Exploring Italy’s Cortina d’Ampezzo, the 2026 Winter Games Co-Host

We visited Cortina, the alpine town co-hosting the Winter Games – and it’s every bit as cool as Aussie snowboard cross rider Abbey Wilson.

Review by Carla Caruso

Rome, Milan, Venice… we’ve all heard of these Italian cities.

But often, it’s the lesser-known places that leave the biggest impressions. For me, Cortina d’Ampezzo, cradled by the Dolomites, is one such town.

You may have caught its name if you’re following the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics, which Cortina is co-hosting with Milan. (Australia has 53 athletes at the Winter Olympics – its second-largest team ever – with 14 more expected at the Winter Paralympics.)

I first visited Cortina years ago, before the cost-of-living crisis, on a freelance journalism trip to a jewellery expo. I’d never heard of the small town, which has a population of around 5,500 – a number that swells during peak holidays.

But I was instantly charmed by its red geranium-filled window boxes, craggy mountains and glamorous vibe.

The town has Olympic history. It hosted the 1956 Winter Games – the first Winter Olympics broadcast live on TV and the first to include the USSR, after a scheduled 1944 Games there were cancelled due to World War II.

Since then, Cortina has grown into a world-famous resort, even if it’s still under the radar in Australia.

I went in early autumn, missing the snow, when the place shifts into a hub for hiking, cycling and mountain climbing. Still, I’ve always been more drawn to the après-ski than the skiing itself!

Here are some fun facts about the stylish Italian mountain town (a cool antidote to Adelaide’s summer scorch):

Yes, it inspired a car

The Ford Cortina, the UK’s bestselling car of the 1970s, was named after Cortina to give the family car a stylish, European feel.

During our visit, we were fortunate to spot some vintage Cortinas on a ‘Cortinas to Cortina’ driving tour. Perfect for photos.

Despite the car connection, Cortina’s central Piazza Angelo Dibona and the Corso Italia strip are cobbled, car-free zones – a welcome break from the chaotic traffic Italy is famous for. (As an Aussie with Italian roots, I’m allowed to say that, right?)

It’s seen more celebs than this year’s opening ceremony

Milan, co-host of the Winter Olympics, may have dazzled with stars like Mariah Carey, Charlize Theron and Andrea Bocelli at its opening ceremony. But Cortina has long attracted its own famous visitors.

Its mountains have served as the backdrop for films including Cliffhanger (1993), Krull (1983), The Pink Panther (1963), Elizabeth Taylor’s Ash Wednesday (1973), and the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only (1981), featuring Roger Moore in a memorable ski chase.

During my stay, I was lucky enough to stay at the five-star Grand Hotel Savoia, with Sound of Music–worthy mountain views out the window.

Dating back to 1912, the hotel has hosted guests such as Sophia Loren, Winston Churchill and Leo Tolstoy, which is even more impressive than 600-thread-count sheets.

Luxury shopping is a sport in its own right here

‘Rough-and-ready’ certainly isn’t a term you’d use to describe Cortina.

Lonely Planet has called it “one of Italy’s most famous, fashionable and expensive ski resorts”.

Designer names like Dior, Louis Vuitton and Moncler share the streets with artisan shops, antique stores and mountaineering gear suppliers.

Start saving or, if you’re like me, just enjoy a vigorous session of window shopping (no skis required).

It’s a party for your tongue, both in taste and in talk

Cortina sits close to Austria and Switzerland, and its cuisine reflects this mix. While I was there, I tried the signature dish, casunziei – half-moon ravioli filled with beetroot and served with melted butter, cheese and poppy seeds. This was enjoyed after a scenic cable car ride to a mountaintop eatery.

The Dolomites also put on a show: their pale dolomite rock glows pink at sunrise and sunset, a breathtaking phenomenon called enrosadira.

Culinary-wise, you’ll also find polenta, speck, canederli (bread dumplings) and rich Alpine cheeses – the perfect comfort food after a day in the cold.

Language here is a blend too. In addition to Italian, many locals speak Ampezzano, a variant of Ladin, which is closely related to Swiss Romansh.

As you can see, a trip to Cortina feels like visiting a few countries for the price of one, just as the Winter Games are uniting so many cultures in Italy.

Things to do in Cortina with kids:

• Snow sports, of course.The Socrepes area is fab for kids learning to ski, with English-speaking instructors and gentle slopes. The Tofana sled run is great fun and less full-on than skiing, with sleds available to hire locally. Or try ice skating at the Olympic Ice Stadium.
• Take a cable car ride.You can’t visit Cortina without heading up the mountain, even if you don’t ski. Kids often love the thrill of soaring high into the Dolomites. Check opening seasons and hours here.  
• Visit a rifugio.These high-altitude mountain huts offer rustic charm, panoramic views and ridiculously good hot chocolate and cake. Some even have animals to say hello to and wide grassy areas for kids to roam.
• Go hiking in the warmer months. Family-friendly options include Lago di Sorapis for older kids, with the lake’s stunning turquoise water; Lago di Braies, easy and fairytale pretty, with rowboats for hire; and gentle forest walks around Fiames.
• Cycle the valleys. Hire bikes or e-bikes and cruise the flat cycle paths that wind through the surrounding valleys.
• Make a splash.There’s an indoor pool in town, plus natural lakes nearby for summer paddling.
• Enjoy simple pleasures. Take an evening passeggiata (stroll) in the pedestrian centre and grab a gelato, or during the day, browse toy and sports shops and admire the fancy cars that add to Cortina’s chic vibe.

See our Top Parks & Playgrounds Around Adelaide

For more information and all enquiries, please visit the Cortina d’Ampezzo tourism website.

All photos by James Elsby for Play & Go Adelaide. 

At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.

As per all our Play & Go reviews, this is not a sponsored post and our review is done completely independently. All photos are by Play & Go (unless specified).

SUBSCRIBE

Follow Play & Go Adelaide on Facebook and Instagram

Want to get all the latest events and activities straight to your inbox?

Subscribe to our weekly email newsletter below to keep up to date with our latest posts and find out all the best events & activities for Adelaide families. Newsletters are only sent once a week, and you may sometimes get a special offer exclusively for our subscribers only!