liesel

Hello,

My husband and I will be taking a cruise that departs from Venice in May. We have decided to fly into Munich, drive through Austria (via Innsbruck) and the Dolomites and end in Venice for the cruise. Can anyone recommend a beautiful, scenic, small town, route/drive from Innsbruck through the Dolomites to Venice? We've done some research and there seem to be a few different routes to take. We unfortunately don't have much time as we arrive in Munich on Friday, May 3 (7am) and need to be in Venice on Sunday night. Yes, most of our time will be in the car and we understand this. We are driving and won't be taking any trains. Since we are limited with time we know that this particular trip will be mostly scenic driving with a few stops to visit the smaller towns.

Can anyone recommend a driving route - or some small towns/must sees in the Dolomites that aren't to be missed?

Thank you for your help!

bobthenavigator

I would exit the Brenner road for the Val Gardena and stay in the charmimg village of Ortisei. The next day you take the Dolomite road via the Sella Pass to Arabba and eventually to Cortina. If you have 2 overnites then that is your 2nd.

The other issue is the hefty car drop surcharge---are you aware of that?

liesel

HI Bob - thank you for your response! I have two questions for you:

1. Do you recommend Ortisei and Arabba over Brunico?

2. Do you recommend any stops south of Cortina before we hit Venice?

Unfortunately, I am aware of the hefty drop-off and have looked into what it will be.

Thank you so much for your help!

logos999

1. No need to think twice St. Ulrich /Seiser Alm / Kastelruth are a lot nicer than Bruneck.

2. Driving will feel like and in fact take forever. It'll be SLOW. Cortina is a must.

liesel

Hi Logos,
Thank you for your response! After looking over all the towns, Ortisei and Arabba definitely win over Brunico. I'm guessing driving is really slow due to we are driving through the Alps? Should we be concerned that any of the roads will be closed due to snow/ice since we are going the 1st week of May?

Thank you so much!!

logos999

Most likely, everything will be open but who knows. Look here:

http://www.suedtirol.com/verkehr/berg-paesse
(Couldn't find the link in English)

You likely will be driving on dry roads with walls of snow on both sides for a few km at least.

Really slow due to "the long and winding road" with lots of traffic. I killed the radiator and the gearbox of my first car up there... Transmission oil mixed with water. Things you don't forget.... LOL

bobthenavigator

No question---the drive from Val Gardena[Google that term]to Cortina is an easy but scenic drive. Here are some of our shots going the opposite direction. There is not much to see after Cortina.

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

liesel

Thank you Logos and Bob!! Bob, your pictures are beautiful! I can't wait to see the area. We are going to take this route and have decided to stay in Kastelruth and visit Ortisei. Our second night we will stay in Cortina and then drive directly to Venice. Although the hotel we wanted in Kastelruth is booked so we may end up staying in Ortisei.

Logos, I really hope we don't have your luck with the radiator.

Thank you both again!

pja1

Hi,

I agree with BOB. Stay in the Val Gardena instead of Kastlruth. I'd also skip staying in Cortina and if you wanted a second night in the Dolomites, stay in the Alta Badia.

My drive would be from the Val Gardena, over the Gardena Pass (our favorite drive) through the Alta Badia (Colfosco, La Villa, S. Cassiano, etc.) to Cortina and then to Venice. If spending a second night, stay in the Alta Badia and then drive the Giau Pass to Cortina and then to Venice.

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

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

We can recommend both:

In Val Gardena:
www.garniariston.com

In Alta Badia;
www.montanara.it

Paul