Italy is a country without compare. From historical seat of multi-continental civilisation to contemporary seat of covetable culture, the nation that’s given us everything from pizza to Parmigianino has well and truly staked its claim as an enviable destination nation.
Amongst the many potential holiday destinations you could pick in this great and varied Mediterranean super-gem, though, there is one that often flies a tad under the radar against the likes of Rome and Venice: the Dolomites.
The Dolomites are a mountain range in Italy’s north-east and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, technically a part of the wider Alps and named for the composition of the range’s rock. With Italy better-known for balmy beaches and sunny cities, a small handful of us are only familiar with the mountainous north through skiing. However, this is changing, and the Dolomites are becoming a sought-after holiday adventure all of their own.
Top Attractions and Activities
As explored already, all Italy trips are magical in their own way – but a trip that takes in the Dolomites is unique in its magic. This is for the incredible array of regional attractions and adventure opportunities that these vast and storied mountains present. Skiing is an obvious one, with Dolomitic slopes forming the best backdrops for Italy’s winter sports. Cortina is a must-visit resort destination if you’re a skiing fan.
There’s more to the Dolomites than skiing, though. For instance, the Tre Cime di Lavaredo (The Three Peaks of Lavaredo) are so breathtaking in person that every piece of mountain poetry you’ve ever read suddenly makes complete and utter sense. Likewise for the Vajolet Towers, at once a best-in-class destination for hiking, biking and mountain climbing.
When to Travel
Getting to the Dolomites is simple enough, but how and when you go are more complicated questions to answer. If you’re going for skiing purposes, there’s an on-season for skiing between December and April; the slopes will be busy these months, so if you’re not a skiing fan you might want to save your travel until mid-summer – when the snowmelt allows you to enjoy a greater variety of mountain trails.
Accommodation OptionsWhatever the shape of your own Dolomitic adventure, there are many different options for accommodation to consider during your stay. Multi-stage mountain-hiking adventures could see you camping along your route. For a more curated stay, there are luxury resorts peppering the mountains (and particularly around ski resort towns). Unique to the Dolomites, mountain-hut rifugi are remote, relaxing and rejuvenating in equal measure.