Two hikes in the Dolomites not to be missed

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Updated Jan 19, 2026. Passo Giau and Lago di Braies are two best hikes in the Dolomites, each worthy of a day trip from Cortina Italy. Cortina, of course is one of the sites for the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympic Games, and the former site of the 1956 Winter Olympic Games, first awarded in 1944. To say the area is steeped in Olympic history is an understatement.

High in the northern Italian Alps, surrounded by endless rolling green valleys, turquoise lakes, and glaciers you’ll find the Italian Dolomites. Spanning over 142,000 hectares, the Dolomites were named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2009 for not only their beauty, but their unique composition and earth-science value. The jagged limestone formations of the Dolomites peaks, offer a small glimpse into the marine life of the Triassic period, 250 million years ago. The characteristic rock consists of fossilized coral reefs formed by organisms and sedimentary matter at the bottom of the ocean during that time. While it seems impossible to imagine such towering peaks, 18 of which rise over 3,000 meters, at once in the depths of the ocean, it is undeniable that the rock and formations are different from any other mountainous area you have likely hiked in the past.

Hikes in the Dolomites

There are two best hikes in the Dolomites not to be missed. To be fair, I’m sure there are many more in this region of Italy which are no doubt fabulous, but during a two day stay in the area of Cortina, these should be on your list: Lago di Braies, and Passo Giau. (We hiked independently, but if you prefer an organized group out of Cortina, be sure to check out options through get your guide. They offer day trip and multi-day hike options)

Lago di Braies – first of two recommended hikes in the dolomites

Lago di Braies is one of those places that appears to have been plucked from a fairy tale postcard. It should definitely be on your best hikes in the Dolomites list! It’s quite possibly one of the most stunning lakes you will ever cast eyes on.

The hike around the lake would be more aptly described as a pleasant walk than a strenuous hike. With little elevation gain, and covering approximately 5km, it can be done in a couple hours at a leisurely pace, stopping to take in the views along the way. We did this hike while spending the afternoon by the lake, but you could easily make the day of it.

We approached the area from the San Candido valley, having left Heiligenblut in the morning. But you could also easily stay in Cortina, and take SS51 towards Dovviaco, go left on SS48, and then follow signs for Pragser Wildsee (the German name for the area) / Lago di Braies. There are several paid parking lots, and to access the trail, simply walk past the Hotel Lago di Braies, look left to the lake, and take your pick of walking the trail clockwise or counter clockwise. Trail signs around the lake are easily visible and well-marked.

Passo Giau – second recommended hike in the dolomites

Passo Giau is a stunning Dolomite mountain pass near Cortina. The location is part of the breathtaking backdrop for the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics Feb 6-22, 2026. Women’s alpine skiing is taking place at the Tofane Alpine Ski Centre, named after one of the most dramatic mountain groups in the eastern Dolomites. If you have been inspired by the scenery from the winter games, this is what to expect while hiking in the summer and shoulder seasons.

Passo di Giau is definitely the more challenging of these two best hikes in the Dolomites. This hike traverses a high mountain pass (elevation 2236 meters) in the Dolomites, located in the province of Belluno, Italy. The Passo Giau circular route is a true hiking adventure at altitude.

The pass sits above the town of Cortina, the site of the 1956 Winter Olympics. Provincial Road 638 passes over Passo Giau, and is about 14km of wildly twisting switch backs from the town center. It is serviced by bus from Cortina d’Ampezzo and Selva di Cadore. If you’re taking a car, it’s best to arrive early in the day since parking becomes limited as the day goes on. Passo Giau is one of the known best hikes in the Dolomites. If you had to choose only one classic day hike, make it this one.

The Passo Giau once marked the boundary between the Republic of Venice and the Austrian Empire. The old border marker is still visible at the pass.

Routes are well marked out of the parking lot area. We chose to do a circular route around the mountain peak counter clock wise, which took us about 5 hours. This was covered at a decent pace by two reasonably fit people. If you wanted to doddle, or allow for a slower pace, I would suggest adding an hour to your plans.

Additional tips

Stay to the right side of the peak initially. The first section twists among the rocks but soon it turns into a good path that leads under the cliffs. Initially there’s little altitude gain along this path, but before the half way point at Fedare-Forcella Nuvolao ski resort, definitely prepare for lots of ups and downs, and switch backs on the uphill traverse. We did this hike on July 26, in what you would consider peak season, and we were literally one of the few pairs on it – at least within our site line.

The chalet offers a scenic rest, as well as bathroom stop, but be sure to bring your own water or purchase a refill there. Water on tap is not potable. The return to the parking lot was via the other side of the peak. This trail isn’t as well marked and steep at points, with a few areas requiring a scramble across fallen rocks and unstable shale. It could get tricky if wet, and even in the dry, we danced over parts that moved beneath our feet at pitch.

Precautions

Even though we got there by 10 am and completed the hike in 5 hours during a warm summer day, we could definitely feel the cooling air settling in by later in the afternoon. Packing a warm jacket, or rain gear for a change in weather would be advisable.

Camping options

We staged both of these hikes while staying in Cortina. While I’m not sure I’d recommend camping to anyone else, it was mostly due to our lack of good gear that contributed to this.

The Olympia camp site was in a lovely location, outside of town and by a river. Amenities were excellent, right down to hot showers and the licensed restaurant with great food and a mountain view. It was however a bit like recreating with the masses, with sites very close to each other, and most had more luxurious set ups then our tent.

Even among the tenting crowd, we were minimally prepared – a light weight sleeping bag and fleece blanket, and two half sized yoga mats (I was definitely missing my MEC inflatable Therm-a-Rest camping mat by 2am). It’s not the gear we would have camped with in Canada for sure, but we were keeping things light and compact, unsure if we would even camp at all during our time in Europe.

There are more luxurious, and likely pricier options to stay in Cortina for sure, and the bed would no doubt be welcome after a day hiking Passo Giau. Check out the accommodations map at the bottom of this post for rental options in Cortina.

Village of Cortina

The village of Cortina is a quaint Italian ski, bike and hike outdoor adventure town worth spending some time in. Originally awarded the 1944 Winter Olympics, WWII changed that, and the city finally hosted the games in 1956. Cortina is a two time Olympic city though, as host of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. in the 2026 Winter Games, Cortina will be host to sliding sports like bobsled, luge and skeleton at the new Cortina Sliding Center, built on the grounds of the historic track used in 1956. For movie trivia fans, this was the track featured in the opening sequence of the 1981 James Bond movie, For Your Eyes Only. It’s the scene where Bond was chased in a downhill ski sequence that ended with him skiing through the bobsled track! Watch it again here. Cortina is also host to curling events in 2026, at the Cortina Curling Olympic Stadium – curiously the same location that hosted many of the indoor events in 1956.

If you stop to look around, be on the lookout for the parking enforcement though, and feed the meter. They are brutally quick. Women dressed more like flight attendants, wearing high heels, up dos and make up, are the traffic officers issuing tickets. Only in Italy.

Guide books

Lonely Planet Italy, available through Chapters/Indigo and Amazon is a great place to start. Short Walks in the Dolomites is another good one. It contains 50 walks varying in length from a short stroll to a full day adventure. Walking in the Dolomites features 25 multi-day routes. And Trekking in the Dolomites features six of the Alta Via long-distance walking routes. If you prefer the safety of an organized group, check out single day and multi-day hike options through get your guide. Use Cortina as the reference point in your search.

Accommodations for the Best Hikes in the Dolomites

There are many places available to rent in Cortina, or slightly out of town if that is your preference. Check out the map below to begin your search for options.

The style of accommodation will vary, and as with many European places, you may need to redefine small – as quaint, street noise – as conveniently centrally located, and stairs instead of an elevator – as exercise. Embrace it all as part of an amazing experience.

Flights & car rentals

If you’re flying directly to the area, Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) is the most direct for international visitors. From there, direct bus service to Cortina is about two hours. Renting a car is a solid option though if you plan to tour other areas in the region. Innsbruck would be a regional alternative, since this area of Italy is quite close to the Austrian border.

Organized tours

If you’re looking to visit the Dolomites and Cortina areas, and venturing from Venice, there are some great day trips in this link. The Lake Braise and Cortina day trip would take you to areas outlined in this article. There’s also a snowmobile safari and other Dolomite Mountain day trip options in these small group tours.

For this particular trip, we booked a one way car rental, which we picked up in Prague, Czech Republic and dropped off in Venice, Italy. The key to keeping the rental reasonable was getting the car from the Prague train station rental depot, rather than the airport which charges a premium – especially on a one-way rental! It’s worth shopping around and comparing prices for sure! And if you make it to Prague, be sure to check out this humorous post about joining one of the pub crawls there with my daughter – Mom Joins Pragues Mother of all Pub Crawls.

More Mother-daughter travel inspiration

Adventures in Prague, Czech Republic – Mom joins Prague’s Mother of all pub crawls

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Plan a long weekend in New York City – Mother-daughter weekend in New York City

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