Set in the heart of the Veneto region of northern Italy, Cortina d'Ampezzo is a vast ski resort framed by the dramatic peaks of the Dolomite Mountains. Thousands of visitors set their sights on this World Unesco World Heritage site, and with regular flights into its nearest airports (Venice, Treviso and Innsbruck) plus fast and efficient trains via Trenitalia and Italo, there are plenty of options to find the quickest, cheapest or most comfortable routes. Read on for Omio’s comprehensive guide on getting to Cortina d’Ampezzo. Check the distances to the airports, train and bus stations, please make an easy booking with the Omio app.
Discover the thrill of skiing in the Dolomite Mountains, Italy. Credit: Unsplash
Positioned high-up in the Dolomite Alps, Cortina d’Ampezzo is set within rugged Alpine slopes and a reasonable distance from major cities where international airports are located. It’s not one of the easiest resorts to travel to, but the scenery and quality of its slopes seasoned winter athletes and nature enthusiasts throughout the year. Depending on where passengers are flying from, there are a number of different airports to get to Cortina d’Ampezzo by plane. Travelers will then need to combine train and bus options to get to their final destination in the mountains.
Venice Marco Polo Airport: Venice Marco Polo Airport is one of the larger international airports close to Cortina d’Ampezzo resort, offering a high volume of international flights from across the globe. Venice Marco Polo Airport is just 93 miles (150 km) away and around 1.5 to 2 hours drive by car. From Venice Marco Polo, travelers can get a direct bus to Cortina (journey time of around 3 to 4 hours) or use a combination of train and bus. Read on to discover more about bus and train services to the resort.
Innsbruck Airport: Although located in Austria, Innsbruck Airport is only 103 miles (165 km) away in the Tyrol region of the Alps, with a journey time of about 2 to 2.5 hours by car. There are trains running from Innsbruck to train stations in towns north of Cortina, where travelers will then make the final leg of their journey via bus.
Treviso Airport: Located 81 miles (130 km) away, getting to Cortina ski resort takes around 1.5 to 2 hours by car. Treviso airport is a much smaller airport with fewer connections, but has flight options to European cities and Ryanair destinations in the UK, such as London and Liverpool.
Milan Malpensa: Located 186 miles (300 km) away, much further than the other airport options, Milan is a huge hub for international flights. Travelers can easily get flights to Milan Malpensa and hop on a train towards Cortina with Trenitalia or Italo. Train journey times from Milan to Cortina are between 5 to 6 hours, with transfers in Venice or Mestre.
Cortina d'Ampezzo has regular train connections from Venice and Venice Mestre train stations, with over 20 trains running daily. The resort doesn’t have its own station, instead travelers can make their way to the closest station Calalzo di Cadore train station, which is just 22 miles (35 km) away, before making a final transfer by bus. Domestic trains in Italy are usually run by Trenitalia or Italo, and there are also high-speed international train services across Europe from major cities such as Berlin, Paris, and Vienna.
Trains from Venice: From Venice, there are two main train stations, Venice Mestre and Venice Santa Lucia, to get to the stunning town of Calalzo di Cadore. The journey times take between 2 to 3 hours with one or two transfers (Treviso and Ponte Nelle) on all train routes from Venice to Calalzo di Cadore. Once at Calalzo di Cadore, there are buses and taxis that run to the Cortina.
Trains from Treviso: Treviso Centrale train station is just 4.5 km (approximately 3 miles) from Treviso airport. Getting to Cortina d’Ampezzo from Treviso Centrale involves a combination of trains and bus. From Treviso Centrale, the journey time to Cortina’s nearest train station is between 2 to 3 hours, with transfers at Ponte Nelle. Most trains on this route are run by Trenitalia.
Trains from Innsbruck: Getting to Cortina from the Innsbruck train station is made via northerly routes through the Alps. A popular train route (which is also quite beautiful) is from Innsbruck to Dobbiaco Toblach, which is just 14 miles (22 km) from the resort. The train journey time from Innsbruck takes an average of 3 hours, with connecting buses from Dobbiach to the resort taking an average of 40 mins.
International trains to Cortina: Thanks to Europe’s extensive train network, there are several high-speed connections between major European cities, meaning you can travel to the slopes and hit a few of Europe’s finest cities en route – plus you’ll be reducing your carbon footprint. For example, there are trains from Paris to Milan and Paris to Venice via SNCF. The route from Berlin to Venice goes via Munich and takes around 14 hours, while companies such as ÖBB’s Nightjet sleeper train services go from Vienna to Venice and Stuttgart to Venice. Get cozy in a couchette and wake up fresh to make the final leg of the journey up to the Dolomites! Find more trains from across Europe and different ways to get to Cortina d’Ampezzo by downloading the Omio app today.
Due to its remote location, it can be a little tricky to get to Cortina d’Ampezzo from big cities and for this reason traveling by bus comes out on top. Thanks to dedicated schedules to and from the city, there are direct buses to Cortina from airports and city centers. Although trains may offer more scenic routes, getting to Cortina d’Ampezzo by bus can mean fewer transfers and fewer modes of transport to contend with.
Buses from Venice to Cortina d’Ampezzo: From Venice Central station, there is a direct bus to the resort with a journey time of 2h 30 minutes. The ATVO bus picks passengers up from Venice Mestre station in the city, so if you’re traveling to Italy by train it’s an easy transfer onto the bus. International travelers flying into Italy can also get an ATVO bus from the airport to the city center, before getting a bus straight to the resort.
Buses from Treviso to Cortina d’Ampezzo: There are no direct bus routes from Treviso city center to Cortina. Instead, travelers can get a bus from Treviso airport to Cortina with a stop via Venice Mestre. This journey takes between 4 to 5 hours, depending on the transfer time in Venice. This route is also run by the Italian bus company ATVO.
Buses from Innsbruck to Cortina: Getting the bus from Innsbruck Hbf (central station) to Cortina is a little trickier without any direct routes available. Buses do run with Flixbus and BlaBlaCar Bus to nearby towns such as Bolzano and Dobliach, but travelers will have to get a second bus to Cortina from there.
More buses to Cortina d’Ampezzo ski resort: Getting to Cortina from cities slightly further afield? There are also direct buses from Milan to Cortina and Bologna to Cortina, just to name a few. Regional bus companies such as Dolomiti Bus and SAD operate in Cortina’s locality. Omio gathers all the latest bus timetables and information so you can book the most convenient journey for your trip. Book your ticket to Cortina d’Ampezzo ski resort today!
The rising peaks of the Dolomites above Cortina d’Ampezzo. Credit: Unsplash
Locally known as the “Queen of the Dolomites,” Cortina d’Ampezzo ski resort is set under the gaze of the Tofane the highest three peaks of the Dolomite mountains. Twice a day, the mountains turn a deep pink with the rising and setting of the sun, a sight that has drawn ski enthusiasts and nature lovers worldwide. The Cortina d’Ampezzo ski resort itself sits at an elevation of approximately 4016 feet (1,224 meters) and is connected to the vast Dolomiti Superski network. From the resort, there are two main cable cars up the mountain plus 27 lifts across the slopes, with approximately 75 miles (120 km) of well-groomed slope to play with. You can expect plenty of gentle red runs for beginners and challenging black runs for advanced skiers and snowboarders.
The area will be co-hosting the Winter Olympics in 2026, so there’s plenty of buzz around the area, and perhaps even the opportunity to ski the slopes with top athletes. Don’t forget to check out some of the more adventurous offerings in the area – there’s a brand new snowpark for freestyle skiers plus ski touring routes in the Dolomites.
Airlines usually provide the option to add skis or snowboards to your booking, under the option to add “sports equipment” to your checked luggage. Do this well in advance of your journey to avoid paying a higher fee, or risking the possibility that they cannot travel with you due to limited space. All travelers will have to find connecting transport to the resort, so be sure to check additional fees on trains and buses.
To take skis on a bus, it’s advisable to book your bus ticket in advance and add skis and snowboards onto the booking. Most buses to Cortina will allow for additional large luggage, but there may be a small fee, and will depend on whether there is enough hold space. Booking tickets in advance will guarantee that you’ll be able to take your equipment with you on this leg of the journey. Be sure to clearly label your equipment with your name and address.
In general, many of the European train companies do not charge an additional fee for bringing large or overweight luggage, as long as there is space for your luggage and everyone else’s. If there isn’t space on the train, you may be asked to put your equipment in the luggage hold for a small fee. With companies such as Trenitalia, it’s possible to book a space in the luggage hold in advance – simply drop off your skis and relax for the rest of the journey.
Depending on where you are flying from, the best airports to get to Cortina D’Ampezzo are either Venice, Innsbruck or Treviso. Each of these airports will have their own regular schedules and connections to domestic and international cities. Check out the Omio app and search for flights from your departing city.
Looking for a direct bus to Cortina? Direct buses run from Venice and Innsbruck straight to the resort, with no transfers or stopovers. Central train stations in Venice, Innsbruck, Milan and Treviso also have trains that run towards Cortina, however be aware that there is no station at the resort. All train passengers will have to hire a car or get a bus from the closest train station.
The closest train station to Cortina d’Ampezzo is Calalzo di Cadore train station. From here, there are options for car hire and local buses to the resort. If traveling from Innsbruck by train, most passengers will find routes to Dobbiaco Toblach train station, where they will have to get a connection bus or taxi to the resort.