Where to stay in the Dolomites

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Trying to plan a trip to the Dolomites can be exhausting and hard. It was somewhere I had dreamed of for a long time but when it came down to research it left me feeling confused. If you’re on limited time than it might make it even harder as you try to decide the best area to stay to make the most of your trip.

For a detailed map, consider purchasing my Google maps which has hikes, towns, restaurants, spa’s and parking locations.

I chose to visit on a tour as I wanted to maximise my time and socialise with people on a long 4-month trip, however, I am already dreaming of the day that I go back and visit independently. I absolutely loved my time in such a majestic town so hopefully this article helps you just a little bit to choose a few places to stay.

 

My first tip though is that I think you need a car - yes you can do it without a car but it adds a lot more stress so any advice provided is assuming you have a car. Wherever you stay, most drives will be around 30 minutes to 1 (or even 2) hours depending on the type of driving required. A lot of the roads will require some form of windy driving which adds additional time.

Therefore, my second tip is to do your research on petrol stations. Due to the winding roads, you will go through a lot more petrol than you typically would driving the same distance on a flat road. Adding to this, there aren’t many petrol stations around so you need to be onto this so that you don’t get stuck. We had a very close call on one of our trips but were lucky enough to have another car travel with us in case we didn’t make it.

Now that I have gotten that out of the way, let’s chat about towns:

1. Cortina D’Ampezzo

2. Ortisei

3. Calalzo di Cadore

4. San Martino di Castrozza

5. Dobbiaco

Other recommendations:

1. Campitello di Fassa

2. San Candido

3. Santa Magdalena

4. Agordo

You will have heard of some of the above towns if you have looked into the Dolomites even the tiniest amount: Cortina D’Ampezzo & Ortisei. These towns are popular for a reason. Both of them are in the middle of many hiking trails and are built-up towns with high-end shops, cafes and restaurants.

Cortina D’Ampezzo

If you love a luxurious vibe, Cortina is the best spot for you. Cortina co-hosted the 2026 Winter Olympics so you can also snap a photo with the Olympic rings. However, it is one of the most popular towns to stay in due to its very central location.

The hikes/attractions near this area include:

• Tre Cime and/or Cadini di Misurina

• Falzarego Pass

• Lago di Sorapis

• Lago di Misurina

• Cascata Delle Pile

The downfall is that for a solo or budget-friendly traveller, Cortina is very expensive so the below towns may be slightly better options.

Ortisei

Located on the Western side of the Dolomites, Ortisei is probably the second most popular town to stay. It is a larger town compared to the rest so has many options for restaurants and shopping also.

The hikes/attractions near this area include:

• Seceda

• Adolf Munkel

• Alpe di Suisi

• Sassolungo Group Loop via Passo Sella

Again, it can be quite expensive in the popular areas so for solo or budget-friendly travellers you may wish to choose somewhere else.

Calalzo di Cadore

Now this is where we stayed for a few nights in the Dolomites. It was a beautiful town and had a a Lidl on the outskirts which had the best views I think I have ever seen from a supermarket before.

The town has plenty of dining options and is located near many trails. The towns nearby are also very cute and had a few spas.

The hikes/attractions near this area include:

• Cascate Delle Pile

• Lago di Misurina

• Tre Cime

• Lago di Sorapis

• Alta via 1

• Passo Duran

San Martino di Castrozza

One of the smaller towns so far in this list, however it still holds a lot of charm. Staying here, will treat you with views of the Pale di San Martino peals and less crowds compared to the other main towns.

The accommodation is slightly more affordable in this area as well but it’s geographical location doesn’t position it as closely to some of the main hikes.

The hikes/attractions near this area include:

• Passo Rolle

• Baita Segantini

Dobbiaco and/or San Candido

These two towns are neighbours but do have some small difference depending on what you are after.

Dobbiaco is better for budget-friendly accommodation, as well as it’s proximity to trailheads and lakes.

San Candido is slightly more compact but offer a pedestrian centre and a bit more variety regarding your accommodation options.

The hikes/attractions near this area include:

• Lago di Dobbiaco

• Lago di Braies

• Tre Cime

• Cadini di Misurina

Other Recommendations

Agordo

A quiet and authentic option, offering a rich Venetian history. You will be surrounded by peaks such as Civetta, Moiazza and Monte Agner.

However, similar to San Martino di Castrozza, it is lower than many of the major attractions so if these are your goals you need to consider driving times.

The hikes/attractions near this area include:

• Passo Duran

• Malga Calleda

• Alta Via 1

• Passo Rolle

• Baita Segantini

Campitello di Fassa

A quaint town, popular for mountaineering. Within the village many buildings retain the traditional wooden verandas and stairs. A great option if you would love to visit Col Rodella viewpoint.

The hikes/attractions near this area include:

• Alpe di Suisi

• Col Rodella

• Sassolungo Group

• Seceda

Santa Magdalena

Located in the Val di Funes, it offers a typical fairy-tale alpine town. Whilst it may be absolutely beautiful, it is important to note there aren’t many restaurants or shops as it is a very small town. Tourists would typically just pass through this town, however it is located near many amazing trails.

The hikes/attractions near this area include:

• Adolf Munkel Trail

• Alta Via 2

• Ortisei

• Seceda

I can’t wait to get back to the Dolomites myself so I hope this blog helps you make the most of your time in the Dolomites ⛰️