The Dolomites are easily one of our favorite destinations in Europe. Not only in Winter for the endless ski and snowboard opportunities, but also in Summer with lots of outdoor activities.
Previously we visited the South Tyrol part of the Dolomites. This trip we traveled a big part of South Tyrol again, however we also wanted to explore the Trentino part of the Dolomites. After thorough research into which region we wanted to discover the most, we ultimately chose Val di Fiemme. It turned out to be the best choice we could have made. We had good weather, which of course played a major role, but what an incredibly cool destination Val di Fiemme is.
This blog was written by travel writer and Traveltomtom team member Ashley. She was invited to experience Val di Fiemme early Summer, on behalf of Traveltomtom, and wrote this blog about her experiences.
Keep reading if you're traveling to Dolomites anytime soon. If Val di Fiemme is not yet one of your destinations, that will probably change after reading this blog post.
Val di Fiemme
Val di Fiemme offers the best of the Dolomites. It is surrounded by two natural parks and of course all around the stunning view of the Dolomites. The natural parks are Parco Naturale Monte Corno on the West and Parco Naturale di Paneveggio Pale di San Martino on the East.
Of course the name of the destination gives it all away, Val di Fiemme. It's a valley between two massive mountain ranges. They have the Lagorai Mountain Chain which is full of forests and more than 40 alpine lakes can be found here. Then there is the Latemar Mountain Chain which is made out of the so called Dolomite Rock.
Did you know that Val di Fiemme is famous for being the 'Valley of Harmony'? Thanks to the prestigious resonance trees that are being used to produce sounding boards for pianos and violins. They were once appreciated by Stradivari and nowadays still wanted by internationally famous luthiers.
In addition to all the natural highlights, Val di Fiemme also has some nice towns that are surely worth a visit.
Cavalese
The small town of Cavalese is located at an altitude of 1000 meter (3,280 ft) . Cavalese has a sunny location in front of the Lagorai Mountain Chain. When you walk or drive through Cavalese you will immediately see the impressive bell tower of the church. It proudly dominates the village.
Make sure to spend some time in Cavalese. Especially the old centre is really worth a visit. Here you'll find arts and crafts ateliers, sportswear shops, wine bars, restaurants and recently renovated ancient buildings.
Predazzo
Not far from Cavalese is the next town of Val di Fiemme which is absolutely worth a visit, Predazzo. Located at an altitude of 1018M, Predazzo definitely is a very special place in the Dolomites. It is known as the Geological garden of the Alps. They got this name thanks to the highest concentration of geological varieties in the world.
Insiders Tip
The Dos Capel Geotrail is a hiking trail in Val di Fiemme where you can discover the history of the Dolomites. You get very close with the rocks, plants and fossils that tell the story of the Dolomites World Heritage Site.
Then afterwards you can end the day by visiting the Geological Museum of the Dolomites in Predazzo. You can admire an extraordinary collection of minerals and fossils here. If interested, you can also find scientific literature about the formation of the Dolomites.
Where to stay?
Of course there are countless hotels and accommodations in Val di Fiemme. We would like to share our favorite here. During our visit to Val di Fiemme we stayed at the amazing Berghotel Miramonti. This hotel is located roughly in the middle of the towns of Cavalese and Predazzo.
It's a short 10 minute drive to Cavalese and only 16 minutes to Predazzo. It's located away from the main busy parts. The location feels like a hidden location in the mountains. The hotel offers indoor and outdoor pools and an amazing wellness center. After you have spent the day outdoors exploring the valley and the mountains, these pools and wellness center are a great place to come back to.
All rooms have a traditional mountain style interior with wooden floors and their own balcony. They have a very good restaurant as well where you can go for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
In Winter it's the perfect hotel for a ski holiday as the slopes are very close and there is a complimentary ski bus to take you to the slopes. There is also a free ski storage room with a ski boot dryer.
In Summer it's the perfect hotel for any outdoor enthusiast. The staff organizes daily guided tours of the mountains, each with a different level of difficulty. You can also very easy just go on an hiking adventure yourself.
Best places for food
It's one of the main reasons we enjoy visiting the Dolomites so much, the food! The food across the whole of the Dolomites is so damn good.
We went on a culinary tour in Val di Fiemme and will share our favorite places with you here.
Pizzeria Excelsior
When you say Italy, you say pizza! So we had to go for a pizza at least once during our stay. Pizzeria Excelsior is located in the old centre of Cavalese, across the road of the church. They offer a great selection of classic pizzas but also offer their special gourmet pizzas. It's the stories about these gourmet pizzas that got us interested in this place. We must admit, they surely don't disappoint.
Malga Bocche
This place is truly magical! It's located at Alpe Lusia, just east of Predazzo. We will talk about this in more detail later.
Malga Bocche is a mountain hut with the most incredible and breathtaking views we have seen in the Dolomites. On a sunny day their outdoor terrace invites you to have a break and simply enjoy these views. We had a break here and absolutely loved it. In fact, the sun was shining, it was a fabulous day, I simply didn't want to leave.
Chalet 44
Chalet 44 is a great restaurant at the top of the Alpe Lusia. It's located right next to the cable car, so very easily accessible. The views include amazing Dolomites mountains.
The food is simply delicious. Great food, great views, what more do you want?
Primoteca
Restaurant Primoteca is located in Predazzo. This restaurant is specialized in so called 'primi piatti', first dishes like homemade pasta and risotto. Definitely a great place to go if you're in for something real Italian.
Must do outdoor activities in Val di Fiemme
It should of course come as no surprise that our favorite activities in Val di Fiemme are all outdoor activities.
Mountain biking
We think mountain biking or biking in general is one of the best things to do in Val di Fiemme. With it's valley location it's absolutely a blast to cycle through the valley from one town to the other while enjoying the amazing panoramic vistas as you go.
We rented bikes in Cavalese and did the Fiemme Cycle Route. This route is 20 km (12.5 miles) one way, so if you want to make it back to starting point it's a 40 km (25 miles) bike ride. The Fiemme Cycle Route takes you along some nice highlights like the Biolake in Predazzo and the Waterfall of Cavalese. The route runs alongside the Avisio river and through the Val di Fiemme villages meadows and woods. This route doesn't have any serious differences in height.
The fun thing of biking in Val di Fiemme is that the Val di Fiemme bike route largely follows the footprint of a former railway line which was closed in 1963. It used to connect Predazzo and Cavalesewith the Adige Valley. The old railway line is now an exceptional bike path.
Because it used to be a railway track, it has gentle gradients of roughly 2 - 4%. You even pass several old railway tunnels, which is special to bike through. An absolute dream to do the Fiemme Cycle Route!
If you're not into self-guided activities, you can also do a guided bike tour in Val di Fiemme. Take a look at this e-bike tour or maybe this tour of the mountain huts is more your cup of tea.
Biolake Predazzo
This spot was our break during our mountain bike adventure. What a great place! The perfect place for locals and visitors to spend a warm summer day. A relaxing and fun oasis in Val di Fiemme. Relax under the sun in lovely green meadows and plunge into the fresh mountain water. The swimming conditions are ensured by water renewals and by the presence of purifying water plants. For us it was the perfect refreshing stop before getting back on the bike.
Waterfall of Cavalese
Leaving Cavalese, this Waterfall of Cavalese was our very first stop on our mountain biking route.How cool is this spot? What I really like is that you cannot see this waterfall from the road. You really have to know that it is here, otherwise you will drive right past it. The great thing about that is that visitor numbers are relatively low. When we visited we were pretty much the only one visiting.
Alpe Lusia Bellamonte
Whether you are travelling with your partner, friends or with the whole family, Alpe Lusia is an absolute must for everyone, young and old! Alpe Lusia Bellamonte is located just east of Predazzo. It's very easily accessible by car and there are many parking spaces to park your car. You can take two cable cars up to the mountain. Right at the top is where you will find Chalet 44.
Going up you will the amazing outdoor playground they created here. It's called the Giro d'Ali Family Park. It's the perfect place to relax and have fun. It's a very sunny area with lots of water activities. Sun beds, picnic spots, it's all there. It's very suitable for families with children.
Malga Bocche hike
We took both cable cars up the mountain and did the Malga Bocche hike. A very easy 5 km (3 miles) hike to the Malga Bocche mountain hut.
The views you are treated to during this walk are truly priceless. After every bend there is a new panoramic view. You are constantly surrounded by meadows, forests, waterfalls, Dolomites mountains and cows. It simply cannot get any better than this.
You think you've seen it all until you reach the Malga Bocche mountain hut and see the view there. Speechless, absolutely impressive and incredibly beautiful.
Winter Olympics 2026
You really couldn't miss it. Everywhere we went we saw banners and flags of the Olympic Games. No, not the 2024 Olympics in Paris, but the 2026 Winter Olympics. These are held in Milan, but Val di Fiemme is also part of these games.
Val di Fiemme will host the cross-country skiing and ski jumping competitions of the Olympic Winter Games of 2026. They simply offer the best facilities in Italy when it comes to these two winter disciplines.
During our mountain bike tour we passed the Cross Country Stadium. They are very busy constructing and building this place to have it ready for winter 2026.
Val di Fiemme brands gone International
There are always special facts that you learn when you travel. This is one of those special facts. I had no idea that these international companies are originally from Val di Fiemme.
Pasta Felicetti
The Felicetti family has been making the best pasta in Val di Fiemme for four generations. They have some special combinations when it comes to their ingredients that makes their pasta special. It's the spring water from the mountains, the high mountain air and 100% Italian grains that give this pasta a unique flavor.
They have shops in Predazzo and in Molina di Fiemme. Visit these places if you want to take home the most delicious souvenir you can think of! Dolomites pasta from Predazzo, the best! We can confirm it because we brought some home.
La Sportiva
You would think that as outdoor enthusiasts we would be familiar with most outdoor brands, but nothing could be further from the truth. I had never heard of La Sportiva for example. This world-famous outdoor brand also originally comes from Val di Fiemme. Modern times and technology have now caught up with them and there is hardly any production in Val di Fiemme anymore. However, the designs of all their products are still developed here.
Visit any outdoor store and you will find plenty of La Sportiva gear!
Final thoughts on Val di Fiemme
The Dolomites is one of those destinations where I can return year after year without getting bored. The mountains, the views, it remains such an impressive environment. Val di Fiemme was a completely new destination in the Dolomites for us. What did we like so much about this destination? The fact that you are surrounded by two mountain ranges and the villages in the valley complete the picture perfect. You can endlessly bike and hike in the valley without too much altitude meters. But you can also very easily end up in the mountains and truly challenge yourself.
Even though we have done quite a few fun and adventurous activities, we also realize that we haven't seen and done everything in Val di Fiemme yet. There is so much more to see and do here. You always have to have something left to be able to return again one day right?
I hope our travel blog about Summer in Val die Fiemme inspired you to travel to the magical Dolomites in Italy!