The Best Dolomites Winter Itinerary Without Skiing

Affiliate Disclaimer: Please note that some links found in our posts are affiliate links. Should you choose to purchase through these links, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Visiting the Dolomites as a non-skier? You’re in the right place. Discover the best winter itinerary beyond skiing!

The Dolomites are a classic holiday destination known for soaring mountain peaks, beautiful lakes and breathtaking scenery in every direction. It is an ideal playground for any outdoor lover and in the winter, a superior place to hit the many slopes.

But, what if you’re not a skier? Is winter still a good time to visit the Dolomites?

We certainly think so! A trip to the Dolomites in winter will unquestionably be magnificent, regardless of whether you decide to ski or not. Our family recently toured the Dolomites in winter and didn’t ski at all (mostly because our daughter was still young), and we still found the trip to be a wonderful time.

As long as you do not mind some cold weather to keep you on your toes, do not hesitate to experience the Dolomites during its most beautiful season – winter.

In this guide, you’ll find the best places to visit, which area to stay in, and what to expect when driving in the Dolomites in winter.

Dolomites in Winter Essentials

⛸ You don’t have to ski! Choose alternative winter activities like ice skating, sledding, and snowshoeing.

👣 Take advantage of less crowded top attractions (like Lago di Braies) during the winter season.

🚠 Non-skiers can still ride the cable cars and ski lifts to mountain peaks for restaurants and panoramic views.

🛌 The Sexten Dolomites is a fantastic area to stay in the Dolomites during winter – it features the Tre Cime di Lavaredo and the resort town of Cortina d’Ampezzo.

🛣 Winter road conditions in the Dolomites are not dangerous and still well maintained in snowy weather. Driving is easy!

PRO TIP: If you really want to visit the Dolomites while it’s snowing, check one of the many webcams posted in the Dolomites (like this one). This is the only sure way to confirm weather!

Quick List: Best Places to Visit in Dolomites in Winter

• Funivia Plan de Corones
• LUMEN Museum of Mountain Photography and MMM Corones
• Galvalux Arena Ice Stadium and Olympic Ice Stadium
• Passo di Giau
• Tre Cime di Lavaredo
• Lago di Braies
• Lago di Dobbiaco
• Vista Panoramica Tre Cime Lavaredo
• Nordic Arena
• Christmas Market in Brunico
• Cortina d’Ampezzo
• Lago delle Tose Calalzo

Are the Dolomites Worth Visiting in Winter Without Skiing?

Italy’s Dolomites are among the top best year-round destinations in the entire world. Unlike many places in Europe, visiting the Dolomites isn’t strictly based on seasonality and you can ultimately have an amazing time regardless if it’s summer or winter.

Naturally, the first thing that may come to most people’s minds about going to the Dolomites in the winter is the winter sports like skiing.

Whether you’re an avid skier or just in it for the novelty, the Dolomites are home to some of Europe’s most exceptional ski resorts, backcountry adventures, and an iconic après-ski lifestyle.

While this is all fantastic, you can’t expect everyone to be into winter sports and the great news is, you don’t have to be in order to enjoy the Dolomites in winter.

From countless outdoor to indoor activities, natural landmarks, and famous viewpoints, the Dolomites are a playground during the winter season. It is possible to still visit the many celebrated lakes, mountain peaks, and towns in the Dolomites even during winter.

With a fresh blanket of snow, the Dolomites in winter are worth visiting for its fairytale-like landscape.

Are the Dolomites Crowded in Winter?

While ski resorts are packed in the winter, it leaves the remainder of the Dolomites much less crowded for those who are staying off the slopes. Visiting the Dolomites in winter is the perfect time to see the region’s best sites without the chaos of summer tourism.

On this note, the price of accommodation is on average, heavily discounted. As long as you’re not staying in a popular town like Cortina d’Ampezzo, you can find some serious deals on apartments when staying in the Dolomites in winter.

10 Dolomites Winter Activities for the Whole Family

1. Ride a Cable Car

While lifts take passengers to the top of peaks so they can ski down the mountain, many cable car rides offer rides to non-skiers as well. Cable car rides are the most convenient way to enjoy panoramic viewpoints in the Dolomites with the least amount of effort.

More often than not, summits in the Dolomites will have restaurants or other attractions at the top which aren’t only open to guests on skis. And no, nobody expects you to spend hours ascending the mountain in the snow and this is exactly why many of the cable car rides in the Dolomites are operational in the winter.

Cable car rides can cost anywhere from €20 – €40 round-trip per adult. Lifts in the Dolomites that are worth checking out include:

• Cable Car Tofana
• Funivia Plan de Corones
• Cable Car Lagazuoi
• Funivie Ciampinoi
• Funivia Ortisei – Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm)

Can You Take a Cable Car to Seceda in Winter?

Unfortunately, the cable car to Seceda peak is not operational during the winter. It typically opens up for the summer season on June 1st and shuts back down in November. The Ortisei – Furnes cable car is also closed during this time.

2. Visit a Museum

The Dolomites don’t exactly scream “great place for museums!” but for that reason, museums are one of the most surprisingly unique things to do while visiting the region. You can visit a range of museums in the Dolomites, many of which are extraordinarily designed or beautifully located.

Our own experience led us to the LUMEN Museum of Mountain Photography, which is relatively newly constructed at the top of Kronplatz. Undoubtedly, it is the most stunning museum we’ve ever visited and a must-see in South Tyrol.

Located almost 2,300 metres above sea level, the LUMEN Museum offers exceptional views and splendidly curated exhibits of both old and modern photography.

📸 Read more about the LUMEN Museum of Mountain Photography

3. Go Ice Skating Outdoors (or Indoors)

Ice skating is one of the most popular winter sports and family activities in the Dolomites aside from skiing. Nearly every major town in the Dolomites will have its own ice skating rink, some of which are outdoors and some that are entirely enclosed.

If you are visiting the Dolomites during a period of cold weather, you can also expect to come across natural ice rinks that take place on small ponds and lakes.

While the winter temperatures may not always be ideal for ice skating outdoors, you can easily find a ton of ice arenas and stadiums throughout the Dolomites. These are much more likely to be open throughout the entire season.

The 1956 Winter Olympics ice stadium in Cortina d’Ampezzo is one of the most notable places to skate in the Dolomites.

Ice skating in the Dolomites is among the most affordable activities and typically costs under €10 per adult.

❄️ You May Like: Things to Do in St. Moritz in Winter and Visiting Hallstatt in Winter

4. Drive Through Giau Pass

The scenic route between Cortina d’Ampezzo and Selva di Cadore is among the most wild areas of the Dolomites and therefore, beautifully uninterrupted. It is unique and different than most of the passes in the Dolomites because it lacks huge and flashy resorts. Instead, you’re merely surrounded by towering rocky peaks, hairpin turns and wooden mountain huts.

Passo Giau is 2,236 metres above sea level and its most famous view is of Ra Gusela. You can even book a stay at the guesthouse located just beneath it.

Although the snow bank reached higher than the height of our car, the entire pass was completely plowed and made for an easy yet breathtaking drive.

5. Take a Snowmobile Ride to Tre Cime Lavaredo

Tre Cime Lavaredo is usually accessed by a paid road and then a hike to the famous landmark. However, this is only possible starting in late spring. During the winter, this road is closed off near Chalet Lago Antorno. From there, you can either hike the remainder of the way or take a snowmobile ride to reach Tre Cime Lavaredo.

The snowmobile rides are more of a carriage ride, but with a snowmobile instead of a horse. The driver, and possibly one lucky passenger, will sit on the actual snowmobile. Hitched onto the back is a sleigh-like attachment that fits 4-5 people at a time.

A visit to Tre Cime Lavaredo in winter will take you to Rifugio Auronzo and back for around €35 per adult.

6. Walk on Frozen Lakes

Many of the great lakes that the Dolomites is known for will freeze over during winter. Keep in mind, the weather must be consistently below freezing in order for this to happen. If you are lucky enough to experience this, walking on frozen lakes is one of the most special things to do in the Dolomites in winter because you certainly can’t try this in the summer.

Lago di Braies is notably among the top five most famous attractions in the Dolomites. Compared to our visit in the summer, it was completely dead in the winter time.

The pathway around Lago di Braies is not particularly wide and it’s not a place that’s meant for mass tourism so the fact that there no crowds in winter was incredible. During the winter, Lake Braies takes on a completely different feel and change of scenery.

7. Winter Hiking in the Dolomites

You do not have to be a professional trekker in order to experience winter hiking in the Dolomites. While yes, you can set on some of the most challenging hikes in the world (and in the snow), there are dozens of hiking trails to enjoy as a nice normal family.

Similar to winter road conditions in the Dolomites, the hiking and walking paths are also well cleared. Snow is plowed and compacted which makes easy to moderate hikes in the Dolomites feasible, regardless of the weather.

Of course, the lower you are in elevation, the easier hikes you’ll come across. For example, the Cadore Valley is south of the Tre Cime national park and has a much calmer landscape. Lago di Cadore is surrounded by forest and consists of Natural Archaeological Thermal Baths, which are accessed by a walking trail near the lake.

The trails found in valleys or around the lakes of the Dolomites are easy destinations for winter hiking. All you need is a sunny day!

8. Try Cross Country Skiing

If downhill skiing is out of the question for you, consider cross country skiing as something new to try. If you’re itching to get some activity in and explore the breathtaking scenery of the Dolomites in winter, cross country skiing provides both a great exercise and plenty of views along the way.

The wonderful benefits about cross country skiing is that it’s low risk, costs less than traditional skiing and doesn’t require a mountain. You can find cross country tracks virtually anywhere throughout the Dolomites, from professional courses, forest trails and laps around lakes.

Do you have no idea what you’re doing? While renting cross country gear, ask to join an instructed tour and have some laughs while you figure it out.

9. Shopping in Cortina d’Ampezzo

Cortina d’Ampezzo is one of the most well-known mountain towns in the Dolomites that also happens to be very walkable. It features a prominent shopping street with no shortage of places to buy any piece of clothing you might have forgotten to pack.

From big-name brands like North Face and Patagonia to small boutique shops, you can definitely have a successful afternoon of shopping in the town centre.

10. Spend Christmas in the Dolomites

The Dolomites naturally make for one of the most magical atmospheres around Christmas time. Surrounded by mountains, deep forests, and countryside towns, the Dolomites during Christmas is a charming oasis for those looking to spend Christmas away from home.

🇨🇿 You May Like: Visiting the Prague Christmas Markets

A combination of Italian and German culture is what fuels the Christmas traditions in the Dolomites. While you’ll find panettone and pandoro from Italy, you may also encounter scenes of Krampus from German folklore. There is no shortage of holiday joy, decor, and celebrations to come across when spending Christmas in the Dolomites.

Among the most marvelous things to enjoy during December in the Dolomites are the Christmas markets. Various towns in the mountains will hold their own festivities but the Mercatino di Natale in Brunico is very favored.

🎄 Check the upcoming dates for Christmas Markets in Brunico

Can You Drive in the Dolomites in Winter?

Similar to any other season in the Dolomites, the area is best explored by car. It is the most efficient and flexible way to see all of the top sites without having to keep track of a bus schedule or rely on the train, which doesn’t function everywhere in the Dolomites. Luckily, driving in the Dolomites in the winter is easy peasy.

Winter Road Conditions in the Dolomites are safe and meticulously maintained. Driving through various mountain passes in winter may sound risky, but it’s definitely not the case in the Dolomites.

As lovely as a vacation destination it is, it’s important to remember that people actually reside in the mountain towns and rely on the passes to get around. Therefore, the state and local initiatives to keep the road conditions safe are a top priority. A majority of the roads are plowed and in a very timely manner.

In Italy, it is mandatory that you drive on winter tires or chains from mid-October to mid-April. While it’s not always necessary, being well equipped will keep you prepared for the unexpected and out of trouble during any police checks.

If you are renting a car while in the Dolomites, it’s really not necessary to rent a 4WD/AWD vehicle but you should check that the car will come with winter tires during the appropriate months.

Winter Dolomites Weather

A majority of the Dolomites are located at high altitude. As early as late November, temperatures begin to drop and are similar to those of any Alpine region. Although temperatures are regularly below freezing, the great news is that the Dolomites are blessed with more sun than any other mountain range in the Alps. So, while the nights can be brutal, the sunny days definitely make up for it.

When visiting a winter destination like the Dolomites, I always check webcams to confirm what the weather is really like. Sure, forecasts will give you an idea, but there’s no surer way than seeing what’s really going on. Webcams are available online and posted by nearly every ski resort – just Google the area you’re planning on visiting + webcam.

If you are planning to go to some of the famous viewpoints in the Dolomites, do your best to plan your itinerary around the weather. Monitor the online webcams for visibility because otherwise, you will pay a lot of money for a cable car ride and not be rewarded with a view on a day with poor weather.

Where to Stay in Dolomites in Winter

The entirety of the Dolomites is incredible and worth seeing which makes deciding where to stay a little challenging. There really isn’t a bad part of the Dolomites or one that is better to stay in over another – do not overthink it. We promise, you will find mountains and other winter activities in each part of the Dolomites.

While choosing where to stay in the Dolomites in winter as a skier, it all comes down to which ski lifts and resorts you’re interested in experiencing. Do your research on ski lifts and make a decision on where to stay based on this. There are certain areas for skiing that may be more advanced and ones that are better for young kids, as an example.

If you are a non-skier visiting the Dolomites in winter, we recommend staying in the The Sexten Dolomites in South Tyrol. This area is most notably defined by the Tre Cime di Lavaredo and the ski resort town of Cortina d’Ampezzo. We found that the most fun things to do in winter without skiing are all located within one hour of each other in the Sexten zone.

Best Places to Stay in Sexten Dolomites

❄️ Other Winter Destinations You May Like: Hallstatt, Austria and Saint Moritz, Switzerland

Dolomites in Winter Travel Resources

☔️ TRAVEL INSURANCE: EKTA or VisitorsCoverage

✈️ FLIGHTS: Skyscanner, CheapOair or Kiwi.com

🚙 CAR RENTALS: Discover Cars or Rentalcars.com

🚊 TRAINS & BUSES: Busbud, Trainline or Omio

🛳 FERRIES: Direct Ferries

🛌 ACCOMMODATION: Booking.com, Agoda or Trivago

☎️ ESIM / CELL PHONE DATA: Airalo

📸 TOURS & ACTIVITIES: GetYourGuide or Viator

Affiliate Disclaimer: Please note that some links found in our posts are affiliate links. Should you choose to purchase through these links, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.