Cortina d'Ampezzo

Cortina d'Ampezzo, the 'Queen of the Dolomites', is Italy's most glamorous mountain resort, set at 1,224 metres in a broad sunny valley in the province of Belluno, ringed by some of the most dramatic peaks in the Veneto, including the Tofane, Cristallo, Sorapiss, and Pomagagnon massifs. The town pairs alpine tradition with cosmopolitan style: a pedestrianised main street, Corso Italia, is lined with designer boutiques, antique shops, and cafés beneath the slender bell tower of the parish church, while the surrounding mountains offer year-round outdoor activity. Cortina hosted the 1956 Winter Olympics and is co-hosting the 2026 Games with Milan, a heritage visible in its ski jumps, ice stadium, and bobsleigh history. In winter it anchors the vast Dolomiti Superski network, with groomed pistes for all levels reached by cable cars rising directly from town; in summer it becomes a base for hiking, via ferrata, climbing, and mountain biking, with cable cars to high-altitude trails and the rock spires of the Cinque Torri, a short ride away and dotted with preserved First World War trenches. Visitors can fill a few hours strolling the centre and riding a cable car to a panoramic terrace, or stay several days to explore the trails and peaks fully. The town is at its busiest and priciest during the Christmas–New Year period, February, and August, when accommodation must be booked far ahead; the shoulder seasons of late spring and autumn are quieter but many lifts close. Cortina is famous for its après-ski and for excellent mountain dining, including local prosecco and Ampezzan specialities. As the social and scenic heart of the Veneto Dolomites in Italy, Cortina d'Ampezzo combines world-class mountain scenery with refined comforts.