Cortina d’Ampezzo
Overview
There is nowhere quite like 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, and many visitors take their lunching and early-evening parading/shopping more seriously than their skiing. The result is that pressure on the slopes is low - no queues and no crowds.
The scenery is just jaw-droppingly wonderful. The town is ringed by dramatic limestone towers and cliffs, tinged pink at dawn and dusk. Cortina is a sizeable town spread across a wide, impossibly scenic bowl. Although it runs World Cup races, it is not a hard-core ski resort - 70% of all Italian visitors don't step on to the slopes. By 5pm everybody is cruising the Corso Italia in smart gear and laden with big bags containing additional supplies of smart gear. Cortina is pure Italy. The Veneto region has none of the Germanic culture that you'll find in parts of the Südtirol, only a few miles away. It now attracts more than a few Russians. Within reach to the west is the Alta Badia, with Corvara at one corner of the Sella Ronda circuit - all on the Superski megapass.
Fantastically scenic resort with a true upmarket feel, Cortina is blessed with an abundance of well maintained intermediate slopes and a plethora of restaurants for those indulgently long lazy lunch stops. If this is your idea of what a ski holiday should be all about then Cortina is the resort for you.
Offslope/apres ski
Overview
Upmarket and swish, ideal for beginners and intermediates but with less for expert skiers that wish to remain on the piste. Some great off-piste possibilities.
At a glance
- Pistes:
- 1220 kms
- Resort height:
- 1224 metres
- Top station:
- 3342 metres
Suitability
Positives
- Magnificent Dolomite setting
- Marvellous for novices
- Sella Ronda area within reach
- Attractive, very Italian town
- No queues
Negatives
- Modest area of slopes, split into several separate areas
- Erratic snow record
- Expensive by Italian standards
- Still quite a few slow lifts
The iconic Hotel Cristallo boasts outstanding views of the surrounding mountains and is a short shuttle ride from the centre of Cortina d’Ampezzo and the main ski lifts. With its...
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When you stay at the Sport Hotel Barisetti, you’ll understand why so many people go back year after year. It’s incredibly welcoming and you’re instantly made to feel at home....
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The Grand Hotel Miramonti Majestic has over 100 years of history and is a striking and iconic hotel based in Cortina. Keeping to its roots, the hotel offers five star service...
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Hotel Majoni is in a great location in the centre of Cortina. It’s at the top of Corso Italia, the main street, so you don’t have to venture far to find...
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The Grand Hotel Savoia is a wonderful 5-star hotel, situated in the centre of the picturesque Italian resort of Cortina. If you wish to be right in the heart of Cortina, then...
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You’ll find the Hotel Montana perfectly located along the pedestrianised streets of Cortina. This lovely little bed and breakfast is a great place to stay for both skiers and those just...
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Located in the centre of Cortina D’Ampezzo, you are just a short walk from the charming resort centre full of historic buildings, high end boutiques and an array of bars and...
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Hotel Pontechiesa’s peaceful surroundings provide the perfect backdrop for a relaxing and restorative stay, allowing guests to fully disconnect and recharge amidst the beauty of the Dolomites. You’re not too...
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The Hotel Parc Victoria is one of the most iconic hotels in Cortina and has been since 1892 when the original ‘Villa Vittoria’ was transformed into one of the resort’s...
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