--- title: Day trip to the Dolomites, Cortina and Lake Braies from Venice lang: en type: tour city: Venice country: Italy price: 179 currency: EUR price_unit: per_person availability: bookable rating: 4.9 reviews: 506 duration_minutes: 480 duration_max_minutes: 540 languages: [en, it] free_cancellation: "true" guidekin_pick: Dolomites in a day? rank_in_category: 5 of 10 (Day Trips from Venice) schedule_checked: 2026-10-03 data_updated: 2026-10-04 canonical: https://guidekin.com/italy/venice/tours/day-trip-to-the-dolomites-cortina-and-lake-braies-from-venice/ --- # Day trip to the Dolomites, Cortina and Lake Braies from Venice **Guidekin's take:** A long day in the Dolomites by Mercedes van with a local guide: Cortina d'Ampezzo, Lake Braies and mountain passes, with WiFi on board and an early start from Venice. Lunch is at your own cost, the winter snowmobile ride is an optional extra, hotel pickup is not included and infant seats are available. 4.9 from 506 reviews at €179 per person. **Dolomites in a day?:** Choose Cortina and Lake Braies by van: 8h–9h at €179 per person, with a local guide; early start, lunch extra, no pickup. 4.9, 506 reviews. Trade-off: Early start; lunch on you; snowmobile costs extra. (last checked September 22, 2026) In our comparison: #5 of 10 in Day Trips from Venice, by rating weighted by review volume (table below). ## Overview Full-day excursion to the Dolomites departing from Venice aboard a Mercedes-Benz van, led by a local expert with over 25 years of knowledge of the region. An authentic journey through the secrets, traditions, and hidden spots of this UNESCO World Heritage site and host of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Main stops: * Cortina d'Ampezzo: The 'Pearl of the Dolomites,' a famous resort town and Olympic host (1956 and 2026), with free time to stroll and shop. * Lake Braies (Pragser Wildsee): An iconic turquoise lake framed by majestic mountain peaks. * Lake Misurina: A panoramic vantage point offering spectacular, unobstructed views of the famous Tre Cime di Lavaredo (Three Peaks). ## Before you book - Meeting point: GPS coordinates 45.438231, - Starts 08:00: one departure a day - Food not included: Lunch, Food and drink, unless otherwise… - Strollers OK: infants accepted - Children from €165: ages 3 to 17 **Pickup:** No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point ## Key facts - Price: from €179 per person - Duration: 8h–9h - Rating: 4.9/5 from 506 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor) - Free cancellation (see policy below) - Operator: Esse Group Sas di Salton Ralph C. - Group: Shared tour - Guide languages: English, Italian - Start times: 08:00 - Booking: Instant confirmation, mobile ticket - Price checked on Viator: 2026-10-03 ## Reviews 4.9 from 506 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor. 98% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 495 of 506. - 5 stars: 474 (94%) - 4 stars: 21 (4%) - 3 stars: 7 (1%) - 2 stars: 0 (0%) - 1 star: 4 (1%) ### What reviewers say Reviewers praise the scenery, guides and comfortable transport; food choices can be limited on some visits. **Praised:** - Knowledgeable guides explain regional history and answer questions - Mountain and lake views, especially at Lake Braies - Clean, comfortable vans and driving that feels safe - Frequent photo stops and extra viewpoints along the route - Small groups and attentive guides make the day feel personal **Complaints:** - Some want more time at the stops, while others find the pace unhurried - Limited food choices on some visits prompt advice to bring snacks Written by Guidekin from the 100 most recent English reviews on Viator & Tripadvisor (2025-11-04 to 2026-10-02); last checked 2026-10-04. ## What's included - Meeting time is 7:45AM, please be there 15 minutes before indicated start time - WiFi on board - Transport in Mercedes van ## Not included - Lunch - Snowmobile ride - Only from December until the end of the winter season, end of March - Hotel pick-up and drop-off service - Food and drink, unless otherwise specified ## Itinerary 1. **Venice** (pass by, no stop) - Discover the beauty of the Dolomites, with their unique shapes and colors, on an unforgettable day trip from Venice. Hop aboard a comfortable and spacious Mercedes minivan for the scenic journey from Venice. Stop in Cortina d’Ampezzo, the town that will host the next Winter... 2. **Cortina d'Ampezzo** (45m) - Cortina d’Ampezzo, nicknamed the “Queen of the Dolomites,” is the largest and most famous of the 18 towns that make up Ladinia, as well as a renowned winter and summer tourist destination. It is the stage for numerous internationally significant events related to the... 3. **Photo stop - Tre Cime di Lavaredo** (10m) 4. **Lago di Braies** (1h 30m) - Enjoy an optional walk around the lake (trekking distance 3.5 km/2.1 miles) or rent a beautiful wooden rowboat (45 minutes) to take some photos of the stunning panorama and the turquoise lake. Lake Braies is always accessible, even in winter (from late December to late March,... 5. **Monte Piana** (1h) - (Winter Season Only) During the winter season, it is possible to go up to higher altitudes by snowmobile to take some photos, reaching up to 2,325 meters, and then descend by snowmobile or sled (total one-way route of approximately 7 km). Additional cost to be paid on-site:... 6. **Lago di Misurina** (5m) - Short stop for a few scenic photos. ## Schedule - Runs: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat - Departures: 08:00 - Schedule last checked: 2026-10-03 - These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout. ## Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time. ## Meeting point GPS coordinates 45.438231, 12.319400 In front of Hotel Santa Chiara or Koko Bar at Piazzale Roma - Venice City Near the taxi office (green booth) (non-water taxis) Arrive at least 15 minutes before departure. Departure scheduled for 8:00 am sharp. Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/?q=place_id:ChIJBwpDi8exfkcRlj7SnwZHRGg Ends: 2 minutes from the meeting point in the morning ## Good to know - Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller - Service animals allowed - Public transportation options are available nearby - Specialized infant seats are available - Suitable for all physical fitness levels - Child seats are available upon request at the time of booking (children weighing less than 36 kg or shorter than 150 cm must use appropriate child seats). We reserve the right to refuse infants or children if a request was not made at the time of booking or if the child seats do not meet Italian legal requirements. ## Compared with other Day Trips from Venice | Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group | |---|---|---|---|---| | **This tour · #5 of 10** | €179 | 8h–9h | 4.9 (506) | shared | | [A Sparkling Day in the Prosecco Hills from Venice](/italy/venice/tours/a-sparkling-day-in-the-prosecco-hills-from-venice/?format=md) | €189 | 7h | 4.99 (587) | shared | | [From Venice: Prosecco Wine Region Tour with 2 Tastings](/italy/venice/tours/from-venice-prosecco-wine-region-tour-with-2-tastings/?format=md) | €169 | 6h | 4.95 (393) | shared | | [Exclusive Prosecco Wine Tour - from Venice](/italy/venice/tours/exclusive-prosecco-wine-tour-from-venice/?format=md) | €181 | 6h | 4.98 (216) | shared | Ranked #5 of 10 in Day Trips from Venice by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €36 to €569, median €174; typical length 7h 30m. 1 of 10 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market. Full list: https://guidekin.com/italy/venice/day-trips-from-venice/?format=md ## More in Venice - All Venice tours: https://guidekin.com/italy/venice/?format=md - This page as HTML: https://guidekin.com/italy/venice/tours/day-trip-to-the-dolomites-cortina-and-lake-braies-from-venice/ Filters, the full catalogue and the URL contract for this city: https://guidekin.com/italy/venice/?format=md