Day trips from The Dolomites
Two day trips from the western base: Bolzano by bus, Merano by train via Bolzano.
- Bolzano
- SAD line 350 bus from Ortisei
- Merano
- train from Bolzano (regional)
- Merano ticket
- from €5 one-way (Bolzano–Merano)
Both trips start in the western base: Bolzano is 70–80 min by bus, and Merano goes by train from Bolzano. Each takes a full day, counting the journey.
Bolzano — a full day
Bolzano is the capital of the South Tyrol province, at the bottom of the valley below the mountains. SAD bus 350 from Ortisei takes 70–80 min, and the trip counts as a full day. It is worth going when the Seceda or the Alpe di Siusi drop out because of cloud, since it does not depend on the summit.
Merano — a full day
Merano is a spa town, reached by train from Bolzano: train from Bolzano (regional), 35–40 min (Bolzano–Merano leg only). From Ortisei that means the bus to Bolzano and then the train, about two hours each way without waiting for the connection. The ticket is from €5 one-way (Bolzano–Merano). The trip is a full day (from Ortisei/Cortina, counting the trip to Bolzano).
Venice is not a day trip
The Cortina Express runs from Venice to Cortina. That is the way into the eastern part of the region. The city itself has its own guide.
Before you go
Short answers to what people ask most before setting out.
How long is the trip from Ortisei to Bolzano?
70–80 min, on SAD bus 350.
How do you reach Merano?
train from Bolzano (regional), 35–40 min (Bolzano–Merano leg only); a ticket is from €5 one-way (Bolzano–Merano).
Can you reach Merano from Ortisei without changing?
No: SAD bus 350 to Bolzano, then the train from Bolzano.
Ready for The Dolomites?
Where to next
Front row for the next trip
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