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.
Bolzano
@andrewandbrenna
Bolzano (Bozen) is the capital of South Tyrol and the largest city in the region. The Bolzano train station is the main hub for transportation in and out of the Dolomites. From here, guests typically reach their final destination by regional trains, bus, or taxi. But because Ortisei doesn't have a train station, we're left with two options: bus or taxi.
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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.
In our opinion, Ortisei is the perfect home base for a quick trip to the Dolomites. Ortisei is a quaint town located in the Val Gardena valley. This town offers local restaurants, hotels, and other hidden gems, as well as two lifts; one to each side of its valley's peaks. We recommend taking time your first night to stroll its quiet streets and appreciate its beauty.
Ortisei
@andrewandbrenna
If you can't tell, I'm a big fan of this town. Ortisei (pronounced or-tea-say) is a prime location for spending a few nights in the Dolomites. The town is centrally located, only an hour drive from Bolzano, and has access to nearly anywhere in the Dolomites. It is nestled in the mountains with access to two gondolas, one on each side of the valley. These gondolas can bring you to two of the most famous locations in the Dolomites, which we will get into later!
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