Dolomites Weekend Itinerary Offers Relaxation and Adventure
A guide to spending a perfect weekend in the Italian Dolomites, featuring hiking, local cuisine, and wellness activities.
A weekend in the Dolomites offers a blend of outdoor adventure and relaxation, with an itinerary that includes scenic drives, culinary experiences, and wellness activities. The journey begins with a two-hour drive from Verona to Hotel Saltus in South Tyrol, a family-owned establishment known for its integration with the surrounding natural beauty. The hotel's restaurant emphasizes local cuisine with German and Austrian influences, offering dishes such as gnocchi di polenta and local wines. The loggia suites at Hotel Saltus are designed with a wabi-sabi aesthetic, featuring polished concrete floors and floor-to-ceiling windows that showcase the Dolomite views.
Saturday's activities include a morning Pilates class followed by breakfast. Later, a bus trip to Schermoos leads to a two-hour hike along a segment of the E5 trail. Lunch is taken at the Gschnoferstall restaurant, a stop to help with altitude acclimatization. The evening culminates with dinner at the 13th-century Castel Rafenstein, where the rustic dining room provides a cozy atmosphere for enjoying traditional dishes like apple strudel.
Sunday's itinerary focuses on wellness and nature immersion. The day can start with forest bathing, an activity designed to lower blood pressure through immersion in nature, including tree hugging. Following this, the hotel's Forest Spa offers options such as massages or hay saunas. 
