Where to Stay in the Dolomites: Best Areas & Hotels
There are few good places where to stay in the Dolomites Italy, and the best places to stay depend on your itinerary.
The best place to stay in the Dolomites for hiking is Cortina d’Ampezzo, the best places for sightseeing and photography are Cortina and Val Gardena, and if you’re looking for a place in the Dolomites where to stay to do it all, it’s Alta Badia.
So let’s explore!
Browse the map below to compare accommodations and find the best place to stay in the Dolomites.
Our #1 place to stay in the Dolomites is Hotel Lajadira & Spa in Cortina d’Ampezzo
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Best base in the Dolomites
Dolomites are divided into two areas: the Western and the Eastern.
So the best bases in the Dolomites are: Cortina d’Ampezzo, Dobbiaco, Alta Badia, and Val Gardena. Alta Badia and Val Gardena are valleys with some towns that are great for staying.
Cortina d’Ampezzo – best base for hiking in the Dolomites
Cortina d’Ampezzo is conveniently located for exploring the Eastern Dolomites. Prices are higher, but you have easy access to some of the most popular hiking trails and lakes such as Lago Braies. It’s known also as the Queen of the Dolomites. If you’re looking for where to base yourself in the Dolomites, Cortina is definitely one of the best options.
Why stay in Cortina d’Ampezzo?
- Well located
- Lots of restaurants and hotels
- Ski lifts and hiking trails close by
- Some of the most beautiful lakes, such as Lake Braies and Lake Sorapis, are very close to Cortina
Best hotels in Cortina
Luxury | Hotel Lajadira&Spa
Although Hotel Lajadira & Spa is a little off the centre of Cortina d’Ampezzo, it offers really stunning mountain views and a shuttle to the city centre.
The rooms are spacious. They’re decorated in the typical Alpine fashion, with light colours and wood décor. Many of the rooms have balconies, too. If you ski, there’s a heated ski room.
The spa area features an indoor pool with mountain views, a whirlpool, a sauna, a Turkish bath, and a relaxation room. You can order wellness and beauty procedures such as massages facials.
To see prices and reviews, check booking.com
Luxury | Grand Hotel Savoia Cortina d’Ampezzo, A Radisson Collection Hotel – the best hotel in Cortina for families
Located in the heart of Cortina, Gran Hotel Savoia is a historic gem surrounded by spectacular mountains. You have everything, such as restaurants, grocery stores, and shops.
There’s everything you need for a proper rest after a day of exploring and hiking. There’s a wellness and spa area, a pool, and a kid’s room with babysitting and entertainers.
The rooms in Grand Hotel Savoia are beautiful, with wooden décor and light colours. Many of them offer views of the Dolomites, and some even have terraces.
To see prices and reviews, check the booking.com
Mid-range | Baita Fraina
Baita Fraina is located a bit out of Cortina, on a little hill. It has a great view of the Dolomites.
It’s a boutique hotel with only six rooms available. All of them are decorated in the typical mountain fashion in wood and all offer incredible views of the Dolomites from their balconies.
Each morning, a continental breakfast buffet is available. You can get sweet and savoury meals.
To see prices and reviews, check booking.com
Budget | Hotel Meuble Oasi – a budget hotel in a very convenient location
The location of Meuble Oasi is quite amazing, especially for the price that you pay. It’s located right next to the Faloria cable car so you have great access to the ski slopes or hiking areas straight from the hotel.
Hotel Meuble Oasi is a simple hotel. But you get all that you need – a room with a bathroom, WiFi, free parking, and even a ski/bike room.
And the rooms are nice and light, with wood furnishings. And some even have balconies.
To see prices and reviews, check booking.com
Dobbiaco – best budget base in the Dolomites
I liked our stay in Dobbiaco in April. The location is convenient – it lies on the border of the Tre Cime nature park and the Fanes-Sennes-Prags nature park – and there is accommodation for every taste and budget.
If you want to visit the Dolomites on a budget, Dobbiaco is definitely the place to check. Even the luxury places are much cheaper than most other towns in the Dolomites.
Why stay in Dobbiaco
- Hotels are less expensive than in more popular places in the Dolomites
- Lots of restaurants, and shops
- Convenient location for exploring the Eastern Dolomites, for example, Lake Braies, Three Peaks (Tre Cime di Lavaredo), Gustav Mahler Wildlife Park
- Relatively close to the Western Dolomites
- Lots of activities available, for example, hiking, skiing, fishing
Best hotels in Dobbiaco
Luxury| Skyview Chalets am Camping Toblacher See – perfect hotel in the Dolomites for adults
The chalets are located just on the coast of Lake Dobbiaco, which is my favourite lake in the Dolomites.
The Skyview chalets, as the name suggests, offer you a view of the sky straight from the chalet. They are “glass cubes” with a window that lets you see the stars straight from your bed.
Each chalet comes with an infrared sauna in the chalet and the deluxe category ones have a jacuzzi on the terrace. There’s a double bed and a bathroom in each “cube” and even a coffee machine. Breakfast is brought to you every morning.
There’s a winery, coffee shop, and a minimarket. And the lake and nearby mountains offer activities for every taste.
To see prices and reviews, check booking.com
Luxury | Hotel Laurin – a 4* spa hotel just by Dobbiaco great for families
Hotel Laurin is located a bit off the main part of Dobbiaco, but it’s definitely an advantage. The location and the view are magnificent! You see the mountains in Alta Pusteria in Valle di Landro.
There’s a yard available where kids would be happy to play. There’s a heated outside pool there, as well as a sauna and wellness. Several sports activities start right at the hotel, such as cross-country skiing and cycling.
If skiing on the slopes is your thing, the hotel has a shuttle to some of the best ski resorts in the area, such as Sesto Dolomites skiing area with the Alta Pusteria cable cars, or the Plan de Corones, or even Monte Elmo-Croda Rossa.
The rooms are quite spacious, with all that you might need, and some of them have mountain views. There are even apartments available. Hotel Laurin offers both a bed and breakfast and half-board.
To see prices and reviews, check booking.com
Midrange | Hotel Rosengarten
Hotel Rosengarten is a lovely family-run hotel just a few minutes walk from the centre of Dobbiaco and 5km from the slopes of San Candido.
This three-star hotel has rooms decorated in wood in a typical South Tyrolean fashion. Some of them have balconies, and the higher-level ones even offer saunas, infrared rooms, or a jacuzzi in the room. The breakfast is cold cuts and sweet pastries, and you can go for a half board.
If skiing, exploring, or hiking the Dolomites on a budget while still being pampered is one of your goals, book Hotel Rosengarten!
To see prices and reviews, check booking.com
Budget | Haus Greg – an apartment with a parking
An apartment in Dobbiaco with a bedroom, living room, and a small kitchen. Of course, a toilet is available as well. We stayed there with my friend on our April trip to the Dolomites and really enjoyed it.
The location of Haus Greg is great and central. There’s a grocery store right over the street and many restaurants and cafés next by. If you don’t feel like making breakfast, there’s a café basically by the entrance to the apartment.
To see prices and reviews, check booking.com
Alta Badia – best central base in the Dolomites
Alta Badia sits between the valleys of Val Pusteria, Val di Fassa and Val Gardena, as well as the towns of Cortina d’Ampezzo and Arabba.
The best towns to stay in the Alta Badia valley are Corvara and Badia.
Why stay in Alta Badia
- Central location with access to most of the Dolomites
- Excellent place for some of the best food in the Dolomites with incredible amounts of Michelin-starred restaurants
- Easy access to good hiking trails including the Burning Dolomites Trail
- Belongs to the Dolomiti Superski area
Note: it’s not easy to find budget places to stay in Alta Badia so the price of hotels I’ve put here is a bit higher than I’d usually like
Best hotels in Alta Badia
Luxury | Hotel La Perla: The Leading Hotels of the World in Corvara in Badia
Hotel La Perla is a family-run hotel in Corvara, located just by the Col Alto ski lift. It’s a ski-in-ski-out hotel, so it’s perfect for skiers. La Perla even has guided tours available.
The rooms are decorated with Swiss pine panels and soft, comforting textiles. Most of the rooms have a private balcony overlooking the mountains. The views from the hotel are incredible.
There’s a spa with a pool, saunas, and wellness area available. There are multiple restaurants on-site, and even a wine cellar with wine tastings.
A minus – during some times of the year, the hotel can only be booked for stays of at least 6 days, with arrival on Saturday or Sunday.
To see prices and reviews, check booking.com
Midrange | Sporthotel Panorama in Corvara
Sporthotel Panorama is located above Corvara, at an altitude of 1700m. It’s a bit out of town – a steep walk away, but there’s a shuttle bus to the town centre available. It’s big on the Ladin heritage, so you have a Ladin-style restaurant available, as well as activities geared towards Ladin history.
The rooms in the Sporthotel Panorama are big and nicely decorated. Many of them have balconies with incredible views.
As a real sports hotel, it has a tennis court and offers golfing, an e-bike rental, hiking tours, and other summer activities. In the winter, there’s snowshoeing and skiing, iceskating, dog sledging, and other activities. For relaxing, there’s a wellness available with a swimming pool, saunas, and massages.
To see prices and reviews, check booking.com
Midrange | Hotel Melodia del Bosco in Badia
Hotel Melodia del Bosco is a family-run bike, hike, and ski hotel in Alta Badia.
The rooms are light, decorated with wood and each one has a balcony. All rooms offer impressive views of the mountains Monte Gardenazza or Monte Santa Croce. They are newly renovated.
The hotel has a spa as well, with a Finnish sauna, a steam bath, a relaxation room with water beds, and a fitness room.
There’s a breakfast and dinner available for you in the hotel (half board), a wine cellar with a collection of wines, and a lounge room.
To see prices and reviews, check booking.com
Budget | Hotel Cavallino in Badia
Hotel Cavallino is located only 100m from the Santa Croce ski lift. It’s known for views from the hotel.
There are many sporting activities available from Hotel Cavallino – skiing, cycling, romantic horse riding tours, Nordic walking, and even guided climbs and hikes.
The rooms in this family-run hotel are nice and big, decorated in wood and light colours. Each of them has a balcony overlooking the mountains. Apartments with a fully stocked kitchen are available, too.
There’s a small spa available as well, with a wellness area with a sauna, gym, hot tub and Turkish bath.
To see prices and reviews, check booking.com
Val Gardena – best area for views in the Dolomites
Val Gardena Valley – the most convenient access to the Western Dolomites, including the Seceda, Alpe di Siusi and Sassolungo. There are several towns which have hotels for all budgets and tastes. We personally stayed in Santa Cristina, above the valley. The hotel – Monte Pana – Dolomites Hotel – was awesome.
There are a few main towns which are the most convenient for staying: Ortisei, Santa Cristina, and Selva di Val Gardena.
Note: it’s not easy to find hotels in Val Gardena in the off-season which is in the spring, generally April and May, and autumn, in November. Most of the hotels in Val Gardena require at least 3 nights of stay, some even 7. If you’re on a short trip or want to visit Val Gardena during the off-season, check accommodation somewhere else, like Alta Badia. The hotels included have a minimum of 1 stay.
Why stay in Val Gardena
- Seceda and Alpe di Siusi are here (among other things, obviously)
- Well connected with public transport
- Lots of hikes
Best hotels in Santa Cristina and Selva di Val Gardena
Santa Cristina and Selva di Val Gardena are located somewhat in the middle of Val Gardena. They are such small villages so the accommodation is rather limited.
If you’re wondering why to stay in these two villages specifically – the Col Raiser cable car is in Santa Cristina, which means that, among other things, you have access to numerous leisure activities in the Dolomiti Superski area and Puez-Odle Nature.
Selva is better connected by public transport, so if you’re visiting the Dolomites without a car, this might be one of the best locations for you to stay at.
Luxury | Alpenhotel Plaza 4* in Santa Cristina
Alpenhotel Plaza is an incredibly-looking spa hotel located right in the centre of Santa Cristina. It’s located just a couple of minutes from the Sellaronda and the Val Gardena Ronda ski circuits.
There are not too many rooms in the hotel so the stay is tranquil. The rooms themselves have mountain-style décor and are comparably big.
Incredibly, the basic price of the room includes half-board, that is, breakfast and dinner.
To see prices and reviews, check booking.com
Luxury | Boutique Hotel Nives – Luxury & Design in the Dolomites in Selva
Boutique Hotel Nives is a family-run hotel with only 13 rooms located in the centre of Selva di Val Gardena.
The rooms in the hotel are big and furnished with wood and light colours. Each of the rooms has bathrobes and slippers, a Nespresso coffee machine and tea-making facilities. The balconies offer views of Selva.
There’s a spa and wellness area in the hotel Nives, which includes different types of saunas, a relaxation area, a pool, and massages (at extra cost).
To see prices and reviews, check booking.com
Midrange | Monte Pana Dolomites Hotel in Santa Cristina – a family-friendly spa hotel
The hotel is located above the centre of Santa Cristina. The location is convenient for visiting the main sights in the Western Dolomites.
The location is just by Monte Pana, as the name suggests, above the centre of Santa Cristina. Honestly, we’re not sure that you can drive up there in winter if the car doesn’t have chains on. But the view was just wow. And the location – Santa Cristina – is very conveniently located close to the main sightseeing spots in the Western Dolomites.
There’s an indoor swimming pool and kid’s pool with playground outiside. The chairlift to Monte Pana is close by as well.
We had a triple room with an extendable couch, dining table, and a bedroom. There was both a bath and a shower in the bathroom, which was really convenient. The only thing I missed, though, was a fridge.
To see prices and reviews, check booking.com
Midrange | Linder Cycling Hotel in Selva
Linder also has a spa, a pool, a garden, and a well-rated restaurant called Luis Eatery.
The rooms are modern and recently refurbished. Most of them are quite big, and many have balconies or mountain views. The price of the accommodation includes, among other things, guided hikes and bike tours!
There’s also a garden, a terrace, a pool (the game) room, and a bar.
To see prices and reviews, check booking.com
Budget | Smart Hotel Saslong in Santa Cristina – great for skiing and staying without a car
A beautiful no-frills hotel located just on the edge of Santa Cristina. Their motto is “great holidays at very smart prices” which means that all of the needed services, such as the Val Gardena bus card, are included in the price and additional offers, for example, ski school and rental, are for great prices.
The interior of the hotel and the rooms is modern and it’s decorated in local wood. There are bars, one of which is open 24 hours, as well as a shuttle to the Sellaronda (Dolomiti SuperSki). A bus stop is 20m away if you’d like to use public transport, and if you have a car, there’s parking available.
To see prices and reviews, check booking.com
Budget | Garni Hotel Rezia in Selva
Garni Hotel Rezia is located in the centre of Selva of Val Gardena. It’s located perfectly for some of the best walks and hikes in Val Gardena in the summer and ski slopes – in the winter.
It’s only 150m from the Nives ski lift and 200m Ciampioni cable car. That gives you great access to some incredible ski slopes in the Dolomiti SuperSki area. There’s a bus stop just 50m from the hotel.
The rooms are big and nicely decorated in wood. There are apartments available, too, which have a kitchen. There’s a breakfast, as well, and a parking spot included in the price.
To see prices and reviews, check booking.com
Best hotels in Ortisei
Ortisei is the most well-connected town in Val Gardena, so if you’re visiting the Dolomites without a car and want to stay in Val Gardena, this is your best bet. The town is close to the mountain passes Pordoi and Selva, as well as Passo Gardena.
Luxury | Gardena Grödnerhof – Hotel & Spa – perfect hotel in Val Gardena for families
Gardena Grödnerhof is a spa hotel located just a bit above Ortisei.
Gardena Grödnerhof’s gourmet restaurant Anna Stuben is one of the best in South Tyrol and has numerous awards, including a Michelin star.
The hotel’s SPA. It includes a selection of saunas (Finnish, steam, Bio and others), steam baths, a ladies-only spa, a cold-water pool and a large outdoor whirlpool.
About the rooms – they are spacious and modern. Families will really appreciate the kid’s babysitting club, with activities and even a dinner.
Definitely one of the best hotels in the Dolomites, I’m not surprised it has a 9.7 rating on booking and 4.9 on Google Maps.
To see prices and reviews, check booking.com
Midrange | Hotel Hell – great spa and ski hotel for families
It’s a 4* hotel that has a spa area, an outdoor hot tub and a terrace. It’s located just 5 minutes from the centre of Ortisei, in a quiet location.
There’s an aroma therapy room, a Finnish sauna, a steam bath, and a whirlpool in Hotel Hell. Adjacent to the hotel is a large aquatic centre “Mar Dolomit” which will be fun for both the big and tiny guests.
The rooms in this mountain chalet are decorated in the classical mountain style with all the amenities. They overlook the mountains or the town, and some even have balconies.
To see prices and reviews, check booking.com
Budget | Hotel Garni Walter
Hotel Garni Walter is located just 100m from the ski slopes of Alpi di Siusi and Sellaronda, on a quieter street by the Seiser Alm gondola. It’s a family-managed hotel with a nice sun terrace.
The rooms are nicely decorated in an alpine style, some even have balconies overlooking the mountains. It’s a no-frills hotel without a wellness area, but guests have free access to the Mar Dolomit water park.
To see prices and reviews, check booking.com
Where to stay in Dolomites Italy: FAQs
For us, the best base for the Dolomites is Cortina d’Ampezzo, especially if you’re going on a shorter trip. The town is well connected and has everything, from hotels for every budget to restaurants.
2. What is the most beautiful part of the Dolomites?
The answer to the question of what is the most beautiful part of the Dolomites is just so incredibly subjective. There is something in each part for everyone. I personally like the lakes in the Eastern part and the views of the mountains in the western (Puez-Odle Nature Park and Alpe di Siusi).
3. How many days do you need for Dolomites?
At a minimum, I recommend staying in the Dolomites for 3 days, but that means either the Eastern or the Western side. Three days gives you a chance to see the main spots. If you wish to see both sides of the Dolomites, you’d need at least 4 days and stay in two different places.
If you’re considering a day trip to the Dolomites – from Venice, for example, I recommend against it. It’s just not enough time
4. Is visiting the Dolomites expensive?
The budget depends on the accommodation and if you cook for yourself or eat in restaurants the whole time.
Visiting the Dolomites doesn’t need to be that expensive. In fact, when we went to the Dolomites in April with my friend, the visit cost us around 500 euros each, including the driving from Slovakia and back, the hotel, and all the food. We did a side trip to Lake Bled in Slovenia, which added to the fuel and vignette costs.
5. Can you visit the Dolomites without hiking?
Yes, of course, and we’ve done it multiple times ourselves. When visiting the Dolomites in April, we just drove to some of the most popular spots in the Dolomites, such as Lago di Braies, Lago Misurina, and around the area. When going with my parents in November, we just had a road trip in the Dolomites, from one end to the other.
In winter, if you just want to stay in the Dolomites for sightseeing, the best places for accommodation are Dobbiaco and Cortina. If you wish to ski, check out the Val Gardena Valley and Cortina d’Ampezzo or Carrezza towns, which have a lot of ski resorts.
7. Where to stay in the Dolomites in summer?
In the summer, we personally like staying in Cortina d’Ampezzo, as the town is located close to some of the most famous and beautiful places and hikes in the Dolomites, such as Tre Cime de Lavaredo, Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park with the Lake Braies as the biggest gem, lakes Sorapis, Landro, Dobbiaco, Misurina… I could go on and on
8. Where to stay in the Dolomites without a car?
If you don’t have a car, stay in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Ortisei in Val Gardena, or Corvara in Alta Badia. These towns have great public transport connections both inside and outside of the Dolomites, for example, to the airports in Venice.
9. Where to stay in the Dolomites with a car?
Basically, stay where you want to and just make sure that there’s parking available by the hotel.
If you have a car, the whole Dolomites are open to you. You don’t have to stay in specific towns, as with a car, you’ll have quite easy access to everything, including restaurants and shops, as well as sightseeing spots.
10. Where is the best base for day hiking in the Dolomites?
For hiking in the Eastern Dolomites, the best base is Cortina d’Ampezzo. For the Western – Val Gardena. Cortina gives you access to such famous hikes as the Tre Cime, Lago Sorapis, and Croda da Lago. Val Gardena, on the other hand, lets you hike the Alpe di Siusi meadows circuit, Seceda Ridge, and Sassolungo circuit.
11. Where to stay in the Dolomites for skiing?
Again, the best places to stay in the Dolomites for skiing are Cortina d’Ampezzo and Val Gardena. Staying in Cortina will mean driving to the ski lifts (most hotels offer transfers, though), but in Val Gardena, there are a lot of ski-in/ski-out hotels available. Carrezza has ski-in/ski-out hotels with lifts right by the hotel doors.
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Hi, I’m 80 and fit and want to try a little snowshoeing and fairly easy hikes and sightseeing the best of the Dolomites with my daughter. It looks like Cortina or Badia are best locations and April appeals because I love the snow and sunshine. Would you agree or suggest anything else. Thanks.
Hi Roger,
I apologize for the late reply. This was a guest post, so not my main blog anymore.
April might mean there is no snow anymore at the lower altitudes, so if you’d like to snowshoe, maybe look into March. Cortina is a good place for some of the best views, but if you’d like the snowshoeing, I know that Carezza hotel Alpenrose offers snowshoe tours.
Enjoy your trip!
Kristine