Discover the 5 most beautiful lakes in the Dolomites
Apart from the mountains and fabulous hikes, the Dolomites are also famous for being home of some of the most beautiful lakes in Northern Italy. Here you will find our ultimate list featuring the 5 best lakes in the Dolomites, with essential information on how to get to them and travel tips. Let’s get started!
1. Lago di Braies (or Pragser Wildsee)
Lago di Braies is by far the most iconic lake in the Dolomites. Being one of the most photographed ones, it is obvious that the Lago di Braies is also constantly crowded with visitors. Don’t get me wrong, we definitely recommend going there to witness this beauty with your own eyes, but if you are planning your travel during the summer months, we recommend arriving early to guarantee your spot.
How to get to Lago di Braies?
By car: You can reach the lake by car after driving from 1h40 from Cortina d’Ampezzo. The lake is located about 8km inwards from the main road SS49, between Dobbiaco and Monguelfo. There are multiple parking lots available very close to the lake at the cost of 10€ per day during the high season and 6€ for 3h on other months. Since Lago di Braies have become an extremely popular destination, the high volume of vehicles is chaotic.
For this reason, as of 2020, visitors must have either a reservation (either for the Hotel or a parking reservation done online here) or be lucky to get one of the free places. For this, you must arrive extra early. We were there at 9h30 and it was already full. If this happens, the alternative is to park your car further down the road and walk to the lake.
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By bus: The bus line #442 runs from Dobbiaco to Lago di Braies. However, when it gets too crowded, the bus is also stuck in the traffic along with the other cars so it may take a while.
By foot: There is no cost for visitors arriving at the lake by foot. You can choose to leave the car in the car park “Segheria a Ferrara nella Valle di Braies” which is often emptier and located about 4.8km from the lake and walk from there. It is a nice and pleasant walk, well-marked, and accessible to kids and families. Alternatively, there is also the possibility of hiking from one of the neighbouring cities. From Monfuelgo, the hike has around 12.5km, and from Villabassa, 11km.
By bike: Rent a bike in one of the mentioned neighbouring cities and cycle to Lago di Braies in just 35 minutes. It is a pleasant journey, with no more than 200 m ascending/descending.
What to do at the Lago di Braies?
- Hike around the lake, the path has in total 3km (takes 1 – 1h30)
- Have a picnic by the shore – the best place to do so is the opposite shore from where you arrive, which has a wider open area
- Rent a canoe – for 29 €/hour for up to 4 people
- Go on one of the longer hikes up on the surrounding mountains to see the lake from above. Make sure to take all the necessary equipment.
Pro tip: To avoid crowds, you can choose to arrive super early or quite late. The lake is busiest from 10 am to 14h. After this time, usually, the buses and tours are already leaving, which means that it gets a bit quieter. Personally, I would aim for arriving super early – you can even consider watching the sunrise there!
2. Lago di Dobbiaco (or Toblacher See)
Located only 20km away from Lago di Braies, Lago di Dobbiaco is a spot you simply cannot miss. Located by the side of the road, it is very easily spotted and a nice detour before returning to Cortina d’Ampezzo. For the best views, it is better to visit Lago di Dobbiaco in the afternoon when the sun is able to come across the surrounding mountains, making the water way more stunning.
Parking at Lago di Dobbiaco
By car: The parking lot is located right by the road. It is small and fills up quite quickly, but there is also a lot of rotativity among the visitors. We paid 1€/30min.
By bus: The bus #445 that connects Dobbiaco to Cortina d’Ampezzo has a stop right on the lake.
What to do at Lago di Dobbiaco?
- Walk around the lake – the full hike has around 4.5km and it is fairly easy and well-marked.
- Rent a paddleboat from the boat house and explore the lake from the waters
- Go for a swim – this is one of the few lakes in the region where swimming is allowed. Careful because the waters are usually freezing, though
- Relax by the shore – there is a small open area that resembles a nice beach where you can stop to read a book and enjoy the lake
Pro tip: For campers, there is quite a large campsite located by the lake, which is a very nice setting for families. Make sure to book a place beforehand to make sure you will get a spot.
3. Lago di Sorapis
Lago di Sorapis is our ultimate favorite lake in the Dolomites. This is the only lake from the list that you cannot access directly by car – there is a hike of about 5km (one way) to get to it. However, if you are up for a hike, we could not recommend it more! The views along the path are simply amazing and, in the end, you will get rewarded by this mesmerizing turquoise water lake.
Since this is a protected area, swimming in Lago di Sorapis is not allowed.
To find out everything you need to know about Lago di Sorapis, check our dedicated post!
4. Lago di Carezza (or Karersee)
Speaking of mesmerizing… Lago di Carezza definitely deserves a spot among the best lakes of the Dolomites. It is located a bit further away from the other lakes mentioned above, but you will not regret this little detour. Surrounded by trees and mountains, Lago di Carezza is known as rainbow lake because on the early morning you can literally see every shade of blue in its waters. Personally, my favorite feature was the amazing reflections on the water.
Unfortunately, it is not allowed to swim in Lago di Carezza.
How to get to Lago di Carezza?
By car: Lago di Carezza is located about 126km away from Cortina d’Ampezzo (about 3h drive) and 26km from Bolzano (35min). There is a parking lot right by the lake that costs 1 €/hour and it is quite big. Many people also choose to park on the neighbouring city of Kareer and walk to the lake.
By bus: The best option is to get the bus #180.1 from Bolzano.
What to do at Lago di Carezza?
- Walk around the lake – there is a loop path around the lake, which takes no more than 20min to complete. It is very easy and can be done without any hiking gear or equipment
- Take as many pictures as you can!
- Stop for a picnic – there are a few benches and stops around the lake where you can have a snack admiring the view
Pro tip: The lake is quite emptier in the morning when you can better see the different shades of blue in the water. For the reflections, try to visit the lake in the afternoon when the sun illuminates the lake.
5. Lago di Misurina
If you are looking for a place to stay that has a bit of both – lakes and mountains – than Misurina is your go to place. Surrounded by mountains, Lago di Misurina is one of the best lakes of the Dolomites for spending the afternoon after you completed a day hike, for instance the Lago di Sorapis or the Tre Cime di Lavaredo hike.
How to get to Lago di Misurina?
By car: Located only a few minutes away from Cortina d’Ampezzo, it is very easy to reach Lago di Misurina by car. There is an extensive parking lot around the shore of the lake that costs 2 €/hour.
By bus: Take the bus #30/31 from Cortina d’Ampezzo to Misurina if you are relying on public transport.
What to do at Lago di Misurina?
- Walk around the lake – the circular path that goes around the lake has 2.6 km in total
- Rent a paddleboat to explore the lake from the water
- There are quite a few hikes and cable cars in the surrounding area
- Have a beer or other drink in one of the restaurants by the shore with the view to the lake
Pro tip: This is an excellent option of village to make base if you are doing any of the hikes in the surrounding area. There are a few very cozy hotels around the lake to choose from.
Bonus lake: Lago di Landro (or Durrensee)
Located only 12min away from Misurina, you will find Lago di Landro – another lake surrounded by the mountains, but only this time you are allowed to swim on it. We recommend visiting Lago di Landro in the afternoon for the best light, when the sun is able to pass the high mountains and shine in the water, making it have a more intense and impressive blue/green.
This is the end of our list of the best lakes in the Dolomites. Before planning your trip, check some of our other posts about the Dolomites to help you organize the best vacation:
Organizing your trip
To help you plan your trip to Italy, we have put together our favorite planning resources:
- Flights: Get affordable flights to Italy on Skyscanner.com.
- Travel insurance: Make sure you are protected during your trip. We use SafetyWing whenever we are traveling abroad.
- Renting a car: We always use Discover Cars to get the best car deals.
- Accommodation: Find the best hotels and apartments on Booking.com.
- Activities: Get fun ideas of what to do and buy unique activities with Get Your Guide.
- SIM Card: Stay connected during your trip with Airalo.
- Recommended hiking gear: Check our recommendations on Amazon if you will be hiking in Italy!
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