The Main Areas You Want To Stay In

Looking for somewhere to stay in the Dolomites? After several visits to the area, we’ve put this guide together to help you decide on your perfect base in this dramatic corner of Italy.

It’s no surprise that we are big fans of the Dolomites.

We’ve been several times and written about it extensively on this blog.

Yet even after many visits, we still have to think long and hard about where to stay.

There are lots of incredible sights you need to squeeze in. But since the Dolomites are split into deep valleys and high mountain passes, getting from one area to the next can take much longer than you think.

So it’s important to decide what you want to do first, then think about where to stay.

Our guide to the best places to visit in the Dolomites can help with that. As can our first-timers guide to visiting the Dolomites.

There are two main reasons most visitors will find themselves in the Dolomites: to do some great hiking and see some great sights.

Rather than overly complicating things, we’ll tell you upfront that from our personal experience, there are two main areas that most visitors will want to stay in.

Both of these destinations will show you the best the Dolomites have to offer.

But, if you’re an experienced pro, we also have a recommendation for getting a little more off the well-worn path.

WHERE TO STAY IN THE DOLOMITES?

Working out where to base yourself for your first visit to the Dolomites can be difficult. There are plenty of areas, each offering something a little different.

From our personal experience, there are really two main areas that most visitors will want to stay in, they are:

• Cortina d’Ampezzo, and
• Val Gardena.

Both of these areas have good access to the best hikes and the best sightseeing in the Dolomites. We explain more about what each area offers in the sections below.

In Val Gardena, the main towns are Selva, Ortisei and Santa Cristina.

They are very close to each other with good transport links. Any would make a great base, especially if you don’t want to hire a car.

Cortina d’Ampezzo mixes luxury shopping with some sensational nearby hiking. The transport links are not as good here so hiring a car is preferable.

We do have a third recommendation, which is Madonna di Campiglio. This is a more remote part of the Dolomites and one that sees fewer visitors. This could be exactly what you’re looking for if you want to escape the crowds.

1. CORTINA D’AMPEZZO

Cortina d’Ampezzo is our number 1 suggestion for where to stay when visiting the Dolomites if you love hiking and are happy to hire a car.

Surrounded by some of the most famous peaks, it is crisscrossed by excellent trails, providing some of the best hikes anywhere.

It’s also good for sightseeing, with its beautiful turquoise lakes, dramatic mountain drives, and excellent network of cable cars that take you to incredible viewpoints.

The town has plenty of facilities where you can pick up essentials, shop in boutiques, and try the wide range of restaurants.

The only real downside is that it’s more expensive than other areas. But, given everything you can do, using it as a base makes sense.

We’ve been to the Dolomites a few times and always stayed in Cortina for at least part of the trip. You can read our exact Dolomites itinerary here.

WHAT TO DO?

Here is just a quick snapshot of what you can do in and around Cortina; for more details, read our guide to visiting Cortina in the Dolomites.

HOW TO GET THERE?

The nearest and most practical international airport to Cortina is Venice Marco Polo Airport. From Venice, the Cortina Express bus service runs to Cortina. If you hire a car, it is about a 2-hour drive from the airport.

The second option is Innsbruck Airport in Austria, which is a 2-hour 30-minute drive from Cortina.

2. VAL GARDENA

Val Gardena is the best place to stay in the Dolomites if you don’t want to hire a car and are keen to catch those Instagram photos without walking too far.

Val Gardena is surrounded by some of the Dolomites’ most diverse scenery. An excellent cable car network carries you to soaring pinnacles, sweeping alpine meadows and rustic mountain huts.

And unlike Cortina, many of the best photo spots are very close to the upper cable car stations.

This is the main reason we think Val Gardena is a great choice. You can see amazing scenery here without needing to hike too far.

Another of Val Gardena’s big selling points is its comprehensive public transport system and cable car network. So you can easily visit without a car, which is not true for other parts of the Dolomites.

WHAT TO DO?

Here is a quick overview of what you can do in Val Gardena, we have a lot more details in our guide to Val Gardena.

• Seceda Ridgeline
• Alpe di Siusi
• Gardena Pass
• Sella Pass
• Sassolungo
• Val di Funes
• Puez Odle Altopiano 
• Sass Pordoi 
• Col Rodella

HOW TO GET THERE?

The closest and most practical airport for most people arriving in Selva is Innsbruck Airport in Austria, which is 115 kilometres away (about 1 hour, 45-minute drive).

The other option is Verona Airport, which is around 2 hours away by car.

WHERE TO STAY?

Val Gardena has three main towns:

• Selva – Selva is perched on the slopes and has a nice village-like feel that feels close to the mountains. It is a good base if you plan on hiring a car, as it has easy access to Passo Sella and Passo Gardena.
• Santa Cristina – This is the smallest village in Val Gardena. It’s off the main road, so it’s much less touristy than the other two, but has fewer options in the evening.
• Ortisei—Ortisei is the largest of the three towns. It has the most facilities and the best cable car connections, making it the most convenient place to stay overall.

SELVA DI VAL GARDENA

Selva di Val Gardena is the highest village in the valley at 5,128 feet. It’s a lovely place with good facilities and some great restaurants.

The village has two excellent cable cars. One heads up to Campioni and the Sassolungo Massif, while the other climbs towards Passo Gardena. The hiking from both these places is excellent.

• Apartments Boè has panoramic views of the valley from their self-catering apartments in the centre of town.
• Smart Hotel Saslong is a clean modern property well located near the centre of town with a self-service bar and an excellent breakfast.
• B&B Marina is a clean, functional B&B. Some rooms have kitchen facilities making it a great choice for families.

ORTISEI

Ortisei is only about 8 kilometres from Selva. It’s the largest town in Val Gardena with a lively pedestrian area, good nightlife, plenty of facilities and more choices for accommodation.

But the real benefit of staying here is you can get cable cars from the town centre to some of the best viewpoints in the Dolomites. You don’t even have to walk too far. 

The Seceda, Resciesa, and Alpe di Siusi viewpoints are only a short distance from the upper cable car stations. Making it the most convenient place to access many of the most photographed destinations in the Dolomites.

• Residence Larciunei is a family-run chalet in the centre of Ortisei with fully equipped kitchenettes. Ski slopes are 600 metres away.
• Aquila Dolomites Residences is in a great location in the centre of town, about 180 metres from the nearest ski lift.
• Hotel Garni Snaltnerhof is a family-run guesthouse with a traditional restaurant. It’s very convenient to the bus stop to Selva.

SANTA CRISTINA

Santa Cristina is the smallest village in Val Gardena. It sits between Ortisei and Selva, so getting to either of them by bus is convenient.

Cable cars head up either side of the valley from Santa Cristina. The Col Raiser and Fermeda chairlift brings you close to the Seceda Viewpoint; the Campioni and Monte Pana cable cars take you to the excellent hiking around the Sassolungo Massif.

The main road bypasses Santa Cristina, so it’s a good option if you’re looking for a quieter stay.

• Apartments Boè has panoramic views of the valley from their self-catering apartments in the centre of town.
• Smart Hotel Saslong is a clean modern property well located near the centre of town with a self-service bar and excellent breakfast.
• B&B Marina is a clean functional B&B. Some rooms have kitchen facilities making it a great choice for families.

3. MADONNA DI CAMPIGLIO

Madonna is a slightly different recommendation from the previous ones. This is a more remote part of the Dolomites, and it’s a great choice if you want to escape the crowds and explore a different side of the Alps.

Madonna di Campiglio is in the Brenta Dolomites. There are some fantastic hikes here, some of which are our favourites. You can find them in our Dolomites hiking guide.

We love this part of the Dolomites, but it’s an area we’d only recommend staying in after you’ve explored some of the more popular areas covered above.

But, if you’d like to get away from it all among dramatic rocky scenery, Madonna could be a good choice.

If you think it’s for you, you’re in for a treat. The town is a fairy-tale village, 1500 metres high in the mountains. There are high-end boutique hotels, luxurious spa resorts and world-class restaurants.

WHAT TO DO?

• Ski on 156 kilometres of pistes
• Snowshoe
• Church of Santa Maria Antica
• Athabaska dogsled school

HOW TO GET THERE?

The closest practical airport to Madonna di Campiglio is Verona Airport, which is 165 kilometres away. The other options are Milan Malpensa, 260 kilometres away, and Venice, 290 kilometres away.

As you can see, Madonna is a fair distance from the major airports in the area. You would be looking at 2.5 hours to 3.5 hours driving time after your flight. Something to keep in mind if you have a flight later in the day.

MORE DOLOMITES GUIDES