7 Most Beautiful Lakes in the dolomites near Cortina Di Ampezzo

If you’re trying to figure out which lakes to visit in the Dolomites near Cortina d’Ampezzo, this is where to start.

This guide covers the most beautiful lakes near Cortina d’Ampezzo—including Lago di Braies, Lago di Sorapis, Lago di Misurina, and a few that don’t get talked about as much, but more importantly, how to actually plan them in a way that makes sense.

Because yes, while you can hit multiple lakes in a day.

But that usually turns into rushing, parking stress, and spending more time moving between places than actually enjoying them.

I’ve visited these lakes on multiple trips and in multiple seasons—spring, summer, fall, and winter—while hiking in the Dolomites, training for Alta Via routes, and using Cortina as a base.

This isn’t a checklist.

It’s a realistic way to experience the best lakes in the Dolomites near Cortina—without wasting time or burning yourself out.

Don’t Try to Do This All in One Day

I’m going to say this plainly:

Do not try to visit all of these lakes in one day.

I’ve seen the itineraries. I’ve seen the reels.

“Do Sorapis, then Misurina, then Braies, then Landro…” No.

You can do it, but it turns into parking stress, crowds, and constantly watching the clock instead of actually enjoying anything.

The Dolomites are not an Instagram loop, and the faster you stop treating them like one, the better your trip will be. Some of my best moments here weren’t about the lakes themselves.

They were:

• sitting longer than planned
• catching the sunset without rushing off
• walking slowly with nowhere else to be

If you’re basing yourself in Cortina, give this area at least 3 days and build your time around actual experiences—not checkboxes.

1. Lago di Sorapis: Water like Blue Gatorade

I’ve done Lago di Sorapis once, and that was enough.

Not because it’s not worth it, but because this hike demands your attention.

Located in the Sorapiss Group, just southeast of Cortina d’Ampezzo, near Passo Tre Croci, There are steep sections, narrow ledges, and real drop-offs in parts. It’s not something you casually walk through, especially if you’re not comfortable with exposure.

Sunset here is beautiful, but if you’re staying late, make sure you bring a headlamp. This isn’t a trail you want to be navigating in the dark, unprepared.

How to Hike Lago di Sorapis

The hike to Lago di Sorapis starts at Passo Tre Croci, just outside Cortina d’Ampezzo. I have written a full blog post about my experience that I think you’ll enjoy: Hiking to Lago Di Sorapis Solo. You can also read my article I wrote for Stars and Stripes Europe on this wonderful hike!

It’s about an 8-mile round trip, and if you’re driving, get there early; parking on the side of the road fills up fast. There’s also a bus option if you don’t want to deal with it!

The trail starts in the forest and gradually climbs, but there are sections with narrow ledges and steel cables.

It’s well-secured, but if you don’t like exposure or heights, this is something to think twice about.

• Park roadside at Passo Tre Croci
• Total: about 3–4 hours
• Lago di Sorapis looks unreal on Instagram, but don’t let that bright blue fool you.
• By late summer into autumn, the lake can shrink quite a bit so keep this in mind and plan your hike to Lago di Sorapis accordingly!

You’ll see people online trying to stack this with multiple lakes in the same day—usually Sorapis, then Misurina, then Braies. Don’t do that.

You’re either rushing the hike, rushing the lakes, or both.

This is one of those places where rushing it completely ruins the point of being there.

If you’re doing Sorapis, let it be the focus. Stay longer than you think you should. Enjoy the trail—not just the lake.

2. Lago di Braies (The most popular!)

Lago di Braies sits in Val di Braies (Pragser Tal), just off Val Pusteria in eastern South Tyrol. It’s part of the Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park, which also includes spots like Prato Piazza. I have been to Lago di Braies five times—across spring, summer, and winter. If you’re looking for a great place to stay in this area, check out my blog post on Where to Stay Before The Alta Via 1 and my favorite Hotels in the Dolomites

This is worth seeing, especially if it’s your first trip to the Dolomites. Lago di Braies is also the stuff of legends. There’s a local legend that the lake acts as a gateway to the underground Kingdom of Fanes, one of the earliest known cultures in this region. It’s a story that comes up often in South Tyrolean folklore.

Supposedly, toward the end of World War II, the Nazis sank it here before everything collapsed.

No one’s ever confirmed it, but the setting makes it feel just believable enough.

The lake wasn’t exactly untouched during that time either. The hotel sitting right on the water—Hotel Lago di Braies—was used during the war and is still there today.

In 1945, it became part of something very different, helping facilitate the release of over a hundred concentration camp prisoners, including relatives of Claus von Stauffenberg. (View this Video by AP for more information)

So yeah—between the history and the setting, it’s one of those places where the stories don’t feel completely disconnected from reality

But here’s the honest version most guides won’t say:

• Summer feels chaotic
• Parking at Lago di Braies is regulated (you’ll need to book ahead)
• You may need a shuttle—even in winter holidays

How to Walk Around Lago Di Braies

The experience changes a lot depending on when you go. Shoulder season and winter feel completely different—but peak summer is where most people end up, and it shows.

The full loop takes about 1 hour and is 3.5 km long, and Lago Di Braies is also the starting point for Alta Via 1. You get some phenomenal views if you hike up to Seekofel!

Start on the left side of the lake (western side) and follow the signs for “Giro del Lago.” The path is easy to follow the whole way.

This isn’t a hard walk. Parts of it are smooth enough for strollers, and overall, it’s very manageable.

You’ll move in and out of wooded sections with the lake always right there beside you, and there are plenty of spots to stop—rocks, benches, random pull-offs where people just sit and take it in.

How To Rent A Boat at Lago Di Braies

If you’re not in the mood to walk—or you’ve already done the loop—another option is renting one of the wooden rowboats.

The boathouse (La Palafitta) runs rentals from late spring through early fall:

• €50 for 45 minutes
• Up to 5 people per boat
• Rough hours: 10:00–17:00 (longer in peak summer)

Kids are allowed, but anyone under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

It’s one of the more “classic Braies” things to do—but just know you’ll be sharing it with a lot of other people, especially in summer.

When to Visit Lago di Braies

You’ll probably be tempted to visit Lago di Braies in summer, but you know what I recommend? You ready for this? Fall!

You’re not dealing with the same level of restrictions that come with peak season.

Also, if you don’t want to see the lake completely frozen, avoid late November through early spring. However, I do have to say, it’s very interesting to walk on the lake in the wintertime! We took our dog here in December, and she loved it. Please know that you are taking a risk here, I could hear the ice cracking towards the center of the lake!

My Advice for Visiting Lago Di Braies

Braies is right off the main road, which makes it one of the easiest lakes to get to, and that’s exactly why it gets overrun with tour groups.

If you want to enjoy it without dealing with crowds, go early.

And I mean early.

• Summer: aim for 6:00–7:00 AM
• Off-season: around 7:00–8:00 AM is usually fine

You’ll still see photographers, but it’s a completely different experience than showing up mid-morning.

Go early, walk it, take it in—then leave before it turns into chaos.

3. Lago di Misurina (The One You Don’t Rush)

I’ve been through Misurina more times than I can count.

On the way to Dobbiaco for the Krampus run. During training for my solo hikes on Alta Via 1 and Alta Via 2. Staying nearby at Hotel Sorapiss while hiking solo around Tre Cime.

I’ve seen it in every season, spring, summer, fall, and winter, and it holds up in all of them.

How to Hike Lago Di Misurina

The Lago di Misurina loop is one of the easiest walks you can do in the Dolomites. Seriously!

If you want the views without committing to a hike, this is the place to do it.

Lago di Misurina is fine for pretty much everyone; families, strollers, wheelchairs, and dogs are fine too, just keep them on a leash.

There are benches and places to sit along the way, and you’ll move between open lake views and some shaded sections. It’s not a hike, it’s just a really good, easy walk.

The lake looks good the whole way around, but the southern end is where it stands out most.

From there, looking north, you get a clear view toward Tre Cime di Lavaredo. It’s one of the better viewpoints in the area without having to hike to get there.

Parking for Lago di Misurina: paid parking with a great view over the lake (€2/hour or €14 for the day). There are a few benches, but it’s small, so getting a spot really comes down to timing and luck.

While staying at Hotel Sorapiss, I’d walk this loop for recovery or just to get out and move—a proper Italian passeggiata after a big meal. It’s the kind of walk that actually resets you.

One evening in April, I caught a sunset here, and it completely changed how I saw this lake. While Lago di Misurina is not as dramatic as Sorapis or Braies, it definitely has a purpose.

You can also fly a drone here, but check Italy’s regulations before putting anything up.

And hey, just so you know, that building across the lake with the dramatic alpine views is the Pius XII Institute, which is now closed. This was a place for the treatment of childhood bronchial asthma.

4. Lago di Landro (Easy Stop—If You Don’t Miss It)

Lago di Landro is one of those places you almost drive past. Parking at Lago di Landro is easy to miss. Blink, and you’ve gone too far.

I’ve stopped here three times—and it’s always worth it.

But what makes it interesting isn’t just the lake.

It’s what’s around it. You can hike around Lago di Landro or extend your time and hike to Tre Cime Di Lavaredo.

This sits right near Monte Piana—an area full of WWI history and hiking routes. It’s also the starting point for several hikes I cover in my “5 hikes near Cortina” post.

Most people don’t realize that—they just stop, take a photo, and leave.

• Time: ~40 minutes
• Parking for Lago Di Landro costs 2 euros per hour.

In winter, the lake can freeze over, and people walk on it at their own risk. Our dog loves this area and we usually stop here to let her out for walks when we are up in the area. It’s a bright glacial blue and a perfect nature walk that connects you to other Hikes in the area. I say plan to go further and hike up Monte Piana.

Quick stop—but if you understand the area, it feels completely different.

5. Lago di Dobbiaco (Better Than You Expect—Especially in Winter)

I didn’t expect much from Lago di Dobbiaco the first time.

But visiting in winter changed that. There’s something about the stillness, the snow, and even the horse-drawn carriages that makes it feel completely different from the lakes everyone else is posting. The fog that rolled over this lake made my husband and me feel as if we were in another world.

• Parking: Parcheggio Lago di Dobbiaco
• Time: ~1 hour
• €1 per hour to park.
• DO NOT USE THE APP TO PAY FOR PARKING HERE, IT’S MORE EXPENSIVE!
• Don’t forget to put the ticket on your windscreen.

There’s a trail that leads from the Dobbiaco/Toblach train station to Dobbiaco that is perfect for walking and biking. We walked part of this during a weekend we were in Dobbiaco for the Krampus run.

During the summer time, if you do walk this, you can walk/hike/bike to a nearby waterfall, and the Sarlgraben Bunker

6. Lago Federa (My Favorite)

Lago Federa is located just southwest of Cortina d’Ampezzo, in the Croda da Lago area.

It’s about a 15–20 minute drive from Cortina to the main trailheads (like Ponte de Ru Curto), followed by a 1.5–2 hour hike up to the lake.

The Hike to Lago Federa is one I had been waiting for because of how beautiful it can be in the fall. Seriously, it’s stunning in the fall, especially at sunrise!

I wrote about my hike to Lago Federa/G. Palmieri last fall, and I highly, highly recommend it. Staying in a rifugio in the Dolomites has its perks, especially when you stay at a rifugio like Croda Lago in the fall!

I planned a 3-day fall hiking trip to Cortina partly around this lake, and it delivered in a way the others didn’t.

For Reference:

Quieter. Slower. Actually, peaceful in a way, the more famous lakes aren’t. Fewer hikers and tourists around, and the reflections that come off the lake are guaranteed to make you emotional.

If I had to recommend just one lake from this list, this would be it.

7. Lago Ghedina (Optional—But a Good Add-On)

If you’re short on time, This on is perfect. I find that this makes for a perfect recovery hike. There is even a guy who sells gelato on the route! I did write about this hike, 5 Beautiful Hikes Near Cortina

Lago Ghedina is just outside Cortina d’Ampezzo—about a 10–15 minute drive from town.

You can drive straight to the lake, which makes it one of the easiest stops in the area.

But if you want more out of it, you can also turn it into a longer walk or loop from Cortina, which I’d recommend.

You get great views of Cortina and the surrounding peaks without committing to anything intense. I was staying at Nord Hotel and just started hiking from there. You can find the Komoot Route HERE.

Your Hike will start off fairly easy, and it’s definitely something that you can do as an easy day hike with different approaches. I am hesitant to post about this lake on Instagram because it is tiny, at the base of Cima Tofana di Mezzo, and so beautiful.

You can grab lunch at Ristorante Saliola al Lago Ghedina or continue into Cortina.

How to Plan Your Dolomites Lakes Around Cortina d’Ampezzo

If you’re planning to visit the best lakes near Cortina d’Ampezzo, focus on a few key stops instead of trying to see everything.

This area includes some of the most beautiful lakes in the Dolomites—like Lago di Braies, Lago di Sorapis, Lago di Misurina, Lago Federa, and Lago Ghedina—but they’re best experienced over multiple days.

Base yourself in Cortina, plan your days around 1–2 lakes at a time, and allow extra time for hikes like Lago di Sorapis and Lago Federa.

Avoid trying to visit all of these lakes in one day. Instead, prioritize timing, parking, and realistic travel distances to make the most of your trip.

FAQ: Lakes Near Cortina d’Ampezzo

With a simple plan and the right pacing, visiting the Dolomites lakes near Cortina d’Ampezzo becomes much more manageable—and a lot more enjoyable.