Lake Dobbiaco with kids: all you need to know for a perfect family day on this stunning alpine lake
All you need to know to plan a visit to Lake Dobbiaco/ Lago di Dobbiaco with kids. How to get there, best things to do, what to pack, tips.
One of my favorite places to visit on the Dolomites with kids is stunning Lake Dobbiaco (Lago di Dobbiaco)
Lake Dobbiaco is a small and pretty alpine lake close to the town of Dobbiaco/Toblach, in Alto Adige.
It is nestled among beautiful mountains, framed by thick forest and it is easy to reach.
Unlike many other lakes in the area, Lake Dobbiaco doesn’t require any hiking.
This ease of access plus the many fun things you can do on its shores make it perfect for a family day out or any day when you need to rest rather than conquer summits!
This is all you need to know to plan a day on Lake Dobbiaco with kids.
Why you should visit Lake Dobbiaco with kids
There are many reasons why I recommend Lago di Dobbiaco to families. The main ones are:
The lake is very beautiful. If you are looking for a place to take in views, this is one of the best low-altitude spots you can ask for!
Lake Dobbiaco has wonderful green waters, it is surrounded by dark green forests and overlooked by mighty mountains.
It is a photographer’s paradise and if you go to my Instagram, you will see I found it almost impossible to stop clicking!
There is plenty to do for kids. Lake Dobbiaco has plenty of activities for kids. As well as enjoying the lake itself and the water, here you can walk along a nature trail, play on the beach, rent pedal boats and eat to your heart content.
The lake trail is stroller-friendly. Another thing that makes Lake Dobbiaco perfect for families is that the nature trail around the lake is stroller-friendly.
You are in a mountainous area so you want your stroller to have big wheels but the path here poses no difficulties. Part of it is a white road and part is a boardwalk.
Top tip for families visiting Lake Dobbiaco with a stroller! The trail around Lake Dobbiaco is mostly flat, except for a tiny stretch. If you want to avoid pushing a stroller uphill, you can follow the path clockwise and there will be zero climbing to be done!
If you are considering investing in a stroller for mountain walks, you can find our favorite all terrain strollers here.
There are cafes and restaurants on the lake. I always find the presence of cafes to be a big plus when it comes to family destinations as I love the convenience of facilities and hot food and Lake Dobbiaco has plenty!
Right on the northern shores of the lake, there are cafes (indoors and outdoors) and restaurants, serving anything from local specialties to gelato.
It is not as busy as nearby Lake Braies, while sharing many of its charms!
The most famous lake in this area is Lake Braies, discovered years ago by Instagrammers and now one of the most visited spots in the area.
Lake Dobbiaco is not half as famous or busy but has many things in common with its popular neighbor, making it a very worthy alternative!
Things to do on Lake Dobbiaco with kids
There is plenty to keep kids occupied in Lake Dobbiaco. Kid-friendly things to do on the lake are:
Walk the nature trail (Sentiero Natura Lago di Dobbiaco)
You can walk around Lake Dobbiaco following a nature trail.
The trail starts on the northern shore of the lake, right next to the parking area, and it is flat, easy and beautiful.
It is only about 2.5 km long and you can walk it in about 20 minutes however, the trail is equipped with info points and has many viewing spots so you can easily make a morning out of this walk.
The info stations are wonderful for kids. Many of them are photo and info panels with info about local animals and the story of the lake but some are interactive.
A cool one we all loved was a panel with the journey of the Rienza river, that we had to find solving a maze on the panel!
A fun way to get children and adults to learn the name of the river and its journey from the mountains to the sea, via Lake Dobbiaco!
Jump like a ….
One of the most enjoyable info stations on the nature trail was a long jump run when you could test your jumping skills vs those of local animals!
The jumping strip kept us entertained for hours. The strip has several panels that tell you how fast a mouse/fox/squirrel/mountain goat/etc can jump and you can try your hand at jumping as far as them!
The kids had a blast, I did too and we all enjoyed the fact that you can enjoy a view of the lake while playing – perfect multigenerational spot!
Admire the Rienza River
Lake Dobbiaco is fed by the Pienza River and you can see this wonderful mountain river bubbling down into the lake while walking the nature trail.
The Rienza is wonderful here. You encounter the river on the southern shore of the lake and it has a magical quality to it.
The water is crystal clear and almost a translucent green and it runs through a fantastic stretch of forest. You can admire it from the wooden bridge and boardwalk or, in some stretches, you can venture closer to the water.
It is a stunning spot and great for kids who love exploring!
Play on the beach
Lake Dobbiaco is not a swim and sunbathe type of lake however, it does have a small beach which is adorable for kids.
Here, you can catch wonderful views on all sides of the lake, you can get close to the water and see the many dicks and birds that inhabit the lake.
This is also a popular place for picnics!
Rent a pedal boat
The cafe on the northern shore of the lake rents pedal boats and they are a fantastic way to catch even better view of the lake and for children to have fun.
One of the best things to do on Lake Dobbiaco with kids!
Eat to your heart content
Lake Dobbiaco has several family-friendly restaurants and cafes.
Depending on the seasons and appetite, you can sit outdoors or indoors and you can choose between local South Tyrol specialties, pasta or snacks ranging from ice cream to cake. Children’s portions are available.
How to reach Lake Dobbiaco and parking
Lake Dobbiaco is a few kilometers outside of Dobbiaco /Toblach and is easy to reach by car.
The drive only takes a few minutes and while the road has some mountain bends, it is mostly flat and doesn’t pose driving difficulties.
The parking for the lake is well indicated and on the right-hand side of the road and it is pay and display. In summer 2021, we paid 7 Euro for a full day parking and the hourly rate is, I believe, 2 euro.
The parking is right at the start of the nature trail and two minutes from the cafe/restaurant/campsite on the lake.
What to pack for a day on Lake Dobbiaco with kids (summer)
You do not need special equipment to visit Lake Dobbiaco with kids however, a few things can come in handy. In particular, I recommend:
Hiking shoes for the kids: to protect feet from the uneven terrain and puddles of water (the area has lots of water in pretty much all weather conditions)
A windbreaker – as you can see from our photos, rain is not entirely unusual here!
Drinking water, especially if taking your time on the nature trail
Trash bags – make sure you take with you any trash you may produce
Kids binoculars, to spot all the birds and spy the other side of the lake
Lake Dobbiaco fact for kids
Name: Lago di Dobbiaco (Italian), Toblachersee (German)
Lake Dobbiaco has a name in Italian and one in German since this area of Italy is bilingual. You can find this and more fun facts about Italy for kids here.
Altitude: 1,117 m
Surface: 14.3 hectares
Depth: max. 3.5 m
Immissary: River Rienza
Emissary: River Rienza
Location: Lake Dobbiaco is in Upper Val Pusteria (Alta Pusteria),in the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park
Fun fact! the southern shore of the lake is getting increasingly drier and parts of the lake have now turned into solid ground with trees and permanent vegetation. This is a natural phenomenon due to the Rienza river and the debris it transports. Careful not to leave the trail: some areas that look like lawn are not solid yet and your feel will sink!
What to do near Lake Dobbiaco
lake Dobbiaco is close to:
The pretty town of Dobbiaco/Toblach
The lovely mountain village of San Candido/Innichen
Lake Misurina, one of the most beautiful and easy to access lakes in the Dolomites
Read also >>> best places to visit on the Dolomites
Where to stay near Lake Dobbiaco
This post contains affiliate links. Should you make a purchase through them, we might make a small commission.
There are plenty of beautiful family hotels in the area of Lake Dobbiaco. My favorites are a little down the road from it, in Sesto.
My absolute favorite are:
Hotel Dolomitenhof in Moso, one of the most beautifully located hotels you can ever see
Gamz Apartments in Sesto, fantastic family apartments with plenty of space and stunning views
The best time to visit Lake Dobbiaco with kids
You can visit Lake Dobbiaco with kids in all seasons but I feel the best time for it is the summer as this is when you can make the most of the nature trail and when you can rent boats.
Lake Dobbiaco with kids: pin this!
