The Dolomites, with their soaring peaks and unspoiled pastures dotted with alpine villages, are mostly considered a destination for experienced hikers and outdoor adventurers. But this spectacular range in Northeastern Italy is also a great destination for family-friendly travel. This is a small selection of everything that you can be doing with the children in the Dolomites.
In fact, these peaks are an awesome spot for intergen groups who are looking to spend as much time in the fresh air and enjoying all that the Alpine landscapes have to offer. In this post, we detail the best family-friendly things to see and do in the Dolomites and how hut-to-hut hiking in the Dolomites can actually be a fun, attainable experience for families.
Family Travel: The Dolomites With Kids
The Dolomites aren’t just for serious trekkers, either; there are lots of family-friendly trails and things to do. There are plenty of family-friendly hiking trail options that have steady grades, lovely mountain views, and spots to learn about local animals and landforms. With a little planning, hut-to-hut hiking in the Dolomites can accommodate families, and it’s an unforgettable way to bond while taking in the breathtaking mountain scenery.
Kids Go Hiking & Outdoors
There are plenty of easy to moderate trails, and some of the more difficult peaks in the Dolomites will suit the experienced. Much of the hiking is around alpine meadows, forests, or pastures, all of which invite the chance to spot local wildlife frolicking in natural playgrounds and picnicking with the family.
- Lago di Braies: The loop trail around Lago di Braies (Pragser Wildsee) is one of the most kid-friendly hikes in the Dolomites as well as one of the prettiest mountain lakes in the Dolomites, set against towering peaks. The trail is 3.5 km (2.2 mi) long and mostly flat, making it a perfect outing for small kids and families. You cans top off to swim or picnic, or even rent a rowboat for an alternate view of the lake.
- One more great family destination is the Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm), Europe’s biggest high-altitude plateau. It has soft walking trails, playgrounds, and even a cable car that takes you to the top of the plateau, making it a good place for kids to run around and play. As they exhale the fresh air of the Alps, families can hike around the quaint meadows and become acquainted with the panoramic views of the Dolomites.
- Sentiero dei Cimbri — A beautiful, relatively gentle hike, this is a must to introduce your children to the beauty of the Dolomites. The walk winds through pretty villages and woodlands and involves children learning about the history of the area — the Cimbrian people—and local culture. For families, it is easy to tack on lots with diversion for soaking up the sights, sounds, and beauty of the Dolomites along the route.
Hut-to-Hut Hiking with Kids
For families wishing for a more immersive Dolomites experience, there is also a very fine option: hut-to-hut hiking. A network of mountain huts crisscrosses the Dolomites, and families can spend the night in nature and take the opportunity to hike, coming in a deeper, less digital-obsessed pace, with ample time to dawdle, explore, and take in the scenery.
Many of the mountain huts in the Dolomites cater to families traveling with children, providing family rooms and child-friendly meals. Some huts even offer special amenities for younger guests, ranging from treasure hunts and walks in nature to educational programs about the local flora and fauna.
One popular family hut-to-hut hike is Alta Via 1, which can be divided into shorter sections, depending on younger trekkers’ appetites. This trail runs the length of the Dolomites, and there are hut-to-hut adventures with stunning views, allowing families to experience the marvels of the Dolomites without facing difficult terrain.
If you want to try hut-to-hut hiking Dolomites with the kids, you’ll have to keep pace and distance easy and build in time for rest. Each hut has some decent food with some good local food, and some have some additional services, like hot showers and cozy kebab room types in which you can sleep after your whole day walking.
Winter Sports in the Dolomites: Exploring the Majestic Peaks
The Dolomites, most famous for summer fun, are nevertheless charming in winter. Winter turns the region into a snowy wonderland, with a whole new slate of family-friendly activities. For winter visitors, skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and sledding are a few family-friendly activities.
- Have Fun on the Slopes. The Dolomites have plenty of family-oriented resorts, such as Cortina d’Ampezzo and Val Gardena. All three resorts have beginner slopes, and ski schools have dedicated areas for children, which means that little ones can easily get started on the slopes. Most resorts offer ski lesson programs for very young children, so families with kids of all ages can spend a day on the snow.
- Snowshoeing and Sledding. If your family wants to skip the slopes, both snowshoeing and sledding require less skill than skiing, yet at least in the case of sledding, are just as much fun. Many of the resorts in the Dolomites have meandering snowshoe trails suitable for all ages, offering families the chance to explore the winter landscape at a slower pace. Children also enjoy sledding, and there are dedicated sledging hills throughout the region.
Cultural and Natural Treasures: Exploring the Dolomites Beyond Outdoor Adventures
Perhaps best of all, the Dolomites also serve up a smorgasbord of ways for families to grapple with life in the mountains here — the cultural and the historical—beyond hiking and outdoor activities. Traditional villages, the local Ladin culture, and the region’s geology and wildlife can be rewarding family experiences.
- Museo delle Tradizioni Ladine. Families interested in local culture shouldn’t miss the Museo delle Tradizioni Ladine (Museum of the Ladin Traditions) in the Dolomites. The museum is a great introduction to the Ladin people and their unique past. It’s interactive and fun for children: Life has been for centuries in the Dolomites, the traditions, crafts, and daily life of the Ladin people who have lived there.
- Geology and Nature Tours. The Dolomites are known for their unique geological formations, and some educational tours and visitor centers provide insight into the natural history of the region. Children and adults alike can learn more about how these rugged mountains were formed by stopping into the Museum of the Dolomites in Longarone or on guided tours of the region that focus on geology.
Final Thoughts
The Dolomites, in a nutshell, is one of the prettiest places in between. Italy is a great tourist destination in case you are planning to travel with family. That special corner of Italy has it all — beaches, hiking, mountain lakes, winter sports, culture, and so much more. For families with an adventurous bent, the Dolomites’ hut-to-hut hiking is a chance to explore the mountains up close, with nightly returns to cozy, convivial huts.
Be it hiking in popular alpine meadows, reaching the top of the world, local culture, or experiencing snow fun play in the winters, the Dolomites will imprint travel memories that last long with the family.