Italy’s famous Lago di Braies is as beautiful in real life as it is in pictures. This popular lake, also known as Pragser Wildsee, is tucked among the rugged mountains of the Dolomites in northern Italy. The iconic wooden boats bobbing on the turquoise blue water, with the mountains and many pine trees in the background, make it one of the most photographed spots in Italy for a reason. Wondering how to visit Lago di Braies? Here you can read everything you need to know: how to visit, what to do and more handy tips.
Where is Lago di Braies located in Italy
Lago Di Braies, also known as Pragser Wildsee, is located in the South Tyrol region of northern Italy. It is one of the most beautiful mountain lakes in the Dolomites at 1496 meters altitude and is also called the “pearl of the Dolomites. Not surprisingly, then, Lago Di Braies is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
How to visit Lago di Braies in the Dolomites
From Bolzano, the capital of South Tyrol, it is about a 2-hour drive to Lago Di Braies. From Venice, it takes about 3 hours. Both cities have international airports to which you can fly. The best way to get around in the Dolomites is by car. Or even more fun, take a road trip with an RV!
By car
The easiest way to visit Lago Di Braies is by car. There is only one road that goes up to the lake, where you have four large parking lots (P1 to P4 with P4 being the closest to the lake). From July 10 to September 10, this road is closed between 09:30 and 16:00, and you can reach the lake only if you have made a reservation in advance. If you visit the lake outside these times between July 10 and September 10, you can visit it without a reservation. On this website you can reserve a parking space.
TRAVEL TIP: RVs and vehicles taller than 2 meters cannot make an online reservation. Visit outside of business hours and book a parking spot for 12 or 24 hours, and you can spend the night there in your RV. Read all our tips on camping in the Dolomites here.
By public transportation
In the Dolomites, local buses also run between larger cities. So you can also visit Lago Di Braies using public transportation. From the villages Toblach/Dobbiaco and Niederdorf/Villabassa in the Dolomites you can take bus line 442 which stops at Lago di Braies. More info about public transport to Lago di Braies in the Dolomites you can find on this website.
With an organized tour
Finally, you can also visit Lago di Braies in the Dolomites with an organized tour. From Venice, daily tours are organized that take you up to Lago di Braies and show you the best of the Dolomites in one day. Such an organized tour book je here.
Parking at Lago di Braies
Lago di Braies is an incredibly popular place in the Dolomites, and this means that during the high season the parking lots fill up quickly. In order to regulate the crowds, it was decided to use online reservations to park at Lago di Braies between July 10 and September 10. Reservations can be made via this official website. There are four parking lots at Lago di Braies:
P4 parking lot: This is the closest parking lot about 100 meters from the lake, but therefore also the most expensive. Different prices apply depending on your vehicle and what time of day you park there:
| Moped | Car | RV | |
| 05:00 – 17:00 | €5 / 3 hours | €15 / 3 hours | €20 / 3 hours |
| 17:00 – 20:00 | €3 / 3 hours | €10 / 3 hours | €20 / 3 hours |
| 20:00 – 05:00 | €2 / 3 hours | €5 / 3 hours | €20 / 3 hours |
| Flat rate 24h | €15 / 24 hours | €30 / 24 hours | €45 / 24 hours |
| + €0.50 per additional hour | + €1 per additional hour |
P3 parking lot: This parking lot is right next to P4 and 400 meters from Lake Braies. Only cars and mopeds are allowed to park here. You pay max. €12 by car and max. €5 by moped.
P2 parking lot: P2 is about a 20-minute walk from the lake. Again, only cars and mopeds are allowed and you pay a flat fee of €7 regardless of the vehicle.
P1 parking lot: This parking lot is 1.5 hours walk from the lake and is mainly used for those who do not have a reservation but still want to visit Lago di Braies during the day in high season. From this car park there is also a shuttle bus to the lake every half hour. Again, you pay €7 to park and another €5 per person to take the shuttle bus.
Off-season parking
If you travel to Lago di Braies outside of July 10 to September 10, you do not need to make an online reservation for your parking space. Please note that even outside the high season it can be very crowded around Lago di Braies. Therefore, we recommend visiting the lake as early as possible or late in the day. This is also the best time to take photos!
Lago di Braies / Pragser Wildsee: what to do
A visit to the world-famous Pragser Wildsee should definitely not be missed during a tour of the Dolomites. These are the best things to do at Lago di Braies in Italy.
Sunrise at Lago di Braies
One of the best things to do at Lago di Braies is to watch the sun rise behind the snow-capped mountain peaks. Early in the morning, the lake is still very quiet and you have the best chance to see the surrounding mountains reflected in the emerald green lake. The wooden boats are then also all nicely lined up which only makes the whole setting more magical. For anyone who enjoys photography, this is the time to visit Lago di Braies. Unfortunately, we had some cloudy weather, but even that resulted in beautiful photos!
Dedicated photographers can gain access to the wooden boathouse on Lago di Braies at 7 a.m. in the morning. For a hefty price tag, you get first-ever access to the wooden jetty and can be the first to take to the water in a boat. You have to book this in advance, though. Current prices can be found on this website.
Sail in a wooden rowboat
Another bucket list experience is cruising the iconic wooden rowboats on Lago di Braies. Float on the lake, admire the beautiful nature from the shimmering water and take the most beautiful photos with the rugged Dolomites in the background. For a 45-minute boat ride, you pay €55. Those who want can also share a boat with others, in which case you pay €15 per person. In high season there can be a long queue for the boats, though, so arriving early is rewarded here as well.
Opening hours boathouse Lago di Braies: In May and October from 10:00 to 16:00, in June and September from 09:00 to 17:30 and in July and August from 08:00 to 19:00. For current opening hours look here.
Hiking around Pragser Wildsee
When you arrive at Lago di Braies you will see that the shore near the wooden boathouse can be very crowded. We therefore decided to walk around the lake and were surprised to see that once you walk a little further, it is much quieter. The walk around Lago di Braies is 3.9 km long, takes about 1 to 1.5 hours and is clearly marked. This is definitely one of the best things to do at Lago di Braies.
Dining at Lago di Braies
At the lake you will find two simple restaurants where you can eat and drink something. At Emmas Bistro you will find plenty of typical dishes for this region such as polenta, spätzle and pizza. This restaurant has a large terrace where you can eat with a view of the lake. Here you will also find a public toilet you can use for €1 per person. The other restaurant called Chalet Grill & More is located at the Hotel Lago di Braies.
Where to stay on Lago di Braies, Dolomites
Those who really want Lago di Braies all to themselves can choose to sleep at the only hotel on the lake: Hotel Lago di Braies. Some rooms have a view of the lake with a private balcony which makes for a unique experience. We ourselves slept in Hotel Trenker, which is a half-hour walk from the lake. This cozy family hotel with wellness also has a large parking lot. This allowed us to leave our camper here and we did not have to pay for parking at the lake.
Best travel time Lago di Braies in Italy
The best travel time to visit Lago di Braies in the Dolomites is from April through October. That’s when you have the most pleasant months in terms of weather and temperature and the boats sail on the lake. The months of July and August are high season and can be incredibly busy though, so these months we would try to avoid coming to the Dolomites. In the winter months the boats are not in the lake and Lago di Braies is often completely frozen.
Still have questions about how to visit Lago di Braies in the Dolomites? Let us know in a comment below! Looking for more information about your next trip? Please do not hesitate to contact us or send an email to info@snoezelsontheroad.com
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