Feb 12

Feb 12 The Mystical Dolomite Mountains | Italian Alps

The Dolomites are a mountain range located in the northeastern part of the Italian Alps and their beauty is such that they have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our visit to this region left us absolutely stunned by the dramatic mountain ranges and steep valleys. At the same time, we were incredibly charmed by the little cottages dotting the landscape and semi-wild horses grazing freely. Sometimes overlooked in favor of more popular destinations such as Venice or Milan, the Dolomites is the bucket list destination that you didn’t even realize was on your bucket list until after your trip is over.

Things to Know

Italian-German: Due to its proximity to Austria, the Dolomites region is an interesting mix of Italo-Germanic language, culture and cuisine. For example, the names of towns will often appear in Italian and German (Kastelruth vs Castelrotto, Ortisei vs Sankt Ulrich) and the architecture is not medieval or renaissance style. Rather, the architecture of many buildings are Bavarian style. Also, the main newspaper of the region is a German language newspaper called the Dolomiten.

Getting There: The most practical way to get to the Dolomites region will be to take the train into the main towns of Belluno, Trento or Bolzano. This will depend on where in Italy you happen to be staying as these cities are far apart from one another. In our case, we took a train from Verona all the way to Bolzano and then took a series of buses, cable cars and even did some horseback riding in order to get around the Alpe di Siusi/Seiser Alm region of the Dolomites.

Transportation: The best way to get around the Dolomites is via rented car, since it is a mountainous region with all of its towns separated by peaks and valleys. However, the bus network is also an excellent option for getting around and is also the most cost effective (aside from hiking or walking). Just outside the main train station in Bolzano, you will find an information office that will offer you maps and bus schedules of the entire region as well as pamphlets and information on various excursions. Lastly, at certain locations within the Dolomites you can travel via cable car, which we highly recommend as it offers great views.
Season - With the exception of people who love to ski, summer will be the best time for most people to visit as the weather is pleasant and the days are long but it is also peak tourist season. We went during the fall season but it was quite chilly due to the winds that come from the mountains (low 40s - low 50s Fahrenheit/ 5 - 10 Celsius). We were fine with it because there were few tourists so it felt more authentic than it otherwise would have been. Plus, having chilly weather makes for even better hiking because you don’t get overheated as easily.

Activities

Horseback Riding - This was by far one of the best experiences that we have ever had in our lives. To be man and beast moving through such natural beauty fulfills that inner desire to be one with nature and escape the drab setting of an office. If you so prefer, you can also opt for a horse drawn carriage ride which is more romantic. We used the following website to book our horseback riding excursion. https://www.seiseralm.it/en/active/365-days/riding.html

Hiking - Because of the terrain and size of the area, there are so many hiking trails that you will never get bored. The routes are usually marked with a sign that gives you the distance (in km) to the nearest town as well as the time (in minutes) estimated to complete each hike. We spent most of our time hiking the trails in the Alpe di Siusi/Seiser Alm region which has a total of about 280 miles (450 km) worth of trails and we will definitely be back for more in the future.
Cable Car - Taking a cable car is a great way to move around the mountainous region while being able to see the stunning mountain ranges at high elevation. For more information see: https://www.seiseralm.it/en/active/winter-holidays/skiing/open-lifts.html
Paragliding - Although we went paragliding when we visited Malcesine and Lake Garda, we really wish that we had done this while visiting the Dolomites. When you are gliding so high up in the sky, you feel like you are in the world’s most beautiful living room and we will definitely be back to experience this soon.
Skiing/Winter Lodges - There are so many nice cabins and lodges available in every town in the Dolomites region which makes for a perfect winter getaway with a significant other. Also, the Dolomites is home to some major ski trails during the winter moths.
Exploring the Towns - The small towns in the Dolomites are so charming that you will feel like you’ve stepped into the fairy tale story of Hansel and Gretel, with their Bavarian architecture and amazing food amidst a backdrop of imposing snow capped mountain ranges. Since we are from a coastal-tropical part of the world, the impact was even more pronounced and enjoyable.