Rifugio Auronzo

Rifugio Auronzo is an alpine hut in Tre Cime & Sesto. It sits at 2320 m. Typical season: Late May to early November; limited weekend winter service. Reported capacity: 99 beds.

Hut to hut on foot

Nearest staffed huts on walking trails from Rifugio Auronzo: Rifugio Lavaredo (~33 min), Langalm (~42 min), Rifugio Malga Rin Bianco (~1 h 21 min).

Estimated times for an average hiker, based on distance and elevation.

Staying at Rifugio Auronzo

The trade-off hut: you sleep inside a postcard, and you share it with the whole world until 6 pm.

Rifugio Auronzo is where the famous Tre Cime loop begins. A paved toll road delivers thousands of day visitors right to its terrace every summer morning, which makes it the least “wild” hut in the Dolomites, and also one of the most rewarding to sleep in: when the last cars roll back down towards Misurina, the plateau empties out, and the people staying the night get the Tre Cime, the Cadini spires and the sunset more or less to themselves.

Staying the night

Run by the Auronzo section of the Italian Alpine Club, the hut is big by rifugio standards: 25 rooms from twin up to six berths, 99 beds in total. Think mountain hostel rather than hotel. Rooms are simple and clean, and light sleepers should note some rooms have a single power socket, so a power bank earns its place in your pack. The breakfast room’s window wall faces the Cadini di Misurina, arguably the best breakfast view in the range.

The food

Honest self-service mountain fare, and the most divisive food of any famous hut: some guests call it decent and plentiful, others come away unimpressed, especially at the day-visitor lunch rush. Set your expectations at “fuel with a view” rather than “destination dinner” and you’ll leave happy.

Booking reality

For July and August, beds are gone months ahead; this is one of the huts that fills within weeks of the booking calendar opening in March. There is an online booking page. Midweek dates and September are markedly easier.

Getting there

Three ways: walk in (the classic approach is from Misurina or over Forcella Lavaredo from the Locatelli side), take the summer bus, or drive the toll road (€40 per car for a 12-hour slot, and since 2026 advance online reservation with your plate number is required in season). As an overnight guest, start the loop after 4 pm or before 8 am and you’ll have the trail at its quietest.

Good to know

• Open late May to early October; winter weekends bar service only.
• Sunset from Forcella Lavaredo (40 min from the hut) beats sunset from the terrace: the north faces of the Tre Cime light up.
• It’s on Alta Via 4 and the natural base for the Cadini di Misurina viewpoint, the most photographed ridge line in the Dolomites right now.