Home » Traveling In Italy » Dolomites in the Winter – 7 Activities For Non-Skiers
Christmas trees surround a statue at the Bolzano Christmas market in the Dolomites, Italy. The cathedral is in the background. It's nighttime.

Dolomites in the Winter – 7 Activities For Non-Skiers

Do you want to visit the Dolomites in Italy during the winter but have no interest in skiing?  Are you trying to figure out if it’s worth a visit? 

Perhaps you’re visiting with a group and want to know if you’ll be bored while everyone else it out on the slopes.

Don’t fret – there’s plenty to keep you satisfied in the winter in the Dolomites – even if you never plan to ski a black diamond (or just practice ‘making the pizza,’ like I do).

I’m a mamma of three and we’re based in Italy but love making trips up to the Dolomites, in summer and winter.  In fact, I’ve been visiting at least once a year since 2004. 

I’ve just returned from a winter visit with my 7-year-old.  While I did ski on this trip (a lesson), and my son snowboarded (also a lesson), we also did other things and we saw plenty of people enjoying the area without skiing.

Let’s take a look at 7 fun and memorable (non-skiing) activities that can be part of your winter trip to the Dolomites. 

Note:  This isn’t a list of every possible thing you can do in the Dolomites in the winter (you can use AI for that)… just some of our favorites that we personally enjoy and recommend!

Visit a Dolomites Christmas Market

Boy in brown coat runs in the Bolzano Christmas market, passing wooden stalls on the left and lit Christmas trees on the right. He's heading toward a large Christmas tree up ahead.
My son, exploring the Christmas Market in Bolzano

I think Italy’s best Christmas markets are in the Dolomites, and there are plenty of them to visit! 

You could do a Dolomites Christmas market tour or just choose one or two and explore their respective cities too.

The markets in northern Italy have a German/Austrian feel to them, and they’re perfect for picking up a new Christmas ornament, sipping on mulled wine or ciaccolata calda (hot chocolate), or purchasing local products (like pine essential oils, wooden presepi, or delicious sausages). 

I find the markets here to be high quality and I love the focus on regional gifts and goods.

How to Choose? We love the Bolzano Christmas Market, and it pairs well with a visit to the city.

Spend Time at a Spa

Fiè allo Sciliar from above, with the Sciliar mountain range towering behind it. Goats munch on grass in the foreground. There is some snow on the ground.
Fiè allo Sciliar (aka Völs am Schlern) is the birthplace of the haybath

I’ll let you in on a little secret… the Dolomites may be focused on outdoor fun, but they’ve got the spa life down too!

From massages to sauna sessions to haybaths, you’re spoiled for choice here in the Dolomites. 

You can go high-end at places like the ADLER spa resorts on Alpe di Siusi or in Ortisei, or make an appointment at the charming Hotel Heubad in Fiè allo Sciliar – the original home of the Fiè haybath (heubad).

How to Choose? My favorite spa area in the Dolomites is at Romantik Hotel Turm in Fiè allo Sciliar.  You have access if you’re staying at the hotel, or you can purchase a day pass.  Don’t miss the salt cave, the dry sauna, or the pine steam room!

Soak in Merano’s Thermal Baths

Two boys at the edge of a thermal pool indoors in Merano, Italy. The ceiling and walls are glass and the ceiling has orange cloth coverings and circular sculptures hanging from it.
My boys at the Terme Merano

If you love thermal baths, make your way to Merano and visit the Terme Merano in the center of town.  While the outdoor pools aren’t open like they are in the summer, you can still soak in the 15(!) indoor thermal pools. 

And, Merano Terme offers massages and other spa services.

After your visit, stroll the city center and check out the shops (and Christmas market if you’re there at the right time).

You can combine Merano’s terme with a visit to Merano 2000 (ski and snow area about Merano).

Good To Know:  My kids could easily spend the day at Merano Terme in the summer, but a couple of hours would be fine in the winter with access to just the indoor pools.

Don’t miss my guide to the Dolomites with Kids – Winter Edition

Play in the Snow

Ok, so you’re not interested in skiing, but there are plenty of other ways you can play in the snow in the Dolomites!

Besides skiing, there’s also snowshoeing, sledding, and snowboarding. 

You could take a horse carriage ride in the mountains or go for a hike (many paths and roads are cleared).

Ride a gondola or chairlift up to a hut and have a hot chocolate or a hearty mountain meal (sausage and potatoes, anyone)?  Finish up with an apple strudel!

Or, dress warmly, find a lounge chair in the sun, and alternate reading a book and soaking up the mountain views.

Read about Alpe di Siusi with Kids – Winter Edition

Explore Dolomites Villages

Boy in coat walks on sidewalk and looks to left and across street at peach colored building with murals. He's walking slightly uphill in Castelrotto, Italy, in the Dolomites.
Strolling around Castelrotto with my son

Thanks to an excellent public transport network, it’s easy to check out towns and villages in the mountains.

Some of our favorites for a winter stroll or meal include:

Go on a Winter Shopping Spree

Cobblestone street with view of shop entrances under a portico. Bicycle and Christmas tree in front of the portico. Street lit up in evening in Bolzano, Italy.
Bolzano’s Via dei Portici during the saldi

If you’re visiting Italy in January or early February, you can hit the sales (saldi).  We have twice-yearly sales here, so the two we have are a big deal.

I enjoy the boutiques and shops in Bolzano, and if you’re looking for luxury, you should check out the shopping in Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Say Hello to Ötzi

Ice Man model, Bolzano Italy.
The museum has this model of what Ötzi may have looked like

If you’re coming to the Dolomites, you need to stop in and see Ötzi, the Ice Man.  Ötzi the mummy is over 5,000 years old, and his home is in a special chamber in Bolzano’s South Tyrol Archaeology Museum (right in the historic center). 

Step up and peer through a small window into the chamber and see how he was found on a melting glacier.  In the exhibit, you can also check out his clothing, weapons, and equipment. 

It’s a fascinating exhibit!

Read more about
Bolzano in Winter
A Winter Visit to Bolzano with Kids

Check out my Family Packing List for the Dolomites in the Winter

Tips for Non-Skiing Visits to the Dolomites

  • Find out what there is to do at or near your accommodation.  For example, if you’ll be staying near the slopes, find out if you can get a bus into town.  Or,
  • Consider transport options, especially if not everyone in your group is doing the same thing.  Skiiers may decide to take the bus up to the slopes, while you utilize a rental car to visit villages.
  • Reserve experiences before you arrive.  Don’t wait until the last minute to book massages or spa treatments.  They may fill up!
  • Check dates of events like Christmas markets.  You may be surprised that some Christmas markets open up in November and run through early January!  You’ve got plenty of time to check out some of Italy’s best mercatini di Natale.

I hope this helps get you excited about visiting the Dolomites in the winter even if you’re not a skier! 

You may also want to check out
Driving in the Dolomites
Renting a Car in Italy
Dolomites in Winter Without a Car
Florence to Bolzano by Train
How to Get to the Dolomites from Venice
Dolomites with Kids
Our Favorite Things to Do in the Dolomites

Candice Criscione Avatar