Dolomites Winter Itinerary: 4 Nights of Skiing, Scenic Views, and Cozy Alpine Towns
If you’re dreaming of a Dolomites winter escape, this 4-night itinerary is packed with skiing, charming villages, scenic drives, and festive winter vibes. From the snowy peaks of Plan de Corones to the Christmas magic of Ortisei, this itinerary gives you a perfect mix of adventure and relaxation.
Dolomites Winter Travel Overview
Best time to visit the Dolomites in winter: December through March (January–February for peak snow conditions)
Where to stay: Val Gardena (Ortisei or Selva), Cortina d’Ampezzo, Castlerotto or Alta Badia
Getting around: Rental car (highly recommended) or ski buses
Ideal trip length: 4–7 nights
Day 1: Arrival in the Dolomites via Castlerotto
Drive time: ~6 hours from Tasch, Switzerland
We started our winter Dolomites adventure by taking the train from Zermatt to our rental car in Tasch, Switzerland, and then driving about six hours to Castlerotto. On the way, we stopped at a grocery store to stock up on breakfast items, pasta, frozen meals, and snacks—a smart way to save money after splurging on Swiss food.
Our Airbnb in Castlerotto had stunning views of Alpe di Siusi, making it the perfect centralized home base for exploring the Dolomites.
Evening:
- Unpack and enjoy the panoramic mountain views
- Relax in the Airbnb and prep for your first ski day
Tip: Use Milan (MXP or LIN) airport for the cheapest flight and rental car options. Drive time to the Dolomites is about 4 hours.
Other airport options include:
- Bolzano (about 1 hour away – the closest airport)
- Verona (around 2.5 hours)
- Innsbruck, Austria (about 1 hour 40 minutes)
- Munich, Germany (around 3.5 hours)
- Venice, Italy (around 3 hours)
Day 2: Skiing at Plan de Corones (Kronplatz)
Drive time: ~1–1.5 hours total
After a homemade breakfast, we headed to Plan de Corones ski resort (Kronplatz), a top spot for skiing in South Tyrol. Parking tip: we used Parkplatz Skilift Olang 1+2, which is free, but other areas to park include Perca, Bruneck, and St. Vigil- which all bring you to the same mountain to ski. If you’re arriving by train, Olang station has nearby free parking with city bus access to the lifts.
Ski day highlights:
- First lift ride around 11 am under bright blue skies
- Wide-open, treeless, well groomed terrain
- No crowds at the lifts making it quick and easy to keep skiing
- Lunch and a beer at Geiselberger Hütte
- Afternoon skiing until 4:30 pm
- Après-ski drinks at K1 Pizzeria, a popular local spot
- Drive 1 hour back to Castlerotto
Tip: Plan your parking and lift access in advance to maximize time on the slopes.
Ski season for Plan de Corones (Kronplatz): Typically runs from late November to around mid- April.
Day 3: Exploring Ortisei & Val Gardena
Drive time: ~1 hour total
No skiing today—we took it slow and soaked in the festive winter charm.
- Drive 30 minutes to Selva di Val Gardena (Wolkenstein) and take the Dantercepies gondola up to the mountain lodge for panoramic views
- Drive 12 minutes to Ortisei for Christmas shopping, mulled wine, and coffee at Café Corso
- Stroll Via Rezia, a charming, illuminated street with shops and festive wooden huts. We loved the setup at Enoteca Cercia—blankets, hot mulled wine, and warm cozy vibes.
Castlerotto’s Airbnb was the perfect place to return to after a day of sightseeing.
Day 4: Skiing in Alta Badia
Drive time: ~2 hours total
We headed to Alta Badia for another full ski day, driving through Passo Gardena, a winding mountain pass with epic photo stops along the way.
- Parked in Corvara in Badia near Strada Rutort (10-minute walk to gondola)
- Rode the Col Alto gondola and skied across multiple interconnected areas, including Calfosch and San Ciascian
- Lunch at Las Vegas mountain restaurant with 360° panoramic views and delicious coffee with baileys drinks
- Favorite run: Piz Sorega—we did it several times!
- Ski season typically runs from December 4th to April 6th
Tip: Keep your trail map handy—some runs can be tricky to navigate if you want to return to the same parking lot. We had some trouble finding our way back to the area we parked at but we eventually figured it out!
Day 5: Departure to Kitzbühel, Austria (via Achensee)
Drive time: ~3 hours
We packed up for the next leg of our trip and drove to Kitzbühel, stopping at Achensee, where we found Atoll Achensee spa.
- Heated indoor and outdoor pools, saunas, steam rooms, and lake swimming
- A nude spa experience—but they offer robes and a separate swimsuit-friendly pool
- Scenic snowy backdrop, perfect for unwinding before the next adventure
From there, we continued on to Kitzbühel, ready for our next winter stop.
Tips for Traveling the Dolomites in Winter
- Car rental with winter tires is essential
- Bring warm layers, waterproof boots, and gloves
- Plan ski days with parking and lift logistics in advance
- Check gondola and lift schedules—they can vary depending on weather
- Most ski resorts are open around December 5th to April 5th
- Some resorts open earlier such as Plan de Corones and Val di Fiemme
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I love the itinerary for the Dolomites, except for the skiing as I don’t ski. Would you advise visiting the region if you don’t like skiing? The little villages and coffee at Cafe Corso look inviting!!
Of course! There are many other things to do besides skiing such as exploring different towns, snowshoeing, riding the gondola up to Seceda ridge, snowmobiling and relaxing at the spas.