Best Time to Visit the Dolomites (Yes, We Wore Sweatshirts in August)

The best time to visit the Dolomites depends on whether you want to hike or ski, and how much you mind crowds. For hiking, late June through September is when the lifts and huts are open, with July and August the busiest and September the calmest. For skiing, plan for December through March. We’ve been in summer, in fall with snow already on the ground and in winter conditions, and the mountains were different every time.

Our first trip was in August 2017. It was warm down in the valley, but once we got higher into the mountains, we were wearing sweatshirts. That’s pretty normal here. Even in summer, temperatures can change quickly with elevation, and mornings and evenings can be cool.

The Best Time to Visit the Dolomites at a Glance

Season	What it’s like	Best for
Late May to mid-June	Lifts start opening, wildflowers, some high trails still snowy	Fewer crowds, flowers
July and August	All trails and huts open, busiest and most expensive	Full access to lifts and trails
September	Calmer, stable weather, some huts close by mid-month	Hiking with fewer people
October	Larch trees turn gold, most huts closed, snow possible up high	Photographers, quiet trips
November	Mostly off-season, many places closed	Cheap stays, spa breaks
December to March	Ski season	Skiing, Christmas markets

The dates shift by year and by valley. That’s why the lift schedule matters more than the calendar.

Prefer an easier pace? See how we plan a Dolomites trip without hiking all day.

Summer in the Dolomites (June to September)

Summer is the season most people come for. The mountain lifts run, the huts serve lunch and nearly every trail is snow-free by July. Weather is mostly stable, with thunderstorms building in the afternoon, so start hikes early.

Lifts open on different dates by area. In 2026, for example, Val Gardena and Alpe di Siusi lifts ran from May 1 to November 2, Kronplatz from May 16 to November 8, Cortina from June 6 to October 18, and Alta Badia and Arabba from June 13 to October 4. Check the current schedule before you book, because a hotel in a valley that’s closed until June will be a very different trip.

July and August bring the crowds. Trails to the famous spots are busy by early morning, and popular huts fill up. If you’re going then, book hotels four to six months ahead.

Our own summer trip was in August 2017. It was Lisa’s birthday, and we hiked, swam and rode a gondola up to a restaurant where cows walked between the tables. It was warm enough for the pool and cool enough for a sweatshirt.

Fall in the Dolomites (September and October)

I like September best. The crowds drop after the first week, the weather stays stable and the larch trees start turning gold. Some huts begin to close around the middle of the month, and by October most have shut for the season. That means fewer lunch stops and more planning.

We’ve also been in the fall on a school break, and there was snow on the ground at our hotel in the Ahrntal. We sat in a hot tub with snow all around us and steam coming off the water. If you’re going for a spa trip, it was one of the best parts of the whole region for us. If you’re going to hike, don’t count on high trails being clear.

For more on fall trips in Europe, see our best places to visit in Europe in fall.

Winter in the Dolomites (December to March)

Winter is ski season. The Dolomites have some of the biggest ski areas in Europe. Alta Badia has about 130 kilometers of runs and hosts a World Cup giant slalom every December, Cortina has about 120 and Kronplatz has 121. Non-skiers can walk, snowshoe or spend the day at a hotel spa.

We’ve been to South Tyrol in winter conditions once, during COVID, when we stayed at a hotel above Merano with snow on the ground and hardly anyone else there. The heated outdoor pool with snow around it was one of my favorite things. I can’t tell you what the big Dolomites ski resorts are like from experience, so the ski figures here are research.

Two practical notes: winter tires or chains are required on the roads from about November 15 to April 15, and the roads to some hotels are steep. I told Lisa on our first trip that we could never come in winter, because I didn’t want to drive that road on snow. Look at the route before you book.

If you’re deciding whether to drive at all, our guide to How to Get to the Dolomites covers the alternatives too. Also if you are looking for itinerary ideas check out

If you like Christmas markets, Trento is a good winter stop. It’s just south of the Dolomites and runs from late November to early January, and we wrote about it in our Christmas markets guide. For more winter ideas, see affordable skiing in Europe.

Spring in the Dolomites (April to Early June)

Spring is the quiet season, and it’s the one I’d be careful with. Many lifts and huts are closed, snow lingers at higher elevations and some roads and passes stay closed. It’s a good time for a spa break, and a bad time to plan a hike. Some places, like the road onto Alpe di Siusi, are open all day in the off-season.

What We’d Choose

For a first trip, I’d aim for late June or early September. You get open lifts and mountain huts without being right in the middle of the busiest part of summer. I’d choose September if you want things a little quieter and aren’t interested in packing every day with hikes. For scenery, October, when the larches turn. For a spa trip with a bit of drama, fall, when there might be snow.

Once you’ve picked your dates, our Dolomites itinerary has complete 3, 5 and 7 day routes to help plan the trip.

If you’re deciding on a hotel, see Where to Stay in the Dolomites, and for the whole region, start with our Dolomites travel guide. If you’re bringing a dog, read Dolomites With a Dog first.