Tucked away under the peaks of the Italian Dolomites lies the most incredible lake we’ve ever seen – Lago di Carezza. During our travels in the Dolomites and Switzerland, we’ve witnessed many mountain lakes. But this one is special.
Lago di Carezza, also known as Karersee, is distinct by its colorful surface. The colors we saw in the water truly did remind us of a rainbow. Add the beautiful spruce forests all around and the miraculous reflection of Latemar mountains, and you’ll quickly realize how special this place is.
Looking at the lake from above reminded us of a colorful oil spill. It’s not a view you get often. And that’s one of the main reasons why this spot has been such an inspiration for artists, and why it attracts so many tourists and photographers each year.
In this guide, we share all the details you should know before visiting the lake, including how to get there, where to park, what facilities you can find here, and the best time to visit.
Key Highlights
⭐️ Best time of day to visit: sunrise or sunset for fewer crowds, day hours for the best light
⭐️ Best months to visit: May – August
⭐️ How to get there: by car or bus 180
⭐️Ticket price: free
⭐️Parking: at huge parking lot for 2€ / hour
⭐️ Where to stay: Carezza Village or Nova Levante
Where is Lago di Carezza (Karersee)
Lago di Carezza (Karersee in German) is located in the Italian Dolomites in the Trentino Alto Adige region. It lies in Val d’Ega with mesmerizing Latemar and Catinaccio mountain ranges around.
The lake is 16 km southeast of Bolzano. The closest town is Nova Levante (Welschnofen). The nearby village with a ski resort is also called Carezza.
Best hotels near Lago di Carezza
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How to get here
By car
For our holiday in the Dolomites, we chose to travel around by car, in which we also camped. Since traveling around the mountains by public transport can be slightly more complicated and time-consuming, a car is the best option to see the most in the shortest possible time.
If you don’t have your own car, we recommend renting one. Car rentals are available in almost every major city around the Dolomites as well as in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Our go-to rental is DiscoverCars since they compare prices of different rental companies so we always get the best deal.
I would suggest visiting this place when exploring Geisler Alm, Alpe di Siusi, Seceda, or Passo Gardena. The Dolomites are bigger than you think, so having a good plan is essential. All of the locations mentioned above are relatively close to Karersee.
Gardena Pass is 46 km away, and Bolzano is only 27 km away. On the other hand, Cortina is 85 km away. To get to the lake, you have to follow the road SS241.
Parking
Once you arrive at the lake, you will quickly realize where to go. There’s a spacious carpark built just on the opposite side of the road. The price is 2€ per hour and you can pay both by cash and card. A campervan costs 9€ for 3 hours.
The parking is busy during the summer. You might have to wait for a few minutes on the main road. But since visiting the lake doesn’t take so long, people keep coming and going quickly.
From the parking lot, you have to cross a tunnel built under to road which takes you directly to the lake. You’ll find public restrooms here as well. The tunnel is closed at night.
By public transport
If you’re traveling around Dolomites by public transport, you can visit the lake using a bus. There’s no train station nearby. The closest train stop is in
You can get to the lake by bus number 180. It starts in Bolzano and goes to Vigo di Fassa. The journey from Bolzano takes 53 minutes and buses are scheduled almost every 30 minutes. The maximum ticket price is 4.5€.
The bus station where you need to get of is called Nova Levante, Lago di Carezza.
Use suedtirolmobil.info to search for bus connections in the Dolomites.
About the lake
The story of Rainbow Lake
The reason why this lake has a nickname “Rainbow Lake” might be obvious as soon as you lay your first sight on its waters. But there’s more to this name. A legend passed from generation to generation of Ladin people has an explanation to the colorful enchanting water.
It is said that a long time ago, a mermaid named Ondina lived in the lake’s water. Her hair looked like a river of gold, and her voice was so sweet, that local men could not resist.
As she sang the songs while sitting on a rock, Masaré, a sorcerer who lived in the Latemar mountains, heard her voice. Once he saw Ondina, he decided to make her his. The mermaid did not agree with his plan, and she hid in the lake’s depths.
And so Masaré decided to ask a local witch to help capture Ondina. She advised him to use a cover and pretend to be a jewelry merchant who would gift Ondina a rainbow. Masaré crafted a beautiful rainbow stretching from Latemar to Mount Catinaccio over Carezza Lake.
Blinded by his love, Masaré forgot to wear his disguise. As soon as Ondina saw the man, she recognized him and dove straight into the lake never to be seen again. Masaré, full of anger, smashed the rainbow, and its pieces scattered all around the lake.
Each one of the shards sank under the water’s surface, creating a piece of art.
Flora and Fauna at the lake
Despite looking so small, Lago di Carezza hides a lot of life beneath its surface. Thanks to crystal-clear water and low levels of algae, sun rays can reach deep under the surface, bringing countless species to life.
Aquatic plants thriving in this area include pondweed and water milfoil. A bit more rare are water lilies and duckweed. A number of different fish species adapted to alpine conditions can be found here as well. This included Arctic Char and Brown Trout.
The 2018 catastrophic storm
As soon as we entered the area, we were slightly shocked by how damaged the forests were. After doing some research, we learned about the devastating “Vaia” storm. It damaged approximately 15 million trees! An unimaginable disaster.
The wind passed the area at a speed of 200 km/h, taking down more than 40,000 hectares of forests. In addition, the collapse of numerous trees resulted in electricity disruptions.
The aftermaths of this storm can be seen to this day, and are likely not gonna be repaired any time soon. It’s gonna take a few generations before the forests in the region will look the same. For now, we only have pictures as a memory.
Hike around the lake
Once at the lake, you can follow a short 20-minute trail that takes you around the lakeshore. It passes through beautiful spruce forests and provides views of the lake from different angles.
The trail is rather wide and almost flat. During crowded days, it’s a great way to get far from all the people, since the majority only stays on side side next to the tunnel.
You can notice a wooden fence built around the whole lake. And it’s there for a reason. The nature and biodiversity at the lake are very delicate. In order to preserve the lake for all future generations, the fence was put up together with signs asking people not to cross it.
We couldn’t wait to get that smacking photo on the rock. When we came to the lake, we were surprised by the fence, which we didn’t expect since so many people post photos from behind it. To our surprise, it’s actually breaking the law, which we certainly don’t want to do.
Once we saw the signs we respected them and didn’t dare to get closer to the lake. You should also keep this in mind and do the same. Such an incredible spot deserves some respect.
If people started to walk to the shore, it would quickly change the biodiversity and algae presence in the waters, causing the lake to lose its charm. I’m sure nobody wants that to happen, so let’s protect this place together.
Other hikes to Lago di Carezza
Round hike from Carezza Village to Lake of Carezza and Lake Mittersee
This easy hike only has 5.4 kilometers and takes 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete. This trail takes you from the village through a beautiful forest trail all the way to the hanging bridge, also known as Hängebrücke.
Your next stop will be by the Lake of Carezza, where you should certainly spend some time and walk around the lake.
From there, you’re gonna hike to another lake – a secret little sister of Karersee. Almost no one knows about the Lake Mittersee, which only exists for a few weeks between May and June. It’s source is a meltwater, and the lake disappears for the summer.
Great news is that you can swim in Lake Mittersee!
Hike from Nova Levante
Another option to visit Lake Carezza on a hike is following the trail from Nova Levante town. This trail is only 3.5 kilometers long and takes around 1 hour to complete. You will follow the lovely river Rio Nova Levante at the start.
Later, the trail crosses beautiful forests before finishing at Lago di Carezza.
Day tours to Lago di Carezza
If you’re that type of person who wants to have the perfect holiday but doesn’t have time or energy for all the planning and preparation, we listed some of the best Dolomites tours below. They all start from Bolzano and visit Lago di Carezza.
- Private Dolomites roadtrip from Bolzano – A day packed with the best highlights such as Pordoi Pass, Marmolada Glacier, majestic Sassolungo, or cable car to Sasso Pordoi. But that’s not all!
- Great Dolomites Road from Bolzano – Starting with Lake of Carezza, this tour will take you through Pordoi Pass, Passo Sella, and finish in Gardena Pass and the town of Ortisei.
- The best of Dolomites in one day – This tour covers all the best spots such as Karersee, Passo Pordoi, Cortina, Dobiacco, and Lago di Braies.
Facilities at Lago di Carezza
- Parking – easy to find, well organized parking
- Snack bar – Carezza Snack is always available to provide some snacks and coffee
- Toilets – free to use, located in the tunnel
- Souvenir shop – in the parking lot, you can also buy some outdoor clothes here
Where to eat
Right at the parking spot you’ll find a small snack bar selling quick bites and coffee. But for proper lunch, head to the nearby Carezza village.
- Ristorante Laurin Carezza – tasty traditional food for reasonable prices
- The Pitt Bar – an unusual restaurant offering food grilled in the fireplace
When to visit Karersee
The best time of the year to visit Lago di Carezza is definitely late spring, and summer months. We recommend May till August. Not only is the weather more stable for a trip to the mountains, but the lake is showing its full beauty.
During the summer, Karersee is full of water, and the water levels reach shorelines.
As autumn comes, the lake dries up and loses its charm a little bit. Even the colorful rainbow is less visible. But on the other hand, it’s a great time to photograph the autumn color – hues of orange and yellow.
Winter offers a completely different sight since the lake is likely going to be frozen and covered in snow. But this area still looks like a fairytale. So if you happen to be nearby, make sure to stop by.
However, I wouldn’t travel here from the other side of the Dolomites just for the lake in the winter months.
Best time of day to visit
The lake is at its best when the sun shines on it. The light enhances all its colors, and the whole area comes to life! Because of this, it’s best to visit the lake at least 2 hours after sunrise, when the sun has already come from behind the mountains.
We slept nearby, so we made sure to come to the lake during the sunrise. Our plan was to capture the early hours and avoid the crowds. However, we were not as lucky as it was foggy and raining. Because of this, we decided to sleep for another hour or two and go see the lake later.
When we came in the late morning a lot of people were already there.
So if you want to avoid the crowds, sunrise or early morning are great times. The dawn often brings mystical fog, and the whole place has a completely different vibe. It’s also perfect for photographing the sun peaking from behind the trees.
Arriving before sunset is a great time, too! If the weather allows it, the Latemar peaks in the backdrop will be on fire! The incredible orange peaks provide the perfect photography opportunities. This time is also not as crowded.
Useful tips for visiting Lago di Carezza
- No need for hiking shoes – Since it’s just a short and easy walk, you don’t need to wear your hiking clothes or hiking shoes. Simple trainers or even summer flip-flops are just fine.
- Don’t forget to use sunscreen – You’re in the mountains, and the sun is strong.
- Night in a campervan – If you have a campervan and you’re looking for night parking, we recommend this free spot nearby.
Sustainable travel tips
When traveling to natural attractions, there are a few things you should always keep in mind. In order to preserve the nature and protect the environment, these are the tips we always follow on our travels:
- Leave no trace – This one should be obvious, yet so many people ignore it. Take all the trash with you. You can even take it one step further and leave every place you visit better than you found it. This means picking up any rubbish you happen to find on the way. We always do that on our hikes.
- Stay on marked trails – Help protect the fragile ecosystem and avoid disturbing wildlife.
- Don’t feed the animals – This disrupts their natural way of life.
- Use reusable water bottle – A great tip not only for traveling. We can’t imagine living without a reusable water bottle. Avoid buying bottled water as much as possible! You can find many fresh water streams all around the Dolomites.
Frequently Asked Questions
The whole lakeshore is surrounded by wooden fence, full of signs saying its prohibited to enter the lake. In order to protect the delicate biodiversity at Lago di Carezza, it is not only forbidden to swim in the lake, but even to get close to it.
Yes, you can use the restrooms close to the visitor’s center when passing the tunnel. Later on, you won’t find any other restrooms around the lake.
Absolutely, Lago di Carezza can be visit whole year. However, to see it when it’s the most beautiful, plan your trip between May and August. In winter, the lake might be frozen and it loses its charm.
Absolutely. However, you should always keep them on the leash.
Definitely, the whole loop around the lake takes less than 20 minutes on a wide and mostly flat trail. Because of this, it’s not only perfect for families with kids, but for strollers, too.
Final thoughts on Lago di Carezza
Visiting Lago di Carezza was certainly one of the highlights of our trip. We’ve never seen a lake with such magical colors. It’s image will stay in our memories forever, and we hope to return one day.
I believe after reading this guide you must admit that this lake is one of the most beautiful places to visit in the Dolomites and it certainly deserves a spot on any Dolomite itinerary. We hope you’ll have a great time by the lake!
