Lago di Braies in the Dolomites - beautiful alpine lake in Italy

Lago di Braies, or Pragser Wildsee as the lake is called in German, is a magically beautiful alpine lake in the Dolomites in northern Italy. We have driven here with the motorhome and despite clouds and rain we had a quiet and nice evening at this beautiful Italian alpine lake.

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From Sell am See to Lago di Braies

Then it was time to leave Austria and beautiful Zell am See to roll towards Italy. Our first stop was Lago di Braies, which meant a drive of just under 2.5 hours through beautiful scenery.

By motorhome at Lago di Braies

Lago di Braies is an Alpine lake in the Dolomites, the Italian part of the Alps, in South Tyrol in northern Italy. The lake is known for its scenic beauty, and we thought it would be a perfect stop for us on our way south. Already on the way we saw the impressive mountains rising behind the trees.

You can park your motorhome in the car park near the lake for 10 euros per day. Shortly after we drove into the car park, we saw some people coming up from the lake in swimwear, but at the same time it began to pouring rain. We were of course curious to see the lake, but couldn't do much more than wait and cook dinner in the campervan. Only at 21 o'clock there was a break ...

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Magical evening by the lake

When we walked towards the lake, it had already started to get slightly cloudy and the clouds were dark, but at least there was a break. We found our way to the hotel and the lake. When you come down, you see a small pier with small wooden boats, a small chapel and then the high mountains in the background. Soooo magically beautiful! The air was clear and humid, and it was completely silent. The clouds were moving around the mountains, so the views around us were constantly changing shape.

As the sun went down, the colours also changed. We met a few other people, a couple with dogs and two Swedish guys who had travelled from Austria. But mostly we stood here alone and soaked up the evening and the tranquillity.

This is what it might look like in better weather... Photo: Pixabay (All other photos are our own)

Eventually we walked back, past the hotel and to our motorhome in the car park. We decided to set the clock really early the next morning, to see the lake in a different light, before it would start raining again.

Morning by the lake

The next morning we were up with the rooster, or even before the rooster I think. Unfortunately, the weather was not good now either, but at least it is a little brighter in the pictures. You can see the small chapel, Chiesetta sul Lago di Braies, which is just next to the hotel.

Visiting Lago di Braies in the Dolomites

If you want to visit Lago di Braies, it's probably easiest to get here by motorhome or regular car, and in that case possibly stay overnight at the only hotel on the lake, Lake Braies. In summer you can go hiking or cycling here and in winter you can go skiing. But it can also be enough to just enjoy a moment of nature and tranquillity.

Now we have moved on. Our next stop wasn't exactly as planned, but we'll tell you about that tomorrow.

23 July 2018 6:00

Italy

outdoor life, Motorhome holidays in Italy, campervan trip2018, nature

Helena

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39 Comments

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Conny says:

Actually, you should get a motorhome and follow... Read this blog because there are such cool places all the time.

23 July 2018 - 7:02

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  There are many amazing places in Europe!
  
  23 July 2018 - 10:18
  
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Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:

That's it!

23 July 2018 - 8:22

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Incredibly nice! 🙂
  
  23 July 2018 - 10:18
  
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Carina Olsson says:

We were there last week and the weather was fine, so beautiful! But hysterical with people really, queues in some places. A large part was closed off around the lake for the risk of collapse. 20 euros we had to pay for the motorhome then for 24 hours, perhaps depending on which of the car parks you stand. Absolutely worth seeing! Gets so full of laughter when I read your blog because you are in the same places as us, I see. Will it be Cortina then 😉

23 July 2018 - 9:35

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  But what fun that we have been in the same places! Lovely that you had such nice weather! But more people instead then ... 😉 We stood in the car park at the far end, without barriers. Did you stand closer then...?
  
  23 July 2018 - 10:43
  
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  - Carina Olsson says:
    
    Yes we stood on the one closest to the hotel! Was in Salzburg and did the same things as you too, also zell am see?
    
    23 July 2018 - 16:42
    
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    - Comment by post author
      
      Helena says:
      
      Haha, what fun! We were very happy with the visits to Salzburg and Zell am See, hope you were too! 🙂 Where does your trip go now?
      
      23 July 2018 - 17:32
      
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      - Carina Olsson says:
        
        Very happy with those destinations, even at Austria's largest Biergarten that we were at in Salzburg we were also. But we went in reverse order, Cortina before Braies and Berlin after Salzburg. Some other stops too of course. We were out for 5 weeks and spinning but now we are home in Sweden again since a few days back. Longing for the south already........
        
        23 July 2018 - 19:23
Susjos says:

What an amazingly beautiful lake! What a journey you are making!

23 July 2018 - 9:47

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Yes, this is an amazing trip indeed! 🙂
  
  23 July 2018 - 10:19
  
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Åsa says:

Sehr sjön! (As they say in Jönssonligan) Oh it looks like you passed my former home village Matrei in Osttirol after the Felbertauerntunnel? I lived there for almost two years.

23 July 2018 - 9:50

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Haha, that's what Peter also says! 😉 And what fun that we passed where you lived! 🙂
  
  23 July 2018 - 10:35
  
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Anna / Boihusbil says:

Oh how beautiful! Not bathing-friendly? The people in the photos look pickled. Cold? Great that you got up early in the morning and got the other colours in the pictures. I will take that tip to heart!

23 July 2018 - 9:57

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  We saw people coming up with swimwear just as we arrived, so you could probably swim! But we took photos at 21:30 in the evening and it had just rained, so at that time it was not bathing-friendly 😉.
  
  23 July 2018 - 10:36
  
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Husis blog says:

Imagine that the same lake can look so different in pictures, exciting to be able to capture it. However, it looked a bit cold to take a cooling bath....

23 July 2018 - 10:18

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Looked completely different in different lights! 😉 I think it is possible to swim during the day on nice summer days, but not in the evening in rainy weather 😉.
  
  23 July 2018 - 10:37
  
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Mr Steve says:

I am completely mesmerised by all the magical places you visit.
It is both fun and instructive to "follow" your journeys.

23 July 2018 - 10:51

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  Helena says:
  
  Funny that you want to "keep up"! 🙂
  
  23 July 2018 - 17:01
  
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Renate's travels says:

It is really stunningly beautiful at Lago di Braies! I was there last year at the end of August and the weather was fine. All the car parks are packed (except the one at the far end where I parked) and probably millions of people along the shores of the lake. A bit disappointing. Heard that there could be as many as 3,000 visitors each day during peak season. Too bad when such beautiful places are offered for their own beauty. Next time I go to the Dolomites it will be at the end of September or in May, haha.

23 July 2018 - 11:49

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Interesting to hear! Unbelievable that there can be so many people! Almost a little nice then with worse weather, then it was calm and peaceful 😉.
  
  23 July 2018 - 17:33
  
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Lindha Älenmark says:

Oh how lovely it looks, really magical! I will be so eager to take the family south with a motorhome next summer 🙂 .

23 July 2018 - 12:53

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Motorhome is perfect for family holidays! 🙂
  
  23 July 2018 - 17:35
  
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Ama de casa says:

What amazing pictures from the lake! Just as you say - magical! 🙂

It doesn't always turn out the way you want, but hopefully it can still be good.

Have a nice trip!

23 July 2018 - 12:58

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Not everything is good all the time. But that is also the charm of travelling as we do. Sometimes it gets extra good instead 😉
  
  23 July 2018 - 17:35
  
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Lena - good for the soul says:

Wow, another fantastic place you have found! So lovely to join you!

Hug Lena

23 July 2018 - 15:33

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Glad you're joining us! 🙂
  
  23 July 2018 - 17:36
  
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4000mil says:

We were just in the Dolomites ourselves. Can't wait to see what gems you find!

23 July 2018 - 16:31

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  It was perhaps not as much the Dolomites as intended, but we may come back! 🙂
  
  23 July 2018 - 17:36
  
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Matts Torebring says:

We love nature as you present it. We almost run away from holiday resorts like the French Riviera and Biarritz. What you have shown us all last week is a pleasure to see. To experience as you do, is of course something completely different.

23 July 2018 - 18:24

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  I agree that it is best when you find places other than the main tourist centres!
  
  31 August 2018 - 16:24
  
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Britt-Marie Lundgren says:

We became so enamoured with the awesome peaks of the Dolomites when we had a "driving day" on our way home from Croatia. We can't have been far from this beautiful lake when we travelled via Cortina to the north....
But as we always say: You have to save something for next time!

23 July 2018 - 19:49

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  It is important to have places to look forward to 😉 We have lots of them on "our list"! 🙂
  
  31 August 2018 - 16:25
  
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BP says:

What a fairytale landscape! Fantastic! In this case, I think the clouds actually enhance the magic. I actually think of the Harry Potter books when I see your pictures - absolutely WOW!

23 July 2018 - 21:00

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Agree that it was a bit magical with the clouds ðŸ™'
  
  31 August 2018 - 16:25
  
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Daniela / Discovering The Planet says:

Extremely beautiful, even with the fog.

24 July 2018 - 9:20

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  Yes, it was actually nice even in fog, in its own way! 🙂
  
  31 August 2018 - 16:26
  
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Liniz Travel says:

Looks really beautiful! So many places in Europe I haven't seen I realise as I follow your journey! Hugs

27 July 2018 - 9:01

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- Comment by post author
  
  Helena says:
  
  There are many beautiful places in Europe 🙂 .
  
  31 August 2018 - 16:26
  
  Reply

Lago di Braies in the Dolomites - beautiful alpine lake in Italy

From Sell am See to Lago di Braies

By motorhome at Lago di Braies

Magical evening by the lake

Morning by the lake

Visiting Lago di Braies in the Dolomites

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39 Comments

Conny says:

Helena says:

Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:

Helena says:

Carina Olsson says:

Helena says:

Carina Olsson says:

Helena says:

Carina Olsson says:

Susjos says:

Helena says:

Åsa says:

Helena says:

Anna / Boihusbil says:

Helena says:

Husis blog says:

Helena says:

Mr Steve says:

Helena says:

Renate's travels says:

Helena says:

Lindha Älenmark says:

Helena says:

Ama de casa says:

Helena says:

Lena - good for the soul says:

Helena says:

4000mil says:

Helena says:

Matts Torebring says:

Helena says:

Britt-Marie Lundgren says:

Helena says:

BP says:

Helena says:

Daniela / Discovering The Planet says:

Helena says:

Liniz Travel says:

Helena says:

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