Dolomites Mountain Hut Guide: Booking, Packing & What No One Tells You

Dreaming of waking up to mountain views and a hot Italian breakfast at 2,000 meters? Same. I am always so excited for hiking season to start across the Alps.

I’ve stayed in 12 different rifugi across the Dolomites — from the Palaronda, Alta Via 1, Short Alta Via 2, and the MADE trek — some solo, with friends, and shorter stays — and every single one shaped my experience on the trail.

Refugios are more than a place to sleep. They’re where strangers become trail friends, where tired legs meet incredible food, and where the mountains slow you down just enough to notice how special this place really is.

This guide covers exactly what staying in a rifugio is like in the 2026 hiking season — how booking actually works, what to pack (and what not to), what surprised me, and how to feel confident walking into your first hut without second-guessing yourself.

This guide is for you if:

• You’ve never stayed in a rifugio and feel unsure
• You’re hiking solo (especially as a woman)
• You’re planning Alta Via 1, 2, Palaronda, or a shorter hut stay
• You want the experience without unnecessary stress

This Post Pairs Well With:

• The Ultimate Alta Via 1 & 2 Packing List for Solo Female Hikers
• The Palaronda Trek: 4-day Itinerary to this High Alpine Hike
• How to Book a Rifugio in the Dolomites

At a Glance: Rifugio Stays in 2026

Season: Late June to late September (weather dependent)

Booking style: Direct email or booking platforms

Rooms: Dormitories, shared rooms, limited private rooms

Meals: Half-board (dinner + breakfast) is standard

Don’t Forget: A universal European travel adapter that supports Type C and Type L

Payment: Cash often required; Carry Cards just in case.

Passports: Necessary for Check-In at some, Have on Hand.

Access: On foot, cable car, or short hike, depending on hut

Solo-friendly: Yes — I’ve done it repeatedly

How to Book a Rifugio in the Dolomites

Let’s talk about the part that stresses everyone out: booking.

If you’re planning for 2026, especially for July and August, booking pressure is real—particularly on famous routes and iconic huts. The Alta Via 1 and Alta Via 2 continue to grow in popularity, and private rooms can disappear quickly.

My honest booking advice for 2026

• If your trek is in July or August, treat bookings as “must do early,” not “I’ll figure it out later.”
• If you want a private room, book as early as possible.
• If you’re flexible on dates and fine with dorms, you have more breathing room—but popular huts still fill.

Looking for step-by-step help? Here’s a Full Guide on How To Book a Rifugio in the Dolomites.

Here’s a Full Guide on How To Book a Rifugio

Learn All About it Here

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CAI Membership & Rifugio Discounts (Worth Knowing, Not Required)

You may see references to a CAI discount when booking rifugi. CAI stands for the Club Alpino Italiano, Italy’s national alpine club. If a rifugio is CAI-affiliated, members typically receive a small discount on the overnight bed portion only (usually around €5–15 per night). The discount does not apply to meals, drinks, showers, or packed lunches, and it does not give you priority booking or guaranteed availability. Many of the most popular rifugi in the Dolomites — especially along routes like the Alta Via 1 — are privately run and do not honor CAI discounts at all. For longer hut-to-hut treks that include several CAI huts, the savings can add up, but I don’t consider CAI essential. Availability, route flow, and safety always matter more than a small nightly discount.

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What to Expect While Staying at a Rifugio in the Dolomites

Embarking on a hut-to-hut hike in the Dolomites is more than just a trek—it’s an immersion into alpine culture. Rifugi offer a unique blend of camaraderie, rustic charm, and breathtaking vistas. Here’s what you can anticipate during your stay.

Sleeping Arrangements

Rifugi typically provide shared dormitory-style rooms with bunk beds, though some offer private rooms for a premium.

Linens aren’t always provided, so bringing a lightweight sleeping bag liner is advisable.

I remember my first night at Rifugio Genova, where I hung my microfiber towel at the end of the bunk bed, creating a cozy little curtain for added privacy. It felt like my own little nook amidst the shared space.

This was something I repeated throughout my time on the trails in the Dolomites (ask your bunkmate if this is cool—most of the time, no one else was above me).

There are typically three types of room options in rifugi:

Room Type	Description	Price Range (per person, half-board)
Dormitory	Large shared room with multiple bunk beds, often co-ed. Bring earplugs!	€45–65
Shared Room	Smaller shared rooms with 4–6 people. Sometimes single-gender.	€55–75
Private Room	Private double or triple room with shared or private bathroom. Book early!	€70–100+

Notes:

• Half-board usually includes dinner and breakfast.
• Bring cash, as many refugios do not accept credit cards.
• Prices can vary depending on location, altitude, and amenities.
• Booking early increases your chances of scoring a private room—especially on popular routes like Alta Via 1 and 2.

Dormitory-Style Rooms (the real reality)

Be prepared for shared accommodations where privacy comes at a premium. Accommodations range from cozy 4-bedrooms to more communal spaces with 6 or even 24 beds.

And yes—because we’re all adults here—sometimes you’ll see things you didn’t plan on seeing.

I can’t tell you how many times I saw bare butts on my journey. I remember turning the corner at one refuge and I was greeted by an old man standing in his underwear, bare belly in all his wonderful glory.

He greeted me with an enthusiastic “CIAO!” My husband jokes with me about this:
“You finally got to spend the night with an Italian man.”

If you are the least bit modest, you can change in the bathrooms. I know some cultures are vastly different from others—and that’s okay. There’s space for you too.

Private Rooms

Some rifugi offer the option to book entire rooms, not just beds, which can lead to a significant cost difference. Prices vary and often go up because you’re paying for the room rather than the bed.

You might be looking at €70–80 with half-board (and trust me, after seeing the bare-bellied man in his underwear, I went downstairs to look it up).

My Experience (what it’s really like)

The communal rooms weren’t so bad. Honestly, I was tired half the time anyway, and I just wanted to sleep. I think everyone felt the same way.

• At Rifugio Pederu on the Alta Via 1, I encountered some very noisy bunkmates who kept everyone up. It was the only bad experience I had.
• Rifugio Firenze on the Short Alt Via 2 was a big room with 30 beds. It was a lot and kind of overstimulating.
• By far my favorite hut was on the Alta Via 1 at Rifugio Scotoni. The character, the facilities were so great. I loved the chef, who kept all of us entertained, and the food was delicious.
• At Rifugio Croda Da Lago, our girls’ group trip had a tiny room with one man who shared it with us, poor guy!
• At Rifugio Tolazzi, I had the whole room of bunks to myself. Which I found astonishing as it was busy season, but I guess that’s what happens when you choose a lesser known route

Where can I Charge My Phone and electronics??

There are areas in the Rifugio that are communal for charging your phone. A lot of Rifugios have one centralized station. You’ll also find some have plugs in the room, but it’s not often you will find this.

Ask the Rifugio staff where to charge your phone, they’ll help you out!

How do I contact family if there is no cell service?

If you find yourself in a rifugio with no cell service and it’s a matter of an emergency, please talk to the staff.

Some Rifugios actually have old rotary phones. I saw this at Rifugio Pradidalli as a Dutch hiker was calling his wife on their anniversary (I know I have a lot of questions about that myself)

Should you need to get in touch with the next rifugio, let the staff know; they’ll help you out!

Where can I stamp My Dolomiti Passport?

Wander around any village in the Dolomites, and you’ll find that some souvenir stores sell a Dolomiti Passport, which is where you can collect stamps from each rifugio. Once you arrive, you’ll usually see the stamp sitting on a desk next to maps, or just ask the staff.

It’s a fun way to collect moments from your hikes.

Bathroom Facilities: What They’re Like (and How to Mentally Prepare)

This varies wildly from hut to hut.

Ensuite bathrooms

Rifugio Scotoni had en-suite bathrooms for a few dorm-style rooms. So yes—sometimes you get lucky.

Coin showers + timed showers

At certain rifugi, such as Rifugio Genova / Schlüterhütte, you need to buy a special coin for the showers.

You get the coin at the bar for around 3-7 euros, then head upstairs to the shower area and insert it into the slot. As soon as you activate the shower, your time starts ticking, and you have about 2–3 minutes of hot water before it runs out.

This leads to some funny hallway exchanges where everyone roots for one another to beat the clock.

Rifugio Firenze added your shower total at the end of your stay.

At Rifugio Pederu, the showers are modern with frosted glass, which may not offer much privacy. If you’re a private person, it’s worth knowing you might feel slightly “on display”—but I promise, nobody cares.

Water Usage Rules

Generally, the higher up in altitude you are, the more water conservation there is. Keep in mind it’s harder to get water and supplies up at the top, like on the Palaronda Trek. Rifugio Pradidalli actually had a very short time usage on their showers. Please respect this.

Many hikers didn’t understand this, and many women were trying to take bathroom sink showers, which I do not recommend. You can go without a shower for 24 hours.

Food at the Rifugios (one of the best parts)

Meals at rifugi are hearty and communal. Expect dishes like polenta, pasta, local stews, and dumplings. Breakfast is usually simple—bread, jam, butter, coffee or tea, sometimes yogurt and muesli.

Sharing meals with other hikers often leads to great conversations and unexpected friendships. To this day, I still talk to a few friends I’ve made on the trail; it’s pretty nice! Connected and bonded with others as we hopped from rifugio to rifugio!

One of my favorite aspects of staying in a rifugio was the food, which was a delightful fusion of robust South Tyrolean/Friulian fare and Italian cuisine. It was truly magnificent after a long day of hiking.

Meals

• Breakfast is served from 0700–0900
• Dinner is served from 1830–2100

Traditional Food at Mountain Huts in the Dolomites

At the end of a long day on the trail, sitting down to a steaming bowl of homemade soup or a plate of cheesy pasta in a cozy hut is nothing short of bliss.

Expect plenty of polenta—served creamy or grilled—with options like melted cheese (formaggio fuso), sautéed mushrooms (funghi), or crispy speck dumplings (canederli). Rich, comforting barley risotto with mushrooms is another popular staple. Pasta lovers won’t be disappointed either—simple but satisfying dishes like cacio e pepe or maccheroni with mushrooms are common, often using locally sourced ingredients.

You’ll also find more substantial meals like grilled pork chops, lamb chops, or frico—a crispy pan-fried cheese and potato cake that’s especially popular in Friuli. Many huts serve these alongside roasted vegetables or fried polenta sticks, and you can usually order a cold beer or local wine to round out the meal. Rifugio Scotoni, for instance, is known for its selection of wines served in etched glasses that elevate even a casual lunch stop into something special. The owner of Rifugio Scotoni is known for grilling up some wonderful meats!

Breakfast is generally simple but filling, especially if you’re staying overnight. Expect a spread that might include hearty slices of rustic bread, butter, local jams, polenta breakfast cake, Nutella, and sometimes meats or cheese. It’s not extravagant, but it gives you the energy you need to head into the next leg of your trek.

For dessert, panna cotta topped with a berry compote or a slice of homemade cake is a typical finish to an alpine meal. And if you’re lucky, you might even find a hut offering house-made strudel or other Tyrolean specialties.

While you won’t find fine dining at altitude, rifugio meals offer something even better: authentic, regional comfort food enjoyed in a stunning setting. Whether you’re hiking the Palaronda Trek, the MADE Trek, or just visiting a hut for lunch, the food at mountain huts in the Dolomites is a key part of the experience—and one that keeps people coming back year after year.

Gluten-Free Options at Rifugi

Many mountain huts in the Dolomites are surprisingly accommodating when it comes to gluten-free diets. While offerings vary, several rifugi can prepare gluten-free meals or modify dishes upon request. If you have celiac disease or a serious sensitivity, it’s best to email the hut in advance to ask about their options and what precautions they take to avoid cross-contamination. I always recommend reaching out ahead of time—most rifugio managers are helpful and appreciate the heads-up.

Vegetarian and Vegan Meals

Vegetarians will have no trouble eating well at mountain huts in the Dolomites. Many traditional alpine dishes—like mushroom risotto, polenta with cheese, or pasta with tomato sauce—are naturally meat-free. Most rifugi offer at least one or two vegetarian main dishes, and they’re usually hearty enough to satisfy after a long day of hiking.

Vegan options, while less common, are slowly becoming more available. You might find vegetable soups, grilled polenta, or pasta with mushrooms that can be made without dairy if you ask. However, since vegan meals aren’t guaranteed, I recommend emailing the rifugio ahead of time to see what they can prepare. With a bit of notice, many hut kitchens are happy to accommodate special diets—especially if you’re staying overnight.

That being said, please pick up food at grocery stores in the area if you know you might have a tough time with things!

Packed Lunches for the Trail

Most rifugi offer packed lunches for hikers continuing their trek the next day. These usually cost between €5 and €10 and are a convenient way to stay fueled without relying on snacks or finding food mid-route. For example, at Rifugio Pederü, I received a simple but satisfying packed lunch: an apple, a croissant, and two small sandwiches filled with ham, pickles, and cheese. I picked it up after breakfast, but you’ll want to let them know the night before so they have time to prepare it.