Dolomites Walking & Hiking — Self-Launched Version

Arrive in Bolzano, the arcaded capital of South Tyrol. Drop bags at a guesthouse near the station, then take the local bus (line 170/171) or the Seiser Alm cable car from Bozen/Siusi and onwards by bus to Compatsch. Do a gentle 1–2 hour introductory loop across the meadows at 1,800 m to acclimatise. If you arrive the night before, spend the morning at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology (Ötzi the Iceman, ~£10).

🚌Train to Bolzano Bozen station, then bus to Siusi and cable car up to Compatsch (£10–13 return combined); Südtirol Guest Pass often covers the bus

🛏Guesthouse/pension near Bolzano station or on Alpe di Siusi (double room £45–70/night, or dorm £22–30)

• →Introductory meadow walk on Alpe di Siusi
• →Optional: Ötzi Iceman Museum in Bolzano (~£10)

Ride the cable car up and follow waymarked trail 5/6 on a 12 km loop past the 'witch's bench' rock formations, the Goldknopf pasture and through Spiegelwald forest, with lookouts over the Sassolungo group. Stop at a mountain hut (Rifugio/Hütte) for lunch — gulaschsuppe and apple strudel are the classics. Carry water; huts are cash-friendly.

🚌Cable car Compatsch (~£9 one way) plus on-foot trails; local bus back to base

🛏Guesthouse/pension on Alpe di Siusi or Siusi village (£45–70 double)

• →Cable car to Alpe di Siusi
• →Loop walk: witch benches, Goldknopf pasture, Spiegelwald forest
• →Mountain-hut lunch

A big day: cable car up to ~2,100 m, then a panoramic crest traverse with the Sassolungo, Sassopiatto, Catinaccio and Marmolada glacier in view. Trail 4/4A towards Rifugio Comici or Rifugio Friedrich August makes a good lunch stop. Finish at Passo Sella and take the bus (line 471/472) down to Canazei or back to your base.

🚌Cable car (~£9) + SAD/SII bus from Passo Sella to Canazei (~£4–6, guest card often free)

🛏Guesthouse in Canazei or Passo Sella area (£40–65 double)

• →Cable car to ~2,100 m
• →Crest walk Alpe di Siusi → Passo Sella (~14 km)
• →Rifugio lunch stop

Travel by bus via Canazei–Pocol–Cortina to Passo Falzarego (the Dolomiti Bus network links these; allow 2–2.5 hrs). From the pass, walk meadows up to Rifugio Nuvolau (2,575 m, one of the oldest huts in the Dolomites) via Rifugio Averau. On the way, explore the preserved WWI trenches and fortifications of the Austro-Hungarian frontline on the Averau–Nuvolau saddle. Descend to Passo Falzarego and bus to Cortina d'Ampezzo.

🚌Dolomiti Bus Passo Falzarego–Cortina (~£5) and connections from Canazei (~£10–14 total)

🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Cortina d'Ampezzo (£50–85 double; dorms from ~£35)

• →Walk Passo Falzarego → Rifugio Nuvolau (~11 km, 550 m ascent)
• →WWI trench and fortification walk
• →Lunch at mountain hut

Bus from Cortina towards Misurina (line 444/Dolomiti Bus, ~40 mins). From Misurina take the toll road shuttle or walk up to Rifugio Auronzo (2,320 m) — the toll road is ~£25 per car, so the shared shuttle is a cheaper option (~£6). Hike the classic 10 km circular route around the three peaks via Rifugio Lavaredo, Forcella Lavaredo and Rifugio Locatelli, then back to Auronzo. Return to Cortina by bus.

🚌Dolomiti Bus Cortina–Misurina (~£4) + Auronzo toll-road shuttle (~£6)

🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Cortina d'Ampezzo (£50–85 double)

• →Scenic bus via Lago di Misurina
• →Circular walk around Tre Cime di Lavaredo (10 km, ~400 m ascent)
• →Rifugio Locatelli lunch

Long bus day across the Dolomites: Cortina–Dobbiaco–Brunico–San Vigilio (2.5–3.5 hrs, ~£12–15). Base yourself in San Vigilio di Marebbe, a Ladin village with guesthouses and a good supermarket. Afternoon walk beneath the Santa Croce massif through pastures and farmland — a 10–12 km loop from the village, or take the Piz de Plaies lift to shorten it.

🚌Dolomiti Bus Cortina–Brunico–San Vigilio (~£12–15); Südtirol Guest Pass covers some legs

🛏Ladin guesthouse/pension in San Vigilio di Marebbe (£40–65 double)

• →Cross-Dolomites bus journey
• →Afternoon pasture and farmland loop beneath Santa Croce massif

Early bus to Lago di Braies (line 460/442, ~45 mins) — arrive before 9am to beat the crowds and the parking/traffic restrictions. Walk the easy 3.5 km lakeside circuit, then bus to Brunico for a wander through the arcaded old town, a coffee in the main square and a look at the Messner Mountain Museum Ripa if time allows (~£10). Return to San Vigilio for the night.

🚌Local Südtirol bus San Vigilio–Braies–Brunico (~£3–5 each leg; often free with guest card)

🛏Ladin guesthouse/pension in San Vigilio di Marebbe (£40–65 double)

• →Circular walk around Lake Braies (3.5 km)
• →Stroll through Brunico's old town
• →Optional: Messner Mountain Museum Ripa

Morning bus to Brunico, then the train through the Pusteria valley and down to Bolzano (approx 2 hrs total, ~£10–14). Cushion at least 3 hours before any onward flight or train. If you have time, a final espresso under Bolzano's arcades and a last look at the Rosengarten/Catinaccio from the Waltherplatz.

🚌Südtirol bus San Vigilio–Brunico (~£3) + regional train Brunico–Bolzano (~£9–11)

🛏None (departure day)

• →Scenic train through Val Pusteria
• →Final wander of Bolzano's arcades