Lago di Braies in Italy at a glance
Lago di Braies, in German the Pragser Wildsee, lies in the Braies valley (Pragser Tal) in South Tyrol, below the Seekofel. It is part of the Fanes-Sennes-Prags nature park. Braies is the Italian name of the valley; in German it is Prags. The lake lies in the Dolomites in northern Italy. Entry to the lake itself is free. What costs money, and what is regulated, is the road and the parking.
This is an independent guide, not an official site. All rules and prices below are for 2026 and were checked on 19 October 2026. The valley's information site says the traffic rules are planned to return in summer 2027, with details in spring 2027. We could not verify the dates.
The 2026 access rule
Lago di Braies in summer is regulated: from 1 July to 15 September 2026, between 09:00 and 16:00, the valley is only open in these ways.
With a booking
Drive in with an online reservation or a valid access permit. Bookings opened at the start of June.
By public bus
Take bus 442 with a prepaid online reservation (see below).
On foot or by bike
Walking or cycling in is allowed at any time.
Before 09:00
Arrival is allowed, but there is no parking guarantee. Outside the hours and from 16 September 2026 there are no traffic limits and no booking is needed.
From 16 to 30 September, parking lot P1 can be booked in advance with a half-hourly shuttle, while P2 to P4 are available without booking. The one exception to the end of the rule is the Plätzwiese toll road.
Lago di Braies parking and prices
Prices are for 2026 in euros.
| Item | Price 2026 | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Combined ticket | €44 | One-day access permit, guaranteed parking and a €22 voucher for restaurants and shops (only when booked in advance) |
| Lake entry | Free | No admission charge |
| Camper at P4 | €45 | Per 24 hours |
| Parking P2 | Up to €10 per day | €7 per 3 hours, about 800 m from the lake |
| Parking P3 | – | About 300 m from the lake |
| Parking P4 | – | About 100 m from the lake |
P1 is in Außerprags at the valley entrance, 5.5 km from the lake. The operator publishes the fees for P2 to P4 as a PDF (status 09/2026) that varies by season and time of day, so check it before you go. An older travel report quoted €38 per car. The 2026 figure for the combined ticket is €44.
Our picks: Lago di Braies from Venice
Three day trips that include the lake.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Full-day tour of the Dolomites and Lago di Braies
A Mercedes V-Class with an English-speaking driver and guide, water and an Italian breakfast included.
Check availability →
Dolomites, Lago di Braies and Tre Cime from Venice
Transport from Piazzale Roma with an English-speaking driver-guide. No entry fees are listed; food, drinks and tips are extra.
Check availability →Lago di Braies and Tre Cime from Venice by minivan
A driver-guide in a Mercedes minivan for up to eight, with Wi-Fi.
Check availability →Lago di Braies tours and day trips
Day trips and guided tours to Lago di Braies from Bolzano, Cortina and Venice, with live prices and availability.
Getting to Lago di Braies by bus
Line 442 runs from Dobbiaco (Toblach) via Villabassa (Niederdorf) to the lake. The timetable is valid from 14 June to 12 December 2026. Line 439 from Monguelfo (Welsberg) runs in high season. Children under 6 travel free.
- 1 July to 15 September 2026: online booking with prepayment is compulsory. Mobilcard and Guest Pass are not valid. Holders of the südtirolmobil Pass get 10 seats per trip without booking.
- From 16 September 2026: Mobilcard, südtirolmobil Pass and Guest Pass are valid on line 442 without a reservation.
To plan the whole route, read our guide on getting from Venice to the Dolomites.
Rowing boats on the lake
The boat hire on the lake does not take reservations: it is first come, first served. Your own boats and stand-up paddleboards are banned because the lake lies in a nature park. The hire company's website shows conflicting prices, so here is the range.
| Boat | Price 2026 | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Private boat | €50 to €55 | 45 minutes, up to 5 people |
| Shared boat | €15 to €20 | Per person |
Opening hours in 2026 changed through the season: 20 June to 6 September 08:00 to 18:00; 7 to 27 September 09:00 to 17:30; 28 September to 30 October 10:00 to 16:30; 31 October to 1 November 09:00 to 16:30. The hire company lists 1 November as its last day. The valley's information site says it is also open in winter, so ask on the day.
A hotel by the lake is open for the summer season from 1 May to 1 November 2026, and again for winter from 27 December 2026 to 7 March 2027.
More Dolomites lakes and plans
Other places that fit a day at Lago di Braies.
Lago di Braies hiking and the shore walk
A walk around the shore is the obvious Lago di Braies hiking option. We have no verified length or time for it, so check the trail map or ask at the lake. The car parks lie roughly 100 m (P4), 300 m (P3) and 800 m (P2) from the water, so the walk from the car park to the shore is short.
Remember the lake lies in a nature park: your own boats and stand-up paddleboards are not allowed, and rowing boats can only be hired on the spot.
Lago di Braies: frequently asked questions
Can I drive to Lago di Braies in 2026?
Between 1 July and 15 September 2026 only with a booking between 09:00 and 16:00. Before 09:00 you may arrive, but parking is not guaranteed. From 16 September 2026 there are no traffic restrictions.
How much is the combined ticket?
€44 in 2026. It gives a one-day access permit and a guaranteed parking space, plus a €22 voucher for restaurants and shops if booked in advance.
Do I pay to enter the lake?
No. Access to the lake is free. Parking and the bus in the restricted period are what cost money.
Which bus goes to Lago di Braies?
Line 442 from Dobbiaco and Villabassa. From 1 July to 15 September 2026 it needs a prepaid online booking, and Mobilcard and Guest Pass are not valid. After 16 September they work without a reservation.
Can I book a rowing boat?
No. Boats are first come, first served. A private boat costs €50 to €55 for 45 minutes, a shared boat €15 to €20 per person. Own boats and SUPs are not allowed.
Will the rule come back in 2027?
The valley's information site says the traffic regulation will return in summer 2027, with details in spring 2027. We could not verify the dates.