Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike: Our experience and tips in 2026

It seems that the three peaks – Tre Cime di Lavaredo – are the most recognizable pinnacles in all of the Dolomites.

Though I personally believe the loop trail around the mountains to be quite overrated (it’s a bold stance, but someone’s got to do it) and definitely overpriced, I cannot help but admit that the Three Peaks are 100% showstoppers.

In order to see the ancient rocks in all their glory, you have to set off on an easy hike. Expect gray wall vistas, scree-filled slopes and valleys, hidden lakes, quaint mountain huts, remnants of WWI structures, and even dinosaur footprints! Here’s my guide to hiking the Tre Cime di Lavaredo in 2026.

Article contents

1. How to get to Tre Cime? 3 ways to choose from
2. Key details about the hike
3. Main stops along the trail
4. Bonus hike to Cadini di Misurina viewpoint
5. When to hike Tre Cime and other tips
6. Car rental in the Dolomites
7. Where to stay for this hike
8. What is the most beautiful hike in the Dolomites

How to get to Tre Cime di Lavaredo?

The languages spoken in the Dolomites are Italian, German, and Ladin (the mother tongue of a handful of Dolomiti residents). Because of that, most places here carry two or even three official names.

In order to avoid confusion later on, here are the main places you should keep in mind when trying to create your Tre Cime di Lavaredo itinerary:

• Cortina d’Ampezzo (Anpezo in Ladin, Hayden in German) – the closest major town to Tre Cime di Lavaredo, this picture-perfect place was one of the co-hosts for the 2026 Winter Olympics. It will take you around 40 minutes to get to the Three Peaks trailhead.
• Dobbiaco (Toblach in German) – another major municipality, expect a 50-minute ride between the two. Most tourists prefer to choose Dobbiaco as their base for the trip, because its hotels are with much more reasonable prices.
• Lake Misurina (Lago di Misurina in Italian, Misurinasee in German) – a large alpine lake that is a destination in and of itself. That’s where the beginning of a toll road to Tre Cime is located. The lake is a great place to unwind after your loop hike.
• Lake Antorno (Lago d’Antorno in Italian, Antornosee in German) – a smaller alpine lake not too far from Lake Misurina. You can already see the southern faces of Tre Cime di Lavaredo from Lake Antorno.
• Rifugio Auronzo (Auronzo Hütte in German) – a mountain hut set right at the Tre Cime di Lavaredo trailhead. There is a large paid parking lot right beside Rifugio Auronzo. This hut is only accessible via the toll road.

Now, let’s explore the nuanced world of the ways to get to Tre Cime di Lavaredo. There are three of them:

— The most convenient and the most expensive (by car)

— The more budget-friendly that requires more planning for connections (by bus)

— And the most physically demanding and virtually free way (on foot)

By car

Renting (or having) a car is essential in the Dolomites if you want to explore the natural sites that are scattered all around the region. We booked a car on Discovercars three months before our trip, picked it up in Milan, and made it to the Dolomites in 4 hours spending €19 on tolls on the way.

To get to Tre Cime di Lavaredo, you have to keep one name in mind – the mountain hut near the trailhead, your shining beacon when driving – Rifugio Auronzo.

❗️The driving part is pretty easy and straightforward, but don’t let this simplicity fool you – Tre Cime toll road access and Rifugio Auronzo parking situation require much more thorough planning than that.

The toll road has been here for ages, but the recent overtourism troubles has led the municipality to implement an online booking system, without which one cannot access the Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike.

❗️❗️Starting with 2025 summer season, prior online booking is necessary.

Parking and toll road fee for Tre Cime in 2026:

• Car – €40 per vehicle
• Motorcycle – €26
• Caravan/motorhome – €60

The reservation fee covers BOTH toll access and a spot at Rifugio Auronzo parking lot for a 12-hour period.

It bears repeating: You must reserve your parking spot online! To do so, go to the official website; select the date and entry time; enter your email and phone number for confirmation and the vehicle license plate*; pay online with a credit card.

*Since most travelers use a rental and may not know their license plate number yet, there is a helpful caveat – you can edit the plate info until 11:59 p.m. the night before your reserved date. Just don’t forget to do so, since the license plate is how they check the reservation. You don’t have to print out the confirmation or any sort of physical ticket. Some travelers do it just to be safe.

The toll road and parking are seasonal – they are completely closed in winter, from late October to late May. The 2026 summer opening for the toll road is scheduled for the end of May. The snow is the deciding factor – one year, tourists couldn’t drive up to Tre Cime until late June! Online reservations usually open a month in advance.

When it comes to opening hours, in summer season the toll road is open 24/7. You can enter and exit with the automated booths so long as you have a reservation.

There are a few more things to keep in mind when dealing with the Tre Cime di Lavaredo toll road access and parking:

• Same-day bookings are not permitted – and are not really a thing in high season, since all time slots get booked up days (if not weeks) in advance.

Our experience: Booking early is recommended – especially for weekends in the months between June and September. We booked a day in advance, but it was early October, the start of the shoulder season, so the demand was way lower.

• The ticket is valid for 12 hours! You cannot re-enter the area if you’ve left it already, even during the reserved 12-hour period.
• If you’ve overstayed your welcome and exceeded the 12-hour parking limit, you will be subjected to an overstay penalty in the amount of double the fee for your particular vehicle – for cars, it’s €80. If you’re actually planning on staying out longer than 12 hours (maybe staying overnight at one of the rifugi on the trail), then back-to-back reservations are necessary.
• There is some confusion about the allowed entry time – do you need to arrive at the exact time of your reservation? The answer is no! They will not let you in before your reserved time. You can, however, arrive later than your booked time slot. But if you do, remember that your 12-hour period starts from your booked time and not the actual arrival time.
• There is free cancellation up to 5 days before your scheduled date. After that, the fee is non-refundable. You cannot reschedule – only cancel your existing reservation and make a new one.

What if all daytime slots are sold out but you’re dying to visit Tre Cime? The only option I can suggest is booking a “from 23:00” timeslot, if any are left, on the night before your trip. That way, you can arrive in the morning and have time until 11 a.m. to enjoy at least a glimpse of the mountains!

Or consider the bus option ⬇️

By bus

The local authorities are really onto something – by making the fee higher and the rules more rigid (the mandatory prior booking), they are easing a lot of travelers into the idea of using a Tre Cime di Lavaredo bus.

If you’re also sold on the premise, then you have to know a few things:

✔️Budget-wise, buses work best for solo travelers. There has to be no more than two people in your party – otherwise, it’s cheaper to get to Tre Cime by car.

✔️The buses are seasonal – they are your best options during high summer months (and usually in September). If your trip falls on late May, early June, or October, stick to the rental car.

There are a few buses that will take you to Tre Cime, depending on your starting point:

• From Lake Misurina: You can take DolomitiBus 50 from here. The bus runs from roughly 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and costs €10 for a roundtrip. Check the timetable online beforehand, but lots of reviews mention that the buses don’t run on time. It’s the best value option if you manage to snag a parking spot (there is a €2 per hour car park by the bus stop and by the lake, but you can find free roadside parking between Lake Misurina and Lake Antorno if you arrive early enough). You can buy tickets on the bus itself.
• From Cortina d’Ampezzo: Take the combination of DolomitiBus 51 and 50. Bus 51 will take you from Cortina to the aforementioned bus stop. The cost is around €4 per trip + €10 for bus 50.
• From Dobbiaco: Take the SüdtirolMobil Shuttle Bus 444 (you can see it above!). It runs roughly every half an hour, with the first shuttle leaving Dobbiaco at 7:35 a.m.; and the last bus departing from Rifugio Auronzo at 18:23 p.m. Expect to pay €22 for a roundtrip and spend an entire hour in transit one-way. Unlike DolomitiBus services, online reservation and payment are required to take the shuttle bus. In shoulder season, you can also buy a ticket at the station.

On foot

Hiking to Rifugio Auronzo is the most budget-friendly option that comes at a different kind of price – your physical reserves will be a tad depleted already before you start the Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop trail. You will not look as energized and fresh-faced as all those tourists that got to the trailhead by car or by bus, since you’re adding at least a 2-hour uphill walk (one way) to the total amount of hiking quota for the day.

Hiking to Rifugio Auronzo from Lake Antorno is the shortest hiking trail starts from Lake Antorno, just before the toll gate. A friend of ours completed the circuit trail around Tre Cime di Lavaredo the day before, with Lake Antorno as their start and end point. They followed this route (4.3 kilometers one way / 2.7 miles, 500 meters of elevation, and roughly 1.5 hours). The path is clearly marked: You start following the trail 101 until you reach trail 119 – then go towards the signs that say Rifugio Auronzo. Note that this is not a leisurely walk.

Where to park to hike to Tre Cime di Lavaredo?

The Tre Cime di Lavaredo parking situation can be a bit of a pain to navigate. There are three possible locations to leave your car to hike the loop trail:

• Rifugio Auronzo

Parking near Rifugio Auronzo is the most popular and the most expensive option. But remember that the price includes toll road access – you have to make a reservation in advance. You will have to pay €40 for a car in 2026.

• Lake Antorno

Though most guides say that there is a free parking area next to the lake, they also fail to mention that it has a time limit. On the left side of the lake there really is a small car park, but you can leave your car here for free for 2 hours only (just enough time to circle around the lake, but not enough hours to get to Rifugio Auronzo, hike the Tre Cime loop trail, and then get back). They are pretty vigilant with the system too – you have to write down the time you arrive at the car park on a piece of paper and if you overstay the 2-hour limit, you get fined anywhere between €25 and €30.

However, there is also a small area a little further back from the lake that is free – look for parking clusters in the immediate vicinity of the road leading up to the toll gate. There might be some free parking on the shoulders of the road, but sometimes they get roped off (during high season, so as not to add to the traffic congestion). Arrive early to snag a free spot!

• Lake Misurina

There is public parking available next to the lake that used to be free, but now it costs €2 per hour. Arrive before 10 a.m. to find an open spot here. If you’re arriving in Misurina with the intention of taking the bus to Tre Cime, there’s a better car park for you – it is located next to the bus stop. It costs €2 per hour or €14 for the entire day.

Key details about the Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike

Unlike the flower-flecked meadows of the Alpe di Siusi plateau or the spectacularly blue color of Lake Sorapis, Tre Cime di Lavaredo’s scenery is more austere – the peaks are highly reserved in their stature, with rocky slopes and boulders wherever you look.

Some history: Though they are sometimes referred to as “Three Sisters”, they say that Tre Cime di Lavaredo were originally three male giants who lived here, in the Sexten Dolomites mountain range, that later got petrified into stone by either a curse or a divine intervention. Their German name – Drei Zinnen, which literally translates to “Three Merlons” – highlights their fortification-like look. And it’s not just for show either, since this battlement feel played its part perfectly during the First World War. The opposing forces used the trails around Tre Cime as the battlefield – you will see the remnants of tunnels dug out during that period while trekking the Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop.

It’s always a good idea to know the main players before setting off on the hike. The Three Peaks’ names can be seen as derivative, but I think their monikers are kind of endearing:

• Cima Grande (2,999 meters) – or Great Peak
• Cima Ovest (2,973 meters) – or West Peak
• Cima Piccola (2,857 meters) – or Little Peak

Now that you’re acquainted with the mountains you’re about to circle while on the hike, let’s take a closer look at the key details of your future journey.

Here’s the Tre Cime hike map that we followed (make sure to download it so that you have offline access – reception is spotty on the trail, and though the route is clearly marked, it’s best to be safe than sorry):

Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop hike overview:

• Distance – 11.4 kilometers (7.1 miles)
• Total ascent and descent – 600 meters (1,960 feet)
• Hike time – 4–5 hours
• Hike difficulty – easy/moderate

Here’s the full context for deeper understanding of the trail.

Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike distance might seem like a lot – over 10 kilometers is not very easy, particularly for not experienced hikers. However, the beauty of this particular trail lies in its flexibility — you can complete the entire loop, shorten it by ditching the trail half-way and retracing your steps back, or extend it by adding another 3.5-kilometer hike to the Cadini di Misurina viewpoint.

The elevation is spread out throughout the entire trail; apart from a couple of sections that can be considered pretty steep (like the climb toward the main viewpoint at the Forcella di Lavaredo), the ebb and flow of ascending/descending path sections is not very hard on your body.

Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike time is also subject to change based on the number of detours you make (caves, lakes, chapels, the whole ordeal – keep reading to learn more!) and the length of siestas you take at some of the rifugios.

Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike difficulty is true to the stated easy-to-moderate rating. It definitely helps that most of the trail runs on a wide, gravel-packed road, with just a few sections that are narrower, with steep elevation. I really appreciated the route, since we did it the next day after hiking to Lake Sorapis – however, the accumulated fatigue, when paired with less-than-ideal weather conditions made the loop hike feel way harder than it really was.

Since Tre Cime di Lavaredo is a loop hike, you have two route options to choose from: Clockwise vs anti-clockwise. I encourage you to follow the crowds in the “right” direction, anti-clockwise – after the first rifugio the crowds will dissipate considerably, with many hikers turning back in the direction of the trailhead. If you go clockwise, it will be a long hard trek before you reach any of the notable trail locations.

Hike around Tre Cime di Lavaredo overview

It’s time to look into a step-by-step trail guide so that you know what to expect from the adventure (hint – there’re a lot of cool sights and even cooler landmarks!). Compared to the hike to Lake Sorapis, hiking the loop around Three Sisters a simple walk in the park which can be undertaken by less experienced hikers.

If you want to see more of what the trail looks and feels like, you can check out my YouTube video detailing our experience:

I have signposted the route by the most notable highlights, so you can see the logical progression of yourself hiking the path. Mostly, it’s rifugio – mountain huts for rest and refueling on the trails in the Dolomites. The loop hike starts at Rifugio Auronzo, and then passes three more huts along the route. They also offer facilities. If you’re hiking in shoulder months, you’re all on your own – pack enough food and water to last you for the entire hike. In summertime, you can also stay overnight at one of the rifugio.

Without further ado, here’s my Tre Cime di Lavaredo circuit trail description:

• Rifugio Auronzo – open from June 5-ish through October 31st

No matter how you get here on the winding toll road (car, bus, etc.), you will start your loop hike from Rifugio Auronzo. The mountain hut already sits at a pretty impressive altitude of 2,333 meters.

Starting your hike early in the morning? Stop to grab a coffee and a pastry so that you have enough energy for the trail. A cappuccino here will set you back €3.5, a croissant – €3.

Side note: If your Tre Cime adventure falls on the shoulder season, make sure to use the restroom at Rifugio Auronzo (€1 for the opportunity; yes, even if you buy something at their restaurant – a true Dolomites rip-off!). There will be no other facilities open on the trail during low season.

Now that you’ve caffeinated and carbed up (in true Mean Girls (2004) fashion, “Is butter a carb?” fits very well with your South Tyrol pastry choices), follow my advice and go with the flow of the crowd, i.e. anti-clockwise. Do not get discouraged by the amount of people at the start of the hike – as you go on, more and more hikers will start turning back.

The path you will follow right from Rifugio Auronzo is a wide gravel road with no elevation gain (yet) that runs alongside the southern profiles of Tre Cime di Lavaredo, with the dramatic rocks of Cadini di Misurina to your right (I advise you cover the short trail to the Cadini di Misurina viewpoint AFTER you complete the main loop hike; it also starts from Rifugio Auronzo).

❗️As you walk towards the next stop on your route (a small white chapel), pay attention to the road itself – there is a boulder at the edge of the trail that has dinosaur footprints on it. They date millions of years back, to the Triassic period.

• Cappella degli Alpini

As you walk along the trail, you will start to catch glimpses of a tiny white chapel. Built in 1928, this historic building seamlessly blends into a scenic landscape. Take the detour downslope and you will reach a beautiful monument — The Angel of the Fallen. The statue is dedicated to the soldiers who died during WWI.

You can also find a great viewpoint by the monument, which can easily act as a substitute for the hike to see the peaks of Cadini di Misurina (if the cloud cover allows for clear views of the jagged mountain peaks).

• Rifugio Lavaredo – open from June 13-ish through October 11-ish

After about 1 kilometer, you will reach the second mountain hut of the loop circuit – the one aptly named Rifugio Lavaredo. You can theoretically stop here for a snack – if you do, make sure not to eat too much, since there’s a lot of hiking (and gaining elevation) to be done immediately after this point!

Near this traditional rustic wood-and-stone hut, you have yet another decision to make: The rifugio sits below Forcella Lavaredo ridge, and there are two trails that will get you to the pass:

a) You can go to the left for the steeper climb towards the mountain saddle; it’s a shorter, but more strenuous

b) Or you can go straight – it’s a milder wide trail that gains elevation in a more doable manner

• Forcella di Lavaredo

Sitting at the altitude of 2,450 meters, the mountain pass of Forcella di Lavaredo offers the unbeatable panorama of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo. Seeing the peaks at such close range almost doesn’t feel real – add to that a large scree- and boulder-filled valley beneath the mountains, and an entire scene gets an otherworldly feel to it.

This is the point where most travelers turn back – they have already seen the best part of the trail, the cherry on top of the entire area, so why bother pushing on? This is more of a rhetorical question, since the landmarks that follow the pass have quite a bit of excitement to offer for those who continue. Plus, the path after Forcella Lavaredo is much more isolated and serene.

Our experience: One thing that can spoil your experience of admiring the Three Peaks from Forcella Lavaredo viewpoint is the weather. Of course, peak summer months will not have the same disadvantages, but our hike fell on early October. Though we were blessed with one day of clear skies, other mountain factors didn’t let us enjoy the views to the max — rough winds, sub zero temps, and snow on the ground (!) created a less-than-pleasurable atmosphere.

After Forcella di Lavaredo, it’s a 40-minute hike on a mostly downhill wide gravel road to yet another rifugio.

• Rifugio Locatelli – open from June 28 through September 28

Also called Drei Zinnen Hütte, Rifugio Locatelli is arguably the most popular mountain hut on the trail. At 2,438 meters, it sits perched on the little plateau – expect a short uphill climb to reach the hut.

It is also the best choice for an overnight stay near Tre Cime – can you imagine waking up to the three peaks bathed in morning light? A true dream! If you want to have lunch, the prices are:

— €17.5 for Hungarian beef goulash

— €7 for an apple strudel

— and €2 for an espresso

The immediate area near rifugio offers plenty of sights. There are other mountain ranges, scree fields, a chapel, lakes with the scenery mirroring off the surface, tunnels – you name it. After completing all the possible side quests around Rifugio Locatelli, you can turn back the way you came from, or complete the loop by setting out on the trail to another rifugio.

• Lookout caves carved into the mountains – Sextenstein on google maps

Actually, you can spot them in my photo above – they’re right above the third cabin with the brick-colored roof. The caves were used by the soldiers during WWI, and now serve as prime compositional locations for taking pictures of Three Sisters. You can reach the tunnels via a short steep climb (doable by most hikers). Note that the caves smell a little bit of human waste (not all hikers stick to the leave no trace principles), and they tend to feel a little claustrophobic. But it’s all worth it for the shot!

It will take you around an hour to reach Malga Langalm – at first, the trail runs downhill into the valley for quite a bit, but then the elevation starts to ramp up.

• Malga Langalm – open from late June to September

This delightful mountain hut, though passed by many travelers that hike the loop in the conventional direction (since the end of the trail is not too far off), is still a worthy stop on your Tre Cime itinerary. Sitting at the elevation of 2,283 meters, the rifugio is situated right below the peaks – so close that you might get that trembling awe verging on the edge of megalophobia. The panorama of the sheer walls of granite is just so striking – no need for embellishments, nature has got you covered!

After Malga Langalm, the path starts to curve around Tre Cime. It will take you about 40 minutes to finally reach Rifugio Auronzo.

• Rifugio Auronzo

And now you’re finally back where you started! Honor the triumph by having a lunch at Rifugio Auronzo. We certainly made full use of the opportunity, since it was the only mountain hut opened on the trail in early October.

When grabbing food at Rifugio Auronzo, mind the prices – you’re in the Dolomites after all! We got two lasagnas, a strudel to share, and two coffees and the bill came out to €45.

Side note: We were also pretty salty to pay an additional €1 to use the restroom after eating at the restaurant – inconceivable levels of greed are happening here! With parking and food, people spend up to €100 (or more, if they’re staying the night) on the hike – a free restroom might’ve been a good idea.

Now that you feel accomplished by completing whatever stretch of the trail you’ve decided on and you’re standing near Rifugio Auronzo admiring the towering south sides of Tre Cime (and listening to a unique song of the Alpine chough bird – there are tons of them by the hut), turn your gaze to the side – another short trail is waiting for you!

Bonus hike to Cadini di Misurina viewpoint

Cadini di Misurina panoramic viewpoint is a worthy short hike to make after you’ve finished the big Tre Cime loop. The hike also starts at Rifugio Auronzo and takes about 30 minutes one way.

As you set off on the trail, you will soon start a continuous climb on a very narrow rocky trail along the ridgeline towards the viewpoint peaks. The jagged rocks of the Misurina offer sublime viewing opportunities – so much so that travelers line up to take in the full survey of the peaks from the best spot possible.

The famed viewpoint is set at the end of an outcropping rock with a narrow trail running to the top of it. This is where you can expect the possibility of queuing up. If you ask me, if the time spent waiting is worth it… I’d probably hesitate with my answer.

Here’s the hike on AllTrails, you can see it’s not long, but it can be challenging in bad weather conditions.

When to hike Tre Cime di Lavaredo and other tips

What is the best time to hike the Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop? Though most people are hard set on summer hiking in the Dolomites, I’m pretty biased in choosing the last shoulder months of September and October as the best period for hiking around Tre Cime, especially if you want to avoid crowds. However, the shoulder season weather might play tricks on you with snow and cold wind.

If you want to get the “full effect” of hiking the trail when all the facilities are open, with great sunny weather, then pick July.

Note that even if it’s overcast when you arrive at Rifugio Auronzo, with peaks shrouded in clouds as thick as cotton candy, the situation might change as you start to hike. It might not become outright sunny with clear skies, but the clouds move very fast in the mountains. Keep your eyes peeled for the opening in cloud cover!

How to avoid the crowds when hiking Tre Cime? The most obvious answer is adjusting when to hike around Tre Cime di Lavaredo – if you start very early in the morning, you will be among the first tourists on the trail. And when some of them start turning back right around Rifugio Lavaredo, you will be left with a scenery that’s more isolated and quiet. Alternatively, if you start late in the afternoon with the intention of staying overnight at one of the rifugio, you will see the trail that’s not that crowded.

What to wear for hiking Tre Cime? Though the stretches of the trail that require proper hiking shoes are few and far between, I still recommend wearing the footwear that provides good traction and ankle support. It’s a long hike, so don’t wreck your feet with flip-flops or flat-soled sneakers.

Whatever the weather, wear layers – when we started from Rifugio Auronzo on our hike in October, it was sunny and relatively warm. As soon as we reached Forcella di Lavaredo, we were met with whipping winds and snow on the ground. So, have a base layer, a warm layer, and a waterproof layer – just to be prepared!

What to pack for the hike? The usual hiking essentials will have you covered here: Bring enough food and water to last you for the entire 10 kilometers (even if the rifugios are open, some of them might have long lines/payment issues, etc. resulting in you being starving and parched by the end of your hike). We packed a hot beverage to have right at the mountain pass with the best views of Three Sisters – a great decision, since it started getting really cold right about that point.

The other important thing to bring is cash to pay for meals (or restrooms) at the rifugio (card payments are not always working here).

Are there facilities on the loop trail? Yes, there are toilets at each rifugio that’s on the trail. However, in shoulder season, every mountain hut except for Rifugio Auronzo is closed.

Is it a kid-friendly hike? Though it doesn’t necessarily top the lists of the best kid-friendly hikes in the Dolomites, we saw lots of families with children on the trail. At least on the first part of it, up to Forcella di Lavaredo.

Can you do Tre Cime without a car? Yes, you can! You can either take the bus from Dobbiaco or Cortina d’Ampezzo, or even hike from Lake Antorno (adding at least two hours one way to your total hike time).

Additional tips about the Dolomites

Though I still want this section to be very Tre Cime di Lavaredo-centric, the following advice can be used for planning other adventures in the Dolomites.

Car rental in the Dolomites

Renting a car in the Dolomites is the best choice if you want to explore the region’s top natural sights. It was a no-brainer decision for us – after we flew to Milan from Barcelona, we picked up a new Lancia Ypsilon via DiscoverCars (€80 for six days, since it was the shoulder season already) and set off on our journey to South Tyrol – €19 spent on toll roads and 4 hours later and we were surrounded by some of the most breathtaking, Narnia-like mountains we’d ever seen!

The question of renting a car in Italy requires a more thorough explanation. Though the process is easy when you use online services, it still has a few caveats that only the people who have done the thing many times already (like yours truly) can fill you in on. Keep your eyes peeled for a detailed guide!

Where to stay in the Dolomites?

If you have rented a car in the Dolomites, you can pretty much stay anywhere in the region. However, the early bird gets the worm, and driving in the dark to the trailhead to join the early morning hikers is a less than ideal scenario.

For hiking Tre Cime di Lavaredo, I would advise you look into five possible locations for an overnight stay. Personally, we disregarded our own advice and stayed a little further away. Since we were not chasing the sunrise (and had no trouble driving for 50 minutes to make it to our booked time slot), we picked a little Alpine town of San Vito di Cadore as our base. The hotel – 3* Best Western Hotel Nevada (from €100 per night) – worked out great, location- and facilities-wise for the hike to Lake Sorapis that we’ve embarked on the day before our Tre Cime di Lavaredo shenanigans.

1. Any of the aforementioned rifugios on the trail – the opportunity to see Tre Cime di Lavaredo at sunrise and sunset, in a relative solitude, before the hordes of daytrippers crowd the trails is the dream-like occasion! And comes at a price of minimum €100 for a bed in the dorm. Bring cash for all of them and book the spots way in advance. Plus, remember the toll road + parking reservation is for 12 hours only, so if you came to the trailhead by car, you will have to make two back-to-back reservations when staying overnight at a rifugio.

2. Albergo Chalet at Lake Antorno (from €150 a night) — set right on the shore of the lake, the hotel offers comfortable rooms with clean wood furnishings. You can choose a suite with either a lake view or a mountain view – both exquisite and pleasing to the eye. It’s as close as you would get to the peaks without actually staying on the trail.

3. Misurina – a very picturesque setting; a great choice if you want to reach the trailhead by bus.

Hotel Lavaredo (from €135 a night) – a beautiful hotel located on the shore of Lake Misurina. Apart from spick-and-span rooms and wonderful amenities, Hotel Lavaredo is very popular for its fully-stocked wellness center. Trust me, an evening spent going from the hot tub to the Turkish bath and to the sauna is a great way of alleviating the exhaustion you are bound to get from completing the Tre Cime trail.

Chalet Alpenrose (from €225 per night) – a gorgeous hideaway with a view of the lake and the undulating mountain ranges in the distance. Expect beds with crisp linen, fully equipped kitchens (it’s an aparthotel), and plenty of comfortable facilities – a minimarket, an organized outdoor seating area, and a well-tended garden.

4. Cortina d’Ampezzo — the Queen of the Dolomites; a perfect base for exploring both Tre Cime and Lake Sorapis. Since the storybook-worthy settlement is highly popular with tourists, expect higher prices on everything – from food to accommodation.

Hotel Montana (from €170 a night) – a charming Alpine-style hotel set right by Cortina’s most popular pedestrian street. The colorful and historic location (there’s a Byzantine tower that can be seen right from the suites’ windows) adds even more exciting cachet to the hotel.

Hotel de Len (from €390 per night) – a great hotel that offers smart and comfortable rooms with slick designer furniture, low-slung beds, and top-of-the-range bathrooms. The overall style of common and private rooms is rustic but modern – a wonderful marriage of the two, might we add.

5. Dobbiaco (Toblach) – set a tad further from Tre Cime than Cortina d’Ampezzo (in another direction), Dobbiaco has hotel picks that are more reasonably priced.

3* Hotel Rosengarten (from €150 a night) – though most family run hotels are tiny and lowkey, Hotel Rosengarten disregards this tradition. This modern grande dame makes it a point to stand out from the crowd: Some of their rooms come with either an infrared cabin, a steam bath, a wooden bath tub, or even a home cinema! Guests also highlight the hotel restaurant’s buffet breakfast that is filled to the brim with local specialties of cheese and cured meats.

4* Hotel Savoia (from €130 a night) – a perfect setting to relax and recharge after your Tre Cime di Lavaredo adventures. Apart from snug rooms that open up on the towering mountain ranges, the hotel offers its guests access to a fitness center, a garden, a gorgeous terrace, and a fully stocked bar – everything a traveler might need after a long day spent out on the trail.

What is the most beautiful hike in the Dolomites?

Now that I’m more or less finished with my guide to hiking the beautiful but slightly overrated Tre Cime di Lavaredo in 2026, let’s zoom out a little and give you a glimpse of some other most popular hikes in the Dolomites (in the same order we’ve covered them):

• Alpe di Siusi – rolling green pastures and rugged mountain peaks that crown the largest alpine plateau, all set to a soundtrack of cow bells ringing peacefully – it’s a magical destination through and through. And the fact that you can admire it up close and personal by embarking on an easy 4.5 km Panorama Loop Trail is just the cherry on top!
• Seceda – a ridgeline that is often visited by the so-called hit-and-run tourists, with little to no hiking involved. However, I found the trail that lets you enjoy the surrounding scenery just as much as the sharp needle-like peaks – a 10 km loop journey from Col Raiser cable car is the best way to see Seceda, in my humble opinion.
• Lake Sorapis – the moderate-to-hard 12 km trek that raises the stakes. It’s one of the most beautiful trails in the Dolomites that ends in the breathtaking scene of a milky blue lake guarded by snow-dusted mountains – a vision that you have to earn with your blood (hopefully not), sweat (definitely), and tears (highly likely).
• Adolf Munkel – one of the most varied trails in the Dolomites, this moderately easy 10 km loop trail takes you through the fantasy world of the scenery: Lush forests, sprawling meadows, all running along sharp saw-toothed mountain ridges.