Dolomites Day Trip from Venice with Cortina & Two Lakes

The Dolomites: From Venice to the Mountains

The Dolomites were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009 for their dramatic pale peaks, which glow pink and orange at sunset in an effect locals call enrosadira. The rock is ancient coral reef, lifted from a tropical sea millions of years ago, which explains the sheer towers and jagged ridges you see from the road.

A Dolomites day trip from Venice takes around two and a half hours each way, leaving the lagoon behind and climbing through the Piave valley and the Cadore region into the mountains. The best time to visit the Dolomites for lakes and walks is late spring to early autumn; in winter the scenery is snowy and roads can be affected by weather, so the driver may adjust the order of stops.

Cortina d'Ampezzo, the Queen of the Dolomites

Cortina d'Ampezzo sits in a wide green basin ringed by famous peaks such as the Tofane, Cristallo and Pomagagnon. It hosted the Winter Olympics in 1956 and is a co-host of the 2026 Winter Games with Milan, and it has long been one of Italy's most fashionable mountain resorts.

During your free time you can stroll the pedestrian Corso Italia, look up at the tall bell tower of the Basilica of Saints Philip and James and browse the elegant shops. Many visitors ask whether Cortina d'Ampezzo is worth visiting on a day trip: for the setting alone, yes. Cable cars and chairlifts leave from the town in season, but their tickets are not included.

Lake Misurina and the Tre Cime di Lavaredo

Lake Misurina lies at about 1,750 metres above sea level, a short drive from Cortina, and is often called the pearl of the Cadore. A flat path of about 2.6 kilometres circles the water, so you can walk around it in under an hour while the jagged Sorapiss group and, to the north, the famous Tre Cime di Lavaredo rise behind the lake.

The large building on the shore is a former children's respiratory clinic, placed here for the pure mountain air. In summer small rowing boats can be rented, and in winter the lake often freezes over. It is one of the most photographed spots of any day trip to the Dolomites, so keep your camera ready.

A Second Alpine Lake and Panoramic Viewpoints

The trip also includes a visit to a second mountain lake, chosen by our driver according to the season, the weather and road conditions on the day, so you see the lake that is at its best. Along the way there are photo stops at viewpoints over the valleys, larch forests and small wooden villages.

Our driver speaks English and can share local tips, but this is a transport-based trip rather than a fully guided tour, which keeps the pace relaxed and leaves more time to explore on your own. Pack a light jacket even in summer, as it is noticeably cooler at altitude than in Venice.