14 Things to Do in the Dolomites in Winter (2026): A Non-Skier’s Guide

Are you planning a winter trip to the Dolomites and wondering what there is to do if you don’t ski? Or maybe someone in your group skis and you’re trying to figure out how you’ll spend your days while they’re on the slopes.

I don’t ski. I snowshoe, I walk, and I eat at rifugios. After three years in Italy and several winters in the Dolomites, based in Cortina and Val Pusteria, I can tell you a non-skier has more to do here in winter than days in a week.

This guide covers the winter activities I’ve done myself, from snowshoeing around Cinque Torri to tobogganing, snowmobiling, and walking around Lago di Braies in the snow. You’ll also find the 2026 to 2027 season dates, the road rules that catch people out, where to stay, and what to pack.

Why Visit the Dolomites in Winter (Even If You Don’t Ski)

Summer gets the attention, but winter is when the Dolomites are easiest to enjoy on your own terms. Trails that are packed in August are quiet. The lakes freeze. Mountain huts that stay open serve hot lunches to skiers, snowshoers, and walkers alike, so nobody misses out on the best part of the day.

You also get things you can’t do in summer: groomed winter walking paths, toboggan runs, snowmobile tours, Christmas markets, and centuries-old Krampus runs. The ski areas run lifts that non-skiers can ride too, so you can reach the high viewpoints without clipping into anything.

When to Go: Dolomites Winter Season Dates for 2026 to 2027

The right month depends on what you want to do.

• Late November to early December: Christmas markets open (the Bolzano Christmas Market runs November 26, 2026 to January 6, 2027) and Krampus runs happen in the first week of December. Snow cover can be thin at lower elevations.
• Lift season: Dolomiti Superski opens its first areas on November 28, 2026, with Alta Badia, Val Gardena and Val di Fassa following on December 4. Cortina and 3 Cime Dolomiti dates were still to be confirmed at the time of writing.
• December 25 to January 6: The busiest and most expensive stretch. Book hotels and tours well ahead.
• Mid-January to February: Reliable snow, colder days, and quieter trails after the holidays. This is my pick for snowshoeing.
• March: Longer, sunnier days with snow still on the ground up high. Most lifts run into early April.

1. Go Snowshoeing Around Cinque Torri

Snowshoeing was what made winter in the Dolomites click for me. I booked a guided day near Cinque Torri and stayed overnight in Cortina beforehand. My guide met me early at Passo Falzarego, just as the first light hit the peaks, and we set off at a slow, steady pace that suited the conditions.

We snowshoed around the base of Cinque Torri, a landscape layered with World War I history. Trenches carved into the rock now sit under the snow, and my guide shared stories of the soldiers who lived and fought up here. The views toward the Tofane were huge, but what stayed with me was how closely she watched the weather and the people around us. She talked openly about winter rescues, most of them caused by people underestimating conditions or heading out without the right gear.

We stopped at Rifugio Scoiattoli, where skiers and snowshoers cross paths, then had lunch at Rifugio Averau, one of the highest huts in the Nuvolau group. A hot meal and a Bombardino by the window while snow came down outside is still one of my favorite winter moments here. The whole outing took about 4.5 hours and covered roughly four miles (6.5 km) with plenty of stops.

What Snowshoeing in the Dolomites Is Like

• Difficulty: Beginner-friendly with a guide. If you can walk for a few hours, you can snowshoe.
• Distance: Most guided outings cover 3 to 5 miles (5 to 8 km).
• Gear: Snowshoes and poles are usually included. Confirm when you book.
• Why a guide: Routes change with avalanche conditions and fresh snow. A guide adjusts the route on the day, which you can’t do on your own without local knowledge.

The guide I used no longer offers that exact tour, but this guided snowshoe day out of Cortina covers similar terrain. You can check dates and prices on Viator, or see the GetYourGuide option below.

2. Walk Around Lago di Braies in the Snow

Lago di Braies in winter is a completely different place from its summer postcard self. The lake is often frozen, the boathouse is quiet, and the surrounding forest is buried in snow. My husband, our dog, and I walked here the morning after the Dobbiaco Krampus Run, and it was the calmest stop of the whole weekend.

The loop around the lake is about 2.2 miles (3.5 km) and mostly flat. In winter, the path is packed snow and ice, so microspikes make a big difference, especially in the morning. You’ll see people walking out on the ice. I’d be careful, since the surface isn’t uniformly thick and conditions change throughout the season.

The summer access restrictions don’t apply in winter, so you can drive and park at the lake. The whole weekend, including Braies, is laid out in my 3-day Val Pusteria winter itinerary. For more lakes in the area, see my guide to the most beautiful lakes near Cortina.

3. Walk Up to Prato Piazza

Prato Piazza (Plätzwiese) is a high, open plateau at around 2,000 meters above the Braies valley, with views straight across to the Croda Rossa. It’s one of my favorite winter walks in the area because you get big mountain scenery without technical terrain, and there are huts on the plateau for lunch.

You can walk up from the parking area at Ponticello (Brückele), take the paid shuttle, or drive. Last winter, cars could only drive up before 10 a.m. and after 3 p.m., with a limit of 100 cars, a toll, and winter tires or chains required. Those rules ran from late December to early April. Check the Braies municipality website for the 2026 to 2027 rules before you go.

4. Walk Val Fiscalina to Rifugio Fondovalle

Val Fiscalina, above Moso in Sesto, is the easiest beautiful winter walk I know in the eastern Dolomites. The route follows a flat, wide valley floor to Rifugio Fondovalle (Talschlusshütte), surrounded by peaks on three sides. It’s about 2.8 miles (4.5 km) one way and works well for walkers who don’t want any climbing at all.

The hut closes in late autumn and usually reopens in the last week of December, so check its opening dates if lunch there is the goal. Both this walk and Prato Piazza are easy to reach from a Val Pusteria base.

5. Take a Winter Walk Near Tre Cime di Lavaredo

Tre Cime in winter feels raw and dramatic. The full summer circuit isn’t always safe or accessible, so stick to short, well-traveled routes or go with a guide. On the same Krampus weekend, my husband, our dog and I did a short winter walk in the area, and this is the route we took.

Traction is essential here. Avalanche risk and access conditions change through the season, so check the local avalanche bulletin before you go.

6. Walk Across Alpe di Siusi

Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm) is Europe’s largest high-altitude alpine meadow, and in winter it has groomed walking paths with constant views of the Sassolungo and Sciliar. The terrain is gentle and wide open, so it suits relaxed walks more than hikes. Most days, waterproof boots and microspikes are enough. You don’t need snowshoes on the groomed paths.

Plan your access before you go. In winter, the road from Siusi up to the plateau is closed to traffic from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for everyone except hotel guests staying up top. Day visitors take the cable car from Siusi, which covers 4.4 km in about 15 minutes, or come up from Ortisei. You don’t have to walk the whole route below. Pick a section and turn around when you’re ready.

7. Ride a Snowmobile Near Tre Cime

I did a guided snowmobile tour in the Tre Cime area, and it’s the most fun way to cover a lot of snowy ground fast. You ride behind a guide on set routes, so you don’t need any experience, and most tours stop at a mountain hut for lunch or a warm drink.

Snowmobiling is best for travelers who want an adrenaline day instead of a walking day. Tours range from about 90 minutes to half a day. Dress for wind, because it’s much colder on a moving snowmobile than on foot. If you’re based in Bolzano, this private snowmobile, sledding and Great Dolomites Road tour covers all three in one day.

8. Go Tobogganing (and Stay for Lunch)

Tobogganing is a big part of winter life here, and it’s one of the easiest activities for non-skiers to join. I’ve done the toboggan-and-lunch combination, which is the classic way to do it: walk or ride a lift up to a hut, eat, then sled back down.

Runs are marked and groomed, and you can rent sleds at most huts or in the valley. Go slower than you think you need to, especially on icy afternoons, and wear proper boots, since your feet are your brakes. Staying in Bolzano? This guided winter hiking and sledding day handles the gear and the route for you.

9. Eat at a Rifugio and Order a Bombardino

Rifugio lunches are the best part of a winter day in the Dolomites, and you don’t need to ski to have one. Many huts near the lifts stay open all season and serve skiers, snowshoers and walkers at the same tables. My lunch at Rifugio Averau after snowshoeing around Cinque Torri is the one I still think about.

Order a Bombardino while you’re there. It’s a hot drink of egg liqueur and brandy, usually topped with whipped cream, and it’s the classic après-ski order across the Italian Alps. If you’re curious about staying overnight in a hut, my guide to the Rifugio Lagazuoi overnight stay covers what a night up high is like.

10. Book a Spa Afternoon

A spa afternoon is how I like to end a cold day in the mountains. Many hotels in Cortina, Alta Badia and Val Pusteria have saunas, steam rooms and indoor pools, and some sell day passes to non-guests. If wellness matters to you, filter for a spa when you book your hotel, because it turns a snowy afternoon into one of the best parts of the trip. If your hotel doesn’t have one, you can book a Dolomites spa experience on its own.

The Best Spas in the Dolomites

A quick note on this list: apart from Hotel Therme Meran, these are spas I’d love to go to and haven’t yet. I lived close by for three years, and these were the names everyone raved about. Maybe you can go for me.

• Hotel Therme Meran and Terme Merano (Merano): the one on this list I’ve done myself. I stayed at Hotel Therme Meran on my Christmas market trip, and it connects to the public Merano Thermal Baths, so you can go straight from your room to the pools. Anyone can buy a day ticket to the baths, which ran €27 on weekdays and €29 on weekends in winter at the time of writing. It’s an easy add-on to the Bolzano and Merano Christmas markets.
• QC Terme Dolomiti (Pozza di Fassa, Val di Fassa): a large public thermal spa with indoor and outdoor pools facing the mountains. It’s the best option on this list if you want a full spa day without booking a hotel.
• Forestis (Plose, above Bressanone): the spa hotel everyone mentioned when I lived nearby. It sits in the forest above Bressanone, and its spa is built around the trees and views of the Geisler peaks.
• Aman Rosa Alpina (San Cassiano, Alta Badia): the former Hotel Rosa Alpina reopened as an Aman in July 2025 after a full redesign. Expect a high-end spa in the middle of one of the best ski and hut areas in the Dolomites.
• ADLER Spa Resort Dolomiti (Ortisei, Val Gardena): a long-established wellness resort in the center of Ortisei, a good pick if you also want Alpe di Siusi and Val Gardena on the same trip.
• Lefay Resort & Spa Dolomiti (Pinzolo, near Madonna di Campiglio): a large luxury spa resort in western Trentino, regularly named among the best spa hotels in Italy.
• Bad Moos (Sesto, Val Pusteria): a spa hotel near Val Fiscalina with a day spa option, which makes it the closest pick if you’re based in Val Pusteria for the Krampus runs and Lago di Braies.

Most hotel spas reserve access for overnight guests, so check with the hotel before you plan a visit around one. The public baths in Merano and Pozza di Fassa are the easy walk-in options.

11. Visit the Dolomites Christmas Markets

From late November to early January, towns on the edge of the Dolomites host some of Italy’s best Christmas markets. They’re smaller and calmer than the big German markets, and most are easy to reach by train.

• Bolzano: the largest market in South Tyrol, five minutes on foot from the train station. Here’s my Bolzano Christmas Market guide with the 2026 dates and prices.
• Bolzano and Merano together: my 4-day Dolomites Christmas market itinerary combines both with Lago di Braies.
• Bruneck (Brunico): a smaller market in Val Pusteria. See my Bruneck Christmas market guide.
• Rango: a village market in Trentino. See my Rango Christmas market guide.

For every market I’ve visited across Europe, start with my European Christmas markets guide.

12. See a Krampus Run

In the first week of December, towns across South Tyrol hold Krampus runs, where people in carved wooden masks, horns and fur parade through the streets in the dark. It’s loud, a little chaotic, and nothing like a Christmas market.

• Dobbiaco (Toblach): one of the largest runs, with hundreds of Krampus. Read my Dobbiaco Krampus Run guide for where to stand and what to wear.
• Kastelruth (Castelrotto): a smaller, more traditional run near Bolzano. See my Kastelruth Krampus Run guide.
• New to Krampus? Start with who Krampus is and where the tradition comes from.

Want a ready-made plan? My 3-day Val Pusteria winter itinerary builds a long weekend around the Dobbiaco run, with the Bruneck market and Lago di Braies.

13. Plan Around a Winter Festival (2026 to 2027 Dates)

Beyond the Christmas markets and Krampus runs, these are the winter events worth planning your dates around. Confirm details on the official event pages before you book, since programs are often finalized only a few weeks ahead.

La Ciaspolada, Val di Non: January 5, 2027

One of the best-known snowshoe races in Italy, held in Borgo d’Anaunia in Trentino. The route is about 7 km and mostly gentle, and alongside the competitive race there’s a recreational walk open to anyone. If you’ve never snowshoed, this is a fun, low-pressure way to try it with a crowd. Details are on the event page.

Dolomiti Balloon Festival, Dobbiaco: January 6 to 10, 2027

Hot-air balloons fill the sky over Dobbiaco (Toblach) for five days, with competitions, activities for kids and torchlight processions in the evening. It’s in the same town as the Dobbiaco Krampus Run, so it fits neatly into a Val Pusteria base. See the festival listing.

Ladin Carnival, Val di Fassa: January 17 to Shrove Tuesday

Carnival in Val di Fassa starts on January 17 and runs until Shrove Tuesday, with parades, masked balls, torchlight processions and bonfires on the snow. Traditional characters like the Lachè, the Bufon and the Marascons appear in hand-carved wooden masks, and the village of Penìa stages Ladin-language theater. It’s one of the best ways to see Ladin culture as a living tradition. The Val di Fassa tourism board publishes the full program in late January.

Ski World Cup Races

You don’t need to ski to enjoy a World Cup race. Standing along the finish area with a crowd and a hot drink is a fun half day, and it’s an easy event for mixed groups. On the 2026 to 2027 calendar:

• Val Gardena: men’s Super-G, December 18, 2026
• Alta Badia: men’s giant slalom, December 20, 2026
• Cortina d’Ampezzo: women’s downhill, January 15, 2027
• Plan de Corones: women’s giant slalom, January 19, 2027

Marcialonga, Moena to Cavalese: January 31, 2027

A 70 km classic cross-country ski race through Val di Fassa and Val di Fiemme. Thousands of skiers take part, and every village along the route turns out to cheer, so it’s a great spectator day if you’re staying in the area.

14. Go Skiing (If Someone in Your Group Skis)

I don’t ski, but plenty of the people I travel with do, and the Dolomites work well for mixed groups. Most ski areas are part of Dolomiti Superski, where one pass covers lifts across multiple valleys, including Cortina, Alta Badia, Val Gardena, Val di Fassa, and Plan de Corones.

• Season: The first areas open November 28, 2026, and most run into early April 2027. Arabba and Marmolada stay open to April 18.
• Beginners: Wide, groomed pistes and plenty of ski schools make it approachable for first-timers.
• Non-skiers in the group: Many lifts sell pedestrian tickets, so you can ride up to meet skiers at a hut for lunch.
• Passes: Check current prices and the new lifts for the season on the Dolomiti Superski website.

Getting Around the Dolomites in Winter

A car gives you the most freedom in winter, but it comes with rules you need to know.

• Winter tires: Italy requires winter tires or snow chains on board from November 15 to April 15 on many mountain roads. Most rental cars in the region come equipped, but confirm when you book with Discover Cars.
• Mountain passes: High passes like Falzarego and Gardena usually stay open, but they can close after heavy snowfall. Check conditions each morning.
• Restricted roads: The Alpe di Siusi road closes to day traffic from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Prato Piazza limits car access by time of day.
• Without a car: Regional buses connect the main valleys, and trains reach Bolzano, Bressanone, Brunico and Dobbiaco. I use Omio to compare times.
• Airport transfers: Venice and Innsbruck are the closest major airports. Welcome Pickups can get you from the airport to your hotel.

Where to Stay in the Dolomites in Winter

Base yourself by what you want to do. For snowshoeing at Cinque Torri, lakes and easy access to Venice, choose Cortina. For Lago di Braies, Prato Piazza, Val Fiscalina, Krampus runs and the Bruneck market, choose Val Pusteria. For a first-time ski and hut trip, Alta Badia is the one I recommend most.

Where I Stayed in Cortina

For my snowshoeing trip, I stayed at B&B Hotel Passo Tre Croci Cortina, between Cortina and Lago di Misurina, about 45 minutes from the snowshoe meeting point. It has on-site parking, good food and helpful staff, and it’s an easy, comfortable pick for solo travelers.

Where I Stayed in Val Pusteria

For the Krampus weekend, my husband, our dog and I stayed in a dog-friendly apartment in Villabassa, a quiet village between Dobbiaco and Braies. Details are in my Val Pusteria winter itinerary.

For more options by area, see where to stay in the Dolomites, or use the map below to compare hotels for your dates.

What to Wear and Pack for the Dolomites in Winter

Even on guided outings, you’ll be outside at altitude for hours. Layers matter more than one heavy coat.

• Base and mid layers: thermal base layers plus a fleece or light down jacket. I wear my Uniqlo down jacket on almost every winter trip.
• Outer layer: a waterproof jacket and pants, plus insulated, waterproof boots.
• Traction: microspikes for icy paths around the lakes and on winter walking trails.
• Poles: trekking poles help on packed snow, even without snowshoes.
• Hands: warm gloves, plus rechargeable hand warmers for long, cold mornings.
• Eyes and skin: sunscreen and sunglasses, because snow glare is strong at altitude. My Goodr sunglasses don’t slip, which matters in the cold.
• Extras: a small backpack, water or a thermos, and a phone battery that holds up in the cold.

FAQ: Things to Do in the Dolomites in Winter

Is it worth visiting the Dolomites in winter if you don’t ski?

Yes. Snowshoeing, winter walks, toboggan runs, snowmobile tours, rifugio lunches, spas, Christmas markets and Krampus runs can easily fill a week without a single ski lesson.

Can you visit the Dolomites in winter without a car?

Yes, with some planning. Trains reach Bolzano, Bressanone, Brunico and Dobbiaco, and regional buses and lifts connect many valleys. A car still makes places like Prato Piazza and Val Fiscalina much easier to reach.

Can you walk on frozen Lago di Braies?

People do, but I’d be cautious. The ice isn’t uniformly thick and conditions change through the season. The loop path around the lake gives you the same views without the risk.

Do you need snowshoes or microspikes?

On groomed winter paths like Alpe di Siusi and the Lago di Braies loop, microspikes are usually enough. For deeper snow off the groomed trails, you need snowshoes, and a guide is the safest way to start.

How many days do you need in the Dolomites in winter?

Three days covers one base well, such as Cortina or Val Pusteria. With five to seven days, you can split your stay between two bases and add the Christmas markets in Bolzano.

Why the Dolomites in Winter Are Worth It for Non-Skiers

The Dolomites in winter aren’t only a ski destination. Snowshoeing around Cinque Torri, walking across Prato Piazza, sledding down to a hut lunch and standing on the street for a Krampus run gave me some of my favorite days in the mountains, and none of them needed skis.

Pick one base, choose two or three activities that fit your comfort level, and book the guided ones early, especially for the holiday weeks. For the rest of my Dolomites planning guides, start at my Dolomites travel guide.

Research and Sources

This guide is based on my own winter trips to Cortina, Cinque Torri, Lago di Braies, Prato Piazza, Val Fiscalina, Tre Cime and Val Pusteria. Season dates and access rules come from official sources: Dolomiti Superski 2026/27 season dates on dolomiti.it, the Braies (Prags) municipality traffic rules for Prato Piazza, and the Alpe di Siusi cable car.