How to Get to Cortina d’Ampezzo and the Dolomites in Winter 2026/27

Cortina d'Ampezzo is one of the few major Alpine resorts in Europe you cannot reach by train. There is no railway station in Cortina — the nearest is Calalzo di Cadore, 35 km away — so every arrival ends on the road, whether by coach, car or private transfer. Planning that final stretch properly is most of what makes a Dolomites ski trip run smoothly.

This guide covers how to reach Cortina and the wider Dolomites for the 2026/27 winter season: which airport to use, the scheduled coach services that genuinely work well, what driving involves including Italy's winter tyre rules, and the specific situations where a private transfer earns its cost.

Getting to Cortina: the essentials

When does the 2026/27 season open?

Short answer: the Dolomiti Superski season is set to begin on 28 November 2026, but Cortina's own opening date had not been confirmed when this guide was written.

The staggered picture for 2026/27, as published so far:

• 28 November 2026 — Dolomiti Superski season start, with Plan de Corones and Val di Fiemme/Obereggen among the first areas opening.
• 4 December 2026 — most other Dolomiti Superski areas.
• Cortina — to be confirmed. Openings are expected between late November and early December, and the three Cortina areas (Tofana, Faloria–Cristallo and Lagazuoi–5 Torri) may not all start on the same day.
• Early April 2027 — most areas close around 4 April, with several running later.

Some third-party ski sites already list a fixed Cortina season, but those appear to be projections rather than confirmed dates. If your trip depends on a specific lift opening, check the Cortina lift consortium or Dolomiti Superski directly before booking non-refundable travel.

From Venice Marco Polo Airport

Venice Marco Polo is the practical gateway for most international visitors, and the airport itself lists mountain coach connections among its transport options.

• Scheduled coach. Cortina Express, operated by the Cosmo consortium, connects the airport with Longarone, Tai and Cortina. ATVO also runs a Venice–Cortina coach, and FlixBus serves the route. Cortina's tourist board confirms that Cortina Express, FlixBus and ATVO all link the town with Venice airport and Venice Mestre station. Tickets are sold through the airport's transport pages and the operators.
• Private transfer. Direct to your accommodation address, with ski equipment loaded once. See our Venice Marco Polo airport guide, and where drivers wait at Venice Marco Polo if you are meeting one.

Be honest with yourself about which you need. For one or two people with a single bag each, the coach is direct, inexpensive and lands you at the Ice Stadium terminal in the middle of town — there is no good reason to pay more. The calculation changes with skis, a family, or a late arrival.

From Treviso and Verona

Cortina's tourist board names Treviso and Verona alongside Venice as the nearest international airports. Treviso is the smaller of the two and handles a lot of low-cost traffic; the official SE.AM Servizi Ampezzo Bus and Skibus high-season services include Venice runs with stops at Mestre and Treviso.

Treviso works well if your flight schedule suits it — see our Treviso airport guide and the Treviso driver meeting points FAQ. Verona is further from Cortina and generally only makes sense if you are combining the Dolomites with Lake Garda or western Trentino.

Arriving from the north

If you are coming from Austria or Germany, the approach is completely different and often quicker than people expect.

• Dobbiaco (Toblach) is the nearest station from the north, roughly 31 km from Cortina, with a connecting bus service.
• The Fortezza–Dobbiaco railway serves that corridor, and Cortina's tourist board puts Fortezza to Cortina at about two hours including the bus leg.
• Innsbruck to Cortina by train takes about four hours according to the same source.
• By road from the north, take the A22 Brenner motorway and exit at Bressanone–Val Pusteria, then follow the Dolomiti road toward Dobbiaco.

By train and bus via Calalzo

The rail-plus-bus route is the budget option and it is perfectly viable, but understand what it involves. You take the Venezia Santa Lucia–Calalzo di Cadore line to Calalzo, then a connecting Dolomitibus service covers the final 35 km into Cortina. The official estimate for Venice to Cortina this way is about three and a half hours in total — noticeably longer than the direct coach.

Night trains have historically run from Rome Termini to Calalzo, and Cortina Express shuttles connect to the station. Services on this line are limited and seasonal, so check Trenitalia and Dolomitibus timetables rather than assuming a connection exists at your arrival time. With ski bags and a change at Calalzo, this is the option most likely to feel like hard work.

Driving: routes, the ring road and winter tyre rules

Short answer: driving is straightforward in good weather, but Italy requires winter equipment on these roads through the season, and Cortina's centre is organised around a one-way ring road.

From the south, take the A27 from Mestre, which feeds into the SS51 "di Alemagna" through Longarone, Tai and Valle di Cadore. San Vito di Cadore is the last village of note, 9 km short of Cortina. From the north, use the A22 and the Val Pusteria exit as above. A one-way ring road surrounds the town centre, which catches first-time visitors out.

Winter equipment is a legal requirement, not a recommendation. In Veneto the obligation to carry chains or fit winter tyres runs from 15 November to 15 April. For the 2025/26 season the ANAS ordinance explicitly listed the SS51 "di Alemagna" — the main southern approach to Cortina — and in the Belluno area the Veneto Strade ordinance covers provincial, regional and state roads including the A27. The road list is reissued annually, so check the current ANAS and Veneto Strade ordinances for 2026/27 before you drive.

This matters most if you are renting. Confirm with the rental company that the car is winter-equipped for the Dolomites, because a standard summer-tyre rental collected at Venice airport is not compliant on these roads in season. A licensed transfer operator runs season-appropriate vehicles as a matter of course. Our guide to renting a car in Italy covers the wider picture.

When a private transfer is genuinely worth it

The scheduled coaches to Cortina are good, so the honest case for a private transfer is narrower here than for destinations with no public option at all. It comes down to four situations:

• Ski and snowboard equipment, or a family. Boards, boot bags and a child's kit turn a coach change into a logistical problem. A vehicle is loaded once and quoted per journey rather than per person, which closes the cost gap as the group grows.
• Flights outside coach timetables. Early-morning departures and late-evening arrivals frequently fall outside scheduled services, particularly at the start and end of the season.
• Accommodation away from the terminal. Coaches set down at the Ice Stadium. If you are in a chalet up one of the valleys, or in Pocol, Fiames or San Vito, you still have a last leg to solve in ski gear.
• Villages the coaches do not serve directly. Much of the best skiing is outside Cortina itself — Alta Badia, Arabba, Val Gardena, Plan de Corones. Reaching those by public transport from Venice usually means two or three changes.

For point-to-point journeys in the region, see city-to-city transfers, and our Dolomites tour page covers guided days out if you want a driver for the trip rather than just the arrival.

Coach, train or private transfer? An honest comparison

One more option worth knowing about: Cortina's tourist board notes a helicopter service from the Fiames Heliport, with a flight time of 35 minutes to Venice Marco Polo. It is a niche choice, but it exists.

Travelling with ski equipment

Ski and snowboard bags are the single most common reason Dolomites arrivals go wrong. Give the number of passengers and the number and type of equipment bags when you request any transfer quote — a vehicle assigned for four passengers with cabin bags is not the same vehicle as four passengers with four ski bags and boot bags. Our guide to oversized luggage and sports equipment in Italian taxis goes into the detail.

If you are renting equipment in Cortina instead of flying with your own, the arrival logistics get much simpler, and that is worth pricing before you pay airline sports-equipment fees.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a train station in Cortina d'Ampezzo?

No. Cortina has no railway station. The nearest is Calalzo di Cadore, 35 km away to the south, with a connecting bus into Cortina. From the north, Dobbiaco is roughly 31 km away.

What is the nearest airport to Cortina d'Ampezzo?

Cortina's tourist board names Venice Marco Polo, Treviso and Verona as the nearest international airports. Venice Marco Polo is the main gateway and has direct scheduled coach services to Cortina.

How do I get from Venice airport to Cortina?

Direct scheduled coaches run the route: Cortina Express, operated by the Cosmo consortium, plus ATVO and FlixBus. The Cortina Express service from Venice Mestre takes about 2 hours 15 minutes. A private transfer takes you to your accommodation address instead of the Ice Stadium terminal.

How long does it take to get from Venice to Cortina?

About 2 hours 15 minutes by direct coach from Venice Mestre. Going by train to Calalzo and then bus takes about 3 hours 30 minutes in total, according to Cortina's tourist board.

When does the Dolomites ski season start in 2026/27?

Dolomiti Superski is set to open on 28 November 2026, with Plan de Corones and Val di Fiemme/Obereggen among the first areas, and most others from 4 December. Cortina's own opening date had not been confirmed when this guide was written.

When does Cortina open for skiing?

It was not confirmed at the time of writing. Openings are expected between late November and early December 2026, and the Tofana, Faloria–Cristallo and Lagazuoi–5 Torri areas may open on different days. Check the Cortina lift consortium before booking non-refundable travel.

Do I need winter tyres to drive to Cortina?

You need winter tyres or chains on board. In Veneto the obligation runs from 15 November to 15 April, and the 2025/26 ANAS ordinance listed the SS51 "di Alemagna", the main southern approach to Cortina. The road list is reissued each year, so check the current ordinance.

Can I drive a rental car to the Dolomites in winter?

Yes, but confirm with the rental company that the vehicle is winter-equipped for mountain roads. A standard summer-tyre rental is not compliant on these roads during the obligation period, and that is the renter's responsibility rather than the airport desk's.

Is a private transfer worth it to Cortina?

Not always. For one or two people travelling light, the direct coach is good value and drops you in the centre. A transfer is worth it for families and groups, for ski and snowboard equipment, for flights outside coach timetables, and for accommodation away from the Ice Stadium terminal.

How do I reach Alta Badia, Arabba or Val Gardena from Venice?

Public transport to the smaller Dolomite valleys generally involves two or three changes from Venice, because the direct coaches serve Cortina rather than the whole region. These are the journeys where a direct road transfer saves the most time.

Where do the coaches drop off in Cortina?

The coach terminal is at the Ice Stadium in Cortina. If your accommodation is further out — Pocol, Fiames, San Vito or up one of the valleys — you will have a final leg to arrange from there.

Is there a night train to the Dolomites?

Night services have historically run from Rome Termini to Calalzo di Cadore, the nearest station to Cortina. Services on this line are limited and seasonal, so verify current timetables with Trenitalia rather than assuming availability.

Can I fly by helicopter to Cortina?

Yes. Cortina's tourist board lists a helicopter service from the Fiames Heliport, giving a flight time of 35 minutes between Cortina and Venice Marco Polo.

How early should I book winter transfers to the Dolomites?

Early for peak periods, particularly Christmas, New Year and February half-term weeks, when both coaches and vehicles are heavily booked. Saturdays are the busiest transfer days because most Dolomite accommodation runs Saturday-to-Saturday.