Italy
Cortina d'Ampezzo
Stay 2–3 nights: Tre Cime and Lago di Braies one day, Cinque Torri and Lagazuoi another. Below: 1 sight, 3 activities and 2 outdoor spots, plus how Cortina d'Ampezzo fits into a longer trip.
- Places
- 10
- Curated routes
- 1
- Best season
- Jun – Sep
- Warmest month
- July
- Coolest month
- January
- Wettest month
- August
1 See · 3 Do · 2 Outdoors · 3 Eat · 1 Drink
Dolomites High Road
from our route notes
22°C / 72°F avg high
0°C / 32°F avg high
about 140 mm rain
Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.
Things to do in Cortina d'Ampezzo
10 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.
See
1 sight worth building a day around in Centro.
Photo: Giovanni De Negri · GoogleSeeCorso Italia
Cortina's pedestrian main street for an evening passeggiata.
Tip Walk it at dusk with a gelato.
Do
3 activities for when the group wants to do more than look across Misurina and Passo Falzarego.
Photo: vmelova vmelova · GoogleDoTre Cime di Lavaredo Loop
10-km loop around the three iconic peaks via Rifugio Locatelli.
Tip Toll road to Rifugio Auronzo needs a booked slot in summer; go early.
Photo: Luca Sartoni from Vienna, Austria · CC BY-SA 2.0DoCinque Torri
Chairlift to five rock towers with restored WWI trenches.
Tip Take the Cinque Torri chairlift from Bai de Dones.
Photo: Funivia Lagazuoi · GoogleDoLagazuoi Cable Car
Cable car to 2,750 m with WWI tunnels and a huge Dolomites panorama.
Tip Runs roughly late May-Oct and Dec-Apr; closed in shoulder weeks.
Outdoors
2 outdoor spots for fresh air across Val di Braies and Passo Tre Croci.
Photo: Roberto Procaccianti · GoogleOutdoorsLago di Braies
Emerald lake with wooden rowboats and a flat 1-hour shoreline loop.
Tip Road access is restricted Jul–Sep; book parking or take the bus.
Photo: Francesca Caprifogli · GoogleOutdoorsLago di Sorapis
Milky turquoise lake reached by a 2-hour trail with ledges and ladders.
Tip Start from Passo Tre Croci; not for those afraid of heights.
Eat
Where we would book a table in Cortina d'Ampezzo across Tre Cime, Cinque Torri and Alverà.
Photo: YOUNG HO Ko · GoogleEatRifugio Locatelli
Hut facing the north faces of the Tre Cime, the loop's best lunch stop.
Tip Hut open roughly late June to late September.
Photo: Rifugio Averau · GoogleEatRifugio Averau
Mountain hut above Cinque Torri with serious cooking and a terrace.
Tip Order the polenta dishes; book in season.
Photo: SanBrite · GoogleEatSanBrite
Michelin-starred restaurant using produce from its own farm.
Tip Book well ahead; tasting menus only.
Drink
Our picks for a drink in Cortina d'Ampezzo in Centro.
Photo: Enoteca Cortina · GoogleDrinkEnoteca Cortina
Long-running wine bar in the center with a big Italian list.
Tip Good for an aperitivo before dinner.
How to fit Cortina d'Ampezzo into a trip
Cortina d'Ampezzo is stop 3 of 3 on our Dolomites High Road route. Follow it as-is or lift Cortina d'Ampezzo into your own plan.
Stop 3 of 3
Dolomites High Road
Jagged peaks, alpine lakes & rifugio lunches
- Trip length
- 6 days
- Best season
- Jun – Sep
- Pace
- moderate
- Before: Val Gardena
Getting here and onward
- Val Gardena to Cortina d'AmpezzoVal Gardena is about 36 km / 22 mi away in a straight line
Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.
Cortina d'Ampezzo month by month
Average daily highs run from 0°C / 32°F in January to 22°C / 72°F in July. August is the wettest month, with about 140 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.
- Jan0° / 32°F average high
- Feb1° / 35°F average high
- Mar6° / 43°F average high
- Apr11° / 52°F average high
- May16° / 60°F average high
- Jun20° / 68°F average high, in our recommended season
- Jul22° / 72°F average high, in our recommended season
- Aug21° / 70°F average high, in our recommended season
- Sep17° / 62°F average high, in our recommended season
- Oct12° / 54°F average high
- Nov6° / 43°F average high
- Dec2° / 35°F average high
Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Cortina d'Ampezzo weather and the best time to visit →
Near Cortina d'Ampezzo
8 other destinations from our guides within about 200 km (124 mi), measured in a straight line.
Cortina d'Ampezzo questions, answered
How many days do you need in Cortina d'Ampezzo?
Our route notes suggest 2–3 nights in Cortina d'Ampezzo. On our Dolomites High Road route it is stop 3 of 3 in a 6-day trip. The listed visit times for our 10 places add up to roughly 24 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.
What is Cortina d'Ampezzo best known for?
Stay 2–3 nights: Tre Cime and Lago di Braies one day, Cinque Torri and Lagazuoi another. Standouts on our list: Corso Italia (Cortina's pedestrian main street for an evening passeggiata); Lago di Braies (Emerald lake with wooden rowboats and a flat 1-hour shoreline loop); Lago di Sorapis (Milky turquoise lake reached by a 2-hour trail with ledges and ladders).
When is the best time to visit Cortina d'Ampezzo?
Our Dolomites High Road route is best Jun – Sep. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in July (22°C / 72°F), the coolest in January (0°C / 32°F) and the most rain in August (about 140 mm).
What are the best things to do in Cortina d'Ampezzo?
Start with Tre Cime di Lavaredo Loop, Lago di Braies, Lago di Sorapis, Cinque Torri and Lagazuoi Cable Car. Our guide lists 10 places in all, from 1 sight, 3 activities, 2 outdoor spots, 3 places to eat and 1 bar or café.
Where should a group eat in Cortina d'Ampezzo?
Our picks: Rifugio Locatelli (Tre Cime); Rifugio Averau (Cinque Torri); SanBrite (Alverà). Hut open roughly late June to late September (Rifugio Locatelli).
What is near Cortina d'Ampezzo?
The closest destinations in our guides are Val Gardena (about 36 km / 22 mi), Bolzano (about 60 km / 37 mi) and Lake Bled (about 153 km / 95 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.
Plan Cortina d'Ampezzo with your crew
Open the Dolomites High Road route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 10 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.
Plan around Cortina d'Ampezzo
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