Cortina d'Ampezzo

Cortina d'Ampezzo sits in a bowl of jagged Dolomite peaks in the Veneto region, and it's as much about scenery as skiing — the mountains here, with their pale rock faces that turn pink and orange at sunset (a phenomenon called enrosadira), are genuinely different from the rest of the Alps.

It's long been Italy's most fashionable winter resort, hosting the 1956 Winter Olympics and set to co-host again in 2026. That pedigree shows in the polished town center, the fur coats, and prices that run higher than most other Italian ski towns. Summer is increasingly popular too, drawing hikers to via ferrata routes and refuges like Lagazuoi and Cinque Torri, with lift access making high-altitude trails reachable without brutal climbs.

The skiing itself is part of the Dolomiti Superski network, linking into the Sella Ronda circuit, though Cortina's own slopes are better suited to intermediate cruisers and sightseers than experts chasing steep terrain.

Food leans Ladin and Tyrolean as much as Italian, with hearty dishes like casunziei (beet-filled pasta) reflecting the area's Austro-Hungarian past.

A car or reliable bus connections help, since Cortina is somewhat remote; the nearest major airports are Venice and Innsbruck, both a couple hours away.