Cortina d Ampezzo Travel Guide

Regarded as one of the most beautiful holiday resorts in the world, Cortina overlooks the spectacular Dolomites region of the Italian Alps. It is considered Italy's most fashionable ski resort and most of the visitors are Italians, particularly weekenders from Milan and Venice visiting their second homes.

Many rarely make it to the slopes as they'd prefer to enjoy the restaurants and shops, and to wander through the streets in their finery, partaking in the passeggiata, which is the traditional Italian early-evening stroll. This leaves the slopes wonderfully empty for those who come to ski. Cortina is a two-hour drive from Venice or Innsbruck.

Skiing

There is skiing for all standards at Cortina, with some fantastic groomed runs for beginners and intermediates, and a scattering of challenging slopes for experts. The skiing is fragmented, with three separate unlinked ski areas. The Faloria-Cristallo ski area is closest to the town, and can be accessed via cable car rather than bus. However, at just 1225m this is not a ski-in, ski-out resort. As in much of the Dolomites, the snowfall is not that reliable, but the resort has good snow-making facilities and it's almost guaranteed that there will be snow on the pistes.

Although Cortina's popularity means the town can become busy, the slopes are generally surprisingly uncrowded and, when it does snow, there's less competition for virgin powder than in other well-known resorts. The Hidden Valley, accessed from the Lagazuoi cable car, is one of the world's most beautiful ski runs. While not particularly challenging, it winds down the mountain through stunning scenery to the river valley above the hamlet of Armentarola.

Shopping

Cortina offers some of the best and most upmarket shopping of any European holiday ski resort through a number of clothing boutiques and plenty of spots selling ski and snowboarding equipment, which during summer focus on mountain biking needs. Shopping is one of the perks of a holiday in Cortina, fuelling the resort's fashionable reputation.

Restaurants

Cortina is all about traditional Italian fare and holidaymakers can enjoy delightful, cosy restaurants offering good times and great views. Must-eat local dishes include the classic casunziei (beet-filled pasta envelopes sprinkled with poppy seeds) and canederli (bread dumplings). Both fine dining and more casual options are available. Eating out in Cortina tends to be expensive, but the quality of food is generally high.

Nightlife

Cortina is easily as popular for its amazing nightlife as it is for its skiing. There are glamorous nightclubs and bars, which see the fashion brands and furs on parade, as well as some more basic and unpretentious apres-ski venues. However, the nightlife mostly revolves around classy wine bars instead of the karaoke venues normally found at mainstream resorts.

Holiday activities

One of the things that sets Cortina apart as a ski resort is the fact that, even during peak season, the town attracts many travellers who are there to enjoy the shopping, restaurant scene and mountain scenery. Visitors don't have to hit the slopes to have a fun and interesting holiday.

The Olympic bobsled is most definitely worth some attention and the chance to gain speeds of 75 mph (120km/h) can be enjoyed by those brave enough. Sledding is another popular activity for those who want a break from ski or snowboarding boots, as are snowshoeing and hiking. Day trips to Venice and a number of other exciting destinations can be arranged.

Any negatives?

Cortina can get crowded with day visitors during peak periods and is quite expensive as Italian resorts go. Snow reliability can vary.