Getting there by car
Two motorway corridors lead to the Dolomites. From the west and the Brenner Pass, the A22 del Brennero (Modena–Brennero, also called the Autobrennero) runs up the Adige valley through Trento, Bolzano and Bressanone (Brixen): useful exits are Bolzano Nord-Val d'Ega/Bozen Nord-Eggental for the central valleys and Bressanone-Val Pusteria/Brixen-Pustertal for South Tyrol and the Pusteria valley. From the south-east, the A27 Venezia–Belluno ends near Pian di Vedoia, where you join the SS51 di Alemagna up the Cadore and the Boite valley to Cortina d'Ampezzo.
Once off the motorway you travel on state and provincial roads (the various SS and SP) up the valleys, often full of hairpin bends. They are scenic but slow, so plan generous times. From mid-November to mid-April winter equipment is required (see below), and in high season the approaches to the busiest resorts and passes can be congested in the late morning and late afternoon.
Getting there by train
The backbone is the Brenner railway (Verona–Innsbruck), operated by Trenitalia and ÖBB, with stops at Trento, Bolzano, Bressanone (Brixen) and Fortezza (Franzensfeste). At Fortezza the Val Pusteria line branches off towards the east, with stations at Brunico (Bruneck), Monguelfo, Dobbiaco (Toblach) and San Candido (Innichen): trains here are run by Trenitalia and SAD. The Veneto side is served by the line to Calalzo di Cadore (the Calalzo-Pieve di Cadore-Cortina station), the nearest railhead to Cortina and Auronzo.
No railway climbs right into the high valleys, so the train almost always ends with a bus leg. The table below maps each area to its nearest station and airport. For timetables and fares check Trenitalia, ÖBB and SAD directly, as services change with the season.
| Area | Nearest station | Handiest airport |
|---|---|---|
| Cortina, Cadore, Auronzo | Calalzo di Cadore | Venice / Treviso |
| Val Pusteria, Dobbiaco, Tre Cime | Dobbiaco / San Candido | Venice / Innsbruck |
| Val Badia, Val Gardena | Bressanone / Brunico | Bolzano / Innsbruck |
| Val di Fassa, Val di Fiemme | Bolzano / Trento | Verona / Bolzano |
Airports and transfers
There is no airport in the heart of the Dolomites, so you pick the gateway closest to your valley. Rough drive times: Venice Marco Polo and Treviso are about 1h45–2h from Cortina; Verona is the handiest for Trentino and the western valleys; Innsbruck (Austria) is quick for South Tyrol and the Pusteria from central Europe; Bolzano has a small airport in the middle of the region. Milan and Munich work as far-away options with more flight choice.
From the airports you can continue by shuttle: Cortina Express and the ATVO lines link Venice and Treviso airports to Cortina, while private transfer companies cover Innsbruck and the South Tyrolean valleys. Booking the transfer ahead of busy weekends is wise, especially in the ski season.
Moving between the valleys
The valleys are linked to one another by the great mountain passes, the natural gateways that connect one side of the Dolomites to the next. Keep in mind that distances feel longer than they look on the map: the winding roads turn even short hops into slow, scenic drives, and two valleys that seem close as the crow flies may be an hour apart over a pass. Build this into your plans and resist the temptation to base yourself in one valley and day-trip across the whole range.
For a deeper look at the routes, altitudes and seasonal closures of the passes, see the dedicated guide to the Dolomite passes.
Getting around without a car
Each region has its own public-transport network. On the Veneto side, DolomitiBus runs urban and extra-urban lines across the province of Belluno, including Cortina, the Cadore and Auronzo, with seasonal connections to the Calalzo railway. In South Tyrol, SAD and SASA buses are part of the integrated Südtirolmobil / Alto Adige Mobilità system that ties together buses, trains and many cable cars. In Trentino, Trentino Trasporti covers the valleys. Flixbus and similar coaches link the main towns to cities and airports.
Many resorts hand guests a guest or mobility card that includes local transport, so you can leave the car at the hotel. In South Tyrol the Alto Adige Guest Pass and the Mobilcard cover buses, regional trains and many cable cars across the province; in Trentino the Trentino Guest Card includes Trentino Trasporti buses and provincial regional trains. They are usually free with your stay at participating properties, which makes car-free travel both easy and cheap in the busier valleys.
Traffic limits, car-free days and parking
In summer the most famous passes suffer heavy traffic, and there are growing initiatives to regulate it. Several pass roads have days or time windows that are closed or restricted, and signature cycling events take over the asphalt entirely: on the Sellaronda Bike Day the four Sella passes (Sella, Gardena, Pordoi and Campolongo) are closed to motor traffic for a whole day, and other Dolomites bike days and the Maratona dles Dolomites close further passes. Always check the seasonal calendar and, on those dates, use buses or shuttles.
In the resort centres parking is limited and partly regulated. Cortina d'Ampezzo has a restricted-traffic zone (ZTL) in the centre and paid parking; it is best to leave the car in the signposted car parks and walk or use local buses. The same applies to many village centres in South Tyrol and Trentino during peak weeks.
Winter driving
In winter the mountain roads can be snowy and icy, so winter equipment is compulsory. In Trentino-South Tyrol, from 15 November to 15 April you must carry winter tyres or snow chains on state and provincial roads and on the A22 del Brennero motorway, regardless of the weather. On the Veneto side the obligation applies when road signs require it during snow or ice. Carry chains you know how to fit, allow extra time after snowfall, and check road and pass status before setting off, as high passes can close in winter.