Cortina d'Ampezzo is without doubt the place to be seen in the Italian Alps. France has Courchevel and Megeve, Switzerland has Verbier and St Moritz……there is only one Cortina and it is unrivalled, recognised by both Italians and international ski buffs as the true jewel of the Dolomites, one of the most elegant ski resorts in the Alps.
The Luxury Lifestyle in Cortina
A famous racing town and host of the 1956 Olympics, it certainly has some serious skiing. But it is also Italy's most fashionable resort. Being the place to be, rather than just a place to ski, the slopes of Cortina are often quiet and lift queues non-existent at times when the resort regulars are enjoying a relaxed morning in bed recovering from the night before, a long lunch sipping at a glass of Toscana and delighting in a truffle infused risotto, or heading into town to enjoy the numerous shopping boutiques and contemplating which fur is next on the wishlist.
Cortina's Ski Area
Offering 120km of local piste, featuring the beautiful and quite vast area of Socrepes for any beginners or nervous skiers, stunning tree lined intermediate cruising blues and reds, dramatic landscapes, an abundance of off piste and some steep and challenging blacks.
Cortina is one of the 12 resorts making up the Dolomiti Super Ski region with access to 1,200km of runs – plenty to keep any ski enthusiast busy for a lifetime!! The local area is made up of three separate ski domains:
Tofana:
30 pistes (6 black runs, 12 red runs, 13 blue runs and 6 green runs) with a total of 47km. From the beginners' slopes of the lower area you can quickly reach the technically very demanding pistes such as the Canalone and the famous Schuss. The Freccia nel Cielo cable car takes you up to a height of 2,500m to the Ra Valles area. If you take the Skitour Olympia route, you can venture onto the unforgettable peaks of the 1956 Olympic races, which today host the Women's Skiing World Cup.
Only for expert skiers, the black run Vertigine Bianca. For its beauty and steepness, it's one of the two slopes in Cortina which are not beaten by the piste bashers, given the possibility to skiers to engage in fresh snow on an eco-friendly and zero impact run.
Faloria / Cristallo:
24 pistes (5 black runs, 11 red runs, 8 blue runs) with a total of 44km. There are pistes of all levels of difficulty, all affording a stunning view over the Ampezzo Valley. The “Forcella Staunies” chairlift in the Cristallo range takes you to an altitude of 2,930 metres. The Mietres ski area is specially adapted to children with its selection of gentle runs winding through the woods. Here you can also find a fabulous, dedicated sledge-run, popular with children of all ages!
Lagazuoi / 5 Torri:
11 pistes (5 red runs, 6 blue runs) with a total of 29km. The 5 Torri area was recently connected to the Falzarego Pass by the Averau Troi lift. A cable car ride of a few minutes takes you from the Falzarego Pass to the Lagazuoi Refuge (2,500m), from where you can admire the Marmolada, the Sella group, the Civetta, the Pelmo and the Tofane. The Great War Ski Tour goes along the Dolomite front and skirts the Col di Lana.
Where to Eat and Drink in Cortina d'Ampezzo
There are an abundance of restaurants, offering an eclectic mix of international and local traditional cuisine although the majority of the more reputable options are a taxi ride out of town. The Croda Café is the town's “original pizzeria” and offers a vast range of very good and well priced dishes.
Apres-ski is generally quite low key with a number of wine bars and pubs. Bar Sport in the centre of town is one of our favourites with a great vibe at all times of the day, serving a fantastic range of draft and bottle beers, grappa and a good wine list.
