The Ultimate 3-Days in the Dolomites on a Budget
Day One:
Take a train to Bolzano
If you're in Milan, Verona, or Venice, the Dolomites are only a few hours away by train to Bolzano (Bozen). Bolzano serves as the capital of the South Tyrol region and borders the heart of the Dolomites. And because South Tyrol borders Austria, there is a diverse blend of cultures in this region (and this is why many places will have a German name as well). Bolzano is a good hub because the train station is the cheapest to travel into. A train ticket into Bolzano can run anywhere from €20-30 one-way. And although there are places to rent a car in Bolzano, the city also has an active bus station with affordable tickets.
Bus from Bolzano → Ortisei
Spending time in Bolzano is optional, we personally chose to catch a bus from Bolzano to Ortisei (Urtijëi) in the same day. A one-way ticket will cost you roughly €7-20 and is usually about a 45 minute ride.
Accommodations in Ortisei
Hotels:
Airbnbs can be found for as low as €125/night. We stayed at Hotel Maria in the heart of Ortisei for roughly €220/night, but the convenience was worth it. Hotel Maria included free breakfast, free transit passes, and had a central location that made restaurants, lifts, and hikes super convenient. The hotel also includes passes to the local pool that includes a water slide, hot tubs, and sauna.
Restaurants:
Day Two:
Ortisei → Seiser Alm
Try to get an early start on your second day as what we have planned can get busy around midday. We recommend taking the lift on the south side of the village to St. Ulrich - Seiser Alm. The lift opens at 8:30am during the summer season and a ticket to the top will cost €28 roundtrip.
The lift will drop you at the peak of the mountain and give you a full panoramic view of the valley below, including Sassolungo (Langfokel) to the east and Alpe di Siusi to the west. If you're looking to hike, this valley offers trails that are unlike anything else.
These hiking trails offer endless miles that are filled with life and beauty. Trails are available to view on AllTrails. Our favorites are Alpe di Suidi (7.8 miles), Mont Sëuc (2.6 miles), and Col da Fil (7 miles).
There are also many hüttes scattered throughout the valley. These hüttes offer a wide variety of food and refreshments. Our personal favorite was Tschötsch Alm.
Following whatever hike you choose to do, head back down the Seiser Alm lift to Ortisei. Take time to explore the town and relax.
Day Three
Ortisei → Seceda
Just like the previous day, we recommend getting an early start. Today we’ll be exploring the north side of the Val Garden valley and heading up to Seceda. The lift to Seceda begins in the heart of town. The lift is a little pricier at €40 round-trip, but it is well worth the splurge. The lift opens at 8:30, and if timed right, you will be one of the first people to the top.
Once at the top, you’ll be greeted with the jagged mountain tops of the Seceda ridge line. The beauty of this first glimpse is mind blowing.
This mountain is special because it offers a straight downhill hike, with an optional chairlift back to the top. The specific hike in question is Rifugio Firenze, and you would take the Fermeda chairlift back to the peak once at the bottom. There are also many loops that go around Seceda that are only 4-5 miles long.
Another perk of this area was the abundance of signs. Every 5-10 minutes you will pass a sign that has directions to anything you might be looking for. Whether it’s the trail that you are hiking or the hütte you’re wanting to rest at, it’s pretty hard to get lost atop Seceda.
And similar to Seiser Alm, there are many hüttes along the Seceda trails. A personal favorite is Baita Troier Hütte (their traditional Buchteln sweet rolls is 10/10). Many of these hüttes offer food, drinks, games to play, animals to pet, and more.
If you are feeling more adventurous and don’t want to go back to the top of Seceda, there are trails that can take you into the town of Selva di Val Gardena. From here you can take a quick bus back to Ortisei.
Whatever you decide to do, once you are back in Ortisei, this is where your time in the mountains unfortunately comes to an end.
Seceda → Ortisei → Bolzano
As we got back to Ortisei, we had already checked out of our hotel room. From this point, we hopped on the next bus back to Bolzano and caught the last train out of town back to Milan. But if you have more time, we recommend trying to do as much as possible.
If you are still in Ortisei and want to travel deeper into the Dolomites, there are buses that can take you to other hotspots that are only an hour or two away. Some of the most notable spots include Lago di Braies, Tre Cime di Lavaredo, and Val di Funes.
If you are planning a trip to the Dolomites, feel free to contact us via Instagram. It can be an intimidating region to travel to, especially if you are not accustomed to new cultures or languages. We’d be happy to answer any questions or concerns that you may have prior to traveling.
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Thank you for reading through this guide and happy adventuring!
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