Where to Stay in the Dolomites, Italy: 6 Best Areas

Although Italy is home to many beautiful areas, one of the best places to visit, especially for outdoor lovers, is the Dolomites. The scenery is breathtaking, with dramatic mountains, bright blue lakes, and beautiful views around every corner.

I recommend spending at least 3-5 days in the Dolomites when you visit to give you enough time to explore some iconic viewpoints and hike a few trails. We spent five days exploring as much as we could, and it was the perfect amount of time. However, we could have easily spent another week there!

The Dolomites is a huge region, and a few towns make perfect base camps for your adventures. We spent two days in the western Dolomites and three days in the eastern Dolomites, allowing us to explore some of the most beautiful areas. If you have time to explore both sections, I recommend staying in a town in the western section and another in the eastern section.

This guide has everything you need to know about where to stay in the Dolomites! Whether you want to stay in the most popular towns in the Dolomites or hidden gems, you will find the best places to stay in this guide.

 
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Where to Stay in the Dolomites: Best Locations & Accommodations

     
 
     

Cortina d’Ampezzo

Cortina d’Ampezzo is in the eastern Dolomites and one of the most popular places to stay. It is near many of the iconic hikes and must-see sights, making it a great base camp.

We stayed in Cortina d’Ampezzo and loved the cute mountain town! The downtown had plenty of shops and restaurants, and the surrounding mountain views were spectacular. 

Because it is one of the best places to stay in the Dolomites, the accommodations tend to be on the most expensive side. But it has hotels for different budgets, allowing you to find the perfect accommodation.

Why Stay in Cortina d’Ampezzo

Cortina d’Ampezzo is near some of the most iconic places to visit in the Dolomites. Although they may not be directly accessible from downtown, they are all a quick drive or day trip.

Cortina d’Ampezzo has hotels, campsites, and glamping cabins, so you can find the perfect place to stay. We loved staying in Cortina d’Ampezzo because it was the most central location to everything on our itinerary in the eastern Dolomites. 

Here are some of the best things to do near Cortina d’Ampezzo:

  • Cadini di Misurina

  • Tre Cime di Lavaredo

  • Lago di Braies

  • Lago di Sorapis

  • Cinque Torri

  • Cima Tofana

How to Hike Cadini di Misurina Trail

Best Hotels in Cortina d’Ampezzo

As I mentioned, many of the accommodations in Cortina d’Ampezzo are on the more expensive side because it is one of the best places to stay. But it still has hotels for different budgets, so you can find something that works for you.

Best Campgrounds in Cortina d’Ampezzo

If you plan to camp or are roadtripping in a campervan, you are in luck! Cortina d’Ampezzo has campgrounds nearby, and some even have glamping accommodations. Even though they are not downtown, these campgrounds are close enough that you can drive into town when needed.

Alta Pusteria (Hochpustertal Valley)

Alta Pusteria is a stunning valley in the eastern Dolomites, about 45 minutes north of Cortina d’Ampezzo. It is a much quieter area, but still a great basecamp for most things you want to do in the eastern Dolomites.

Although the towns in Alta Pusteria are smaller than Cortina d’Ampezzo, they do not lack accommodations, restaurants, and things to do!

Why Stay in Alta Pusteria

Alta Pusteria has everything you need for your trip, including accommodations for every budget, restaurants, and grocery stores. It is also near some of the must-see sights, making it a great base camp for your eastern Dolomites itinerary!

Here are some of the best things to do near Alta Pusteria:

  • Cadini di Misurina

  • Tre Cime di Lavaredo

  • Lago di Braies

Best Hotels in Alta Pusteria

The most popular towns in The most popular towns to stay in are San Candido, Sesto, and Dobbiaco. . Each town has accommodations for all budgets.

Best Campgrounds in Alta Pusteria

Looking to camp in the Dolomites? Alta Pusteria has campgrounds nearby, with campsites and cabins.

Val Gardena

The most popular area to find accommodations in the western Dolomites is Val Gardena. It is where the iconic Seceda and Alpe di Siusi are located, and the gondolas to each leave right from the towns within Val Gardena.

The two most popular towns to stay in are Ortisei and Santa Cristina. Ortisei is closer to the must-see sights and has cute shops and restaurants. Santa Cristina has plenty of shops and restaurants, but you may have to drive to Ortisei for some activities. 

Because Ortisei is home to the iconic things to do in Val Gardena, the accommodations tend to be on the more expensive side. But between Ortisei and Santa Cristina, you should be able to find an accommodation within your budget.

Why Stay in Val Gardena

Not only is Val Gardena a cute mountain area, but it is also home to some iconic sights, including Seceda and Alpe di Siusi. The gondolas leading to both are in downtown Ortisei, making it easy for you to explore them.

Val Gardena also has cute towns with fun shops and delicious food. Although we did not stay here, we loved exploring the towns!

Here are some of the best things to do near Val Garden:

  • Seceda

  • Alpe di Suisi 

  • Val di Funes

  • Sella Pass

  • Piz Boè

Best Hotels in Val Gardena

Ortisei and Santa Cristina have plenty of hotels, allowing you to find the perfect one within your budget. If you want to be closer to the Seceda and Alpe di Siusi gondolas, I recommend finding a hotel in Ortisei. Both towns are really cute and have everything you need for your trip, so you cannot go wrong with either one. 

Alpe di Siusi

Alpe di Siusi is Europe’s largest high-elevation Alpine meadow, offering stunning views and fun trails. It is one of the most iconic things to do in the Dolomites because of its iconic mountain views.

Although you do not need to stay within Alpe di Siusi to visit, it offers some stunning accommodations. If you plan to do a few things in Alpe di Siusi, it may make sense for you to stay there.

Why Stay in Alpe di Siusi

Alpe di Siusi offers stunning views, beautiful hiking trails, and other fun activities. Although most people only hike to the iconic viewpoint overlooking the surrounding mountains, Alpe di Siusi has many things to do! 

You can rent bikes, hike on miles of trails, or simply enjoy stunning views from the balcony of your hotel. Alpe di Siusi is breathtaking, so no matter how you experience it, it will quickly become one of your favorite places in the Dolomites.

Here are some of the best things to do near Alpe di Siusi

  • Iconic viewpoint near ALDER Lodge

  • Monte Piz

  • Bullaccia Loop

  • Rent bikes from Compatsch

Best Hotels in Alpe di Siusi

Although you can access Alpe di Siusi from Ortisei, it has many hotels nearby. A few of the towns nearby are Siusi, Castelrotto, and Compatsch. These accommodations tend to be pricier because the area is so popular, but they offer incredible views. We had friends who stayed in Alpe di Siusi and loved it!

Best Campgrounds in Alpe di Siusi

If you want to camp near Alpe di Siusi, you are in luck! There are not many campgrounds in this section of the Dolomites, but Alpe di Siusi has one campground nearby.

Val di Funes

Val di Funes is an iconic valley in the western Dolomites known for its cute mountain towns and breathtaking views of the mountains. It has scenic viewpoints, churches, and hiking trails that should be on every Dolomites itinerary!

We stayed right outside Val di Funes and loved the area. It was quieter than Val Gardena but still close to many of the must-see sights.

Why Stay in Val di Funes

Although Val di Funes is one of the most popular areas to visit in the Dolomites, many people do not stay in the area. If you want to stay in a quiet town while still being within driving distance to other must-see sights like Seceda and Alpe di Siusi, staying in Val di Funes will be perfect!

Here are some of the best things to do near Val di Funes:

  • Adolf Munkel Trail

  • Church of St. Magdalena

  • Church of St. John

Best Hotels in Val di Funes

The most popular towns to stay in are Funes, Bressanone, and Chiusa. These towns are small but still have accommodations and restaurants nearby. This area has many luxury hotels, but you can find more budget-friendly ones, too.

Best Campgrounds in Val di Funes

If you plan to camp during your trip to the Dolomites, you are in luck! Val di Funes has a few campgrounds nearby, offering campsites and unique accommodations.

Alta Badia

If you are looking for an accommodation between Val Gardena and Cortina d’Ampezzo, Alta Badia may be perfect for you. The only downside is it may take a bit longer to get to some of the iconic sights, including Seceda, Tre Cime di Lavaredo, and Val di Funes.

The towns within Alta Badia are stunning and are great central locations in the Dolomites. Although it is a further drive to some iconic activities, it is near other must-see sights.

Why Stay in Alta Badia

The main towns to find accommodations in are Corvara, La Villa, Badia, and San Cassiano. These towns are smaller than Val Gardena and Cortina d’Ampezzo, but they still have accommodations, restaurants, and shops.

Here are some of the best things to do near Alta Badia:

  • Cinque Torri

  • Mount Lagazuoi

  • Gardena Pass

  • Puez-Odle Altopiano

  • Passo Pordoi

  • Sella Pass

how to hike the Cinque Torri Loop

Best Hotels in Alta Badia

Some of the best towns in Alta Badia to find accommodations are Corvara, La Villa, Badia, and San Cassiano. Each has restaurants, shops, and accommodations for most budgets.

Best Campgrounds in Alta Badia

Alta Badia also has campgrounds nearby if you plan to camp during your trip in the Dolomites.

If you are looking for where to stay in the Dolomites, you are in the right place! This guide has everything you need to know about the best areas to stay in the Dolomites.

nichole from nichole the nomad

Hey, I’m Nichole!

I am the creator behind Nichole the Nomad, the home of my explorations around the world, mountain hikes, and beautiful pictures taken along the way. I have a deep passion for capturing the world in a beautiful light and sharing my experiences.

I created this blog to share my travels, show how beautiful the world is, provide tips and tricks for traveling, and encourage you to explore. Whether you want to travel across the world or explore what’s in your backyard, I hope this blog inspires you to get outside and find your adventure!

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