Dolomites in 4 Days: Seceda, Tre Cime and Lago di Braies

The first day combines two of the best-known landscapes in the Dolomites. In the morning, the itinerary starts in the mountains of Seceda and then continues to the fields and small churches of Val di Funes.

Leaving San Vigilio di Marebbe, it took me roughly 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes by car to reach Ortisei, where the cable car access to Seceda is located. I left early to arrive in the area before the cable car opened and make the most of the morning.

Seceda: the climb starts in Ortisei and happens in two stretches. First, the cable car goes up to Furnes, and from there, another stretch continues on to Seceda. The full climb takes roughly 25 to 35 minutes, depending on the connections.

At the top, I walked to the famous viewpoints along the ridge, where the huge rocky peaks appear that make Seceda one of the most recognizable landscapes in the Dolomites.

I set aside a few hours to walk around the area and take in the mountains from different points. In the morning, especially in the first hours after the cable cars opened, I found the experience quieter.

How much does it cost to go up to Seceda? In the summer 2026 season, the adult ticket for the Ortisei → Furnes → Seceda route and back the same way costs €74 round trip. That's roughly R$445 per adult, depending on the euro exchange rate at the time of the trip.

The ticket can be bought through Seceda's official channels. For a summer trip with set dates, I'd buy the ticket roughly a month ahead.

I'd also recommend arriving in Ortisei early and deciding beforehand which parking area you'll use.

Santa Maddalena: after coming down from Seceda, I drove to Val di Funes. One of the main stops is Santa Maddalena, a small village surrounded by green fields and the Odle mountains. It's one of the most classic landscapes in Val di Funes and one of the images I most associated with the Dolomites even before the trip.

Panoramaweg: this offers one of the best perspectives of Santa Maddalena and the mountains behind it. I parked in the central area of Santa Maddalena and continued on foot. In roughly 10 to 15 minutes you can already reach some of the panoramic points.

San Giovanni in Ranui: the last big stop of the day, a small church set among the fields and surrounded by mountains. There's parking nearby and the walk to the viewing point is short.

The parking areas I used in Val di Funes were paid on-site and didn't require an advance reservation.

After the visit, I drove back to San Vigilio di Marebbe.

The second day is dedicated to Tre Cime di Lavaredo, one of the most famous landscapes in the Dolomites and one of the places I most wanted to see on the trip.

Leaving San Vigilio di Marebbe, it took me roughly 1.5 hours by car to reach the Rifugio Auronzo area. I recommend leaving early. Besides making better use of the day, the parking area and the trail get busier as the morning goes on.

How much does parking at Tre Cime di Lavaredo cost? In 2026, the official rate for cars is €40, roughly R$240. The fee allows access via the road up to the parking area near Rifugio Auronzo, where the Tre Cime circuit begins.

Do you need to book parking for Tre Cime? Yes. Car access to the Tre Cime di Lavaredo parking area requires an advance online reservation through the official channels of the municipality of Auronzo di Cadore. This is one of the parts of the trip I wouldn't leave to sort out once I was already in the Dolomites.

If your trip is planned for summer and you already know which day you plan to visit Tre Cime, I'd try to book roughly a month ahead, especially for busier dates.

What Is the Tre Cime di Lavaredo Trail Like?

The circuit takes roughly 3 to 3.5 hours, depending on pace and the number of stops. It's not just a walk to see the three mountains from a single viewpoint. Throughout the route, the landscape keeps changing and there are several interesting spots. These were the main places I found along the circuit.

Rifugio Auronzo: this is the starting point of the hike. The circuit begins here, and even in the first stretches, big views of the surrounding mountains appear.

Cappella degli Alpini: shortly after the start of the trail, this is a small chapel located right beside the path. It's a quick stop before continuing toward Rifugio Lavaredo.

Monumento ai Bersaglieri, an optional stop along the route, is tied to the region's military history.

Rifugio Lavaredo: this is one of the main refuges found along the circuit. It sits just before the climb toward Forcella Lavaredo and is a good spot for a short break.

Forcella Lavaredo: this is one of the most important points on the trail. It's here that one of the classic views of Tre Cime appears, where you really get a sense of the scale of the three enormous rock formations.

Malga Langalm: continuing the circuit, this offers another perspective of Tre Cime. The landscape changes a lot in this part of the hike and lets you see the mountains from a different angle than at the start of the trail.

Forcella del Col de Mezzo: appearing in the final part of the circuit, this is one of the last major points before returning to Rifugio Auronzo.

After completing the trail, I drove back to San Vigilio di Marebbe.

The third day is dedicated to the Dolomites lakes, starting with the most famous of them all: Lago di Braies.

Leaving San Vigilio di Marebbe, the itinerary continues to Lago di Braies, Lago di Dobbiaco, Lago di Landro and Lago di Misurina. This order works well because it lets you start with the busiest place and leave the other lakes for the rest of the day.

Lago di Braies: this is the first stop and the big highlight of this itinerary. Surrounded by the Dolomites' mountains, the lake became famous for its greenish-toned water, the mountains reflected on the surface and the traditional boathouse right on the shore.

Since it's one of the most sought-after attractions in the region, I recommend arriving early. It's worth setting aside time to walk along the shore and take in the lake from different perspectives, rather than just stopping to photograph it.

Do you need to book parking at Lago di Braies? It depends on the time of year. When I made my trip at the end of June, I didn't need to book in advance to park at Lago di Braies. The rules, though, change depending on the season.

During part of the high summer season, vehicle access to the area is regulated at certain hours and may depend on a valid reservation or permit. So if your trip falls in July, August or September, check the rules that apply to the exact date through the official Lago di Braies mobility and parking channels.

How much does it cost to park at Lago di Braies? During the main 2026 regulated period, there's a combined €44 ticket for cars, roughly R$264. The system includes an access permit and guaranteed parking according to the reservation conditions.

Outside that period there are different parking areas near the lake, and prices can vary depending on location, duration and time of year. So I don't think it's accurate to treat Lago di Braies as having a single rate all year round.

If your trip falls during a period when a reservation is required and your dates are already set, I'd book in advance.

Lago di Dobbiaco: after Braies, the itinerary continues to this calmer lake, a good stop for walking along the shore and taking in the surrounding mountains. After such a famous and busy place as Braies, I really enjoyed the change of atmosphere.

Parking can be sorted out on-site and doesn't require the same advance planning as Braies.

Lago di Landro: the next stop sits practically right beside the road and can easily be included along the way. My stop here was quicker, but the easy access and the scenery make the visit worthwhile. I didn't need to book parking in advance.

Lago di Misurina: the last lake of the day, surrounded by mountains, is a good stop to end the itinerary at a more relaxed pace and walk around the area. I also didn't need to book parking in advance.

After the visit, I drove back to San Vigilio di Marebbe.

The fourth day was one of my favorites because here the road is part of the experience. Instead of driving just to reach the next attraction, the route crosses alpine passes, valleys and roads surrounded by huge mountain walls.

It was one of those days when several of the best landscapes simply appeared while driving. The itinerary passes through Passo Gardena, Rifugio Friedrich August, Passo Sella, Città dei Sassi and Passo Giau.

Passo Gardena: this section crosses an area surrounded by the Sella Group and the Cir peaks. Along the route there are several places where you can stop and enjoy the mountain views. The drive itself is as important as reaching the pass because the scenery keeps changing.

Cappella di San Maurizio: this is a small chapel located in the Passo Gardena area. It's a quick stop that can easily be included along the way.

Rifugio Friedrich August: I then continued toward the Passo Sella area to do the walk to this refuge. I used the Hotel Passo Sella Dolomiti Mountain Resort only as a reference point to find the area where I started the walk. The walk to the refuge is short, taking roughly 10 to 20 minutes, and crosses an alpine landscape surrounded by pastures and mountains.

Sassolungo: this dominates much of the landscape in this area. Even without doing a specific trail up the mountain, it stays with you along several stretches of the route and makes this part of the Dolomites especially impressive.

Krapfen at Rifugio Friedrich August: at the refuge, I used the stop to try the Krapfen. Besides the food, I really enjoyed the refuge's location, surrounded by alpine pastures and with a view of the mountains.

Passo Sella: back on the road, I continued through this stretch, one of the most beautiful parts of my itinerary. Mountain views continue along much of the route, with several places where you can stop and enjoy the scenery.

Città dei Sassi, or City of Stones, is an area formed by huge rock blocks scattered at the foot of the Sassolungo. The scenery is quite different from the day's other stops and can easily be combined with Passo Sella.

Passo Giau: this closes out the itinerary along the Dolomites' scenic roads. The road up to the pass is already part of the experience. At the top there are spots where you can park and walk a bit to take in the surrounding mountains.

At the parking areas and small pull-offs on this day, I didn't need to book in advance.

After the visit, I drove back to San Vigilio di Marebbe.