Venice: Doge's Palace Reserved Entry Ticket
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Is it too hot to visit art cities and museums? Or is it so cold that it snows? Either way, Veneto is a top destination: the mountain resorts in this region are suitable for both a summer holiday and a classic skiing holiday and are all beautiful.
The choice for a mountain holiday in Veneto is really wide, so you are sure to find the most suitable resort for the type of holiday you want to take. They range from an expensive VIP resort like Cortina d’Ampezzo, synonymous with skiing and worldliness, to villages where people still live the simple everyday life of the mountains.
Some villages rise on the shores of a lake and are therefore perfect for those who want to do a bit of high-altitude beach tourism; others, which developed in the 1980s thanks to the boom in ski resorts, cater to fans of snow-covered slopes in the winter and revive as bike tourism destinations in the summer.
Don’t be afraid to make the wrong choice because breathtaking views, pretty wooden balconies overflowing with flowers, alpine cheese, streams and pure air can be found everywhere. However, since you cannot see everything in one holiday, here is a mini-guide to the most beautiful mountain resorts in Veneto that will help you understand which one is the most suitable for your dream holiday.
The most beautiful mountain resorts in Veneto are arranged in an arc in the northern part of the region.
From west to east we find the areas of the Tre Valli, Arabba and the Marmolada, Monte Civetta, the Ampezzo Dolomites, and Cadore. Further south are the Val di Zoldo, the Belluno Dolomites, the Asiago Plateau and the Venetian Pre-Alps. Monte Baldo, the only significant peak on the Veneto side of Lake Garda, lies to the south-west.
The division into areas is not always so clear-cut and defined because sometimes one refers to historical regions, other times to geographical regions; one can refer to mountain groups, valleys, mountain communities. Thus, for example, it may happen that Auronzo di Cadore is sometimes referred to as a place in Cadore, sometimes as a place in the Ampezzo Dolomites.
To help you choose where to take a mountain holiday in Veneto, we have divided the mountainous part of the region into macro-areas and for each we recommend the places not to be missed.
Cortina d’Ampezzo is the most famous mountain resort in Veneto, thanks to films, major sporting events and one of the most important ski resorts in Europe.
Many are the VIPs who choose it as their holiday resort and many are those who come here hoping to meet some film or ski celebrities, but this worldly and somewhat snobbish town also appeals to those who have no interest in après ski aperitifs and trendy clubs. Nestled between some of the most majestic and fascinating peaks in the Alps, Cortina is a jewel that makes anyone who loves the mountains fall in love with it. It is no coincidence that it is called the Queen of the Dolomites, a well-deserved title.
Among the landmarks of the Ampezzo Dolomites are the Tofane, three majestic peaks over 3,000 metres high, the Giau Pass, scene of epic cycling challenges, the Sorapiss massif and the Croda da Lago.
Cadore is a historical-geographical region straddling Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia that coincides with the basin of the Piave river from its source to Termine di Cadore. In the collective imagination, this area is linked to the events of the First World War and even today it is still possible to see forts, trenches and other evidence of that dramatic period.
Fortunately, today there are far more joyful reasons to come up here: splendid hikes and climbs, pretty holiday resorts, Alpine lakes and the Auronzo-Misurina ski area.
The Tre Cime di Lavaredo are three obelisks of granite rock almost 3000 metres high that have become a symbol of the Dolomites. These three iconic peaks can be admired on an easy circular trekking tour, suitable for everyone, or on demanding multi-day hikes. One way or another, they are definitely worth seeing.
One side of the Tre Cime falls in Trentino Alto Adige and the other in Veneto, in the municipality of Auronzo di Cadore. The starting point for the Tre Cime walking tour is the Auronzo Hut, which can be reached by car, bus or on foot.
One of the most important places in Cadore is Auronzo, a small town lying along a shore of the lake of the same name, also called Lake Santa Caterina. Pretty little houses and characteristic alpine hotels with wooden balconies stand in front of a dense forest; in between, the green expanse of the lake.
Auronzo di Cadore is a good compromise for those who want a well-known resort with a good choice of accommodation and comfortable facilities, but without the VIP excesses of Cortina. Prices are also decidedly more affordable.
Misurina is a hamlet of Auronzo di Cadore located about 24 km from the town centre. Here, too, there is an alpine lake: it is the largest in Cadore and is a natural lake (while the one in Auronzo is artificial).
Misurina is suitable both as a one-day destination and as a base for a multi-day holiday. One can stretch one’s legs by walking around the lake in half an hour and then laze around its shores, or take the chairlift to the Col de Varda refuge and from there set off on high-altitude hikes. Misurina is also a good base for more adrenalin-fuelled experiences such as via ferratas and climbing.
The Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park is a good alternative to the most famous mountain destinations in the Veneto region. It is located in the central-southern part of the province of Belluno, a less touristy area than the northern part.
Less visited does not mean less interesting: four mountain groups (Alpi Feltrine, Pizzon-Feruch-Monti del Sole, Schiara-Pelf, Talvena) fall within the park’s territory and can be explored on foot, by bicycle or climbing.
For those who want a comfortable holiday, with all services, Feltre is the best place to sleep in the Belluno Dolomites park. Val di Zoldo, and in particular the hamlet of Pècol, on the other hand, is the recommended location for a skiing holiday in the Belluno Dolomites.
The sea is not for you, but the idea of a refreshing swim or a nice lunch overlooking a sparkling expanse of water tempts you? The lakes of Veneto are the ideal holiday destination for you!
The Veneto is home to a good portion of Lake Garda, the largest freshwater lake in Italy. The Venetian shore corresponds to the entire eastern part of the Lower Garda, also known as the Riviera degli Ulivi, and a part of the Upper Garda: if you are looking for a mountain atmosphere, go for the latter.
The last town in the Veneto region before entering Trentino Alto Adige is Malcesine, a characteristic village on the slopes of Mount Baldo, a peak over 2000 metres high. You can easily climb the mountain by cable car from the historic centre: once there, a dense network of trekking and mountain bike trails awaits you.
In the other resorts of Garda Veneto, the terrain is mostly flat, but it is not difficult to travel to Malcesine or even further up. You can therefore also consider Peschiera, Bardolino, Lazise as a base for your stay on Lake Garda.
The most famous mountain lake in the Veneto region is probably Alleghe. It is a beautiful resort at the foot of Monte Civetta, a peak in the hearts of many passionate skiers and mountaineers.
If you are not looking for adrenalin-pumping adventures, you can walk around the Alleghe lake in about two hours and then lie down to sunbathe on its shores. You can also swim or rent a pedalo, just like at the sea but without the sultriness!
The possibilities for a wonderful mountain holiday in Veneto do not end with the locations we have suggested so far.
If you do not suffer from the allure of high altitudes but are only interested in escaping the heat of the cities, you can stop at the Altopiano dei Sette Comuni in the Vicentine Pre-Alps, better known as the Asiago Plateau after the name of its most important town.
Although it is located further south than the more famous mountains and has a much lower average altitude (around 1300 metres), this area too has all the makings of a memorable holiday: you will not lack opportunities for hiking or biking, tasty dinners of typical cuisine, and visits to the sites of the Great War.
Another interesting centre is Arabba, a characteristic mountain village located at the foot of the Pordoi Pass at an altitude of 1602 metres. It is especially famous for winter holidays, but the area is also suitable for numerous activities in the summer.
A good base for those wishing to stay around the Marmolada, one of the most spectacular mountain massifs in the Dolomites, is Rocca Pietore.
Sappada, on the other hand, is not part of Veneto: once a municipality in the province of Belluno, since 2017 it has become part of the province of Udine and therefore falls within the territory of Friuli-Venezia Giulia.
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