28/09/2026
Lake Garda to the Dolomites by Car — 10 Stops I Wouldn’t Skip
This is the kind of drive where the scenery keeps changing every hour.
You start beside Lake Garda, move through Trentino and South Tyrol, then climb into the Dolomites where the roads become part of the experience. If I were doing this route, these are the 10 stops I would build it around.
1. Sirmione
Start on the southern edge of Lake Garda with one of the lake’s most recognizable towns. Sirmione sits on a narrow peninsula and is entered through the dramatic Scaligero Castle.
Walk the historic centre, continue toward the Grotte di Catullo, and give yourself time by the water before starting the long drive north.
2. Malcesine
Malcesine is one of the strongest stops on the eastern shore of Lake Garda.
The castle rises directly above the lake, the old streets are compact and atmospheric, and the mountain backdrop becomes much more dramatic here. This is where the trip starts feeling less like a lake holiday and more like an Alpine journey.
3. Riva del Garda
At the northern end of the lake, Riva feels completely different from Sirmione.
The mountains close in around the water, the scenery becomes sharper, and the transition toward Trentino begins. I would stop here for a walk along the lakefront before leaving Garda behind.
4. Trento
Trento is worth including because it breaks up the mountain scenery with a proper historic city.
Piazza Duomo, the cathedral and the frescoed buildings give you a very different atmosphere from the lake towns, and the city is also an easy place to stop for lunch before continuing north.
5. Bolzano
Bolzano is where the Italian and Alpine worlds start blending more obviously.
The architecture, food and language all begin to feel different, and this is also a practical gateway into the Dolomites. If you have time, the historic centre deserves more than a quick coffee stop.
6. Lago di Carezza
Lago di Carezza is smaller than many people expect, but visually it is one of the strongest stops on the entire route.
On a clear day, the water reflects the surrounding mountains and forest, creating the kind of view that makes you understand why Dolomite lakes are so famous.
This is an easy stop, but I would not skip it.
7. Ortisei
Ortisei is one of the best-known villages in Val Gardena and a great place to slow the trip down.
The village itself is attractive, but the real appeal is the landscape around it. This is where you are properly inside the Dolomites now, surrounded by steep peaks, meadows and cable-car routes.
If I had extra time, I would consider spending a night here.
8. Passo Gardena
Do not treat Passo Gardena as simply a road between destinations.
The drive itself is one of the highlights.
Hairpin bends, huge mountain walls and panoramic viewpoints make this one of the places where you will probably stop more often than you planned.
This is exactly why this trip works better by car.
9. Cortina d’Ampezzo
Cortina is one of Italy’s most famous mountain towns and a natural stop before heading farther east.
The town is elegant, but the real reason to include it is the setting. Peaks surround the valley in every direction, and several of the eastern Dolomites’ most famous landscapes are nearby.
10. Lago di Braies
Finish at one of the most photographed lakes in Italy.
Lago di Braies is famous for its turquoise water, wooden boathouse and dramatic mountain backdrop. It gets very busy, so I would go early if possible.
Yes, it is famous.
Yes, you have probably seen it online a thousand times.
It is still worth seeing.
What makes this route special is that it does not feel like one type of trip.
You begin with castles and lake towns, move through historic Alpine cities, then end surrounded by some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in Italy.
The important thing is not to rush it.
Lake Garda roads can be slow, mountain passes take longer than they look on the map, and the best part of the Dolomites is often the unexpected stop you never planned.
If I had the time, I would give this route at least four to five days.
Not because the distance is enormous.
Because you will keep wanting to stop.
