Insider tips for the Dolomites: Off the beaten tracks

Nature and adventure, mountains and lakes, the Italian way of life and South Tyrolean cosiness - and of course a whole lot of camping happiness. This is what a holiday with a camper in the Dolomites can feel like. The region in South Tyrol is known for its rugged mountain landscapes with karstic peaks and idyllic villages. It is rightly one of THE holiday destinations for nature lovers, outdoor enthusiasts and all other travel fans. But there are now quite a few of them.

So many, in fact, that the area's flagship attractions such as the Three Peaks, the Prager Wildsee lake and the Karersee lake have become real tourist magnets. And of course, this is not just a coincidence, as all of these spots are definitely worth a visit in their own right. But if you want to get to know the Dolomites away from overcrowded spots, we invite you to take a trip off the beaten track. We introduce you to insider tips in the Dolomites that are not quite as well known, but are in no way inferior to the famous spots: From lakes and hiking highlights to campsites.

High peaks, deep valleys and wide lakes - this is how the Dolomites present themselves in the centre of Italy's northernmost province: South Tyrol. Parts of it have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009. The provincial capital of Bolzano is considered the gateway to the Dolomites, which are also known as the `Pale Giants` due to their whitish colour. However, the peaks and towers of the rugged rocks are particularly impressive at dawn or in the evening sun. So impressive that they even have their own name: the South Tyroleans call it `Enrosadira` when the mountains are bathed in shades of orange, red and pink by the rising or setting sun. With peaks such as the Marmolada (3,343 m), the Three Peaks (2,999 m) and the Catinaccio (3,004 m), the Dolomites are an outdoor holiday destination par excellence - whether for hiking, climbing or skiing, or simply `just` to marvel. If you look very closely, you might even discover relics from a time when the more than 280 million-year-old Dolomites were still part of a large tropical sea.

Unfortunately, there is one catch to this holiday region, and that is that we are not the only ones who have recognised all its beauty. As a result, the most famous & popular places in the region in Italy are no longer just known for their natural spectacles, but also for the crowds of tourists who marvel at them. But good news: off the beaten tourist track, there are also many lesser-known but equally impressive places to discover!

Imagine waking up in your camper and the first thing you see is this:

To put it mildly: Not bad, is it? To put it plainly: camping in the Dolomites is really, really great. Because of the views. And because you experience pure nature & adventure - that's what a holiday in the Dolomites stands for for most people. The important thing is that you don't just visit the hotspots in South Tyrol that all the other visitors want to see. Instead, add at least a few lesser-known insider tips to the list. We have summarised some helpful information about camping in the Dolomites.

If you hire an off campervan in Munich, the Dolomites are just a stone's throw away. It only takes just under 5 hours to get to the holiday region. From Nuremberg, you need around 6.5 hours. If you start your campervan journey in Stuttgart, the journey will take around 7 hours. Regardless of which of these places you start from, your route will probably take you through Austria and the Brenner Pass. We have a tip for you: You will have to pay tolls on Austrian and Italian motorways on your journey. However, you can buy the vignette for Austria online in advance. Another tip: The route calculator will help you find the right product. You can also book the route toll for the Brenner Pass with the ADAC before you set off. This way you can save yourself a long wait and just quickly drive through.

As always with our favourite type of holiday, one big question arises: is wild camping allowed in the Dolomites? And there is a clear answer: unfortunately not. Wild camping and free standing in the countryside is not permitted in the entire province of South Tyrol. However, some municipalities allow overnight stays on their territory if you obtain a corresponding permit in advance. Another option is to stand free and spend the night on private land with the owner's permission. Everything else you need to know about camping in South Tyrol can be found in this blog article. And here you can find Information about wild camping in Italy. Cool tips for campsites in the Dolomites can be found below.

First things first: it's not as if we don't understand why Lake Braies is one of THE most popular tourist spots in the Dolomites. Because the scenery that pops into your head when you think of the place is the epitome of a postcard motif: rowing boats bobbing on the crystal-clear water, reflecting the impressive mountain formations of the Seekogel.

We hate to spoil this idyll ... buuut: Unfortunately, you have to supplement the picture in your head with lots and lots of people frolicking around Lake Braies. Almost 17,000 of them at peak times, to be precise. Especially in the summer months, the lake in Italy is often hopelessly overcrowded, with dozens of coaches arriving in the morning and the car parks overflowing. As a result, access to the lake now has to be regulated in order to keep the streams of tourists in check. Access to the valley is completely closed in July and August and from 9.30 a.m. onwards, often only `reserved access` is possible. Road trip feelings? Unfortunately impossible!

Fortunately, it's not that bad. Because as an alternative (or addition!) to Lake Braies, we have an insider tip for you. There's a lake in the Dolomites that's just as beautiful as Lake Braies, but it's not a meeting point for the selfie-tourist masses: Lake Dobbiaco, which is also known as the `Jewel of the Dolomites`! Lake Dobbiaco also offers a postcard motif that won't even disappoint you in comparison to Lake Braies. What's more, there's a lot more postcard idyll here in real life, as there are far fewer tourists and no annoying coaches. A big bonus point of Lake Dobbiaco: there is also a boat hire service here, just like at Lake Braies. On your boat trip, you will be able to enjoy nature a whole lot better - with a view of the lake and the mountain landscape instead of posing travellers with selfie sticks 😉

An important tip: because the area around Lake Dobbiaco is a nature reserve, wild camping is strictly prohibited here, as it is throughout South Tyrol. Fortunately, however, there is a campsite right by the lake: here you can park your camper in the very first row of the lake. To give you advantage at Lake Dobbiaco: There's no such thing at Lake Braies!

If there is a symbol for South Tyrol, then it is probably the Three Peaks. They really do seem to challenge their fame as they sit enthroned in the middle of the Sesto Dolomites and rise up to a height of 1999 metres. As the most famous landmark in the Dolomites, it is no wonder that the Tre Cime are an absolute must-see for many holidaymakers on a trip to South Tyrol or Italy. But hiking fun definitely looks different. Because the toll road to the Three Peaks is overpriced and costs a whopping 45 euros for a camper. But that doesn't change the fact that the car parks fill up in no time at all and the access roads are quickly closed: So if you don't get there super early, you often have no chance of getting to the starting point of a hike at all.

If you prefer travelling off the beaten track, we have something for you. May we introduce? Voilà: the Würzjoch! Almost as high as the Three Peaks, the Würzjoch lies at an altitude of 2,000 metres and therefore boasts equally stunning mountain landscapes and views of imposing mountain massifs. The pass road leading there is not as popular as other pass roads in the Dolomites and is easily accessible. Therefore, there's generally no risk of road closures due to overcrowding. And it's easy to drive up there in a campervan to start a hike to the Würzjoch. In contrast to the stressful idea of a visit to the Three Peaks, this does makes you want to go on holiday in the Dolomites again, doesn't it?

Of course, we also admit that Lake Carezza deserves its position in the limelight of the Dolomites' top spots. We certainly don't want to badmouth Lake Carezza's beauty and emerald green water. It's just a shame that there are now countless admirers - in the truest sense of the word - queuing up for it. Because it can take a while to get that one photo of Lake Carezza due to the large crowds. Although you are in the middle of nature, there is unfortunately not much left of the natural feeling: instead there are souvenir shops, snack stands and tourist buses ... hiking is also not really possible at Lake Carezza, as the area is very small and always overcrowded.

If this description doesn't give you the biggest road trip vibes, then perhaps our alternative sounds appealing to you: Lake Misurina. It's just as cool as its name! The area around Lago di Misurina is nowhere near as crowded in summer as other regions in the Dolomites in Italy. Nevertheless, you will also find a fantastic mountain panorama here with perfect reflections of the mountain peaks and fir trees in the clear waters of the lake - even more of them, as Lake Misurina is significantly larger than Lake Carezza. This also has the advantage that the already smaller number of tourists gets more spread out and you can definitely find more peace, relaxation and nature here.

There are plenty of beautiful hikes with fantastic views waiting for you at Lake Misurina - on many of them you can catch a glimpse of the mountain panorama, including the Three Peaks and it even gets better: You are allowed to leave your camper overnight in the paid car parks by the lake. For us, one thing is certain: we are Team Misurinasee - sorry, Lake Carezza! 😇

Oh, the Dolomites: Natural spectacles, relaxed secret spots - and great campsites! We introduce you to a few of our favourite campsites - not all of them can be described as insider tips, but this list will definitely come in handy!

The app that always provides insider tips for great campsites away from the general tourist knowledge is Park4Night. Here you can find campsites, private pitches or car parks where you can spend the night. A few cool spots that we discovered via the app:

Lake Dobbiaco is one of our off-the-beaten-track spots in South Tyrol, and we can also highly recommend the region for camping. On the Camping Lake Dobbiaco campsite, you can park your camper right on the shores of the lake, surrounded by mountain peaks and idyllic nature. The campsite is a great starting point for hikes, bike tours or, in winter, for skiing and cross-country skiing. You can put together your own breakfast in the camping shop or stop at the Seeschupfe restaurant.

As described above, the car parks around Lake Misurina are also ideal for stopping overnight with a camper or motorhome. An alternative with access to sanitary facilities and electricity is the campsite Camping Alla Baita. If you are looking for pitches with a lot of privacy and more comfort, this is not the ideal place for you. But if you're looking for a superbly located, simple and uncomplicated starting point for an excursion to Lake Misurina or hikes in the neighbourhood, this is it.

The Wieser family welcomes you to Camping Antholz with their team and a hearty `Griasst enk!`. Here, you can enjoy great panoramic views of the mountains from your camper or motorhome, there is a restaurant with a sun terrace and a minimarket. And if you want to try something new: How about swapping your camper bed for a fun wooden barrel for one night?

Wake up with a mountain view from your camper window and set off directly from the campsite on the Ansitz Wildberg campsite. The campsite is particularly suitable for families with children. There's even a petting zoo, a swimming pool and a sauna.

The Seiser Alm is known as the largest high alpine pasture in Europe and is therefore a popular place to stop for refreshments and a starting point for hikes or mountain bike tours. Although it is actually more of a tourist spot than an insider tip, the Camping Seiser Alm, which lies at the foot of the Alpe di Siusi, is highly recommended. The 4-star campsite offers beautiful pitches in the middle of the Dolomites, clean sanitary facilities and friendly staff. Camping Seiser Alm also has a heated saltwater pool, a mini-market with fresh bread rolls and excellent bus connections.

It's not surprising that the Dolomites are at times populated by tourists from all over the world, because: It's just so beautiful there. If you are looking for a camping holiday in the Dolomites where you really want to enjoy the local nature instead of rushing from one photo spot to the next, then we can highly recommend the cool alternatives to the tourist hotspots in the Dolomites. Our motto: Find yourself

Off the beaten tracks - in South Tyrol! 🚐