Before you go

Your trip to Cortina d'Ampezzo.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

Cortina d'Ampezzo – Vêneto Destination Dolomites about 160 km from Veneza

How to get there

Aeroporto di Venezia Marco Polo (VCE) Veneza · 160 km
Calalzo-Pieve di Cadore-Cortina Calalzo di Cadore · 35 km
Autostazione di Cortina d'Ampezzo 1 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

Confirm before buying. You reach Cortina via Venice: from Marco Polo airport and Mestre station there are direct buses to Cortina in just over two hours. Cortina has no train service; the nearest station is Calalzo-Pieve di Cadore-Cortina, 35 km away, connected to the town by bus.

How many days

Allow at least two days: one for the Tre Cime di Lavaredo and another for Lagazuoi and the Cinque Torri. With three or four days you can include Lago di Sorapis and Lago di Braies and have leeway for bad-weather days.

When to go

For hiking, mid-June to mid-October; summer cable cars generally open in June and close in October. July and August are the busiest months. The ski season usually runs from December to March or April. In May and November many cable cars, mountain huts and hotels close.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

Do you need a car?

Helpful but not essential. Local buses link Cortina to Passo Falzarego, Passo Tre Croci and Misurina in season, and the town has cable cars departing from the centre. A car makes it easier to combine the Tre Cime, Lago di Braies and the mountain passes in one day. The road to the Tre Cime has a toll with reservation, and access to Lago di Braies is limited at the height of summer.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in Cortina d'Ampezzo

Morning
Lagazuoi by cable car
Head early to Passo Falzarego and take the cable car up to Lagazuoi, at about 2,750 metres. Take in the panorama from the rifugio terrace and see the World War I trenches at the top.
Afternoon
Cinque Torri
Descend to the valley and take the chairlift to the Cinque Torri. Have lunch in a rifugio and walk through the open-air World War I museum among the rock towers.
Late afternoon
Corso Italia
Return to Cortina and walk along Corso Italia, the pedestrian street in the centre. Enter the Basilica dei Santi Filippo e Giacomo and watch the mountains take on colour.
Evening
Ampezzano dinner
Dine in the centre. Look for casunziei, a beet-filled pasta typical of Cortina, served with butter and poppy seeds.

2 days in Cortina d'Ampezzo

Day 1

Morning
Road to the Tre Cime
Leave early for the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, passing the Passo Tre Croci and Misurina. Drive up the toll road to Rifugio Auronzo, with a reservation made in advance.
Afternoon
Return to the Tre Cime
Hike the circuit around the Tre Cime via Rifugio Lavaredo to Rifugio Locatelli, from where you can see the north faces. Have lunch at one of the rifugi and return to Rifugio Auronzo.
Late afternoon
Return to Cortina
Descend to Cortina via Passo Tre Croci. If time allows, stop at the shore of Lago di Misurina to see the valley in the low light.
Evening
Cortina town centre
Dine near Corso Italia. After a day of hiking, choose somewhere close to your accommodation and book in high season.

Day 2

Morning
Lagazuoi
Go to Passo Falzarego and take the cable car up to Lagazuoi. With experience and the right equipment you can descend through the First World War tunnels; otherwise, return by cable car.
Afternoon
Cinque Torri and open-air museum
Head to the Cinque Torri, take the chairlift up and have lunch in a rifugio. Walk through the restored trenches between the towers.
Late afternoon
Basilica and Corso Italia
Back in the centre, visit the Basilica dei Santi Filippo e Giacomo and stroll along Corso Italia, with its shops and cafés.
Evening
Farewell to the Dolomites
On the last night, dine in the centre. Menus blend Veneto and Tyrolean cuisine, with polenta, mountain meats and cheeses.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

How to get from Venice to Cortina d'Ampezzo?

By bus, departing from Marco Polo airport or Mestre station, in just over two hours. You can also take the train to Calalzo-Pieve di Cadore-Cortina and continue by bus for the final 35 km.

Is Cortina a good base for the Tre Cime and Lago di Braies?

Yes. The Tre Cime are about 35 km away, passing Misurina, and Lago di Braies about 50 km, via the Valle di Dobbiaco in Alto Ádige. Both can be done as day trips, preferably starting early.

Do Cortina's cable cars operate year-round?

No. They operate in summer, usually from June to October, and in winter, from December to March or April. In May and November most are closed. Check the schedule for each cable car.

Is Cortina in Alto Ádige?

No. Cortina is in Veneto, in the province of Belluno, and the signs are in Italian. Lago di Braies and the north side of the Tre Cime are in Alto Ádige, where signs also appear in German.

Is there a tourist tax in Cortina?

Yes. The fee is charged per person, per night, payable at the hotel or lodging.

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