Covering a large part of Northern Italy, the Dolomites are one of the world's most recognizable and scenic mountain ranges because of their unique geology and rock formations. The WH site covers a selection of nature reserves spread across 3 regions and 5 provinces. They are well-known as a paradise for hikers, but the WH core area can be a bit tricky to reach if, like me, you rely on public transport and are not too keen on long hikes (but appreciate the fantastic scenery). The best and quickest route to get into the WHS core area by bus seem to be the regular connections from Cortina d'Ampezzo (a nice base if you also happen to collect Olympic host cities) to the Auronzo Hut, at 2,320 metres above sea level (there are also buses from Toblach/Dobbiaco). This quite well-equipped rifugio (restaurant, terrace, bathrooms) is set at the foot of the famous Drei Zinnen (Tre Cime) formation in the Sextener Dolomiten (Dolomiti di Sesto) Nature Reserve. From there, you can reach the Lavaredo Hut on a fairly level trail in about 20 minutes. This short walk gives you great panoramic views over a large part of the Dolomites. Beyond this hut, the trail gets rather steep, and anyway, I had to return to the Auronzo Hut to catch my bus back to Cortina. If you are lucky with the weather, this is really a great way to spend a day out in the mountains.