Grand Hotel Misurina
Misurina - Via Monte Piana 21
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To say that holidays are good for you is not a cliché when talking about Lake Misurina. The largest alpine lake in the Cadore region is famous for its microclimate and the purity of the air, which have long been exploited for their therapeutic properties that are particularly effective in curing respiratory diseases.
Even if you are bursting with health, treat yourself to a holiday in these parts: the lake, of glacial origin, is set against a natural backdrop of breathtaking beauty. Some of the most famous peaks of the Dolomites, including Sorapiss, Cristallo, and the world-famous Tre Cime di Lavaredo, are reflected in its silvery waters.
It is precisely from here that the scenic road leads to the start of the Giro delle Tre Cime (Tour of the Three Peaks), one of the best known and most fascinating hiking routes not only in Italy but worldwide. But you don’t need to go far: to enjoy a splendid view of the Cime di Lavaredo, you only need to reach the southern shore of the lake, which, not surprisingly, is the most popular.
As if its beauty were not already enough to attract so many visitors every summer, Misurina recently stole the show from the much-visited Lake Braies by becoming the new location of the TV series ‘Un passo dal cielo’ (One step from heaven), making it one of the most popular destinations in the entire Dolomites.
No matter, the forests in the surrounding area offer so much peace and beauty and Misurina remains the perfect destination for a day trip from the tourist resorts of Belluno or Trentino Alto Adige or the ideal base for a longer holiday in which to enjoy pure air, breathtaking scenery and stress-free days.
What to do once you arrive in Misurina? Are there other attractions besides the lake? As with all mountain resorts, the things to see in Misurina are all natural beauties.
Situated at an altitude of 1756 metres above sea level, Lake Misurina is 1 km long and 300 metres wide; it is not very deep: it reaches a maximum depth of 5 metres.
The best way to admire it is to tour Lake Misurina on foot: it is a pleasant walk within the reach of everyone, including families with children. It takes only 30 minutes to walk around the entire lake, an hour if you want to walk at a slow pace, but the amount of panoramic views you can admire during this easy walk will make you think you have walked much more.
Much of the loop around the perimeter of the lake corresponds to a flat dirt road, with a few ups and downs and short, easy climbs; the terrain is also suitable for trekking buggies.
You can leave your car in the car park 200 metres from the Col de Varda chairlift.
For many tourists, Misurina is only a stage on the way to one of the top attractions in the Dolomites: the Cime di Lavaredo. In fact, the panoramic road leading to the Auronzo hut starts here, which in turn is the starting point of the Giro delle Tre Cime, the excursion route that allows visitors to admire the three iconic peaks up close.
The road is tolled (beware of the toll: it is very expensive!), and it is also very busy in the summer months; for this reason, more trained people decide to leave their cars in Misurina and reach the Auronzo hut on foot via the paths that run close to the road.
Another high mountain excursion within everyone’s reach is the one to the Col de Varda lodge, located at an altitude of 2106 m.
Those who don’t want to make any effort can reach it by a comfortable chairlift, while more enthusiastic hikers can arrive on foot by taking the path that starts next to the chairlift station (marker 120).
Once you reach the hut, you can choose to stay there and enjoy a splendid panorama of some of the most beautiful mountains in the Dolomites. On a clear day you can see the Marmole, Sorapiss, Marmolada, Tofane, Monte Cristallo and the Torre dei Scarperi di Sesto.
If, on the other hand, you prefer to move around a little, you can take an easy walk to the Rifugio Città di Carpi (about an hour) or venture out on longer trails The hut is a stop on the Alta Via delle Dolomiti n.4 (Dolomite High Route) and the starting point of the Bonacassa trail, which leads to the Tre Cime di Lavaredo.
Whether you stop here for an entire day or for a short break before setting off for your destination, we recommend you take a look at the restaurant’s menu. You will hardly be able to leave without trying the tasty mountain cuisine!
Just 2 km to the north of Lake Misurina, beside the toll road to the Auronzo hut, is another picturesque alpine lake, Lake Antorno (altitude 1886 metres above sea level). It is much smaller but not without charm.
Here, too, you can choose whether to indulge in total relaxation, perhaps treating yourself to a succulent lunch at the characteristic chalet on the western shore of the lake, or to indulge in the many hiking opportunities on the trails in the area.
Lake Misurina is almost always visited on a day trip, but you can consider doing the opposite, i.e. staying here and then moving on to see other beautiful locations in the Dolomites.
For a dip in worldliness, you can go to Cortina, the pearl of the Dolomites, a rather exclusive, expensive and somewhat snobbish, but undeniably beautiful mountain town. No diva airs instead for the simple and warm Auronzo di Cadore, much loved by those who prefer more genuine mountain atmospheres to boutiques and chic hotels.
If you are a die-hard fan of ‘Un passo dal cielo’ (One step from heaven), you can combine Misurina and Lake Braies, the two most famous locations of this successful TV series, in a single holiday. Braies is only 35 km from Misurina.
Another destination not to be missed for an easy day trip is the Riserva Naturale Orientata di Somadida (Somadida Oriented Nature Reserve), a park covered in dense forest and criss-crossed by numerous streams, with many possibilities for easy or challenging walks. Information on the trails can be obtained from the visitor centre, which is about 300 metres from the reserve entrance.
The reserve also includes the Giardino delle Farfalle (Butterfly Garden), an area created to safeguard some butterfly species typical of these areas.
The most popular activity in Misurina is nature walks. In the area you can find trails of all levels, from easy walks in the woods to challenging high-altitude treks, via ferratas and climbing.
There is no shortage of attractions for families, as well as pedal boats for hire for the lazier holidaymakers who just want to sunbathe while admiring a beautiful view.
Even in winter Misurina is a pleasant place to visit; in this season those who love outdoor sports can enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ski touring.
Contrary to what one might expect since it is a very touristy place, there are not many hotels on the lakeshore in Misurina. There are just a couple, from two to four stars, but they are almost always sold out. If you want to be as close to the lakeshore as possible, book well in advance.
If you catch yourself late, don’t worry, just move a few kilometres away to find a good choice of hotels, B&Bs, flats and holiday homes. And if Misurina accommodation is not for you, you can look in Cortina d’Ampezzo for luxury hotels and resorts or in Auronzo di Cadore for cheaper rooms.
Reaching Lake Misurina is very easy both by car and by public transport.
If you come from the Veneto region, the reference motorway is the A27 Venezia/Belluno, to be driven northwards to the end. Once off the motorway follow the signs for Auronzo and then those for Misurina.
If, on the other hand, you are coming from Trentino Alto Adige, the motorway to take is the A22 Modena/Brennero heading south to Bressanone. Exit the motorway and follow the signs for Dobbiaco, then take the SS51 Alemagna road. The junction for Misurina is located in Carbonin-Schluderbach.
To reach Misurina from Cortina d’Ampezzo by car there are several possibilities: you can take the SS48 towards Auronzo Misurina, the SS51 towards Dobbiaco and then the SS48 bis or the SS51 towards Venice and then take the SS51 bis and SS52 to Auronzo.
It is not possible to get to Lake Misurina by train, but you can easily reach it with a train+bus trip. The reference railway stations are Dobbiaco and Calalzo-Pieve di Cadore-Cortina: the closest is the former, which is about 19 km away, while the latter is 40 km away.
From both of these stations there are buses to Misurina of the Dolomiti Bus company (depending on the season and timetable, a change in Auronzo may be necessary).
Another possibility is to reach Dobbiaco by the Cortina Express bus departing from Venice airport, which is served by numerous low-cost flights departing from all the main Italian airports, and from there continue to Misurina by local buses.
What's the weather at Misurina? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Misurina for the next few days.
Lake Misurina is not in Trentino Alto Adige, as many believe, but in Veneto. Misurina is in fact a fraction of the municipality of Auronzo di Cadore, which falls within the province of Belluno.
It is part of Cadore, the historical-geographical region that roughly corresponds to the mountain chain of the Eastern Dolomites and falls largely within the territory of the upper Belluno province.
It is located a short distance from some of the most beautiful places in the Dolomites, all of which can be easily reached with a day trip: Cortina d'Ampezzo is 14 km away, Dobbiaco 16 km, the centre of Auronzo 24 km (about the same distance to San Candido), Canazei 80 km.
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