Best Time to Visit Dolomites for Hiking or Skiing

When should you visit Dolomites? Our season breakdowns let you determine the best time to visit Dolomites. 

The Dolomites, also known as the Dolomite Alps or Dolomite Mountains, are a group of mountains located in northeastern Italy. The sharp rocks and steep peaks give this mountain range a scary look, but in the most beautiful way possible. We highly recommend visiting the Dolomites. You can do a lot of outdoor activities there, or you can relax in one of the many mountain huts, or rifugios. 

Is there a moment when it’s not good to go to the Dolomites? Not for us. That answer might not work for you, though.  

The Dolomites undergo significant changes with the seasons, so if you don’t favour winter and summer activities, plan your trip for a specific season. 

Let’s examine what each season has to offer in this area, so you can choose the optimal time to visit the Dolomites. 

Best time to visit Dolomites

At any time of year, the Dolomites are beautiful. Most of Italy sizzles from July to September, but here temperatures rarely reach 25°C and thundery downpours make for an active summer getaway. Visit in May, June, or September when the weather is cool and settled to avoid crowds.  

December to April brings snow and temperatures as low as -10°C, but the dry air makes it bearable. As with any mountain, the higher you go, the cooler it gets, so be sure to carry layers and sunglasses. On eight out of ten days, the Dolomites get more sun than any other Alpine range. 

1. The Dolomites in January

January in the Dolomites is the ideal time of year for winter activities. Not only is there fancy downhill skiing at Cortina, but there are also snowshoeing holidays from now until March. Or take pictures in the winter. The mountains are typically dry and sunny, with good lighting throughout the day. Winter is the Dolomites’ second tourist season, but it’s not as busy as summer. Not many people come in the winter—only about a quarter of them. 

2. The Dolomites in February

The Dolomites are still in winter in February, but the days are growing longer. You can enjoy snowshoeing or cross-country skiing, expecting decent snow and mostly dry weather. You’ll also enjoy plenty of clear blue skies while you do it. Don’t forget about the other great thing about going in the winter: the comfortable mountain food. Speck and strudel are two examples of South Tyrol cuisine that are commonly made with local, organic ingredients. 

3.The Dolomites in March  

In other regions of Italy, March heralds spring, yet it’s still snowing in the north. In March, the Dolomites are at the end of winter. This is the last month for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing before the snow cover gets less trustworthy next month. The highest temperature was 6°C and the lowest was -3°C. Mountain hares, alpine foxes, and ermines are shedding their white winter coats. 

4. The Dolomites in April 

In April, when spring comes to the Dolomites, marmots come out of hibernation. Most of the ski lifts, like chairlifts, gondolas, and cable cars, close early this month. Skiing is over. There isn’t much going on in the mountains right now because the snow is covering the pathways. In addition to lifts, hotels and restaurants may also be closed. The average temperatures range from 1°C to 10°C. 

5. The Dolomites in May 

Many walking holidays in the Dolomites start in May. However, the season doesn’t begin until next month, as there is still a significant amount of snow, which makes some paths, especially those higher up, difficult to access. South-facing slopes might be climbed via ferrata (fixed ladders and ropes) near the end of the month. The highest temperature during the day is 15°C. 

6. The Dolomites in June 

Hikers’ summer begins June 20. Most lifts and hotels are open, and while you stroll, you’ll witness beautiful carpets of wildflowers. In the summer, the temperature usually gets up to 19°C, and there are short thunderstorms in the afternoon, which are common in the mountains at this time of year. In June, some snow remains in the high Dolomites, so not all rifugios will be open. 

7. The Dolomites in July 

Tourists have been escaping the summer heat in the Dolomites for many years now. The lows are comfortable at 10°C and the highs are around 21°C. The snow has melted off the tops of the mountains, making it possible to walk at greater altitudes. All of the rifugios are open, although the mountain streams are still very cold. There are traffic limits in prominent places, such as Lake Braies, and the trails are often busy. This month, wildflower meadows are cut down to generate sweet-smelling hay. 

8. The Dolomites in August 

August is peak season in the Dolomites due to the Ferragosto festival, European summer holidays, and good hiking weather. There are a lot of people on the main routes, but there are also numerous events taking place, including outdoor concerts, folklore festivals, and processions in traditional costumes. August is a month when summer storms happen often in the afternoon, but don’t let that ruin your day. 

9. The Dolomites in September 

In September, take numerous pictures of the enrosadira, also known as alpenglow, in the Dolomites. The dazzling light improves as the sun lowers. The formal hiking season usually ends on September 20, but pleasant weather can persist longer than that. Some rifugios close at the end of the month; thus, this is the last month for some walking expeditions. 

10. The Dolomites in October 

In October, the marmots in the Dolomites begin their long slumber. Although this time of year is peaceful, the mountains reach their peak in autumn when hundreds of larch trees turn a bright yellow. The weather is mostly calm, with highs of 13°C. There will still be a few small group walking expeditions, but most rifugios, some hotels, and all chairlifts and gondolas are closing. 

11. The Dolomites in November 

In November, Dolomite mountain villages opened Christmas markets. This month is between the two busiest tourist seasons. Some hotels and restaurants have closed, while chairlifts and gondolas to the mountains are no longer running. Fall might be a season when the weather stays the same, but it can also change during this time of year, making routes wet and slippery. The average maximum daytime temperature is 6°C. 

12. The Dolomites in December  

The Dolomites receive the best snow in December, but this is also the sunniest region in the Alps, with many dry days and blue skies. At the end of the month, downhill skiers fill the resorts. Holidays like Christmas and New Year are popular. Our skiing holidays start in the middle of December and transport you to less busy places. 

When to go to the Dolomites for Events and Festivals 

1. Sellaronda Skimarathon (March) 

The Sellaronda Skimarathon is a challenging endurance race that takes place at night and covers a distance of 42 kilometres. The prize money is around €20,000. They put skins on their skis to ascend, remove the skins to ski down, and then walk on dry ground in their ski boots while carrying their skis. They also use a bungee cord to pull each other along. The Dolomites have long been renowned for hosting elite athletes in winter sports, including the Ski World Cup and the Winter Olympics. This amazing event is one of the most famous ones. 

2. Sacred Heart (typically the Sunday after Corpus Christi in June) 

If you spend a summer evening in a mountain community in the Alta Pusteria region, you could notice fires burning on the hillside. These are sacred heart fires. They are torches and bonfires set on the hills to create religious symbols, commemorating the battle in 1796 during the Napoleonic Wars, when warriors from South Tyrol unexpectedly defeated the French after praying for help. They are part of a long history of summer solstice fires. 

3. Bike Day on the Sellaronda (June and September) 

During much of the summer, the beautiful routes across the Dolomites are only for cars, motorcycles, and traffic jams. But for two days a year, some of the nicest roads are blocked to cars and open to bikes instead. And they do enjoy them. Approximately 20,000 bikers gather for the Sellaronda Bike Day to ride on the mountain roads. Fifty-eight kilometres of open roads go up to 1,800 m for the fittest people. 

4. Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti (end of July) 

The three-day Coppa d’Oro delle Dolomiti vintage car race covers the region’s best driving routes in July.There are magnificent vintage cars, beautiful surroundings, and some very tricky hairpin curves. Risky conditions cancelled the first race. Now that some of these Ferraris are worth millions, automobile owners are more careful. 

5. Ferragosto (August 15) 

In the Catholic calendar, Ferragosto is a public holiday that honours the Virgin Mary’s Assumption. Around this time, Italians usually take a week or two off, or the whole month. The Dolomites attract Italian families for their pure air and sunshine. It’s a hectic month in the area, but the holiday spirit is also strong. 

6. Gran Festa del Desmontegar (September) 

People celebrate when the cattle are driven down the mountainside after spending the summer grazing on the delicious meadows in the high Dolomites. People dress up in traditional clothes and put crowns of greenery on their heads, along with large bells around their necks. Everyone comes together to celebrate their safe return to the hamlet. For hundreds of years, people have moved their animals between high and low pastures in this area. 

7. Torggelen (October) 

You may experience five seasons in the Dolomites, not just four. South Tyrol celebrates Torggelen, a “fifth season” that honours the harvest, when chestnuts fall from the trees in the valleys and grapes are picked. As the nights get shorter, it’s a fantastic time to have dumplings with speck (local ham) in the evenings. Customers can taste and purchase local vegetables directly from farms. 

FAQS on the best time to visit Dolomites