Picking where to stay in the Dolomites is one of the hardest parts of planning a trip here, mostly because the region is so spread out that your choice of base shapes your entire itinerary. I split my trip between Val Gardena and Cortina d’Ampezzo, and I think that two-base approach is the right call for most first-time visitors. Here’s my full breakdown of both, plus what I’d actually book again.
Quick Picks: Where I’d Book
If you don’t want to read the full breakdown, here’s the short version of where to stay in the Dolomites: Hotel Touring in Santa Cristina for the Val Gardena leg, and Hotel Villa Argentina in Pocol for the Cortina leg. Both are exactly what I booked and I’d stay at each again.
⭐️⭐️ Hotel Touring Dolomites (Santa Cristina, Val Gardena) – where I stayed – Click here for rates & availability
⭐️⭐️ Hotel Villa Argentina (Pocol, Cortina d’Ampezzo) – where I stayed – Click here for rates & availability
You’ll also want your own rental car to move between the two bases; the drive itself is part of the trip if you route it through Lago di Braies like I did.
Table of Contents
Why I Split My Stay Between Two Bases?
The Dolomites aren’t one compact area, they’re a sprawling collection of valleys, and trying to base yourself in just one spot means a lot of backtracking. I stayed three nights in Santa Cristina (Val Gardena) and two nights in Pocol, just outside Cortina, and that split let me treat each region properly instead of rushing through one to get to the other. If you’re only going to remember one thing about where to stay in the Dolomites, let it be this: pick your base(s) around what you actually want to see, not around whichever town looks prettiest in photos.
Staying in Val Gardena: Hotel Touring
I stayed at Hotel Touring in Santa Cristina (Strada Dursan 17, 39047 Santa Cristina in Val Gardena), and it turned out to be one of my best hotel decisions of the whole Italy trip. The rate included daily breakfast and dinner, which sounds like a small thing until you’ve just hiked eight miles and realize you don’t have to think about where to eat. Santa Cristina itself is central to everything in the valley: Seceda, Val di Funes, and the Alpe di Siusi are all within a 45-minute drive or a free bus ride, which is exactly why it’s my top answer whenever people ask me where to stay in the Dolomites for a hiking-heavy trip.
My honest review: the staff were some of the friendliest we dealt with on the whole trip, and the facility itself over-delivered, with a panoramic pool and a relaxation room that were both a great way to unwind after a big hiking day. The room was spotless, comfortable, and well located within the hotel. Breakfast and dinner were excellent, not just “fine for half-board,” and their website and app did a great job explaining everything in advance, from parking to meal times, so communication throughout the stay was excellent and the whole thing felt completely stress-free.
Two things worth knowing before you book: the parking lot is a little tricky to find and the spaces are narrow, so give yourself a few extra minutes on arrival, and there’s no air conditioning, which meant it was warm at night during our July stay. Neither one changed my answer on where to stay in the Dolomites for the Val Gardena leg, but they’re worth planning around.
If you want more nightlife or restaurant variety, Ortisei is a good alternative within the same valley. Selva is quieter and puts you closer to Passo Sella if you’re planning to spend more time around Sassolungo.
Staying in Cortina: Hotel Villa Argentina
For the Cortina leg, I stayed at Hotel Villa Argentina in Pocol, just a few minutes down the road from the Cinque Torri chairlift. This location turned out to be a smart call. It cut real time off my early, pre-dawn drive to Tre Cime, and it kept me close to Cinque Torri without having to fight for parking in central Cortina every day.
My honest review: the room was noticeably bigger than we expected, and the view caught us off guard in the best way, we hadn’t anticipated it being that lovely. The beds were comfortable, and the restaurant downstairs turned out delicious dinners, easily one of the better hotel-restaurant meals of the trip. There’s also a small spa, which was a nice touch, though it’s reservation-only and capped at 90 minutes, so book that ahead if it matters to you.
The rest of the hotel does feel a bit dated compared to the room itself, and it’s listed as having air conditioning, but ours didn’t have working AC. The room was warm when we first got in; opening the patio door helped during the day, and it cooled down fine once night hit. Worth knowing going in, but it didn’t take away from how much we loved the stay overall.
Staying in Pocol rather than downtown Cortina does mean a short drive into town for dinner and shopping, but I found that trade-off well worth it given how early some of the Cortina-area hikes require you to start. If your priority is Tre Cime and Cinque Torri specifically, Pocol is one of the smartest answers to where to stay in the Dolomites on that side of the range.
Val Gardena vs. Cortina: Quick Comparison
Val Gardena gives you more concentrated hiking with excellent free public transit (buses and cable cars) connecting the valley, along with hotels that often include dinner. Cortina gives you access to Tre Cime, Lago di Braies, and Cinque Torri, along with a more polished, resort-town feel and higher-end dining. If I had to choose only one, I’d pick based on what matters more to you: broad, varied hiking (Val Gardena) or the single biggest bucket-list sights in the range (Cortina). That’s really the whole question of where to stay in the Dolomites boiled down: pick the valley that matches your priorities, not the one that’s more famous.
How I’d Split the Nights?
I did three nights in Val Gardena and two in Cortina, and for most travelers building a five-day Dolomites trip, I’d recommend that same ratio or something close to it. If Tre Cime and Lago di Braies are your absolute top priorities, flip it to two nights in Val Gardena and three in Cortina instead. For the full day-by-day version of how I used this split, see my How Many Days Do You Need in the Dolomites guide.
Booking & Budget Tips?
Book your Dolomites hotels early, especially for July and August. I put down a 30% deposit on my Cortina hotel (about 167 euro of a 572 euro total) and paid the balance on arrival, which is a fairly standard setup in the region. On the Val Gardena side, I paid 349 euro upfront with the rest due at check-in. Rates climb fast the closer you get to peak summer, so locking in your rooms months ahead is worth it, and it’s worth budgeting for both a deposit now and a balance due at check-in when you’re planning where to stay in the Dolomites on a set budget.
Look for half-board options (breakfast and dinner included) if you’re going to be out hiking all day; it saves you from having to plan dinner logistics after an exhausting day on the trail, and it often works out to be a better value overall. And don’t forget to budget for a rental car; you’ll need one to actually move between bases and reach spots like Lago di Braies on the way.
FAQs About Staying in the Dolomites!
Should I stay in Val Gardena or Cortina for my first Dolomites trip?
If you can only pick one, Val Gardena offers more variety of hiking with less driving. But if a 5+ day trip is on the table, I’d recommend splitting your time between both, which is my honest answer whenever someone asks me where to stay in the Dolomites for a first trip.
Is it worth staying outside central Cortina?
Yes, in my experience. Staying in Pocol, just outside town, put me closer to Cinque Torri and cut time off my early drives to Tre Cime, without losing much in terms of access to the town itself.
How far in advance should I book Dolomites hotels?
I’d book at least 3-6 months ahead for a summer trip. Popular hotels with half-board options fill up quickly.
Do Dolomites hotels usually require a deposit?
Many do. I paid a 30% deposit on one hotel and a larger upfront amount on the other, with the balance due at check-in.
Final Thoughts: Where to Stay in the Dolomites?
So, where to stay in the Dolomites? My honest answer is: don’t pick just one. Split your time between Val Gardena and Cortina if your trip allows for it, book Hotel Touring or something similarly central in Santa Cristina for the hiking-heavy days, and Hotel Villa Argentina or another Pocol-area option for easy access to Tre Cime and Cinque Torri. That two-base split did more to shape how much I got to see than almost any other planning decision I made for this trip.
More From My Dolomites Trip
Where to base yourself: Is Val Gardena Worth Visiting? My Honest Review
Val Gardena & Ortisei: 8 Best Things to Do in Val Gardena & Ortisei | The 5 Best Hikes in Val Gardena, Italy
Cortina & beyond: Lago di Braies: Is It Worth the Hype? | Tre Cime di Lavaredo: The Ultimate Hiking Guide | 6 Best Things to Do in Cortina d’Ampezzo
Plan your trip: How Many Days Do You Need in the Dolomites?
Until next time, happy wanderings!
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