Lago di Braies — Dolomites' Most Iconic Lake

Lago di Braies (Pragser Wildsee) is the most photographed lake in the Dolomites and one of the most recognisable alpine images in the world — emerald-green water, traditional wooden rowing boats, and the Croda del Becco (2,810 m) rising sheer from the far shore. It is compact, easy to reach, and extraordinarily beautiful.

The lake

Formed by a glacial moraine dam, Braies sits at 1,494 m in a narrow valley in the heart of the Braies Dolomites. The water is exceptionally clear — the colour shifts from deep green to turquoise depending on the light and season. The iconic wooden rowing boats (available to hire, approx. €15/h) are the lake's most enduring image.

Managing the crowds

Lago di Braies is extremely popular and the car park fills before 8:00 in summer. The solutions:

• Take the shuttle bus: from Dobbiaco train station (30 min, runs June–October, highly recommended)
• Arrive before 7:30 or after 17:30: day-trippers leave mid-afternoon; the light is better anyway
• Stay overnight: Hotel Lago di Braies is directly at the lake — booking months ahead required but the evening and dawn experience is unforgettable

The wider area

Beyond the famous lake circuit, the Braies valley gives access to the quieter Fanes–Sennes–Braies Nature Park — one of the largest protected areas in the South Tyrolean Dolomites. The Sennes plateau and Fanes plateau (Day 2 option) are wild, largely tourist-free, and give a completely different Dolomites experience from the busy lake.

AV1 connection: Lago di Braies is the official northern start of the Alta Via 1 — the 9-day traverse to Belluno (see separate guide). Many AV1 walkers add an extra day here before the trek begins.