Last updated July 11, 2026
Where to Stay in the Dolomites
The 2026 lodging guide for hiking the Italian Dolomites. Ten hiker-vetted places to stay right beside the region’s best trails — Cortina d’Ampezzo for Tre Cime, Ortisei for Seceda, the Alpe di Siusi meadows, the turquoise northern lakes, and rifugi on the Alta Via 1 — from grand spa hotels to mountain huts.
Where Should You Base Yourself?
The Dolomites are hiked area by area, with a superb rifugio hut network for the multi-day treks, so where you stay depends on which peaks you’re walking below. For Tre Cime, the Cinque Torri and Lagazuoi, base in Cortina d’Ampezzo. For Seceda and the Odle, stay in Ortisei in Val Gardena. For the meadows and Sassolungo, sleep up on the car-free Alpe di Siusi. For the northern lakes and the start of the Alta Via 1, base at Lago di Braies or Dobbiaco. And on the long treks, sleep in the rifugi themselves. Below are 10 hiker-vetted stays across every budget.
📑 Contents
Trip Planning Overview
Planning where to stay in the Dolomites starts with the area. Each of the areas in our best hikes in the Dolomites guide has a natural valley base — usually a resort town with cable-car access to the trails — while the multi-day Alte Vie (high routes) are walked hut-to-hut, sleeping in rifugi along the way. The table below maps area to base; most week-long Dolomites trips combine two or three of them, plus at least one night in a hut.
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Explore Travel Shop on Expedia →| Area | Base | Typical Stay | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tre Cime · Cinque Torri · Lagazuoi | Cortina d’Ampezzo | 2-3 nights | Iconic day hikes, WWI history |
| Seceda · Odle · Adolf Munkel | Ortisei / Selva (Val Gardena) | 2-3 nights | Ridgelines, cable-car access |
| Alpe di Siusi · Sassolungo | Alpe di Siusi (on the plateau) | 1-2 nights | Meadow walks, quiet mornings |
| Northern lakes · Alta Via 1 start | Braies / Dobbiaco (Toblach) | 1-2 nights | Lago di Braies, trek start |
| Alte Vie (multi-day) | Rifugi along the route | 8-12 nights (AV1) | Hut-to-hut trekking |
2 nights Cortina d’Ampezzo (Tre Cime loop, Cinque Torri & Lagazuoi tunnels) → 2 nights Ortisei / Val Gardena (Seceda ridgeline, Adolf Munkel Way) → 1 night up on the Alpe di Siusi (meadow walks at dawn) → 1 night at Lago di Braies (the lake at first light) → 1 rifugio night on a high stage such as Lagazuoi. Reverse or trim to taste — and for the full experience, string the huts together on the Alta Via 1 instead.
🗻 Cortina — Tre Cime & Lagazuoi
The Olympic town of Cortina d’Ampezzo — co-host of the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics — is the natural base for the eastern Dolomites. From here you can reach the Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop, the WWI open-air museum of the Cinque Torri, and the tunnels of Lagazuoi, plus the Cadini di Misurina overlook. It’s a lively, upscale town with buses to the trailheads and cable cars — pricey, but the anchor of the range.
Grand Hotel Savoia Cortina
📍 Central Cortina d’Ampezzo · Radisson Collection landmark hotel
The Grand Hotel Savoia is a true Cortina landmark — a historic grand hotel given a modern, elegant refresh, with a spa, refined dining, and a lively bar. It sits right in the heart of town, so the shops, cafés, and bus links to the trailheads are on the doorstep.
It’s the polished way to base yourself for the eastern Dolomites: hike Tre Cime, the Cinque Torri, or Lagazuoi by day and return to real comfort and a memorable dinner. The standout luxury choice in the range’s most famous town.
B&B Alverà
📍 Ronco, Cortina d’Ampezzo · Simple central B&B
B&B Alverà is a simple, welcoming bed-and-breakfast a short walk from central Cortina, with its own parking and a bus stop nearby — a rare affordable foothold in one of the Alps’ most expensive resort towns. The owner is hands-on and quick to help.
Rooms are straightforward but comfortable and cleaned daily, and the quieter setting just out of the centre makes for a restful retreat after a long day on the trails. The sensible budget base for Tre Cime and the eastern Dolomites.
🏔 Val Gardena — Seceda & the Odle
Above the villages of Ortisei and Selva, a cable car lifts you to the famous Seceda ridgeline — the tilted grassy crest with the jagged Odle (Geisler) peaks behind, one of the most photographed scenes in the Alps. Ortisei is a beautiful, walkable town with lifts to both Seceda and the Alpe di Siusi, making Val Gardena a superb two-area base.
ADLER Spa Resort DOLOMITI
📍 Central Ortisei, Val Gardena · Landmark spa resort
ADLER Spa Resort DOLOMITI is a Val Gardena institution in the centre of Ortisei, famous for an enormous wellness world of pools and saunas. Rates typically include full board and a programme of guided hikes that take you to spots you’d struggle to find alone — a genuine highlight for guests.
With the Seceda and Alpe di Siusi cable cars a short walk away, it’s a luxurious, all-in base for the western Dolomites. Indulgent, sociable, and built around getting you onto the mountains.
Hotel Luna Mondschein
📍 Central Ortisei, Val Gardena · Family-run half-board hotel
Hotel Luna Mondschein blends the charm of a family-run inn with the service of a top hotel — spotless, cosy, and set in a garden in central Ortisei, with a warm team and a fabulous breakfast. Loyal guests return year after year for the hospitality.
The half-board dining is excellent value, and both the Seceda and Alpe di Siusi lifts are an easy walk. A characterful, mid-range base that punches above its price for hiking Val Gardena.
🌼 Alpe di Siusi — The Meadows
The Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm) is the largest high-altitude meadow in Europe — a vast rolling plateau of wildflower pasture beneath the Sassolungo and Sciliar. It’s closed to daytime traffic, which is the key to staying up here: guests at the plateau hotels can walk the trails in the golden quiet of early morning and evening, long after the day-trippers have ridden the cable car back down.
COMO Alpina Dolomites
📍 Compatsch, on the Alpe di Siusi plateau · Design wellness resort
COMO Alpina Dolomites is a sleek design-and-wellness resort set right on the car-free plateau, with trails leading straight from the door across the meadow beneath the Sassolungo. Warm, attentive service and a fine restaurant round out a genuinely special mountain stay.
Waking up on the Alpe di Siusi itself — with the meadow to yourself before the first cable car arrives — is the whole reason to book up here. The premium way to hike the largest alpine meadow in Europe.
Hotel Seiser Alm Urthaler
📍 Compatsch, Alpe di Siusi · All-timber wellness hotel
Hotel Seiser Alm Urthaler is a striking all-timber wellness hotel high on the plateau, praised for exceptional service, superb half-board meals, and a calming spa and pool — a relaxed, comfortable place to unwind after a day on the meadow trails.
Like the other plateau hotels, its real advantage is location: step out onto the Seiser Alm’s gentle, wide-open trails in the quiet hours. A slightly softer price than the marquee resorts, with the same car-free-meadow magic.
💧 The Northern Lakes & Alta Via 1
In the north of the range, Lago di Braies (Pragser Wildsee) is the Dolomites’ most famous lake — turquoise water beneath sheer walls, and the traditional start of the Alta Via 1. It’s mobbed midday in summer (timed vehicle access applies in peak season), so the trick is to stay the night. Nearby Dobbiaco (Toblach) is a well-connected valley town that makes an excellent, better-value launch pad for the lakes, Tre Cime, and the trek.
Hotel Lago di Braies
📍 On the shore of Lago di Braies · Historic lakeside hotel
Hotel Lago di Braies is the historic hotel right on the shore of the Dolomites’ most photographed lake. Staying here is the whole point: you get the still, empty lake to yourself at dawn and dusk, after the day crowds and timed-access gates have gone, with the walls of Croda del Becco mirrored in the water.
Lake-view rooms, a good half-board kitchen, and easy access to the shore loop and the climbs into the Fanes park above make it a memorable base — and the classic first (or last) night of the Alta Via 1.
Hotel Laurin’s
📍 Dobbiaco (Toblach) · Trek-launch valley hotel
Hotel Laurin’s is a cosy, freshly renovated hotel in Dobbiaco, a favourite launch point for the Alta Via 1 and the northern Dolomites. Hikers rave about the food and the friendly service — one family called it the perfect night before starting the trek.
A spa for tired legs, free bikes, and the regional bus pass included with your stay make it a practical, well-connected base for the lakes and Tre Cime, at gentler prices than the resort towns. Excellent value in the north.
⛰ On the Trail — Rifugi
The rifugi — staffed mountain huts serving hot meals and offering dorm or small-room lodging — aren’t just shelter in the Dolomites; they’re the whole way of hiking the high routes. They make light-pack, hut-to-hut trekking on the Alte Vie possible, open roughly mid-June to late September, and should be booked ahead in summer. Bring a sleeping-bag liner, cash for extras, and earplugs for the dorms.
Rifugio Lagazuoi
📍 Monte Lagazuoi, 2,752 m · On the Alta Via 1
Rifugio Lagazuoi sits at 2,752 m with what many consider the finest view in the Dolomites — a 360° panorama of pale peaks, right above the WWI tunnels you can walk down. It’s a highlight overnight on the Alta Via 1, reachable by cable car if you’re not walking in.
Renovated private rooms and dorms, hot showers by token, and a busy dining room make for a comfortable hut night by mountain standards — and the sunset and sunrise from up here are unforgettable. Book well ahead for summer, and bring cash and a liner.
Reserve directly with the rifugio — hut nights aren’t bookable through hotel sites.
Rifugio Auronzo
📍 Forcella Longeres, foot of Tre Cime · On the Tre Cime loop
Rifugio Auronzo sits at 2,320 m at the very foot of Tre Cime di Lavaredo and the start of the classic loop, reached by the toll road. Staying here — or at nearby Rifugio Locatelli on the circuit — lets you walk beneath the three towers at first light, before the day crowds arrive.
The rooms are basic and it’s busy, but the half board is generous and the location is unbeatable for a sunrise start on the Dolomites’ signature hike. A functional, well-placed hut for the range’s most iconic day.
Reserve directly with the rifugio — hut nights aren’t bookable through hotel sites.
How to Choose Your Stay
Three factors decide where you book in the Dolomites:
- Proximity to the trails. Base in the town or plateau that serves the peaks you want — Cortina for Tre Cime, Ortisei for Seceda, the Alpe di Siusi for the meadows. Staying on the car-free plateau or at Lago di Braies buys you the quiet early-morning trails the day-trippers never see.
- The rifugio experience. At least one hut night — with a hot meal, a bunk, and a sunset above the clouds — is part of hiking the Dolomites. Rifugio Lagazuoi is the showpiece; any hut on the Alta Via 1 delivers the magic.
- Budget and board. The Dolomites are pricey. Rifugi are the best value on the trail; B&Bs and garni guesthouses cover the budget end in the valleys; and many hotels are priced per person with excellent half board included, which is good value where few other restaurants are near.
Booking Strategy & Timing
The Dolomites’ best lodging is limited and books out, so plan ahead:
- Rifugi on the Alta Via 1 and at Tre Cime: reserve summer hut nights as early as you can, directly with each hut.
- Hotel Lago di Braies: the only lakeside hotel and in huge demand — book far ahead to have the lake at dawn.
- Alpe di Siusi plateau hotels: limited rooms up on the car-free meadow; they fill in the July–August peak.
- Cortina in 2026: Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics demand adds pressure around Cortina — book earlier than usual. Peak summer weeks sell out months ahead; carry some cash, as rifugi and small B&Bs may be cash-only for extras.
For your valley hotels, comparing live prices and availability is easiest in one place — the Global Summit Guide Travel Shop on Expedia covers the Dolomites and every region we hike.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where should I stay to hike in the Dolomites?
Base yourself near each area. Cortina d’Ampezzo is the hub for Tre Cime, the Cinque Torri, and Lagazuoi. Ortisei and Selva in Val Gardena serve Seceda and the Odle. Stay on the Alpe di Siusi plateau for the meadows and Sassolungo. Braies or Dobbiaco suit the northern lakes and the Alta Via 1 start. On the multi-day treks you sleep in rifugi along the route.
What is a rifugio, and should I stay in one?
A rifugio is a staffed mountain hut serving hot meals with dorm or small-room lodging, run by the CAI or private owners. They make light-pack, hut-to-hut trekking on the Alte Vie possible. Staying in at least one, such as Rifugio Lagazuoi, is quintessential Dolomites hiking. Bring a sleeping-bag liner, cash, and earplugs, and book ahead in summer.
How much does accommodation cost in the Dolomites?
The Dolomites are a premium destination. Rifugi are the affordable option at roughly €60–100 per person with half board; valley three-star hotels and B&Bs about €100–200; four-star half-board hotels €200–400; and luxury spa resorts and lakeside landmarks €400 and up. Many hotels are priced per person with half board. Verify current rates when booking.
Do I need to book Dolomites accommodation in advance?
Yes. Valley hotels in Cortina, Ortisei, and on the Alpe di Siusi fill through July–August, the lakeside Hotel Lago di Braies books out far ahead, and the rifugi on the Alta Via 1 and at Tre Cime must be reserved for summer nights. Book especially early for peak summer and for any hut nights; Milano-Cortina 2026 adds demand around Cortina.
Where should I stay for Tre Cime di Lavaredo?
Cortina d’Ampezzo and Dobbiaco (Toblach) are the main hotel bases for Tre Cime, both a drive from the trailhead. To start the loop at sunrise before the crowds, stay right at the trailhead in Rifugio Auronzo (reached by the toll road) or at a rifugio on the circuit itself, such as Rifugio Locatelli. Book hut nights well ahead for summer.
Can you stay on the Alta Via 1?
Yes — the Alta Via 1 is walked hut-to-hut, sleeping in a chain of rifugi from Lago di Braies toward Belluno over roughly 8–12 days. You carry a daypack while the huts provide a bunk and hot meals. Rifugio Lagazuoi, high above the WWI tunnels, is one of the most spectacular overnights. Book each hut in advance for summer.
Should I stay on the Alpe di Siusi itself?
If you can, yes. The Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm) is closed to daytime traffic, so staying at a plateau hotel — like COMO Alpina Dolomites or Hotel Seiser Alm Urthaler — lets you walk the trails in the quiet early morning and evening after the day visitors leave. The alternative is to base in Ortisei or Castelrotto below and ride the cable car up for the day.
Are there budget options in the Dolomites?
Yes, though the region is pricey. The rifugi are the best value, with a bunk and half board on the trail for roughly €60–100 per person. In the valleys, B&Bs and garni guesthouses in and around Cortina, Ortisei, and Dobbiaco offer the most affordable rooms, often with parking, breakfast, and hiker-friendly extras like bus passes and trail advice.
Methodology + Editorial Standards
How This Guide Was Built
Property Selection
The ten properties were selected to cover the areas in our best hikes in the Dolomites guide across four price tiers, prioritising proximity to trailheads, cable cars, and rifugio access, plus hiker-relevant features (half-board dining, plateau or lakeside location, guided hikes, bus passes). Every property was verified as real and currently operating by name and location; details reflect their published descriptions and aggregated guest reviews.
Editorial Approach
This is a research-based guide, consistent with our companion Dolomites hiking hub, with safety notes reviewed by Dawson Ludlow. We have not personally stayed at every property listed; recommendations reflect location, fit for hikers, and review consensus rather than paid placement. Editorial selections are independent of Expedia commission rates.
How Lodging Is Booked
Valley hotels in Cortina, Ortisei, on the Alpe di Siusi, at Braies, and in Dobbiaco are bookable online and through the Global Summit Guide Travel Shop on Expedia. Rifugi (Lagazuoi, Auronzo) are reserved directly with the hut or via CAI/booking portals and are often cash-only for extras — we list vetted picks so you can reserve them for your trek nights.
Pricing & Currency
Prices are approximate per-night figures in USD for planning only and vary widely by season, room type, and whether meals are included (many hotels price per person with half board; rifugi price per person with half board). Confirm live rates and availability before booking.
Affiliate Disclosure
This page contains Expedia affiliate links. If you book through them, Global Summit Guide may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure.
About the Author
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Global Summit Guide is an independent mountaineering resource founded in 2026. The team combines first-hand trekking and climbing experience with in-depth research and professional health and nutrition review to help climbers choose objectives, prepare properly, and stay safe.
Health, altitude, and nutrition content is reviewed by Taylor Ludlow (Registered Nurse) and Brigg Hoopes (Nutritionist).
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