Summer in the Dolomites: where to go and what to do when it's hot

The Dolomites stay cool in summer because the main resorts sit between 1,200 and 1,600 m (3,940 to 5,250 ft). In July 2025 the average daily high in Madonna di Campiglio was 18.3 °C (65 °F), while down in the valley at Bolzano it reached 28.7 °C (84 °F). The season runs from mid-June to mid-September, with lifts, mountain huts and shuttle buses open, and the days go on hiking, via ferrata routes, lakes and biking.

Why the Dolomites are cool in summer

Altitude does the work. In the mountains the temperature drops by about 0.6 °C for every 100 m of height (roughly 3.3 °F per 1,000 ft), and between Bolzano at 265 m (870 ft) and a Dolomite village at 1,500 m (4,920 ft) there is more than a kilometre of vertical difference. You can feel it on the same day: according to the iLMeteo archive, the hottest day of July 2025 reached 34 °C (93 °F) in Bolzano and 24 °C (75 °F) in Madonna di Campiglio.

Heading to the mountains to escape the heat is an old Italian habit, called villeggiatura, and it now has an English name too: coolcation. According to Euronews the word comes from Condé Nast Traveller's 2024 travel predictions. In the European Travel Commission's spring and summer 2026 report, a pleasant and stable climate is the second most important factor in choosing a destination (15% of respondents), after safety (22%).

The cool has a practical side. In villages above 1,500 m (4,920 ft) summer nights are cold (in Madonna di Campiglio the average low in July 2025 was 8.4 °C, 47 °F), so you will want a jacket in the evening. Summer thunderstorms in the mountains tend to build in the afternoon, so long hikes are best started early.

Where to go in the Dolomites in summer

The Dolomites have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009, and they are not a single range: the site covers nine mountain systems spread across Trentino, South Tyrol, Veneto and Friuli. Deciding where to go in the Dolomites in summer comes down to the kind of mountain you are after: plateaus for walking, rock groups for via ferrata, valleys with plenty of lifts.

Madonna di Campiglio and the Brenta Dolomites. The Brenta is a Dolomite group set apart from the others, the only one west of the Adige, about 40 km (25 mi) long and with no roads crossing it. In summer it draws hikers and climbers for the Via delle Bocchette, for the side valleys of the Adamello Brenta Nature Park served by shuttle buses, and for trails that start in the village.

Val Gardena and the Alpe di Siusi. The Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm) is a 56 km² (22 sq mi) plateau where walking involves little climbing. From Val Gardena the lifts at Ortisei go up to Seceda, and the Sellaronda mountain bike tour is included in the Dolomiti Supersummer card.

Alta Badia. A Ladin valley spread over several villages, from Corvara to San Cassiano, at the foot of the Sella group. The valley's food is one of the reasons to go.

Val di Fassa. The Trentino side of the Sella: from Canazei you reach the Pordoi Pass and the trails below the Marmolada, which at 3,343 m (10,968 ft) is the highest peak in the Dolomites.

Cortina d'Ampezzo. A wide basin in the Boite valley, with a name known worldwide and the 2026 Winter Olympics behind it. From here you reach the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, part of the UNESCO system of the Northern Dolomites.

Things to do in the Dolomites in summer

Hiking. In every area the summer lifts climb to between 2,000 and 2,500 m (6,560 to 8,200 ft) and cut out much of the ascent. In the Brenta a classic route runs from Monte Spinale to the Grostè Pass via Rifugio Graffer: 10.9 km (6.8 mi), about 3 hours 40 minutes and 517 m (1,696 ft) of ascent, according to the trentino.com route sheet. The hikes and excursions in the Brenta Dolomites also start on foot from the village.

Via ferrata. A via ferrata is a protected route equipped with steel cables, ladders and rungs that lets you move across rock at altitude. In the Brenta the Via delle Bocchette crosses the group along natural ledges above 2,400 m (7,870 ft); it calls for via ferrata gear and experience, and without experience you go with a mountain guide. The Chalet del Sogno team helps guests choose among the via ferrata and climbing routes of the Brenta and puts them in touch with local guides.

Lakes and waterfalls. Every valley has its high alpine lakes. Around Madonna di Campiglio there is the Five Lakes loop, which starts at the top of the 5 Laghi gondola at about 2,000 m (6,560 ft) and takes about five hours; Lake Nambino, at 1,718 m (5,640 ft), is a 45-minute walk on a path suitable for pushchairs. The Vallesinella waterfalls are three sets of cascades in the woods, linked by wooden walkways.

Mountain huts. The rifugi of the Dolomites serve meals and many also have beds, and they are the goal of most hikes. From the Madonna di Campiglio side you can walk up to the Tuckett, Brentei and Casinei huts, among others.

Mountain biking and e-biking. In the Dolomiti Superski areas, carrying your bike on the lifts is included in the Supersummer card. Around Madonna di Campiglio there are 39 cross-country routes covering about 1,000 km (620 mi), 13 enduro and 8 downhill trails, with 14 lifts that carry bikes; Chalet del Sogno rents out full-suspension Bianchi e-bikes.

Summer lifts and lift passes in the Dolomites

There is no single summer pass for the whole of the Dolomites. In the Dolomiti Superski areas the Dolomiti Supersummer card applies: it covers more than 130 lifts, in 2026 it was valid from 14 May to 8 November (with opening dates varying lift by lift) and cost 67 euros a day for an adult, 145 euros for 3 days out of 4 and 185 euros for 5 days out of 7, bikes included. It is not accepted on the lifts up to Seceda.

Madonna di Campiglio is not part of Dolomiti Superski, so the Supersummer card does not apply there. Instead there is the DoloMeet Guest Card, which covers the nature park shuttle buses, public transport across Trentino, and free or discounted entry to museums and park visitor centres. The Dolomeet PASSion adds the lifts of Madonna di Campiglio and Pinzolo, two return trips a day.

Madonna di Campiglio and the Brenta Dolomites in summer

Madonna di Campiglio lies in a basin at about 1,550 m (5,090 ft), between the Brenta to the east and the Presanella to the west, and much of the surrounding terrain belongs to the Adamello Brenta Nature Park, about 620 km² (239 sq mi), the largest protected area in Trentino.

Four lifts run in summer: the 5 Laghi gondola from the village centre to about 2,000 m (6,560 ft), the Spinale cable car up Monte Spinale to about 2,100 m (6,890 ft), the Pradalago gondola to about 2,100 m (6,890 ft) and the Grostè gondola, which reaches Rifugio Stoppani at about 2,500 m (8,200 ft). They open between mid and late June and close between mid-September and around 20 September.

The park's side valleys are reached by shuttle buses from the village: the Vallesinella Express for the waterfalls and Rifugio Tuckett, the Patascoss shuttle with a stop at Piana di Nambino, and the Val Genova Express to Piana di Bedole, below the Adamello. They are free with the DoloMeet Guest Card.

Chalet del Sogno, a hotel in the Brenta Dolomites in Madonna di Campiglio, is open in summer from mid-June to late September, with the Spinale cable car leaving right next to the building. Its summer packages include either the DoloMeet Guest Card or the Dolomeet PASSion with the lifts, and after a day on the trails there is the Oasi del Sogno wellness area.

When to visit the Dolomites in summer

July and August have everything open, June and September have fewer people. The calendar holds for nearly every valley, with lift openings differing by a few days.

June. Lifts, huts and shuttle buses open between mid and late June. Early in the month there can still be snow at altitude, and some high trails are not yet passable.

July. Everything is open, and the trails are quieter than in August. In 2025 the average July high in Madonna di Campiglio was 18.3 °C (65 °F) and the average low 8.4 °C (47 °F).

August. The busiest month across the Dolomites, especially with families. Shuttles and lifts that take bookings are best booked as soon as you have planned the hike.

September. Crowds thin out and the air is clearer; in Madonna di Campiglio the lifts close between mid-month and around 20 September. In 2026, from 24 August to 3 October, Trentino hosted I Suoni delle Dolomiti, concerts held high in the mountains and reached only on foot: three took place in September between Madonna di Campiglio and Pinzolo. In Madonna di Campiglio visitor numbers follow the same pattern as the other valleys, low in June, moderate in July, high in August and low to moderate in September, as the month-by-month guide on when to visit Madonna di Campiglio shows.

Before you go

• Opening dates for lifts and shuttles change every year and from valley to valley: check the lift companies' and tourist boards' websites before planning high-altitude hikes.
• The right pass depends on the area: the Supersummer card works where Dolomiti Superski operates, the DoloMeet card in Madonna di Campiglio, Pinzolo and Val Rendena.
• Pack layers, a waterproof jacket and hiking boots. A via ferrata needs a full kit and, without experience, a mountain guide.
• The summer outdoor experiences in Madonna di Campiglio, from hiking to fishing, can also be arranged with the Chalet del Sogno team.