Cortina d'Ampezzo, otherwise known as the Queen of the Dolomites, is located in the heart of the beautiful Dolomites, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the most popular ski resorts in Italy, Cortina is also part of the Dolomiti Superski, which comprises an astonishing 1200km of ski slopes. From the mountain terraces in Cortina you can enjoy beautiful views of the impressive rock formations of the Dolomites as you sip your drink. Cortina hosted the Winter Olympics in 1956 and is slated to host several events at the 2026 Winter Olympics as well.

Put on your best coat and your fanciest snow boots if you book a ski holiday here, because Cortina is not just any ski resort! The pleasant resort centre is home to expensive and exclusive boutiques and art galleries and is a favourite with film stars and the jetset. While the accommodation offer is versatile and contains 2- and 3-star hotels and even several campsites, make sure you bring a full wallet because prices here are significantly higher than in the ski resorts in the surrounding valleys. Cortina is also well known for its extremely lively après-ski and nightlife, with nightclubs such as the Blu Room or Belvedere that stay open well into the early hours. You may have to choose between a wild night out and being the first at the ski lift in the morning on your ski holidays in Cortina! Activities for non-skiers here are endless - you can even visit Venise!

Skiing in the Dolomiti Superski

Cortina has three ski areas connected by a free ski bus. Faloria-Cristallo, Tofana and Lagazuoi-5 Torri offer a total of 120km of slopes which are 95% covered by artificial snow cannons, ensuring reliable snow cover all season long. In addition to its own ski area, Cortina belongs to the Dolomiti Superski linked ski area. With 1200km of slopes spread across 12 smaller ski areas, this has got to be one of the best deals in the world for a ski pass! There are several ski circuits that run through the Dolomiti Superski. Try the famous Sella Ronda, or retrace the steps of the First World War with the World War 1 ski tour, which runs through the various locations in the Dolomites that saw military action.

Learning to ski at Cortina d'Ampezzo

Cortina has two designated beginner's ski areas in Guargnè and Socrepes, and the ski area offers specialist lessons so children can enjoy skiing, snowboarding, telemarking and nordic skiing. Teens can practise their freestyle skills in the Cortina Snowpark in the Tofane area, and take advantage of the giant airbag at the Freestyle Station in Faloria. Cortina even offers "baby snowshoeing" so the youngest members of the family can get out and enjoy nature. When the kids have had enough of the skis, you can take the family sledging, ice skating at the Olympic skating rink, indoor climbing or just go for a romp at the playground.

Never a dull moment in Cortina

Aside from the numerous high-end shops, art galleries and museums, Cortina has a full range of non-skiing activities on offer including fat biking, nighttime sledging and and even "snowkiting". Don't miss a trip to the Ampezzo Nature Reserve "Dolomiti d’Ampezzo" where you'll be able to see endangered animals such as the ibex, the lynx and the golden jackal. There is a range of wellness offers in the town centre, plus a wood-fired outdoor hot tub and a sauna at 2800m above sea level. Cortina regularly hosts important international winter sports events, such as the FIS Alpine Ski World Championships 2021 and the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Apres-ski & entertainment Cortina d'Ampezzo
Restaurants 50	Theatre
Bars & cafes 30	Casino -
Nightclubs & discos 4	Concert hall
Cinema 1

Ski school and ski lessons Cortina d'Ampezzo
No. of ski schools 9	Private ski lessons € 55
No. of ski instructors 250	Ski lessons4 Days, 18 Hours, € 410
Area for beginners	Snowboarding lessons4 Days, 18 Hours, € 410
Ski lessons in -	Cross-country skiing4 Days, 5 Hours, € 85

Facilities Cortina d'Ampezzo
No. of hotels 57	Supermarkets 4
Total no. of hotel beds 4700	Banks
Total no. of beds 18000

Cortina d'Ampezzo for families and children
Childcare -	Magic carpet
Playground	Ski lift for children
Merry-go-round -

Leisure & sports activities Cortina d'Ampezzo
Public sauna	Footpaths 40 km
Fitness centre	Torchlight descentfakkeltocht met kerst
Public solarium	Indoor ice rink
Massage	Outdoor ice rink -
Spa & wellness	Curling
Indoor swimming pool -	Snow rafting -
Hot air ballooning -	Dog sledding -
Paragliding -	Snowmobile tours -
Indoor tennis court	Toboggan run
Squash court -

Ski blog about Cortina d'Ampezzo

Overview of new ski lifts in the Alps for ski season 2019/2020

16 October 2019 by Danielle in 'Ski areas''

Believe it or not, summer is a busy time for many ski resorts. Even when the Alps aren't covered in snow, there is plenty to do: lifts, piste bashers, and snow cannons must all be inspected and fixed where necessary, and preparations must be made for the upcoming ski season. Some ski resorts take advantage of the ski pistes being closed to instal new lifts! Here you'll find a quick overview of the major new lifts that will be inaugurated for the 2019/20 ski season.... More ›
(Photo: © TVB Paznaun Ischgl)

Everything you need to know about the Dolomiti Superski

23 July 2019 by Danielle in 'Ski areas''

Welcome to one of the largest ski conglomerates in the world! The Dolomiti Superski pass gives access to 12 ski resorts and 1200km of pistes in the beautiful Italian Dolomites. Located in South Tyrol, Trentino and Veneto, the Dolomiti Superski is home to some of the biggest names in Italy, including Cortina d'Ampezzo, Val Gardena and the Sextner Dolomiten. In this guide, we'll tell you everything you need to know about accommodation, weather reports and more ahead of your ski holidays in the Dol... More ›

Italy selected as host country for Winter Olympics 2026

27 June 2019 by Danielle in 'Latest news''

The IOC voted 47 to 34 in favour of Italy as host country of the 2026 Winter Olympics this week. The games will take place in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, which are about a 5-hour drive from each other. Located in the beautiful Dolomites, Cortina d'Ampezzo last hosted the Winter Olympics in 1956. There was only one other contender, a joint bid from Stockholm, the Swedish ski resort of Are and the Latvian city of Sigulda. Both contenders have an established infrastructure and a history of ho... More ›

Top 10 alpine ski resorts with beautiful scenery

20 June 2019 by Danielle in 'Ski areas''

The Alps are home to some of the most spectacular panoramas in the world, but a surprising number of ski resorts manage to totally trash this scenery by constructing the ugliest buildings you can imagine (we're looking at you, Flaine). If booking a ski holiday in a beautiful ski resort is important to you, then check out this list of ten charming alpine villages - with world-class skiing to boot!... More ›

Skiing warfare: The role of the Dolomites in World War I

10 November 2018 by Danielle in 'Ski areas''

Today the Dolomites are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for their rose-tinted glow in the sunset and the spectacular views of the mountain peaks. Ski areas such as Alta Badia and Cortina d'Ampezzo draw skiers and snowboarders from around the world to enjoy the luxurious pistes, friendly hospitality and delicious local cuisine. But just a century ago, the Dolomites bore witness to some of the bloodiest fighting of World War I. Austrian and Italian soldiers battled it out amongst the snow ... More ›