Dolomites day trip from Venice: lakes and mountain villages

Free cancellation

1/25

Duration8h

GroupUp to 16

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Five lakes and two mountain villages in one morning and afternoon from Venice

This eight-hour day trip from Venice takes you by minivan through the Dolomites, stopping at Lake Santa Croce, the village of Pieve di Cadore, Lake Auronzo, and Lake Misurina at 1,754 meters above sea level, with views of Tre Cime di Lavaredo and the surrounding peaks. The round-trip transfer from Venice is included with a bilingual driver; you choose how long to spend at each stop. A chairlift to Col del Varda at 2,106 meters is available for an extra fee if you want higher vistas.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Dolomites and Lakes

Visit Lake Santa Croce
Stroll in Pieve di Cadore
Travel to Lake Auronzo
Walk around Lake Misurina
Optional lunch at Lake Misurina
Optional chairlift to Col del Varda
Return to Cortina d'Ampezzo

The Experience

The minivan picks you up in Venice and heads north into the mountains, climbing through valleys and passing through tunnels carved into the canyon walls. The route itself is part of the day — the drive shows you the landscape before you step out of it. Lake Santa Croce appears first, a semi-natural lake at 386 meters where the Dolomite peaks reflect in the water; you have time to walk the shore or sit with a coffee. From there the route moves to Pieve di Cadore, a small municipality where you can stroll the center and stop for a cappuccino if you want one.

The road climbs higher as you head toward Lake Auronzo, passing through charming mountain villages on the way. Lake Misurina sits at 1,754 meters — the largest natural lake in Cadore — and the stop here is longer because the views matter. From the lakeshore you see Tre Cime di Lavaredo and the Sorapis and Marmole peaks rising behind the water. You can walk the 2.6-kilometer perimeter, have lunch at one of the restaurants nearby (you pay separately), or just stand and look. If you want to go higher, a chairlift runs to Col del Varda at 2,106 meters; tickets are not included in the tour price, but the vistas from up there are the highest point of the day.

The driver is bilingual and the minivan is air-conditioned, which matters on the long climb and on the way back down. The tour runs eight hours total, and because it is shared, the schedule is fixed — you are not building the day yourself, which means the timing holds and you do not have to think about how to fit five lakes into an afternoon. The last-minute note: if you book same-day or overnight and there are no seats left, you will be moved to the following day.

What’s included

Round-trip minivan transfer from Venice with a bilingual driver.
air-conditioned transport.
free time at each of the five lakes and two mountain villages.
access to Lake Santa Croce, Pieve di Cadore, Lake Auronzo, and Lake Misurina.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by MOVE VENEZIA

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you are staying in Venice without a car and want to see the high Dolomites in a single day — the pickup from your hotel and the fixed schedule mean you do not have to arrange transport or plan the route yourself, and the minivan takes you through the mountain passes and tunnels that are part of the landscape.

Compare Book now ›