Where To Stay In Cortina d’Ampezzo: Best Hotels For Winter/Summer

Cortina d’Ampezzo is one of the main resorts in the Dolomites. You can reach it easily from Venice or Austria, and it offers many hiking and skiing options. It’s one of the most popular destinations in northern Italy.

In this article, I’ll walk you through the best hotels and where to stay so you can get the most out of your time and experience typical Dolomiti-style accommodations.

Let’s get booking!

Where To Stay Around Cortina d’Ampezzo & Map

There are a few areas to stay around Cortina d’Ampezzo. Here is what I recommend:

1. Center of Cortina
2. Misurina & Tre Cime
3. San Vito di Cadore
4. Cadin di Sotto
5. Rifugios near Cortina

I recommend staying in the center of Cortina as you’ll be in the middle of all the excursions/ski slopes, and day hikes, and you can easily reach everything from here.

Misurina is my second-favorite place to stay near Cortina, as it’s more isolated. Lake Misurina is absolutely beautiful, and the mountains will surround you.

For more budget-friendly options, check out some hotels in San Vito di Cadore or a agroturismo (traditionsl accommodation) in Cadin di Sotto.

And something you can’t miss while in the Dolomites is sleeping at least 1 night in a rifugio (local mountain hut), so I’ll also recommend my favorite rifugios in the area for you.

1. Staying In Cortina d’Ampezzo (Center): Best Hotels

Staying in the center of Cortina is the most convenient option. The prices are higher than in the surrounding towns, but you’ll be close to hiking trails and ski slopes, as well as all the facilities, shopping, and restaurants.

Best Hotels In The City Center Of Cortina

If you want to stay in the middle of the city center, check out Hotel Regina and Royal Hotel Cortina.

Both are 3-star hotels with traditional wooden furniture and Alpine-style rooms. They offer breakfast, and the staff is super friendly, recommending hikes in the summer and brief you on the skiing options. They don’t have a wellness center, though.

🏰 Hotel Regina
🏰 Royal Hotel Cortina

Budget-Friendly Hotels In Cortina

If you’re looking for budget accommodation while still wanting to feel Alpine charm, Oasi Hotel is a great option. The owner is very friendly and makes you feel at home from the very beginning to the very end. Rooms are simple, you can add a basic breakfast (not the most nourishing, so I’d rather go to town lol), and it’s just 300m walking to the center.

Hotel Villa Alpina is another Alpine-style 3* hotel, 500 meters away from the city center. It’s a simple-style B&B accommodation.

Hotel Panda Cortina is also a great 3* hotel, just 200 meters from the slopes. It’s quieter and the views from their balconies are stunning. There is free on-site parking (also for electric cars) and breakfast is included for all the guests.

For more budget options, check out the other areas like San Vito di Cadore or Cadin di Sotto.

🏰 Oasi Hotel
🏰 Hotel Villa Alpina
🏰 Hotel Panda Cortina

Best Boutique Hotels In Cortina

Hotel de Len is my overall favorite hotel in Cortina. It feels so cozy right after you step in. The staff is very friendly, the rooms are furnished in a mix of modern and traditional Alpine styles, and the property also features a spa center with pools and saunas. If you’re looking for a couple’s gateway or a honeymoon stay, this would be my choice.

If you want to stay a bit away from the business of town yet be close, go for Boutique Hotel Villa Blu. It’s set upon a hill, 600 meters away from the center. You’ll be surrounded by forest and enjoy beautiful views of the mountains. Breakfast is included for all the guests, and they also offer a free ski shuttle.

🏰 Hotel de Len
🏰 Boutique Hotel Villa Blu

Best Hotels With Wellness/Spa Area & Swimming Pool

If you picture a holiday where you can relax in a cozy hotel spa after a long day of hiking and especially skiing, here are my top picks in Cortina.

Hotel de Len is one of the best for couples looking for a boutique-style hotel with a small spa and quietness to recharge.

Franceschi Park Hotel is a 4* hotel just 500 meters away from the center, offering an extensive spa with pools and saunas. A park surrounds the hotel, and the area is very quiet.

Radisson Residences Savoia Palace, 4* apartments that are connected to the Grand Hotel Savoia. If you’re looking to stay in a nice rustic-style apartment as a family or a group of friends, you have access to the hotel’s spa with a big indoor swimming pool with saunas, Turkish bath, and a hot tub.

Other amazing hotel resorts with spa/wellness areas outside Cortina are Dolomiti Lodge Alverà, Parkhotel Ladinia, Hotel Tofana Cortina, and Faloria Mountain Spa Resort.

🏰 Hotel de Len
🏰 Franceschi Park Hotel
🏰 Radisson Residences Savoia Palace
🏰 Dolomiti Lodge Alverà
🏰 Parkhotel Ladinia
🏰 Hotel Tofana Cortina
🏰 Faloria Mountain Spa Resort

Best 5 Star Hotels In Cortina

There are 3 amazing 5* luxury hotels I recommend in/around Cortina:

🏰 Eight Cortina
🏰 Hotel Tofana Cortina
🏰 Faloria Mountain Spa Resort

Eight Cortina is located in Cortina, just a few minutes from the city center. It has a beautiful modern style combined with the Alpine charm. However, there isn’t any wellness center.

Hotel Tofana Cortina is located in Pocol, a small town above Cortina (7 km/4.3 miles away). It’s a nice resort with ski-to-door access, an amazing wellness area with saunas and a swimming pool. You can enjoy on-site dining at a restaurant that offers a variety of cuisines, including vegan and gluten-free options. They also organize yoga classes – check with the reception staff.

Faloria Mountain Spa Resort is my favorite 5* hotel in Cortina as it’s charming and simple, yet with a splash of luxury. There is a spa area with a kids’ club and an on-site restaurant. It’s located in a small town called Zuel, 3 km/1.8 miles away from the center of Cortina.

Best Family-Friendly Hotel In Cortina

Hotel Cristallino d’Ampezzo is the best choice for families with children. They have a kids’ room with a small playground, and you can play table football.

They also cater to kids’ needs at the restaurant with a kids’ menu. It has nice family rooms, too. And you can enjoy their spa with an indoor swimming pool and saunas – perfect for the entire family.

Parkhotel Ladinia is another great family-friendly hotel, just 3 km/1.8 miles away from the center of Cortina (in San Vito di Cadore) with a kids’ club.

🏰 Hotel Cristallino d’Ampezzo
🏰 Parkhotel Ladinia

2. Staying In Misurina & Tre Cime

Misurina is a great base for both summer and winter. If you want to be away from a larger town (like Cortina), surrounded by nature, next to the lake, and still within your budget, you’ll love this area.

Lake Misurina is on the east side of Cortina d’Ampezzo, close to Tre Cime.

Not only is it on the way to the famous hike to Tre Cime (great day hike from Cortina), it’s also a nice ski-to-door destination, as you can ski around the Faloria resort.

The hotels here are more basic – no spa centers – and more budget-friendly, but you’ll love the area. Even if you decide not to stay here, I highly recommend visiting Lake Misurina and walking around.

Here are the hotels I recommend in Misurina:

🏰 Hotel Miralago – great for winter (ski-to-door) and summer season, directly at the lake
🏰 Hotel Sorapiss – directly at the lake, close to the slopes & hiking trails
🏰 Albergo Chalet Lago Antorno – more beautiful facilities & Alpine-style, it’s further up north from Misurina, it’s also a ski-to-door hotel in the winter
🏰 Hotel Dolomiti Des Alpes – my favorite hotel in the area, a bit away from the lake – mostly only open in the summer

3. Staying In San Vito di Cadore: Best Hotels

San Vito di Cadore is a small village, a 30-minute drive from Cortina d’Ampezzo – 3 km/1.8 miles (southern part). If you’re looking for budget-friendly accommodation without cutting on quality or style, it’s a great place to stay.

The hotels are more affordable and maintain a high level of quality and Alpine charm, unlike some hotels in the center of Cortina (as seen in the pictures, some of them might look a bit old-fashioned).

Here, I recommend the following 4 hotels:

🏰 Locanda Montana – budget-friendly B&B hotel
🏰 FIORI Dolomites Experience Hotel – a budget-friendly hotel with breakfast, offers free bike rental
🏰 Dolomiti Lodge Alverà – mid-range hotel with spa area, fitness center, and on-site restaurant, amazing for couples & honeymooners
🏰 Parkhotel Ladinia – mid-range hotel, great for families with kids (play room), on-site restaurant & spa center

4. Staying In Cadin Di Sotto: Agroturismo Experience

If you’re not familiar with the term ‘agroturismo’, it’s an Italian-style nature resort, usually a farmhouse or a nature house converted into a modern-style accommodation. It’s mostly popular in Tuscany and southern Italy, but there is 1 nearby in Cortina in the Cadin di Sotto town.

Jagerhäus Agriturismo is still a working farm offering beautiful wooden-style accommodation.

If you’re looking for a unique stay, this is your best pick. It’s away from the crows in nature, surrounded by forests and mountains. You can try their own meat and cheese production in the restaurant and just enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of the Dolomites.

✅ NEED TRAVEL INSURANCE? Check out Safety Wings: Cheap & Flexible Insurance For Travelers

5. Rifugios Near Cortina

I’m so passionate about rifugios in the Dolomites. Don’t ask me why, but there is just something so magical about hiking up to them, staying in these cozy little wooden-stone chalets at the top of the mountains, and waking up to an epic sunrise.

Sounds like a dream? Well, you can live it for a moment – I’ve stayed in many rifugios in the Dolomites and I keep counting them.

So, here are my favorite rifugios (mountain huts) around Cortina d’Ampezzo.

🏰 Rifugio Nuvolau
🏰 Rifugio Scoiattoli
🏰 Rifugio Averau
🏰 Rifugio Lagazuoi
🏰 Rifugio Angelo Dibona
🏰 Rifugio Citta ‘Di Carpi
🏰 Rifugio Auronzo

How To Get To The Rifugios

Most of the rifugios are accessed only on foot, or on skis in the wintertime. Some have nearby cable cars.

Especially around Cortina, the rifugios are more accessible by cable car and road, which is nice if you don’t want to do serious hiking. And many of them are open year-round.

Booking A Stay In A Rifugio

They sell out very fast—let’s say, if you’re booking your stay for June/July/August, start making reservations in January- yes, that much in advance, I’m not joking. For some of them (like Rifugio Lagazuoi), start booking in November before the next summer.

Some rifugios have an online availability calendar where you can book rooms. To some, you can just write an email, and they communicate pretty quickly. The staff is super friendly and always answers all your questions about the logistics of getting to rifugios, etc.

The price per night includes an overnight stay with a half-board (breakfast & dinner). Some rifugios serve fancier, better meals than others, but dinner is usually very good and filling.

Rifugio Facilities & What To Expect

The facilities are basic, so don’t look for any luxury here. You’re usually staying in a room with multiple bunk beds. Some rifugios also offer double rooms. Generally, the higher the altitude, the more basic the facilities are. Some rifugios don’t even have a shower, or there is only cold water.

Solution if a rifugio doesn’t have a shower? Carry a big bottle of water and shower yourself with it (somehow). I did it – not the most fun – but yeah, it worked, especially after a full day of hiking and sweating.

That’s all part of the experience of staying in a rifugio.

Practical Tips About Staying In Cortina d’Ampezzo

Here are some tips for getting to the town, how to get around, and where to stay in different seasons, so you can get the most out of your trip:

How To Get To Cortina

Cortina is one of the most accessible destinations in the Dolomites. The easiest way is to fly to Venice.

From there, take a local bus ‘Cortina Express‘, which will take you directly to the center of Cortina. The bus ride from Venice city center (the bus stop is close to the train station in Mestre) to Cortina takes about 2.5 hours.

How To Get Around Cortina

There are local buses that will take you from Cortina to other locations, like Lake Misurina, Rifugio Auronzo (close to the Tre Cime), or to the other side, to Pocol and Passo Falzarego.

Another popular option is to drive a car or ride on a motorcycle through the epic mountain passes.

Cortina town center is very small and everything is within walking distance.

BONUS: Where To Stay In The Dolomites: 7 Best Areas & Hotels

Get to know the Dolomites with me even better – I’ve written a full article about all the areas in the Dolomites where you can stay & my favorite hotels. Cortina d’Ampezzo is also on the list, as well as other amazing places to discover the most breathtaking spots in the Dolomites.

FAQs

I’ve also answered some of the most popular questions about staying in Cortina, so check out my answers below:

Is It Worth Staying In Cortina d’Ampezzo?

Yes, staying in Cortina d’Ampezzo is worth it, especially if you’re looking for quick access to the Dolomites (from Venice) or if you want to see and hike the famous Tre Cime mountains.

I have to admit, though, Cortina is not my favorite place in the Dolomites. I think it’s quite overrated, and there are many nicer, hidden gems in the Dolomites with a better vibe (like Val Gardena or Alta Badia).

What is nice is the 5 Torri area, which is close to Cortina – so if you want to be away from the crowds, head there.

What Are The Best Hotels In Cortina For Skiing?

The best hotels for skiing with ski-to-door access, where you can ski directly from the slopes to the ski boot room, are Hotel Tofana Cortina, Hotel Miralago, Albergo Chalet Lago Antorno, and Rifugio Lagazuoi.

Where To Stay In Cortina d’Ampezzo In The Summer?

In the summer, it’s best to stay in the city center of Cortina, as you can easily take buses to the nearby hiking trails. I suggest staying in Hotel de Len, Hotel Villa Alpina, or Royal Hotel Cortina.

It’s also great to stay in the rifugios and enjoy some breathtaking hikes – I recommend staying in Rifugio Lagazuoi, Rifugio Scoiattoli, Rifugio Nuvolau, or Rifugio Auronzo.

Which Town Is Best For A Base In The Dolomites?

Cortina d’Ampezzo and Ortisei in Val Gardena are the 2 best base towns to explore the Dolomites. Both towns are pretty close to major cities (Venice & Bolzano), and each of them offers a variety of hiking and skiing options with epic views and nice rifugios.

WRAP-UP: Where To Stay In Cortina d’Ampezzo & Best Hotels

These are my insights on staying in Cortina d’Ampezzo, based on my experience and the best hotels in the area. When choosing, consider the main reason for your vacation (hiking, skiing, relaxing, beautiful facilities away from crowds), then book a hotel that meets your needs. Cortina is a nice place and I’m sure you’ll be able to unwind there.

If you have any questions or need help planning your time in the Dolomites, contact me at info(at)voicesoftravel.com. I also create customized travel itineraries, so if you want me to plan your journey within Italy (or anywhere else in Europe), let me know.

Have a great stay!

ITALY: Interested in more articles for Italy?
Check out my Italy Travel Page: