Cortina d’Ampezzo sits in the heart of the north-eastern Alps, better known as the Dolomites, and is surrounded by dramatic peaks, winding mountain roads and some of the most beautiful scenery in Italy. While there’s no train station or airport directly in town, don’t let that put you off — getting there is actually much easier than it sounds.

Whether you’re flying in, travelling overland, or trying to keep things budget-friendly, there are several simple and reliable ways to reach Cortina.

Below are the easiest and most popular options to help you plan your journey.

How to get to Cortina from Venice airport

For most travellers, Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE) is the simplest gateway to Cortina.

Bus from Venice airport to Cortina d’Ampezzo:

There are direct coach services from Venice Marco Polo airport and Venice Mestre to Cortina, run by bus companies:

• Cortina Express
• ATVO

Journey time is roughly 2.5 hours. It’s easy and means you don’t have to worry about mountain driving.

Private transfer to Cortina d’Ampezzo

If you want the easiest, most hassle-free option, a private transfer is hard to beat — especially if you’re arriving late or if it’s a bigger group of you, so you can share the cost. Get in touch with us if you want us to help you out with group transfers.

Private transfers run directly from Venice airport or the city (and other nearby airports or cities) straight to your accommodation in Cortina. Journey time is around 2–2.5 hours from Venice.

Get directly in touch with a taxi company in Venice, or the one in Cortina: https://www.taxicortinadolomiti.com/en/contacts/

For group transfers Taxi Cortina Sci offers private transfers tailored for travellers heading into the Dolomites: https://www.taxicortinasci.it/

Travel by train & bus to Cortina d’Ampezzo from Italy

Travelling to Cortina by public transport is easier than it looks — it just involves a simple train and bus combination.

Start by taking a high-speed train to Venice Mestre. For example, trains from Rome take around 4 hours, making this a comfortable option even if you’re coming from further south. You can check timetables and book tickets on Trenitalia.com, the official website for Italian trains.

From Venice Mestre, you have two main options:

Option 1: Train + bus via Calalzo di Cadore

Take a regional train from Venice to Calalzo di Cadore, the closest train station to Cortina (about 35 km away). From there, hop on local bus number 30, which runs directly into Cortina. Bus timetables are available on the Dolomitibus website: https://dolomitibus.it/it/linee-extraurbane-invernali-2025

Option 2: Direct bus from Venice Mestre

To keep things even simpler, you can skip the train journey and catch a direct coach from Venice Mestre train station to Cortina d’Ampezzo. Daily services are run by Cortina Express and ATVO.

It really just comes down to whether you prefer to do the first half as a scenic train ride or the convenience of a door-to-door bus.

Dobbiaco is the nearest train station to Cortina when coming from North, not from Venice.

The travel options for this journey are as follows:

Traveling to Cortina d’Ampezzo from Austria via Dobbiaco (Toblach)

Another handy way to reach Cortina is via Dobbiaco (called Toblach in German), the nearest train station to the north of town.

From Austria:
Dobbiaco has a direct train connection from Lienz in Austria, with a journey time of about 1 hour — a great option if you’re coming from Tyrol or further east.

From South Tyrol:
You can also reach Dobbiaco from Bressanone (Brixen) using a simple bus and train combo.
Take bus B400 from Bressanone to Bruneck, then change onto the regional train for a 30-minute ride to Dobbiaco.

From Dobbiaco to Cortina:
Once in Dobbiaco, hop on bus number 445, which runs directly to Cortina d’Ampezzo.

You can find up-to-date timetables for all trains and buses on the Alto Adige Mobility website: https://www.altoadigemobilita.info/en/#/

Both the train and bus routes on this journey are used by the locals and services are usually timed to connect smoothly. Just remember to double-check schedules in advance — especially outside peak ski season or in early summer, when services can run less frequently.

How to drive to Cortina d’Ampezzo

Hiring a car is the fastest and most flexible way to reach Cortina, especially if you’re planning to explore different valleys or start a trek from outside town. Just make sure you check parking options at your hotel in advance and think about where you’ll leave the car if you’re heading out on a multi-day hike.

From Venice Marco Polo Airport, the drive takes around 2 to 2.5 hours, depending on traffic and weather. It’s a straightforward route and a very scenic one — the views really start to shine once you leave the lowlands and head into the mountains.

Driving from Italy

If you’re arriving from Venice or elsewhere in northern Italy, take the A27 motorway north, exit at Ponte nelle Alpi, then follow the SS51 all the way to Cortina d’Ampezzo.

Driving from Austria

Coming from Austria, cross into Italy via the Brenner Pass towards Bressanone (Brixen). From there, follow the E66 and SS49 to Dobbiaco, then continue on the SS51 to Cortina.

Top tip: In winter, always check road conditions and make sure your hire car is equipped with winter tyres or snow chains — mountain weather can change quickly.