How to Spend a Weekend in the Dolomites without Hiking

The Dolomites in Italy have gained increasing popularity over the years. As someone who loves nature but dislikes hiking, I am here to tell you about where to go, not only to take the best pictures, but also places that involve no hiking. This is perfect for a weekend trip if you are already near other Italian cities. If this doesn’t persuade you to go, I don’t know what will.

Getting There

If you are flying into Italy, I recommend flying into Venice or Milan. Both are about 3 hours away. To save time, it’s best to rent a car directly from the airport rather than rely on public transportation.
The best time to visit is in Spring, preferably May, to avoid the crowds and have nice weather. In the summer, it gets extremely crowded (like much of Italy), and with the Dolomites gaining traction, this is no exception.
Renting a car is the best option, but it’s costly because you will have to pay for parking almost everywhere you go and because the Italian highway system charges a toll every time you enter it. Needless to say, everything in the Dolomites is more than average (for gas, food, etc.) because it is so far away from other areas.

Where to Stay

One of the best places to stay in the Dolomites is Camping Sass Dlacia. If you don’t have a budget, reserve one of their Forest Cabin rooms. However, if you are on a budget, they offer accommodations in a wide range of prices. They also provide daily access to their spa, rental bikes, and food trucks for an additional fee. It is a very nice campground, and you can spend a lot of time here as well. Its location makes it perfect for reaching many of the Dolomites’ most popular hikes and trails.

Seceda

If you only visit one place in the Dolomites, let it be Seceda. Visiting Seceda was one of the best days of my life because I had never experienced something so beautiful. To see Seceda, you take a gondola ride up to the top of the mountain. The views here are picture perfect, but it gets extremely hot on sunny days. There you can enjoy the views, cows, and get authentic mountain food. This place is no secret to tourists, but it will be good reasoning. Look at how insane this place is; it has become a symbol for the Dolomitites.

Lake Braies

Lake Braies is another beautiful and Instagrammable site in the Dolomites, but this time, instead of up, we are heading down to the lake. This lake is famous for its wooden boats in its blue water. We visited in peak summer, and the water was not warm enough for us to swim. There is only one trail, which is of moderate difficulty, and it takes around an hour and a half (likely longer with the stops you’ll make). Sometimes you will be lucky to see a cow roaming the trail. We wanted a boat and did not regret it; it was gorgeous and worth the money we spent (€55).

Parking: Reserve a parking spot for Lake Braises in advance. During peak season, they will not let you park in the closer parking without a reservation.

Other No Hike Locations

Disclaimer: I have yet to visit any of these beautiful places, but I can confirm that these require no hiking.

Passo Gardena: If you park at the top, you can get great views of the valley.
Santa Maddalena: Most known for its church, it has a gorgeous view of the valley during sunset.
Alpe di Siusi: This area is a meadow, perfect for picnics and chill walks.
Lago di Carezza: This smaller lake is colorful with stunning views of the mountain range.
Lago di Misurina: Another lake in the Dolomites, but this one is known for its mirror-like reflection, with a hotel and restaurants on site.

Practical Tips

To avoid the crowd, go during the evening before closing. Before closing, there are no lines for parking, battles for boats, or to get people out of your photos. Although it is not ideal, it is helpful for planning.
If it wasn’t obvious, comfortable shoes are necessary for this trip, although they don’t need to be hiking shoes; they do need to be comfortable enough to walk in for hours.
Bring layers because the weather is unpredictable. When the clouds are in the way, it can be cold, but when the sun is directly on you, you will get hot, so it is a constant battle between taking off your clothes and putting them back on.
The Dolomites are undoubtedly expensive, so one of the only ways to save is by packing your own food. Make lunch and bring snacks because all that walking will have you paying for that 12 euro hot dog.

This blog just scratched the surface of things to do in the Dolomites. But these are hands down the best views in the Dolomites with no hiking involved, and I can promise you won’t regret it. Many people come to the Dolomites annually, and with good reason; this hidden gem is finally being recognized worldwide.

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