Cortina d'Ampezzo in the Dolomites at a glance
Cortina d'Ampezzo (Ladin: Anpezo), often shortened to Cortina, is a town in the province of Belluno in the Veneto, Italy, not in South Tyrol. That matters for rules and tickets: South Tyrol passes such as the Mobilcard are issued for a different network, and the lifts here belong to local operators. Whether the Mobilcard or Guest Pass work on the Dolomiti Bus lines around Cortina is not confirmed, so ask the driver or check before you rely on them.
The town centre lies at 1,224 m, in a basin ringed by the Tofana, Cristallo, Pomagagnon and Faloria groups. Cortina is the gateway to the Passo Falzarego, the Lagazuoi cable car, the Cinque Torri, the Sorapis lake and, a short drive away, the Tre Cime. The 2026 Winter Olympics took place here in February and March 2026 and are over.
Getting to Cortina from Venice
The Cortina Express bus runs daily all year. The timetable below is valid from 1 October 2026 to 8 June 2027. The operator quotes two hours from the airport without an intermediate stop, and the timetable shows about 2 hours 10 minutes.
| Direction | Departure | Arrival |
|---|---|---|
| Venice Mestre station to Cortina | 11:00, 14:00, 17:00 | 13:30, 16:30, 19:30 |
| Venice airport to Cortina | 11:20, 14:20, 17:20 | 13:30, 16:30, 19:30 |
| Piazzale Roma (Dolomiti Bus) to Cortina | 06:20, 18:20 | 09:30, 21:30 |
| Cortina to Venice airport | 07:00, 09:30, 11:30, 14:30, 16:30 | 09:30, 11:45, 13:45, 17:00, 18:45 |
Departures from Cortina at 07:00 and 14:30 are run by Dolomiti Bus. Treviso is also on the route. The Cortina stop was Piazza Roma until 30 September 2026; from 1 October 2026 buses arrive at and leave from Piazzale Revis in Cortina. The official site only shows fares inside its booking form, so we cannot quote an operator price. Comparison portals showed fares from about €27 one way in October 2026.
By train, the nearest station is Calalzo di Cadore, about 35 kilometres away. The Cortina Express also stops at the Calalzo station. Other routes into the Dolomites are covered in our Venice to the Dolomites guide.
Our picks: Cortina from Venice
Two with a guide or driver-guide, one with a driver only.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Dolomites, Lake Misurina and Cortina from Venice
A Mercedes V-Class with a driver-guide, meeting at Tronchetto.
Check availability →
Cortina and the Dolomites by minivan from Venice
A bilingual driver with photo stops and free time. There is no tour guide, and lunch is paid at the restaurant.
Check availability →Dolomites day trip with Cortina and two lakes
An air-conditioned minivan from Piazzale Roma with an English-speaking driver. Chairlift, boat hire and meals are extra.
Check availability →Cortina d'Ampezzo tours and day trips
Day trips from Venice, guided hikes, Tre Cime excursions and photo tours around Cortina, with live prices and availability.
Cable cars and lifts: summer 2026 seasons and prices
As of 19 October 2026 the summer lifts around Cortina have closed or are about to close. Prices below are adults, summer 2026. Summer 2027 seasons and prices have not been published.
| Lift | Summer 2026 season | Adult price |
|---|---|---|
| Falzarego to Lagazuoi cable car | Until 18 October 2026, 9 am to 5 pm | – |
| Freccia nel Cielo to Cima Tofana (3,139 m) | From 13 June to 27 September 2026 | – |
| Faloria, Cortina to Mandres to Faloria (2,120 m) | From 11 July 2026, 8:30 am to 4:20 pm, last descent 5 pm | €21 one way, €27 return |
| Faloria, Rio Gere to Son Forca | As above | €17 one way, €22 return |
| Cinque Torri chairlift | 6 June to 11 October 2026 | – |
| Skyline gondola | 27 June to 6 September 2026 | – |
The Tofana lift stopped on 27 September 2026 according to the operator, while the town website gives 29 September. Lagazuoi start dates also differ between sources (30 May or 6 June). We could not verify the Lagazuoi prices for 2026, so we do not quote them. Ra Valles, the middle station on the Tofana line, is at 2,453 m. Faloria prices come from the operator's price page, updated on 17 September 2026.
Cortina Tofana: the Freccia nel Cielo
The Freccia nel Cielo cable car climbs from Cortina via Col Drusciè and Ra Valles to Cima Tofana at 3,139 m. In 2026 it ran from 13 June to 27 September, so it has closed for the season.
Lago di Sorapis hike from Passo Tre Croci
The turquoise Lago di Sorapis is the most popular hike near Cortina. The trail starts and ends at Passo Tre Croci (path number 215) and covers 10.5 kilometres return in about 4 hours, with roughly 434 metres of climbing. The regional tourism site rates it for experts. Parts of the path are exposed, with ladders and fixed cables, and the Rifugio Vandelli stands by the lake. Other sources give 11 to 12.6 kilometres and 4 to 5 hours, so plan for the longer end.
Parking at the pass is free but small. Sources count 20 to 40 spaces, and in high summer the lot is often full before 8 am. There is no reservation system and no entrance fee. A bus runs from Cortina, but the line number is quoted inconsistently, so check the current timetable. The usual season is June to October. In autumn the lake level can drop, which changes the colour and the look of the shore. See our hiking guide for other trails.
Day trips from Cortina
Cortina works well as a hub for the eastern Dolomites.
Lagazuoi
The cable car from Passo Falzarego reached its viewpoint until 18 October 2026. Next season's dates are not published.
Cinque Torri
A chairlift served the rock towers from 6 June to 11 October 2026.
Passo Giau
The pass road at 2,236 m is a popular drive and cycling route. It closed for the Maratona dles Dolomites on 5 July 2026.
Tre Cime
The toll road to Rifugio Auronzo is in Belluno, like Cortina. The 2026 toll was €40 per car and needs an online reservation. Tre Cime guide →
Pass roads around Cortina also closed to cars for cycling events in 2026: the Dolomiti Bike Day on 20 June (Falzarego and Valparola, 9 am to 3 pm) and the Maratona dles Dolomites on 5 July (Giau, Falzarego, Valparola, in the morning). Dates for 2027 were not available when we checked.
Cortina skiing after the 2026 Olympics
The Winter Olympics and Paralympics are over, and the access limits on lifts and private traffic applied only for the Games. The town now promotes its first winter after the Games. The town's tourism site advertises a new 10-person gondola from Lacedel to Socrepes on the Tofana side, the Olympia delle Tofane piste open to skiers again, the Olympic ice stadium and other venues. First lift and piste openings are expected between the end of November and early December 2026, and the main areas around Cortina stay open until early or mid April.
The Eugenio Monti sliding centre, the bobsleigh track, remains controversial. In May 2026 the Veneto audit court opened an investigation into possible financial damage, as reported by ANSA. We could not verify current traffic effects such as bypasses or queues, so check road news before a winter weekend. For the ski network and the 2026/27 pass prices, including the €89 one-day adult pass in high season, see our skiing guide.
Plan your Cortina stay
Guides that go with this page.
Venice to the Dolomites
Buses, trains and driving from the Venice airports.
Tre Cime di Lavaredo
The toll road, the loop trail and what a visit costs in 2026.
Where to stay
Cortina, Ortisei or Bolzano: which base suits which trip.
Dolomites skiing
Passes, areas and the first winter after the Games.
Cortina d'Ampezzo: frequently asked questions
How do I get from Venice to Cortina?
Take the Cortina Express from Mestre station or Venice airport. It runs daily and takes about 2 hours 10 minutes from the airport. From 1 October 2026 it stops at Piazzale Revis in Cortina. The official fare is only shown in the booking form.
Is the Lagazuoi cable car still running?
No. In summer 2026 it ran until 18 October. The Tofana lifts closed on 27 September and the Cinque Torri chairlift on 11 October. Winter lifts open from late November to early December 2026.
How much is the Faloria cable car?
In summer 2026 the Cortina to Faloria ride cost €21 one way and €27 return for adults. The Rio Gere to Son Forca section cost €17 one way and €22 return.
Is the Lago di Sorapis hike hard?
The regional tourism site rates it for experts. It is about 10.5 kilometres return in around 4 hours, with exposed sections secured by cables and ladders. Parking at Passo Tre Croci is free but fills early.
Are there still restrictions from the Olympics?
No. Access limits for lifts and private traffic applied only during the Games in February and March 2026. We could not verify current traffic effects from the construction work.