These majestic mountains in South Tyrol/Northern Italy are always an irresistible fascination for travelers from all over the world. Imagine being surrounded by bizarre rock formations every day on your journey, which turn into a breathtaking play of pink and gold colors at sunrise or sunset. A trip to the Dolomites offers you a lot of variety. So you can either become one with nature and all its different facets on unique hikes or stroll around the charming mountain villages and historic towns and round off the evening with culinary food. The Dolomites are definitely one of Europe's most impressive natural wonders. They make you feel like you're at the other end of the world or on another planet.
This blog will take you on our trip to the Dolomites and show you why this UNESCO World Heritage Site fascinated us so much and which highlights you should definitely not miss out on your trip.
We recommend that you set aside at least 6 days for a trip to the Dolomites, as there are simply far too many beautiful things to see.
We set off from the Palatinate with the camper van and drove via Austria to the North of the Dolomites. This is where our trip began. If you don't have a car available, you can also take the train via Munich to Bolzano. From there, take bus 170 to Fiè am Schlern. It is also possible to take a plane to Bolzano. However, it must be said that a car or camper has never been as useful as on this trip!
Renting a camper van is definitely worthwhile for this adventure. Many highlights offer you the opportunity to spend the night right there, which allows you to experience the place even more quietly, without many tourists. In general, however, the rule here is that who comes first, paints first. You could hardly reserve any camping space in advance. You should therefore consider in advance which campsites you would like to visit. Then it's time to make a spontaneous call and ask if there is still something available. Our tip - don't panic, we've found a good spot every time and if a special campsite is important to you, get up early and secure a spot there in the morning.
hiking boots, water bottle, rain jacket, sweaters, sportswear, flashlight, camera, sun protection
May to September, although the summer months can be very hot
The various locations are often 30 to 60 minutes away from each other. So don't be shocked if you have to drive between 1-2 hours a day. But that's no problem, as the trips in the Dolomites have always been a highlight in their own right.
After a long yet wonderful journey with enchanting nature and mountain panoramas, we arrived at our first stop. We spent our first night at Camping Colfosco. A campsite surrounded by incredible mountains and greenery. Imagine cooking in the open air with a view of the unique mountains of the Dolomites. Be sure to arrive here before sunset, as it is simply wonderful to watch the mountains slowly being enchanted by the setting sun. You can also visit the cute little town from here in 10-15 minutes Kurfar Reach by foot. That's why it's not just nice to sleep here!
For free parking spaces, it is best to call the campsite directly.
You can find more information at www.campingcolfosco.org/en.
On the second day, we started our first little adventure. In the morning we set off for Ortisei and our first destination was Seceda.
Seceda It is undoubtedly one of the most charming places in the Dolomites. The 2519 meter high mountain impresses with its imposing, rugged rock faces on one side and an extensive, gently sloping alpine pasture on the other side. The Breathtaking Panoramic Views, which extend in all directions, are particularly impressive. The region around Seceda is an absolute hiking paradise. There are numerous well-marked hiking trails that lead through the idyllic landscape. From leisurely walks to challenging mountain tours, there is something for every hiker.
There is a parking lot right by Seceda in front of the gondolas, but it was very full. When we were there, parking costs around 10€ for the whole day. If you don't feel like it, you can of course look for a parking space just outside and walk to the gondola. We can only recommend taking the gondola. It takes you to the impressive peaks in a short time and is already an experience in itself, as you can admire the landscape from a bird's eye view. Animal Lovers are also well catered for here. During our hike, we saw cute cows and donkeys a few times, which were really trusting and sometimes even allowed themselves to be petted. For refreshments, you can also find some great huts in the valley or, if you don't want to go that far, you can also grab snacks and drinks directly from the gondolas.
Pieralongia Hut
Small but nice: A recommendation for animal lovers, because right next to them are super cute and friendly donkeys that you can even pet.
Troier Hut
Rustic and cozy: This hut is the perfect stopover on your hike.
Baita Sofie Hut
Chic and authentic: The motto here is to put your feet up, have a drink in your hand and enjoy the sun.
Restaurant Seceda 2500 m - The Highest in Val Gardena
Nice view and easy to reach. A clear recommendation if you don't want to hike so much. This cabin is right next to the gondola.
After our adventure and after taking the gondola back down, we went straight from the parking lot on foot about 10 minutes to Ortisei gone. Good drinks after a strenuous hike? Then Ortisei is definitely the right choice. The small town, also known as St. Ulrich, is perfect to round off an exciting hiking day with delicious food and drinks. What we also particularly liked here was the beautiful architecture and small shops, which were always surrounded by beautiful mountain peaks. So if you're looking for a nice place in the Dolomites where you can drink your well-earned Aperol, then Ortisei is the right place for you!
You can enjoy a particularly good Aperol at Café Adler
On the third day, hiking was on our list again. For us, it went to Seiser Alm. The Seiser Alm, also known as Alpe di Siusi, is definitely a must see for us. Here, too, you can easily park right in front of the gondola for €10 per day and travel comfortably upstairs.
This is perfect if you want to go on a more relaxed, flutter hiking tour. This route is also suitable for mountain biking. The Seiser Alm had a very special charm for us, which made us feel right at home here. It's like being in a small and green world of its own here. The Seiser Alm has 56 square kilometers The largest mountain plateau in Europe And that at an altitude of 2.563 meters. Hiking here was a lot of fun and was mostly flat and therefore easy to do. On the way, we also met some animals again, such as cows, horses, goats and donkeys. Some of them were actually just running around freely and we could even pet them. Unfortunately for me, there was also an adder creeping around next to us, which is not really life-threatening, but I don't really love snakes either. As is so often the case in the Dolomites, there are beautiful huts, also known as refugios, on the Seiser Alm, where it is worth taking a break.
Our refugio recommendation:
→ Smoke house - here You can plan your route directly and call to reserve a table.
After our refreshments, we took the gondola back down. From there, we drove about 45 minutes by camper to Lake Carezza (Karersee), which is an absolute gem of the Dolomites. This Emerald Green Mountain Lake is nestled amidst a breathtaking backdrop of imposing mountains and dense forest. The lake is particularly known for its crystal-clear water surface, which reflects the magnificent mountain landscape. This view really amazed us. Just when we were there in September, there was a super relaxed atmosphere here despite the hotspot!
The lake is a perfect destination, as is often the case in the Dolomites, for nature lovers, hikers and photographers. A short stroll around the lake or a picnic on the shore are wonderful ways to enjoy the peaceful and enchanting atmosphere of this place. Once again, the fantastic trip by car, as well as the excellent parking facilities, which were even free of charge here, must be emphasized.
After we had a breathtaking time at Lake Carezza, we were already on to the next highlight. Saint Magdalene Or also known as Santa Maddalena, is a truly idyllic village in the Dolomites. However, the real star of the area is not the village, but the small church of St. Johann and the wonderful mountain panorama that only the Dolomites can offer you. Since we really didn't want to miss the sunset, we ignored the church this time and drove straight to the well-known viewpoint.
You can find the exact coordinates here.
From this viewpoint, we were able to have a breathtaking view of the village and the mountains, with the light of the sun slowly weakening. You can also watch the church from the viewpoint. But since it is a good distance away, it is worthwhile to have binoculars or a camera with a strong zoom.
This campground offered us top-class sleeping space. He deserves a special mention here because he was so good at convincing us. So if you're in the mood for a bit of luxury camping, maybe after a few wild nights, you should definitely camp here. The Square is about a 30-minute walk from the beautiful town Brixen Removes and offers absolute comfort and hotel feeling with a spa-like shower room. The parking spaces are not really big, but if you just want to come down and feel really clean and relaxed again, this is the place for you! At around 50€ per night, this place is not the cheapest but definitely worthwhile!
For free parking spaces, it is best to call the campsite directly.
You can find more information at www.loewenhof.it/camping-brixen/camping-loewenhof.org/en.
After a restful night, we started our day jogging to Brixen to buy delicious pastries. It is one of the oldest cities in the Dolomites and has therefore given us the most feeling of strolling around in an Italian old town. But the special thing about Brixen is definitely the mix of Italian and alpine flair and the beautiful little alleys. The city combines German and Italian culture in a unique way, which is also reflected in the language, cuisine and lifestyle of the inhabitants. Every time we came to a shop, we were surprised which language they spoke to us. We think Brixen is an absolute must see if you love the Italian flair as much as we do.
On your way through the cute alleys, you absolutely have to stop at the cheese shop”Casa Del Formaggio Di Rossi Marina“Thu. There are delicious cheese specialties here to try and of course buy, which were quite a taste experience for us. Here we have properly increased our cheese inventory and got rid of a lot of money. In addition to cheese, it also serves sausage and other typical Italian delicacies.
You can find the exact coordinates of the cheese shop here.
After a little refreshment in beautiful Brixen, we went on to a destination that made us want to go on vacation in the Dolomites in the first place. It was finally time for us to Lago de Braies. This picturesque mountain lake is also known as Pragser Wildsee and Enchants with its Clear and Turquoise Water. When you get there, don't be afraid if you have to wait a bit to get a parking space. There are three parking spaces in the immediate vicinity of the lake and there is actually enough space here. We reached the lake around lunch/prime time and were then pleasantly surprised at the number of people. In fact, we have seen in many blogs and videos before how visiting the lake was sometimes even discouraged. It may be due, on the one hand, to our own expectations and, on the other hand, to the fact that September is a generally good time to travel to the Dolomites, that we were pleasantly surprised.
Our tip is to park directly at a parking lot near the lake and bring a towel and snacks for an idyllic walk around the lake, including a fantastic picnic.
Once around the lake, it's almost 4 km, which took us about 1.5 hours at a leisurely pace. On our way, we made a short stop right at the lake, where we were actually almost all alone and used the magical and cool water for a quick swim refreshment. It was wonderful to cool off in the fantastic water and to have these incredible mountains right in front of you (it was still pretty cold though). There is also a beautiful hotel right on the lake, but you have to reserve it well in advance, as it is the only one directly on Lake Braies.
You can find more information at www.lagodibraies.de
There is also a small boathouse here, where you can rent a wooden boat for 45 minutes. Yes, it is an absolute touri thing and, at 50€ for 45 minutes, is already very overpriced. However, this had already been on our bucket list for 5 years, which quickly made it clear that we would still participate, no matter what the cost. Since a wish came true here, we thought it was absolutely worth it! Rowing to the Middle of the Lake in an Old Wooden Boat was something we'll never forget. It must be said that paddling with the rustic wooden oars was not as easy as expected - but we made it.
After we were able to watch the mountains change color due to the slightly setting sun, we strolled back to our van in a relaxed man.
Our tip for you if the lake is on your list. Sleep nearby for a night and experience the lake in all its different lighting moods, such as very early in the morning or even later in the afternoon when the sun sets. Because you can easily spend the whole day here.
This stop on our trip just gave our trip its name - We've discovered a new planet. We drove there about an hour from Lago di Braies. Before we went to the campsite, we met at Lake Misurina Fully equipped with food and drink and everything that goes with it. Our exact destination was the parking space at the Auronzo Hut, which is located right at the top of the Three Peaks. All hiking trails start from here. The parking space has no toilet or other luxury and is therefore only pure nature! Admission costs 30€ for 24 hours and is therefore quite expensive for not having any sanitary facilities, but believe us, it's worth it! The View and the Starry Sky there were an absolute dream and a unique experience. Once at the Top, We Wanted to See the Famous Now Cadini di Misurina Hike making. This hike is also known among fans as”Mordor Hike” Known and draws you into the fascinating world of “The Lord of the Rings.” Because this view is actually reminiscent of the Towers of Mordor and of Course makes the hearts of fans of the epic films in particular beat faster. But even those who are not necessarily fans immediately feel the mysterious and mystical flair of this unique experience. The hike there is definitely not for the faint of heart. You look into Abysses All the Time and See Incredible Mountain Peaks. We had the feeling that we were running on another planet because the flora and fauna were simply out of this world. Nevertheless, this hike is generally easy to complete and takes about 1-1.5 hours. Cadini di Misurina Is a very popular photo stop, where people even stand in a short queue at peak times and wait to go up to the famous ledge. We were lucky, there were barely any people there at that time!
Our legs were pretty shaky when we went to the top of the mountain, but the feeling of standing there and having this view was simply indescribable. After that, we sat down in a safer spot and enjoyed a magical sunset with a delicious beer in hand.
Our evening program consisted of sitting outside under the incredible starry sky with our home-cooked food and enjoying the view, fresh air and silence. We were standing right on the edge of the car and had an incredible panoramic view
We were woken up in the morning by the bells of alpine animals and a wonderful view. We sat down in front of our van with a coffee and watched horses grazing right in front of us. After a small refreshment, we are heading back towards Cadini di Misurina Broken up. We really wanted to experience the mountain spectacle again in bright light.
After the short warm up hike, we had to do the big hike around the Three Peaks today. There are three different hiking trails, which vary significantly in length. We decided to hike to Dreizinnenhütte And started hiking. You should plan approx. 3 — 5 hours for this hike. It was wonderful because the three peaks always looked different from every point of view. If you like adventure, you can also break away from the big path and find your own route. However, you must be aware that you can quickly get into unfavorable or tending to dangerous positions here. We too had the experience and then went straight down the path again (or rather slipped) because it was too dangerous for us, but that's what makes for a real adventure, doesn't it? When we arrived at the Dreizinnenhütte, we had the first stop and a fantastic beer when the sun was shining.
Be sure to bring cash, otherwise you'll be left dry! From here, we made a short detour to a cave that is directly above the Dreizinnenhütte. We then continued the circular route towards Van. That wasn't as easy as I thought. It went up and down and actually took longer than planned. But it was definitely worth it. That's how we got back to our camper in the afternoon. After that, we made our way to our next campsite.
This campsite also deserves a special mention here, as we liked it so much because of its surroundings and size. The campsite is located in Toblach and has everything you need. We felt very comfortable here. What we particularly liked here is that a card was given to us upon arrival and we were allowed to walk across the campsite and choose a parking space for the night ourselves. The campsite is surrounded by mountains, trees and a crystal clear river. Definitely worth an overnight stay and our tip if you want to stay somewhere longer on your trip and like it idyllic and green.
For free parking spaces, it is best to call the campsite directly.
You can find more information at www.camping-olympia.com/en/.
Unfortunately, luck with the weather ran out of us on day 6. So we decided to slowly make our way home. We decided to spend the first night near Innsbruck. We were definitely not disappointed. While walking through the old town, we were enchanted by the city's charm due to the colorful houses, gothic architecture and narrow alleys. We enjoyed our day here strolling through the alleys and enjoying Austrian cuisine such as Kaiserschmarrn and Spätzle in cute restaurants.
We sleep at Camping Innsbruck/Natterer See. However, next time we would rather sleep in an apartment or hotel in the city so that we could experience them better later in the evening. In principle, however, the campsite is highly recommended, as it is very clean and offers an Idyllic Lake.
For free parking spaces, it is best to call the campsite directly.
You can find more information at www.natterersee.com.
On the last day, we drove on towards Palatinate. Strasburg It wasn't completely on our way, but we decided to spend a night here. If you need a stopover on your trip, Strasbourg is definitely worth seeing. Strasbourg is the capital of Alsace in Northeastern France right on the border with Germany. We only recommend that you either drive directly into a parking garage or park just outside the city center, as bicycles are teeming here and finding parking spaces for cars is very difficult. If you are also traveling with a camper van, it is best to look for a parking space directly outside the city, as most parking garages are unfortunately too low. This saves you the mental breakdown moment we had.
After we finally found a parking space for our campers, we were able to really enjoy the day in Strasbourg. The Well-Preserved Half-Timbered Houses and Narrow Cobblestone Streets Took Us Back to Another Time Strasbourg is also known as the “Venice of the North,” and with good reason. Here you can take fantastic boat trips on the city's canals, which take you through the picturesque La Petite France District or explore the district yourself across the bridges. The colorful half-timbered houses along the waterways and the numerous bridges created a very romantic atmosphere. Our visit to Strasbourg wouldn't have been complete without exploring Alsatian cuisine. So we enjoyed incredibly delicious tarte flambée and drank delicious Alsatian wine in cozy wine bars and restaurants and were thus able to round off our last evening of our trip perfectly.
