Dolomites cable cars: the best summer lifts and what to expect

Cable cars make some of the Dolomites’ most spectacular scenery accessible, but choosing the right ones is not always straightforward. Some take you directly to panoramic viewpoints and mountain restaurants. Others are primarily starting points for longer hikes, with uneven or steep terrain once you leave the station.

The lifts are also spread across a large area. A cable car that looks close on a map may require a lengthy drive over a mountain pass, so the best choices usually depend on where you are staying and what you want to do at the top.

This guide covers the major summer lifts across Val Gardena, Alpe di Siusi, Alta Badia, Cortina, Val di Fassa and the eastern Dolomites. You will find:

  • The best base for each lift

  • What you can see and do at the top

  • How much walking is required

  • Whether it suits hikers, non-hikers or both

  • Links to official timetables and prices

After 16 years of traveling throughout the Dolomites, I’ve used nearly all of the lifts in this guide myself. I’m not trying to list every cable car in the region. I’m showing you the ones that are genuinely useful, who they suit and when they make sense depending on where you’re staying.

Want a simpler version to keep with you?
Download my free Dolomites Cable Car Cheat Sheet for a quick comparison of the key lifts and the types of days they suit.

Quick comparison of Dolomites summer lifts

Start with the area where you are staying. Driving to a famous lift in another valley can take far longer than the map suggests.

  • Seceda
    Best from: Ortisei
    At the top: The famous Seceda ridgeline, mountain huts and access to longer hikes
    Walking: A short uphill walk to the main viewpoint; longer hikes optional

    Col Raiser
    Best from: Santa Cristina
    At the top: Odle views, mountain huts and excellent hiking connections
    Walking: Short panoramic walks or longer hiking routes

    Dantercëpies
    Best from: Selva
    At the top: Views toward the Sella and Cir groups, restaurants and hiking routes
    Walking: Short walks are possible, but many trails are rocky

    Resciesa
    Best from: Ortisei
    At the top: A broad, quieter mountain plateau with a restaurant and panoramic walks
    Walking: Easy to moderate

    Mont Sëuc
    Best from: Ortisei
    At the top: Direct access to Alpe di Siusi, a restaurant and wide plateau views
    Walking: Very little at the station; longer routes descend onto the plateau

    Alpe di Siusi Cable Car
    Best from: Siusi or Castelrotto
    At the top: Compatsch, with access to meadows, restaurants, buses and walking routes
    Walking: Anything from a gentle stroll to a full hiking day

    Marinzen Cable Car
    Best from: Castelrotto
    At the top: Alpine meadows, a mountain hut and a quieter local mountain area
    Walking: Short and generally easy

  • Boè
    Best from: Corvara
    At the top: A mountain restaurant, Sella views and access to higher hiking routes
    Walking: Very little for the restaurant; considerably more for hiking

    Col Alto
    Best from: Corvara
    At the top: Meadows, rifugios and walking routes above Corvara
    Walking: Easy to moderate

    Pralongià
    Best from: Corvara or San Cassiano
    At the top: A broad plateau, panoramic paths and Rifugio Pralongià
    Walking: Easy to moderate

    Borest
    Best from: Corvara or Colfosco
    At the top: This is primarily a useful connection between the two villages
    Walking: Minimal

    Col Pradat
    Best from: Colfosco
    At the top: Elevated views, a mountain restaurant and access to hiking routes
    Walking: Short walks are possible, but the terrain can be uneven

    Plans–Frara
    Best from: Colfosco
    At the top: Access toward Passo Gardena and higher mountain trails
    Walking: Best suited to walkers and hikers

  • Lagazuoi
    Best from: Cortina or Alta Badia
    At the top: Exceptional viewpoints, Rifugio Lagazuoi and First World War sites
    Walking: Very little for the terrace; rocky mountain trails beyond it

    Cinque Torri
    Best from: Cortina
    At the top: The Cinque Torri rock formations, rifugios and open-air war museum
    Walking: Short to moderate walks on uneven paths

    Tofana
    Best from: Cortina
    At the top: High-altitude panoramic terraces and extensive mountain views
    Walking: Very little at the lift stations; hiking is optional

    Sass Pordoi
    Best from: Val di Fassa or Arabba
    At the top: A dramatic high-mountain terrace and access to the Sella plateau
    Walking: Very little for the terrace; the plateau is rocky and uneven

    Catinaccio
    Best from: Vigo di Fassa
    At the top: Ciampedie, with views of the Catinaccio group, rifugios and walking routes
    Walking: Easy to moderate

  • Monte Elmo/Helm
    Best from: Sesto or San Candido
    At the top: Wide mountain views, rifugios and a network of panoramic trails
    Walking: Anything from an easy walk to a longer hike

    Croda Rossa
    Best from: Sesto
    At the top: Mountain scenery, rifugios and access to hiking routes
    Walking: Very little to extensive

    Haunold/Monte Baranci
    Best from: San Candido
    At the top: A family-friendly mountain area with a hut, walks and activities
    Walking: Short and generally easy

How much walking should you expect?

Taking a cable car does not necessarily mean an effortless sightseeing day. Some lifts bring you directly to a viewpoint or restaurant, while others are mainly useful as starting points for mountain walks.

Best for sightseeing with limited walking

These lifts allow you to enjoy substantial mountain scenery without committing to a long hike:

  • Lagazuoi: Panoramic terrace and rifugio close to the upper station

  • Sass Pordoi: High-mountain terrace and restaurant immediately accessible

  • Tofana: Extensive views from the lift stations

  • Boè: Mountain restaurant and views close to the upper station

  • Resciesa: Restaurant and scenery near the funicular, with optional walks

  • Marinzen: Meadows and a mountain hut reached directly from Castelrotto

  • Haunold/Monte Baranci: Family activities, a hut and short walks

Limited walking does not always mean completely level or step-free access. Contact the individual lift operator if anyone in your group uses a wheelchair, pushes a stroller or has restricted mobility.

Best for easy or flexible walking

These areas offer a choice between shorter walks and more substantial routes:

  • Alpe di Siusi from Compatsch

  • Mont Sëuc

  • Pralongià

  • Col Alto

  • Dantercëpies

  • Cinque Torri

  • Croda Rossa

  • Monte Elmo

Mountain paths may still include slopes, gravel, rocks and uneven ground. At Cinque Torri, even the shorter routes use uneven paths.

Looking for a specific route? See my Best Easy Hikes in the Dolomites With Cable Cars for gentle walks from Seceda, Alpe di Siusi, Pralongià, Lagazuoi and more.

Most useful for hikers

These lifts are particularly valuable as starting or finishing points for proper hikes:

  • Col Raiser

  • Col Pradat

  • Plans–Frara

  • Catinaccio

  • Seceda, if continuing beyond the principal viewpoint

You can still enjoy views near some of these stations, but their real value comes from the trail access they provide.

Important terrain warning

The cable car to Sass Pordoi makes it easy to reach the high mountain, but the Sella plateau itself is not an easy paved walking area. Beyond the immediate terrace and restaurant, the terrain is rocky, uneven and exposed to rapidly changing weather.

The cable-car planning mistakes I see most often

Choosing a lift because it is famous

Start with your accommodation base, not a list of famous attractions. A lift that appears reasonably close may require a long drive over mountain passes, particularly during busy periods.

Trying to fit too much into one day

A cable-car visit can occupy most of a day once you include driving, parking, queues, walking, photographs and lunch. Two lifts only work well together when they are genuinely close or form part of the same route.

Failing to check the individual schedule

Different lifts have different opening and closing dates, even within the same valley. Some operate into October while neighbouring lifts close weeks earlier. Always check the official website shortly before your visit.

Missing the final descent

The final downhill service may be earlier than expected. Check the last descent before beginning a walk and allow extra time rather than planning to arrive at the station at the final minute.

Assuming one pass covers everything

Regional and multi-day passes cover different combinations of lifts. Some well-known lifts are excluded from passes that visitors naturally assume would include them. Decide which lifts you are likely to use before buying a pass.

Read my Dolomites Summer Lift Passes page before choosing a regional or multi-day pass.

Check current lift information

Operating dates, hours and prices change from one season to another. Weather and maintenance can also affect daily operation.

Use the official operator link provided for each lift and check it again shortly before travelling. Do not rely solely on an old blog post, saved timetable or social-media recommendation.

You may also find these planning resources useful:

Not sure which Dolomites lifts are worth your time?

This free cheat sheet compares seven of the most useful summer lifts, including Seceda, Lagazuoi, Alpe di Siusi, Sass Pordoi, Boè and Cinque Torri. It explains what to expect at the top, how much walking is required, which lifts suit non-hikers and how to combine them into realistic days.

Free 8-Page Dolomites Cable Car Cheat Sheet

Get the free cable car cheat sheet

Want me to build the trip around you?

Choosing the right lifts is only one part of building a Dolomites trip that works.

Your bases, driving times, hiking ability, lift schedules, weather alternatives and the order of your days all need to fit together.

If you’d rather have me work that out for you, my personalized trip-planning services range from itinerary reviews to full trip planning.

Explore Dolomites trip planning services