Located in Italy, Lago di Braies (Lake Braies) is one of the most beautiful natural attractions in South Tyrol. The lake near the Austrian border (Pragser Wildsee in German) is considered the jewel of the Dolomites. The 31-hectare lake might not be as famous as Lake Garda or Lake Como, but its beauty is beyond doubt. In the vicinity of the lake, you can go on excursions, hike, climb mountains, boat, and cycle.
Quick Details
| Lago di Braies | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | The Dolomites, Alps, Italy |
| Distance from Venice | 3 hours / 210 km |
| Parameters | 1.2 km long | 350 m wide | 17 m deep |
| Territory | 31 hectare |
| Parking | Braies Hotel (6-10 euros) |
| Can you swim in the lake? | Yes |
| Boat rental | 20 - 30 euros / May - Oct |
| Hiking trail | Easy | 1.5 hours | less than 100 m level diff |
| Website | - |
Photos
In addition to the surrounding mountains, the glacial lake is made beautiful by the dazzling colour of the water; the icing on the cake is that you can also try boating on the lake.
Map - Where is Lago di Braies?
You can find the lake in the northern part of Italy, in the northern part of South Tyrol. It is located in the Dolomites, which is part of the Alps. The nearest major city is Venice, which is 3 hours away. Pragser Wildsee (in German) lake is a few kilometres from the Austrian border.
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- Address: 39030 Prags, South Tyrol, Italy
- Distance from Bolzano: 1.5 hours / 110 km
- Distance from Venice: 3 hours / 210 km
- Distance from Vienna: 6 hours / 470 km
- Distance from Lake Garda: 3.5 hours / 240 km
Parking
There is a public parking lot next to the hotel. All-day parking costs 6 euros for cars.
Accommodation
You will find the nearest hotel, the 3-star Hotel Lago di Braies, almost directly on the shore of the lake. It is very popular, so you must book a room at least 2-3 months in advance. The hotel has a parking lot where hotel guests can park. If you find the prices of the hotel high, check out the rooms at Hotel Tenker. The Tenker is only 5 minutes by car from the lake.
- Hotel Lago di Braies's address: St.Veit, 27, 39030 Braies BZ, Italy
- Hotel Tenker's address: S. Vito 13, 39030 Braies, Italy
Hiking
Braies is roughly 1.2 km long and 3-400 meters wide. The lake's deepest point is 36 meters, while its average depth is 17 m. Fortunately, you can take an easy hike on the shore.
#1 Easy family trail
You can walk around the lake comfortably in roughly 1.5 hours (with small breaks). The trail leads on a wide road, sometimes in the forest, sometimes next to it. This short trail is also a great program for children or dogs.
Braies lake is surrounded by mountains, which you can admire on the way. You will also find a chapel on the shore of the lake, from which you can take great pictures.
#2 Kühwiesenkopf tour
At the northern end of the lake, from the parking lot, the tourist route 20 starts in the northwest direction, from which you can go up to the Kühwiesenkopf. From there, you can see a beautiful view of the lake.
#3 Croda del Becco
The popular tourist route 1 leads to the south; you can climb the highest mountain peaks surrounding this lake, the Croda del Becco. This is a more difficult but not particularly dangerous route.
Toilet
You can find two toilets - one in the hotel and the other next to the chapel. The washroom next to the chapel is chargeable, so have a few euros in change. There will also be a free washroom on the other side of the lake.
Can you swim in Lago di Braies?
Yes, you can swim in Lake Braies, although almost no one does this. The simple reason is that the glacier lake is ice cold even in summer! But if you can stand the cold, jump for it ...
Boat rental
You can rent boats on the shore of the lake with cash. You cannot pre-book the boats, so you may have to wait if all the boats are used. Your best chance of renting a boat is if you arrive before 10:30 am.
Prices and opening hours
- 30 minutes: 19 euros / boat
- 60 minutes: 29 euros / boat
- May, June, September, and October: 10:00 - 17:00
- July, August: 08:30 - 19:00
- November - April (winter season): closed
- In case of bad weather, boat rental is available.
(Prices might slightly increase every year!)
Weather
Although the water is cold in all seasons, the weather is pleasant for hiking from spring to autumn. In winter, the lake's water often freezes, so you cannot see its fabulous colours due to the snow covering it.
In summer, the crowd around the lake is huge, especially on weekends. If you come in the main season, be prepared for the lake to be a little more crowded than you thought.
Via Ferrata di Valdaora
If you are in Italy, especially in the Dolomites, you can find via Ferrata routes along the way. If you go from the parking lot on the previously mentioned trail 20 away from the lake, after a few hours, you will reach the end of the road, where you can only continue via Via Ferrata. After 25-30 minutes, you will reach the top. The elevation gain of the tour is approximately 1000 meters.
Alta Via, Dolomites - Hiking trail
Alta Via is one of the most famous hiking routes in the Dolomites. The 150 km multi-day route starts at Lake Braies (Alta via 1). It would take approximately 9-12 days to complete the hut-to-hut tour.
The fabulous world of the Dolomites offers many attractions. Between high mountains and valleys studded with lakes, Braise Lake is a real gem. If you are in the area, visit this unique treasure.
Attractions in the Dolomites
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