How to get to Sauris
Sauris is located in the province of Udine, on the border with the Cadore Dolomites. We are in the heart of Carnia, the mountain region located in the north-western part of Friuli Venezia Giulia which includes a large part of the Carnic Alps.
The municipality of Sauris is divided into three hamlets: Sauris di Sopra (1,400 m above sea level), Sauris di Sotto (1,200 m) and Lateis (1,300 m), three small authentic villages that are only a few kilometers apart.
How to get to Sauris by car, motorcycle or camper van
If you are arriving from Udine, continue to Tolmezzo on the SS 52 to reach Ampezzo Carnico, the main connecting road to Sauris.
From the Veneto region, you can reach Ampezzo Carnico by way of the Mauria Pass in Cadore.
Upon arriving in Ampezzo, take the SP 73 (also known as the ” Strada del Lumiei“): 13 km of scenic hairpin turns alternating with spectacular tunnels carved into the rock; this will take you to the village of La Maina, just opposite Lake Sauris. From here, continue along the main road to reach Sauris di Sotto and Sauris di Sopra, or take the first road on the right to reach the village of Lateis.
In summer only, you can also get to Sauris from Vigo di Cadore by taking the SP 619 that runs through the Razzo plateau, and from Pesarina Valley, take the SS 465.
If you are traveling by car, motorcycle or RV, we recommend that you always consult the Veneto Strade and the Regional Decentralization Entity of Udine (EDR) websites for real-time information on road conditions, which may be subject to sudden changes.
If you are traveling by RV, you can choose to stay at the Treinke Campground, which is located in Velt, in the “Borgo dello Sport e del Benessere.”
Other RV parking areas can be found in the space adjacent to the WOLF prosciutto factory in Sauris di Sotto (only daytime parking is allowed during the campground’s open season) as well as at the parking lot adjacent to the wood workshop Laboratorio Legnostile F.lli Plozzer, in Sauris di Sopra.
How to get to Sauris by plane or by train
The closest airport to Sauris is Trieste Airport Friuli Venezia Giulia, which is located in Ronchi dei Legionari (GO). The airport is directly connected to Udine station by train line.
If you land at the Venice Marco Polo Airport (Tessera, VE) or Canova International Airport (Treviso), you can reach Mestre station by shuttle bus and from there continue by train to Udine.
The nearest train station to Sauris is Carnia (UD), which is about 45 km away, but we advise you to consider the Udine station for more available bus connections.
How to get to Sauris by bus
Several bus routes connect Sauris with Udine, Tolmezzo and Ampezzo. Check the TPL FVG website for schedules and routes.
Tickets for the TPL FVG bus service can be purchased in Sauris di Sotto (at Alimentari Schmit), Sauris di Sopra (at Pizzaria S’ EIKE) and Lateis (at Albergo Ristorante Riglarhaus). Tickets can also be purchased online, on the TPL FVG website and app (in English).
Getting around Sauris, on foot and by bicycle
Sauris di Sopra and Sauris di Sotto are about 3.5 km apart and are connected by a paved road and trails 2E (about 40 min. each way) and 1B (about 37 min. each way).
Trail 1C (about 33 min each way) connects Sauris di Sotto to the Treinke/Velt area; trails 1I and 1A, on the other hand, connect the Treinke/Velt area and Sauris di Sopra (about 52 min each way).
Sauris di Sotto and Lateis are about 6 km apart, which can be covered by taking trails 2A to the Eimblatderibn area (about 30 minutes) and 2B (about 47 minutes), or 2D (about an hour and a half), 2C (about an hour) and 2M (about an hour).
From Sauris di Sotto you can reach Sbont/La Maina via trail 2L (in about 31 minutes) or trail 2F to Eimblatderibn (an hour and a half).
You can find a map of Sauris trails in a digital version (pdf) here, or you can pick up a paper version at the Tourist Office in Sauris di Sotto.
If you want to get around by bicycle and don’t have your own, you can rent an E-bike in Sauris di Sopra!
Essential services
Grocery Stores
Alimentari Schmit, in Sauris di Sotto
Open From Monday to Saturday from 8.00 to 12.30 and from 15.30 to 19.00; Sunday from 8.00 to 12.30. On 14 and 21 July 2024 continuous hours.
Country Speck Cooperativa di Sauris di Sopra
Open Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Thursday closed.
Post office / ATM / Bank
The Post Office is located in Sauris di Sotto and is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:20 a.m. to 1:40 p.m., and Saturdays from 8:20 a.m. to 12:40 p.m. It offers ATM service, which is also available to non-account holders. Other banking services can be accessed in Ampezzo.
Pharmacy
There is a pharmaceutical dispensary in Sauris, open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm. For additional needs, you can access the Pharmacy in Ampezzo.
Auto refueling and recharging electric vehicles
If you are traveling with a thermal vehicle, we recommend refueling in Ampezzo because there are no petrol stations in Sauris.
Charging stations for electric cars can be found at Piazzale Terminal in Sauris di Sotto, near Hotel Bivera in Sauris di Sopra, and in Lateis, in the parking lot in front of Meublè Pa Krhaizar. E-bike charging stations are located near the IAT Tourist Office and the Morgenleit Hotel in Sauris di Sotto, and in Lateis in front of the Hotel Restaurant Pa’ Krhaizar.
Sauris and surrounding areas
Sauris is an excellent starting point for exploring some of the most characteristic villages of Carnia: here are the villages you can easily discover nearby, going no more than an hour’s drive away.
Forni di Sopra
Within about a 50-minute drive from Sauris, you can discover Forni di Sopra, pearl of the Dolomites: the chairlift that connects the Varmost area (open also during the summer season) allows you to take scenic hikes among Dolomite rocks, mountain huts and refuges.
Pesariis
About a 40-minute drive from Sauris, after crossing the scenic plateau of Sella di Razzo, head down to the road to Sella di San Canciano to discover Pesariis, also known as the “village of clocks,” for its distinguishable, ancient clockmaking tradition. This tradition can be admired in some extraordinary monumental clocks that adorn the streets of the village, as well as in the Clock Museum (open in summer, but can be visited on request during other months of the year).
Ampezzo
In Ampezzo (13 km from Sauris), you can visit the interesting Geological Museum of Carnia and the Davanzo Art Gallery. Also worth a visit are the two farther north villages of Oltris and Voltois, with their characteristic houses typical of Carnic architecture.
Arta Terme
In about a 50-minute drive from Sauris, Arta Terme is a popular thermal resort with a modern wellness center that makes the most of the beneficial effects of the waters from the Pudia spring, known since Roman times.
From the village of Arta, you can reach the “Cjampanii dal lander” (bell towers of the cavern) a set of rugged rocks (some as high as 10 meters) formed by erosion in the paleo-landslide of Monte di Rivo.
Also worth a visit is the parish church with its unique octagonal shape (in the village of Piano d’Arta), the 13th-century small church of San Nicolò degli Alzeri and the church of Santo Spirito in Chiusini, with 15th-century frescoes.
Learn about the Alpi e Dolomiti Friulane project, with all the experiences to be had in upper Carnia, between the Alps and Dolomites of Friuli Venezia Giulia.
Useful numbers
Carabinieri Ampezzo: Tel. +39 0433 80968
Mountain Rescue Corps: Tel. +39 334 7488370 Ref. Francesco Pacilè
Emergency Medical Service of Ampezzo: Tel. +39 0433 811083
Town Hall: Tel. +39 0433 86245
Auto Repair Shop and SILS Snow Removal: Tel. +39 0433 86028
Riminella hair salon: Tel. +39 328 9776368
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