Cortina d’Ampezzo packs world-class skiing, summer hiking, climbing, and shopping into one Alpine town. The Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage designation isn’t just pretty scenery , it’s a playground with via ferrata routes dating to World War I, lift-accessed downhill trails, and a pedestrianised centre filled with Italian fashion boutiques. Most activities centre around three main lift hubs: Tofane (west), Faloria-Cristallo (east), and Cinque Torri (west, shared with the Lagazuoi area).
Things to Do in Cortina: Winter Sports and Skiing
Skiing the Dolomiti Superski
Cortina is part of the Dolomiti Superski network, one of the world’s largest ski areas with 1,200km of connected pistes across 12 resorts. Cortina’s own slopes cover about 120km across Tofane, Faloria, Cristallo, Cinque Torri, and Mietres areas. A day pass costs €62-72 depending on the season. The Tofane area has the most varied terrain, from the black-run Schuss (site of the 1956 Olympic downhill) to wide blue cruisers above 2,500m. Faloria offers stunning south-facing views of the town and valley. The Lagazuoi-Cinque Torri area, Check the Cortina weather by month and best time to visit Cortina to plan your trip timing. shared with the Sellaronda, includes the historic Hidden Valley run ending at the frozen waterfall near Capanna Ra Valles , you get towed through the final section by horse-drawn carriage (€2). Rent gear at Noleggio Sci Cortina on Via dello Stadio from around €25/day for skis and boots.
Cross-Country Skiing at the Olympic Track
The Fiames Nordic Centre, 3km north of town off the SS51 road, maintains 18km of groomed cross-country trails on the site of the 1956 Olympic races. A day pass costs €8. The flat 5km loop along the Boite River is perfect for beginners. The full 18km circuit climbs gently into the forest with panoramic Dolomite views. Open daily 9:00-16:30 from December through March, with night skiing on the 2.5km illuminated loop on Tuesdays and Thursdays until 21:00.
Ice Skating at the Olympic Ice Stadium
The Stadio Olimpico del Ghiaccio on Via Bonacossa, built for the 1956 Games, opens for public skating from late November through March. Entry costs €8 for adults, €5 for children under 14, with skate rental at €5. The 400m outdoor speed-skating oval wraps around an indoor hockey rink. Check the schedule at the tourist office , the rink closes for hockey matches and figure skating training sessions. Evening sessions under the lights run 20:00-22:30 on Fridays and Saturdays.
Things to Do in Cortina: Summer Hiking and Climbing
Hiking to Rifugio Nuvolau
The rifugio at 2,575m has one of the best 360-degree panoramas in the Dolomites, taking in the Tofane, Cristallo, Sorapiss, and Marmolada. Start from the Cinque Torri chairlift top station (lift ticket €15 return, operating mid-June to late September). From the lift, it’s a 1.5-hour hike along marked trail 443, gaining 400m with some cable-protected sections. The rifugio serves simple pasta and polenta dishes (€10-14) and cold beer on a terrace facing the sunset. Day-trippers can descend the same way; multi-day hikers connect to the Alta Via 1.
Via Ferrata on the Tofane
The Dolomites are the birthplace of via ferrata (iron paths), and the Tofana di Rozes route is one of the most accessible for first-timers. The Giovanni Lipella via ferrata climbs through World War I tunnels and exposed ledges to the summit at 3,225m. It takes 5-6 hours round-trip including the approach from Rifugio Giussani. You need a harness, helmet, and via ferrata lanyard set , rent the full kit at Guide Alpine Cortina on Corso Italia for €25/day (open 8:30-12:30 and 15:30-19:30). June through September only; check with the guide office for snow conditions in early season. For those without experience, the Alpine guides offer half-day Pick a base in the best neighborhoods in Cortina and find rooms in where to stay in Cortina. For arrival logistics, read Cortina travel tips. introductory trips for €90-120 per person (2-4 people per guide).
Lago di Sorapiss Trail
The hike to Lago di Sorapiss, a vivid turquoise lake at 1,923m beneath the Sorapiss glacier, is Cortina’s most photographed day hike. The trailhead starts at Passo Tre Croci (1,809m), a 15-minute drive from town on the SS48 towards Auronzo. The 11km round-trip takes about 4-5 hours with 400m elevation gain on trail 215. The lake’s colour comes from glacial flour suspended in the water , it’s most intense in July and August when snowmelt peaks. The trail has some exposed sections with fixed cables but no technical climbing. Start before 8 AM in summer to beat the crowds and afternoon storms. Parking at Passo Tre Croci is free but fills by 9 AM in August.
Things to Do in Cortina: Culture, Shopping and Food
Corso Italia Shopping
Cortina’s pedestrianised main street, Corso Italia, runs about 600m from Piazza Venezia to the bell tower. It’s lined with high-end Italian fashion boutiques , Gucci, Prada, Moncler, and Loro Piana all have outposts here , alongside historic cafes and pasticcerie. Most shops open 10:00-12:30 and 15:30-19:30, with some staying open through lunch in high season. The side streets Via Cesare Battisti and Via XXIX Maggio have smaller local shops selling handmade wooden crafts and mountain equipment. Cooperativa di Cortina on Corso Italia 40 is the best spot for local food products: speck from Alto Adige, mountain cheeses, and grappa from the Veneto at supermarket prices rather than deli markups.
Museo Paleontologico Rinaldo Zardini
The small paleontology museum on Via Cesare Battisti houses an exceptional collection of marine fossils from the Triassic period, about 230 million years ago, when the Dolomites were a tropical sea. The collection includes perfectly preserved shells, corals, and ammonites recovered from the surrounding mountains by local researcher Rinaldo Zardini. Entry costs €7 (€5 reduced). Open Tuesday through Sunday 10:30-12:30 and 16:00-19:00 in summer; reduced hours in winter. Review the Cortina events and festivals calendar for seasonal highlights. The museum takes about 45 minutes to see in full.
