The Dolomites don’t have a widespread overtourism drawback, however they do have a hotspot concern.
A handful of areas appeal to the overwhelming majority of tourists, which places growing stress on the atmosphere and local people. Consequently, new entry laws are launched every year to assist shield these fragile alpine landscapes. I’ll summarize these later.
When visiting these hotspots, popularized on social media, it’s vital to plan forward and pre-book parking and toll highway entry. Nonetheless, I like to recommend selecting different approaches, that are lesser-known and much quieter, or skipping these overcrowded areas altogether.
I’ve been visiting the Dolomites 2-3 instances per 12 months for the final 10 years. And whereas I’ve seen a surge of site visitors round locations like Seceda, Lake Braies, and Tre Cime di Lavaredo, I not often intersect with giant crowds on the path.
My recommendation is to decelerate, go to throughout shoulder season (September & October for climbing, early December and March for snowboarding), and e-book half board.
Sabrina’s Ideas
Your expertise of the Dolomites depends upon your willingness to step off the well-trodden Instagram path. Should you’re prepared, the probabilities are each extraordinary and inexhaustible.
Present Restrictions and Measures Towards Overtourism
Lake Braies
Present Restrictions | There are site visitors restrictions in Braies Valley between July 1st and September fifteenth from 9 am to 4 pm. Throughout this time, it’s solely doable to go to the Lake by foot, transit (pre-booking required), by bicycle, or with a sound transit allow (pre-booking required). I defined all the things in my Lake Braies information.
Professional Tip | Go to by bicycle or on foot. If driving, I like to recommend arriving at Lake Braies round dawn and climbing this unbelievable Hochalpenkopf peak path.
Extra Issues to Do in Braies Valley | Gaisl Excessive Path and Monte Specie Summit Hike beginning on Prato Piazza Plateau.
Passo Gardena
Present Restrictions | Beginning September 1, 2026, vacationers won’t be permitted to drive motorized autos throughout Passo Gardena. Exceptions will likely be made for residents, in a single day company, and supply autos. If this 2-month closure proves profitable in assuaging site visitors congestion in Val Gardena and Val Badia, a seasonal closure between Might and October is deliberate to start in 2027, pending authorities approval. Should you’re driving from Val Gardena to your lodge in Val Badia, Val di Fassa, or Cortina d’Ampezzo, for instance, you’ll nonetheless be allowed to drive throughout the move. This closure solely impacts day trippers.
Various Strategy | Hike the Colfosco Excessive Path to Passo Gardena, as described in my Alta Badia Autumn Information.
Professional Tip | Should you’re primarily based in Val Gardena for a number of days, relaxation assured, there’s a lot you are able to do in Val Gardena. In actual fact, there’s little cause to go away the valley in any respect. Right here’s the best way to spend a full week exploring the area: Val Gardena Summer time Itinerary.
And the identical holds true for Val Badia; should you’re primarily based there, you’ll discover simply as many alternatives for climbing, eating, and discovering the Dolomites with out venturing past the valley. Learn my Alta Badia Summer time Information.
The place to Keep in Val Gardena | Greatest Val Gardena Resorts
The place to Keep in Alta Badia | Greatest Alta Badia Resorts
Seceda
Present Restrictions | Beginning in summer season 2026, the Ortisei-Furnes-Seceda cableways are limiting guests through a time slot reserving system. It’s important to pre-book your cable automotive tickets.
Various Strategy | Skip the Ortisei cable automotive and hike to Seceda from the Cristauta – Praplan Automotive Park above Santa Cristina. Alternatively, journey the Col Raiser gondola (no pre-booking required). From the mountain station, amble throughout meadows grazed by Haflinger horses to Rifugio Firenze and observe our Rifugio Firenze circuit path to Seceda. Extra choices described in my Seceda journey information.
Professional Tip | Go to in winter and ski Seceda, situated within the Val Gardena ski resort.
Various Hikes | Steviola Plateau (moderately-difficult), Piz Duleda (troublesome), Col dala Pieres (troublesome)
The place to Keep in Santa Cristina close to the Cristauta/Praplan automotive park | Dorfhotel Beludei (4-star lodge, learn my Dorfhotel Beludei evaluation), B&B Kaserer (rooms & residences), Charme Resort Uridl (3-star lodge), or Resort Touring (4-star lodge)
Tre Cime di Lavaredo
Present Restrictions | You could pre-book the Auronzo toll highway which ends up in Rifugio Auronzo, the place to begin of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo Circuit.
Various Strategy | As an alternative of driving up the Auronzo toll highway, you possibly can method Tre Cime di Lavaredo from the north: Val Fiscalina or Val Campo di Dentro (quietest choice). Naturally, these are extra rigorous hikes, however effectively price it.
Various Hike | Hike to Vallon Popera basin as a substitute.
Cadini di Misurina
Present Restrictions | You could pre-book the Auronzo toll highway which ends up in Rifugio Auronzo, the place to begin of the Cadini di Misurina viewpoint hike.
Various Strategy | Skip the toll highway and hike to the point of view from Lake Antorno. Professional hikers can hike the difficult Sentiero Bonacossa path by the Cadini di Misurina vary to the point of view as effectively.
The place to Keep | Chalet Lago Antorno
Seiser Alm
Present Restrictions | The highway to Compatsch is restricted between 9 am and 5 pm. The P1 (Spitzbühl) or P2 (Compatsch) automotive parks should be reserved on-line upfront. It’s forbidden to park in these automotive parks between 11 pm and 6 am.
Various Strategy | Given the restrictions, there’s no cause to drive to Compatsch atop Alpe di Siusi. Journey the Siusi-Alpe di Siusi gondola to Compatsch or journey the Ortisei-Alpe di Siusi gondola.
Professional Tip | Observe our Alpe di Siusi Meadows Path throughout the plateau. With the earliest begin doable, sort out this epic Rifugio Bolzano Circuit Path.
How you can Escape the Crowds within the Dolomites
Summer time & Autumn
Winter
Overtourism is usually far much less of a difficulty in winter than in summer season, largely as a result of most guests select a single ski resort as their base all through their journey. Consequently, highway congestion is considerably decrease.
Nonetheless, there are nonetheless sure durations throughout the ski season I’d personally keep away from, particularly the Christmas holidays and February, when crowds peak. I notably loved snowboarding within the Dolomites in early December and once more in March, when situations have been wonderful and there have been just about no raise wait instances.
My favourite ski resorts are Cortina d’Ampezzo Ski Resort, Val Gardena Ski Resort, 3 Zinnen Dolomites Ski Resort, Carezza Ski Resort, Arabba Marmolada Ski Resort. I additionally skied the Alta Badia Ski Resort, Kronplatz Ski Resort, Latemar Dolomites Ski Resort, Val di Fassa Ski Resort, and San Pellegrino Ski Resort.
Whereas snowboarding is the primary attraction, there are various methods to discover the Dolomites in winter with out skis. See my Dolomites in winter information for inspiration.
Extra Dolomites Journey Guides
