I am looking for advice on a scenic drive through the Dolomites. We will be coming from Venice and after the Dolomites will be going to Lake Como (southern Switzerland). I would like to leave Venice on a Friday midday, spend Friday night in the Dolomites, Saturday in the Dolomites, Saturday night in the Dolomites and then get on a train Sunday around noon to go to Lake Como. We are looking for a VERY scenic drive through an area that will give us a good taste of the Dolomites. We aren't looking for lots of action...more like a peaceful, beautiful break in our hectic 2 week trip. The group (2 couples) loves the mountains and little mountain towns (like Wengen, Switzerland), but also like comfortable accommodations (no hostels).

I'm assuming it may be better to take a train on Friday afternoon to get us into the Dolomites and then rent the car once we get there. (or is Venice within easy driving distance?) I'd like to find a large town for our base where we would take train into, rent car in , and then return to two days later for our train trip to Lake Como. I'm assuming that our car rental would be for a pick up/drop off at the same place so a circular route is probably in order. Our two night stay in the Dolomites could be in the same place or in two different places.

From previous research it seems Bolzano may be a good place to get off the train from Venice and use as the start/stop of our 2 day driving loop. Is Bolzano a good choice or is there a better town that is accessible by train from Venice for our start/stop point?

Maybe a better way to ask this question is to ask what is the most picturesque part of the Dolomites and I'll figure out how to get there.

Hopefully I haven't confused you w/ all these questions. Thank you very much for any advice you can give.

Wekiva - If you have a car there are some lovely excursions from the Ortisei/Castelrotto area - either of which make a fine base for a couple of nights.

Either are about one hour's drive from Bolzano (- which would be your best place from which to hire a car).

Here's the drive I'd recommend:

SELLA & 4 PASSES TOUR (100km/63miles approx)

Route:-
Castelrotto-Ortisei-Selva di Val Gardena-SELLA PASS-Pordoi Pass-(SASS PORDOI** cable car)-Arabba-Campolongo Pass-CORVARA-Colfosco-GARDENA PASS-Ortisei-Castelrotto.

The SELLA and GARDENA Passes are 2 of the most spectacular in the Dolomites.

Don't miss the SASS PORDOI cable car ride (from Pordoi Pass) for awesome panoramic views!
There is a cafe/restaurant with picnic tables at the top.

The villages en route also make nice stops, especially Corvara, Colfosco and Ortisei.

There are also several fine cable-car rides from the Val Gardena villages of Selva, Santa Cristina and Ortisei. (If you plan to do 3 or more rides it's best to get a day-pass ...)

There are other great drives from Ortisei/Castelrotto - but if you only do one tour, THIS is the one!

Hope this helps ...

Steve

I agree with all Steve has said--hard to beat that region. But, why not drive from Venice and drop the car in Como when you get there---why the trains?

Steve

Thanks so much for the detailed reply. I am a bit confused by the information you gave me though. Especially the difference between town names and the names of passes or mountians. You mention a Ortisei/Castelrotto drive but also mention Corvara which from my research is not near the drive you are talking about. I'm sorry for the confusion. Could you list the towns along the route you are discussing and then list things to see along the route instead of listing them all togther...does this make sense?

Thanks a lot for the help.

Wekiva

Bob

Thanks for your input. I guess I need to check the differnece in price between the train and a rental car. I thougth it cost a lot more to rent a car from one location and drop it off at another.

We will be getting the EuroDrivePass which gives you a set number of rail days and a set number of car rental days.

Last time we went to Europe we loved the trains so much it just seemed easier/more relazing to take a train from Venice to Como/Lugano with a 2 day rental car trip in the Dolomites along the way.

Wekiva,
Most signs in this region of Italy are posted in 2 or 3 languages.....places have a 'few' different names!
It is gorgeous......and I agree...DRIVE from Venice.
Bolzano is a city......you want to wake up in the mountains...somewhere with a fantastic view!!
We love Hotel Uhrerhof....www.uhrerhof.com
Keep in mind that the prices posted include breakfast & a 4 course dinner.....fabulous food....incredible views!!
You'll fall in love with this region..have a terrific time!!

We made a similar drive in the opposite direction a few years ago, from Bolzano to Cortina over the Great Dolomite Road, passing through Canazei, Arabba, and Passo Pordoi, and then down to Venice. The view down into the Cortina valley from the west would alone make the whole trip worthwhile.

That route through the Dolomites from Cortina would be sort of somewhat overlapping with and somewhat parallel to but just a bit south of the route mentioned by other posters. I haven't driven the Ortisei route (may ski there this winter, actually) but I'm sure it's equally lovely. I agree that driving from Venice would be the best way to go, dropping the car in Bolzano or perhaps Trento depending on your schedule.

One other question I forgot to ask...how will the roads and trails be in mid May? That is the timeframe for the discussion above. Will all the roads be open...I'm assuming so. We won't have room to carry hiking boots and I'm wondering if some of the trails will have some snow left on them making hiking w/ tennis shoes problematic.

I agree, don't bother with the train. The extra drop-off fees are a problem when you change countries, but not if you stay in Italy.

We found it an easy half-day drive from Venice to Bolzano, including a long stop for lunch in Verona -- it would be just a few hours if you went directly.

Bolzano is a great base -- be sure to visit the Archeological Museum, which houses the Ice Man. The castle in Castelrotto makes a nice excursion, also.

You shouldn't have snow in mid-May below about 2000 metres. Little excursions on foot around the lower slopes are certainly doable, remembering of course to choose the slopes that face south.

There is a nice easy walk from Welschnofen (Nova Levante) down to the Karersee (Lake Carezza).

Another nice walk, but more taxing, is to get the chairlift from Vigo di Fassa up to Ciampedie (1998m) and do the circular track north-east of here called the Fassa High Trail (No. 543).

A nice chairlift excursion is from Campitello up into the Col Rodella at 2485m, from where you enjoy stunning views. But any hiking here would be out of the question.

If you do decide to take a car you must test your nerve on the breathtaking hairpins of the road from Canazei up to the Sella Pass and beyond.

Enjoy
Harzer

Wekiva - Unfortunately I think you'll find many of the lifts closed in mid-May. But you can still reach some lovely hiking areas by car - such as the Alpe di Siusi ...

Steve