7 Lakes to Visit in the Dolomites, Italy

jana meerman lago di braies dolomites italy-01

Given that I've been living just a few hours' drive away from the Dolomites for nearly four years, I can't believe it's taken me this long to finally visit. It's been at the top of my bucket list for so long!

To be honest, planning a trip to the Dolomites simply overwhelmed me. There is so much information out there and the region is huge, spanning across three of Italy's northern regions: Veneto, Trentino-South Tyrol and Friuli-Venezia Giulia. You could spend weeks exploring in any season of the year and still not cover it all.

I've tried to compile my guides in a straightforward way that reduce as much feeling lost at where to start as possible. Alongside this post, I've written a detailed guide on how we spent our four days in the Dolomites including where we stayed, what we ate and everything we did.

Check out my guide for your visit to the Dolomites!

While we plan to come back to the Dolomites again and again - especially now that the looming overwhelm of our first trip has come and gone - we visited seven lakes during our first trip to this incredible part of Italy. They are listed in order that we visited them.

NOTE: None of the lakes on this list require hiking; we actively avoided hiking this time around because we really just wanted to get a feel of the region. Of course, if you are visiting the Dolomites from further abroad and want to pack more into your trip, then there are also a bunch of lakes with hikes I've included at the end that are on my bucket list (but which I cannot yet give personal reviews for).


Lago di Dobbiaco

Toblacher See

The Lago di Dobbiaco was our very first introduction to the incredible beauty of the Dolomites. Turquoise blue waters are surrounded by mountain peaks at this like that reminded me so very strongly of my time in Banff and Jasper National Park in Canada.

Parking: right next to the lake (exact Google Maps location)

Bus access: yes, the 445 runs from Cortina in just over half an hour

Walking trails: yes, a ~2.5km loop trail circles the entire lake, crossing the Fiume Rienza just south of the lake

Swimming: permitted

Accommodation: yes, a camping site with some luxury chalets and the Hotel Baur

jana meerman lago di dobbiaco dolomites italy-05
jana meerman lago di dobbiaco dolomites italy-05
jana meerman lago di dobbiaco dolomites italy-05
jana meerman lago di dobbiaco dolomites italy-05
jana meerman lago di dobbiaco dolomites italy-05
jana meerman lago di dobbiaco dolomites italy-05
jana meerman lago di dobbiaco dolomites italy-05
jana meerman lago di dobbiaco dolomites italy-05
jana meerman lago di dobbiaco dolomites italy-05
jana meerman lago di dobbiaco dolomites italy-05
jana meerman lago di dobbiaco dolomites italy-05
jana meerman lago di dobbiaco dolomites italy-05
jana meerman lago di dobbiaco dolomites italy-05
jana meerman lago di dobbiaco dolomites italy-05
jana meerman lago di dobbiaco dolomites italy-05
jana meerman lago di dobbiaco dolomites italy-05
jana meerman lago di dobbiaco dolomites italy-05
jana meerman lago di dobbiaco dolomites italy-05

Lago di Braies

Pragser Wildsee

We visited the Lago di Braies, the most famous lake in all of the Dolomites, at the end of our first day. The golden hour light was definitely pretty, but I'd recommend coming earlier in the day as the sun disappears behind the mountains much sooner than sunset and so the lake will be in shadow.

Being the most famous lake, it is absolutely as touristy as you expect, with multiple parking lots. Lago di Braies was made a globally known name thanks to those curated photos of the idyllic wooden boats on the lake. Those boats are €50 to rent for 45 minutes so we didn’t do that; you also can't access the boat dock where most of the famous photos are taken unless you have paid for the boat ride. A good reminder that not everything is as idyllic and perfect as social media makes it seem, even though it can still be a special experience!

Parking: a few minutes walk from the lake (exact Google Maps location)

Bus access: yes, the 442 runs from Dobbiaco in just over half an hour

Walking trails: yes, a ~3.5km loop trail circles the entire lake; it can get busy as this is the most famous lake in the Dolomites

Swimming: permitted

Accommodation: yes, the iconic Hotel Lago di Braies is situated on the lake; some other hotels are available along the road leading to the lake

jana meerman lago di braies dolomites italy-01
jana meerman lago di braies dolomites italy-01
jana meerman lago di braies dolomites italy-01
jana meerman lago di braies dolomites italy-01
jana meerman lago di braies dolomites italy-01
jana meerman lago di braies dolomites italy-01
jana meerman lago di braies dolomites italy-01
jana meerman lago di braies dolomites italy-01
jana meerman lago di braies dolomites italy-01
jana meerman lago di braies dolomites italy-01
jana meerman lago di braies dolomites italy-01
jana meerman lago di braies dolomites italy-01

Lago di Landro

Dürrensee

Not as well-known as some of the other lakes, I actually really enjoyed this one. Situated right on the roadside with plenty of parking, this is such a beautiful lake, especially in morning light. You can walk around the lake on a pretty and very flat, easy trail, as well as go swimming in the bright blue water.

Parking: next to the lake (exact Google Maps location)

Bus access: yes, the 445 runs from Cortina in just under half an hour; get off at Drei-Zinnen-Blick and then walk ten minutes back to the lake

Walking trails: yes, a ~2km loop trail circles the entire lake

Swimming: permitted

Accommodation: not directly at the lake, but you can find the Hotel Residence Tre Crime a 15-minute walk to the north and the Hotel Croda Rossa half an hour to the south

jana meerman lago di landro dolomites italy-02
jana meerman lago di landro dolomites italy-02
jana meerman lago di landro dolomites italy-02
jana meerman lago di landro dolomites italy-02
jana meerman lago di landro dolomites italy-02
jana meerman lago di landro dolomites italy-02
jana meerman lago di landro dolomites italy-02
jana meerman lago di landro dolomites italy-02
jana meerman lago di landro dolomites italy-02

Lago di Misurina

This lake is quite famous, given that it is nestled at the bottom of the road up to where the best hikes around Tre Crime start. Quite a large lake, Lago di Misurina feels a bit like a central hub of the eastern Dolomites region. You can walk, swim, go for boat rides, dine at one of the many restaurants around or stay in one of the many hotels that line the iconic horizonline.

Parking: next to the lake on the southwestern side (exact Google Maps location)

Bus access: yes, the 51 runs from Cortina in half an hour

Walking trails: yes, a ~2.7km loop trail circles the entire lake; Lago di Misurina is also a popular starting point for other hikes, given that Tre Crime is just nearby

Swimming: permitted

Accommodation: there are many hotels dotted around Lago di Misurina, including Chalet Alpenrose (the best one), Hotel Lavaredo, Hotel Miralago, Hotel Sorapiss and Grand Hotel Misurina, listed in order of best ratings on Booking.com

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jana meerman lago di misurina dolomites italy-01
jana meerman lago di misurina dolomites italy-01
jana meerman lago di misurina dolomites italy-01
jana meerman lago di misurina dolomites italy-01
jana meerman lago di misurina dolomites italy-01
jana meerman lago di misurina dolomites italy-01
jana meerman lago di misurina dolomites italy-01
jana meerman lago di misurina dolomites italy-01
jana meerman lago di misurina dolomites italy-01
jana meerman lago di misurina dolomites italy-01
jana meerman lago di misurina dolomites italy-01

Lago di Fedaia

The Lago di Fedaia is an artificial lake with a dam at one end sitting at a high elevation at approximately 2050m at the top of Fedaia Pass. The reservoir was damned in the 1950s as a source of electricity and to prevent against floods. We enjoyed driving along the dam to look at the views but unfortunately, my SD card corrupted and I lost all my photos of this lake. All I have left is one drone shot!

Parking: next to the lake on the western side (exact Google Maps location)

Bus access: yes, the 54 runs from nearby Caprile in about 40 minutes

Walking trails: yes, there are some challenging but beautiful hikes starting from the Lago di Fedaia (check out the list on Komoot)

Swimming: not permitted

Accommodation: the Lago di Fedaia is high in elevation with three Rifugios around it where you can stay, including Rifugio Fedaia, Rifugio Dolomia and Rifugio Castiglioni Marmolada.


Lago di Soraga

A much lesser-known lake and perhaps not as iconically pretty as the rest, this one sits on the side of the road and has plenty of grassy areas to walk, picnic and hang out. We actually loved the light here and snapped a few shots which incidentally might be my favourite new photos of me.

Parking: next to the lake on the southeastern side (exact Google Maps location)

Bus access: yes, the B101 runs all the way from Trento, stopping along the way

Walking trails: yes, lots of walking trails around the lake, popular with dog-walkers!

Swimming: not permitted

Accommodation: the Lago di Soraga is right in between Soraga di Fassa and Moena, both of which have so many hotels to choose from; check out some of the top hotels in the area

jana meerman lago di soraga dolomites italy-1
jana meerman lago di soraga dolomites italy-1
jana meerman lago di soraga dolomites italy-1
jana meerman lago di soraga dolomites italy-1
jana meerman lago di soraga dolomites italy-1
jana meerman lago di soraga dolomites italy-1

Lago di Carezza

Karersee

I think this lake was the biggest surprise for us. The water is a shocking mix between emerald green and azure blue, so radiant you might think it fake. The water in Lago di Carezza is very clear thanks to a combination of the algae in the lake, the white rocks on bottom reflecting the surface and the underground springs that feed the lake.

Parking: across the road from the lake, accessed by an underground tunnel (exact Google Maps location)

Bus access: yes, the 180 runs from Bolzano in just under an hour

Walking trails: yes, there is a beautiful trail that goes around the entire lake and is the best way to visit

Swimming: not permitted

Accommodation: the closest hotel to Lago di Carezza is the Lake & River Hotel, with great reviews. There are also hotels a little further down the road in the town of Carezza al Lago / Karersee.

jana meerman lago di carezza karersee dolomites italy-09
jana meerman lago di carezza karersee dolomites italy-09
jana meerman lago di carezza karersee dolomites italy-09
jana meerman lago di carezza karersee dolomites italy-09
jana meerman lago di carezza karersee dolomites italy-09
jana meerman lago di carezza karersee dolomites italy-09
jana meerman lago di carezza karersee dolomites italy-09
jana meerman lago di carezza karersee dolomites italy-09
jana meerman lago di carezza karersee dolomites italy-09
jana meerman lago di carezza karersee dolomites italy-09
jana meerman lago di carezza karersee dolomites italy-09
jana meerman lago di carezza karersee dolomites italy-09
jana meerman lago di carezza karersee dolomites italy-09
jana meerman lago di carezza karersee dolomites italy-09
jana meerman lago di carezza karersee dolomites italy-09
jana meerman lago di carezza karersee dolomites italy-09
jana meerman lago di carezza karersee dolomites italy-09

Want to pack more into your trip? Here are some more lakes that are still on my bucket list (but which I cannot yet give personal reviews for):

  • Laghi dei Piani
  • Lago di Sorapiss
  • Lago Federa
  • Lago di Antermoia

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Jana Meerman

Hi! I’m Jana, a Dutch-German-British-Canadian with a dream of seeing every country in the world. I am a storyteller, photographer and adventurer passionate about documenting and sharing my travels.

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