Dolomites Road Trip: 5 Days of Passes from Bolzano

Piazza Walther · Bolzano

Compact Alpine-Italian old town with arcaded streets — an easy, atmospheric warm-up before heading into the mountains.

💡 Park at Parcheggio Piazza Walther; the ZTL covers most of the historic core.

Piazza Walther, Bolzano

South Tyrol Archeological Museum · Bolzano

Home to Ötzi the Iceman, a genuinely world-famous find — a rare must-see museum stop before the drive.

💡 Book tickets online — this small museum sells out on weekends.

Via Museo, 43, Bolzano

Alpe di Siusi

Europe's largest high-altitude alpine meadow, with the jagged Sassolungo massif as backdrop — one of the Dolomites' signature views.

💡 The meadow is closed to private cars in season — park at Ortisei/Castelrotto and take the cable car or shuttle bus.

Alpe di Siusi

Gardena Pass

One of the great Dolomite passes, with hairpins beneath the Gruppo Sella's vertical walls.

💡 Pull off at the pass summit for the best panorama — small parking area fills fast in high season.

Corvara

Pordoi Pass · Canazei

The highest paved pass on the Sella Ronda, with a cable car up to Sass Pordoi's sheer plateau.

💡 Ride the Sass Pordoi cable car for a dramatic overlook if it's running — book the round trip up top.

Canazei

Belvedere di Canazei · Canazei

A classic Ladin valley town ringed by the Sella and Marmolada groups — good legs-stretch before doubling back toward Falzarego.

Unnamed Road, 38032, 38032, Canazei

Falzarego Pass

WWI open-air museum trenches beneath five dramatic rock towers — one of the Dolomites' most photographed ridgelines.

💡 An easy 30-minute walk from the chairlift top reaches the WWI trench lines beneath the towers.

Cortina d'Ampezzo

Lago di Sorapis viewpoint

A turquoise glacial lake just outside Cortina, one of the most striking waters in the Dolomites.

💡 The lake itself needs a 2hr hike; if short on time, admire the valley approach and save the walk for tomorrow.

G6CF+8W, Cortina d'Ampezzo

Giau Pass · San Vito di Cadore

Sweeping 360-degree panorama of Dolomite peaks from a pass often called the range's most beautiful.

💡 Arrive before 9am for parking and clear light — it gets crowded and hazy by midday.

San Vito di Cadore

Rifugio Nuvolau

A serious but rewarding summit hike to the oldest rifugio in the Dolomites, with a 360° view over the entire range.

💡 Fitness required: roughly 4–5 hours round trip with real elevation gain — start by 9am and check weather first.

Monte Nuvolau, Cortina d'Ampezzo

La Tavernetta di Cortina

A well-earned Ladin-Venetian dinner after the day's summit effort, in Cortina's alpine-chic old center.

💡 Reserve ahead in peak season — Cortina's best tables fill early in summer and winter.

Minigolf Helvetia, Via del Castello, 53, Cortina d'Ampezzo

Ursulinentor · Brunico

A tidy South Tyrolean market town with a medieval core and castle, a pleasant midday break on the drive back.

Via Centrale, Brunico

Plose Mittelstation

A cable-car-accessible alpine balcony over the Isarco valley, an easy nature payoff without another big climb.

💡 Take the Plose cable car from St. Andrä near Bressanone rather than driving the narrow summit road.

MMRX+RQ, Bressanone

Chiostro del Duomo di Bressanone

South Tyrol's oldest town, with a frescoed Romanesque cloister and pastel Alpine-Italian streets.

Via S. Albuino, 2, Bressanone

Altstadt Klausen · Klausen

A picture-perfect riverside town beneath the Sabiona monastery hill, a favorite of painter Albrecht Dürer.

💡 Walk up to Kloster Säben for a rewarding easy viewpoint over the rooftops, no serious climb needed.

Klausen

Piramidi di Terra di Longomoso · Ritten

Bizarre eroded earth-pyramid rock formations overlooking Bolzano, reachable by a historic cable car and narrow-gauge tram.

💡 Take the Renon cable car from Bolzano rather than driving — parking on the plateau is limited.

Plattl, 7c, Ritten