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If you're looking to experience the most famous hike in the Dolomites, then you've come to the right place. 

Tre Cime di Laveredo has become increasingly popular from its iconic triple peak, and hiking around it is seriously a must for your visit to the stunning Italian mountain range. 

In this guide we're going to go over everything you need to know to visit this famous hike in the Dolomites- from how to get there, to everything you'll experience throughout the trek.

📍 Where is The Most Famous Hike in the Dolomites?

Tre Cime di Lavaredo is located in the southern part of the Dolomites, which are in the north of Italy, in the province of Berullo.

The hiking trails starts from Refugio Auronzo, which is located in Auronzo di Cadori. It lies about 20 minutes from the town of Misurina, and is about 35-40 minutes from Cortina d'Ampezzo.

Tre Cime di Lavaredo Price & Timetable

The trailhead for Tre Cime di Lavaredo is open 24/7, and is free of charge to enter. However, in order to get to the parking lot, you will have to pass the toll road, which costs 30 euros. Since both

Cadini di Misurina and Tre Cime di Lavaredo start from the same parking lot, we suggest doing both of these hikes together so you won't need to spend the 30 euros twice.

The Most Famous Hike in the Dolomites: Conquering Tre Cime di Lavaredo

Now you know the basics for getting to Tre Cime di Lavaredo. So are you ready to learn how to conquer the most famous hike in the Dolomites? Let's check out the journey!

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👀 Can You See Tre Cime Without Hiking?

You won't be able to see Tre Cime just by driving straight up. However, you can actually see the three peaks after just a short walk from the parking lot!

One of the reasons that the Tre Cime di Lavaredo is the most famous hike in the Dolomites is because the trail is simply so dynamic. The cool thing about the trail is it is a loop, so there are two different ways to experience it, with several other paths that branch off of it.

You can see Tre Cime from various viewpoints, and a few of them are just after walking 15-20 minutes, making it suitable for families who don't want to do the entire loop.

You can start to see Tre Cime di Lavaredo after 15-20 minutes walking from each side.

⬆ How Long is the Tre Cime Trail?

The whole loop of the Tre Cime trail is 10.4 km.

⏳ How Long Does It Take to Hike the Tre Cime di Lavaredo?

If you don't really stop, and go at a fast pace, you can finish the loop in a little over 2 hours. However, there are a ton of things to enjoy that fork off the main trail, so we would suggest leaving at least 5 hours to experience all that Tre Cime di Lavaredo has to offer.

🥾 The Hike of Tre Cime di Lavaredo Step-by-Step

There are two different points that you can start hiking Tre Cime. You can either do the loop clockwise (to the left of the refuge) or you can do it counter-clockwise (to the right of the refuge). We chose to do it counter clock-wise, as this is how you get the best views.

The most popular way is to start counter-clockwise (with the valley on your right).

Now we're going to share our journey, step-by-step, so you know exactly what to expect.

Step 1: Walk to the Church/ First Viewpoint

After just 10 minutes walking along a flat path, you'll arrive at a small church. Just ahead of it on the right you can take a small detour (5-10 minutes), where there is a monument, and some pretty views of the valley and river below.

Step 2: Walk to Refugio Lavaredo

After another 10 minutes you'll make it to the next refuge. Here is where you can start to see views of the Tre Cime. We stopped just a few minutes for pictures, but you can also stop here for a drink, bite to eat, or simply to use the bathroom.

Step 3: Walk to the Side of Tre Cime

The next part is where you'll start walking uphill. Be careful, because this part is full of loose gravel, and can be a bit trickier to walk up. In just 10 minutes you'll arrive at a flat area with a map, and you'll be right next to Tre Cime. We stopped at this part for 15 minutes to take pictures, check the map, and rehydrate.

Step 4: Walk to a Photo Area of Tre Cime

Once you get to the sign you'll start walking to the right. The further you walk, the more and more the views of Tre Cime start to get better!

After 10 minutes we decided to walk in towards Tre Cime, and this is where we flew our drone. This is a cool area to stop and rest, get pictures, or have a small picnic.

Step 5: Head to Refugio Locatelli

Head back on the trail and you'll have just another 15 minutes to make it to Refugio Locatelli, which is pretty much the halfway point of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo loop. (It was a little under an hour of hiking time to make it there for us).

Refugio Locatelli faces Tre Cime di Lavaredo, so has stunning views, and has a complete menu, large seating area, and even picnic tables if you have your own food. This is the perfect place to take a break, before exploring the other fun things in the area.

Step 6: Explore Nearby Attractions

One of our favorite parts of this famous hike in the Dolomites is the small gems that are scattered along it. Rather than just hopping back on the trail, we suggest checking out some of these cool things:

⛪️ The Church

Right behind the refuge is a small church, with another cool find right behind it.

🪟 The Window Caves

Just a couple of minute walk right behind the refuge are a few small caves that face Tre Cime. They are super easy to spot, and are just up the hill. We spent about a half hour of our time going up there and taking pictures in the different windows.