The Dolomites are best enjoyed by car or van: the lakes, mountain passes and cable cars are spread across several valleys, and public transportation, although it works, makes you go a lot slower. This 7-day itinerary is the same one we suggest in our Dolomites travel guide PDF, updated with the 2026 bookings, tolls and rules you need to know before you set off.

The route starts and ends in Milan, but it works just as well if you fly into Venice (about 2 hours by car to the Dolomites) or Verona (about 3 hours). From Milan it's about 4 hours on the road.

Before you start: what to book in 2026

The Dolomites have changed a lot in recent years. The most famous spots now have regulated access in summer, so it's worth having everything sorted:

• Lago di Braies: from July 1 to September 15, between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm, you can only drive up with an online parking reservation (at prags.bz). Outside those hours and dates, no reservation is needed. There are also buses (line 442 from Dobbiaco/Villabassa and 439 from Monguelfo), which you also book online in high season.
• Tre Cime di Lavaredo: the toll road up to Rifugio Auronzo requires an online reservation at auronzo.info, with a date and time slot. In 2026 it costs €40 per car, €60 per motorhome and €26 per motorcycle, and the ticket is valid for 12 hours.
• Alpe di Siusi: since June 29, 2026, you must book the P1 (€15/day) and P2 Compatsch (€30/day) parking lots online, no more than six days ahead. The easiest alternative is the gondola from Siusi, which has a large free parking lot at the bottom station.
• Seceda: on top of the lifts, since 2025 there's a €5 charge for the trail to the viewpoint. There's talk of a daily visitor cap, so check the official website before you go.
• Lago di Carezza: the motorhome parking lot costs around €36 for 24 hours.

The rules change almost every season, so our advice is to check the official websites a few days before. And if you're taking a cable car up, check the webcams at the top station first: paying for a ticket only to find fog is no fun.

Day 1: Milan – Trento – Bolzano – Lago di Carezza

Leave Milan early for Trento (about 2 h 40 min) and continue to Bolzano (about 40 minutes more). Bolzano is a good place to do your big grocery run for the trip if you're traveling by van: the cheapest supermarkets are Lidl and Coop.

From Bolzano, you'll reach Lago di Carezza in about 30 minutes. Get there for sunset and do the loop around the lake, which takes about half an hour. It's one of the most photographed lakes in the Dolomites, with the Latemar massif reflected in the water.

Where to sleep: at the Lago di Carezza motorhome parking lot (about €36/24 h), which is also a great spot for sunrise. If you're traveling by car, look for accommodation around Nova Levante or in Val di Fassa.

Day 2: Lago di Carezza – Alpe di Siusi

Sunrise at the lake and then about 60 minutes' drive to the Alpe di Siusi, the largest high-altitude alpine meadow in Europe. It's perfect for walking without big climbs or riding a mountain bike, with the Sassolungo and the Sciliar in the background. If you want to eat up there, the guide includes Malga Sanon and Alpina Chalet Grill.

Remember the parking rules: in season, either book P1/P2 or take the gondola up from Siusi.

Where to sleep: in the Alpe di Siusi and the Sciliar-Catinaccio Nature Park, sleeping in your vehicle or a tent is prohibited, even on private land, and you can be fined. The only authorized campsite in the area is the one in Fiè allo Sciliar (best to book it). If you're traveling by car, Ortisei, in Val Gardena, is the most practical base for the next day.

Day 3: Seceda – Lago di Braies

In the morning, go up to Seceda on the lifts from Ortisei. The views of the Odle peaks are some of the most spectacular of the whole trip. Remember the €5 for the trail to the viewpoint.

After lunch, drive about an hour to Lago di Braies to watch the sunset. If you arrive after 4:00 pm you don't need a parking reservation, even in July and August, and you'll find the lake much quieter too.

Where to sleep: at a campsite or authorized area in Val Pusteria (around Dobbiaco or Villabassa). If you're in a van, check each spot's rules on Park4night: more and more towns in Alto Adige ban overnight stays outside campsites and authorized areas.

Day 4: Lago di Braies – Tre Cime di Lavaredo

Sunrise at Lago di Braies, which is a different world first thing in the morning. If you feel like walking, the loop around the lake is a lovely flat stroll.

Then drive toward Misurina and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo (about an hour). Take the toll road up to Rifugio Auronzo with your reservation and do the loop around the three towers: about 10 km and 3 to 4 hours depending on your pace. For us, it's the must-do hike in the Dolomites.

Where to sleep: at a nearby area or campsite in Misurina or Auronzo. Don't count on sleeping in the Rifugio Auronzo parking lot: the ticket is only valid for 12 hours.

Day 5: Cortina d'Ampezzo – Passo Giau

Have breakfast and drive about 30 minutes to Cortina d'Ampezzo, the "Queen of the Dolomites." Stroll around the center and stop for lunch: the guide has a list of Cortina restaurants with our favorites.

In the afternoon, head up to Passo Giau (about 40 minutes). It's one of the mountain passes with the best views in the whole area and an ideal spot for a short hike or just to sit and watch the sunset.

Where to sleep: in or around Cortina. If you're in a van, look for an authorized area on Park4night and check the rules.

Day 6: Passo Giau – Cinque Torri – Lago di Misurina

If you can, go up to Passo Giau for sunrise. Then, in about 30 minutes you'll be at the Cinque Torri. Take the lift up and explore the area: it's a nice short walk and it was also a World War I battlefield, so you can still see trenches and remains of fortifications. If you climb, it's one of the classic rock climbing spots.

In the afternoon, drive about 40 minutes to Lago di Misurina for sunset.

Where to sleep: in or around Misurina, at an area or campsite.

Day 7: Lago di Misurina – Val di Funes – back to Milan

One last sunrise, this time at Lago di Misurina, and about 1.5 hours' drive to Val di Funes. We recommend stopping by the church of Santa Magdalena, with the Odle peaks in the background: it's one of the most famous postcard views in the Dolomites.

From here, start the drive back to Milan, about 4 hours.

If you have more days: routes we'd add

The guide also has a 14-day itinerary. It adds Passo Gardena and Selva di Val Gardena, Val di Fassa, the Sella Ronda (on foot or by bike), the Marmolada from Malga Ciapela, and San Martino di Castrozza with the Pale di San Martino to the 7 days above, before heading back via Bolzano. These are other routes from the guide that are well worth it:

• Lago di Sorapis: a turquoise lake you reach on foot from Passo Tre Croci. Pack a picnic.
• Torri del Vajolet and Lago d'Antermoia: two hikes in the Catinaccio massif, more demanding and less crowded.
• Rifugio Brogles: a hike with views of the Odle, near Val di Funes.
• Rifugio Lagazuoi: if you want to spend a night in an alpine hut and have a traditional dinner, this is the one we recommend.

An important note: mountain huts usually only open from June to mid-October, and in July and August you need to book ahead.

Tips for doing the Dolomites in a motorhome or van

• Sleep in authorized spots. Use campsites or motorhome areas. More and more towns ban overnight stays outside them, and in the Alpe di Siusi it's prohibited and fined.
• Use Park4night. It's the best app for finding places to sleep or eat with your camper, with reviews from other users. Always check the rules and the dates of the reviews.
• Budget for the Tre Cime toll. For motorhomes it's €60 with an online reservation. At Lago di Braies, check which parking lots allow campers before booking.
• Do your grocery shopping at the start. The guide has our shopping list and easy one-pot or one-pan recipes designed for van life.
• Get up early. Sunrises at the lakes (Carezza, Braies, Misurina) aren't just the prettiest part of the day: they're also when there are fewer people and it's easier to park.

When to go and what to pack

This itinerary is designed for summer. Daytime temperatures are usually between 15 and 25 °C, with cool nights and the odd afternoon thunderstorm. Bring a rain jacket or windbreaker, a fleece, hiking boots and clothes for every season. Spanish citizens only need a valid ID card or passport (check the requirements for your nationality); also bring your European Health Insurance Card and good travel insurance. The emergency number is 112.

If you're still not sure where to base yourself, our article on where to stay in the Dolomites covers the best areas. And for more ideas, check out what to see in the Dolomites and the prettiest towns in the Dolomites.

Everything in this itinerary, plus restaurants, hotels, mountain huts and recipes, is in our Dolomites guide PDF. And if you want all the places on your phone, there's our Dolomites map for Google Maps.

We always recommend having travel insurance; we always use IATI Seguros.