Lago di Braies Hike: Walk Away From The Crowds

You can find Lago di Braies in the heart of the Dolomites of northern Italy. Specifically, Lake Braies is situated in the Prags Valley (Val di Braies) in South Tyrol, about an hour’s drive from the mountaineering hub Cortina d’Ampezzo and two hours from Innsbruck. The closest towns and hubs are:

Dobbiacco (Toblach): 16 km / 20 minutes - from here the bus departs
Cortina d’Ampezzo: 50 km / 55 minutes - ideal if you want to see more of the Dolomites
Venice: 215 km / 3 hours - easiest airport and direct bus transfer to Cortina d’Ampezzo
Innsbruck: 135 km / 2 hours - perfect for combination with Austrian Alps

Lago di Braies is in the heart of South Tyrol, Alto Adige in Italian and Südtirol in German. South Tyrol is officially trilingual, with Italian, German, and Ladin recognized as official languages. This linguistic diversity is an integral part of the region's identity and adds to its cultural richness. Until 1918, South Tyrol was part of the Austro-Hungarian princely County of Tyrol but after the First World War, the area was annexed to Italy.

Due to this historical fact, many families’ mother tongue is German and many place names are published in both German and Italian. For Lago di Braies, it doesn’t make it any easier to find. It’s Lago di Braies in Italian, Pragser Wildsee in German, and, to add to the confusion, Lake Braies or Lake Prags in English.

It depends on your plans. If you simply want to visit the lake, make a few beautiful shots and soak up the colours, then any time of the year is great for Lago di Braies. Every season comes with a dose of magic. We like hiking and that is why we visit Lago di Braies mostly between mid-June and September. This is also the season for the Alta Via 1, for which the lake serves as a starting point. If you are looking to get a photography award, then your best bet is definitely in October. In terms of photos, you will then get the best Lago di Braies weather.

Photography: October/November

Hiking: Mid-June until the end of September

Just visiting: Anytime of the year

Note that the busiest months are in Summer. For these months there are parking restrictions. More about that later.

That’s a good question. Up until the summer of 2023, getting to Lago di Braies was simple. Due to the large influx of visitors, local authorities started to enforce restrictions. These days, the easiest way to get to the lake is by bus.

By car: Leave your car in Cortina d'Ampezzo or Dobiacco/Toblach and take public transportation to the start of the hike.

By bus: From Cortina d'Ampezzo travel via Dobbiaco/Toblach (Bus 445) to Lago di Braies(Pragser Wildsee). For the bus between Cortina and Dobbiaco, you do not need a reservation and can buy a ticket from the driver. For the stretch between Dobbiaco and Lago di Braies (Bus 442), you do need a pre-booked ticket.

Between July 10 and September 10, you won't get on the bus without an online reservation. You can book your ticket online starting from mid-June. Don't forget!

Are you visiting Lago di Braies before July 10 or after September 10? Then you don't need to make a reservation and can board with a regular ticket.

At this point, you may be wondering if it is really worth going to Lago di Braies. You might also wonder if you can go for a swim, or, maybe you’re into stand-up-paddling and want to bring your SUP.

Is Lago di Braies worth it?

Sometimes you feel like skipping a tourist hotspot. You’ll be back, right? But will you? Won’t it be even more crowded then? The volumes of tourists visiting Lago di Braies speak for themselves. Yes, it is worth it to visit Lago di Braies. Especially if you put those legs to work and either walk around the lake or do our Best of Alta Via 1: Lago di Braies trek.

Can you swim at Lago di Braies?

No, swimming is not allowed. It would only be fun for those who are into ice baths anyway, so don’t bother.

Can I bring my drone to Lago di Braies?

Anywhere in the Italian Dolomites, it is prohibited to fly your drone. Unfortunately, not everyone is as law-abiding as you are. You will see (and hear!) them at the lake.

Can I rent a row boat?

Yes, you can but this is on a first come - first serve basis. You spend as much as 50 EUR for half an hour for a private boat and there are queues.

Can I bring my SUP to Lago di Braies?

You’ve guessed it. Stand-up paddling is not allowed at Lago di Braies. The same goes for any other water sports.

From where do I get the best views of the lake?

You will want to have Croda del Becco peak in the background for the perfect picture. If you want an unobstructed view, you can either be super early, rent a boat or walk a bit away from the boathouse. You’ll figure it out once you are there.