If you’re dreaming of jagged peaks, glowing sunsets, alpine meadows, and some of the most scenic drives in Europe, the Dolomites in northern Italy absolutely deserve a spot on your travel list. This 4-night Dolomites itinerary is perfect for travelers who want a mix of iconic viewpoints, easy-to-moderate hikes, cozy mountain huts, and unforgettable scenery without feeling rushed.
We based ourselves in San Vigilio di Marebbe, a quieter village in Val Badia that makes a great home base for exploring the eastern and central Dolomites. This itinerary assumes you’ll have a rental car, which is hands down the best way to experience the region and its stunning mountain passes.
For more information on logistics and other areas to stay check out this blog: Dolomites 4 Night Guide
Where to Stay in the Dolomites
Base: San Vigilio di Marebbe (Val Badia)
Why stay here: Central location, fewer crowds than Ortisei or Cortina, easy access to Val Gardena, Val di Funes, Tre Cime, and Lago di Braies.
Day 1: Arrive in the Dolomites + Sunset Dining in Val Badia
Drive time: ~4–5 hours total
Fly Into Milan & Drive to San Vigilio
We flew into Milan and picked up a small SUV directly from the airport. From Milan, the drive to San Vigilio di Marebbe takes about 4 hours, depending on traffic and stops. The scenery gradually transforms from highways to rolling hills to dramatic mountain landscapes as you approach the Dolomites.
We arrived around 4:00 pm, checked into our Airbnb bed and breakfast, and took some time to settle in.
Evening in San Martino in Badia
To ease into the trip, we headed out for a relaxed evening nearby.
- Utia de Borz (San Martino in Badia):
A cozy restaurant inside a hotel with incredible mountain views. We stopped here for dessert and coffee, then relaxed in the lawn chairs out front while soaking in the scenery. - Dinner at Baita Hütte:
Just across the street, this charming log-style hut is surrounded by trees and mountain views. Dinner here felt straight out of a fairytale and they even had bunnies in a small play area, which added to the charm.
Sunset Views
After dinner, we returned to Utia de Borz, grabbed the lawn chairs again, and watched the sunset around 8:20 pm, when the mountains began to glow pink and gold. By 9:30 pm, we headed back to our Airbnb for a restful first night.
Day 2: Seceda Ridgeline + Alpe di Siusi
Drive time: ~3.5 hours total
Morning & Breakfast
We enjoyed the included breakfast at our Airbnb and headed out around 11:00 am.
Seceda Ridgeline (Alpe di Seceda)
Our first major stop was one of the most iconic viewpoints in the Dolomites: Seceda.
- Drive: ~1.5 hours from San Vigilio
- Route tip: Drive through Gardena Pass, a stunning mountain pass connecting Val Badia and Val Gardena at nearly 7,000 feet.
How to Get to Seceda
- Start in Ortisei (St. Ulrich)
- Enter “Funivie Seceda Spa” (Seceda Cable Car) in Google Maps
- The gondola has two legs:
- Ortisei → Furnes
- Furnes → Seceda
Gondola info:
- Round-trip ticket: ~€59 per person
- One-way ticket: ~€43 per person
- Parking: ~€3 per hour in nearby garages
- Total gondola time: ~15 minutes (expect occasional waits on the second leg)
Season: Late May to early November (hours vary by month)
Tickets & info: seceda.it
We arrived around 2:00 pm to sunny, warm weather. At the top, we grabbed coffee from the restaurant and spent about 3.5 hours exploring the ridgeline, taking photos, and walking the scenic trails.
Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm)
Next, we drove about 40 minutes to Alpe di Siusi, the largest high alpine meadow in Europe.
- Known for hiking, biking, paragliding, and jaw-dropping views
- We entered the area later in the day, which allowed us to drive farther without restrictions
We navigated to Malga Sanon (closed when we arrived around 7:00 pm) but still enjoyed incredible views and photos, especially on the wooden swing overlooking the mountains.
We then continued along Via Piz, pulled over on a quiet roadside, and sat in the grass as the sun set around 8:00 pm, lighting up the mountain faces in warm orange tones.
Important tip:
If visiting Alpe di Siusi earlier in the day (before ~5:00 pm), you’ll need to park near Compaccio (Compatsch) and explore on foot or by bus due to vehicle restrictions.
Dinner & Return
We drove back to San Vigilio (~1.5 hours) and had dinner at Ristorante-Pizzeria Da Arnold’s, known for surprisingly great chocolate milkshakes, before turning in for the night.
Day 3: Val di Funes + Adolf Munkel Trail
Drive time: ~3 hours total
Slow Morning
With gloomy weather in the forecast, we opted for a slow morning and extra sleep before heading out.
Adolf Munkel Trail (Trail #36)
We drove about 1.5 hours to Val di Funes for one of the most scenic hikes in the Dolomites.
- Trail: Adolf Munkel / Odle Trail (#36)
- Distance: ~6 miles round trip
- Time: 3–4 hours
- Difficulty: Easy to moderate
- Highlights: Views of the Odle/Geisler peaks, alpine huts, forest paths
Parking & Start
- Park at Zannes Parcheggio (€10 per car)
- Nearby Malga Zannes is a great spot to eat before or after the hike
We followed signs toward Geisleralm (Geisler Hut).
Unexpected Storm & Mountain Hospitality
Mid-hike, the weather turned severe with thunder and lightning. We took shelter at Malga Casnago, a mountain hut that graciously let us stay inside for about 1.5 hours, even though they had already closed for the day. We stayed warm, drank tea, and chatted with other hikers until the storm passed.
Around 7:30 pm, as the rain lightened and daylight faded, we safely returned to the parking lot.
St. Johann Church & Dinner
Before heading back, we stopped at Chiesetta di San Giovanni (St. Johann Church) for moody, rain-soaked photos.
Dinner was at Schmuckhof Torgglkeller, a unique restaurant where you can dine inside wooden barrels. After dinner, we drove about 50 minutes back to San Vigilio.
Day 4: Tre Cime di Lavaredo + Lago di Braies
Drive time: ~3.5 hours total
Tre Cime di Lavaredo
After breakfast, we drove about 1.5 hours to hike one of the most famous routes in the Dolomites.
- Parking: Rifugio Auronzo
- Parking fee: ~€40 per car (12 hours, reservation required)
- Website: https://auronzo.info/en/parking-tre-cime-di-lavaredo/
- Alternative: Bus or hike in from Lago di Misurina (adds ~2 hours each way)
Hike details:
- Distance: ~6 miles (loop)
- Time: 3–4 hours
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Peaks: Cima Grande, Cima Ovest, Cima Piccola
This was the busiest hike we encountered during our trip. While clouds partially blocked the peaks, the experience was still absolutely worth it.
Lago di Braies
After finishing the hike around 4:30 pm, we drove about 1 hour to Lago di Braies, one of the most photographed lakes in the Dolomites.
- Paid parking available (varies by season and lot)
- Parking info: prags.bz/en
- Wooden rowboats available to rent
- Café on-site for snacks and sandwiches
We spent about 1.5 hours walking around the lake, enjoying the views, and relaxing before heading back to San Vigilio for our final night.
That evening, we packed up in preparation for our next destination: a 5-hour drive to Lake Como the following day.
Is 4 Nights in the Dolomites Enough?
Four nights is a great introduction to the Dolomites and allows you to see many highlights, but you could easily spend a week or more here. This itinerary balances iconic spots with quieter moments and is perfect for first-time visitors who want a little bit of everything.
If you love mountains, scenic drives, and unforgettable hikes, the Dolomites will absolutely steal your heart.
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