Hotel Lago di Braies is the only hotel on the shore of Lago di Braies, the emerald lake that has become one of the most photographed places in the Dolomites and one of the most Instagrammed lakes in the world. Its wooden rowing boats, its glassy green water and the sheer wall of the Seekofel rising behind it have made the lake an icon. The hotel, owned by the same family since 1899, lets you experience it at dawn and dusk, when the crowds have gone.
Hotel Lago di Braies is the only hotel on the shore of Lago di Braies, the emerald lake that has become one of the most photographed places in the Dolomites and one of the most Instagrammed lakes in the world. Its wooden rowing boats, its glassy green water and the sheer wall of the Seekofel rising behind it have made the lake an icon. The hotel, owned by the same family since 1899, lets you experience it at dawn and dusk, when the crowds have gone.
Location: Lago di Braies (Pragser Wildsee), Dolomites, Italy
The hotel stands at the northern end of Lago di Braies (Pragser Wildsee in German), at around 1,500 metres, at the head of the Braies valley in South Tyrol, within the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park and the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site. The lake is the starting point of the Alta Via 1, one of the most famous long-distance trails in the Alps.
The nearest town is Villabassa (Niederdorf) in the Puster Valley. In peak summer months, road access to the lake is restricted and parking must be booked; hotel guests have access, but check arrangements when booking. Cortina d'Ampezzo is around 45 minutes away, and Innsbruck and Venice are within about two and a half hours.
The lake owes part of its fame to television: it was the setting for the popular Italian series A un passo dal cielo, which helped turn a quiet mountain lake into one of the most visited places in South Tyrol. Today it draws visitors from all over the world, particularly in July and August.
Rooms and suites at Hotel Lago di Braies
The hotel is a protected historic building, and rooms are furnished with original Art Nouveau furniture, combining old-world character with modern comfort. Many rooms look directly out over the lake to the Seekofel. Request a lake-view room when booking, as the view is the reason to stay here.
The style is traditional and simple rather than luxurious, in keeping with a family-run mountain inn of this age, and the atmosphere is warm and personal.
The family's long history at the lake is part of the charm. Five generations on, the Heiss-Hellenstainer family still runs the hotel, and the building's protected status means its historic character has been carefully preserved, from the façade and wooden balconies to the period furniture in many rooms.
Facilities at Hotel Lago di Braies
The hotel was founded by Emma Hellenstainer, a celebrated cook in her day, and food remains central. The Panorama Restaurant looks out over the lake, Emma's Bistro offers lighter meals, and there is a chalet and patisserie, where cakes and strudel are served to walkers and day visitors.
Facilities are otherwise modest: there is no large spa or pool. The lake's famous wooden rowing boats can be rented from the boathouse in summer, and a walking path circles the entire lake.
Because the hotel sits at the start of several classic trails, it is also a superb base for active guests: from the lakeshore, paths climb to mountain huts such as the Seekofelhütte, and the wider area offers access to the Prato Piazza plateau, with its views of the Dürrenstein and Hohe Gaisl.
The mountain moment
The defining moment is sunrise on the lake. Walk out to the boathouse jetty before the day visitors arrive, and watch the first light touch the Seekofel as mist lifts off the still, green water and the wooden boats wait in a row. In the evening, after the last car park has emptied, the lake falls silent again.
The walk around the lake, about an hour, passes beaches, forest and viewpoints, while more ambitious hikers can climb towards the Seekofel or set off along the Alta Via 1.
Why Hotel Lago di Braies is one of the best mountain hotels
Hotel Lago di Braies earns its place because it offers exclusive access to one of the most beautiful and famous lakes in the Alps. It is a historic family hotel rather than a luxury resort, and rooms and facilities are relatively simple for the price. But no other hotel lets you see Lago di Braies at dawn, with the lake almost to yourself.
It is also an excellent base for exploring the wider Dolomites, with the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Cortina d'Ampezzo and the Puster Valley all within easy reach by car, so a stay can combine the lake with some of the region's most spectacular scenery.
When to go to Hotel Lago di Braies
The hotel has winter and summer seasons: for 2026-27, the winter season runs from 27 December to 7 March, and the summer season from 1 May to 31 October. Summer, especially July and August, is the busiest time on the lake. June and September offer milder crowds and lovely light. In winter, the lake freezes and the valley is snowy and peaceful, with cross-country skiing and snowshoeing nearby.
Questions, answered
- Is there a hotel on Lago di Braies?
- Yes. Hotel Lago di Braies, run by the same family since 1899, is the only hotel on the shore of the lake.
- Can you drive to Lago di Braies?
- In peak summer months, road access is restricted and parking must be booked in advance. Hotel guests have access; check the arrangements when booking.
- When is Hotel Lago di Braies open?
- For 2026-27, the winter season runs from 27 December to 7 March, and the summer season from 1 May to 31 October 2027.
