Biker-Friendly Places to Stay in Dolomites

A biker hotel in the Dolomites puts you at the foot of the most famous ring of passes in the Alps. From Val Gardena, Alta Badia, Arabba or Canazei you can ride the four Sella Ronda passes before lunch and still have the Giau, Falzarego and Fedaia for the afternoon. The roads are well surfaced, the hairpins are numbered, and the rock towers above them are the reason riders come back year after year.

The best riding roads

• The Sella Ronda. Passo Gardena (2,121 m), Passo Sella (2,244 m), Passo Pordoi (2,239 m) and Passo Campolongo (1,875 m) ring the Sella massif. The full loop is a short day's riding, but with stops it fills one.
• Passo Giau (SP638). From Pocol above Cortina to Selva di Cadore, tight and steep with dozens of hairpins and one of the best views in the Dolomites from the top (2,236 m).
• Passo Falzarego (SS48). Cortina to Andraz and on toward Arabba. Faster and more open, and it links neatly with the Giau and the Valparola.
• Passo Fedaia. Under the Marmolada glacier, from Canazei past the Fedaia lake and down a steep, straight descent toward Caprile.
• The Great Dolomite Road. The old route from Bolzano over the Costalunga (Karerpass) to Canazei, the Pordoi and the Falzarego to Cortina strings many of the best passes together in one long day.

Where to base yourself

Arabba sits between the Pordoi and the Campolongo and is the most central base for riding. Corvara and the Alta Badia villages cover the Gardena and Campolongo, Selva and Ortisei in Val Gardena cover the Gardena and Sella, and Canazei in Val di Fassa covers the Sella, Pordoi and Fedaia. Cortina d'Ampezzo is the base for the Giau, Falzarego and Tre Croci, with more choice of places to eat.

When to go

The high passes are reliably open from around June to early October. June and September are the best months. July and August bring heavy traffic, cyclists and coaches onto the Sella Ronda, and some passes have had trial traffic restrictions in peak summer, so check before you plan a route. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in summer: ride the high passes in the morning.

Parking and garage tips

• Most Dolomites hotels are ski hotels with a garage or ski room. Ask for a space for the bike when you book.
• Pass-top car parks are busy in summer. The marked motorcycle areas fill first, so stop early or keep moving.
• Fill up in the valley towns. There is little fuel at altitude.