RoadAtlas
The Dolomites — Italy — Mountain
Europe

The Dolomites

Italy

Point-to-point
Bolzano Cortina d'Ampezzo

In short: The Dolomites is a About 145 km mountain road trip in Italy, typically driven over 3 days, best in Jun–Oct (skiing: Dec–Mar). Highlights: Bolzano, Val di Fassa, Passo Pordoi.

Distance
About 145 km
Duration
3 days
Best Season
Jun–Oct (skiing: Dec–Mar)
LegendaryModerateMountainEV-friendly

The Grande Strada delle Dolomiti, the Great Dolomites Road from Bolzano to Cortina d'Ampezzo through the most spectacular mountain scenery in the Alps. Huge cathedrals of rock, the Val di Fassa, the Sella Ronda massif, the Alta Badia, and vertiginous switchbacks between peaks of 3,168m and 3,218m.

Practical notes
Follow the classic Great Dolomites Road: Bolzano–Nova Levante–Lake Carezza/Karerpass–Canazei–Pordoi–Arabba–Falzarego–Cortina. Sella/Corvara and the Ladin museum belong to a separately labeled Alta Badia variant. Check every pass, lift, trail and parking status daily; mountain weather can close access quickly. Rifugio Fuciade is removed because it requires a separate San Pellegrino walking day and reservation.

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Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1Bolzano via Nova Levante, Carezza and Karerpass to Canazei

Lake Carezza and Karerpass · Canazei · El Pael

Day 2Canazei over Passo Pordoi to Arabba and Falzarego

Passo Pordoi and Sass Pordoi alternative · Arabba and Passo Falzarego · Rifugio Fodom

Day 3Falzarego, Cinque Torri and Cortina

Falzarego / Lagazuoi First World War landscape · Cinque Torri · Rifugio Lagazuoi

Stops along the route

Bolzano — Departure — The Dolomites — Italy
Departure
Bolzano
Bilingual South Tyrolean capital. Otzi the Iceman (3300 BC) is in the Archaeology Museum; Castel Roncolo looms above the gorge at the city's northern edge.
Hotels
Val di Fassa — City — The Dolomites — Italy
City
Val di Fassa
Ladin-speaking valley below the Marmolada (3343m). Canazei is the gateway to the Sella Ronda circuit and some of the Dolomites' most dramatic hiking terrain.
Hotels
Alta Badia — City — The Dolomites — Italy
City
Alta Badia
Ladin villages in a meadow bowl ringed by the Sella Group's vertical walls. The valley has more Michelin-starred restaurants per capita than almost anywhere in the Alps.
Hotels
Cortina d'Ampezzo — Arrival — The Dolomites — Italy
Arrival
Cortina d'Ampezzo
The Queen of the Dolomites, host of the 1956 and 2026 Winter Olympics. The Tofane massif rises directly above the Corso Italia's elegant boutiques and cafes.
Hotels

Things to Do

Passo Pordoi — Landmark — The Dolomites — Italy
Landmark
Passo Pordoi
The Great Dolomites Road's highest point at 2239m. A cable car ascends to the Sass Pordoi plateau; 33 hairpins climb each side of the pass.
Passo Falzarego — Landmark — The Dolomites — Italy
Landmark
Passo Falzarego
The dramatic 2105m pass linking Alta Badia to Cortina, with the Lagazuoi massif rising sheer above the road and WWI tunnels carved into the cliffs.
Lake Carezza and Karerpass — Lake and mountain pass — The Dolomites — Italy
Lake and mountain pass
Lake Carezza and Karerpass
Use signed parking/viewpoints and make the historic road the day’s focus.
Canazei — Mountain town — The Dolomites — Italy
Mountain town
Canazei
Use a compact arrival walk.
Passo Pordoi and Sass Pordoi alternative — Mountain pass/lift — The Dolomites — Italy
Mountain pass/lift
Passo Pordoi and Sass Pordoi alternative
Use the pass; add the lift only if weather and timing allow.
Arabba and Passo Falzarego — Historic mountain road — The Dolomites — Italy
Historic mountain road
Arabba and Passo Falzarego
Complete the classic road stage without a Sella/Corvara detour.
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Falzarego / Lagazuoi First World War landscape — Historic mountain site — The Dolomites — Italy
Historic mountain site
Falzarego / Lagazuoi First World War landscape
Use the route-correct cultural stop instead of the Alta Badia museum.
Cinque Torri — Mountain walk/viewpoint — The Dolomites — Italy
Mountain walk/viewpoint
Cinque Torri
Choose a weather-suitable signed visit and finish in Cortina.

Where to Eat

El Pael — Ladin/Tyrolean — The Dolomites — Italy
Ladin/Tyrolean
El Pael
Reserve this route-correct Canazei dinner.
Rifugio Fodom — Dolomite mountain cuisine — The Dolomites — Italy
Dolomite mountain cuisine
Rifugio Fodom
Verify seasonal opening at the Pordoi/Arabba corridor and reserve.
Rifugio Lagazuoi — Mountain cuisine — The Dolomites — Italy
Mountain cuisine
Rifugio Lagazuoi
Use only with confirmed lift/trail access and reservation.

Nearby and similar drives

Frequently asked questions

How long is the The Dolomites drive?

The The Dolomites covers About 145 km from start to finish.

How long does the The Dolomites take to drive?

Most travellers spend 3 days on the The Dolomites, depending on stops and pace.

When is the best time to drive the The Dolomites?

The recommended season for the The Dolomites is Jun–Oct (skiing: Dec–Mar).

Where does the The Dolomites start and end?

The The Dolomites runs from Bolzano to Cortina d'Ampezzo.

What are the main stops on the The Dolomites?

The The Dolomites passes through Bolzano, Val di Fassa, Passo Pordoi.

How difficult is the The Dolomites to drive?

The The Dolomites is rated moderate and is best handled with any vehicle.

Can I drive the The Dolomites in a regular car?

Yes — the The Dolomites is paved end-to-end and a regular car is fine in normal conditions.

Is the The Dolomites EV friendly?

Yes — the The Dolomites has charger coverage along the route and works as an EV road trip.

Is the The Dolomites safe to drive?

Follow the classic Great Dolomites Road: Bolzano–Nova Levante–Lake Carezza/Karerpass–Canazei–Pordoi–Arabba–Falzarego–Cortina. Sella/Corvara and the Ladin museum belong to a separately labeled Alta Badia variant. Check every pass, lift, trail and parking status daily; mountain weather can close access quickly. Rifugio Fuciade is removed because it requires a separate San Pellegrino walking day and reservation.

What scenic tier is the The Dolomites?

The The Dolomites is a legendary drive — The world's most extraordinary drives — once-in-a-lifetime road trips with cinematic scenery, legendary roads, and unmatched cultural depth.