Dolomites Scenic Drives: The Best Passes and Routes
The Dolomites reward a driver more than almost any other range in Europe, and the best roads fit into a handful of routes: the Great Dolomites Road from Bolzano to Cortina d’Ampezzo, the Sellaronda loop around the Sella massif, and the high passes of Giau, Falzarego and Valparola. Choose a base, drive outward from it, start early, and check pass conditions before you leave. This guide shows how to link those roads into a trip that feels like a plan rather than a detour.
TL;DR
The three essentials are the Great Dolomites Road (about 110 km, Bolzano to Cortina), the Sellaronda loop, and the Giau, Falzarego and Valparola passes.
Plan from one base and drive outward. Crossing the whole region in a day leaves little time for the views.
Drive early: light is better, roads are quieter and parking is easier before mid-morning.
Most passes are usable from late spring to autumn. In winter, check real-time closures and carry snow tyres or chains where required.
The car shapes the day. A responsive, comfortable grand tourer makes hairpins a pleasure rather than a task.
Table of Contents
The Great Dolomites Road: the classic line
If you drive only one road, make it this one. The Great Dolomites Road (Grande Strada delle Dolomiti) links Bolzano in South Tyrol with Cortina d’Ampezzo in Veneto over roughly 110 kilometers, crossing the Costalunga, Pordoi and Falzarego passes. It is a historic route: the section between Arabba and Cortina was inaugurated on 13 September 1909, and the whole line was built in the opening years of the twentieth century to join the valleys of Fassa, Livinallongo and Cortina to Bolzano.
The drive begins in the Ega Valley on SS 241. The old gorge road was closed in January 2008 because of rockfall and landslide risks, and a tunnel now takes its place, so the first stretch is quick and the drama starts higher up.
Lago di Carezza and the Latemar views
The first real stop is Lago di Carezza, reached along SS 241. Visitors use the paid car park slightly higher up and a subway to reach the viewing platform, so allow a little time and some coins or a card. Come early: the lake is small, the platform is compact, and the water is at its most vivid when the light is low and the crowds have not arrived.
Pordoi Pass and the Terrace of the Dolomites
Pordoi (2,239 m) is the high point of the classic drive and the gateway to Sass Pordoi. At 2,945 m, Sass Pordoi is known as the Terrace of the Dolomites and is reached by cableway from the pass, with panoramic views over the surrounding ranges. Even if the cableway is not on your list, the road up Pordoi, a ribbon of tightly stacked hairpins, is one of the drives people remember.
Falzarego, Cinque Torri and the road into Cortina
From Pordoi the road drops to Arabba, then climbs again over Passo Falzarego (2,105 m). Falzarego and the neighboring Valparola Pass connect Alta Badia with Cortina, and a cable car from Falzarego rises to the Lagazuoi viewpoint at 2,752 m, a place closely tied to First World War history. The Cinque Torri fortifications nearby tell the same story. The last run down to Cortina d’Ampezzo is gentle by comparison, finishing in one of the Alps’ most elegant mountain towns.
How long to allow
As a sightseeing drive, the Great Dolomites Road takes a full day. Wheel time is shorter, but the viewpoints, the cableways and lunch in a hut are the reason to be here. If you can, give it two days with a night in Arabba or Corvara; slowing down is the whole point.
The Sellaronda: a loop around a mountain
The Sellaronda is a circular drive around the Sella massif, linking the Gardena, Campolongo, Pordoi and Sella passes. It passes through four valleys, Val Gardena, Alta Badia, Arabba and Val di Fassa, so there are always good places to stop for coffee, and the mountain stays in view from a different angle at every turn.
The loop takes a few hours of straight driving and a comfortable day with stops. Its appeal is that it is self-contained: you begin and end in the same place, and you can decide on the day whether to go clockwise or counterclockwise depending on where the sun is. Many drivers prefer to travel so that the morning light falls on the faces they most want to see.
Val Gardena and Passo Gardena
Val Gardena is a Ladin valley in South Tyrol and the natural base for the Sellaronda. Ortisei, Santa Cristina and Selva make easy overnight stops with good restaurants. Passo Gardena has a busy car park in summer, so the same rule applies as everywhere in the Dolomites: arrive before the day trippers do.
A shorter option: Bolzano to Ortisei
If time is tight, a 76 km route from Bolzano to Ortisei via the Sella Pass takes about two hours without stops. It works as a first taste or as the arrival leg of a longer trip.
Passo Giau, Falzarego and Valparola
Passo Giau (2,236 m) is the drive many people describe when they say the Dolomites are a driver’s region. It is a mountain road of long, sweeping bends and open meadow, with the peaks of the Ampezzo valley on the horizon. Combine it with Falzarego and Valparola to make a day centered on Cortina: up Giau, down into Cortina, then back over Falzarego and Valparola to Alta Badia. The scenic route from Bolzano to Cortina runs around 150 km when it takes in both Falzarego and Giau, so it is a longer and more varied alternative to the classic road.
Tre Cime di Lavaredo: plan this one differently
The road to Rifugio Auronzo, below the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, is a bucket-list stop, but it works on its own timetable. Timed entry restrictions apply at peak times, and the car park fills quickly in summer; aim to arrive before 8 a.m. Treat it as a half-day with a clear start, not an add-on to a packed day. Check the current access rules and tolls on the local official channels before you go, as they can change from season to season.
When the roads are open
Most Dolomite passes can be driven in the warm months, and the huts and summer lifts operate roughly from June to October. Some passes remain open in winter, while others close for snow or avalanche risk. South Tyrol advises checking traffic restrictions, real-time closures and roadworks with its Traffic Management Centre before you travel, and passes that stay open in winter require snow tyres or snow chains on board.
In practice:
Late May to early June: lower passes open first, some high ones depend on snowfall. Confirm every pass the evening before.
July and August: all roads open and the busiest period. Start early and expect traffic around popular stops.
September: pleasant weather with fewer people than high summer, and for many drivers the best month.
Late autumn to early spring: expect closures and equipment rules. Plan routes with alternatives.
Building a route you can actually enjoy
The most common mistake is trying to see everything from one hotel or crossing the whole region in a day. A better principle is to build the itinerary outward from your base. A sample three-day plan:
Day | Base | Drive | Highlights |
1 | Bolzano to Arabba | Great Dolomites Road, first half | Lago di Carezza, Costalunga, Pordoi, Sass Pordoi |
2 | Arabba to Cortina and back | Falzarego, Valparola, Giau | Lagazuoi, Cinque Torri, Cortina |
3 | Val Gardena | Sellaronda | Gardena, Sella, Pordoi, Campolongo |
Two to three days is also the span recommended for the Great Dolomites Road if you want to appreciate the scenery, viewpoints and local history rather than rush them.
Start early, stop deliberately
Early morning is the best time to drive: the light is better, roads are quieter and parking at popular stops is easier before 10 a.m. Pick two or three stops a day that deserve real time, and let the rest be the road itself. Lunch at a mountain hut is not a pause in the trip. It is the trip.
A map that works without signal
Mobile coverage is patchy in the high valleys. A paper map is a good habit: Tabacco and Kompass maps are sold online and throughout the region. Download offline maps as well, and mark your passes, fuel stops and alternatives before you leave the valley floor.
Driving yourself or being driven
Some travelers prefer to be chauffeured and others want the wheel. Comparing guided day trips with self-driving is a useful exercise for any mountain destination: a guide removes planning, while driving yourself gives you control over the hour you leave, the pass you choose and how long you stay at a viewpoint. In the Dolomites, where the best light and the quietest roads come early, that control matters.
Which car suits the Dolomites
The roads are narrow in places, steep, and full of tight switchbacks, but they are also well surfaced, and a car that responds quickly to the steering and brakes is a joy here. A few principles:
Grand tourer or sports coupe: a Maserati or Porsche balances comfort for long days with real engagement on the bends.
Supercar: a Ferrari or Lamborghini turns Pordoi and Giau into the main event. Plan shorter days, early starts and parking where the car is safe.
SUV or estate: a Range Rover or BMW is the calm choice for a family, for luggage, or for a late-season trip when conditions are less predictable.
Open-top: the Lago di Carezza and Sella valleys are made for it in September.
For more on matching a model to your itinerary, read our guide to the best luxury car for an Italy road trip, or see what Lamborghini hire in Italy involves.
Our perspective
The Dolomites are a place where the quality of the drive depends on small decisions: the hour you set off, the car you collect and how smoothly the trip begins. We see the car as part of the itinerary, not a transfer between hotels. That is why we focus on personal service. We help clients choose a model that suits the roads they plan to drive, we guarantee the exact model that was booked, and we can arrange delivery to a preferred location, so your trip starts with the keys in your hand rather than a queue at a desk. Privacy and safety matter as much as the engine. A premium car should let you concentrate on the road, the light and the company you are with. If you tell us which passes you want to drive and when, we will help you shape the rest. andrea
Start your Dolomites drive with the right car
A scenic route is best when the car is ready at the right place and time. We offer luxury and exotic cars in Italy, including Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Porsche, BMW, Range Rover and Mercedes, with customized recommendations, flexible rental durations and delivery to a location you choose.
If you are arriving from the Veneto side, our Treviso and Verona pages are a natural starting point. Browse our full luxury car rental in Italy range, then tell us your dates and route, and we will help you choose.
FAQ
What is the most scenic drive in the Dolomites?
For most visitors it is the Great Dolomites Road from Bolzano to Cortina d’Ampezzo, about 110 km across the Costalunga, Pordoi and Falzarego passes. The Sellaronda loop around the Sella massif is a close second, and Passo Giau is a favorite for pure driving.
How long does the Sellaronda take?
The loop takes a few hours of driving and a comfortable full day if you stop for views and lunch. Many drivers split it with an overnight in Val Gardena or Alta Badia so they are not rushing the light.
When can I drive the Dolomite passes?
Most are comfortably open from late spring through early autumn, with huts and lifts running roughly June to October. In winter, some passes close and others require snow tyres or chains, so check real-time closures with the South Tyrol Traffic Management Centre before leaving.
Do I need a map if I have a phone?
Yes, carry one. Mobile coverage is not complete in the mountains, and a paper map from Tabacco or Kompass backs up your offline navigation, especially on high passes.
Can I rent a Ferrari or Lamborghini for a Dolomites trip?
Yes, we offer both, along with Maserati, Porsche and other premium brands, with delivery to a preferred location. Share your route and dates and we will recommend a model suited to the roads you plan to drive.
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