How To Plan the Perfect Trip to Cortina d’Ampezzo

70 years ago, the Winter Olympics put this once-sleepy mountain town on the international ski-set map, where it’s remained ever since. And now, Cortina d’Ampezzo is ready for its encore, as co-host city, along with Milan, of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. 

Whether you’re headed to Cortina for the games—more on that below—or just for a mountain vacation, you’ll find few more enticing spots in the Italian Dolomites. Cortina’s dramatic position amid the mountain ranges, its close proximity to the slopes, a chic culinary scene, and an exclusive vibe are just some of the resort’s many advantages. Long before it was tapped for the 2026 Winter Games, it’s been a fan favorite with Travel + Leisure editors and writers, scoring a place on our lists of the best ski resorts in Europe and the best small towns in Italy. 

Known as the “Queen of the Dolomites” (or alternatively, the “Pearl of the Dolomites”), Cortina d’Ampezzo today is a posh resort on the Dolomiti Superski circuit, one of the world’s largest ski areas. It attracts adrenaline-seekers year-round for mountain biking, hiking, and climbing, and those looking for calmer pursuits, such as Michelin-recognized dining, high-end shopping, and a glamorous après-ski scene. And whether they’re there for the thrills or the chilled Prosecco, Cortina provides visitors with plenty of cushy places to rest their heads, including some of the Dolomites’ most revered hotels.

How to Experience the Olympics in Cortina

The Winter Games begin on Feb. 6, 2026, with an opening ceremony in Milan, and end on Feb. 22 with a closing ceremony in Verona. Cortina d’Ampezzo is the site for the Olympic events of curling, several Alpine skiing events, and the “sliding sports” of luge, skeleton, and bobsleigh. If you’re coming to Cortina as an Olympics spectator and haven’t made your plans yet, it’s time to get a move on. Register on the official Milan Cortina 2026 website and select “Cortina” from the city menu to see which events still have ticket availability. Note that many lower-priced tickets for popular events are already sold out, but many “hospitality offers” remain—these are VIP experiences that include event tickets, premium seats, meals, and other perks. In March, Cortina d’Ampezzo will host a handful of Paralympic events, including wheelchair curling, para-alpine skiing, and para-snowboarding.  

Even if you can’t get tickets to your preferred events, downtown Cortina will be abuzz with activities and special events related to the games. Corso Italia, the town’s main shopping street, and Piazza Angelo Dibona, its largest square, will be centers of action during Olympic weeks. Many athletes will make special appearances, and you might spy others simply enjoying some off-piste downtime. 

As you’d expect, accommodations in Cortina are at a premium during Olympic weeks, but there is still availability, both at hotels and home rentals, depending on how much you’re prepared to pay. Much of Cortina’s city center is pedestrian-only, and still more areas will be closed to vehicle traffic during the Olympics. Public transportation options allow for free or low-cost movement between the downtown and nearby Olympic venues. So, unless you’re planning to do a lot of sightseeing outside of Cortina, you could skip the rental car during the games. 

Best Hotels & Resorts

Grand Hotel Savoia Cortina d’Ampezzo, a Radisson Collection Hotel

This updated landmark property is right near the center of town, and it has a spa, family-friendly suites, and an A-lister guestbook. The largest resort in the Ampezzo Valley, the Savoia also offers the Radisson Residences Savoia Palace, an apartment hotel suited to longer stays.

Faloria Mountain Spa Resort

This woodsy, contemporary resort is a favorite Cortina sojourn for T+L A-List travel advisors Andrea Grisdale and Stefano Sancassani of IC Bellagio, especially when they’re booking for couples. “When it comes to romance,” says Grisdale, “there is no better place than their penthouse suite.”

Rosapetra Spa Resort

Hugged by mountains and meadows and a short distance from Cortina’s busy centro, Rosapetra has just 33 rooms and seven suites, all done in natural blond wood for a rustic-minimalist effect. While the resort welcomes families, it has a very adult feel, best experienced in its hushed spa.

Cristallo Resort & Spa

Though it won’t reopen in time for the Olympics, all eyes are on Art Nouveau grand dame Cristallo Resort & Spa, which is undergoing a rebrand as a Mandarin Oriental. The luxury group’s first alpine resort will surely add to Cortina’s already-posh cachet. 

Best Things to Do

Swoosh around Dolomiti SuperSki. 

With more than 700 miles of slopes and 120 modern lifts and cable cars that connect pass holders to the entire network, Dolomiti SuperSki ensures that downhill skiers won’t ever get bored. In the summertime, those same hills are alive with glorious hiking and biking among high mountain meadows and pristine lakes.

Hike Tre Cime di Lavaredo. 

The Dolomites’ toothiest peaks look foreboding, but they’re actually remarkably accessible, even for the moderately fit, via a 6.4-mile loop trail that skirts the base of the cime, or peaks. The incredibly scenic hike takes about 3.5 hours, more if you stop for lunch at a cozy rifugio. 

Climb a via ferrata.

During the warmer months, IC Bellagio recommends hiring a guide and tackling a via ferrata climbing route at the Cascades of Fanes, a crashing waterfall in the Ampezzo Dolomites National Park. “It’s a very pleasant excursion in an impressive landscape, combining views with an easy itinerary suitable also for beginners on the rocks,” says Sancassani.

Take in the views.

You don’t have to ski or hike to access Cortina’s epic landscapes. From town, take the Freccia nel Cielo cable cars up to the Cima Tofana, the third-highest peak in the Dolomites, for mozzafiato (breathtaking) views at 10,640 feet. Enjoy a pizza at nearly two miles high, then whisk your way back down to Cortina.

Best Restaurants

1224 Restaurant

Helmed by Chef Federico Rovacchi, who spent six years at three-Michelin-starred St. Hubertus restaurant in San Cassiano, 1224 Restaurant recently opened as the Grand Hotel Savoia’s fine dining restaurant. Go for the four- or six-course tasting menu and say you were there before the accolades started piling up. 

Tivoli

The country-comfortable surroundings at Tivoli, paired with exquisitely labored-over platings of joyously colorful cuisine, helped to put Cortina on the foodie map. Reserve early to snag a table with a view or, weather permitting, out on the patio, with all the views. 

Pontejel Bierstube

The decor is bright and simple, and the hearty Tyrolean menu is a reminder of how close you are to the Austrian border. This cheerful tavern is right in the center of Cortina, and it’s an easy pitstop for a cold beer, a soft pretzel, and a platter of regional charcuterie. 

Best Shopping

Artigianato Artistico Ampezzano

Cortina is home to centuries-old crafts traditions, including furniture making, deer-antler carving, and more. Find jewelry, homewares, Christmas ornaments, gifts, and more at this artisan store, which represents many different craftsmakers and has two locations in town. 

La Cooperativa di Cortina

You won’t find many places in Italy like this multilevel shopping mecca, which brings together scores of products and services under one roof. Shop for clothing, gifts, made-to-measure furnishings, regional crafts, and artisanal foodstuffs. A personalized pet sweater, a Marshall speaker, Timberland boots, and a YSL fragrance? Yep, they’ve got that.

Falconeri

For a cozy layer underneath your ski suit or a scarf that will help you blend in with all those stylish Italians, Falconeri has you covered. The brand’s made-in-Italy cashmere clothing and accessories make for timeless wardrobe staples. 

Best Nightlife

Enoteca Cortina

When he’s in Cortina, Sancassani heads to this beloved wine bar to sample from founder Gerry’s extensive cellar. “He has collected select wines from the best growing regions worldwide, stored them well, and is happy to share a good drop with his guests,” says Sancassani. Per Italian tradition, your glass typically comes with a small plate of appetizers. 

Col Drusciè

Grisdale likes to wow guests at this mountainside restaurant, which is reached by ski gondola or human power and features “awe-inspiring” views from its lawn and terrace. On select nights, follow dinner or drinks with a visit to the adjacent observatory and enjoy uncontaminated views of the galaxy. 

Bar Sport

A corner location on Corso Italia assures that all the action is outside this tiny bar with a big patio, which is standing room only after the lifts close for the evening. 

Janbo

Cocktails and comfort food like pizza, panini, burgers, and fries fill up hungry guests at Janbo. Then the tables and chairs get pushed back, and the dance party starts. Get there early for your spot on the floor. 

Best Time to Visit

January to March offer the best skiing and, consequently, the most crowds. “However,” says Grisdale, “our personal favorite time to visit is during June and September, when the days are longer and clear, and you do not have the peak temperatures of the summer months.” She adds that these two shoulder months are usually much quieter, so much so that “you may feel like you have the majestic mountains and impressive sunrises all to yourself.”

For peak winter or summer trips, it’s essential to book your lodgings well in advance. The same goes for dinner reservations at any place you have your heart set on. Skiers should inquire with their accommodations or travel planner about packages that include lift tickets and gear rental. 

How to Get There

Cortina is about a two-hour drive from Venice’s Marco Polo Airport and is also served by a smaller airport in Trento. There are several helicopter ports near town, too. There is no train station in Cortina, though buses arrive from stations in Belluno, Calalzo di Cadore, and Dobbiaco. Renting a car offers greater flexibility for day trips, though if you’re here to ski, hike, and sightsee locally, you can easily get by without one. 

How to Get Around

Cortina d’Ampezzo’s town center is compact and easily walkable. If you’re staying at a resort outside the center, ask about courtesy shuttles into town or to the closest ski gondola. 

DolomitiBus connects Cortina ski areas and offers town-to-town service. For taxis, transfers, and private drivers, the Cortina Dolomiti website has a list of approved partners.