Camping in the Dolomites

Camping in the Dolomites is the best way to discover the wonderful mountain world of South Tyrol. The holiday resorts at the foot of the impressive mountain ranges are the perfect starting point for an active holiday with your motorhome. At Pincamp you will find the most beautiful campsites in the Dolomites.

Camping in the Dolomites: A dream mountain holiday in a World Heritage Site

Mighty rock formations, steep rocky peaks and impressive natural wonders such as the Cristallo Group, Sassolungo and the Three Peaks. A camping holiday in the Dolomites is an unforgettable experience. The campsites in the Dolomites are ideal for exploring the impressive mountain world of South Tyrol.

Rivers such as the Adige invite you to go on boat and bike trips. Along the tranquil river, holidaymakers can discover fertile valleys with idyllic villages and small towns. Visitors can learn more about the history of the Dolomites and their inhabitants at the Val Gardena Museum in Ortisei. Winter camping is also possible in the Dolomites: in the cold season, the slopes of the region are transformed into spectacular ski pistes.

Facilities at the campsites in the Dolomites

The holiday resorts and camping parks in South Tyrol are well equipped and promise a relaxing holiday in the midst of wonderful nature. Spacious comfort pitches offer plenty of space for caravans and motorhomes. Guests without their own motorhome can stay in a mobile home or holiday flat.

Most campsites have restaurants serving good Tyrolean cuisine. Camping accessories and other everyday necessities are available in the mini-market. Playgrounds for children, children's entertainment programmes and extensive wellness offers ensure that a camping holiday in South Tyrol is the best time of the year.

Popular regions for camping in the Dolomites

If you want to spend a camping holiday in the Dolomites, you are spoilt for choice. The following regions are among the most popular locations for campers.

Val di Fassa

The idyllic Val di Fassa is one of the most famous valleys in the Alps and offers visitors unique natural experiences. The Sella Group and the highest mountain in the Dolomites, the Marmolada, are just some of the attractions in Val di Fassa. The best way to explore the valley is on the dense network of hiking trails.

Alta Pusteria

Alta Pusteria is at least as well known. With the famous Three Peaks rock formation, Lake Braies and Lake Dobbiaco, Alta Pusteria offers a kind of best-of nature in the Dolomites. In summer, the area is a marvellous place for hiking. In winter, the Sesto Dolomites ski carousel offers perfectly groomed pistes and cross-country ski trails.

Sesto

The charming mountain village of Sesto is particularly popular with alpinists. In the immediate vicinity are some of the most famous peaks in the Dolomites as well as numerous via ferratas that lead to lofty heights. If you want to marvel at peaks such as Paternkofel or Rotwandspitze from above, Sesto is the right place for you!

Lake Braies

Lake Braies is also known as the "Pearl of the Dolomites" and plays an important role in the region's legends. In summer, guests can take a rowing boat out on the lake or walk along the shore on the circular hiking trail. Lake Braies is also ideal for mountain tours in the surrounding area. Among other things, the famous "Dolomites High Trail No. 1" starts here.

Venosta Valley

The Venosta Valley cultural region is located in the upper Adige Valley and offers plenty of variety. Active holidaymakers can explore the region on hiking and cycling trails such as the Adige Cycle Path. The Stelvio Pass road offers breathtaking views of the Ortler massif. Those interested in culture can visit the beautiful Marienberg Monastery and Glorenza/Glurns, the smallest town in South Tyrol.

How to get to South Tyrol

To get to the Dolomites by motorhome, holidaymakers drive to northern Italy. From Germany, the first stop is Innsbruck, where the motorway towards the Brenner Pass begins. Tolls must be paid for this section of the motorway. These are paid at one of the petrol stations behind the border, for example, and a valid toll sticker is issued.

After the Brenner Pass, travellers are already in South Tyrol. The Dolomites region begins south of Bruneck and Brixen with holiday resorts such as St. Vigil, Wolkenstein and Cortina d'Ampezzo. From the Italian A22 motorway, simply head east and you will soon find yourself in the Dolomite resorts.

Another option is the E66 motorway via Bruneck. From here, head south on free state roads such as the SS244 and SS51. On the motorways, users pay tolls at the exit. A ticket must be taken at the start of the road.

From Munich, it is around 320 km to the Dolomites. From Stuttgart, 480 km separate travellers from their destination, from Frankfurt 680 km and from Cologne 840 km. The distance from Berlin and Hamburg is 900 and 1060 kilometres respectively.

The most beautiful destinations in the Dolomites

Travellers will find a wide selection of winter sports resorts, climbing areas and hiking trails in the Dolomites. Good starting points for an active holiday with camping in the Dolomites include Corvara, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Selva di Val Gardena and Ortisei.

Cortina d'Ampezzo

This small town is best known as a winter sports paradise and the venue for the 1956 Olympic Games. However, away from the ski season, the province of Belluno is also a great place to go hiking. The peaks Tofana di Mezzo, Monte Cristallo and Punta Sorapiss, which are over 3,000 metres high, are particularly worth seeing.

Ortisei and the Val Gardena valley

The valley delights with its fertile slopes and beautiful alpine meadows that bloom colourfully in spring. Visitors can go on excursions up to the Sella and Gardena Passes, among others. Cycling tours along the Val Gardena stream and towards the Isarco river are also worthwhile. An insider tip is the glacial lake Lech dl Dragon in the Sella Group. The cultural centre is the municipality of Ortisei.

Corvara

Corvara, 1500 metres above sea level, is located in the Ladin Val Badia and fascinates with its proximity to the Puez-Geisler Nature Park. The reserve is ideal for excursions to the imposing mountain formations of the Sella Group and to clear mountain lakes. In the village itself you can visit historic farmhouses and the Gothic parish church of St Katharina.

Top 5 sights

• Three Peaks: The rock formation is formed by three striking monoliths that reach almost 3,000 metres.
• Alpe di Siusi: Europe's largest high alpine pasture is located just 20 kilometres north-east of Bolzano and is particularly worth seeing in spring.
• Höhlenstein Valley: The valley stretches for around 15 kilometres through the Dolomites and is a top excursion destination with its caves and lakes.
• Val Gardena: In the valley, travellers can gain an interesting insight into wood craftsmanship and traditional agriculture in places such as Ortisei and Selva.
• Italia ski jump: The site of the Winter Olympics is the landmark of Cortina d'Ampezzo.

Top 2 insider tips

• Lech dl Dragon: The so-called Dragon Lake forms in the summer months around the glacier landscape of the Sella Group. The excursion destination is located at an altitude of 2680 metres near Wolkenstein. The milky turquoise colour of the lake is remarkable.
• Val Badia road: On the legendary SS244 route through Val Badia, motorhome holidaymakers can enjoy magnificent views of the River Badia and mountains such as the Sasso Croce, Lagazuoi and Piz Boè. The tunnels and galleries dating back to the First World War are particularly worth seeing from a historical perspective.

Activities and excursions in the Dolomites

With their mighty mountain ranges, the Dolomites are the perfect place for hiking and mountaineering. At lower altitudes, visitors can also follow the rivers by bike.

Dolomite high-altitude trails

Among the most famous hiking routes in northern Italy are the ten Dolomite high-altitude trails, which allow you to get to know the region and its nature within one to three weeks. A classic is the Dolomites Alta Via No. 1 (Alta Via 1), which leads 150 kilometres from Lake Braies to Belluno with a comparatively easy route profile. With the family, you can walk the stages of the trail of myths and legends from Brixen to Feltre.

Climbing the Hexenstein

Climbing fans get their money's worth in many places in the Dolomites. The steep rock faces and rock needles are particularly enticing. Some of the best climbing areas in northern Italy include the Hexenstein, the Sesto Dolomites, the Delago Tower and the Alvera.

Cycling or mountain biking

The routes along rivers such as the Adige, the Rienza and the Badia are ideal for an extensive cycle tour. You will pass idyllic villages and small valley communities along the way. Mountain bikers can head up to the higher altitudes and follow one of the signposted trails down into the valley.

Events

There's a lot going on in the Dolomites, especially in the summer months. If you have time to spare, you shouldn't miss the following events and celebrations.

March - April

• Easter: Easter is an important celebration in Italy and the Alpine region. Especially in the small mountain villages of Trentino and South Tyrol, the inhabitants parade along streets and country lanes in processions. The highlight is the Passion processions on Good Friday.

April - May

• Flower market and speck festival: two of Bolzano's most popular festivals take place in April and May. Around Piazza Walther you can shop for artistic flowers and buy traditional products from the mountain farms of South Tyrol and the Dolomites at the Speck Festival.

June

• Oswald von Wolkenstein equestrian tournament: in Castelrotto, Fiè and Siusi, various equestrian teams compete against each other with their horses in various competitions in historical costumes.

July

• Maratona dles Dolomites: The largest cycling race in South Tyrol leads from Stern to Corvara and thus right through the Dolomites.

August

• Parades in Val Gardena: Val Gardena forms the backdrop for traditional parades in historical costumes. Every year, the event takes place alternately in one of the three villages of Ortisei, Santa Cristina and Selva.

Gastronomy

The cuisine in the Dolomites is primarily hearty and down-to-earth. Many of the ingredients come from the mountain farms in the region. For example, smoked and air-dried ham, pasture cheese and fresh butter are prepared here. The specialities go particularly well with crusty country bread. Popular side dishes are gnocchi and Bohemian-style dumplings as well as polenta. These go particularly well with roast pork and beef and creamy stews.

In many restaurants, guests are offered one of the regional wines to accompany their meal. Some of the best vines in Italy grow in the Adige and Isarco valleys in particular. Varieties such as Gewürztraminer, Ruländer and Pinot Blanc can be tasted during a visit to a wine cellar.

Best time to travel for a camping holiday in the Dolomites

The summer months are ideal for a hiking and activity holiday at one of the campsites in the Dolomites. Then the temperatures in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Selva di Val Gardena, Ortisei & Co. are around 22 degrees Celsius. At midday, the temperatures can be significantly higher. At high altitudes, travellers should bring wind and weatherproof clothing and sun protection.

The warmest months are July and August, although there are frequent rain showers, especially in July. If you want to see the blossoming alpine meadows, it is best to travel in spring. Around Easter and Whitsun, holidaymakers can expect a maximum of ten to 16 degrees Celsius and a veritable sea of flowers. In autumn, the colouring of the leaves in the forests is an attraction.