The Best Itinerary for a Weekend Hiking in the Heart of the Dolomites

For July 4th, we celebrated our freedom and American independence by traveling to our favorite place in Italy – the Dolomites. On our very last weekend living in Italy, we couldn’t have chosen a better spot. It’s all thanks to connections made through a Facebook group that I’m an admin/moderator of – Hike the Dolomites – that I learned about Rocca Bruna Dolomiti Bed & Breakfast. If only we had found this location earlier, we would have enjoyed many more weekends here!

After a fantastic weekend, I couldn’t wait to share all the details from our days at Rocca Bruna and in the Italian Dolomites. Below you will find the best itinerary for a 3 or 4-day summer weekend hiking and relaxing in the Dolomites. You can easily combine a few of the days or switch things around, but this should give you an idea of how long things will take – perfect to help plan your hikes and trip! The best time to visit the places I’m recommending are during the summer months through possibly October. For all hikes, I highly suggest checking webcams and weather reports. During the summer, always be prepared for the daily afternoon thunderstorm.

Day 1

Arrive at Rocca Bruna Dolomiti Bed & Breakfast

We drove from our previous home in Vicenza, Italy which took around 2.5 hours. The last 10 minutes of the drive were winding roads and switchbacks. I was gripping the seat super hard with each blind corner that Stephen rounded and only relaxed once we got to the parking lot. The view at the top will take your breath away though!

You should leave your car in the parking lot and then walk down the road until you find house number 8 – where you’ll see a fenced in garden. There, you will find a lovely bed and breakfast. We were pleasantly greeted by the “mascots”, Whiskey and Lex. Lex is a longhaired dachshund and Whiskey is the sweetest, recently adopted border collie. The yard/garden is fenced in and makes for the perfect spot to bring your dogs on holiday. They won’t have to stay cooped up in the bedrooms and have lots of room to safely roam.

We introduced ourselves to one of the owners, Charlotte, before receiving a warm tour of the place. Their home in the small mountain village of Caracoi Cimai has 2 large rooms, each with private bathrooms. On the ground floor is the breakfast and relaxation room, which also has a great fireplace and kitchen. The second floor is their private residence and the third floor where we stayed had a private bathroom and a large bedroom. The fourth floor/attic houses the family style apartment with a private bathroom and 2 bedrooms.

Our room was immaculate and super cozy. It was simple, yet romantic, with a king size bed and armchair plus plenty of space for our bags and the dogs. The best part was the view from the balcony directly towards Monte Civetta. I loved the little details like the cookies that were left on the dresser and the cotton pads and q-tips available for use in the bathroom. Speaking of the bathroom – you’ll find so much space and excellent lighting.

To save for our upcoming adventure to Asia, it was important that we didn’t spend a whole lot of money dining out, so we utilized the guest kitchen space in the house. We cooked dinner 2 out of the 3 nights we were there and easily found everything we needed to cook with – pots, pans, silverware, plates, etc. In the kitchen, you’ll also find a fully stocked fridge with a self tab/tally sheet. It’s full of Belgium beer, wine, sodas, and water. Take what you like and keep track until you check out!

Grab Lunch in Rocca Pietore

It was almost late afternoon by this point and one of the few places open was La Murada. Being a Thursday, they only had four items on their menu. The food was good enough but the view was the best part. We enjoyed sitting outside under the patio and devouring a light meal. We stopped by the Coop Market (grocery store) to pick up pork chops and risotto to cook for dinner before heading back up to the house.

Relax in the Garden at Rocca Bruna

I lounged on one of the sunbeds in the fenced-in garden in a tank top and shorts for the rest of the afternoon. In July, there was nothing but the sound of the dogs breathing heavily from playing so hard and the birds chirping in the trees nearby. The view of the Dolomites, more specifically Monte Civetta, in front of me was incredible. The pale grey rocks and their jagged structures seemed to join together with the clouds. Pockets of snow were still visible and rested on the loose scree just above the tree line. The view from Rocca Bruna’s yard is completely unobstructed and you can see so much of the valley and landscape before you.

Day 2

Rocca Bruna lies 10 minutes from the town of Alleghe and Lake Alleghe, where you’ll find sporting good stores, restaurants, shopping, and great bars. Charlotte and Hans, the owners, were so helpful in suggesting places to eat and hike. Our entire weekend was based on their excellent recommendations and they never steered us wrong! They keep plenty of maps, books & magazines to help you plan your perfect holiday. They’ve both had lots of experience with the nearby trails and are very knowledgeable when it comes to hiking in the Dolomites.

Breakfast at Rocca Bruna

We started the day off bright and early with a fantastic breakfast. Charlotte used to work in a bakery and we had a variety of items to choose from such as meats, cheeses, pastries with jams & butter, but also delicious sweets. With our bellies full, we packed up the dogs and headed out to a do a bit of hiking for the day.

Hike from Malga Ciapela to Malga Ombretta

A fantastic recommendation from Charlotte! It was an incredible hike through the valley behind the Marmolada; passing wildflowers, cows, marmots, and deer. Within a 25 minute drive from the B&B, you’ll arrive at the parking lot. I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn’t as crowded as most trails in the Dolomites during July.

Trail route:

The hike begins at a parking lot just before Camping Resort La Marmolada. Leave your car here (click for GPS) and walk along the road through the campsite and past Malga Ciapela Restaurant. You will follow trailhead signs for 610 and “Malga Ombretta”. The hike begins for a bit along the asphalt road with an easy nature hike but later turns into gravel/rock with a steeper incline. You’ll be in a forest for a bit, along the stream – if you have dogs, they’ll appreciate a nice cool down here – before ascending up the mountain for incredible views. The sharp-edged Dolomites are visible all around you, and you have a particularly fantastic view of the valley below the higher you go. You’ll reach a section where you’ll see the signs for “Malga Ombretta”, “Geographic center of the Dolomites” etc. and make sure you take this right. It won’t be long until the forest is behind you and you’ll find yourself in the middle of the meadows with Malga Ombretta in front of you and the Marmolada at your right.

At Malga Ombretta you can taste typical dishes and buy local products. They have outdoor seating and offer snacks like cold cuts and mixed meats/cheeses, yogurt, apple strudel, beer, wine, etc. The best part about this hike are the water refill stations and fresh streams along the way. Our dogs loved to lay down in the water and cool off, and we were able to top off our bottles multiple times! The total distance was ~15 km (<10 miles) and took us around 3.5 hours total, although probably less time without dogs to slow you down.

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Visit the Marmolada Glacier

The Marmolada is nicknamed the “Queen of the Dolomites” and it’s easy to see why with its year-round snow and majestic size. It stands at 3,269 meters tall and although some sites say that it is the only glacier of the Dolomites, that’s not entirely true. There are others, but this is, in fact, the largest. We took the cable car to the top of Punta Rocca (3269 m) from Funivie Marmolada for 30€ per person. To only go up to the second part is 24€ round trip. Dogs are allowed but note that they will make your larger sized dogs wear a muzzle (at least they did for ours) on all three lifts to the top. So be prepared!

At the second lift, there is a restaurant, museum, and gift shop. At the very top, you can walk out onto the glacier and hike, climb, via ferrata, etc. It’s a fantastic panoramic view of the surrounding Dolomites. They’re open every day from 9-4pm.

For more information, visit their website here.

Side note: Here’s my honest review of visiting the Marmolada. The view of the glacier is WAY better from the hiking route along Passo Pordoi/Viel del Pan. You don’t have to pay the steep costs for a tourist-filled ride up three gondolas. BUT, if you’re not interested in hiking and are down for views, DO IT! Info on hiking Viel del Pan here!

Have Lunch/Dinner in Alleghe

We had lunch at the brewery Bierstube Alleghe. It’s one of the only places around Alleghe with a kitchen always open. This place would also be a great spot for dinner. Pair it with a walk around the lake and shopping at the stores in town to complete your day!

Day 3

Drive Along Falzarego Pass, Hike Cinque Torri

On our second full day visiting the Dolomites, we ventured out a little more and headed towards Cortina d’Ampezzo – which is also one of my favorite places in the Dolomites! (Fun fact: they were just selected as the host city for the Winter 2026 Olympics!) Around Cortina d’Ampezzo you’ll find some of the most popular hiking trails in the Dolomites. Although we have completed most of them, Cinque Torri was still on my to-do list. About 1 hour and 15 minutes from the B&B along the Falzarego Pass, you’ll reach Rifugio Cinque Torri. You can park at the bottom of the road after you turn off the pass, or you can drive all the way up to Rifugio Cinque Torri – we chose this route. The parking is free but will fill up fast in the summertime, so get there early.

Trail route:

We meant to follow trail 425 but instead ended up cutting through the five towers on the Giro Delle Torri path to see the climbers up close. It’s a climbing paradise in there! There are lots of single track trails leading all over the place so it’s a great spot to just roam and explore. Amongst Cinque Torri, you’ll discover trenches, bunkers, artillery points, and more all with informational plaques about historical facts and stories. It’s a fascinating WWI site! From the trail are excellent panoramic views of Falzarego, Cortina, Punta Anna (one of our life-altering via ferrata routes), Tofana Rozes, and so many more! The trail is mostly gravel with some rocks that are super large, so you’ll want a good gripped hiking boot (these boots are my go to!). There are lots of trails going everywhere, making it easy to avoid the crowds, which even on a Saturday in July, we were pleasantly surprised were nothing like the other more popular sites in the Dolomites.

Tips:
There weren’t any water refill stations or streams along the route
The total distance was <4 km and took us about 1.5 hours total

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Have Lunch at Rifugio Scoiattoli

We reached Rifugio Scoiattoli (2255m) around 11:45, just in time to beat the lunch crowd. We made reservations and then were quickly seated with a view overlooking Passo Giau. Lunch starts at noon so I recommend getting there early. They have an extensive menu, but also great drinks and cold sandwiches. It’s more pricey, but the view is worth it.

Relax at Rocca Bruna (Afternoon Hike or Dinner Out)

We wore ourselves and the dogs out and wanted to take it easy for the rest of the afternoon. Our hope was to hike along Viel del Pan at sunset for a great view of the Marmolada Glacier. However, a huge thunderstorm and torrential downpour came up around 7 pm and we decided to go out to dinner instead. Pizzeria Caffe da Giorgio was one of the only places that we found was open that early and had available seating. Service was fast and the pizza was delicious.

Walk in the Fields Around Rocca Bruna

Around 8 pm, the skies cleared showcasing the most incredible array of clouds and sunset I’ve ever seen. They were like orange cotton balls, moving so fast I wanted to reach up and grab them to hold still. We walked through the fields for a closer look of the Marmolada and Civetta before settling in for the night.

Day 4: Final Day

Eat a Delicious Breakfast

It was a real treat on our last day as we had eggs, bacon, and fresh apple strudel made by Charlotte and Hans. We were sad to say goodbye to this little paradise in Rocca Pietore, but it was time for us to head home. Charlotte and Hans were excellent hosts and we hope that we can return there even after we’ve moved to Germany!

Hike Lago di Coldai

It was our intention to head to Cima di Coldai and hike to Lago di Coldai, but we decided against it and continued home instead. However, this would be a perfect last day hike on the way to your next destination. Park at Baita Scoiattolo and take the lift up to Col dei Baldi. From there, you follow 561 to 556 to Rifugio Coldai. Lago di Coldai will be just past the rifugio. This is an easy/moderate hike near the base of Monte Civetta!

You can find more details for the hiking route from someone who has actually hiked it here: https://wetravelhigh.com/en/lake-coldai/

Final Thoughts

I hope you’ve enjoyed this itinerary for summer hiking in the Dolomites and have found it useful to plan your next holiday! Although we are moving from Italy to Germany, we will continue to return to the beloved Dolomites where there is always a guarantee of fresh mountain air, hiking trails to explore, and delicious cuisines. If you have any comments or questions about the above itinerary, leave us a note below and we’ll do everything we can to help you plan your weekend trip!

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More Info About Rocca Bruna Bed & Breakfast

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