Hello! I'm always looking for interesting places to go so I'm wondering about this area. I really don't know much about it so I'm just fishing for some preliminary info. Can anyone tell me about their experiences there? We really like nature, hiking and off the beaten path places and prefer to get about by public transportation. I admit that I haven't read any guide books about this yet so forgive the stupid question, but are the Dolomites solely in Italy? How do they compare with the alps around the Jungfrau region of Switzerland? Thanks!

We just drove through the Dolomites "on the way" from Verona to Venice (talk about fantastic scenic-overload!) There are some pictures in my travelogue at<BR>http://www.virtualtourist.com/m/.136035/167/?s=t if you're interested. I'm not sure about public transportation, although you could probably take a train to Bolzano and find a bus. Driving was quite enjoyable.

As far as I know the Dolomites are only in the northeast of Italy but they are part of the chain of Alps that run from France, Switz, Austria, etc. I've been to the Jungfrau area a couple of times and a number of times to the Dolomites. The Jungfrau area is more grand and spectacular, but I love the charm and the feeling of the Dolomites. You need to see some pictures of the green pastures interrupted by the jagged Dolomite peaks - very lovely. And the villages seem more "authentic" to me - not many American travelers and you will probably need to use some German and Italian. I would suggest the area around the Alpi di Siusi and the Val Gardena. I haven't been to Cortina but that area should be beautiful, too. There are LOTS of little villages, good walking and hiking trails and everythng is set up for the tourist. The tourist associations in the villages are very helpful. Lots of info on the internet. I will try to get back with some websites.

Try these websites:<BR>www.sudtirol.com/tourismo/index.html<BR>www.val-gardena.com<BR>www.provinz.bz.it<BR>www.hallo.com< BR>www.sad.it (website of buses out of Bolzano to surrounding villages)<BR><BR>One other difference between the Dolomites and the Jungfrau area is that lodging, transportation, etc. is much cheaper in the Dolomites. Bus transportion is easy and excellent.<BR>

Another difference is that the Italian side of the Alps is sunnier and drier. What it lacks in lush green meadows it makes up in great weather and dramatic rocky peaks.

The Dolomites are in southern Austria and North East Italy and they are beautiful. But in summer you definitely won't be alone.....