Val Gardena
Val Gardena is a stunning South Tyrolean valley with cable cars, alpine meadows, ancient Ladin villages, and world-class hiking and skiing for families.
0 guides · The Dolomites & Trentino-Alto AdigeExplore →
🇮🇹The Dolomites
Discover the Dolomites with your family: UNESCO alpine landscapes, easy lake walks, cable cars, WWI history, and hearty mountain food across South Tyrol and Trentino.
Your family guide
A family adventure in the Dolomites: mountains, culture, and magic all at once
“Where the peaks glow pink at sunrise and every valley feels like a storybook.”
— San & Jo
The Dolomites are unlike anywhere else in Italy. These UNESCO World Heritage mountains in northeastern Italy sit at a crossroads of Italian, Austrian, and German culture, so your family gets dramatic alpine scenery alongside hearty bread dumplings, trilingual trail signs, and mountain huts serving strudel with a view. It is the kind of place that surprises you at every turn.
What makes the Dolomites so good for families is the sheer variety. One morning you can row a wooden boat across an emerald lake while marmots whistle from the rocks above. The next afternoon you can ride a cable car to WWI tunnels carved into the mountainside. There are easy meadow walks for little legs, via ferrata routes for adventurous teens, and rifugios along every trail where you can stop for canederli and a hot chocolate.
Most families base themselves in Cortina d'Ampezzo or Val Gardena and explore outward from there. Plan for at least five days to do the region justice without rushing. Come in summer for hiking and lake walks, or in winter for world-class skiing across the Dolomiti Superski area. Either way, the mountains will leave your whole family speechless.
South Tyrol and TrentinoNortheastern Italy
June to SeptemberBest season for hiking
Mid-range to premiumPrice level
Best things to do
Why we love the Dolomites for families
Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop
The three jagged peaks rising from the plateau are the Dolomites' most iconic image, and the good news is the loop trail is accessible for most families. The 6 to 11km circuit passes rifugios with hot food and offers 360-degree panoramic views the whole way round. Start early to beat the crowds and catch the best light on the rock faces.
Start before 8am for a quieter trail and better parking
4-5 hours
Lago di Braies at sunrise
This emerald-green lake ringed by dramatic peaks is one of the most beautiful spots in the Alps. The easy 1 to 2 hour lake circuit works well for all ages, and rowing boats are available to hire for a closer look at the reflections. Arrive at sunrise for golden light and far fewer people than the midday rush.
Arrive before 7am in peak summer to get a parking spot
1-2 hours (half-day with hikes)
Alpe di Siusi cable car and meadow walks
Europe's largest high-alpine meadow is a dream for families with younger children. The cable car from Ortisei gets you up quickly, and once you are there the flat green pastures with wooden huts and mountain backdrops feel almost unreal. Pack a picnic or stop at a rifugio for lunch and let the kids run free.
Private cars are restricted on Alpe di Siusi in summer, so use the cable car or shuttle bus
Half-day to full day
Lagazuoi cable car and WWI tunnels
Ride the cable car to the top of Lagazuoi and explore the network of WWI mountain tunnels carved directly into the rock by soldiers over a century ago. The panoramic views from the summit are extraordinary, and the history makes this a genuinely memorable experience for older children and teens. There is a rifugio at the top for warm drinks and food.
Bring a torch for the tunnels and wear layers as it gets cold at the summit
2-3 hours
Watch the enrosadira alpenglow
At sunrise and sunset the Dolomite peaks turn extraordinary shades of pink, orange, and red in a phenomenon locals call enrosadira. You do not need to hike anywhere special to see it. Simply find an open spot with a view of the peaks and wait. It is one of those moments your family will talk about for years.
The light show lasts only a few minutes, so be in position 10 minutes before sunrise or sunset
30 minutes
Drive the Grande Strada delle Dolomiti
The Great Dolomites Road is a scenic driving route connecting the key valleys and mountain passes. It is a brilliant way to cover ground with younger children who need rest time between activities, and the views through the windscreen are genuinely spectacular. Stop at Lago di Carezza for a short walk to one of the most photogenic lakes in the region.
Lago di Carezza gets very busy at midday, so stop early in the morning or late afternoon
Full day
Wildlife spotting on the alpine meadows
The Dolomites are home to chamois, ibex, red deer, golden eagles, and marmots. Marmots are the easiest to spot and children absolutely love hearing their high-pitched whistle. Head to Alpe di Siusi or the meadows around Val di Funes early in the morning for the best chance of seeing wildlife before the day warms up.
Marmots are most active in the early morning near rocky slopes and meadow edges
1-2 hours
Our verdict
How the Dolomites scores for families
Kids
A wide range of activities from easy lake walks and cable car rides to wildlife spotting makes this a brilliant destination for families. Trails are well-marked and rifugios provide regular rest and food stops.
Culture
The blend of Italian, Austrian, and Ladin culture is genuinely fascinating and unlike anywhere else in Italy. WWI history, trilingual villages, and traditional rifugio culture add real depth to a visit.
Food
Hearty mountain food that children tend to love: bread dumplings, pasta, polenta, and apple strudel. Rifugios along trails mean you are never far from a warm meal.
Nature
UNESCO World Heritage landscapes, turquoise lakes, and wildlife at every turn. The Dolomites are among the most dramatic mountain environments in the world.
Budget
The Dolomites sit firmly in the mid-range to premium bracket. Accommodation, rifugio meals, and cable cars add up quickly. Book early and consider self-catering to keep costs manageable.
Planning your visit
How long should you stay in the Dolomites?
3
3 days
Quick taste
Tre Cime loop, Lago di Braies, and one cable car ride. You will scratch the surface but leave wanting more.
sweet spot
6
6 days
Sweet spot
Enough time to explore the key lakes, meadows, and valleys without rushing. Most families find this the ideal length for a proper Dolomites experience.
10
10 days
Deep dive
Cover the full region including Marmolada, Val di Funes, the Vajolet Towers, and multiple day hikes at a genuinely relaxed pace.
Fun facts
Things about the Dolomites your kids will remember
Named after a French geologist
The Dolomites are named after Déodat de Dolomieu, a French geologist who first described the unusual pale rock that gives these mountains their distinctive luminous colour. Next time you see the peaks glowing at sunset, you can thank Monsieur Dolomieu.
The mountains turn pink and red
At sunrise and sunset the Dolomite peaks glow in shades of pink, orange, and red in a phenomenon called enrosadira, or alpenglow. It happens because of the unique mineral composition of the rock. Local Ladin legend says the mountains are wrapped in moonlight by a dwarf king to protect them.
A whole war was fought inside the mountains
During World War I, soldiers from Italy and Austria-Hungary carved hundreds of kilometres of tunnels directly into the Dolomite rock and fought battles at altitudes above 3,000 metres. You can still walk through some of these tunnels today at Lagazuoi and Marmolada.
Taste the Dolomites
What to eat with your family in the Dolomites
Canederli (Knödel)
Kids love itRifugio Lagazuoi, Cortina d'Ampezzo
Bread dumplings made with speck, cheese, or spinach and served in broth or as a trio on a plate. These are the most iconic dish of the Dolomites and a firm favourite with children. Filling, warming, and found on almost every rifugio menu.
Schlutzkrapfen (Mezzelune)
Safe choiceGasthof Tschötscherhof, Castelrotto
Half-moon ravioli filled with spinach or pumpkin and typically served with melted butter and sage. A gentler, more delicate pasta dish that works brilliantly for children who are not yet adventurous eaters. A staple of South Tyrol cooking.
Polenta with local cheese
Local favouriteRistorante El Brite de Larieto, Cortina d'Ampezzo
Thick polenta served with schiz, a local melting cheese, or alongside venison and pastin sausage. A proper mountain comfort dish that has been feeding families in these valleys for centuries. The version with cheese is a reliable hit with younger children.
Apple Strudel
Daily treatBäckerei Konditorei Strobl, Ortisei
Thin pastry wrapped around spiced apple filling, served warm with vanilla cream or ice cream. The Austrian heritage of the region means strudel here is taken very seriously. You will find it in every rifugio and bakery, and it is the perfect reward after a long hike.
Speck and local cheese board
Must tryRifugio Scotoni, Armentarola
South Tyrolean speck is a smoked and cured ham with a flavour unlike any other prosciutto in Italy. Served on a wooden board with local cheeses, pickles, and rye bread, it makes an easy and delicious lunch at any rifugio. Even children who claim not to like ham tend to make an exception for speck.
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