ESCAPE YOUR WORLD | Tips For Visiting Beautiful Lago Di Braies in Italy!

ESCAPE YOUR WORLD | Tips For Visiting Beautiful Lago Di Braies in Italy! - Castellamare

Arguably one of Italy’s most beautiful lakes, Lago di Braies is a bright blue mountain lake in the heart of the Dolomites. Here are some tips for visiting & having a good time!

You can hike around the lake taking in different views of the mountains above, or rent a row-boat and float on the surface of its deep blue-green water.

Lake Braies is part of the Fanes Sennes Braies Nature Park in a side valley next to the Val Pusteria.

At an altitude of 1,496 m, the 77-acre lake makes for a wonderful half-day trip while traveling through the Prags Dolomites.

How To Get To Lago Di Braies

The lake is located in the municipality of Braies/Prags in the Dolomites of South Tyrol, Northern Italy. Braies itself is pretty small, the closest city nearby is Bolzano, Italy. 

Boat Rentals On The Lake

Probably the most popular activity to do on the lake is rent one of the cool wooden row-boats and cruise around the photogenic emerald-colored waters.

Row your boat all the way across to the beach on the opposite side, or just sit in the middle of the lake for an hour drinking in that epic mountain view!

There are many boats available to rent, but in recent years, they often run out after 11am when the big crowds start to arrive — forcing you to wait a bit.

This is why we recommend getting there early if you can, preferably right before the boathouse opens around 9:30am.

The Lakeside Chapel

On the West side of the lake, there is a small chapel that was built in 1904. The location has a curious bit of history, in that during World War II a German SS commander chose it as a meeting place for a prisoner exchange to ensure his own safety.

Hiking Around The Lake

There is an easy hiking trail loop that circles the lake. The walk takes about an hour depending on your pace, with a few nice lookout points and even small beaches for sunbathing.

At the South (back) end of the lake, additional hiking trails head up into the mountains (Croda del Becco) for people who are interested in a more challenging trek.

Camping Near The Lake

There are two camping/RV areas near the lake: Camping Olympia and Camping Al Plan. It is not possible to camp on the grounds of the lake itself.

Tips For Visiting Lago di Braies

  • You can buy lunch or snacks at the hotel next door, plus there is a little restaurant/bar at the entrance to the lake too.
  • The best time for landscape photography at Lago di Braies is early morning. In the summer, the morning sun lights up the water around 8:30am.
  • Due to the lake’s popularity, large crowds begin showing up around 10am.
  • Drone flying is not allowed at the lake. The area is private property, and there are “no drone” signs posted.