The sporting good store that rents the via ferrata gear was very particular about the shoes we wore, in that they had to have very good traction and the soles werent worn down. In this article, we list five sample itineraries for Switzerland. Val di Funes is a picturesque part of the Dolomites. STAY | The Berg Hotel in Sexten/Sesto offers huge rooms with incredible views (and amazing food!). Its one of the most beautiful lakes in the Dolomites and it will be a short detour on your drive. You can click the check marks to hide or show layers. A short 45-minute drive from Riscone is, in our opinion, the most underrated national park in the whole of South Tyrol - Fanes (follow the SS244 road to parcheggio Pedur). I would probably add a night there rather than make the effort to go to Zermatt for a night - or skip the Berner Oberland altogether and spend all your mountain time in Zermatt. Alpe di Siusi is actually the largest alpine meadow in Europe and is home to the iconic views of rolling hills and alpine huts of the Dolomites. You can pick out your favorite daily itineraries and then put them together to create your perfect Dolomites itinerary. Alternatively, jump aboard the cable car down to the town. Afterwards, explore the town of Cortina dAmpezzo, check into your hotel, and then have dinner. The cover photo for this guide was taken in Val di Funes. Weve been to Rifugio Puez and you could combine that with another nearby hut. Fun fact: Marks granddad once owned and operated a hotel in one of Bolzanos squares, and to this day he talks extremely fondly of the city and wider region - a love that has definitely been ignited in Mark too! Once at Passo Pordoi, you have the option to ride another cable car, this time to Sass Pordoi. A gondola eliminates the first big climb, making this an overall downhill walk. Basically, hiking shoes are almost mandatory. Home About Blog Hiking Hiking Gear Hut to Hut Hiking Packing List Europe Hikes Best Day Hikes in Europe Best Treks in Europe I would suggest staying the overnight of day 2 in Cortina d'Ampezzo, the luxury ski town of the Dolomites. Youre not actually allowed to drive into Alpe di Siusi unless youre staying at one of the hotels in there (theres a pretty hefty 150+ fine if you do), so we suggest parking at Compatsch and walking into the meadow at your own pace. My question is, we normally hike in Merrill Moab hiking shoes but last year in Norway hiked and biked in Brook Trail runners. DO | Hike to Gran Cir peak, enjoy South Tyrolean cuisine at Rifugio tia de Bioch, STAY | Continue your stay at the beautiful timber interior of Mountain Hotel Mezdi, Colfosco/Corvara. There are public buses but these arent always reliable and you wont have the freedom to explore the Dolomites at your own pace. In our opinion, the best (and most environmentally friendly) way to get to the Dolomites is via train, as the rail network throughout the region is exceptional, and trains stop regularly in Bolzano, the starting point for our Dolomites itinerary. DOLOMITES DESTINATION GUIDES | A guide to Val di Funes, A complete guide to Alpe di Siusi, How to visit Lago di Carezza, our guide to Lago di Braies, HIKES TO REMEMBER | 7 of the best day hikes in the Dolomites, including the famous Tre Cime De Lavaredo loop, Violet Towers hiking guide, Hiking to Lago di Sorapis, Cadini di Misurina, SOUTH TYROL | 19 amazing things to do in South Tyrol during Summer, plus everything we love about the beautiful South Tyrol region, PHOTOGRAPHY | Love our photography? Drivers can be a little pushy | Dont be alarmed if youre sticking to the speed limit and a car flies past you at lightning speed (generally on a tight bend or narrow road!). We are very active and fit. We use the Grayl water purification bottles, which allows us to fill up from any water source, anywhere in the world (including train taps!). TIP | There are several daily Shuttle buses to South Tyrol from the airports of Innsbruck, Salzburg, Munich, Treviso, Venice, Verona, Bergamo and Milan Malpensa. Save up to $200. And if you choose huts along Alta Via 2, then stay in Cortina and do day hikes from here. DOLOMITES ROAD TRIP ITINERARY | OUR DAY BY DAY GUIDE DAY #1 | BOLZANO TO NOVA LEVANTE/WELSCHNOFEN Start your road trip in Bolzano, the surprisingly charming provincial capital of South Tyrol (we very much recommend spending a few days here prior, it's wonderful).. Bolzano is full of things to do, and even a short walk through the old town will have you see most of the main attractions. 2 weeks in Italy & Switzerland - Rick Steves Travel Forum document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Earth Trekkers is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn advertising fees by advertising & linking to Amazon.com. On the map below, I highlighted these two regions and labeled a few of the most popular towns and things to do, so you get a basic idea of where things are located. If youre travelling via train from Germany, Switzerland or Austria in the north, or Italy in the south, get off at Bolzano station, the main hub for the region. Below are a few important things to note before driving in the Dolomites: International drivers permit | If your licence is from outside the EU, youll need to bring an International Drivers Permit (as well as your licence and passport) to hire a car in Italy, Signs are in Italian and German | An autonomous region in Northern Italy, South Tyrol is home to both Italian and German. Read our guide on how to carbon offset here. Location: Eastern and western Dolomites Where to Stay: Val Gardena (Selva di Val Gardena or Ortisei). The time spent there is up to you. Its also a good idea to arrive early in the day to avoid crowds, which in our opinion makes the experience far better. Switzerland and Italian Dolomites - 2 weeks - Rick Steves Each of the itineraries below is a one day itinerary. Respect the local environment and culture | This part of Italy, which stretches across the South Tyrol and Verona communes, has a unique and rich culture, steeped in religious and historical significance. Its best to stay in two different locations while visiting the Dolomites to minimize how much driving you will do. TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY: For more information about the camera gear we carry, check out our Travel Photography Gear Guide. If you are planning your Dolomites itinerary, there is an overwhelming amount of information to processboth on the internet and in guidebooks. Spend 2 nights in Chur. TRAIN. Explore three of Scandinavia's great cities on this Europe itinerary. As far as museums go, this is one of the best weve ever visited. If you simply want to drive through the Dolomites and visit a few highlights, two to three days is all you need. Weve written a detailed guide to hiking the Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop, including some alternative ways to access the park and avoid the 30 fee for car entry - so we recommend checking that out here. Cable cars transport visitors to the highest peaks, so you dont have to be a big hiker to get to the panoramic viewpoints. Switzerland and Italy Road Trip Itinerary The breakdown for the itinerary goes like this, with more details below: 4 days: Tyrol / Val di Funes / Ortisei (Italian Dolomites) 4 days: Lake Como / Lake Garda (Italy) 6 days: Lauterbrunnen / Lucern / Stoos (Swiss Alps) Day 1: Tyrol Mountains That way you will get to see different parts of the Dolomites. BEST OF ITALY: In our Guide to the Best Places to Visit in Italy, we list 20 beautiful destinations to consider for your next trip to Italy. In Val di Funes, you can hike the Adolf Munkel Weg to Geisler Alm. If you return the car to the same city, you will avoid the drop fee which can help keep your rental car cost low. Thinking of staying in Wengen or Murren as base for couple days. Map for your Northern Italy road trip Below you can find a customized map that includes all the locations you're going to visit on this Northern Italy road trip itinerary. Take the Bernina Express from Chur to Pontresina. Afternoon with Kayak adventure. For most of those hikes you should be fine in trail running shoes. To plan your Dolomites itinerary, take your pick from the daily itineraries listed above. Our Dolomites itinerary covers everything from the insta-perfect lakes to the vertiginous rocky peaks, incredible day-hikes to the must-see museums, not forgetting a host of incredible restaurants, and a spot of adrenalin here and there. Just as long as the area doesnt get a lot of snow, then you can do all of the hikes and everything on this list. A visit to Lago di Braies lasts about 4 hours. Or, be prepared to take the bus. Thanks, Good spots to go with a toddler are Lago di Braies, the Freccia nel Cielo cable car, the cable car to Lagazuoi (but Im not sure the walk down is toddler friendly), the cable car and short walks at Seceda, and a visit to Lago di Misurina would all be very nice. Italy and Switzerland itinerary - Travel Passionate From the upper station, you have more 360 views of the Dolomites and over Passo Pordoi. This seems to be how some of the locals who are comfortable driving these roads approach the roads here - dont let it affect your nerves on the road though. Gornergrat (train ride to the top with views of the Matterhorn) Kleine Matterhorn Cablecar (Highest in Europe with year-round skiing) 5 Lakes Hike (2.5 hours with lake reflections of the Matterhorn) Hike at the Schwarzsee. 11 Awesome Itineraries for Your Trip Through the Alps - Matador Network Both the Glacier Express and Bernina Express are very scenic train trips. On day three of your 3-day Dolomites itinerary, there are sort of two directions you could go. You can also get here by bus or by cable car (get the details in our Alpe di Siusi guide, (coming soon)). From Cortina dAmpezzo, head west towards Marmolada. In July, we are planning on spending 3 days in Bernese Oberland hiking, etc and then a few days in Lake Como then the Dolomites for 5 1/2 days (staying in Selva and Cortina). As a result, the main attractions and destinations can be overrun, the roads busy, and the summer temperatures almost too warm for outdoor activities. 8 Days in Switzerland: A Perfectly Magical Switzerland Itinerary We will also share with you different ways to put this all together, to simplify your travel planning process. DO | Explore parts of Bolzano, including via Argentieri and the local markets, STAY | We enjoyed a comfortable stay at Hotel Stella-Stern, Nova Levante. That depends on what you want to do. hike to the Cadini di Misurina viewpoint.