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Dolomites on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
You can do the Dolomites on a budget at about €135 per person per day sharing a room, if you base yourself in a valley town, use buses and choose hikes over cable cars. It is not a cheap area, but walking is free and the views cost nothing.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | €55 | €110 | €250 |
| Food & drink | €35 | €60 | €110 |
| Sights & tickets | €30 | €55 | €80 |
| Local transport | €15 | €35 | €60 |
| Per person, per day | €135 | €260 | €500 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Dolomites day-cost table.
Free things to do
- The Lago di Braies loop walk (parking is paid in summer)
- The Adolf Munkel trail below the Odle in Val di Funes
- The viewpoint over Santa Maddalena church in Val di Funes
- Lago di Carezza and its forest paths (parking is paid)
- Bressanone's old town and cathedral cloister
- Walking up to the Alpe di Siusi from Siusi or Compatsch on foot instead of the lift
Cheap eats
- Canederli in a village restaurant: about €14–18
- Apple strudel and coffee at a malga: about €7–10
- Speck and bread from a supermarket for a picnic: about €8–10
- Pizza in a valley pizzeria: about €9–13
- Polenta with cheese or sausage at a mountain hut: about €12–16
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in Bolzano or Bressanone, on the railway, where doubles cost about €100–160 (around €55 per person sharing), or in cheaper villages such as San Vito di Cadore near Cortina. Mountain huts (rifugi) offer dorm beds with half-board, often €60–90 per person.
Getting around cheaply
Use SAD buses in South Tyrol and Dolomiti Bus around Cortina, which cost a few euros a ride; many hotels give a free guest pass. Trains from Verona reach Bolzano in about 1.5 hours. A shared rental car is often cheapest for groups.
A sample budget day
- Morning: bus to Val di Funes and the Santa Maddalena viewpoint
- Lunch: strudel and soup at Malga Geisleralm (about €15)
- Afternoon: the Adolf Munkel trail (free)
- Evening: dinner in Bressanone (about €20)
- Total: about €135 including a shared budget room
More ways to save
- Travel in late June or September.
- Use guest cards for free buses.
- Carry a water bottle and refill at fountains.
- Split a rental car with friends and book early.
- Choose one big cable car per day.
- Stay several nights in one place to get better rates.
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Common questions
Can you visit the Dolomites on a budget?
Yes, at about €135 a day per person sharing a room, staying in Bolzano or Bressanone and using buses and free hikes.
Can you visit the Dolomites without a car?
Yes. SAD buses and Dolomiti Bus connect the main valleys, and many hotels give free bus passes, but it takes more planning.
Are mountain huts expensive?
Not very: a dorm bed with half-board is often €60–90, and lunches are fairly priced.