Dolomites In Winter-All You Need To Know -

Planning a Winter Trip to the Dolomites?

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The Dolomites in winter feel like stepping into a real-life snow globe. Jagged limestone peaks dusted in snow, storybook alpine villages, cozy mountain huts, and some of the best skiing in Europe. Visiting the Dolomites in winter was one of the highlights of our two-week European ski road trip, and it’s a place I would go back to again and again.

This guide covers everything you need to know to plan a winter trip to the Dolomites, including logistics, where to stay, when to go skiing, what to eat, what ski resorts are included on the Ikon Pass, and exactly how we spent our four nights in this magical region of northern Italy.

I have a separate blog for traveling to the Dolomites in the summer, check it out at: Dolomites Travel Guide for Summer

How to Get to the Dolomites in Winter (Logistics & Road Trip Tips)

The Dolomites were part of a two-week European ski road trip adventure spanning multiple countries. We decided to purchase the Ikon Pass and planned our trip around ski resorts included on the pass. Our travel dates were November 29 to December 12, which put us right at the start of the European ski season.

We began by flying from San Diego to Milan (MXP) and rented a car from Green Motion Car Rental. While the pickup location was farther from the airport than other rental companies, it was significantly cheaper — something to consider if you’re traveling on a budget.

Other airports to consider when planning your Dolomites trip 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)

From Milan, we drove about three hours to Täsch, Switzerland, where we had to leave the rental car since Zermatt is a car-free town. From Täsch, we took the train into Zermatt and spent our first portion of the trip skiing there.

After Zermatt, we drove 6 hours to the Dolomites in Italy, followed by stops in Kitzbühel and St. Anton, Austria, before returning to Milan to drop off the rental car and fly home.

Important tip:
If you plan to drive across country borders, you must notify your rental car company at the time of booking and it typically costs around $20 to $100 for this cross-border fee. Some rental car companies don’t charge a fee so it just depends, we rented from Green Motion Rentals which did charge us a fee of $100 for the 2 weeks we had the rental car. If you’re flying into Milan (or another Italian airport) and driving only within Italy to reach the Dolomites, you do not need a border pass.

Where to Stay in the Dolomites in Winter

For our Dolomites stay, we spent four nights (December 2–6) in a spacious Airbnb in Castelrotto (Kastelruth), which ended up being the perfect home base.

Castelrotto sits at the foot of Alpe di Siusi, the largest high-altitude alpine meadow in Europe. Waking up each morning to snow-covered mountains and sweeping Alpe di Siusi views outside our windows felt unreal.

One of the biggest advantages of staying in Castelrotto was how central it was to everything we wanted to explore. We drove no more than one hour each way to reach:

Plan de Corones (Kronplatz)
Ortisei in Val Gardena
Corvara in Alta Badia

Other great places to stay in the Dolomites in winter include:

Val Gardena
Alta Badia
Cortina d’Ampezzo

Each area offers easy access to skiing, charming villages, and stunning mountain scenery.

When to Visit the Dolomites for Skiing

Ski season in the Dolomites typically runs from early December through early April. Most ski resorts open around December 5, although some — like Plan de Corones and Val di Fiemme — open earlier depending on snow conditions. Resorts usually close around April 5.

We arrived on December 2, which was slightly early in the season, but we were still able to ski:

Plan de Corones on December 3
Alta Badia on December 5

Both had plenty of snow, and the early-season timing meant fewer crowds — a huge bonus.

What We Ate in the Dolomites

To keep costs down, we did a mix of cooking and eating out. On our first day, we stopped at a grocery store and stocked up for our Airbnb. We made breakfasts each morning and dinners most nights, which saved us a lot of money.

During ski days and exploring, we usually ate lunch out, enjoying cozy mountain huts and local spots along the way. This balance worked perfectly and still let us experience the local food scene without overspending.

Ikon Pass & Dolomiti Superski Resorts

One of the biggest perks of skiing the Dolomites is access to Dolomiti Superski, one of the largest ski networks in the world. With the Ikon Pass, we had access to an incredible number of resorts, including:

Cortina d’Ampezzo
Plan de Corones (Kronplatz)
Alta Badia
Val Gardena / Alpe di Siusi
Val di Fassa / Carezza
Arabba / Marmolada
3 Peaks Dolomites
Val di Fiemme / Obereggen
San Martino di Castrozza / Rolle Pass
Rio Pusteria – Bressanone
Alpe Lusia – San Pellegrino
Civetta

The sheer scale of skiing in the Dolomites is mind-blowing — you could spend weeks here and still not ski everything.

For more information on Dolomiti Superski with Ikon pass visit https://www.ikonpass.com/en/destinations/dolomiti-superski

What We Did During Our 4-Night Stay

We chose to ski two out of our four days, which felt like the perfect balance between skiing and exploring.

Ski Day 1: Plan de Corones (Kronplatz)

Plan de Corones was incredibly easy to navigate, with wide, open runs that felt perfect for cruising. It’s a great resort if you like long groomers and stunning panoramic views without feeling overwhelmed.

Ski Day 2: Alta Badia

Alta Badia was a totally different experience. It’s deeply interconnected with other resorts via gondolas, and you can ski endlessly and end up in a completely different village without realizing it.

It was amazing — but also confusing. We definitely got lost more than once (lol). Our favorite run where we didn’t get lost was Piz Sorega, which we kept going back to.

Non-Ski Day: Ortisei & Christmas Markets

On one of our non-ski days, we explored Ortisei, one of the most charming towns in Val Gardena. The Christmas market was in full swing, with festive lights, cozy stalls, and plenty of mulled wine (vin brulé) to keep us warm. It was the perfect winter village experience and a highlight of the trip.

Other fun things to do in the Dolomites in the winter that we didn’t have time for include:

Snowshoeing on Alpe di Siusi
Checking out the frozen Lago di Braies
Take the cable car up to Seceda
Snowmobiling
Dog sledding
Relax at a spa

What to Pack for the Dolomites in Winter

I managed to pack two weeks of winter clothes into a carry-on and backpack, plus one shared ski bag. The ski bag included skis, poles, boots, helmets, and a snowboard.

Winter Packing Essentials:

Waterproof winter boots
Warm socks
Leggings (Smartwool recommended for skiing)
Ski pants
Long-sleeve tops (Smartwool for skiing)
Sweaters or hoodies
One long winter coat
One ski jacket
Ski mittens
Lightweight gloves for town exploring
Beanies
Over-the-helmet balaclava
Ski goggles
Sunglasses
Small day backpack

Layering is key — temperatures can vary a lot between skiing and walking around town.

Final Thoughts: Is the Dolomites Worth Visiting in Winter?

Absolutely yes. Winter in the Dolomites offers the perfect mix of world-class skiing, breathtaking mountain scenery, charming alpine villages, and festive holiday vibes. Whether you’re here for skiing, snowshoeing, Christmas markets, or simply soaking in the views, the Dolomites in winter are truly unforgettable.

If you’re planning a European ski trip or looking for a winter destination that feels straight out of a fairytale, the Dolomites deserve a top spot on your list.