Tre Cime di Lavaredo Hike: Toll Road & Parking 2026

The hike around the Tre Cime di Lavaredo is probably the most popular and famous hike in the Dolomites. If you’re in South Tyrol or the Dolomites, you can’t really avoid it. But is the hike actually worth it, and is it really as touristy and crowded as everyone says? And how do you even get up there in 2026, now that the parking lot and bus are reservation-only? That and more in this travel report, based on our own visit in June 2022 and the current 2026 situation.

Last updated: July 2026

The Tre Cime di Lavaredo in the Dolomites

The Tre Cime di Lavaredo are three highly distinctive mountain peaks in the Italian Dolomites, right on the border with South Tyrol. They’re probably the most famous and most visited peaks in the Alps, and it’s no surprise that the Tre Cime are also the symbol of the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage site – they shouldn’t be missing from any Italy road trip.

The Tre Cime consist of – as you’d probably guess – three peaks standing side by side, somewhat unimaginatively named Cima Grande (Große Zinne), Cima Ovest (Westliche Zinne) and Cima Piccola (Kleine Zinne). Cima Grande just barely scrapes the 3,000-meter mark at 2,999 meters.

Circling the Tre Cime is one of the most popular hikes in the Dolomites and is tackled by thousands of tourists every year.

The reasons are obvious: for one, you can conveniently reach the Tre Cime via a toll road (at least during the summer months). Second, the hike itself has gentle inclines and wide, well-maintained trails, making it accessible even for inexperienced hikers. And third, the scenery is simply stunning.

Getting There & Parking for the Tre Cime Hike in 2026

Do you need a reservation for parking at the Tre Cime in 2026?

Yes, absolutely. Since summer 2025, access to the parking lot at the Rifugio Auronzo is only possible with a valid online reservation – without one, you’ll be turned away at the toll station. Booking happens through the official portal pass.auronzo.info, which shows a real-time calendar of available time slots. Reservations can be made up to a month in advance, and you’ll need an email address, phone number, and your license plate (you can add the plate up until 11:59 pm the day before if needed). The ticket is valid for 12 hours from your booked entry time.

The hike itself around the Tre Cime starts at 2,333 meters at the Rifugio Auronzo. You have three ways to get there: by bus, on foot, or by car via the toll road.

#1 By bus to the Tre Cime

The shuttle bus is also reservation- and payment-only for the entire 2026 season (May 31–October 11). You’ll need to book both the outbound and return trip online; remaining seats are only available if any are left.

Starting point: Dobbiaco (Toblach)
Bus line 444 takes you from Dobbiaco in the Puster Valley to the Rifugio Auronzo. Timetable and online reservation at drei-zinnen.bz/de/ticket.

Starting point: Lake Misurina
You can take DolomitiBus line 31 from Lake Misurina (Misurina Genzianella stop) directly to the Rifugio Auronzo, about a 20-minute ride.

Starting point: Cortina d’Ampezzo
DolomitiBus line 30/31 gets you from Cortina d’Ampezzo to the Rifugio Auronzo, with a transfer to line 31 in Misurina. Journey time is just under an hour.

Tip: Always check the current timetables and reservation requirements for your specific line before you go, as they can change by season.

#2 Hiking up from Lake Antorno

You can park for free at Lake Antorno and then walk along the road for a few kilometers up to the toll station. Right before the toll station, trail #101 branches off to the right and takes you up to the Rifugio Auronzo. The hike takes about 1.5 hours one way. This option doesn’t require an online reservation, since you’re not driving the toll road yourself.

#3 Driving up to the Rifugio Auronzo | Toll road in 2026

The easiest but most expensive way is the toll road – provided you’ve booked your reservation online in advance (see above). Current 2026 prices:

• Car: €40
• Motorcycle: €26
• Caravan/motorhome: €60
• Bus up to 30 seats: €80, over 30 seats: €160

The ticket is valid for 12 hours from your booked entry time. Sleeping in your car or camper in the parking lot at the Rifugio Auronzo is allowed, but camping/tents are not.

The roughly 6-kilometer, winding toll road takes about 10 minutes to drive.

•   Günstige Flüge finden*
•   Mietwagen buchen*

When does the Tre Cime toll road open?

The toll road usually opens in late May and stays open until mid-October, though the exact dates depend on snow conditions each year. In 2026 it opened on May 25. Unlike during our own visit in 2022, when there was practically no official source for this information, you can now check the current status and available time slots directly in the reservation calendar at pass.auronzo.info.

The best parking spot at the Tre Cime

There are several parking areas up at the Rifugio Auronzo, some for cars only, others for buses or motorhomes. When booking, try to pick the spot closest to the hut – the hike starts and ends at the level of the Rifugio Auronzo, and every extra bit of elevation in the parking lot adds up by the end of the hike.

Staying overnight at the Tre Cime

If you want to stay overnight right up there, you can book one of the mountain huts – Rifugio Auronzo, Rifugio Lavaredo, or Rifugio Locatelli (Dreizinnenhütte), all bookable through their own online systems. Since the huts are very popular, book early – spontaneous walk-ins usually won’t find a bed. Camping/tents are banned at the Tre Cime, but there’s a campground alternative down at the roundabout, Camping Alla Baita (not bookable in advance, arrive early).

Hotel Recommendation Near the Tre Cime

There aren’t that many places to stay near the Tre Cime, and not many affordable ones either. Especially in high season, you may have to drive quite a distance to find a hotel under €100. We found a great place just across the border – in Austria.

You heard that right: Austria! From the Rifugio Auronzo it only took us 45 minutes to reach our accommodation, a lovingly furnished apartment with its own garden.

Ferienwohnung Bergmann in Außervillgraten Right in the small village of Außervillgraten, just across the Austrian border, you'll find the apartments run by the friendly Bergmann family. You get a large kitchen, a cozily furnished bedroom, and even access to a garden – which our dog Aaro absolutely loved. The Tre Cime are just under 45 minutes away, and the other highlights of the Dolomites aren't far either.

• Close to the Tre Cime di Lavaredo
• Nicely furnished apartment with everything you need
• Friendly host couple
• Dog-friendly

Ferienwohnung Bergmann | Check prices*

Starting the Hike at the Rifugio Auronzo

The hike starts right at the Rifugio Auronzo/parking lot and takes you counterclockwise around the Tre Cime. You could technically hike it clockwise instead, but then you’d be running into a constant stream of oncoming hikers for most of the route.

This first stretch is completely flat and very easy to walk. You’ll have the famous Tre Cime on your left the whole time, though the view here isn’t quite as spectacular yet.

The view to your right, toward the Cadini group, is far more impressive, with their peaks glinting casually in the morning sun.

Rifugio Lavaredo

After a few kilometers, you’ll reach the first hut, and with it the first chance to grab a bite on the hike. Since we’d brought our own food and drinks, we only used the shade of Rifugio Lavaredo to rest a bit, since the first climb was waiting for us.

There are exactly two ways up to the Forcella Lavaredo (Paternsattel): one steeper and shorter, running right along the rock face, and the other longer, less steep, and presumably easier. We took the second option and reached the highest point of the hike in about 20 minutes.

Break at the Forcella Lavaredo

Like most people, this is where we took a break too. The area at the Forcella Lavaredo is packed with other hikers resting and taking in the spectacular panorama. What feels like hundreds of people are up on this small plateau, and we find ourselves a free spot for our rest.

Getting a photo without other tourists in it is basically impossible here, but with a bit of after-the-fact “magic,” it can be done.

Rifugio Locatelli or the Valley Basin

After the break, we continue along the trail and, after a few minutes, have to decide whether to keep following the main path toward Rifugio Auronzo, or head left off the official trail and descend into the valley basin.

The route via Rifugio Locatelli

Following the main path, like most people, you’ll inevitably reach the famous Rifugio Locatelli (Dreizinnenhütte) on a somewhat better-maintained trail. This route also gives you the option to visit the WWI tunnel systems, which make for great photo spots of the Tre Cime.

We opted for the slightly more adventurous route down into the valley basin instead.

Through the valley basin

Just below the Forcella Lavaredo, a rougher, unpaved path leads down into the valley basin. We have to cross a few snowfields before finally finding the right trail.

The path through the valley basin is less developed, and we frequently have to scramble over scree and large rocks, often only guessing at where the trail actually is. Still, we’re closer to the peaks here, and the trail is far less crowded than the official route to Rifugio Locatelli.

We take several short breaks along the way, soaking in the incredibly beautiful scenery.

Last Break at the Langalm Hut

After the almost solitary walk through the valley basin, we rejoin “civilization” just before the Langalm hut. The area around the hut is packed, and a long line has formed at the drinks counter. We briefly consider joining the queue for a cold drink, but decide against it because of the wait and instead head to the stream running right alongside the hut. This stream, by the way, is the source of the Rienz river, which starts here at the Tre Cime and flows another 81 kilometers before joining the Eisack river.

At the stream there’s also a small tap where you can fill bottles with fresh spring water – though at an almost endlessly slow trickle. The water flows so slowly that Sabrina has to wait nearly 20 minutes for everyone ahead of her to fill their bottles.

Back to the Parking Lot

From the Langalm hut, there’s still a decent climb ahead, and to our dog Aaro’s delight, we once again pass a large pond of ice-cold glacier water. Aaro seems to smell the water from a distance and dives right in.

After that refreshing dip, we continue up the hill, gradually losing sight of the Tre Cime panorama. We make our way along a partly steep scree slope, longing for the end of the hike as our feet start to protest and the sun on this shadeless trail shows little mercy.

After about 15 minutes, we arrive back at the parking lot – though we still have to “climb” up to the highest of the three parking areas – and collapse, exhausted, into our car seats.

Tips for the Tre Cime Hike in the Dolomites

Here are a few more important tips we’ve put together for you.

Hiking the Tre Cime with a Dog

We did the Tre Cime hike with our dog Aaro, and it was absolutely no problem. He wasn’t the only dog on the trail either. What you should watch out for is the heat (there’s barely any shade along the route) and water access.

There are a few natural water sources along the trail (dogs can even swim in some of them), but you shouldn’t rely on those alone, since water levels can vary depending on the season and temperature. Bring enough drinking water for your four-legged companion.

Is There Food & Toilets Along the Tre Cime Hike?

The only toilets are at the huts along the route, where you can also buy food and drinks. But be careful – all the huts close by the end of September at the latest. After that, there’s neither food nor toilets anywhere along the entire hike!

The Best Time for the Tre Cime Hike

The Tre Cime are worth visiting at any time of year, of course. But especially during high season, it can get extremely crowded, so the shoulder season (June and September/October) is your best bet. Keep in mind that fewer or no buses run to the Rifugio Auronzo during these times.

In our opinion, the best time of day is early morning or late morning. We arrived at the Rifugio Auronzo around 8 am and weren’t back at the parking lot until 8 hours later (including our side trip to the Cadini di Misurina viewpoint).

So you can easily spend the whole day here. There’s not much point arriving in the afternoon.

Cadini di Misurina Viewpoint – The Best Photo Spot at the Tre Cime

One of the most beautiful viewpoints and photo spots at the Tre Cime, and in our opinion in the entire Dolomites, is the Cadini di Misurina viewpoint. The short hike takes less than 30 minutes and rewards you with a spectacular view and incredible photos.

Where exactly this viewpoint is and how to get there, we’ve put together in a separate travel report: The Hike to the Cadini di Misurina Viewpoint

FAQ: Tre Cime di Lavaredo Hike

Do you need a reservation for the Tre Cime in 2026?

Yes – both the parking lot at the Rifugio Auronzo and the shuttle bus (line 444) require an online reservation for the entire 2026 season. Without one, you’ll be turned away at the toll station.

What does the Tre Cime toll road cost in 2026?

€40 for a car, €26 for a motorcycle, and €60 for motorhomes/caravans, each valid for 12 hours from your booked entry time.

How long does the Tre Cime hike take?

The classic loop around the Tre Cime is about 8 km long with roughly 300 meters of elevation gain and takes around 3 hours. With breaks and the side trip to the Cadini di Misurina viewpoint, you can easily spend a full day here.

Is the Tre Cime hike dog-friendly?

Yes, dogs are allowed on the hike. Since there’s little shade, make sure to bring plenty of drinking water for your dog.

Can you visit the Tre Cime without a car?

Yes, via the shuttle bus from Dobbiaco or Misurina (both reservation-only since 2026), or on foot from Lake Antorno (about 1.5 hours uphill, no reservation needed).