GREAT DOLOMITES ROAD VS. SELLA RONDA DRIVE
Which Is the Better Dolomites Drive?
The Great Dolomites Road is the most famous scenic drive in the Italian Dolomites — a historic alpine route connecting Bolzano and Cortina d'Ampezzo through some of the most dramatic mountain landscapes in Europe.
Yet many drivers eventually discover that the Sella Ronda offers an even more rewarding driving experience. Compact, dramatic, and constantly changing, the Sella Ronda forms a circular route around the imposing Sella Group, linking several legendary alpine passes in quick succession.
Where the Great Dolomites Road unfolds as a long scenic journey through valleys and villages, the Sella Ronda delivers a tighter concentration of Dolomite scenery, curves, and mountain drama.
For travellers exploring the Dolomites by car, the difference becomes clear quickly:
The Great Dolomites Road is the historic classic — but the Sella Ronda is often the more exciting drive.
Scenic: ★★★★★
Thrilling: ★★★★★
THE GREAT DOLOMITES ROAD
The Great Dolomites Road (Strada delle Dolomiti / SS48) is one of the oldest scenic driving routes in the Alps. Completed in 1909, the road was originally designed to open the remote Dolomite valleys to travellers arriving by train in Bolzano. At the time, it was considered an extraordinary engineering achievement, allowing visitors to explore landscapes that had previously been accessible only on foot or by mule.
The route stretches roughly 110 kilometres (68 miles) from Bolzano to Cortina d’Ampezzo and remains one of the most recognisable scenic roads in northern Italy.
Along the way it passes a number of famous locations, including:
Lago di Carezza
Passo Costalunga
Passo Pordoi
Passo Falzarego
The Great Dolomites Road quickly became a celebrated touring route and appeared in early European motoring guidebooks throughout the 20th century. Today it remains the most widely recognised scenic road in the Dolomites, drawing travellers from around the world.
DRIVING THE SELLA RONDA IN THE DOLOMITES
Unlike the point-to-point route of the Great Dolomites Road, the Sella Ronda is a loop drive.
The road circles the towering Sella Massif, allowing drivers to start from several alpine towns — including Canazei, Selva di Val Gardena, or Corvara — and return to the same starting point without retracing their route.
Along the way the drive unfolds as a continuous sequence of alpine passes, valleys, and spectacular viewpoints. The experience combines:
flowing mountain roads
classic hairpin climbs
towering Dolomite rock formations
charming alpine villages
At roughly 53 kilometres (33 miles) for the core loop, the Sella Ronda is compact enough to enjoy in two to three hours of driving, yet rich enough in scenery to reward a slower pace with multiple stops along the way.
PASSES OF THE SELLA RONDA
SELLA PASS (PASSO SELLA)
At 2,240 metres (7,349 ft) above sea level, the Sella Pass connects Val Gardena with Val di Fassa, linking South Tyrol and Trentino. It is renowned for its panoramic views of the Sella Group, one of the most striking mountain formations in the Dolomites.
The surrounding alpine meadows and dramatic rock faces make this pass a favourite not only for drivers, but also for hikers, cyclists, and winter sports enthusiasts. Numerous trails branch off from the summit, offering close-up encounters with the Dolomites’ unique geology.
GARDENA PASS (PASSO GARDENA)
The Gardena Pass, rising to 2,121 metres (6,959 ft), connects Val Gardena with Alta Badia. Known for its sweeping curves and excellent road surface, it’s a highlight for driving and motorcycling enthusiasts alike.
The landscape here blends lush alpine meadows with rugged limestone peaks, while the surrounding villages reflect the region’s strong Ladin culture. In winter, the Gardena Pass forms part of the famous Sellaronda ski circuit, looping skiers around the Sella Massif.
PORDOI PASS (PASSO PORDOI)
At 2,239 metres (7,346 ft), the Pordoi Pass links Val di Fassa with Arabba and is one of the most accessible high mountain passes in the Dolomites.
From the summit, you’ll enjoy sweeping views toward the Marmolada, the highest peak in the Dolomites. The Pordoi Pass is especially popular with cyclists and regularly features in major races such as the Giro d’Italia. A cable car near the summit allows visitors to ascend even higher for panoramic views across the Dolomite range.
GIAU PASS (PASSO GIAU)
The Giau Pass, at 2,236 metres (7,336 ft), connects Cortina d’Ampezzo with Selva di Cadore and is often considered the most dramatic section of the loop.
Its combination of hairpin bends, wide open exposure, and views of the Nuvolau and Averau peaks make it a favourite among drivers seeking both scenery and engagement. The surrounding high-alpine landscape also offers numerous hiking routes through unspoiled terrain.
WHAT MAKES THE SELLA RONDA SPECIAL
Many famous alpine roads are known for a single dramatic climb.
The Sella Ronda is different. Rather than focusing on one pass, the loop connects four iconic mountain roads, each contributing its own character to the experience.
Drivers can expect:
constantly changing landscapes
a satisfying mix of flowing sections and tighter curves
frequent viewpoints and photo opportunities
dramatic limestone towers unique to the Dolomites
The result is a drive that feels balanced, varied, and immersive, rather than dominated by one headline road.
WHY MANY DRIVERS PREFER THE SELLA RONDA
The Great Dolomites Road remains the region’s most famous scenic route, but many drivers ultimately prefer the Sella Ronda. The difference lies in how the roads were designed.
The Great Dolomites Road functions as a grand scenic corridor connecting valleys and towns.
The Sella Ronda, by contrast, concentrates its energy around a single mountain massif, creating a natural rhythm as one pass flows into the next.
Instead of a long scenic journey, the Sella Ronda delivers a continuous sequence of iconic alpine passes, each revealing new perspectives of the Dolomites.
For drivers, this often makes the experience feel more engaging, more varied, and more memorable.
THE EPIKDRIVES VARIATION: WHY WE INCLUDE GIAU PASS
The traditional Sella Ronda loop connects four passes:
Passo Sella
Passo Gardena
Passo Campolongo
Passo Pordoi
At EPIKDRIVES, however, we often refine the route slightly. Instead of following the classic loop exactly, we frequently replace Passo Campolongo with the spectacular Passo Giau.
While Campolongo is scenic, it is also the gentlest section of the traditional route. Passo Giau delivers something very different — steeper climbs, wider alpine panoramas, and one of the most dramatic road settings in the Dolomites.
By combining the iconic passes of Sella, Gardena, and Pordoi with the breathtaking ascent of Giau, the route becomes an even more memorable driving experience. In other words, we keep the essence of the Sella Ronda — but refine it for drivers. Sometimes that means breaking the official loop.
Tough luck for tradition — better roads win.
OUR VERDICT: GREAT DOLOMITES ROAD VS. SELLA RONDA
If you are searching for the most famous scenic road in the Dolomites, the Great Dolomites Road is the historic classic. But if you are searching for the better driving experience, the Sella Ronda often comes out ahead.
The appeal of the Sella Ronda is not extreme difficulty or record-breaking elevation. Its strength lies in flow, variety, and visual drama. Four legendary passes combine to create a drive that feels perfectly balanced — dramatic without being exhausting, scenic without feeling slow.
For many travellers exploring the Dolomites by car, the conclusion becomes simple:
The Great Dolomites Road is the famous name — but the Sella Ronda is the road they remember most.
EXTEND YOUR JOURNEY IN THE DOLOMITES
The Sella Ronda works beautifully as the centrepiece of a longer alpine road trip.
Many travellers combine it with other legendary mountain drives such as the Grossglockner High Alpine Road in Austria or scenic passes deeper within the Italian Dolomites. Together these roads create a multi-day journey through some of the most spectacular landscapes in the Alps — balancing dramatic scenery with unforgettable driving experiences.
