Where to Stay in the Dolomites

Compare the main bases

Use this table to match a base to your trip. Travel times are by public bus from Venice, the route that needs no car.

Why Cortina wins for this trip

The bus stops at Cortina's terminal by the Ice Stadium (Stadio del Ghiaccio), listed as Piazza Roma on the June timetable and Piazzale Revis on the winter one, so book a hotel within walking distance of it. From Cortina you can reach Misurina and the Tre Cime area by the seasonal Dolomiti Bus line 51 to Misurina Genzianella, and in summer the Tre Cime shuttle runs daily from 30 May from Misurina Genzianella up to Rifugio Auronzo for a day ticket of 10 EUR per person, cash not accepted on the bus.

If you would rather not plan buses at all, a guided Dolomites, Cortina & Three Peaks Day Trip covers Misurina, Cortina and a Three Peaks viewpoint from Venice in one go.

Cortina on a short stay

From Lake Misurina, a bus ride from Cortina, the Three Peaks of Lavaredo are in view, and the Cadini di Misurina viewpoint is a 30-minute walk from Rifugio Auronzo. The Tre Cime loop itself is under 10 km with 468 m of ascent and takes about 3.5 hours, a full day out with Cortina as your bed at night.

Choosing between the two

Ortisei and Cortina d'Ampezzo are named as the two main ski resort towns, and many hotels run shuttles to nearby lifts, so in either town you may not need a car for the slopes. The practical difference is arrival. Cortina has the direct bus from Venice and Treviso, while Val Gardena needs a longer transfer from the west. If you fly into Venice and want skiing without a car, Cortina is the simpler call. If you rent a car or arrive from Bolzano, Ortisei puts you at the heart of the western ski circuit.

For a taste of a winter trip before booking a week, the Private Dolomites Winter Day Trip from Venice shows the region in its snow season.

Val di Funes and Alta Pusteria

One writer who stayed in Val di Funes calls it the best place for non-skiers, summer stays and hiking, with walks right from the town. Val di Funes has only a small local ski slope, so it is not recommended for skiing. It is a summer base.

Alta Pusteria puts you near Lake Braies and the Tre Cime road. Mind the Lake Braies traffic regulation: from 1 July to 15 September between 9:00 and 16:00 access is only by public transport, on foot, by bicycle, or with an online reservation or valid transit permit, and arriving before 9:00 does not guarantee parking. During the regulation, buses 439 and 442 need advance online booking and prepayment, and once fully booked you can no longer reach the lake by bus. Drivers who want a guaranteed space must book the combined permit and parking ticket online in advance.

Driving to the Tre Cime from an Alta Pusteria base also takes planning. Car access to Rifugio Auronzo is only with an online reservation with the plate added by 23:59 the day before, the ticket is valid 12 hours from the booked entry time, and the toll is 40 EUR per car in 2026.

See the hiking highlights on a day trip first

If you are choosing between hiking bases, a day trip is a cheap scouting run. The Dolomiti, Lake Braies and Tre Cime di Lavaredo at $110 per person gives 1.5 hours at Lake Braies and a photo stop at the Three Peaks of Lavaredo in 9 hours, and the Full-Day Tour of the Dolomites and Braies Lake at $100 per person stops at Lake Braies, Lake Misurina and Cortina over 10 hours.

Your bus options into Cortina

Cortina Express and Dolomiti Bus run the route daily. From Mestre railway station Cortina Express departs 11.00, 14.00 and 17.00. From the airport tour bus parking it departs 11.20, 14.20 and 17.20, reaching Cortina 2 hours 10 minutes later. Dolomiti Bus leaves Piazzale Roma in Venice at 6.20 and 18.20. The return run leaves Cortina at 9.30, 11.30 and 16.30 on Cortina Express, reaching Mestre at 12.00, 14.00 and 19.00, with Dolomiti Bus at 14.30 and a morning run at 7.00 on the winter timetable or 7.30 on the June one.

Once in Cortina without a car, seasonal line 51 runs Cortina d'Ampezzo to Passo Tre Croci to Misurina Genzianella, and the Tre Cime shuttle continues to Rifugio Auronzo. Buy shuttle tickets on the Dolomitibus app, website, by contactless on board, at ticket offices and retailers, or at the automatic machine at Misurina.

Group tours instead of buses

If you would rather skip public transport entirely, a small group tour removes the planning. The Dolomites & Cortina d'Ampezzo Small Group Day Tour from Venice costs $210.96 per person for 10 hours, and the The Best of the Dolomites Mountains Day Trip costs $111 per person for 10 hours. For a private option there is the Exclusive day trip to the Dolomites and Braies Lake.

What summer adds

The Tre Cime road is normally driveable from about the end of May to the end of October, weather permitting, about 6 km from Lago d'Antorno up to Rifugio Auronzo at 2,333 m. The Dolomiti Bus Tre Cime shuttle returns daily from 30 May, so car-free summer visitors still reach the trailhead. Line 51 from Cortina to Misurina is listed on the seasonal page for 10 September to 4 October, so check the current seasonal page when you travel outside that window.

For summer visitors who rent a car, remember the Rifugio Auronzo reservation rule and the 2026 tolls: 40 EUR per car, 26 EUR per motorcycle, 60 EUR per caravan or motorhome, 80 EUR per bus up to 30 seats and 160 EUR per bus over 30 seats. Free cancellation is allowed up to 5 days before your booked slot.

Winter practicalities

The Cortina to Venice coach route runs daily through winter, from 1 October to 8 June, so a car-free winter week in Cortina is straightforward. Many hotels in both ski towns run shuttles to nearby lifts. If you drive in winter, winter tyres or chains are advised on the Tre Cime road, which is normally open only from about the end of May to the end of October.

Not every valley works in winter. Val di Funes has only a small local ski slope, so it is not recommended for skiing. Ski first travellers should book Cortina or Ortisei and leave Funes for a summer trip.

The three question pick

Ask three questions. Do you arrive in Venice? Then Cortina, because the coach is direct and about 2 hours 10 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes. Do you ski or hike? Skiing points to Cortina or Ortisei, hiking to Cortina, Alta Pusteria or Val di Funes. How long do you stay? On a short stay, Cortina wins because you make one transfer and do everything else as day trips.

First timers who are staying in Venice itself rather than the mountains can still see the best of the range on the Dolomites Day Trip with Cortina and 2 Lakes, rated 4.9 from 1,182 reviews, or the Dolomites, Lake Braies and Tre Cime di Lavaredo, rated 4.8.

Matching length to base

On a short stay of two or three nights, pick one town and do day trips from it, with Cortina the easiest hub given the direct bus and the Misurina line. On a week or more, split east and west, for example Cortina for the Tre Cime and lakes, then Ortisei for Val Gardena and Alpe di Siusi, which lie in the western Dolomites and need their own transfer. Tre Cime planning alone needs lead time, since the Rifugio Auronzo car reservation must have the plate added by 23:59 the day before and the Lake Braies buses must be booked ahead in high summer.

If your stay is a single day, use a tour instead of a base. The Lakes of Braies, Misurina and Cortina with a Drone compresses Lake Misurina, Lake Braies, a Three Peaks photo stop and Cortina into 9 hours.