Skip to content
ENITSign in

Tofane

Cortina's three Dolomite giants, rose-lit at dusk, with a cable car to 3,244 meters and Olympic ski slopes.

  • Cortina d'Ampezzo
  • Nature
Plan your visit
Where
Cortina d'Ampezzo
Best for
Tofana di Mezzo (3
Allow
3 hours
Best time
Summer to early fall for hiking
Tickets
Free

The Tofane are three Dolomite giants west of Cortina d'Ampezzo: Tofana di Mezzo at 3,244 meters, the third highest peak in the Dolomites, flanked by Tofana di Rozes and Tofana di Dentro.

At dusk their pale rock turns rose in the enrosadira the Dolomites are loved for. The Freccia nel Cielo cable car climbs from Cortina almost to the summit in stages, so a panorama over the Ampezzo valley is available without a climb. The slopes are also a piece of sporting history: they hosted five of the six alpine skiing events at the 1956 Winter Olympics and the World Cup women's races that followed. Paul Grohmann made the first ascent of Tofana di Mezzo in 1863, with the local guide Francesco Lacedelli.

Four things worth finding

If you see nothing else, see these.

  1. The summit terrace of Tofana di Mezzo

    At 3,244 meters it is the third highest peak in the Dolomites, with a sweep over the Ampezzo valley and the great pale walls beyond.Top station of the Freccia nel Cielo cable car

  2. The Freccia nel Cielo rideCable car in stages

    The ride is half the point: three stages lift you from the valley to bare rock in a very short time.From Cortina to the summit, with stops at Col Drusciè and Ra Valles

  3. The Olympic slopesSkiing venue

    The pistes that hosted most of the alpine events at the 1956 Winter Games, still used by World Cup skiers.On the slopes above Cortina

  4. The south face of Tofana di Rozes and the enrosadiraNatural rock wall

    At dusk the pale dolomite turns rose and gold, the famous enrosadira, best seen from the valley side.Seen from Cortina and the Falzarego road

Plan your visit

Everything you need before you go.

Tickets
Free
Booking
No booking needed
Time needed
3 hours
Best time
Summer to early fall for hiking; late afternoon for the enrosadira glow
Getting there
The Freccia nel Cielo base station is on the edge of Cortina d'Ampezzo, within walking distance of the center for most visitors. There is limited parking at the station, so use the town's car parks; no rail runs to Cortina, so arrive by car or by the Dolomites bus network.

The mountains are free to reach on foot; the Freccia nel Cielo cable car charges separate fares, sold as one-way or round trip (in summer about €45 round trip to Cima Tofana at 3,244 meters, and about €25 to Col Druscié). In winter it is included with a Dolomiti Superski pass.

Ride up in the late afternoon in summer: the upper station empties as day-trippers head down, and the enrosadira over the Ampezzo valley is left to whoever stays.

Official website
Get directionsGoogle MapsApple Maps

Good to know

How long should you spend on the Tofane?

Allow about three hours for the cable car up and down with time at the top. Add more if you want to walk a trail, eat at a hut or stay for the evening light.

Is the Tofane cable car worth it?

Yes, if the weather is clear: it puts you over 3,000 meters without hiking, with some of the best Dolomite views. Dress for cold at the top even in July.

Do you need to book the Freccia nel Cielo?

Not normally; you buy at the base station. On clear summer days queues build up, so go early, and check conditions first because lifts can pause in strong wind.

More to see nearby

Same city first, then the nearest across the region.

A letter from Italy, once a month.

The places, tables and makers we found worth your time. One email, no noise.

One letter a month. Unsubscribe at any time. We never share your address.

Help us get it right

What is it about?