We are planning our first trip to Italy for September of this year. After reading and seeing pictures of the Dolomites, we absolutely want to see them but won't have the luxury of spending much time there. I was hoping I could get some advise on how to best use our time. After flying into Venice and staying 3 nights we will be picking up our rental car on September 20. We only have 2 nights before we are scheduled to be down in Santa Margherita, Italian riviera. Should we drive from Venice up to the Val Gardena area via the scenic route in one day and stay 2 nights then do the entire drive down to the coast in one day or somehow break it up?? Any suggestions would be great? We will then be staying on the Italian Riviera for 3 nights then off to Sienna area for 5 nights then 3 nights in Rome and then fly out of Rome.

We drove through the Dolomites on our first 3 week driving trip in Italy. After spending 2 nights in Verona, we drove up and through the mountains ( it was May so the roads were clear) and made it to Venice where we parked the car for 3 nights. It was a terrific day and one of the most visually stunning drives we've ever taken anywhere...we were on a vaporetto headed down the Grand Canal as the sun began to set. You will be going in the reverse direction. You might spend the night ( or two) in Ortesi before you continue on your way. It's not such a difficult drive that you would need to stay in Val Gardena...unless you wanted to.

Get your car in Venice and drive to Cortina for lunch, Then, take the Dolomite road via Arraba and the Sella pass and spend the nite in Ortisei. The next day drive out via Castelrotto---spend and hour--and then catch the Autostrada near Bolzano and keep going on to SML. I hate to suggest a one niter, but in this case it is justified so you can see the heart of the Dolomites. Have fun! Here are pics.

http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/show...y.php?cat=4441

Thank you so much for responding. Both your responses helped a lot! I think we will head from Venice and stop in Cortina for lunch then head on from there to either Ortisei to stay or Castelrotto to stay the night. One more question. Which one is more picturesque and good to explore in the evening? From there we will head towards Santa Margherita and stay somewhere along the way to break the drive up and allow time to stop and take in sights. I am sooooo excited about this trip!! We did find a wonderful place to stay in the Tuscan countryside. I found this place online 3years ago and we are finally booked! Fattoria Di Cosignono.

One more question. Any adivise on anice place to overnight on the way to the Italian Riviera from the Dolomites?? Somewhere in the middle?

I agree with Bobthenavigator and drive to Cortina from Venice and then back through Val Gardena.

I think Castelrotto is more picteresque but is smaller and has less shops, bars and restaurants than Ortisei.

Whichever village you choose to stay in, if you have time the next morning then get the cable car up to the Alpe Di Siusi high alpine pasture. An absolutely stunning area. The gondola goes direct from Ortisei. If you stay in Castelrotto then you need to drive 5 minutes to the nearby village of Siusi and get the gondola from there. From Siusi you can then continue onto Bolzano to get the Autostrada

For your in-between night you might consider Asti, in Piemonte, where we stayed for several days (drove from Santa Margherita di Ligure to Asti, and from Asti to the Dolomites, so it would definitely fit your plan). We stayed at the friendly Villa Sampaguita, in the countryside just outside Asti. http://www.villasampaguita.com. The hosts Tim and Rina are very helpful in terms of recommended driving routes to the coast. And they'll serve you an excellent breakfast before you take off. We had a wonderful dinner in Asti at Osteria della Barbera Tacabanda, one of Rina's favorites.

You're going to have an awesome trip.

I would stay in Ortisei just because it is much bigger. You can see Castelrotto in an hour the next day, and it is your way south. That next day you need to look at the routing on Google maps. I would consider a stay on Lago Garda---I prefer the north end for wonderful scenery, and the drive along the west shore is good as you drive to SML.

I was just looking at Lago Garda as an option to stay!!! I recently spoke with someone who had stayed in the area and loved it! Thanks everyone so much for your help. I'm sure I'll be back with more questions !,

Well thanks for everyone's help. I have finalized our itinery and booked all the accomodations! We have 3 nights in Venice. Then 1 night in Corvara in Badia. Then 1 night in Sirmione on Lago Di Garda. 3 nights in Santa Margharita. Then off to the Tuscan countryside for 5 nights at a little winery outside of Sienna. Then our last 3 nights in Rome. A little faster pace holiday than we are used to( all inclusives in Mexico). But we are up for an adventure and if we survived 5 days in Disneyland with a 9 & 4 year old, I think we can do an Italian road trip!! Now to book the car from when we leave Venice to when we arrive in Rome.

Nice trip---you will have fun.

Thanks bob and thanks for all your tips

Word of caution - It took us 3 1/2 hours to drive from Cortina to Venice. So, being able to have lunch in Cortina depends on when you start your drive. It also took us at least 3 hours to drive from Ortisei to Cortina. We thought, from reports and a map, it would be about 2 hours. But, it wasn't. And there wasn't a lot of traffic. So, you have to figure how much you're willing to drive and how much time you will have left for a day of exploring once you get to each destination.

Kenav - Wow, that is alot longer than I figured! Yikes I might have to double think going to the Dolomites!! I don't want to start our trip off on the wrong note and get the hubby all mad from tons of driving. Thanks for the info!!!

From Ortisei to Cortina - we did do a stop somewhere along the line and spent some time there. The road between the two towns is very curvy, so we didn't go very fast. I forget the name, but it was very scenic. There might be more than one way to get from Ortisei to Cortina, separate from the one we took. Perhaps with less time?

What kind of time did you expect the drives to take?

The Dolomites are beautiful, so I understand your wanting to go there.

Well I think we are going to stick to our itinery as I just can't take the Dolomites off our itinery! We Will rest up (and hopefully catch some sun beside a pool) on our Lake Garda overnight stop. Only 3 months untill we leave!! Yay!

Good or you!
Google maps says 1:37 driving time but that is not realistic.
You will want 2 stops enroute---I would plan 3 hours.

Lake Garda is wonderful. We also stayed in Sirmione, for 2 nights, before heading up to the Dolomites.

Hi,

My opinion, the scenery in the Alta Badia is better than the Val Gardena in general. So I think Corvara is a good choice.
From Cortina to Corvara should take about 1:30 hours tops. We've stayed in La Villa (Alta Badia) twice. Corvara is just 10 to 15 minutes from La Villa. Corvara sits at the start of both the Gardena and Campolongo Passes. The Gardena Pass, which connects the Alta Badia with Val Gardena, is our favorite drive in the area. If driving from Cortina d'Ampezzo to Corvara, stick with the route through the Alta Badia (San Cassiano, La Villa, Corvara). On the way, about 40 minutes west of Cortina, is the Lagazoui cable car trip. It's right on the road, you can't miss it. It's a quick ride right to the top. I'd stop for an hour and do this if it's a nice day.

http://www.dolomiti.org/dengl/cortin.../impianti.html

www.worldisround.com/articles/355539/index.html

www.worldisround.com/articles/324504/index.html

If interested, The Black Hill in Colfosco (right on the main road, 5 min. from Corvara) is excellent for dinner. The pizza is simply fantastic!

Paul

Thank you thank you thank for all your tips and help!! This forum is invaluable. I am taking all your suggestions with us!! And Kenav, we are staying in Sirimone too for our Lake Garda stay!!