The Lago di Misurina is the largest natural lake in the Cadore and one of the classic images of the Dolomites. People call it the pearl of the Cadore for good reason. It sits at 1,754 metres, and its surface mirrors the spires of the Cadini di Misurina and the peaks around it, looking the part in every season. The walk around the shore is flat and only a few kilometres, easy for anyone, and you can do it at a slow pace in about an hour, past the old hotels and the lakeside cafés.
The air at Misurina has been prized since the nineteenth century for how clean it is. That's exactly why the Istituto Pio XII was built on the lakeside, the one facility in Italy dedicated to treating childhood asthma. From here the toll road climbs to the Rifugio Auronzo, the base for the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, and trails head off toward the Cadini. In winter the snow and the deep quiet only add to the pull of a place that stays one of the most photographed in the whole region.
How Lago di Misurina compares with the other lakes, and what changes from one to the next: Lakes of the Dolomites: the most beautiful ones and how to visit them.
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Swimming · Lago di Misurina
Swimming forbidden
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Frequently asked questions
Can you walk around the Lago di Misurina?
Yes. The path along the shore is flat and takes about an hour. It works for families and kids, with rest stops and cafés along the way.
Why is the air at Misurina considered especially healthy?
People have noted how clean the air is at this altitude since the nineteenth century. That's exactly why the Istituto Pio XII, a facility specialising in childhood asthma, was built on the lakeside, which made Misurina a long-standing climatic resort.