomites. The spikey peaks and ‘runway’ shaped rock that leads up to the mountain feels as though you have walked into a film set, as it is just so perfect.

The hike to this spot is around 30 -40 minutes from the car park and is relatively easy, with just a few steeper sections to go up and over.

We recommend going right up to the highest point to get unspoilt views of the mountain range and the larches on hills below.

How To Get to Tre Cime di Lavaredo & Cadini di Misura

There is a toll road to get up to the car park for the start of both hikes, which is 30 euros. We were able to pay on card, but had read they only accept cash. We always had cash just in case, but the card worked fine. This is the only way up, other than to hike. As you will already be doing a lot of hiking once up there, we recommend driving up to the top. The toll road is long and uphill all the way so it will add a lot of extra time on to the hike.

The road is open for 24 hours during the summer months and can remain that way up until early November. However, if there is a risk of snow and ice on the road, the timings will be reduced and you will not be able to use the road to get there for sunrise in the car. We were very lucky with the weather when we visited and the road remained open. We have seen that in other years, when it got much colder earlier, the roads opening times can be reduced in mid-late October.

Also bear in mind that your 30 euro ticket only lasts until midnight each day, so if you stay up overnight or past midnight shooting the milky way, you will need to pay an additional 30 euros.

Food Options at Tre Cime di Lavaredo & Cadini di Misura

As we’ve mentioned, in October the refugios are all closed on the hike around Tre Cime and there are no refugios around Cadini di Misura. We recommend taking plenty of food and drink with you for your hike. We kept some extra snacks and drinks in the car, so we didn’t have to carry everything with us. In the peak summer months you will have food options on the Tre Cime hike.

We can highly recommend Malga Rin Bianco to stop at on the way to or from the car park. It is after the toll booth and on a sunny day it is an amazing place to stop and take in the views. During October the restaurant wasn’t open, but there was a great guy with a snack shop and bar with plenty of outdoor seating. Hot and cold sandwiches were available, along with cheese and meat platters and a great range of drinks. We thoroughly enjoyed spending a lunch time there before going on our hike. If you do plan on going before your hike though, try and message them before your visit to make sure at least the snack bar is open. This is the only food option available past the toll road in October.

Lago di Braies

Lago di Braies is one of the most photographed lakes in the Dolomites and it lived up to the hype.

If you need an idea of how popular it can get – the lake has 4 large car parks. In autumn at sunrise it was fine to park, but we have heard in summer it can get extremely busy.

The nearest car parks are 3 and 4. They are literally a 5 minute walk to the lake. We parked at 3 on our first visit which was 7 euros for all day – there was someone collecting the money so take cash as we’re not sure if you can pay on card. The next day they had blocked off car park 3 and so we needed to go through the barriers for 4. This was 10 euros for first 3 hours which was plenty for us, but if you want to stay longer you could end up paying almost double as the cost goes up every half an hour. Car parks 1 and 2 are a little further away, but we believe they are slightly cheaper so may be a better option if you plan to stay all day and walk around the lake.

We highly recommend the town of San Candino to stay in. It is a beautiful little town with a mountain backdrop and it’s only 25 minutes to get to the lake.

Lago Misurina

This beautiful lake is very easy to get to as it is right at the bottom of road to Tre Cime di Lavaredo and Cadini di Misura, and at the side of a main road. It is surrounded by larch trees and is a popular spot for photography due to the single hotel at one end of the lake with a picture perfect mountain backdrop.

There is a restaurant at the end of the lake where you park, which would be a great spot for food. We didn’t try it ourselves, but it was open in October so worth checking out the latest Google reviews to see if it is worth a visit. There are pretty limited restaurant options in this area.

Cinque Torri

We didn’t spend as much time at Cinque Torri as we would have liked, so it will go back on our list for the next visit to the Dolomites. It’s a beautiful area, with mountain views all around you. Golden larch trees are also doted around this area in autumn and it is yet another jaw dropping Dolomites destination.

We had read you can drive up to the top, as the cable car doesn’t run in autumn. It is a very narrow road to the rifugio, with quite a few bumps. So if you drive up there in the dark, take it slow. The road takes you up to Rifugio 5 Torri, which is closed during the autumn, including the car park. There are a few parking spaces just before the rifugio though, although it can get full quickly. From where you park it takes about 15 minutes walking up hill to get to another rifugio and the main viewpoint of Cinque Torri. This rifuigio was also closed in autumn so take food with you if plan to stay up there for a while.

The cable car runs at different times in summer and winter, but you can check times and dates here.

There are also various different ways to hike up to the top, with some paths being steeper than others. All of them will be quite the elevation from the road though with the quickest option starting at Rifugio Col Gallina which takes around 2 hours.

Lago di Dobbiaco

This is another stunning lake in the Dolomites which is very easy to get to. This beautiful lake is just off the road, but as soon as you park up and head down to the lake, the road is hidden by the tree line. It’s very peaceful and the water is crystal clear. The small house over other side of the lake makes for a beautiful photo and there is also a restaurant on the edge of the lake.

Parking is very easy to find and costs 1 euro an hour.

Lago di Landro

Lago di Landro is a spectacular lake in the Dolomites. The water is beautifully clear, there is a backdrop of larch trees and mountain landscapes and it couldn’t be easier to get to. The lake is actually spilt by the road and you can park right next to it.

It is absolutely beautiful at sunrise when you can walk down to the edge of the lake and get the reflection of mountains and the larch trees. In autumn the mountains had a dusting of snow and the larch trees were golden orange, which only enhanced this scene. This is also a great spot for using a drone if you have one. It is worth using the drone a little later than sunrise though, once the sun is higher and above the mountains to provide more light.

You can also walk around the lake if you want to take in and explore even more of this beautiful area.

Lago Sorapis

We had heard this lake was incredible as the water is so blue, but we heard from a fellow traveller that there wasn’t much water in the lake during our visit. So, full disclosure, we didn’t visit this lake. It is common for the water level to be low in October and it had been an especially dry summer.

It’s a 2 hour hike each way to Lago Sorapis. So we didn’t have time to squeeze it in when we knew we wouldn’t get the ‘wow’ moment of seeing the beautiful, blue lake. It will go on the list for next time (as we already know we will visit the Dolomites again). When we drove past the parking area for the lake, it was still packed, so this is a very popular spot. From what we have read it is a beautiful hike, although it can be a little challenging in places if you don’t like heights.

So even though we haven’t been there ourselves yet, it had to go on the list of best things to do in the Dolomites. From the photos we have seen, when the lake is full, it looks absolutely stunning. If you visit in autumn it may be worth checking with locals or other travellers about the water level, before you do the hike, just so you know what to expect.

How To Get To the Dolomites

Obviously this is highly dependant on where you are travelling from, but there isn’t an airport directly in or next to the Dolomites so there are a few different options to consider.

We had mainly read about flying to Venice or Verona, as they are 2 of the closest airports to the Dolomites. Another option is to fly into Milan Bergamo Airport to get to the Dolomites and it worked out great. We flew there from England on a budget flight as Bergamo is a budget airport, apart an hour outside of the city of Milan. It is about a 3 hour journey from the airport to one of the main towns in the Dolomites, Ortisei. We arrived to Bergamo in the afternoon so chose to have a night in Lake Garda first, so we could be at our hotel before dark.

All 3 airports are good options, so it will mainly depend on which flights are best from your original destination. In addition you may wish to add on a trip to another Italian city, such as Venice, which may also determine your preferred airport.

• Milan Bergamo Airport to Ortisei in the Dolomites – around 3 hours
• Verona Airport to Ortisei in the Dolomites – just over 2 hours
• Venice Airport to Ortisei in the Dolomites – around 3.5 hours
• Venice Airport to Cortina d’Ampezzo in the Dolomites – just over 2 hours