Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy

* Breath-taking Dolomite scenery...

* Charming, upmarket Italian town...

* Extensive, scenic and mostly easy local slopes...

* Lots to do off the slopes...

Self-styled “Queen of the Dolomites”, Cortina has long been Italy’s most famous and fashionable ski resort. Its slopes may not be the toughest in the Alps, but they are among the most scenic, with jaw-dropping views everywhere you look.

Cortina at a glance...

Resort height:	1225m
Slopes:	1225-2930m
Pistes:	115km
Snow rating:	☆☆☆☆☆

Suitability		Skiing
Beginners	☆☆☆☆☆	Blue runs	●	50%
Intermediate	☆☆☆☆☆	Red runs	●	35%
Advanced	☆☆☆☆☆	Black runs	●	15%

Resort		Transfer time
Charm	☆☆☆☆☆	Venice	2hr
Convenience	☆☆☆☆☆	Innsbruck	2hr15
Après-ski	☆☆☆☆☆	Verona	2hr30
Family	☆☆☆☆☆
Non-skiers	☆☆☆☆☆

Snow reliability

General snow cover	3.5/5
Snow quality – upper	3.5/5
Snow quality – lower	2.5/5
Resort level snow	2/5
Powder potential	2.5/5

The skiing

There is an excellent choice of slopes in Cortina, both above and below the tree-line, spread over several distinct mountains. Experts have several genuinely challenging runs on offer and plenty of underused off-piste to explore.

Intermediates will also appreciate the diversity of the terrain and may wish to explore further afield including the fabulous Cinque Torri area, the “hidden valley” and beyond into the Sella Ronda (Selva, Arabba, San Cassiano and Canazei) all reachable by bus.

Beginners and early intermediates are also particularly well catered for, with lots of very wide gentle terrain on the Socrepes sector.

The resort

Cortina is a vibrant year-round town and boasts one of the most spectacular settings in the Alps. The centre is the atmospheric traffic-free Corso Italia, famous for its evening promenading and smart shops.

Cortina is also one of the best resorts in the Alps for non-skiers (indeed 70% of Italian visitors never step on the slopes), with a wealth of non-skiing activities on offer including skating, swimming and winter walking. Many of the excellent mountain restaurants are also within reach, either by road or lift.

Après-ski is sophisticated but lively, especially in high season when the resort is positively buzzing from mid-afternoon onwards.