The Eastern Dolomites offer plenty to see and are home to perhaps the most famous sights in the Dolomites. Our accommodation on this side was the Hotel Antelao Dolomiti Mountain Resort in the village of Candide. The hotel was really nice and clean, with friendly staff, and worth mentioning: they offered gluten-free breakfast! The price for this Dolomite accommodation was 100 € per night.
We had several hiking plans here, including Lago di Braies, Cadini di Misurina, Tre Cime Lavaredo, and Lago di Sorapis. Unfortunately, the weather didn’t favor us on this side, and several of these places had to wait for our next visit. However, we can still recommend this list, even if places other than Lago di Braies remained unvisited. These are likely the most popular hiking destinations in the Dolomites.
We did manage to hike towards Cadini di Misurina, but due to heavy rain, our departure was delayed so much that we couldn’t reach our destination. We started the trail from Pian dei Spiriti (this is not a recommendation or the shortest route to Cadini di Misurina), intending to hike uphill for a while and return before dark. The trail was a relatively well-maintained mountain path, but there was some loose gravel. We hiked above the tree line and stopped to admire the scenery. The cloud cover disappeared, revealing stunning mountain views on the other side. We hung around here, watching as the clouds moved rapidly, covering nearby peaks and then revealing them again just as quickly. Magical!
Lago di Braies – The Jewel of the Dolomites
I’ve admired pictures of Lago di Braies for years and dreamed of visiting here. And oh boy! Now it was time to see it with my own eyes. Lago di Braies is one of the most breathtaking lakes in the Dolomites and Italy. Its crystal-clear water and the surrounding mountains make it one of the most popular destinations in the Dolomites.
The road leading to the lake is toll-based, and you need to register online or use public transport. However, if you want to save the toll fee, a tip is that after 4 PM, the road is free. After this, you still have plenty of time to enjoy the scenery and walk around the lake without extra charges and the worst crowds have eased on the lake. At the end of the road, there are several paid parking areas where you can also spend the night in your car. In practice, you can drive all the way to the lake, so there’s no need to hike to the destination itself.
Hike round the Lago di Braies
There’s an easy hiking trail around the lake and it’s highly recommended. The length of the trail is 3.7 km, and it’s best to walk counterclockwise, and you should allocate plenty of time 🙂 In practice, you can walk the trail in about just over an hour, but admiring these views can take several hours. It’s somehow the perfect combination of lake, forest, and mountains, and it’s not easily forgotten.
The lake, surrounded by mountains, becomes more enchanting with each passing moment as you walk forward, and the proximity of the mountains is one of the most impressive factors in the scenery. Bring some snacks and enjoy them while admiring the views. From the starting point, there’s a good spot on the opposite shore of the lake to have a picnic at the picnic tables on the beach. The only slightly more uphill part of the trail is when you start to return towards the starting point, as the path climbs along the rocky slope above the shoreline.
If you wish, you can also rent a rowboat and enjoy the scenery from the water. There’s also a hotel on the shore of Lago di Braies, so you can enjoy the views from your hotel room window. There are more accommodations a little further from the lake, but still within walking distance of the lake. There are also a few restaurants in the area.
Lago di Braies is a must-visit destination when you’re in the Dolomites!
