The Italian alpine village of Cortina d’Ampezzo is famous again as home of the 2026 Olympic Games. This charming village in the Dolomites was host to the Winter Olympics in 1956, and now 70 years later athletes from around the world are competing here again. Sharing the stage with Milan, the official title of this year’s events is the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. The Olympic Torch will pass through Cortina on January 26, and be lit on February 6 in this place famous for its incredible ski resorts and winter sports. However, any time is a good time to visit Cortina.
Winter is special here, with snow ideal for skiing and mountain runs through the Dolomites to rival the best in the world. But there is plenty to love about this charming community during the rest of the year as well. In fact, there are many reasons why travelers visit Cortina d’Ampezzo throughout the year, and we experienced several of them with delight.
The downtown shopping district of Cortina d’Ampezzo is crowned by the Dolomites.Cortina is Amazing All Year Around
Our visit took place in the Fall, when the weather in Northern Italy was warm and sunny. The cobble streets were dry and clean, and our wardrobes called for nothing heavier than a light sweater. If you like to visit where the Italian jet set vacations, then Cortina d’Ampezzo may be an ideal spot to relax and enjoy the gorgeous scenery. And by scenery we mean the surrounding Dolomite mountains, verdant valleys and fashionable people. In fact, Cortina d’Ampezzo is so dominant in the area that it’s known as the Queen of the Dolomites.
The views of the Dolomites from our room at Hotel Europa in Cortina d’Ampezzo were stunning.It’s far different from any other place we’ve visited in Italy, which is exactly why we decided to visit Cortina d’Ampezzo before the Olympic crowds came along with the snow.
Where is Cortina d’Ampezzo?
If you’ve not heard of this Northern Italian village, you are not alone. We did not recall ever hearing of Cortina d’Ampezzo either, until we were introduced to this special place by a lovely local named Maria Alessandra. She told us of the village’s location tucked into the Dolomites – also known as the Italian Alps – in the mountainous terrain north-ish of Venice. It can be reached by car easily from Venice to the south (2-hour drive), or Innsbruck, Austria to the north (2.5-hour drive).
The drive is a worthwhile venture if you are confident on winding roads. From either direction, there are plenty of breathtaking views and interesting pitstops along the way. In particular, a car will be of great benefit for exploring the surrounding lakes, mountains and hiking trails that encircle Cortina d’Ampezzo.
The Corso d’Italia at night is a stunning scene with the Dolomites in the background.Why Visit Cortina d’Ampezzo in the Fall?
With so many sports and activities to offer in the winter and summer, the area around Cortina d’Ampezzo can get quite busy. Skiers and lovers of winter sports flock to these mountains to enjoy the snowy slopes and cold temperatures. In the summer, the cooler air of the mountains draws visitors to the green pastures, wildflowers and hiking trails.
Cortina is beautiful any time of year. (credit: SalvoL)In the fall things quiet down in the Dolomites. The locals breathe a sigh of relief, grateful for the business visitors bring as well as happy for the slower pace of autumn. Hotel rates are lower, restaurants are not crowded, traffic flows freely and locals have more time to greet each visitor with that famous Italian warmth.
Best of all, the hiking trails are devoid of crowds, and it’s possible to enjoy their natural beauty without delays. This is a big reason why we came to Cortina d’Ampezzo at this time of year: to hike the Via Ferrata.
Suiting up to climb the via ferrata in the Italian Alps in the mountains behind us.What Makes Cortina’s Mountains So Special
Cortina d’Ampezzo is nestled in an alpine valley surrounded by the rocky peaks of the Dolomites. This is Italy’s version of the Alps, which run through seven countries covering nearly 750 miles. Cortina is joined by other famous Alps locations such as Mont Blanc, Bellagio, Salzburg and the Matterhorn. We visited several destinations on an epic roadtrip of the Alps, which you can read more about here.
Italy’s version of the Alps is unique, as is befitting Italy. Even the mountains are stylish here. These peaks are very light in color, almost a reflective white that takes on the colors of the sky and sun. (Evidently, this is called Alpenglow.) It’s because the mountains were originally a giant mound of undersea shells and coral. Millions of years ago, these mounds were subject to massive upheaval and ended up at heights as high as 10,000 feet.
Their sharp spires and steep, jagged faces make them incomparably beautiful. Plus, they are perfect for skiing, hiking and rock climbing.
The rocky cliffs of the Dolomites near Cortina d.Ampezzo are so white they look snowy all year around. (credit: agustavop)Hike the Via Ferrata in Cortina d’Ampezzo
Hiking is a term that should be used loosely when referring to the Via Ferrata. To the sturdy Italians in Cortina d’Ampezzo and those that visit here, hike really means strenuous rock-climbing. By no means should this dissuade active visitors, We loved the experience and would totally do it again.
Via ferrata translates literally to “iron path” and Cortina sports 30 of them – more than anywhere else in the world. Some are easy, and others are for experts only. The one thing they share in common are treks through stunning beauty and unparalleled vistas.
Most via ferratas have been prepared for safety, with cables and fixed anchors to guide the ascent. A harness with carabiners attaches the climber to the cables to avoid accidents or falls.
The climb was rigorous but we felt safe and secure tethered to the cables on the via ferrata.Use a Guide!
If you are not an experienced climber, an expert guide is a necessary thing in Cortina. The local guides know the trails and their degrees of difficulty, and will make proper recommendations depending on the climbers’ abilities. They are also trained for any emergencies that might arise. Ideally, they are good company and can point out many things of interest along the way.
Our wonderful guide Eduardo from Cortina Alpine Guides picked up our group of four adults at our Hotel Europa in the city center of Cortina d’Ampezzo. He mentioned gear and a wonderful adventure ahead. We laughed nervously and ignored his comment about gear as we drove up the mountain to park on the side of the road. From there, we hiked up the steep path to the base of a rocky outcropping.
This is where the true adventure began.
And then things got gnarly when we reached the steep section of our via ferrata climb.Hiking Becomes Rock Climbing
We knew we were in for a big experience when our guide asked us to strap into our harnesses. As we looked straight up with our heads tilted far back, we studied the face of the Tofana di Mezzo mountain ahead. Girding our loins, we clipped our carabiners into the first length of steel cable and began to climb.
Initially, it was challenging to find finger and toe grips to hoist ourselves up the steep rocky path. Definitely a workout, this climb calls for upper-body strength and some degree of fitness. Luckily, our group was all in relatively good shape to make the trek. Our 70 year-old brother led the way. He was followed by his 65 year-old wife who had recently recovered from hip replacement surgery. They are true mountain goats who set the pace for the rest of us. If they could manage this climb, so could we.
Not a lover of heights, I tried hard not to look down as we scaled higher and higher. When our guide said, “And now for the hard part…” I almost fainted. He was right – it was hard. Reaching for each new toe-hold, I might have gotten a little shaky in the limbs and sweaty on the brow. Still, I made it to the top unscathed, along with the rest of the crew.
Reaching the mountain top on our via ferrata climb was such a rush!The Via Ferrata Brings Rewards
As Miley Cyrus aptly croons, reaching the top of the peak was absolutely worth the climb. The vistas from this height were tremendous. We could see for miles across to other, higher peaks and far below to the villages and verdant valleys.
Reaching the peak at all was a reward in and of itself. This was a defining accomplishment, and we were all proud of ourselves for having achieved this feat of strength. We mopped our brows while our guide Eduardo did not even break a sweat, standing untethered on the slant of the summit. Even thinking about this memory still makes my palms sweat.
Best of all, the meal we had for lunch mid-mountain at Rifugio Angelo Dibona was a highlight of the entire trip. As a reward for our efforts, we dined in a nearly-empty mountain hut designed to serve skiers during the winter snows. The house specialty was a savory blueberry pasta, which sounded odd but was amazingly delicious.
The local specialty pasta is made with fresh blueberries at Rifugio Angelo Dibona.Other Reasons to Visit Cortina d’Ampezzo
Upscale Shopping Experience
Cortina d’Ampezzo has long been a gathering spot for the glitterati of Italy and beyond. With this level of lifestyle comes some amount of designer labels and high fashion needs. That’s why there are more than 250 shops and boutiques in the city center.
Most of the major shopping is located on Corso d’Italia, a pedestrian-only cobblestone street lined with European charm and a heavy dose of chic. Here shoppers can spend hours wandering through designer boutiques, jewelers, fine art galleries and locally owned artisan outlets. Designer labels such as Dior, Benetton, Moncler, Gucci, Louis Vuitton and many others can be found here.
Italian style and historic charm make the Corso d’Italia a perfect promenade in downtown Cortina d’Ampezzo.When you visit Cortina d’Ampezzo in the Fall, the shops are stocked with cold-weather clothes and other treasures. Gift shops had a wide array of Christmas and holiday-themed merchandise, and we bought several handmade ornaments to bring home for our Christmas tree.
Corso d’Italia is also home to a strong collection of cafes and restaurants, complete with outside seating to maximize people-watching opportunities.
The Local Food Scene in Cortina d’Ampezzo
As in most Northern Italian locales, the local cuisine tends to be lighter and less based on tomato sauces. We enjoyed meals at several local establishments, and there are a couple of standouts we think you will enjoy.
Colorful flower boxes decorate the exterior patios of the alpine=inspired Chalet Tofani.Pizzeria Vienna – Some of the most delicious traditional Italian pizzas we have tasted. We especially loved the Quattro Stagione pizza, which translates to “four seasons”. The tomato sauce and cheese-based pizza is divided into quarters, each representing a different season of the year. In one quadrant artichokes represent spring, and the next with tomatoes represents summer. Following the pattern, the next quadrant represents fall with mushrooms. The final section is dedicated to winter with ham or prosciutto.
Pizzeria Vienna serves delicious pastas. pizzas and beers (credit: Cortina d/Ampezzo Tourism)Chalet Tofane sits up on the mountain with insane views of the Dolomites. The absolutely exquisite dishes here match the quality of the location, with a broad variety of extra-fresh options colorfully presented. The dining room here reads like a mountain lodge, and the restaurant has an extensive outdoor patio with seating as well. We loved the dishes we sampled, including a popular ahi sashimi salad and a delicious grilled shrimp and green pea soup. Our entire group was pleased with their menu choices, and dessert with grappa was a nice topper.
The langostina in green pea puree was a highlight of our meal at Chalet TofaniLocal Pasta Specialities
Here are a few of standout pasta dishes sampled on this visit:
Tagliolini ai Mirtilli – A seasonal specialty, this pasta dish is surprisingly savory. It’s made from fresh blueberries in a creamy mascarpone sauce with salty speck, onions and garlic. We’ve been raving about this dish ever since we devoured it in that mountain hut on the via ferrata.
Casunziei – Half moon-shaped ravioli filled with a deep red beet mixture and served in a brothy sauce. This earthy combination was surprisingly light and wonderfully delicious. We’re told in the Spring the stuffing may switch to green, made from spinach or other locally cultivated ingredients.
Canederli – Gnocchi is one of our favorite dishes. The local version is made from rolled balls of bread and speck (like an Italian cross between ham and bacon) or spinach. Although we did not get to try this dish on our visit, it sounds like something my Italian nana used to make when I was a kid. She prepared the spinach version, served in a light sauce and topped with copious heaps of shaved romano cheese.
Cortina’s own local version of gnocchi is incredibly delicious. (credit: Olga Mazyarkina)Other Activities in Cortina d’ Ampezzo
Biking – There are more than 400 miles of bike paths throughout the area, with bikes available for rent at several locations.
Ice Skating – Due to the Olympics, Cortina d’Ampezzo has enjoyed a high quality ice skating rink for decades. It’s been recently renovated and upgraded to modern standards, perfect for twirling experts, speedy hockey games and shuffling beginners.
Golf & Tennis – A 9-hole golf course and plenty of tennis courts are available for play while the weather is clear in the Fall.
Prosecco – It’s worth noting that the Italian wine region of Prosecco is nearby. Although we did not drive the 50 minutes down the mountain to visit, we consumed our fair share. The variety of Prosecco options is plentiful, and here is a list of wineries in Prosecco.
The vineyards in Prosecco, Italy grow the real thing (credit: GitoTrevisan)Places to Stay in Cortina d’Ampezzo
Available accommodations are plentiful, with a wide range of options when you visit Cortina d’Ampezzo. From mountain chalets to ritzy resorts to lakeside campgrounds, there is something for everyone.
Click this link for a listing of hotels in Cortina and the surrounding area.
Visit Cortina d’Ampezzo in the Fall – or Anytime
A fall visit to Cortina d’Ampezzo is just the ticket, and really any time of the year would be fantastic. If you decide to go for the Olympic grandeur or otherwise, plan ahead due to this town’s growing popularity.
For more information about planning your trip, visit the Cortina d’Ampezzo tourism website for details and options.
Edelweiss blooms along the high alpine trails in the Dolomites.
