Where to Stay in the Dolomites with Kids: Is Sesto a Good Base?

Where is Sesto in the Dolomites?

Sesto (Sexten) is a mountain village in South Tyrol, in the eastern Italian Dolomites, close to the Austrian border.

It's surrounded by mountains and sits within the 3 Zinnen Dolomites region, making it a particularly useful base for exploring the Tre Cime area.

One thing worth understanding before booking is that the Dolomites are much bigger than they look on a map.

Two attractions might appear relatively close together, but the mountain roads can mean a much longer journey than you'd expect.

For our trip, Sesto worked because our priorities were Tre Cime, Lago di Braies and family-friendly mountain activities in the eastern Dolomites.

Is Sesto a good base for the Dolomites with kids?

For us, yes. We had three full days to explore and could visit our main attractions without moving accommodation.

With young children, unpacking once and having somewhere familiar to return to each evening was a huge advantage.

Plenty to do close to the village

Monte Elmo is right by Sesto, with cable car access to the mountains, walking trails, a barefoot trail and play areas.

There are other areas nearby, including Croda Rossa (Rotwand), Monte Baranci (Haunold) and Val Fiscalina (Fischleintal), which are worth investigating if you have more time.

It felt like a proper mountain holiday

One of the things we loved was being surrounded by mountains rather than staying in a larger town and driving into them every day.

Even when we weren't hiking, it still felt like a mountain adventure.

We could keep the pace manageable

Our four-year-old walked most of our hikes and our two-year-old wanted to walk whenever possible.

We knew we'd need to be realistic about how much we could fit in, and we wanted time to enjoy the hotel too.

How far is Sesto from the main attractions?

These are approximate driving times to help you plan. They vary depending on your exact accommodation, road conditions, parking and the time of year.

Always check the specific trailhead or cable-car station, not just the name of the mountain, when planning a route.

For example, Tre Cime is relatively close geographically, but reaching Rifugio Auronzo involves driving towards Misurina and then up the mountain toll road.

We allowed roughly an hour from our hotel.

Things to do near Sesto with kids

These are the three days we actually did, plus two more family-friendly mountain adventures I'd consider if we returned for longer. I've also included a gentler valley walk as an extra option.

1. Tre Cime di Lavaredo — our mountain hiking day

Tre Cime was one of the main reasons we wanted to visit the Dolomites.

We booked parking in advance for 8:30am and arrived around 9–9:30am after breakfast and the drive from our hotel.

Rather than completing the full circuit, we walked from Rifugio Auronzo towards Rifugio Lavaredo, continued to the viewpoint and explored a quieter path on the way back.

Our route was roughly 6km, with plenty of stops for the boys to climb rocks, play and explore.

Read our full Tre Cime with kids guide →

2. Lago di Braies — rowing boats and shoreline exploring

We arrived at Lago di Braies around 9:30am and found there was already a 45-minute queue for the famous wooden rowing boats.

My husband took the boys off for a wander while I waited, which worked really well. And the boats were worth the wait.

We also walked around the lake at the boys' pace, letting them stop to play with sticks and rocks along the shoreline.

Although it's popular, we found it became quieter the further we walked from the main entrance.

3. Monte Elmo — cable car, hiking and play

Our third day was spent exploring Monte Elmo, which was particularly convenient from Sesto.

We took the cable car up and hiked to the summit before returning to the cable-car area to explore the barefoot trail and playground.

It was a brilliant combination of proper mountain scenery and things the boys could get involved in.

4. Croda Rossa (Rotwand) — another family-friendly mountain day

One for a longer stay: Croda Rossa is another mountain area accessible from the Sesto valley, with a cable car, alpine scenery and family-friendly attractions around the mountain station.

It's a useful alternative if you want another mountain day without driving across the Dolomites.

We didn't visit Croda Rossa ourselves, so I can't compare it with Monte Elmo from experience.

I'd check the official 3 Zinnen Dolomites website for the current lift timetable, activities and seasonal openings before planning your day.

5. Monte Baranci (Haunold) — playgrounds and summer tobogganing

Another one for a return trip: Monte Baranci is near San Candido (Innichen), around a 15-minute drive from Sesto to the lift area.

A chairlift takes you up to a family-friendly mountain area with a giant-themed adventure playground, dwarf village and walking trails.

There is also the Fun Bob summer toboggan run, which could be a fun addition for families with older children.

Check the current age and height restrictions, lift opening dates and operating conditions before visiting.

We didn't make it to Monte Baranci on our trip, but it's exactly the sort of place I'd consider if we came back for a longer stay.

You could have a whole mountain adventure without spending hours in the car.

Bonus: Val Fiscalina (Fischleintal) — a gentler valley walk

Another option we didn't have time for: Val Fiscalina is a scenic valley near Sesto, surrounded by dramatic peaks.

It's a good area to investigate if you want a more relaxed walking day rather than another big summit hike.

For families with younger children, I'd look at a shorter out-and-back valley walk and turn around whenever everyone has had enough.

Check the route, weather and any access or parking arrangements before setting off.

Where we stayed: Family Resort Rainer, Sesto

We spent four nights at Family Resort Rainer , staying half board.

We wanted somewhere that would feel like a holiday for the boys, not just a place to sleep between our days out — and I think this is where we made a really good decision.

The swimming pools

One of the biggest advantages was having indoor and outdoor swimming pools and a dedicated children's pool.

After a day hiking, it was lovely knowing we could come back for a swim rather than having to find another activity.

The playground and children's facilities

The large outdoor playground was another big selling point.

The resort also offers childcare, although we didn't use it, so I can't comment on that from personal experience.

Why half board worked so well

After a full day exploring the mountains with two young children, the last thing we wanted was to get back in the car and find somewhere for dinner.

Having meals organised made the evenings much easier.

It's something worth considering when comparing the cost of a hotel with an apartment.

Self-catering may be cheaper, but having meals included can make a real difference to how relaxed the holiday feels.

Was it worth the money?

We paid approximately €1,570 for four nights, half board.

It wasn't budget accommodation, but we felt we got a lot from the hotel: meals, excellent facilities for the boys and a useful location for exploring the eastern Dolomites.

If you're planning to be out hiking from morning until evening every day, you might not get as much value from the facilities.

In that case, I'd look at an apartment or a simpler hotel instead.

We booked and paid for our own stay. Hotel facilities and prices may change.

Other accommodation options in Sesto

You don't need to stay in a family resort to enjoy Sesto.

I'd decide what sort of holiday you're planning before choosing where to book.

Is Sesto the best place to stay in the Dolomites?

It depends on your itinerary. Sesto is a fantastic base for the eastern Dolomites , but I wouldn't automatically recommend it to everyone.

If your priorities are Tre Cime, Lago di Braies, Monte Elmo and the surrounding mountain areas, it's a sensible choice.

But if you're hoping to visit Seceda, Alpe di Siusi or Val Gardena, you're looking at a different part of the Dolomites.

We haven't stayed in these alternative bases ourselves, so this is a geographical planning comparison rather than a firsthand hotel comparison.

Would we stay in Sesto again?

Yes, absolutely.

For our first family trip to the Dolomites, Sesto was a really good choice.

We visited the three main places we'd planned to see without changing hotels, and we had a lovely family-friendly base to return to each day.

We also found there was much more to explore in the surrounding area than we could fit into three days.

If we returned, I'd love to spend longer exploring the smaller trails and mountain areas around Sesto rather than focusing quite so much on the famous attractions.

I'd also be tempted to stay five to seven nights so we could enjoy a mixture of hiking days, cable cars, playgrounds and time at the hotel.

But if we were planning a trip focused on the western Dolomites, I'd choose a different base.

Our verdict: Is Sesto a good base for the Dolomites with kids?

For families wanting to explore the eastern Dolomites, I think Sesto is a brilliant choice.

You're surrounded by beautiful mountain scenery, there are fantastic family-friendly activities nearby and it's well placed for visiting Tre Cime and Lago di Braies.

For us, staying at Family Resort Rainer made the trip even easier because we had somewhere the boys genuinely enjoyed spending time when we weren't out exploring.

My biggest piece of advice would be to decide what you want to see before booking your accommodation.

The Dolomites are huge, and choosing the right base can save you a lot of time in the car.

With young children, that can make all the difference between a holiday that feels like a constant rush and one where you actually get to enjoy being in the mountains.