Cortina Ski Holidays

Skiing in Cortina
Cortina d’Ampezzo, located in the Ampezzo Valley in the eastern Dolomites, is Italy's most upmarket ski resort, known for its’ chic jet-set image with fantastic shopping and dining. The Pearl of the Dolomites, as Cortina is referred to, is set against some of the most dramatic and beautiful scenery in the Alps, with the pink glow and unique spires of the Dolomites providing a picture-postcard backdrop. Home to the first Italian Winter Olympics in the 1950’s, Cortina remains a popular choice for international competitions, and with excellent facilities both on and off the slopes, a great holiday destination for beginner and intermediate skiers.

Skiing in Cortina – The Mountains
Situated at 1,200m, Cortina offers 140km of skiing, with 102 ski runs spread over the 3 ski areas – Christalo, Faloria and Tofana. The 50 lifts ferry over 60,000 skiers an hour up to the highest peak of 2,932m, and 90% of the slopes are supplemented by snow cannons. Over half of the runs in Cortina are categorised as easy, and the resort is rated as one of the best in Europe for beginners, with one of the most highly regarded ski schools in the country and some excellent nursery slopes. Most of the beginners slopes are south-facing, resulting in nice sunny conditions, and these lower slopes, like almost all of the slopes throughout the resort, are boosted by efficient snowmaking facilities. Intermediate skiers in Cortina have the most choice of runs, with both Tofana and Faloria offering an excellent choice of mid-level slopes. The huge Dolomiti Superski region, with its’ 1,100km of trails, is accessible from Cortina via the Passo Falzarego cable-car, a short trip away. From here, the Lagazuoi offers ideal intermediate terrain, with a wonderful 9km run down to Armentarola, where a unique skiing experience is offered – being pulled by horses along the trail. Tofana is home to some challenging expert terrain expert and off-piste skiing can be found throughout this area. Cortina also has a fun park for snowboarders, and offers 60km of trails for cross-country skiers.

Skiing in Cortina – The Après-ski
Cortina is a charming Tyrolean mountain town, with all the sophistication of a major city. The resort attracts many Italians, who come to enjoy the wealth of après-ski and dining choices here, as well as the shopping and the splendid architecture of the town. In true Italian style, evenings in Cortina begin with the pre-dinner evening stroll through the Corsa Italia, the main area for people-watching. The restaurants in Cortina range from the Michelin-starred to the cosy pizzeria, and the standard of dining is high, with some excellent restaurants found on the mountain. There is plenty to do after dark, with a wide selection of bars, and a choice of 5 clubs. Cortina is also home to some wonderful shops, spas, museums and galleries and the city of Venice is just a 2 hour trip away. Whilst skiing in Cortina, other activities to try include ice-skating, bob-sledding, ice-hockey, snow-shoeing, tennis, swimming, curling and horse-back riding.