Renting the boathouse at Lago di Braies for photos

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Renting the boathouse at Lago di Braies for photos

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A wedding couple stands outside the boathouse at Lago di Braies on their elopement day staring off over the lake toward tall mountains

🚫 2025 SEASON UPDATE: THE BOOKING PLATFORM FOR RENTING THE BOATHOUSE AT LAGO DI BRAIES WILL OPEN 1ST OF FEBRUARY, 2025

🚫 The Lago di Braies hotel and the boathouse are two separately run businesses. One will not have information about the other.

🚫 A photographer IS NOT INCLUDED in the boathouse reservation.

🚫 A new “elopement” package is available for €380 — I do NOT recommend it. More below.

🚫 Be aware that the road to Lago di Braies is closed from 9am – 4pm in high season for those without parking reservations (details below)

✅ The boathouse is bookable from mid May to early November, with slight fluctuations every year

✅ You are able to access the parking area and lake year round, just not the boats or the boathouse.

✅ Lago di Braies is beautiful in the winter also – I am available for photography sessions year round.

✅ The below pricing structure is for the 2024 season, and will be updated for 2025 in February

The booking structure at Lago di Braies changed in 2023

Be careful of the information you read in older blogs – most content out there is now inaccurate!

At the end of 2022, the 50 year lease which permitted the boathouse to operate expired. The lease was quickly renegotiated, but with some significant changes.

As of May 2023, pricing and availability looks a lot different than in the past. Any information about renting the boathouse at Lago di Braies for photos before this year is now outdated.

What do these changes mean for your Lago di Braies photoshoot or elopement?

It means you can now exclusively rent the boats and the boathouse at Lago di Braies. The private slot is €400 and available at sunrise only. This is ideal for wedding or elopement ceremonies. There is virutally no other way to elope here without being stepped on by tourists, landscape photographers and other wedding couples. Considering this is one of the few bookable “venues” in the Dolomites for weddings, it’s also an extremely good price.

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A NOTE ON ETIQUETTE FOR VISITING LAGO DI BRAIES

Overtourism has been an issue in Italy for a long time, but reached a peak in recent years. Süd Tirol is restricting daytime traffic to certain areas by capping numbers and blocking roads during midday hours. Lago di Braies itself sees between 10k and 20k visitors A DAY from June to September. That’s a lot of people in a very small area. Locals are, understandably, fed up. Please do your part to lessen the traffic, pollution and impact on this area by taking buses, keeping your voices down and picking up your trash (this includes toilet paper and cigarette butts).

If you’re physically able, please consider biking up to the lake from the Papin bike rental shop nearby, or using the bus.

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A FRIENDLY WARNING TO WEDDING COUPLES

Well, more of an honest heads up. In 2024, I spent roughly 30 days staying at or photographing at Lago di Braies. I’ve seen it at sunrise, sunset, high water, low water, in snow, in rain, in clouds and in sunshine. Every single day I’ve been there, there have been at least one, usually 2 or more, wedding couples taking photos. That doesn’t count the photographers, “influencers” and other types who travel from every corner of the earth to take photos here. It’s always crowded. There’s always drones. There is always another couple in a white dress and suit. If you want to enjoy this location with any amount of privacy on your wedding day, the private boathouse rental at sunrise is the only option.

Then leave the lake by 09:00, because after that it’s a clown show.

Here is a breakdown of the 2024 time slots and pricing structure for renting the entire boathouse at Lago di Braies:

SUNRISE TIME SLOTS:

MAY 25 TO JUNE 15: 07.00 – 08.30 a.m.

JUNE 16 TO SEPTEMBER 8TH: 06.30 – 08.00 a.m

SEPTEMBER 9TH TO SEPTEMBER 29TH: 07.30 – 09.00 a.m.

SEPTEMBER 30TH TO NOVEMBER 3RD: 08.30 – 10.00 a.m.

Lago di Braies Private Photo Shoot Booking, before opening hours at sunrise

Cost: €200 if you are okay splitting the cost with one other group, €400 if you want it exclusively to yourself

Advanced booking: Yes

Time: 90 minutes

Number of boats: 2 boats per group, for up to 5 people in each group

If you book the €400 exclusive boat tour, you are still given 2 boats. This means your photographer/videographer can film you from an adjacent boat.

PRO TIP – THE €400 EXCLUSIVE RENTAL IS BEST FOR: wedding ceremonies, elopement vows, proposals, bespoke floral setups, first looks, vows and undisturbed reflections in the water.

Here is a breakdown of the 2024 time slots and pricing structure for renting only boats:

Lago di Braies “ELOPEMENT” package, normal hours, not private

Cost: €380

Advanced booking: yes; time slots are typically 10:30, 12:30 and 14:30

Time: 90 minutes

Number of boats: 1

What you also get: a bouquet, a bottle of champagne, one private section of the boat ramp and deck, and no wait in line

WHY I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS OPTION: they still have a lot of work to do to make this option attractive, based on my experience with it. It costs the same as the 100% private sunrise booking, but with zero exclusivity. Instagrammers, families, tourists and their dogs will be crawling all over the dock and rowing in the water. It’s chaos. In my opinion, as it currently is, it should be half the cost. The arch decorations are very cheap looking. The stunning lake and surrounding mountains are enough, and they shouldn’t charge you to cover it up with cheap fake flowers. The worst part is they are branding it as an “elopement” package, demonstrating they still really don’t know what an “elopement” is, but are keen to make money off of it. Do not book this option for a ceremony. Don’t book it at all unless it’s your only option. The only benefit is you get to skip the line and have 1.5 hours in the boat. It’s a harsh review, but you deserve to know (La Palafitta, if you read this, please consult us local elopement planners and photographers to dial this one in, WE HAVE THOUGHTS……)

Lago di Braies Private Boat Rental, normal hours

Cost: €50 per boat

Advanced booking: no. First come first serve.

Time: 45 minutes

Number of boats: 1 boat for up to 5 people

Lago di Braies Shared Boat Rental, normal hours

Cost: €15 per person

Advanced booking: no. First come first serve.

Time: 45 minutes

Number of boats: 1 boat shared among 5 people

With this option, you are essentially booking a seat on one of the boats, rather than the boat itself.

Lago di Braies e-Bike and Boat rental

Cost: €69 per person

Advanced booking: Yes, advanced bookings open 4 days before.

What’s included: an e-Bike from the Papin bike rental shop, a mean from Tuscherhof, 30 minute seat on a shared boat rental during normal opening hours

How to get to Lago di Braies with this option: 6.3km (4 miles) straight up the road to Lago di Braies. It’s a 15 minute bicycle ride with a slight bit of elevation on the way up.

Why this option: it reduces traffic to the lake, which sees up to 15k visitors a DAY in high season. It also allows you to skip the line at the boathouse with your reservation.

NOTE: DURING HIGH SEASON BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 09:00 AND 16:00, YOU’LL STILL NEED TO BOOK A TICKET TO GO UP THE ROAD ONCE YOU TURN OFF THE SS49 HIGHWAY AT THE ROUNDABOUT!!!

In high season (June through September) you must book a parking spot in advance to reach Lago di Braies by car between the hours of 9:00 am and 4:00 pm.
Hotel guests at any of the valley hotels are an exception.
See link here for details:

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https://www.prags.bz/en