Shorter Walks in the Dolomites. Gillian Price
train travel an attractive option for under-26-year-olds.
Useful branch lines via Belluno and Vittorio Veneto reach Calalzo, while for the Val Pusteria change at Fortezza, north of Bressanone. See www.trenitalia.com for information and online booking.
By car
Via Europe’s extensive motorway system, the best entry to Italy is by the Brenner Pass from Austria on the A22 autostrada. This leads directly to the northwestern Dolomites, with handy exits from Bressanone southwards. Otherwise, leave the A4 Torino–Trieste via a link near Verona for the A22 northwards. From Mestre, outside Venice, the quiet A27 runs up via Vittorio Veneto, with good roads continuing for Belluno and towards Cortina for the eastern Dolomites.
Well-maintained national roads, labelled SS for Strada statale or SP for Strada provinciale, run through the Dolomites and are referred to in this guidebook, where relevant, in the information box access section at the start of the walks.
By bus
Long-distance coaches from northern Italian cities provide convenient links with the Dolomites throughout the summer season:
ATVO (Venice to Cortina) Tel 0421 594580 www.atvo.it
Autostradale (Milan to Cortina, Val di Fassa and Madonna di Campiglio) Tel 02 33910794 www.autostradale.it
Brusutti (Venice to Caprile, San Martino di Castrozza and Canazei) Tel 041 5416663 www.brusutti.com
Cortina Express (Bologna, Mestre and Venice Marco Polo Airport to Cortina, Val Badia and Val Pusteria) Tel 0436 867350 www.cortinaexpress.it
STAT-Turismo (Genoa–Trentino) Tel 0142 781660 www.statturismo.com
Local transport
The extensive network of trains and buses across the Dolomites is refreshingly inexpensive, easy to use and unfailingly reliable. All but two of the 50 walks in this guidebook start and finish at a point accessible by local public transport and the whole book was researched in this way. What’s more, the bus drivers know the mountain roads and conditions like the back of their hand, leaving passengers free to sit back and enjoy the views. Visitors to the Dolomites are invited to leave their car at home, thereby not contributing to air pollution and traffic congestion in these magical mountains. Many holiday resorts offer free or cut-price bus passes for their guests to encourage this habit. Strategically placed cable-cars and chair lifts are also used on the walks described.
The chair lift and the wonderful views across to the Lagazuoi (Walk 20)
Generally speaking, summer timetables correspond to the Italian school holidays, which usually fall from mid-June to mid-September. Exact dates vary year to year, company to company and region to region, but they can be checked on the relevant websites below.
The main bus companies that operate in the Dolomites are:
Dolomiti Bus (covers the Veneto) Tel 0437 941167 www.dolomitibus.it
SAD (South Tyrol/Alto Adige) Tel 840 000471 www.sii.bz.it
SAF (Friuli-Veneto) Tel 800 915303 www.saf.ud.it
Trentino Trasporti, previously known as Atesina (Trentino including the Trento–Malé train FTM) Tel 0461 821000 www.ttesercizio.it
Cortina Express (Cortina district) Tel 0436 867350 www.cortinaexpress.it
Note Tickets are sold on board for Trentino Trasporti and SAD services. Multi-trip passes starting at €5 (available from SAD) are economical and can be used by more than one passenger. Dolomiti Bus tickets should be purchased beforehand at cafés and shops carrying the logo and stamped on the bus, otherwise a surcharge is levied.
For information on Trenitalia, the Italian state rail company, Tel 892021 or go to www.trenitalia.com. Note Unless you have a booked seat (in which case your ticket will show a date and time) validate (stamp) your ticket in one of the machines on the platform before boarding your train. Failure to do so can result in a fine.
Information
The Italian Tourist Board (www.enit.it) has offices all over the world and can help anyone planning to visit Italy with general information.
Tourist offices in the Dolomites valleys follow; these can provide full details of local accommodation options and transport.
Alleghe Tel 0437 523333
Arabba Tel 0436 79130
Belluno Tel 334 2813222
Calalzo Tel 0435 32348
Cortina d’Ampezzo Tel 0436 3231
Falcade Tel 0437 599241
Feltre Tel 0439 2540
Forno di Zoldo Tel 0437 787349
Misurina Tel 0435 39016
Pieve di Cadore Tel 0435 31644
Rocca Pietore Tel 0437 721319 www.infodolomiti.it
Braies Tel 0474 748660
Dobbiaco Tel 0474 972132
San Candido Tel 0474 913149
Sesto Tel 0474 710310
Villabassa Tel 0474 745136 www.hochpustertal.info
Fiera di Primiero Tel 0439 62407
San Martino di Castrozza Tel 0439 768867 www.sanmartino.com
Colfosco Tel 0471 836145
Corvara Tel 0471 836176
Pedraces Tel 0471 839695
La Villa Tel 0471 847037
San Cassiano Tel 0471 849422 www.altabadia.org
San Martino in Badia Tel 0474 523175 www.sanmartin.it
Alba di Canazei Tel 0462 609550
Canazei Tel 0462 609600
Pozza di Fassa Tel 0462 609670
Vigo di Fassa Tel 0462 609700 www.fassa.com
Alpe di Siusi Tel 0471 727904
Fiè Tel 0471 725047 www.seiseralm.it
Ortisei Tel 0471 777600
Santa Cristina Tel 0471 777800
Selva Tel 0471 777900 www.valgardena.it
Funes Tel 0472 840180 www.villnoess.com
Madonna