At the heart of the southern (Dolomitic) Alps in northern Italy’s Veneto region lies a magnificent ski resort famous for its skiing trails, scenery, accommodation, shops, and après-ski scene, and its jet-set and Italian aristocratic crowd- Cortina D’Ampezzo ski resort!
Also referred to as Cortina, the resort is a commune nestled on the Boite river, in an alpine valley. This winter sports resort has a thousand-year-old history and a long tradition as a tourist destination. It is also home to a top league professional ice hockey team, SG Cortina.
The town, Cortina, is also the start and endpoint of the annual Dolomites Gold Cup Race, and there are famous films that had some scenes shot at the town, such as The Pink Panther in 1963, For Your Eyes Only in 1981, and Cliffhanger in 1993.
CLIMATE
The area in Ampezzano typically has an Alpine climate, characterized by short summers and long winters that varies between frigid, snowy, unsettled, and temperate. The region also receives some of Italy’s lowest recorded temperatures in late December and early January. The region is also generally rainy, cold, and very windy.
GETTING TO CORTINA D’AMPEZZO SKI RESORT
160km north of Venice, Cortina ski resort has the same distance south of Innsbruck, Austria. Dobbiaco-Toblach is the closest towns with rail transport links about 28km to the north &Belluno 72km south. It is approximately 2 hours by road to reach Cortina from Venice Marco Polo airport.
Flights to Cortina
Venice Marco Polo (VCE) & Innsbruck (INN) are the closest international gateway airports to Cortina d’Ampezzo. The airport at Innsbruck ski city only receives flights from European & UK origins. Besides, Milan Malpensa (MXP) (if driving!) & Munich (MUC) are some international airports that can be linked to Cortina without too much effort.
There are private and shuttle transfers from the airports and train stations. Visitors traveling on a shoestring can take public transport options; however, a bit time-consuming. Alternatively, there are car rentals you can use.
Use a preferred flight search engine and look for a great deal on a flight to Venice or other European airports!
CORTINA SKIING & SNOWBOARDING
The Cortina terrain has a healthy 120km piste trails across nearly 1600m skiable vertical. However, the resort has a massive contrast as it is broken up into three disconnected main ski areas and several minor ones.
Tofana – Pocol – Socrepes is the largest ski area that can be accessed from the town’s bottom or at the base areas near Socrepes&Pocol.
Tofana, with the best morning run, offers classic advanced runs & tree skiing, with great beginner terrain above Socrepes and intermediate trails everywhere. Away from the pistes, the rocky window of Bus Tofana offers the technical combination of off-piste skiing, couloirs & winter via Ferrata. Besides, there are numerous other steeps freeride descents.
The second ski area is at Faloria-Cristallo, which has a lesser vertical than Tofana. Its piste terrain facing north has a visually contrasting outlook with Tofana. It is accessible via the center of town.
Falzarego-Cinque Torri is the third ski spot and one of the most spectacular ski areas in the entire Dolomites. It is accessible via car or taxi to any of the four base areas (PassoFalzarego, Col Gallina, Fedare, or Bai de Dones). Visitors can also take a free bus that regularly runs from Pocol to Bai de Dones.
CORTINA SKI LIFTS
The old cable cars are being replaced with the new lifts. The awful cable car up to Col Drusciè from Cortina has been replaced by a brand-new gondola.
Several ski lifts have been removed in recent years but not replaced, just like the classic old Staunies stand-up gondola.
The journey with lifts will fill your eyes will gorgeous surroundings as you take the ride to the ski spots.
Today, the tourist resort is hopeful because of the Alpine Ski World Championships assignment of 2021 and the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympic Games.
WHERE TO STAY AT CORTINA
Hotel Villa Gaia at Guide Alpine 96, 32043 Cortina dʼAmpezzo, Italy. The hotel provides free parking and free WiFi access and serves a varied sweet and savory breakfast. The Dolomites surround it.
The room at Villa Gaia comes with wooden furniture, a flat-screen TV, and wooden floors. Some rooms overlook the mountains.
This hotel is a family-run property. It is a 5-minute drive from the nearest ski slopes and a 10-minute walk from the ski bus stop. Belluno is a 45-minute drive away.
Ambra Cortina Hotel at Via XXIX Maggio 28, Cortina d’Ampezzo, BL, 32043, Italy. The hotel offers free buffet breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking and ski storage. The good thing about staying in this hotel is because it is only a minute walk to the Dolomites, 3 minutes to Faloria Cable Car, and a 2-minute walk to Mario Rimoldi Modern Art Museum.