Lake Prags in the Dolomites

• Location: Situated in Prags, Hochpustertal, within the Fanes-Sennes-Prags Nature Park.
• Italian name: Lago di Braies
• German name: Pragser Wildsee
• Elevation: 1,496 meters above sea level
• Size: Covers approximately 31 hectares
• Maximum depth: Around 36 meters
• Lakeside trail: About 1–1.5 hours walking time. A well-marked circular path around the lake offers spectacular views of the emerald water and surrounding peaks.
• Activities: Perfect for hiking, boating, and as a starting point for mountain tours.
• Special feature: Served as a filming location for the Italian TV series Un passo dal cielo and attracts numerous film enthusiasts.

The emerald green Lake Prags is located in the valley of the same name, the Prags Valley in the Dolomites, which branches off to the south between Niederdorf and Welsberg. Countless hikes to mountain pastures and huts, to the striking summit of Mt. Seekofel and the Dolomites Alpine Path no. 1 start directly at the Pragser Wildsee/Lake Prags lake.

Arrival & tickets

The lake is a popular Instagram hotspot and draws many visitors. Due to high demand, summer access to Lake Prags requires online reservation for parking and traffic control. Public transport, including bus line 442 from Toblach via Schmieden/Prags, operates year-round. The lake is also accessible by bike and hiking trails in Prags.

The best accommodation in the area

Whether it is a hotel by Lake Prags, an apartment in one of the surrounding farms or a campsite in Hochpustertal – there are numerous options when choosing your accommodation. Your holiday at Lake Prags in Italy will be a unique experience.

Ever since the railway ran through the Pustertal Valley, the lake has been a popular destination for those seeking relaxation, families and nature lovers. However, few people know that Lake Prags is the protagonist of an old Dolomites legend. According to the legend, the lake was the entrance to the underground part of the "Kingdom of Fanes", which was accessible from here by boat. This gate is said to have been buried in the meantime and is located at the foot of Mt. Seekofel. In Ladin, the summit is still called "Sas dla Porta" (gate mountain).

Lake Braies in summer

In the warmer months, numerous visitors circle the lake – the lake circuit is 4 kilometres long and can be completed in around 1 hour –, enjoy the sun on the shore or in a rowing boat or hike to the surrounding peaks.

Rowing boats & boat hire

If you visit Lake Prags in summer, you should definitely take a boat trip on one of the wooden rowing boats. These wooden boats can be rented at "La Palafitta," the boathouse on the lake's edge. Access to the wooden boathouse and its dock is restricted to visitors renting a boat.

Lake Prags in winter

The mountain lake is also popular in winter. If you don't want to improve your ice skating skills on the lake, you can go on wonderful snowshoe hikes and ski tours in the surrounding area. The Prags Valley also features cross-country ski trails that connect to the Dolomiti NordicSki circuit.

Since many years, Lake Prags has also become a famous setting for film and TV productions. For instance, the Italian TV series “Un passo dal cielo” (A step from Heaven) with Terence Hill displays the lake in its most beautiful facets. Prags and the homonymous lake with its old wooden lakehouse, Innichen, Mt. Kronplatz and the unique peaks of the Dolomites in the environs were chosen to take part of the series.

As well, the lake was also the location for the German film production “Burg Schreckenstein” and the war drama “The Silent Mountain” with William Moseley.