10 Travel Tips For Cortina d'Ampezzo With Kids - A Winter Guide

Planning a trip to the picturesque Italian village of Cortina d’Ampezzo with kids? Cortina also called the “Pearl of the Dolomites”, is a classy town embedded in the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site. Home of the 1956 Winter Olympic Games, several World Championships, and the 2021 Alpine Ski Cup, Cortina has a lot going on. If the Italian Alps is on your bucket list for a family ski trip, here are top tips for a ski trip in Cortina d’Ampezzo with kids.

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How To Get To Cortina d’Ampezzo

The best way to get to Cortina d’Ampezzo is by flight to Venice, Italy, or Innsbruck, Austria. Cortina is nearly 2 hours from either airport.

Venice To Cortina

Since we had already seen Innsbruck on a prior family ski vacation in Tyrol, we chose to fly to Venice for a dual vacation: Venice for 2 days, followed by Cortina for 5 days.

From Venice airport, the most economical way to travel to Cortina is by bus. After contacting many transfer companies and private cars (our preference), we chose to travel by bus given how affordable and direct the route is.

A private transfer for four one-way starts around £350. Bus tickets start around £15. Rental cars are also an option but depend upon how comfortable you are driving the tight bends and weather conditions on the mountain.

To book bus tickets, use Cortina Express. It’s 2-2.5 hours by bus from Venice to Cortina. Although direct, the bus does make a few quick stops along the way, but we were impressed with how timely Cortina Express operates.

In order to book bus tickets on Cortina Express, register in order to see prices and preferably use a PC. The website does not function properly on a Mac.

Cortina Road Trip Tip 👉🏻Pack motion sickness bags for the travel to Cortina. Although an hour of the 2-hour drive is nearly a straight stretch (or so it feels), once you’re in the mountains the driving gets a bit gnarly. Our family managed but not everyone on the bus did. 😜

Exploring Cortina d’Ampezzo with kids

Where To Stay In Cortina d’Ampezzo

The best area to stay in Cortina with kids is in the village center. Although there is an accessible bus throughout Cortina that makes getting to the slopes a breeze, the sidewalks don’t go beyond the village center.

We stayed at a hotel within a 10-minute walk north of the heart of Cortina d’Ampezzo. Even though we didn’t need a car to go anywhere, walking back and forth to our hotel felt a bit dangerous with kids (7 and 10).

With no sidewalks, strollers have nowhere to go but on the road. Our family of four walked along the side of the pavement in an assembly-line fashion.

Best Hotels in Cortina d’Ampezzo

These are the Cortina d’Ampezzo hotels we would consider staying at for a future Cortina ski trip and why:

Franceschi Park Hotel – Located on the west side of the village center. It’s just outside the main village center but still close enough for sidewalks and convenient access to the bus.
Hotel Bellevue – Located at the top of the village center. Hotel Bellevue anchors the top of Cortina center. I wouldn’t book a hotel north of Hotel Bellevue if traveling with kids.
Grand Hotel Savoie – Located at the very bottom of Cortina, just south of the village center. Hotel Savoie is a massive hotel with all the bells and whistles. I would not book a hotel south of Hotel Savoie.
Hotel Rue de la Poste – Prime location next to the Cortina information center and Cortina square. Immediate access to buses, AUDI test-driving, shopping, and more. Everything is literally one step away and the hotel offers nightlife, too.
Hotel Aquila – Also located in Cortina village center.
Hotel Ambra – This is an artsy fashion boutique hotel perched only a couple minutes from the village center. There is an apres-ski across the street so you’re not too far away from the kiddos if they are mature enough to be left alone.

Artsy boutique place to stay – Hotel Ambra Cortina

Tips For Skiing in Cortina D’Ampezzo With Kids

Tips for skiing in Cortina D’Ampezzo with kids include what ski pass to get, ski lessons for kids, which lift is best for families, and where to rent ski equipment.

What to buy for a ski pass in Cortina

For skiing in Cortina d’Ampezzo, purchase the Dolomiti Ski Pass. The Dolomiti Ski Pass provides access to all of the slopes. You can purchase the ski pass before you arrive, at the ski pass center across from the Cortina bus station or at the base of the ski lift.

Tip 👉🏻Kids 7 and under go free. You need to provide your child’s passport to show proof of age when purchasing ski passes, so remember to bring it to purchase the pass.

What ski lessons to book for kids

The easiest part of planning a Cortina d’Ampezzo ski trip with kids is booking ski or snowboarding lessons.

CheckYeti.com aggregates all the different ski or snowboard lessons available in Europe. You can book ski lessons for Cortina and have up until 24 hours prior to the start of the lesson to cancel or change.

Socrepes is where all of the ski lessons for kids take place. Ski lessons conveniently meet to the left of the Socrepes base chair lift.

While there are a number of different organizations that offer ski lessons for kids in Cortina, we used Scuola Sci Cortina and they were fab. So far, this ski lesson experience wins over France and Austria.

Which Cortina ski lift is best for families

Socrepes is perfect for families of all abilities.

To be fair, we did NOT go anywhere but Socrepes. But, it’s the one ski lift where lessons are conducted. It’s also where a Cortina Kids area is set up (jumps and obstacle course) and a snow playground.

Aside from the child-friendly amenities, Socrepes offers dramatic runs and viewpoints for even the most daring of family members.

From beginner to expert level, Cortina provides slopes for it all. Our family of four ski (and snowboard) skills range from intermediate to expert. We happily stayed on Socrepes for the entire ski trip. You will not get bored.

At Socrepes you can ski to other areas to catch a bus and transfer to a different slope. Our son did this with his ski school and enjoyed it. However, he preferred the range and variety of Socrepes without needing to leave.

The blacks are thrilling…if you dare.

But the family favorite run is blue: #40. The run is wide and long, with fewer people on it. It’s a newer area of Socrepes so we found ourselves lucky to have it for ourselves.

Don’t ski but want to experience the Dolomites?

That’s ok. You can still ride the gondolas and go to the peak to meet up with family, simply soak in the sunshine or have lunch at the highest pizzeria in Europe.

Where to eat in Cortina d’Ampezzo for the best views: Rifugio Ra Valles

Where to rent skis in Cortina

If schlepping ski equipment is your least favorite thing to do, like mine, then rent closest to the lift you’ll ski or snowboard the most.

Although it’s nice to pre-book equipment, Socrepes doesn’t offer that capability. This part of planning made me uneasy but the process was incredibly easy and smooth.

At the base of Socrepes, the ski rental is in the basement of the building. Check-in online upon arrival and they’ll have your equipment ready in no time. Digital lockers are available next door to store equipment overnight so that you don’t have to carry your equipment back and forth to the hotel daily. Locker rentals cost 15€ per day.

Other Things To Do In Cortina d’Ampezzo

If skiing or snowboarding isn’t your thing day after day, there are other things to do in Cortina in winter. Try one or many of these:

Pool & spa – Hotel Savoie offers access to their indoor pool and wellness center or get pampered with one of their spa services. Hotel Bellevue offers spa services, too.
Ice skating – Give ice skating a try at the Cortina Olympic Ice Stadium.
Snow-shoe hiking – Snow-shoe hike to old war peaks reaching 2333 with a guide dressed in military uniform. Suitable for kids.
Audi Experience – Test drive an Audi.
Dog sledding – Go on a 30-minute dog sledding excursion in the woods above Pocol. Must be at least 6 years old.
Rock climbing – Take the kids rock climbing in an impressive nearly all-glass building.
Shopping – With Cortina a popular weekend spot for Italian socialites, along with being home to many Hollywood movie sets, there is no shortage of impressive designer shopping.

Dior Store in Cortina d’Ampezzo

Where To Eat In Cortina d’Ampezzo

For a family ski trip in Italy, one thing is certain: there will be no complaining about the food.

Because Cortina is so popular during European half-terms, be sure to book reservations. We tried to pop into a few restaurants unannounced, which worked in our favor one night but not another.

Here’s what you need to know and where to eat in Cortina d’Ampezzo with kids.

La Tavernetta – Hands down the best restaurant in Cortina. The decor feels more Austrian than Italian, but the food reminds you exactly where you are. It’s sort of hidden and doesn’t look like much from the outside, but don’t let its exterior fool you. The family service is impeccable and the homestyle food might tie my best experience in Italy. From pizza to artichoke pasta and truffle dishes, it’s all simply amazing. If you have only one night for dinner, this is where to eat in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Ra Stua – Decorated similar to La Tavernetta but doesn’t have the same family-run feel. There is no specific children’s menu but they will whip up pasta if a kids’ size portion of the main menu won’t work.
Pizzeria Porto Rotondo – This restaurant is perfect for families, large groups, and kids. Many, many pages of the menu are pizza and they master it.
Il Vizietto di Cortina – If your kids want a break from pasta and love fish, this is the place to go. It’s a very cute and nicely decorated restaurant but small. Reservations are a must.
Restaurant Pizzeria Il Ponte – A local favorite that specializes in pizza but offers other mains too, such as lasagne. Of all the restaurants, this one felt the least special but is great for families. If you love Olive Garden, this is what my child equated it to but without the same buttery breadsticks and salad.

For A Posh Cortina Restaurant Experience

Alexander Il Gusto Antico – For moms who simply want something a bit nicer, prettier, and a posh glass of wine. I might love Alexander II Gusto Anitco more for its wallpaper than its actual menu. There aren’t many food choices on the menu but if your family is looking for meats and cheese, then this is the place. Despite its posh appearance and vibe, kids are most welcome.

Cortina Restaurants Tip 👉🏻If you don’t have reservations arrive when the restaurant opens. Otherwise, try to book at least 24-48 hours in advance.

Final Tips For A Cortina d’Ampezzo Ski Trip With Kids

Since getting to Cortina requires another 2 hours of travel from one of the nearby airports, consider breaking up a Cortina ski holiday with a day or two exploring Venice or even starting a family ski vacation near Innsbruck. This way the travel with kids is a litter easier and offers the family a multi-city European holiday, too.

No matter how many cities you include on your family ski trip, Cortina is an incredibly special place to experience on its own. From skiing the Dolomites to discovering where to eat in Cortina d’Ampezzo, you’ll see for yourself why Cortina is called “The Pearl”.

Be sure to follow these tips to ski Cortina d’Ampezzo with kids and you’ll have a fab time: stay in Cortina village center, book ski lessons with Scuola Ski, ski Socrepes #40, book restaurant reservations in advance, and take a ski break with one of the other fun things to do in Cortina with kids.

10 Travel Tips For Cortina d’Ampezzo With Kids – A Winter Guide