A long weekend in the Dolomites by train and bus
Three days around Val Gardena without a hire car: which lifts to buy, the one hut to book and how the buses really work.
This guide contains partner links. Booking through them earns us a small commission and costs you nothing; it funds the trips we write about. How partner links work
The Dolomites have a reputation for needing a car. They do not, if you base yourself in one valley with a good bus service and let the lifts do the climbing. Val Gardena is the easiest version of that.
Getting there
Fly or train to Verona or Innsbruck, then rail to Bolzano and the bus up to Ortisei, roughly 90 minutes with one change. Trains run every hour; the bus is timed to meet them.
Day 1: Seceda
The cable car from Ortisei goes straight up to the ridge everybody has seen in photos. Walk the ridge for an hour, descend to the Pieralongia huts for lunch, and take the long path down through the meadows to Col Raiser and the gondola back. About four hours of walking, mostly downhill.
Day 2: Alpe di Siusi
Europe's largest high meadow. Take the bus to Siusi and the cable car up, then wander between huts on easy paths. Rent an e-bike at the top if you want to cover more ground. Spend the night at a hut to see the meadow empty of day visitors.
Day 3: Sassolungo loop
From Passo Sella, the circuit around the Sassolungo massif is a half-day walk with two huts for lunch and a short stand-up gondola at the end that is an experience in itself. Buses from Selva reach the pass every hour in season.
Lift passes
Option | Price guide | When it is worth it |
|---|---|---|
Single ride | €25 to 35 | One or two lifts in the whole trip |
Val Gardena 3-day card | About €100 | Three days of walking with a lift most days |
Dolomiti Supersummer | From €130 | Only if you change valleys |
When is the season?
Lifts run from mid-June to early October. Late September has the clearest air and the fewest people.
How fit do I need to be?
The routes above are hiking, not climbing. Comfortable with four hours on your feet and some rough ground is enough.
Is it expensive?
Lifts and huts add up. Budget around €60 a day for lifts and food on top of accommodation.
Written by
Trip planners
A small team based in Europe, travelling on ordinary holiday allowances and writing down what we would do differently next time. Replace this bio with your own in Admin → Authors.
