Private Dolomites Tour From Venice: Venice Events Cortina Day

Included

The price covers transportation by air-conditioned minivan, the roundtrip transfer from Venice, a bilingual driver in English and Italian, photo stops and free time at each stop. All taxes and fees are included. The driver acts as guide, so there is no separate tour guide on board.

Lunch, the chairlift and a separate tour guide are not in the price.

• Air-conditioned minivan, private for your group of up to 8
• Bilingual driver in English and Italian
• Roundtrip transfer from Venice
• Photo stops and free time
• All taxes and fees

Paid on Top

Lunch at Lake Misurina is optional and paid at the restaurant. The optional chairlift to Col del Varda at 2,106 meters from Misurina is also paid on the spot and is not in the tour price. No child price reduction exists, because children occupy their own seat in the minivan.

Season and Winter

The tour runs year-round. Two things change in winter: cold-weather clothing is necessary, and snow can force itinerary changes, with the driver giving information on the day. The Faloria cable car in Cortina is closed from September to the end of June.

The Col del Varda chairlift only runs 18 June to 20 September, so in the rest of the year the Misurina stop is the lake walk and lunch.

Money on the Day

Prices on this page use the euro, at the European Central Bank rate of 1 EUR = 1.1130 USD. Budget separately for lunch at Misurina and the chairlift at $18.92 (€17) return if you want it. Carry some cash for lunch and the chairlift.

Start times appear when you select a date and no return time is printed.

Meeting Point, Bags and Bodies

You meet at Rio Terà Sant'Andrea 460, near Piazzale Roma, with no hotel pickup. Bring comfortable shoes and a jacket. Pets are not allowed.

The tour is not wheelchair accessible and is not suitable for people with back problems. No minimum age is stated. Infant seats are available on request if you specify at booking.

Step by Step

You meet the driver at Rio Terà Sant'Andrea 460 in Venice. The minivan climbs through tunnels and mountain villages to the first photo stop at Lake Santa Croce in the Alpago, where the peaks reflect in the water. Pieve di Cadore follows, with a short walk and time for a cappuccino.

Lake Auronzo, also called Lake Santa Caterina, is a short break. The longest block is 2 hours at Lake Misurina, where you stroll the lake shore, have an optional lunch or ride the chairlift to Col del Varda at 2,106 meters, with the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, Sorapis and Marmole as a backdrop. The last stop is about 30 minutes in Cortina d'Ampezzo before the drive back to Venice.

About 3 h 30 min of the 8 hour day is spent at the stops, and the rest is driving. No return time is published.

Lake Santa Croce, 10 Minutes

A photo stop in the Alpago, where the peaks reflect in the water. Ten minutes means you stay near the minivan, so it is a photograph rather than a walk.

Pieve Di Cadore, 30 Minutes

Thirty minutes covers a short walk and maybe a cappuccino, nothing more.

Lake Auronzo, 20 Minutes

A break beside Lake Auronzo (Lake Santa Caterina) after the drive through mountain villages. Twenty minutes is a stretch of the legs.

Lake Misurina, 2 Hours

The main stop. You stroll around the lake, take an optional lunch paid at the restaurant, or ride the chairlift to Col del Varda at 2,106 meters. The Tre Cime di Lavaredo are admired as a backdrop from here, alongside Sorapis and Marmole, so this day does not drive up to the peaks.

The chairlift runs 18 June to 20 September and costs $18.92 (€17) adult return or $14.47 (€13) uphill only, under 6 free. It is paid on spot and is not in the tour price.

Cortina D'Ampezzo, 30 Minutes

The last stop, nicknamed the Pearl of the Dolomites. Thirty minutes is enough to stroll the town and take in the mountain views. The Faloria cable car is closed from September to the end of June.

Cortina was a host of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. If 30 minutes feels short, the shared Dolomites day trip with Cortina and 2 Lakes gives 4 hours at the stops over a 9 hour day from $107 per person, and Lakes of Braies, Misurina and Cortina with Drone adds a Tre Cime viewpoint stop.

What the Toll Costs

Car access to the Rifugio Auronzo car park under the Tre Cime carries a 2026 toll of $44.52 (€40) per car, $28.94 (€26) per motorcycle, $66.78 (€60) per caravan or motorhome, $89.04 (€80) for a bus up to 30 seats and $178.08 (€160) above 30 seats. Auronzo residents pay $5.57 (€5).

The Reservation Rule

Car access is only allowed with an online reservation that includes your licence plate, which you can change once up to 23:59 the day before. The ticket is valid 12 hours from the booked entry time and you cannot enter earlier. Free cancellation is possible up to 5 days before.

• Online reservation with plate required, no drive-up tickets
• Ticket valid 12 hours from the booked time
• Free cancellation up to 5 days before

Season and Winter Rules

The road is generally driveable from late May to late October, weather permitting. Winter tyres or chains are advised outside that window. If you want the peaks included in a tour, Lake Braies and Tre Cime Minivan Trip stops at a Tre Cime viewpoint from $110 per person.

It Suits

Groups who want the vehicle to themselves, families needing infant seats, and anyone who wants the shortest day out of Venice, 8 hours against 9 to 12 on the shared tours. The 2 hour block at Misurina is the longest free time on any stop of the day.

It Does Not Suit

Solo travellers and couples: at $475 per person this is the wrong value if a shared option runs that day. Wheelchair users and people with back problems cannot take it. If you want Lake Braies or an actual drive up the Tre Cime road, look instead at Exclusive Private Dolomites and Braies Trip, a private day priced per group of up to 7 that covers Pieve di Cadore, Misurina, the Three Peaks and Lake Braies with 4 h 45 min at the stops.

Compare all the options on the page about Dolomites day trips from Venice before deciding.