kenav

AndreaC - Sirmione is a big vacation town. The most amazing gelato. The gelato we had in Venice couldn't compare!

We stayed in a hotel that was inside the "castle" walls. We didn't think we could drive our car in there since the street was so narrow. But somehow we did it. If your hotel is not within the walls, you won't be allowed to drive in.

Sirmione is a really bustling town - but it is charming and the lake and surroundings are beautiful. BTW - There are Roman ruins about a 20 minute walk from the center of Sirmione. Definitely worth it.

pja1

Hi again,

From Cortina to Corvara is pretty easy... meaning no alpine passes, per say, to drive. Outstanding scenery though. Ortisei is a longer drive from Cortina due to driving the Gardena or Sella Passes. We've stayed in Alta Badia and made a day trip to Brixen/Bressanone from here plus have done the drive over the Gardena Pass numerous times. The Gardena Pass is a spectacular drive with amazing up close up Dolomite scenery. Don't miss it if possible.

My guess is, once you leave Cortina and head west, you'll be wowed by the Dolomites. We were!

Paul

AndreaC

Thanks Paul for that dolomite information. Yes we plan to drive the Gardena Pass and any other great pass we can fit in! It's great to be able to pick the brains of people who have already been there and experienced it.

Kenav, we are staying within the castle walls too. It sounded charming to do so. We are staying at Hotel Sirmione. Did you stay there by any chance?

HappyTrvlr

For the southwest side of Lake Garda, I recommend the beautiful town of Salo. Lovely spot with a 4k promenade along the lake. Italian friends recommended it to us. Not touristy.

jangita

Of all the Dolomiti towns which ones are the most "Italian"--culturally and language?

thanks.

bobthenavigator

None of them---it is really the Sud Tyrol of what was Austria and really still is culturally.

kenav

We didn't stay at the Hotel Sirmone; I believe it was the Hotel Catullo.

jangita

Looking for an Italian flavored town in the Dolomites, we finally went to Madonna di Campiglio and stayed at the wonderful Hotel Maribel. The hotel was nearly empty and the other folks there were Roman tourists escaping the heat. The easy hiking was beautiful with a photo op around every turn. The town was nothing much, however. It is nearly wall to wall hotels which I assume are full in ski season.

Cannot recommend the Hotel Maribel highly enough! Great food at the hotel, too. And all the staff is Italian.

UmoDiViaggio

agree with bobthenavigator: Cortina d'Ampezzo. a must see. one of my favorites ( they filmed a James Bond here and movie Cliffhager) circle north from Venice and drive the breathtaking Grande Strada delle Dolomiti, or Great Dolomite Road (65 miles: Belluno–Cortina d'Ampezzo–Pordoi Pass–Sella Pass–Val di Fassa–Bolzano).

Ride the cable car to the highest mountain rifugio at Lagazuoi with views reaching to the Austrian Alps, and walk through the World War I trenches.

AndreaC

Thank you all for the recent info!! 20 sleeps till we fly!