Passo Gardena, Passo Sella and Passo Giau: One-Day Dolomites Itinerary

The Dolomites' Scenic Roads

This itinerary was different from the previous days because I didn't have just one big attraction as the final destination. The road between each stop was an important part of the day.

That's exactly why I enjoyed this itinerary so much. Instead of spending long stretches simply driving, I was constantly surrounded by mountains, scenic curves, valleys and places that made me want to stop.

Passo Gardena

Passo Gardena was one of the first major parts of the route.

The road crosses an area surrounded by the Sella Group and the Cir peaks, and the scenery changes a lot as you go along the pass.

I wouldn't treat Passo Gardena as just a point on the map to reach, photograph and move past. For me, a big part of the experience is exactly in the road itself and the small stops along the way.

At several points I found spots where I could stop the car for a few minutes to take in the mountains. It was one of those routes where I kept slowing down simply because I wanted to pay attention to the scenery.

During the drive I also passed the Cappella di San Maurizio, a small chapel in the Passo Gardena area. It's a quick stop and easy to fit in without changing the itinerary much.

Afterward, I continued driving toward the Passo Sella area.

Rifugio Friedrich August and the Sassolungo

One of the stops I enjoyed most that day was Rifugio Friedrich August.

I used the Hotel Passo Sella Dolomiti Mountain Resort only as a reference point to find the area where I started the walk. The hotel wasn't an attraction on my itinerary, nor was it where I stayed.

The walk to the refuge is short. It took me roughly 10 to 20 minutes, through an open landscape with alpine pastures and mountains all around.

Throughout practically this whole stretch, the Sassolungo dominates the scenery.

Even without doing a specific trail up the mountain, it stays with you along most of the route, and that scenery was exactly what made the walk to the refuge so interesting for me.

At Rifugio Friedrich August, I used the stop to try a Krapfen.

The food was a good reason to stop, but what I liked most was the refuge's location. Sitting there, surrounded by pastures and with the mountains all around, turned out to be one of the most enjoyable experiences of that day.

After the break, I walked back and continued the itinerary by car.

Passo Sella and Città dei Sassi

Passo Sella was one of the stretches of road I enjoyed most in the Dolomites.

The mountains sit very close to the road at several points, and depending on which direction you look, the scenery changes completely.

I wouldn't rush through this part of the itinerary. There are spots where you can stop for a few minutes and simply take in the scenery before continuing.

It was also in this area that I visited the Città dei Sassi, or City of Stones.

The place is made up of huge rock blocks scattered at the foot of the Sassolungo and looks quite different from the day's other stops.

I liked including the Città dei Sassi exactly because it fits naturally into the Passo Sella route. I didn't need to turn the visit into a big hike or change the route much to see it.

After this area, I continued driving toward the last big stop of the day.

Passo Giau

Passo Giau closed out my itinerary along the Dolomites' roads.

And for me, the road up to the pass is already worth the trip on its own.

The route has several curves, and as you climb, increasingly open views of the surrounding mountains start to appear.

When I reached the pass area, I left the car and walked a bit to take in the view.

I didn't do a long hike. The idea was to end the day at a relaxed pace, take in the mountains and enjoy one last big landscape before heading back to San Vigilio di Marebbe.

After Passo Giau, I drove back to San Vigilio di Marebbe.