Lago di Braies was one of those places I knew we wanted to see when we planned our few days in the Dolomites.
You've probably seen the photos. Turquoise-blue water, enormous mountains rising behind it and those little wooden rowing boats sitting along the edge of the lake.
And yes, it really is that beautiful in person.
But Lago di Braies is also one of the most popular places in the Dolomites, and visiting somewhere this busy with a four-year-old and a two-year-old comes with its own challenges.
We visited as part of our three days in the Dolomites and made a proper day of it, including hiring one of the famous rowing boats.
So if you're wondering whether Lago di Braies is worth visiting with young children, how to get there, whether you need to book parking and what it's actually like once you arrive, here's everything we learned from our visit.
Planning a visit to Lago di Braies with kids? Here’s everything we learned from our visit, including getting to the lake, how busy it was, hiring a rowing boat, things to do with children and our practical tips.
Tre Cime with kids at a glance
Location: Lago di Braies (Pragser Wildsee), South Tyrol, Italy
Parking: Reservations required at certain times
Our Childre: 4 and 2 years old
Boat queue: Around 45 minutes at 8:30 am (June)
Walking Easy enough to explore with young children, although the full lake circuit is considerably longer
Would we recommend it? Absolutely!
Our family tip: Don't underestimate how busy it gets. Allow extra time for parking, queues and the boat, and don't be afraid to slow the day down.
Getting to Lago di Braies
Lago di Braies is relatively easy to reach by car, but you do need to think about access before you arrive, particularly in the summer.
There are traffic restrictions around the lake during the busiest part of the summer season. For 2026, the municipality says the traffic regulation runs from 1 July to 15 September, between 9am and 4pm, with access controlled by barriers and number-plate recognition.
This means you shouldn't just assume that you can drive up to the lake whenever you fancy during the busiest part of the day.
The official Lago di Braies website also offers online parking reservations, which is something I'd recommend looking into before your visit.
There is also a public bus option, with bus 442 running from Villabassa directly to Lago di Braies.
Do you need to book parking?
This is one of those things I'd definitely check shortly before your trip because the access arrangements can change between seasons.
The official website allows visitors to book parking online and also offers a Day Stay Ticket, which guarantees access and a parking space during the road closure period.
If you're travelling with young children, I'd much rather have the parking/access side of the day sorted in advance than arrive and find yourself having to work out where you're allowed to go.
We travelled outside of the reservation period and arrived at around 8:30 on a Monday in June. It was already very busy and I was worried we would have to park far away so bear that in mind.
How busy is Lago di Braies?
This is probably the biggest thing to be prepared for. Lago di Braies is not a hidden alpine lake. It's incredibly popular, and when we visited there were plenty of people around.
If you're expecting to arrive at a completely peaceful mountain lake with just a handful of people sitting around the shore, you might be surprised. But I don't think the crowds should put you off.
The lake is absolutely beautiful and, once you're actually there, there are ways to get away from the busiest areas. One of the best ways is to get out on the rowing boats. Once you're on the water, you can row away from the crowds and see the lake from a completely different perspective.
You can also walk further around the lake. The further you get from the main entrance and boat area, the quieter it becomes, so if you want a bit more peace and quiet, it's worth exploring beyond the first section.
We also noticed that quite a few people seemed to be there mainly for the famous photos. They'd arrive, take their pictures around the main viewpoint and then move on, so the crowds aren't necessarily constant throughout the day.
With kids, I'd just embrace the fact that it is a popular place and take your time. Don't feel like you need to get the perfect photo and leave. Get on the water, walk a little further around the lake and you'll find your own quieter spots.
Because despite the crowds, it really is as stunning as the pictures make it look – and we absolutely wouldn't skip it because of how busy it can be.
Hiring a boat
The rowing boats are one of the things we were most excited about doing at Lago di Braies, but there was already a 45-minute queue by the time we arrived. With a four-year-old and a two-year-old, I wasn't sure how we'd manage that long standing around waiting. In hindsight, I do wish we'd got there a little earlier so we could have avoided some of the queue, but I also don't think I'd necessarily rush to get there first thing.
The reason? The sun doesn't hit the lake fully early in the morning, so it can still feel quite cool. We actually liked arriving a little later when the lake was getting more sunshine.
So, if you're visiting with kids, I'd probably just accept that there might be a wait and build it into your day.
We split the queue between us. My husband took the boys off for a little wander while I stayed in the queue, and then he brought them back when I was getting closer to the front. That worked really well and meant the boys weren't standing around for 45 minutes getting bored.
And then, once we finally got onto the boat, it was absolutely worth the wait.
Being out on the lake gives you a completely different perspective. You can row away from the crowds, get right out onto the water and properly take in the mountains around you.
It's also something the kids can get involved with, which made it feel like an experience rather than just another viewpoint.
How much does the boat cost?
The rowing boats aren't cheap, but we thought it was worth doing as part of our visit. Our boat hire cost €50, and the price also included a little souvenir magnet for each person. So we actually came away with four magnets – one for each of us – which was a lovely little bonus and, of course, the boys were very excited about having their own souvenirs.
I'd definitely factor the boat into your budget if you're visiting Lago di Braies with kids. For us, it was one of the highlights of the day and one of those experiences I'm really glad we didn't skip just because of the queue.
What is there to do with kids
You don't need to plan loads of activities at Lago di Braies. For us, the beauty of visiting with young children was that we could just let the day unfold at their pace.
Obviously, the rowing boats were a big highlight. Getting out onto the lake gave us a completely different view and was probably the most memorable part of the visit for the boys.
We also walked around the lake, taking our time rather than worrying about how far we were getting. The boys were much more interested in stopping to play than walking quickly – so we let them.
There was plenty for them to explore along the shoreline too. They played with sticks, rocks and whatever else they could find, which was a good reminder that you don't need to entertain children every minute when you're somewhere like this. Give them a bit of space to explore and they'll usually find something to do.
One thing to be aware of is that swimming isn't permitted in Lago di Braies, so don't plan on bringing the kids for a swim to cool off.
There is also a small playground near the bistro at the end of the lake, which was a great little bonus with young children.
So, for us, the perfect family day was really a combination of rowing, walking, playing and exploring rather than trying to see everything. And that's what I'd recommend if you're visiting with little ones too.
Practical tips for visiting Lago di Braies with kids
🎒 Take a carrier
If you've got a toddler who might decide they're done walking, I'd take a carrier.
You might not use it much, but you'll be glad you've got it when little legs suddenly stop working.
🥨 Take snacks
Especially if you're planning to queue for the boats.
Forty-five minutes is a long time when you're hungry.
💧 Take water
Even though this isn't a strenuous mountain hike, you'll still want water with you.
🧥 Take layers
You're in the mountains, so don't rely on the temperature at your hotel or in the valley.
📸 Take a kids' camera
We took the boys' little digital cameras on our Dolomites trip and they absolutely loved them.
Giving them something to look for and photograph made the scenery much more interesting to them.
This is the kids' digital camera we use.
(Affiliate link but the one we genuinely love)
⏰ Allow more time than you think
This is probably my biggest practical tip.
Don't plan Lago di Braies as a quick stop between two other attractions.
The parking, crowds, boat queue and children all add time.
Our verdict: Lago di Braies with kids
Would we go again? Yes.
Would we recommend it with a four-year-old and two-year-old? Definitely.
It's busy, it's popular and you're unlikely to have the lake entirely to yourself. But it's also one of those places that really does live up to the photos. And getting out onto the water in one of those little rowing boats was something I'm really glad we did.
If you're visiting the Dolomites with young children, I wouldn't skip Lago di Braies because you're worried it will be too busy or too difficult.
Just go into it with realistic expectations, allow plenty of time, don't make completing a particular walk your goal and book/check the access and parking arrangements before you go.
For us, it was a really lovely family day – and definitely one of the places from our Dolomites trip that I'll remember.
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