HOW TO GET
The main resorts of the Dolomites are easily connected with each other by a close net of roads. The railway follows three main lines: Mestre-Belluno-Calalzo and Padova-Belluno-Calalzo for the area of Bellunese, while the line Brennero links Verona to Trento and Bolzano in Trentino and Alto Adige. A local bus service provides connections with the resorts that are not served by trains.
How do you travel?
For those who travel by train or by plane, the Dolomites area can be more easily reached with a comfortable transfer service:
- in the Fassa Valley it is managed by the Autonoleggio-Taxi Desilvestro Franco;
- whilst in the Gardena Valley the service is offered by the Consorzio Autonoleggio Taxi & Bus Gardena,
- in Falcade for the Agordino and outskirts area you can ask Dolomiti Viaggi Taxi and Bus for.
BY CAR
- Province of Belluno: Follow A27 motorway as far as Belluno exit - from Milan: 357 Km in about 4 hours; from Rome: 615 Km in 6-7 hours - if you want to go to the Agordino area, to the Marmolada (along the N203 road to Alleghe: 47 Km in 1 hour) and Arabba, driving up the Cordevole valley (then N48 road, 70 km in 1 hour and 20 minutes). If you take the Pian di Vedoia exit (i.e. the last exit), you can go to Cortina (crossroads at Tai di Cadore: go east, 30 Km in 35 minutes), Cadore, Comelico (Santo Stefano: 50 Km in 50 minutes, Sappada: 62 Km in 1 hour), Sappada and Zoldo (along the N51 road; leave it when you arrive to Longarone. Take the N251 road; about 32 minutes); from Cortina, then, you can go on along the N48 road to Misurina (from Cortina to Misurina: 12 Km in 20 minutes).
- Trentino Alto Adige: along the A22 motorway Modena-Brennero you see the Egna-Ora exit- from Milan 278 Km in about 2,40 hours; from Roma 614 Km in about 6 hours and a half - enter Val di Fassa (from Predazzo along the N48 highway, 26 Km to Canazei), Val di Fiemme (Cavalese about 26 Km, Predazzo about 37 Km); exit Chiusa di Val Gardena must be entered to Val di Funes (Funes about 11 km - N242 highway) and Val Gardena (Ortisei 17 km, Santa Cristina 21 km, Selva di Val Gardena 24 km); exit Bressanone to Val Pusteria (Brunico 29 km, Dobbiaco 57 km, San Candido 58 km), Val Badia, Valle di Braies (Braies 53 km along the N49 highway) and Val di Lusòn. You can leave at Bressanone also to get Cortina d'Ampezzo, even if it is not the most suitable route.
For further information you can visit the site of the Autostrada del Brennero (Brennero motorway).
BY BUS
- Province of Belluno: the Dolomitibus (Tel. +39 0437 217111) is the main bus company in the Dolomites of the Veneto region.
The bus station is in Belluno, in the Station Square. There are daily buses to Cortina; Marmolada (this service is available during the winter skiing season and in summer); Valle del Biois (stops at Agordo and Falcade), Val di Zoldo (stops at Forno, Dont, Pecol). To get to Val Pusteria you can leave from Belluno, arrive to Cortina and continue through the valleys of Alto Adige by SAD busses, i.e. the main bus company of those valleys.
- Trentino: the Atesina is the main bus company of Trentino. The terminal is in Trento, in via Pozzo, 50 m far from the railway station.
Busses to Val di Fiemme, Val di Fassa and San Martino di Castrozza leave daily. - Alto Adige: the SAD is the main bus company of the Alto Adige slope. The terminal is in Bolzano, in via Perathoner, opposite to the railway station. You can find busses leaving from Bolzano to Brunico (change in Bressanone); some journeys continue to San Candido and Prato Drava. To get Val Gardena change at Ponte Gardena and continue to Ortisei, Santa Cristina, Selva and Plan. With a bit of luck you can catch a direct link to Bolzano. Change at San Lorenzo to get Corvara, in Val Badia (only few journeys continue to Colfosco). To get Val Marebbe change at San Lorenzo, Longega and you will get San Vigilio. Always from Bolzano you can comfortably get Bressanone from where other busses leave to Val Lusòn and Val di Funes.
BY TRAIN
- Province of Belluno: the national railways link with direct trains several places. One line starts from Venezia Santa Lucia (main stops: Mestre, Treviso, Ponte nelle Alpi) and arrives to Calalzo-Pieve di Cadore. The other one connects Padova with Calalzo - via Castelfranco, Belluno (about 2.40 hours).
These are regional trains that feature second-class accommodation only. From Calalzo, you can go to Cortina or to other resorts by taxi or by bus.
During holiday periods there is a direct train from Rome to Calalzo, that also provides the car trasport. - Trentino Alto Adige: many trains link the main Italian cities to Trento, Bolzano, Bressanone and Vipiteno/Sterzing: there are daily Eurocity trains from Milan,Venice, Florence, and Rome; from Verona, all those trains follow the Brennero Railway.
BY PLANE
Venice "Marco Polo" airport is connected with the main Italian airports by various companies; tickets have different prices according to season and periods of special offers.
There are also bus connections between the airport and Mestre railway station. ACTV n. 15 bus gets to the station in 20 minutes, without stops. During the busiest holiday periods, there are buses from Venice, piazzale Roma, to Cortina (compulsory reservation - tel.041/5205530).
Otherwise you can fly to Verona airport and from here continue by train. Moreover Bolzano airport is linked to Rome by the Austrian company planes.