Cortina d’Ampezzo is positioned at the geographic centre of the Dolomites, which makes it an outstanding base for exploring the surrounding mountains. Most day trips stay within the alpine landscape — the nearest large city (Belluno) is 50 minutes south by car, Venice is 2.5 hours, and the other Dolomite valleys are 20–45 minutes in various directions.
All the mountain day trips described here are accessible by car. Public transport options exist for some routes (Bus Dolomiti) but are limited, particularly for the passes and valleys. A rental car based in Cortina gives significantly more flexibility.
Tre Cime di Lavaredo: 30 Minutes by Car
The Tre Cime di Lavaredo — three near-vertical rock towers reaching above 2,900m — are the most photographed formation in the Dolomites and the natural starting point for day trips from Cortina. The approach is straightforward: take the SS48bis road east to Misurina (11km), then the toll road from Misurina to Rifugio Auronzo at 2,333m. The road toll is approximately €30 per car in summer 2026, paid at a toll booth partway up.
The classic loop trail (5.5km, approximately 2 hours at a steady pace) circles the peaks entirely, offering dramatically different perspectives from each side. The north face — a near-vertical 900m wall — is the most impressive section and best viewed from Rifugio Lavaredo. Rifugio Locatelli, on the far side of the circuit, is the best lunch stop, with tables overlooking the Cadini di Misurina range.
Start early. By 9–10am in summer the car park at Rifugio Auronzo is full and the trail is crowded. Departing from Cortina at 6:30–7:00am puts you on the trail before the majority of day visitors arrive. The experience in the early morning — often with mist burning off the rock faces — is substantially better than in the midday crowds.
Bus Dolomiti operates a summer shuttle from Cortina to Misurina; some services continue to Rifugio Auronzo. Check current schedules at the Cortina Bus Dolomiti stop on Via Marconi.
Passo Falzarego and Lagazuoi: 20 Minutes by Car
The Falzarego pass (2,105m) is 20km west of Cortina on the SS48 — one of the classic Dolomite passes, connecting the Ampezzo valley to the Val Badia and Alto Adige. It is the quickest way to reach high-altitude terrain from Cortina.
The Lagazuoi cable car departs from the pass and reaches 2,752m in approximately 10 minutes. The return ticket is approximately €15 as of 2026. From the top, the panorama extends over the Cinque Torri, the Cortina valley, the Col Gallina, and the Marmolada glacier on clear days.
The particular draw at Lagazuoi is the network of WWI tunnels dug through the mountain. Cortina and the surrounding Dolomites were on the Italian–Austrian front from 1915–17, and Lagazuoi was a site of intense tunnel warfare: both sides dug into the mountain and detonated mines below the opposing trenches. The preserved tunnels are open to visitors — bring a head torch and dress warmly (the tunnels are around 4–6°C year-round). The descent through the tunnels on foot (approximately 45 minutes down) rather than by cable car is the most atmospheric way to experience the history.
From Passo Falzarego, the road continues west to the Val Badia and Alta Badia.
Alta Badia: 45 Minutes by Car via Passo Falzarego
The Alta Badia is the valley immediately west of Passo Falzarego, centred on the villages of Corvara, La Villa, and San Cassiano. This is Ladin country — the Ladin language (a Rhaeto-Romance language related to Romansh) is still spoken by a significant portion of the local population, and signage appears in Ladin, Italian, and German.
The landscape is different from Cortina: the Alta Badia is a broader, greener valley with gentler slopes compared to the more dramatic vertical rock faces around Cortina. The Sella group and the Sassongher dominate the skyline.
The main reason to make this trip, beyond the scenery, is the food. The Alta Badia has one of the highest concentrations of Michelin-starred restaurants in Italy relative to its population. Ristorante La Siriola (Hotel Ciasa Salares, San Cassiano) holds a Michelin star and specialises in refined Ladin mountain cooking — tasting menus approximately €80–120 per person. For a less formal lunch, the rifugi along the ski and walking trails serve local dishes (casunziei, venison ragù, rösti) for €12–20 per main course.
Corvara, the largest Alta Badia village, has good ski infrastructure in winter and a pleasant central piazza in summer. The whole valley operates as part of the Dolomiti Superski network and is ski-connected to several other valleys in winter.
Belluno: 50 Minutes by Car or Bus
Belluno is the provincial capital — a proper Italian city of around 35,000 people, significantly less touristy than any of the mountain resorts. It sits where the Dolomites meet the Venetian foothills, and the position gives it long views north to the peaks while feeling unmistakably like a lowland city.
The historic centre is compact and well-preserved. Piazza dei Martiri is the main square — a broad, tree-lined space with good cafes and a relaxed atmosphere that contrasts with Cortina’s resort crowds. The Piazza del Duomo nearby has the 16th-century Duomo di San Martino (free entry) and the Palazzo dei Rettori, a Venetian Gothic-Renaissance civic building from 1491 that shows clearly that Belluno was once under Venetian rule.
The Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park visitor centre is in the city and provides maps and information on the park’s trails and wildlife. The park covers the wilder, less-visited southern Dolomites south of Cortina.
Bus Dolomiti connects Cortina to Belluno directly (approximately 1h15, approximately €5 each way). The journey follows the Boite valley south, passing through Pieve di Cadore (birthplace of Titian — the house is now a small museum). Belluno is manageable as a morning half-day trip combined with an afternoon in Cortina.
Venice: 2.5 Hours by Car or Bus
Venice is reachable from Cortina as a long day trip. The distance is approximately 166km via the A27 motorway — around 2.5 hours by car in low traffic, longer in summer weekends. Bus Dolomiti runs a direct service from Cortina to Venice Piazzale Roma (the bus terminal at the edge of the city) taking approximately 2h30–3 hours depending on traffic; tickets cost approximately €15–20 each way.
For a day trip to work, depart from Cortina no later than 7:00am. This puts you in Venice by around 10:00am, giving 7–8 hours before the return journey. The essential Venice visit — Piazza San Marco, the Basilica, the Rialto Bridge, and a vaporetto ride down the Grand Canal — fits into a full day. Book tickets for the Basilica di San Marco in advance online to skip the queue (entry €3 for the basilica, €8 for the Pala d’Oro treasury).
September is the best month for a Venice day trip from Cortina: the summer crowds have thinned, the light is good, and the autumn weather is stable. July and August are possible but Venice is at peak crowd levels.
Pieve di Cadore: 30 Minutes South by Car
Pieve di Cadore is a small town in the Cadore valley, notable as the birthplace of Titian (born c. 1488–1490). The Casa di Tiziano — his family home — is preserved as a small museum (entry approximately €3). The town is not a destination in its own right but makes a natural stop en route to Belluno or as a short standalone excursion. The Lago di Centro Cadore reservoir nearby provides a scenic backdrop.
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