The Queen of the Dolomites is waiting for you! At 1226m, the Italian ski resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo is one of the most popular mountain destinations in the world, thanks to the gorgeous panorama offered by the Dolomites mountain range. My complete guide to Cortina shows you the best things to do, from a local’s point of view.
Located a couple of hours by car north of Venice, Cortina is a wonderful place to spend your winter or summer holidays. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, whether you like skiing or hiking, eating or relaxing, you will enjoy special and memorable experiences in Cortina.
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As a local and outsider
“Where are you from?” “I’m from Cortina” “Uuuh fancy! And can you ski?”
Almost every single kid I met at summer camps or at the beach, in my grandmother’s village, even at university, would react like this. I swear! It was so annoying! I didn’t like the popularity of Cortina, the stereotypical association with spoilt VIPs and wealth and skiing: to me, Cortina was just the place where I grew up, a community too small for my international dreams.
Only after moving to larger cities for my studies, and eventually, to Budapest, I learned to appreciate Cortina and its precious treasures: the stunning beauty of the Dolomites, the forest reaching up to the limestone mountains; the views from the ski slopes and the trails; the authentic city centre, its restaurants managed by local families for decades; the strong and supportive community, where everyone knows each other, in the good and the bad.
In this guide, I want to put together my expertise as local and outsider at the same time, by joining my knowledge and memories as a local kid, and my curiosity as a grown-up who comes to visit from the big city.
What to see and do in Cortina d’Ampezzo
There is always something to do in Cortina, from sports to culture to eating, in any season of the year. Even being a couch potato is more enjoyable in Cortina!
First of all, a few words on seasons and occupancy.
High season in Cortina means winter (December-March) and summer (July and August): in these periods, hotels and apartments fill up until the population increases from approximately 4000 inhabitants to 30-40000 people.
The busiest periods are:
- Around December 8th, a religious holiday in Italy
- After Christmas until January 6th, the usual school and company holiday
- Carnival Week in February
- Weekends until Easter (March or April)
- All July and August
- The week around August 15th, when a lot of Italian companies close for a few days and the whole country goes on holiday
In high season there are lots of events, exhibitions and concerts, bars and restaurants are crowded, the streets are bustling and full of life. Unfortunately, this also means that car parks are overwhelmed and there are queues on hiking trails and ski slopes.
During low season, especially in October-November and April-May, many hotels, restaurants and infrastructures are closed. This can limit some activities, but it also allows to ski or hike in peace.
As you can see, the outdoors are the main attraction of Cortina, but don’t let this scare you: it doesn’t mean tired feet and sunburnt skin every day! Even just reading a book or playing cards on the grass, breathing fresh air with mountains on the horizon, is a refreshing experience. I strongly recommend napping in the sun!
When you arrive in Cortina, I strongly suggest you stop relying on the internet and head to the info point on Corso Italia – Piazza Roma, where the local experts will provide you with maps and updated information (map here, Cortina official website here).
What to do in Cortina in the summer
From super easy walks, to challenging hikes, to exciting via ferrata: in Cortina there are some of the most beautiful day hikes in the Dolomites. Furthermore, you can spend a night in one of the many mountain huts, a wonderful and unique experience! The most beautiful and famous ones are Rifugio Lagazuoi, Rifugio Scoiattoli and Rifugio Faloria.
One of the most beautiful trails in the Dolomites is the hike to Sorapis Lake: nestled behind mount Sorapis, its light blue waters have a somewhat alien feeling to them. What a satisfaction, after a long hike!
Other stunning hikes are the Lagazuoi tunnels, the Croda da Lago ring, and the Tofana trails.
Do you know what a via ferrata is? It’s a narrow trail with a metal cable drilled into the side of the mountain: you need to wear at least a helmet, a harness around your hips, and connect to the cable with a carabiner. Some via ferrata are relatively easy and you can do them by yourself, like the hike to Fanes Waterfalls; others are harder, so you should hire a guide.
Check out the Cortina Alpine Guides website to learn more. Always stay safe and don’t overestimate your capabilities!
Hiking for couch potatoes
Now, here is the whole truth: I’m still a beginner hiker!
Even though I joined group summer hikes as a child, I never enjoyed it much. I was much happier playing in my courtyard.
Instead, as an adult who moves out to the city, I enjoy going on easy walks and hikes. I want to relax in nature, marvel at the mountains, feel alive and active, without sweating or waking up with sore legs.
Do you relate? Then make sure you check out our series “hiking for couch potatoes”! If I made it, you can do it too!
First of all, check out my hiking tips for couch potatoes, and then:
- Easy walk on the Old Railway
- Easy hike to Lake Pianozes
- Pian de ra Spines easy hike
- Short version of Croda da Lago hike
- Drive and walk to Lago di Valparola
- Hike to Fanes Waterfalls: panoramic, hard and alternative version
- Full-day hike to Alpe di Sennes circuit, a very panoramic intermediate hike
- Not a hike: the gorgeous bike ride from Cortina to Dobbiaco
- Also not a hike: the other half, the bike ride from Cortina to Calalzo
- Day trip from Cortina: the beautiful walk around Lake Alleghe
To sum it up, you don’t need to be an athlete to enjoy your stay in Cortina. One of the best things to do is to simply walk around, stop in the middle of a grass field and lay down. Stare at the sky, listen to the wind, let your mind wander free. Don’t even think about taking a picture for Instagram: just be with yourself for a while.
Beautiful lakes in Cortina d’Ampezzo
There are lots of gorgeous lakes in Cortina! It’s possible to walk there or drive, and usually there is a restaurant or café to enjoy a snack.
Lake Pianozes is perfect with children and is very easy to reach on foot.
Lago d’Ajal is near Lake Pianozes, also easy and satisfying to reach.
Lake Ghedina is also magical, hidden in the forest. We haven’t gone there on foot but it’s on our plans.
Lago di Valparola is near Lagazuoi pass, under Lagazuoi mountain. It’s a small, picturesque lake with beautiful views.
Lago da Lago or Lago Federa is located underneath the Croda da Lago mountain. The reflection of the nearby peaks are straight out of a fairy tale.
Other things to do in Cortina in the summer
For those who want to relax, check out the cultural section below!
If you’re looking for an active holiday in the Dolomites, consider renting a bike and cycling along the Old Railway: from Cortina to Dobbiaco (to the North) or from Cortina to Calalzo (to the South), either way it’s a beautiful cycle path through valleys, villages and forests.
Of course, there are plenty of places to practice climbing! After warming up at the 360 climbing gym, a very popular place for climbing is the 5 Torri – 5 Towers.
Escape the heat at the ice stadium! When the hiking trails are busy, the ice rink is the place to be. Find more details in the winter section below.
What to do in Cortina in the winter
The Queen of the Dolomites is famous for winter sports: skiing, ice-skating, cross-country skiing, and much more! After all, the 1956 Winter Olympics took place here, in the iconic Ice Stadium, Bobsleigh Track and Ski Trampoline – which are still standing and in use! (Except for the Trampoline, that one is not safe).
Cortina and Milan were chosen for the 2026 Winter Olympics, together with other towns in the surrounding area. I can’t wait!
Skiing and snowboarding in Cortina d’Ampezzo
There are 120 km of slopes in Cortina d’Ampezzo! The 86 ski pistes welcome beginners, intermediate and expert skiers. You can learn, practice and have a lot of fun.
Cortina is part of the Dolomiti Superski Network. Find here prices, low/high season periods, and instructions to buy online (and skip the queue).
The slopes are located on three separate areas: Faloria-Cristallo; Tofana; and Lagazuoi-5 torri.
Faloria Mountain can be reached with the Faloria Cablecar from the city centre (parking at the bus station can be an issue, but you can walk there or take a bus).
- There are easier and harder slopes, so it’s perfect for all skiers and snowboarders.
- Some slopes end up at Rio Gere: across the parking and the road, there are the Cristallo slopes. The difficulty is a bit higher.
- You can rent your skis right at the cablecar station.
On the Tofane mountains there are many slopes in different areas.
- The easiest access is from the Freccia nel Cielo cablecar, where the parking lot is larger and traffic is less annoying. You can get there with seasonal bus n.8. There are three rifugios on the way to the top: Col Druscié (at 1778 meters), then Ra Valles (at 2470 meters), and finally Cima della Tofana di Mezzo (at 3244 meters, the highest peak of Cortina). From Col Druscié the slopes are easier, while from Ra Valles they are a bit harder.
- Another popular starting point is Socrepes, where the slopes are very easy (teachers usually wait for customers there), but the parking lot is hard to navigate on an incline, and bus n.3 leaves you a few hundred meters away (there is a moving walkway to get to the slope).
- Beginner skiers should start at Socrepes, a very easy slope on Tofana, and then maybe proceed up the mountain to more exciting slopes. (You can also start at Col Druscié and make your way to the Socrepes area).
- Expert skiers must not miss the thrill of Schuss, a very steep slope that feels like a roller coaster: when it’s empty and safe, rocketing down in tuck position is a memorable thrill! Just thinking about it makes me smile and shiver!
The slopes of Lagazuoi and 5 Torri require a longer drive, so I’ve never been a fan and I don’t remember them well. However, the Lagazuoi slopes to Capanna Alpina are very long and enjoyable, almost from the top of the mountain to the bottom, with sceneries worthy of the Lord of the Rings. When you reach the end, there are horse carriages to bring you back to the shuttle bus!
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is perfect if you are looking to appreciate the peaceful forests, instead of the exciting steep slopes.
The cross-country skiing tracks are located in the area of Fiames. You can rent the equipment and hire a teacher there, at the Sci Fondo School (choose English in the top right corner).
Ice skating
Ice-skating is one of the most underestimated activities in Cortina.
The Ice Stadium is one of the infrastructures built for the 1956 Winter Olympics. It was renovated some 20 years ago with the addition of a roof, so now the ice rink is covered in case of bad weather.
During the winter and the summer, the Ice Stadium is open to the public for a few hours in the morning and in the afternoon (they close for lunchtime): rent some skates or bring your own, and have some fun! If you wish to learn or improve your technique, book a teacher for a short 20-minutes class. You’ll notice the difference immediately! Find more info here.
The Ice Stadium is also the venue of hockey matches and figure skating shows: keep an eye on the calendar!
Other things to do in Cortina in the winter
Recently, alternative winter sports became popular, such as telemark, alpine skiing, snowshoeing, and curling. Find here my very detailed post about the best things to do in Cortina in the winter.
Shopping in Cortina
In Cortina you will find precious local crafts as well as unique luxury items.
Head to the pedestrian street Corso Italia and the surrounding area. Find haute-couture brands in the boutiques of Franz Kraler and try the Guerresco shops for quality shoes. Traditional jewels in “filigrana” silver are sold at Artigianato Ampezzano – the brooches and earrings are something truly special. If you are looking for handmade blankets, pillows, clothes and more, have a look at Sottosopra and Test Cortina.
A must-visit shopping landmark is the department store Cooperativa, located opposite the town hall. Established in 1893, the Cooperativa is the place that sells everything, from books to souvenirs, from clothes to toys, from shoes and suitcases to food and wine. It’s like a small local Harrods 🙂
Culture, museums and festivals in Cortina
Even though it’s famous as a posh ski resort, there is a lot of history, art and science to discover in Cortina.
Among the local museums, there is the Modern Art Museum Mario Rimoldi which showcases interesting paintings and sculptures; the Ethnographic Museum, with wonderful local crafts, old pictures and stories about the “Regole” institution; the Paleontological Museum Rinaldo Zardini, where you will learn that the Ampezzo Valley used to be a tropical sea.
Plenty of festivals and events take place in Cortina, such as the literature and current events festival “Una Montagna di Libri”, where also foreign writers are invited, and the exciting week of local fanfares “Festa de ra bandes“. Many hotels also invite writers and musicians, so make sure you keep an eye on advertising posters and ask for a calendar at the information point.
Where is Cortina
Cortina d’Ampezzo is located in Northern Italy, in the region of Veneto, approximately 150 km North of Venice and 50 km South of the Austrian border.
Cortina is the only town in the Ampezzo valley. The valley of Cadore, on the way south towards Italy, is populated by a row of picturesque villages; north of Cortina, instead, there are 30 km until the town of Dobbiaco, in Trentino-Alto Adige region.
How to get to Cortina
DISCLAIMER: AS ONE OF THE MAIN HOSTS OF THE 2026 WINTER OLYMPIC GAMES, CORTINA IS UNDERGOING BIG WORKS AND CONSTRUCTION. AS OF SUMMER 2024, MANY HOTELS ARE BEING RENOVATED, THE BOB TRACK IS BEING REBUILT, THE BUS STATION IS BASICALLY CLOSED, AND ROADS AND PARKING LOTS ARE BEING FIXED. THIS WILL CAUSE TRAFFIC JAMS AND GENERAL DISRUPTION. KEEP IT IN MIND DURING YOUR TRAVELS IN 2024 AND 2025, AND KEEP UPDATING YOUR TRAVEL INFO.
The closest airports to go to Cortina are Venice, Treviso and Verona. Also Milan Bergamo and Bologna are quite convenient, and even Milan Malpensa can be considered.
Going to Cortina by car will grant you a lot of freedom; however, make sure that your accommodation has a parking place.
You can easily reach Cortina by car by taking highway A27 from Venice, and then driving along Strada Statale 51 all the way to Cortina. In normal traffic conditions, it takes approximately 2,5 hours from Venice airport to Cortina.
However, you should take into consideration traffic: roads are very busy on Friday evening and Saturday morning towards Cortina, and on Sunday afternoons towards Venice. Instead of driving one hour from Cortina to the highway, it can take from two to six hours – the worst days are January 6 and the Sundays of August!
Furthermore, it’s really hard and stressful to find a place to park in the city centre or at the ski lifts. It’s faster to walk or to use public transport: check the updated timetables on Dolomitibus. (it’s still not-so-efficient Italy, so approach public transport with patience and zen.)
Finally, there are many ways to go to Cortina by bus or train: check Trenitalia (usually there are buses from Venice Mestre station), ATVO Veneto buses, Cortina Express and FlixBus. Schedules and available lines change almost every year.
Here is my complete post about how to get to Cortina with much more information and details.
Where to stay in Cortina
My advice about where to stay in Cortina is to choose the location wisely. I think that the best areas are near the cable cars, near the Old Railway, and near Piazza Roma or the Bus Station. This way you can move around easily by public transport and on foot, avoid getting stuck in traffic.
Hotel Barisetti is located near Freccia del Cielo cablecar (to Tofana slopes), the ice-skating rink, the climbing walls, and it’s just a few minutes away on foot from the center. Book it here!
Hotel Trieste is a beautiful property, family-run for 3 generations. It’s just a few minutes away from the cablecar to Tofane slopes, from the cablecar to Faloria slopes, and to the city center – by bus, or on foot on the Old Railway. Click here to book!
Even closer to the Faloria slopes, to the bus station, and to the city center is Hotel Ciasa Lorenzi, recently renovated, rustic and welcoming. Book it here!
My choice for the city center would be Hotel Montana, a nice small property on the main walking street “Corso Italia” right under the famous bell tower! It’s easy to walk to the Faloria cablecar, or to Piazza Roma/bus station to get a bus. Book here.
Finally, if you really really want to ski as much as you can, stay at Hotel Villa Argentina! From the front door, you’re already on the slopes of Tofana. It’s perfect to enjoy as much time skiing as possible. They have a convenient shuttle service to the city center. Click here to book!
Conclusion
I may be partial to Cortina because it’s my hometown, but it is clear that Cortina is one of the best resorts of the Dolomites and of the Italian Alps.
Have you ever visited Cortina? Are you planning to travel to Cortina? Let us know in the comments!
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hi! we are planning to go to cortina for a few days in early October and want to be sure places will be open. It does seem like the cable car at Tofana does not go to the top level in October but want to be sure that other levels and local restaurants etc will be available. thank you so much
Hello! The official page of the Freccia Nel Cielo cable car at Tofana says they will be open until September 29, 2024: https://www.freccianelcielo.com/en/what-to-do-in-summer/open-lifts/ . I suggest checking directly with them if this is correct and if they might extend the opening period, in case of good weather for example. As far as local restaurants in Cortina, some places will definitely be open, but I suggest checking their FB pages or making a phone call to be sure. Anyway, expect some confusion due to the 2026 Olympics preparations.
Hello,
Thanks a lot for a wonderful informative post…
We are travelling may end 28-29 may 2 nights stay n cortina…We had planned for tri cime hike …but unfortunately we are not sure if the toll road is open…
We are looking for plan B, easy hike just in case….
Thanks a lot
Hello! All the hikes I mention here are pretty easy: hiking for couch potatoes 🙂 in particular the walk to Lake Pianozes is nice and easy, the Old Railway is always beautiful, and you could consider biking to Calalzo or Dobbiaco. I hope you enjoy your days in Cortina!
Hi! Thank you for the awesome guide to Cortina! I am currently planning a trip for my family who is visiting next month (the last week of April to be exact). I am aware that this is the off-season (and all cable cars are closed except for Faloria), but is there anything else I should be aware of when visiting in April? They will have a rental car to make transportation a bit easier. Thank you!
Hi Andrew! Thanks for choosing Cortina for your trip! Well, in April even many restaurants could be closed, and supermarkets might close for lunch break, so keep in mind that you might have to try a few spots before you find one open. Consider also cafés and pubs like Hacker in the city center. Have fun in this quiet time of the year!
Hi,
Great blog, thankyou for the information! I am doing a long weekend in Venice right at the beginning of March 2024. I am doing a (very long) 1 day trip to the dolomites and visiting multiple stops along the way in a hire car. One being Cortina to visit the town and go up the Faloria cable car to see the views. Any advice on what to do for a couple of hours or where to eat would be most appreciated. I was hoping to use the parking for the cable cars, is this unreasonable to do?
Hi Rebecca, near the Faloria cable car there are two parking lots on the sides of the bus station, as well as small parking lot in Piazzale delle Poste. Your chances of finding a spot are decent, especially if you’re going there on a weekday. I cross my fingers for you! If you have just a couple of hours, consider eating at the Rifugio Faloria – I remember delicious cakes. Otherwise, in the center I recommend the pastries of Café Lovat, the Aperol Spritz at Bar Sport, the beer and sandwiches at Hacker, pizza at Cinque Torri, and traditional mountain meals at Pontejel. Enjoy your trip!
Hi Giulia, we’re thinking to rent a chalet this summer, but we’d prefer to be in a quieter part of Cortina, not right in the center. ideally with some stunning views and direct hiking access from the chalet. can you recommend some quieter areas / hamlets / suburbs which would be suitable? thanks!
Hi Phil! For great views, look to the East and West of the valley. On the Western side, from the area of Cadin you can walk to Lago Ghedina, and the area of Socrepes is close to the amazing Tofane mountains. On the Eastern side, there are beautiful meadows between Alverá and Mietres/Chiamulera. However, real “hikes” start from outside the inhabited areas. Consider spending a night in a Rifugio, like Rifugio Faloria, or Rifugio Scoiattoli, or Rifugio Lagazuoi – that’s a really special way to experience hiking and the mountains. Enjoy your stay!
Great Post! We will be coming to Cortina from Venice on September 22 staying through September 24. The drive I saw recommended from Venice is the called the Great Dolomite Road from Bolzano and Cortina d’Ampezzo. Our plan is to spend one day doing Tre Cime d Laverado Trail and on our way to Lake Garda the next day go to Lago de Braies. Does this seem possible? Suggestions also for a deluxe/luxury resort would also be greatly appreciated. Thought Cortina would be a good middle location.
Hi Denise! Sorry, I missed your comment. That sounds like a great plan, but I’ve never been to either Tre Cime nor Lago di Braies, so I don’t have practical information. They are popular places, but hopefully in September they won’t be too crowded. As far as deluxe/luxury, I recommend Hotel Rosa Petra or Hotel Cristallo in Cortina. Enjoy your trip!
hello! we are planning to be in cortina for a few days between end april to early may, i’ve read that the weather in the dolomites can be quite bad (rainy, foggy, generally cold) and was wondering if this would be a real problem in cortina? we would love to do some easy hiking, we’re quite beginners also haha. thank you 🙂
Hi Maria! Well, yes, unfortunately the weather can be quite unpredictable also in Cortina. However, many days start with bright mornings and then turn cloudy in the afternoon. So, definitely take advantage of the mornings, and avoid planning long hikes if the forecast shows rain. As mentioned, check out the ARPAV Dolomites forecast, that’s the most reliable one. Enjoy your stay!
Ciao! Is the Campanille open to the public to climb? Are there other spots in town to get a great view of town and the mountains? Also I’ll be in Cortina the last week of April midweek. Any suggestions on what to do? Thanks!
Hi Jeff! No, you cannot climb the Campanile. You can get a great view from the top of Faloria mountain and from all three stations of Tofana cable car (if the cable cars are still running), or from the Belvedere Cortina (easy spot on Google Maps). I recommend also the easy hike to Lake Pianozes. The hike to Fanes waterfalls might be great also, with lots of water melting from the mountains, but check first at the info point in the city center if the trail is accessible. Enjoy!
Hi! Wow! I’m so happy I’ve come across your site! so much useful info….I went to Oritisei in June of this year and will return some day, but next year, I’m planning on a 3 week stay in Venice (I loved Venice and want to explore it more as well as surrounding towns!)…including Cortina! I’m planning to go there for 3 nights which is the amount of time I spent in Ortisei, during which I was able to go on 2 long hike/walks in the mountains with a guide (it was free through the place I was staying at!, just had to pay for the cable car and our food)…I plan to take the bus from Venice and stay right in Cortina at Hotel de la Poste….I’d love to do a long hike (nothing very uphill, but long and some uphill is fine, just want to see some amazing scenery!)…and/or a bike ride….is this possible to do right from town without a car and what would you recommend….I’m in reasonably good shape! thank you, Sandy
Hi Sandy! Thank you for your great comment. Your experience in Ortisei was excellent, and I hope you’ll enjoy Cortina as well! So, for you I’d recommend the Hike to Rifugio Sennes, which has some uphill and downhill, and the scenery is great. The hike to Fanes waterfalls is wonderful as well, but the scenery is more focused on the waterfalls. If you wish to take a bike, check out the Old Railway, north towards Dobbiaco or south towards Calalzo. You can do all these hikes with public transport from the city center. I wish you a great time in Cortina!
Hello, thank you so much for your informative post! I am planning to travel from Salzburg to Cortina by train or bus – do you have a suggested preference? Also, more importantly, I am an avid hiker but I am worried about access to the trails if I do not have a car in Cortina. Are there bus routes that can easy get me to trailheads in Cortina, or will I be unable to explore the outdoors without a car there?
Hi Christina, I’m glad this was helpful! Now, your questions: I don’t have any suggestions about travelling from Salzburg, except that you should aim at arriving by train or bus at Toblach or Innichen stations, north of Cortina. More details here. Then, you will definitely be able to access trails without a car. You can hike to Sennes and to the Fanes waterfalls with public transport. You can take the gondola to Faloria Refuge and hike down, or the bus until Lagazuoi and hike in the WWI tunnels… there are plenty of options – in high season, meaning July-August, while in the rest of the year there may be fewer possibilities. Keep an eye here as I’ll try to write a few more posts in the near future 🙂
Wonderful post, very informative! My husband and I are planning to drive to Cortina from Venice on Monday, August the 8th, and we are hoping for lighter traffic than on the weekend. I appreciate your detailed descriptions of the different hikes, it is helping us plan our stay. Thank you!
Hi Rossella, I am glad you found the post useful! I wish you a great stay in August 🙂
Thank you for your informative, beginner-friendly blog.
We want to visit the Dolomites in August. We work online so we’ll be busy during the week and go for hikes over the weekend. We’ve found an affordable flat in Ponte nelle Alpi and we were thinking of driving to different spots every weekend to explore. However, I’m worried if we’d be able to find parking free spots at the start of the trails. Could you share about that?
Hi Eva, Thank you for reading my post! Good thinking, it might be tricky to find parking spots at the start of the trails. I suggest leaving from Ponte nelle Alpi very early to beat the traffic and getting to the parking lots first (especially because all the day-trippers from Padova and Treviso will be driving on your road on weekends); checking the satellite view on Google Maps to see if there is a parking lot at all (some lesser-known trails may not even have a parking lot); and finally, consider looking up some last-minute accommodation in the town where you will be hiking in for Friday night (otherwise it’s more of a torture than a holiday). Most of all, you’ll need patience for unexpected events (traffic, weather) and plan Bs (e.g. two trails in the same areas in case one is crowded). I wish you a great time in the Dolomites! 🙂
Hi Giulia, we are a group of 10 or 12. We are planning to visit cortina on March 2023 for skiing and rent a airbnb house for everyone stay together. I have never been in this city. My question for you is: which is the main lift (or lifts) so we can find a house close by in a walk distance? I am asking that because, as u mentioned before, parking is difficult and it is more convenient not taking a car to go to the slopes every day, right?
Hi Bruno, yes absolutely, parking at the slopes can be a nightmare! The main lifts are the Faloria cablecar (reach on foot/bus stop at bus station), the Freccia nel Cielo cablecar (reach on foot/bus stop Freccia nel Cielo), and the Socrepes chairlift (bus stop Socrepes with line 3). In general, the area close to the bus station is very convenient for accommodation, for public transport and for strolling the city center. As you search for an Airbnb, keep an eye on Google Maps terrain view and on Google Street view: a house/hotel might look very close by, but the street might be very steep!
Hi, I will be in Cortina for Two days April 16th and 17th – my husband is a snowboarder so he will be doing that for two days, so I am trying to find something for me to do while he snowboards.
I would like to stick to walking distance things around the city so i don’t have to drive by myself. Can you recommend somethings?
Hi Arpita, everything is quite close by and easy to reach in Cortina. After you stroll the Corso Italia main street, I suggest the walk from the city center to Lake Pianozes, you could stop half-way to enjoy the view from the center of the valley and then go back to the center. Otherwise, also the Old Railway is a great place to walk and admire the mountains. If your husband goes snowboarding on Faloria mountain, I recommend you go up there with him: the Faloria refuge is great to chill and sunbathe, and it is one of the best viewpoints ever!
Hi i am visitng cortina on17-18/4, i know the season ends on 18/4, if i would like to skii aroun at and how will the snow situation be? Thank you very much, i cannot really find a website to ask about…
Hi Martin, have a look here: https://www.dolomitisuperski.com/en/Open-lifts it looks like Faloria slopes are still open! Here you can see the live webcam fee from the slopes: https://faloriacristallo.it/ I hope it’s useful 🙂
Great post. We were considering a visit in mid-April. We were hoping to do some light hiking and to look at the beautiful views, but it seems that many of the hikes are not usually open that early. We are a family with 2 children (16 and 9). Do you think there will be some things to do with the kids and that we will find things to do for 3 nights?
Thank you in advance.
Hi Don! I’m sorry for answering so late! Well, the hikes being open in mid-April definitely depends on the weather and on the snow situation. The hikes up the mountains might be closed, but the easy ones like the Center-Lake Pianozes hike are always accessible. The Fanes Waterfall hike, if open, would have spectacular waterfalls! Something else you could do, besides hiking, is taking the cablecar to the top of Tofana mountain or Faloria mountain, to enjoy the spectacular views. Let me know if you decided to go, and what you plan to do 🙂
Hello, we will be visiting Cortina in late March 2022. We have been there before and love it but our concern is which day to visit as we are coming from Maniago for a day trip. Are there any particular days that shops and restaurants will be closed?
Great article!!
Hi Al, thank you! Glad you enjoyed it. In March, most shops and restaurants should be open every day – definitely during weekends. In the worst-case scenario, the usual closing day of shops is Monday, plus consider they may close for lunch from 12.30 to 15.30. I wish you a wonderful day in Cortina 🙂