Cortina d’Ampezzo ski resort is one of the most interesting choices if you want to combine skiing in the Dolomites with a beautiful mountain town, excellent gastronomy, and slopes that have hosted Olympic races. Cortina offers approximately 120 km of slopes divided mainly between Tofana, Faloria-Cristallo, and Lagazuoi-5 Torri. You’ll find simple family runs as well as some of the most challenging black slopes in the Dolomites.
Cortina d’Ampezzo Ski Resort
For me, a big advantage is that Cortina is very diverse. Families can stay in the Socrepes area, intermediates have a huge selection of long red runs, and experienced skiers can try World Cup slopes or the famous Forcella Rossa. The ski area will also thrill you with its breathtaking scenery, where you can enjoy panoramas of the Dolomites while skiing or having lunch in one of the local mountain huts.
TOP 10 ACCOMMODATION IN CORTINA
Where to stay in Cortina d’Ampezzo?
Sport Hotel Cortina
I consider Sport Hotel Cortina (listed on Booking as Barisetti Sport Hotel) to be a very practical mid-range option. It’s only about 50 meters from the Freccia nel Cielo cable car, has good ratings, a sauna, and a steam bath. They offer stays with breakfast and, depending on the date, also with half board.
Barisetti Sport Hotel
Hotel Menardi
My second tip for staying close to the Cortina d’Ampezzo ski resort is Hotel Menardi. It is located approximately 300 meters from Freccia nel Cielo and has excellent ratings; I especially highlight the great breakfast and wellness area with a sauna, hot tub, and Turkish bath. Additionally, a ski bus stops right in front of the hotel.
Hotel Menardi
Masito Apartments The Hub.
I recommend Masito Apartments The Hub if you are looking for luxury apartment accommodation. The property is located right in the center of Cortina, has free parking, and the Faloria cable car is about 400–500 meters away. The apartment has two bedrooms, its own kitchen, and free parking. I liked this accommodation because you can visit one of the local restaurants every evening and walk through Cortina at night.
Cortina d’Ampezzo Ski Resort with Children
For families with children and beginners, I especially recommend Socrepes in the Tofana area. For example, Campo Scuola Socrepes and several easy runs like Socrepes, Roncato, San Zan, or Redoncè might be suitable for you. The entire Tofana area has 20 blue slopes, so children don’t have to move to more challenging terrain immediately after their first lessons.
Baby Socrepes is also practical, as is the new ten-seater Lacedel-Socrepes gondola, which replaced two older chairlifts. It can transport up to 3,000 skiers per hour and has significantly simplified access to this family-friendly part of Tofana.
Slopes for Intermediates – Cortina d’Ampezzo Ski Resort
For me, Cortina has the most to offer to intermediate skiers. On Tofana, I recommend Valón, Canalone, or Caprioli, and on Cristallo, Rio Gere, Padeón, and Creste Bianche. 5 Torri and Lagazuoi also offer very nice full-day skiing, where the main attraction is the high-mountain scenery itself.
- The 5 Torri and Tofana areas are now connected by the Cortina Skyline gondola, so it’s not necessary to drive between them.
- Faloria remains a separate part, but its main cable car departs practically right from Cortina.
Black Slopes in Cortina d’Ampezzo: Forcella Rossa and Olympic Runs
Cortina definitely won’t disappoint experienced skiers either. You have a choice of 13 black slopes in Cortina and the surrounding area. The toughest include Forcella Rossa, Vertigine Bianca, Col Druscié A, or Stratondi.
The biggest challenge is Forcella Rossa. Run No. 51 is 2.1 km long, covers a vertical drop of 646 meters, and reaches a maximum gradient of up to 72%. I must also mention the famous Stratofana Olimpica and Olympia delle Tofane, where World Cup races are held and where the women’s Olympic disciplines took place in 2026.
Cortina d’Ampezzo: A Town to Enjoy Even After Skiing
The town of Cortina d’Ampezzo itself lies at approximately 1,224 m above sea level and is rightfully nicknamed the Queen of the Dolomites. The center around Corso Italia is full of restaurants, cafes, bars, and shops, so Cortina offers significantly more nightlife than most purely ski villages.
The city hosted the Winter Olympics back in 1956 and was once again one of the main venues for Milano Cortina 2026. The Olympic infrastructure and sporting history are another interesting aspect of a winter stay here today.
You might also be interested in:
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- 15 Tips for the Most Beautiful Summer Trips in the Dolomites
- Lago di Carezza: A Fairytale Lake in the Dolomites
What movies were filmed in Cortina?
Cortina d’Ampezzo has a surprisingly rich film history, and its mountains and center have appeared in a number of well-known films. The most attention goes to James Bond: For Your Eyes Only (1981) with Roger Moore, which was filmed directly on Corso Italia, at the Olympic stadium, near the ski jump, and in other parts of Cortina.
- Scenes for the films The Pink Panther (1963), Cliffhanger (1993), Vacanze di Natale (1983), or the western The Great Silence (1968) were also created in the town and the surrounding Dolomites.
Does the Cortina d’Ampezzo ski resort also have cross-country trails?
Cross-country skiers won’t miss out here either. Around Cortina, up to 70 km of cross-country trails are groomed, and the area is part of Dolomiti NordicSki with approximately 1,300 km of tracks. You’ll find the largest selection around Fiames and towards Passo Cimabanche. The historic route of the Dobbiaco-Cortina race also passes through here.
- In the 2026/27 season, the Dobbiaco-Cortina race will take place on February 6–7, 2027.
- The classic variant is 42 km long and the skating race is 35 km.
Ski Pass for Cortina d’Ampezzo Ski Resort 2026/27
If you want to ski only in Cortina and the surrounding resorts, you can buy a local Skiworld pass, which covers over 120 km of runs in Cortina, San Vito, Auronzo, and Misurina. One-day and multi-day options are available.
The broader Dolomiti Superski pass costs €80 per day for an adult in the regular season and €89 in the high season in winter 2026/27. You get a 5% discount when buying online at least two days in advance.
The Cortina ski area currently lists its first operations from November 28, 2026, but individual parts open gradually depending on snow conditions. For example, Falzarego-Lagazuoi has planned winter operations from December 5, 2026, to April 3, 2027, usually from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Cortina News 2026/27
Winter 2026/27 is the first full season after the Olympics. The most significant recent update is the aforementioned Lacedel-Socrepes gondola, but the return of the entire Olympia delle Tofane to regular ski operation after the Olympic races is also important. Other infrastructure and slope improvements are related to investments made before Milano Cortina 2026.
For me, skiing in Cortina d’Ampezzo is ideal for those of you who don’t want to choose between sporty slopes and a pleasant mountain town. Families will appreciate Socrepes, intermediates Tofana, 5 Torri, and Faloria, and experienced skiers can look forward to some of the toughest black runs in the Dolomites. And in the evenings, you can walk through the romantic town with its historic atmosphere.
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