A friend's daughter is studying this year in Florence and a group of them would like to go hiking in the Dolomites for a weekend. We were just in the Dolomites this July so she asked me for advice - we stayed in Castelrotto but we had a car. My instinct said you could probably get a train from Florence to Bolzano and then a bus from there, but I wasn't absolutely certain if that was the case or if it was the best way. So, what would you recommend they do using public transportation and what area of the Dolomites? We loved the Suisi de Alpi and Via Gardena area. Also, how late in Oct. could they go and not worry about the snow? and if they wait until spring when is the earliest they could go?
Thanks!

I have mixed feelings about some information offered by Rick Steves, but he offers excellent information about how to reach and tour the Dolomites without a car. While this link provides a little info, his Italy guide offers an entire chapter on how to visit this area.

http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/desti...ly/598ital.htm

You can take a train to Padua then go by train and bus to Cortina d'ampezzo - only the last portion is by bus from the train station where the train line ends. I have done it from Padua and once in Cortina - one of Italy's most popular Alpine resorts - you can take buses around easily enough.

Or if you want to go to Bolzano then you can switch there to a recently re-opened rail line to Merano and Malles, two more primo Alpine resorts.

Yes, train to Bolzano and then bus to the Val Gardena is the best route. It gets expensive during ski season---I would try to go in Oct. and hike the Alpe du Suisi.

There is a direct train from Florence to Bolzano. And then you have to take a bus from Bolzano to Castelrotto/Ortisei: http://www.sii.bz.it/en/orari_downlo...3&a=2011-06-18.
Summer season at the Alpe di Siusi starts at the end of May.