How to Spend Four Days in the Italian Dolomites

I’ve had the great pleasure of traveling to every region in Italy, but it’s Trentino — the area home to the Italian Dolomites — that keeps me coming back time and again.

I was recently there for the True Dolomites travel trade show, and I was humbly reminded that the Dolomites are far different from the rest of the country. Because this part of Italy was under the Austro-Hungarian Empire until 1919, the region has a culturally unique atmosphere, as well as an Austrian feel. Set against the backdrop of massive snowcapped peaks, Trentino offers a beautiful setting for a few days of history, adventure and luxury. 

Plus, the region offers a surefire way to beat the crowds.

"According to available tourism data, approximately 4.5 million Americans visit Italy annually, and around 2% of those travelers explore the Dolomites region,” said Luigi De Santis, founder and managing director of True Event.

So, if clients have four days to spare and want to get out of the hustle and bustle of Italy’s more frequented regions, send them to the Dolomites for a trip they’ll love. Here’s how I recommend they spend their time.

Getting There

To get to Trentino and the Italian Dolomites, travelers have a few options. Milan and Venice are the two nearest major cities, and from there, clients can either rent a car directly from the airport or take the train into Bolzano. Another option is flying via SkyAlps, a South Tyrolean airline launched in 2021 that has flights that connect all over the country and various parts of Europe. The airline also specializes in products from the area, such as apple juice and South Tyrolean wine.

Day One: Bolzano

Bolzano is the gateway to the Italian Dolomites, and many travelers make the critical error of skipping it entirely. The biggest attraction here is Otzi the Iceman at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology. Otzi is a preserved glacier mummy discovered by German travelers Erika and Helmut Simon while on a hike in 1991. The museum is dedicated to what scientists have learned about Otzi since the body’s discovery.

And what visit to Italy is complete without some vino? Just a 20-minute drive outside Bolzano is Kettmeir, a winery founded in 1919. Its 2.5-hour Pearls of South Tirol tour includes four tastings of Kettmeir Traditional Method sparkling wines and a charcuterie board.

As for accommodations, it doesn’t get better than Castel Hortenberg, Bolzano’s only five-star property. Set in a restored castle with some 500 years of history, the 24-room property is full of carefully curated details — from the statue of Laura Lou at the entrance serving as an ode to the traveler by artist Bruno Catalano to the exemplary outdoor botanicals. 

The spa and outdoor pool are wonderful ways to unwind, but even better are the infrared saunas inside the hotel’s Loft Suites.  Plus, clients won’t need to make any reservations in town for restaurants, because the best of Bolzano is right on-site at Le Segrete, where the menu is focused on seasonal ingredients. (There’s also a newly opened cocktail bar on property, Le Meridian, serving mixology creations alongside soundscapes from a local DJ.)

Days Two and Three: Alta Badia

Alta Badia is the umbrella valley of some of the Dolomites’ best villages, especially if being outdoors is the goal. The beauty of Alta Badia is that clients can visit year-round and find plenty to do outside. In the warmer months, they can enjoy hikes in the mountains of Gherdenacia (also known as Gardenacia) and Sassongher.  Alta Badia is in the heart of the Dolomiti Superski region, so come winter, travelers can head to one of the area’s 53 ski lifts.

As if the outdoors isn’t reason enough to visit Alta Badia, the area is home to one of the newest luxury hotels in the country: Aman Rosa Alpina. Set in San Cassiano and a seamless mesh of wellness and adventure, the five-star property opened its doors in July. The 51-key hotel has a dedicated ski butler service, offering shuttle transfers to the nearby Piz Sorega lift, along with a ski lounge complete with heated boot racks and storage. There’s also the 18,000-square-foot Aman Spa with panoramic mountain views, a heated outdoor infinity pool and hydrotherapy facilities including a Finnish sauna and a cold plunge pool.

RELATED: 5 Hidden Gems in Northern Italy

There's also Hotel La Perla in nearby Corvara, a family-owned five-star property set at more than 5,000 feet. Part of The Leading Hotels of the World, the 51-room property offers multiple on-site restaurants, a small spa and a wine cellar and is known for its emphasis on the local Ladin culture.

Day Four: Cavalese

After all that outdoor fun in Alta Badia, clients will need some time to unwind. I’d argue that the Dolomites does wellness better than anywhere else in the land of pizza and pasta, and many hotels, such as La Roccia Wellness Hotel, are proof. Here, clients can enjoy an infinity pool overlooking the mountains and spa treatments such as a transcendental Zerobody dry flotation experience. If guests are still pining for a little more hands-on time in nature, a bike ride or hike to Maso Battiston, the hotel’s private winery and restaurant, is a must.