Camping in Cortina d'Ampezzo

Cortina d'Ampezzo in the province of Belluno in Veneto is one of the most popular holiday resorts in the Alps. If you fancy a breath of mountain air, the campsites in Cortina d'Ampezzo are the perfect place for you. As soon as you get up, you want to marvel at the fascinating mountain panoramas of the Dolomite peaks. After breakfast, you can set off on hikes, bike tours or winter sports in the idyllic natural surroundings.

Camping in Cortina d'Ampezzo: all important information at a glance

Mountain fans and outdoor sports enthusiasts have a good choice of campsites in Cortina d'Ampezzo. The Ampezzo Valley is dotted with a number of campsites with wonderful views of the Ampezzo Dolomites. The small town of Cortina is easily accessible from the campsites and, as the region is a popular hiking area, there are a number of well-developed hiking trails in the valley basin.

The offer ranges from simple motorhome pitches with electricity and waste disposal facilities to exclusive sites with bungalows, swimming pools and various amenities. Most pitches are regularly inspected and, depending on the category, offer appropriate cleanliness and comfort.

In addition to pitches for motorhomes, campers can usually also spend their holidays in rental accommodation such as bungalows, chalets or holiday flats. Cortina is an Olympic sports resort and very popular with skiers in winter. Many pitches are therefore open all year round and winter camping is possible.

The facilities on the pitches are usually simple but good, with clean sanitary facilities and large pitches. Depending on the site, campers can choose between pitches or pitches on the grass. There is usually a restaurant or a supermarket on site for self-catering. In addition, there is a wide range of sports facilities with many opportunities for outdoor activities in both summer and winter.

Some campsites are barrier-free and therefore suitable for people with limited mobility. In some cases, holidaymakers are also allowed to bring their beloved four-legged friends with them. Advance booking is required for this and a small fee may be charged. At campsites with a restaurant, dogs are usually not allowed in the restaurant.

Campsites in Cortina d'Ampezzo

Here is a selection of the most popular campsites in and around Cortina.

International Camping Olympia

Great family campsite with wonderful views of the Dolomite peaks and only 3km from the centre of Cortina. All pitches have electric hook-ups and there is also a separate area for tents at the edge of the forest, several pretty wooden mountain chalets and glamping pods for luxury campers. A restaurant serves local specialities and self-catering campers can stock up at the supermarket. Highlight: there is even a beach on the riverbank.

Camping Rochetta

Modern campsite close to the centre, ideal for mountain lovers: It's only a 30-minute walk to the climbing wall of the Volpera caves. Cyclists and hikers are also well catered for here: the Dolomites cycle path is close by and there is direct access from the campsite to the Croda da Lago mountain range. This hiking area offers an extraordinary variety of beautiful tours, including the famous Dolomite Alta Via 1.

Camping Dolomiti

Simple but pretty campsite in the south of Cortina in a sunny location with breathtaking views of the mountains. Free choice of pitches is possible, but there is no restaurant and no open WLAN on the site. However, the breakfast service ensures that you get fresh bread rolls in the morning. Drinks can also be purchased directly on site.

How to get to Cortina d'Ampezzo

Holidaymakers coming from the north of Germany, for example, drive around 1,065 km from Hamburg to the campsite in Cortina d'Ampezzo. The route is usually travelled via Kassel, Ulm, Innsbruck and the Brenner Pass.

Guests from Berlin often travel the approximately 908 km via Leipzig, Nuremberg, Munich, Kufstein, Innsbruck and the Brenner Pass. Visitors from Frankfurt am Main travelled around 675 km via Heidelberg, Stuttgart, Innsbruck and the Brenner Pass.

The distances - especially from the north of Germany - require at least one longer break, and possibly an overnight stop on the way there and back. Campers from the south of Germany, on the other hand, can get by with an extended break, for example at the Rosenberger motorway service station just before Innsbruck.

Depending on the time of year, it is advisable to carry snow chains for Austria and Italy, as these are mandatory on certain roads and in some regions. Snow chains are not a substitute for a driving aid.

During the holiday season and major events such as the Ski World Cup, you can expect increased traffic and high demand at campsites. Accommodation should be booked in good time and any delays in travelling to and from the campsite should be planned for.

Top 5 sights

• Tofane: One of the most famous massifs in the Dolomites is easily accessible by cable car.
• Lagazuoi 5 Torri open-air museum: Fascinating open-air museum offering insights into the mountain warfare in the Dolomites during the First World War. There are various routes that can be explored free of charge. Information boards and audio tapes provide valuable information about the unique rock formations.
• Regole d'Ampezzo Ethnological Museum: History buffs can discover historical exhibits such as ancient documents, old tools and traditional costumes.
• Rinaldo Zardini Palaeontological Museum: 230 million-year-old algae, corals and other sea creatures are part of the largest collection of fossils in the Dolomites.
• Rock school: There is an introduction to mountaineering for every age group. Children can look forward to rock mini-courses, play and sport climbing.

Top 2 insider tips

• Mountain railway visit: Between May and October, the mountain railway at the Helm lift opens its doors every Monday at ten o'clock. Visitors can then take a look at the heart of the station. Guests learn, for example, how artificial snow is made. The professionals are also happy to answer any questions. An exciting excursion, and not just for families.
• Yoga classes: If you like yoga, you can take advantage of the mountain air of the Dolomites from July. Every Thursday, the Ra Vallis hut offers classes with sun salutations and more. Afterwards, you can have breakfast in the hut if you wish.

Activities and excursions

The picturesque village of Cortina d'Ampezzo is located in the Ampezzo Valley and is surrounded by the imposing mountain world of the Dolomites, which attracts outdoor sports enthusiasts in both summer and winter for sports such as cycling, hiking, skiing and snowboarding.

Dolomites cycle path

The Dolomites are a fantastic destination for cyclists. Although high mountains surround Cortina d'Ampezzo, there are not only tours for professionals, but also routes for beginners and families. A beautiful and easy route takes around three hours along the Dolomite cycle path to the Gustav Mahler village of Dobbiaco. The distance is around 30 kilometres. A return transfer can be booked in advance.

Canyoning in wild water

Holidaymakers who like to let off steam in mountain gorges with raging white water streams will find a wide range of options in the area around Cortina d'Ampezzo. For example, the Zösenklamm gorge near Sand in Taufers is ideal for an excursion. There are tours of varying degrees of difficulty over two and a half or three hours. The minimum age for the easy route is twelve years.

Hiking and climbing in the Dolomites

Cortina is surrounded by countless hiking trails through the breathtaking mountain landscape of the Dolomites. The famous Alta Via 1 long-distance hiking trail, one of the most beautiful tours in Europe, is located nearby.

Those who prefer something a little more sporty can try their hand at one of the numerous via ferratas. These routes, secured with steel cables, allow even inexperienced mountaineers to reach dizzying heights and were partly created during the First World War. At that time, the Dolomites were the scene of fierce battles. The tunnels and fiercely contested trenches from that time can still be seen in many places today

Extensive areas for winter sports

Cortina d'Ampezzo has been an Eldorado for skiers and cross-country skiing fans since the Winter Olympics in 1956. In the winter months, athletes practise spectacular jumps on their boards in the snow park. A total of 120 km of the finest pistes are available to holidaymakers.

events

January

• Ski race: The women's Alpine Skiing World Cup always takes place in Cortina d'Ampezzo at the beginning of the year. At this huge spectacle of international interest, the female ski pros show off their skills in front of an enthusiastic audience.

July

• Bike race: The gigantic mountain world of Cortina d'Ampezzo is the backdrop for the exciting Trophy Cortina with two routes over 74 km or 43 km. In addition to the competition, there are numerous other activities on offer during the event weekend, such as yoga, downhill cycling and slacklining.
• Festival of Stones: The Lagazuoi Cairn Festival lasts for a fortnight, during which participants can create towers and hills out of stones in the landscape. The venue runs along the route to the summit of the Lagazuoi. There are a total of 40 work stations and at the end a jury judges the works.

August

• Music festival: The Ra Festa de ra Bandes music festival brings together both local and national groups to perform over the course of a week. The highlight of the music festival is a large parade on the last Sunday of the event.

Gastronomy

Not only active holidaymakers, but also gourmets feel at home in Cortina d'Ampezzo. The selection of local products is varied and the dishes are characterised by the rural mountain world. At the weekly market and in the small shops in the Olympic town, visitors can find typical delicacies such as goat's, sheep's and cow's milk cheese, speck, potatoes, chestnuts, honey and much more.

The menus of the rustic restaurants and mountain huts include specialities such as steaming stews with meat, polenta with game or mushrooms and pasta e fagioli, a pasta soup with broad beans. Both wine and beer are served as drinks. In the autumn and winter months, mulled wine is a popular drink to warm up after skiing or cross-country skiing.

Best time to travel for a camping holiday in Cortina

The weather in the holiday resort of Cortina d'Ampezzo is influenced by the Mediterranean and continental-alpine climate. In winter, the region is one of the coldest in Italy. The coldest month is January with an average temperature of minus eight degrees Celsius. From April onwards, the thermometer occasionally exceeds freezing point. From May onwards, temperatures of up to five degrees can be expected on a regular basis.

July is the warmest month of the year. The average temperature is seven degrees Celsius, with a daily maximum of over ten degrees. Bright blue skies alternating with rainfall can be expected all year round. July is the rainiest month, with around 160 mm falling. With weatherproof clothing, your holiday in Cortina d'Ampezzo will be a complete success despite the occasional showers.