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Lago di Braies, also referred to as “Pragser Wildsee” and “Lake Braies“, is an awe-inspiring mystical lake located in the Dolomites of South Tyrol, Italy. Not only is it one of the biggest lakes in the area, it’s arguably one of the most stunning lakes in the world. No trip to the Dolomites is complete without a stop here!
During our incredible trip here we gathered all the best tips for visiting including how to get to Lago di Braies, when to go, what to do, and everything you need to know to plan your visit!
About Lake Braies
Lago di Braies is an alpine lake in northern Italy that is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site and is referred to as the “Pearl of the Dolomites”. It draws in visitors from around the world due to its clear water, beautiful reflections and perfect mountain backdrop.
Lago di Braies quick facts
| Elevation | 1,496 m (4,908 ft) |
| Width | 400 m |
| Max depth | 36 m |
| Walk around | 4 km |
| Water temperature | <14 C |
| GPS coordinates | 46.694901, 12.085731 |
| UNESCO Status | Yes |
| Nature Park | Fanes-Sennes-Braies |
| Pets allowed | Yes |
| Entrance fee | Free |
| Hours | 24 hours, year-round |
What to do at Lago di Braies
1. Lago di Braies hike
Hiking around the lake is a beautiful way to spend your time at Lago di Braies. The hike is a loop trail that takes around 1.5 hours in total and is pretty easy even though the route contains quite a few stairs. Note that while the trek is suitable for children, it is not stroller or wheelchair friendly.
If you’re you’re looking for a tougher trek you can also hike the mountain behind the lake, Croda del Becco (Seekofel) or take a few other trails in Braies Valley that start at Lago di Braies. In case you’re really feeling adventurous, there are some rock climbing options in the area, too!
2. Lago di Braies boat rental
Renting a traditional row boat and spending time on the crystal clear alpine water is certainly the quintessential Lago di Braies experience. Fun fact, up until 100 years ago the only way to get to the south shore of the lake was via these boats.
Boat rental details:
| Season | June to September |
| Hours | 10 am – 6 pm (May, September, October) 9 am – 7 pm (July & August) |
| Where to rent | Boathouse near the entrance to the lake |
| Price | 18 euro for 30 minutes, 28 euro for 1 hour |
In case you want to look for the most up to date hours and prices, check out their official website or head to the boathouse here if you’re in the area.
3. Swimming in the lake
Swimming in Lake Braies is quite the experience! While it is definitely allowed, because of the cold water you won’t see many people taking a leisurely dip here. However, if jumping into crystal clear alpine water is on your bucket list this would be an epic place to do it!
4. See the chapel
Chapel Lago di Braies is an easy thing to add to your itinerary since it’s just a short walk counter-clockwise from the lake entrance, near the hotel. The adorable chapel has been there since 1904 and is rich in history related to World War II. It’s definitely worth a look while you’re at Lake Braies. Do note that the chapel is only available to visit during the summer.
5. Take photos at the best Lago di Braies Instagram spots
Undeniably over the past few years Lago di Braies has become an Instagram hot-spot for people and influencers around the world. And it’s become popular for good reason since this place is ridiculously photogenic!
While there are many ways to get creative here, from what we found these are the 5 BEST Lago di Braies Instagram spots.
- On the dock surrounded by the boats
- On the stairs of the boathouse leading to the dock
- From the right-justified stairs of the boathouse
- In a boat with a mountain backdrop
- From the hill behind the boathouse
6. Have a picnic
Certainly any day spent in nature calls for a nice picnic! Around the lake you can find a few picnic tables or even just a nice spot on the sand in order to have a bite to eat in the beautiful surroundings. This is also a great lunch option as food around the lake is limited and relatively pricey.
Where is Lago di Braies?
Lago di Braies is in Braies valley near the town of Prags (or Braies) in the Dolomites. While it’s within the South Tyrol region of northern Italy, it is actually very close to the Austrian border.
Lake Braies map
In order to help you visualize, below is a map of Lago di Braies and the surrounding areas discussed in this post.
How to get to Lago di Braies
Certainly renting a car and driving from a nearby airport is the easiest and most popular way to get to Lago di Braies. You can also access the lake through public transportation or booking a tour.
If you plan to do more activities while you’re visiting the Dolomites, we highly recommend renting a car since it’s the easiest way to get around the whole Dolomiti region.
Lake Braies nearest airport
Innsbruck, Austria is the nearest major airport to Lago di Braies, while other good airports to fly into are Venice, Bologna, and Munich. From there you can rent a car and then drive to the lake.
Do note that even the closest airport, Innsbruck, is still a 2 hour drive away.
By car
Getting to Lago di Braies by car is very straightforward as long as you just follow Google Maps to Lago di Braies. Do note that many of the highways in Italy are toll roads, however don’t worry about having cash or change since they accept credit cards.
Here are some of the driving times to Lago di Braies to consider in order to help you decide which airport to fly into.
- Bolzano, Italy: 1.5 hours
- Innsbruck, Austria: 2 hours
- Venice, Italy: 3 hours
- Munich, Germany: 3.5 – 4 hours
- Bologna, Italy: 3.5 – 4 hours
By public transportation
You can get a train or bus from many of the major cities in the area (Innsbruck, etc) to Bolzano, which is the closest major city to Lake Braies. Then from Bolzano you can take the train to Niederdorf (Villabassa) and from there catch the local bus #442 to the lake for 3 euro.
As another option, from a few of the cities (Venice, Innsbruck, etc.) you can get a train or bus to Dobbiaco, without having to go into Bolzano, and catch the same bus #442 directly to the lake.
Plan accordingly, though, since the local bus #442 only runs seasonally from June 20th to September 20th.
You can use omio.com to book the longer train/bus rides and then this website to book regional bus/trains in the Dolomites.
Lago di Braies parking
You can find parking right next to Hotel Lago di Braies in this lot which costs 6 euro for 3 hours. Then from this lot it’s just a 2 minute walk to the boat house on the lake.
Do note that often times in the summer they will close the road to the lake from 10 am to 3 pm, so during those times you’ll have to park 5 km away and take a shuttle.
Lago di Braies weather
Lago di Braies weather is characterized by crisp mountain air all year-long, with temperatures rarely rising above 70 F (21 C) even in the summer. The area is also known for partly-cloudy skies regardless of season.
In the summer you can expect lows between 40-50 F (4-10 C) and highs between 60-70 F (15-21 C). Summer is also the rainy season but at the same time has the least cloud coverage.
Though it’s technically the drier season, in the winter you can expect snow and lows between 15-25 F (-10 to -4 C) and highs between 30-40 F (-1 to 4 C).
As long as you have flexibility in your Dolomites itinerary, we’d suggest planning your day to visit Lake Braies based on the forecast. In case you arrive and there is significant cloud coverage, stick around and wait it out. Luckily when this happened to us after a couple hours the clouds began to disperse.
Best time to visit Lake Braies
Certainly Lake Braies is beautiful year-round, but the most popular time to visit is July and August. Especially if you want to rent a boat and hike, you’ll want to visit in the summer. If you want to catch snow still on the mountains, we suggest going earlier in the season.
Also, if you’re relying on public transportation to get to the lake remember that the local bus only runs seasonally from June 20th to September 20th.
Where to stay near Lago di Braies
Here are a few accommodation options within walking distance of Lake Braies so you can just wake up and walk to the lake.
Note: the Dolomites are a popular destination during both Summer and Winter, so book your accommodation in advance.
Camping near Lake Braies
While camping at the lake itself is not allowed, there are two nearby places to camp or park your RV: Camping Al Plan and Camping Olympia.
Tips for visiting
- Entry to Lake Braies is FREE
- The lake is open year-round, however many of the activities and public transport are only open from the end of June to the end of September.
- Due to the crowds this place attracts, we highly suggest going early in the morning in order to find parking, get the best photos and enjoy the beauty before the masses arrive. While you’ll have company even at sunrise, the crowds become pretty crazy around 9:30 am.
- If you arrive early start with photos and the hike, since the boats aren’t available until 9 or 10 am (depending on the month).
- Pack your own food since options by the lake are limited and pricey. That said, be sure to pick up after yourself and leave no trace since Lake Braies is a UNESCO site.
- Plan to spend a half-day at Lago di Braies in order to enjoy all it has to offer.
- The morning is the best time for photography, especially if you want to capture the famous reflection.
- Drones are not allowed at Lago di Braies, since it is private property and it’s noted on the signs at the entrance
Other nearby attractions in the Dolomites
The following are all within an hour drive of Lake Braies:
- Tre Cime di Lavaredo – the BEST day hike in the Dolomites! Read our complete guide to Hiking Tre Cime di Lavaredo before you go.
- Lago di Landro (Durrensee)
- Lago di Dobbiaco (Toblacher See)
For details on the above attractions and more amazing things to do in the area, make sure to read all about the 8 things you MUST-DO in the Dolomites! And check out all the BEST places to visit in Italy!
Enjoy your trip!
Kylie & Scott
(If you liked this article or have any questions, please comment below! And make sure to follow along on Instagram @LoveHardTravelOften)
Planning to travel more throughout Italy? Make sure to check out our other Italy Travel Blogs!
- Ultimate 2-week Italy Itinerary
- Amazing things to do in Cinque Terre
- Guide to the Magical FREE Hot Springs in Saturnia
- 12 BEST things to do in Positano, Amalfi Coast
- Perfect Instagram spots on the Amalfi Coast
- Top things to do in Florence
- Incredible Day Trips from Florence
- 9 Instagram-worthy photo spots in Florence
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Thanks so much for this awesome blog post! We’re headed there in autumn and your tips are just perfect for our trip there! ♥️
That makes us so happy to hear!! Thank you so much! Hope you have the absolute best time visiting this place! ❤️❤️
Always great to have such a thorough blog to reference! Thanks for all the tips, I’ll be saving it down!
Thank you so much! You’re so kind to say that & we’re glad it will come in handy for you!