Cortina Ski Resort, Italy

Overview of Cortina

Cortina is known as ‘The Queen of the Dolomites’. This small mountain town in the Ampezzo valley at 1,220m has a history steeped in tourism, mountaineering and of course, skiing – including being the host of the 1956 winter games. Often associated with glitz and glamour, you might well catch a glimpse of a celebrity or two on the streets or slopes.

But don’t let the allure of people watching distract you from the real reason to visit – the skiing. From the centre of town, hop on the Cortine-Mandres cable car to access the slopes of Faloria – an area of gloriously cruisy blues and reds. Cortina’s largest ski area is Socrepes, which links with the neighbouring village of Tofana and features easy-accessed, equally agreeable blue and red pistes.

Keep reading to learn more about this resort and why to go on a Cortina ski holiday.

3 Things We Love About Cortina

1. Access to the Dolomiti Superski area, with its 1,200kms of piste
2. VIP spotting in the oh-so-vogue bars and restaurants
3. The more quintessentially Italian vibe, in contrast to most of the other Tyrollean villages in the ski area

Skiing and Snowboarding in Cortina

When you ski at a resort where the grooming is guaranteed, you know you’re in for a treat. The pistes are like a zen-garden on snow, and even when the snow isn’t falling the conditions are first class thanks to over 90% of the pistes being served by the army of snow cannons.

Skiing in Cortina itself is limited to 120km but the draw – as with all Dolomite resorts – is the opportunity to explore. San Cassiano, Corvara and the other villages in the Alta Badia valley are a simple bus and ski journey to and from, and from there the Sella Ronda is right on your doorstep.

Cortina’s slopes have pedigree too – The Olympia piste in Tofane has been hosting a women’s FIS World Cup for years and continues to do so every January. In 2021 the resort will host its own week-long world cup skiing event too.

Lift Passes in Cortina

A local pass is available to access the 120km of runs in Cortina across the three ski areas - Tofana-Socrepes, Faloria-Cristallo and Cinque Torri-Lagazuoi.

But to enjoy the full extent of the Dolomiti Superski area, a full area pass provides unrestricted access to all 12 villages and ten times the distance of local skiing – and eye watering 1,200km of pistes!

Activities in Cortina

• Tobogganing
• Cross-country skiing
• Ice skating
• Ice hockey
• Curling
• Ice disco
• Dog sledding

Après Ski in Cortina

Being a refined ski town with a reputation for class and style, aprés ski takes on a more relaxed dynamic; strolling from bar to café to bar for a cocktail or glass of wine…

• Apres spots: Hotel de la Poste, Enoteca, Osteria, Clipper Bar, The American Bar
• Later evening: Blu Room, Hyppo Disco

Places to eat in Cortina

• Tivoli - Widely regarded as the best restaurant in Cortina and holds a Michelin star for its frequently changing and inventive menu. The dishes at Tivoli – like it’s simple chalet home – are much more than meets the eye.
• Il Ponte – A popular choice for classic Italian fare, big pizzas and bold pastas as well as a selection of grilled meats and other options. Good for families and plenty of atmosphere.
• Il Vizietto di Cortina – Contemporary fine dining at a lakeside location a few minutes’ drive outside Cortina. The cuisine is Italian inspired and the chefs are committed to using local and seasonal produce.

Family Features

Maybe not as well equipped as other Dolomite resorts, Cortina does have an excellent ski school and a dedicated children’s ski slope with its own double chairlift in the Socrepes base area. There are enough easy slopes to keep them entertained and playgrounds can be found at some of the base stations. The toboggan run from Col Tondo is fun for all the family too.