Dolomites Day Trip with Cortina and 2 Lakes

Summer: the Full Stop

June through September is when you get the most out of Lake Misurina. The Col de Varda chairlift runs 18 June to 20 September, 9:00 to 16:45 and to 17:15 from 25 July to 30 August, at $18.92 (€17) adult return, and boats are on the lake. June and September also have the chairlift and boats running.

Winter and Shoulder Months

The tour still runs, and the chairlift and boat simply close. Expect a shorter day of usable light in winter. Any month works for the walk, the lunch and the hour in Cortina.

Included and Not Included

Included: an English-speaking driver and transportation in an air-conditioned minivan. Food and drinks, the chairlift ticket and boat rental are not included. Lunch at the Misurina restaurant is at your own expense.

Season and Winter

The tour runs year-round. Outside June through September there is no Misurina chairlift and no boat rental, so the 2.25-hour stop is the lake walk and lunch only. Bring a warm layer even in summer, because the day is spent outdoors in the mountains.

Money

The tour price is $107 per person and covers transport and driver only. Bring euros for lunch at the Misurina restaurant, and for the chairlift at $18.92 (€17) return or a boat if it is the season. Tips are not mentioned for this tour.

For reference, the European Central Bank rate used on this page is 1 EUR = 1.1130 USD.

Meeting Point and Bags

You meet at Piazzale Roma, 30135 Venezia VE, Italy, with no hotel pickup. No pets, luggage or large bags, food, or alcoholic drinks in the vehicle. Luggage or large bags are accepted only if requested beforehand.

Who Can Join

Comfortable shoes and warm clothing are the listed packing list. The tour is not suitable for children under 6 years, people with back problems, or wheelchair users. Free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before the start.

Yes, for the Lakes and a Short Walk

One day works if the plan stays with Cortina, Lake Misurina and one chairlift or short walk, because a long hike does not fit in a day at a relaxed pace. That is exactly what this tour does. You get 2 h 15 min at Lake Misurina for a walk around the shore and lunch, and 1 h in Cortina for a stroll along Corso Italia.

In summer the Col de Varda chairlift adds a viewpoint within the same stop.

What One Day Does Not Cover

Cortina sits about 162 km from Venice airport by road, so driving eats the day. The trade-off here is time: about 4 h at the stops against a 100-minute drive out and about 2 h 10 min back. There is no Tre Cime viewpoint and no Lake Braies, and 1 h in Cortina is a walk, not a visit.

A second day makes sense if you want long hikes, the Three Peaks or a slower look at Cortina. If the lakes matter more to you, Dolomites and Braies Lake Full-Day Tour adds Lake Braies for $100.

The Timed Route

You meet at Piazzale Roma, the large square at the edge of the old city. The first drive is about 100 minutes to Pieve di Cadore. After the stops at Pieve, the Auronzo dam and a long stay at Lake Misurina, the van continues to Cortina d'Ampezzo and then drives about 2 h 10 min back to Piazzale Roma.

No departure time is published, so confirm your starting time at checkout.

Pieve Di Cadore, 30 Minutes

A historic town with a viewpoint over the lake of Centro Cadore. Half an hour is enough for the view and a quick look around, not for a town visit.

Auronzo Lake, 15 Minutes

A photo stop at the lake dam, where water sometimes rushes through the gates. Bring your camera ready, because this is the shortest stop of the day.

Lake Misurina, 2.25 Hours

The longest stop. You walk around the lake and have lunch at a restaurant serving local food at your own expense. From 18 June to 20 September the Col de Varda chairlift runs here, with an adult return at $18.92 (€17), uphill only $14.47 (€13), downhill only $8.90 (€8) and children under 6 free, hours 9:00-16:45 and to 17:15 from 25 July to 30 August.

Boat rental on the lake also runs only June through September. Neither is in the tour price. For reference, the Tre Cime shuttle from Misurina to Rifugio Auronzo runs daily from 30 May and costs $11.13 (€10) per person for a day ticket, cash not accepted on the bus.

This tour itself does not include a Tre Cime stop. Travelers who want the Three Peaks should look at Dolomites and Cortina Small-Group Tour.

Cortina D'Ampezzo, 1 Hour

The town hosted the Olympic Winter Games, and you get an hour to walk Corso Italia, the best-known pedestrian street in the Dolomites, and shop. One hour is a stroll, not a museum visit. If you would rather travel by car, a private driver lets you set the pace.

The Bus, and the Nearest Stations

The nearest railway stations to Cortina are Calalzo di Cadore at 35 km and Dobbiaco at 31 km, both reached by connecting buses. Cortina's bus terminal is at the Ice Stadium. Cortina Express tickets in either direction start from $13.91 (€12.50).

What the Timetable Gives You

On the current timetable Cortina Express leaves Mestre station at 11:00, 14:00 and 17:00 and the airport tour bus parking at 11:20, 14:20 and 17:20, reaching Cortina at 13:30, 16:30 and 19:30. That is a 2 h 30 min ride from Mestre. Dolomiti Bus also runs from Piazzale Roma at 6:20 and 18:20.

Bus Against This Tour

The bus gets you to Cortina. Lake Misurina and the Auronzo dam depend on seasonal bus lines that run only on set dates. The tour costs $107 against a bus fare from $13.91 (€12.50) each way, and what you buy is the whole loop of four stops in 9 hours.

For a DIY trip focused on Cortina alone, the bus is a fair deal.