Driving from Venice to Cortina d'Ampezzo in winter is one of the classic Alpine transfers: motorway almost all the way to the foot of the Dolomites, then a valley road that climbs gently into the Ampezzo basin. It is straightforward in good weather, but in winter the rules on tyres, the state of the high passes and a few local habits in Cortina are worth knowing before you set off. This guide covers the route from the airports and Piazzale Roma, the winter equipment ordinances, which Dolomite passes you can count on, parking in Cortina and the alternative approach from Innsbruck or Bolzano.
- Main route: A27 Venice–Belluno to its end at Pian di Vedoia, then the SS51 "di Alemagna" via Longarone and Pieve di Cadore to Cortina
- Winter equipment: winter tyres or chains on board required on the A27 and on the SS51 in Veneto from 15 November to 15 April (2025–26 ordinances)
- Passes: Falzarego, Giau and Tre Croci are kept open in winter but can close at short notice for snow or avalanche risk
- Alternative: from Innsbruck or Bolzano, the Brenner motorway to Bressanone/Brixen, then the Val Pusteria and the SS51 over Cimabanche
- Live road status: ANAS, Veneto Strade and, on the South Tyrol side, the Province of Bolzano traffic service
Information checked in October 2026. Ordinances are renewed every season and roads can close at short notice, so always check the official sites before you travel.
The main route: Venice to Cortina via the A27 and the SS51
Whichever point you start from in the Venice area, the drive follows the same backbone. The A27 motorway runs north from Mestre past Treviso, Conegliano and Vittorio Veneto, through the Prealps and up to Pian di Vedoia, near Ponte nelle Alpi and Belluno, where it ends. From there you continue on the SS51 "di Alemagna", the historic road towards Germany, which follows the Piave valley through Longarone, climbs into the Cadore area past Pieve di Cadore, Valle di Cadore, Borca and San Vito di Cadore, and then enters Cortina from the south.
The motorway part is fast and wide. The SS51 is a well-maintained single-carriageway road with tunnels, villages and some slower stretches; this is where most of the time goes, and where you will meet snow first if the weather turns. On Saturdays in high season, when holiday rentals change over, traffic towards and out of Cortina can be heavy, so an early start or a mid-week arrival makes a real difference.
From Venice Marco Polo Airport
Marco Polo has its own link road to the motorway network, the connector that joins the A27 and the A57 Mestre ring road, so you are on the A27 northbound within minutes of leaving the terminal. Handing over a car at the airport is the simplest option after a flight: no city traffic, and you head straight for the mountains.
From Treviso Airport
Treviso Canova airport sits just west of Treviso, a short drive from the A27. Join the motorway northbound and follow the same route towards Belluno. Coming from Treviso saves you the Mestre stretch altogether.
From Piazzale Roma (Venice historic centre)
Piazzale Roma is the end of the road in Venice: the last point reachable by car, at the island end of the Ponte della Libertà. It is the natural meeting point if you are staying in the historic centre. Cross the bridge to the mainland, follow signs for the Mestre ring road and then the A27 towards Belluno. If you are spending a few days in Venice before the mountains, there is no point in having a car parked at Piazzale Roma: arrange the handover there on the morning you leave. Options are on our luxury car rental in Venice page.
Winter tyres and snow chains: the Veneto ordinances
Italy has no single national winter tyre date that applies everywhere. Instead, each road operator issues an ordinance for the roads it manages, usually from 15 November to 15 April. On the Venice–Cortina route both operators apply that window.
- A27 (Autostrade per l'Italia): winter tyres or chains on board are required along the whole A27 Venice–Belluno, in both directions, as well as on the Marco Polo connector, from 15 November to 15 April. See the Autostrade per l'Italia winter operations page.
- SS51 di Alemagna (ANAS): the ANAS ordinance for Veneto for the 2025–26 season covered the SS51 from Vittorio Veneto all the way to the regional border beyond Cortina, plus the SS51 bis, from 15 November 2025 to 15 April 2026. The full list is in the ANAS ordinance table (PDF).
The obligation is signposted at the start of each section, and it can be extended outside those dates if there is snow or ice. In practice, "winter equipment" means either tyres approved for winter use (marked M+S, usually also with the three-peak mountain snowflake) fitted on all four wheels, or snow chains compatible with your tyre size carried in the car and fitted when required. The new season's ordinances are normally published in early November; check that the dates have been confirmed before an early or late-season trip.
A practical point: on large SUVs with big wheels, finding chains that actually fit is not always easy, and fitting them at the roadside in the cold is nobody's idea of a holiday. Proper winter tyres are by far the better solution. Every IsyLuxe car is supplied with winter tyres in the cold season, so the requirement is covered from the moment you collect it.
The Dolomite passes in winter: Falzarego, Giau and Tre Croci
You do not need any pass to reach Cortina from Venice: the SS51 runs along valley floors. The passes matter once you are there, to reach the ski areas and neighbouring valleys. They are managed by Veneto Strade, which publishes a regularly updated status bulletin of the mountain passes on venetostrade.it.
Passo Falzarego
West of Cortina on the SR48 "delle Dolomiti", Falzarego (2,105 m) leads towards the Lagazuoi and Cinque Torri areas and down to Andraz and Arabba. It is kept open through the winter and is the main road link from Cortina to the Alta Badia side, via the Valparola, and to Arabba.
Passo Giau
On the SP638 from Pocol, Giau (2,236 m) is the highest and most spectacular of the three, linking Cortina with Selva di Cadore and Colle Santa Lucia. It is also maintained in winter, but it is the most exposed: closures for heavy snowfall or avalanche risk happen during the season, sometimes for several days. Never plan a tight schedule around Giau in winter.
Passo Tre Croci
East of Cortina, also on the SR48, Tre Croci leads to Misurina and Auronzo di Cadore. It is the route to the Tre Cime di Lavaredo side and is kept open through the winter.
On the Veneto Strade bulletin, these passes are listed as open on a normal winter day, but any of them can close temporarily after a heavy snowfall, during snow clearing or when avalanche danger is high. The Valparola and Campolongo passes, which continue into South Tyrol, are managed jointly with the Province of Bolzano; for their South Tyrol side, check the Province of Bolzano traffic service. Check the status the evening before and again in the morning, and carry water, a charged phone and warm clothing whenever you cross a pass in winter.
Cortina after the 2026 Winter Olympics
In February 2026 Cortina was co-host, with Milan, of the Olympic Winter Games, seventy years after the 1956 Games. The town hosted women's alpine skiing on the Olympia delle Tofane, bobsleigh, luge and skeleton at the new Cortina Sliding Centre and curling at the historic Olympic Ice Stadium; in March the Paralympics brought para alpine skiing, para snowboard and wheelchair curling, with the Paralympic closing ceremony held in Cortina. Details are on the official Olympic venues page.
For drivers, the important point is that the special traffic arrangements of the Games were temporary. The large Olympic limited-traffic zone, with its permits, checkpoints and park-and-ride car parks in places like Longarone, San Vito di Cadore and Dobbiaco, applied only during the Olympic and Paralympic periods in February and March 2026. Today the normal local rules apply again.
Parking and the ZTL in Cortina
Cortina is compact, and the heart of town, Corso Italia and Piazza Angelo Dibona, is a pedestrian area. Around it, access to some central streets is restricted, with permits issued by the municipality to residents, businesses and, through them, hotel guests. Hotels in or next to the restricted area usually handle access for arriving guests: ask yours before arrival how to reach the entrance and where to leave the car.
Municipal parking is managed by Servizi Ampezzo (Se.Am). The main option close to the centre is the Pontechiesa multi-storey car park, partly covered, a sensible choice for a high-value car. Paid municipal parking generally applies during the day (9:00 to 20:00 at the time of writing) in the high seasons; current rules and car parks are listed on the Se.Am parking page. If you are staying in a chalet or hotel with a private garage or parking space, that is where the car will spend most of its time: in Cortina you walk, ski or take the lifts.
The alternative approach: from Innsbruck or Bolzano via the Brenner and Val Pusteria
If you are flying into Innsbruck, coming from Germany or Austria, or starting in South Tyrol, the natural route into Cortina is from the north.
- The Brenner: from Innsbruck, the A13 Brenner motorway climbs to the Italian border. On the A13 you pay a section toll (Streckenmaut) rather than using the vignette; if you reach it via the A12 Inntal motorway, you also need a valid Austrian vignette for that stretch. Both can be bought digitally through ASFINAG. Works on the Lueg bridge on the A13 cause traffic restrictions, so check ASFINAG for current conditions.
- Into Italy: continue on the A22 to the Bressanone/Brixen exit (from Bolzano, take the A22 north to the same exit), then follow the SS49 through the Val Pusteria past Brunico to Dobbiaco/Toblach.
- Over to Cortina: at Dobbiaco turn south on the SS51, which crosses the Cimabanche pass and descends into Cortina from the north.
The winter rules change at each border. In Austria, winter equipment is required from 1 November to 15 April whenever there is snow, slush or ice on the road (see ÖAMTC). In South Tyrol, winter tyres or chains are compulsory on the A22 Brenner motorway and in the city of Bolzano from 15 November to 15 April, and on state and provincial roads whenever there is snow or ice (see Autostrada del Brennero and the Province of Bolzano). Once you cross into Veneto at Cimabanche, the ANAS SS51 ordinance applies again.
From Bolzano there is also the scenic option over the passes, through Val Gardena or Val Badia and then Falzarego. In winter it is beautiful but entirely dependent on the passes being open; the Val Pusteria route is the reliable choice. Handover in either city can be arranged on our luxury car rental in Innsbruck and luxury car rental in Bolzano pages. Arriving at Verona airport instead? The A22 north via Bolzano and the Val Pusteria is the natural way up; see luxury car rental in Verona.
Winter driving tips for the Cortina road
- Check before you leave: ANAS and Autostrade for the motorway and SS51, Veneto Strade for the passes, the Province of Bolzano for South Tyrol.
- Leave early: the SS51 is busiest on Saturdays and at the end of holiday weeks, and daylight is short in December and January.
- Keep the tank above half: there are fuel stations along the SS51, but queues and closures in snow can turn a short trip into a long one.
- Watch for ice in the shade: tunnel exits, bridges and north-facing bends in the Cadore valleys can stay icy long after the main road is clear.
- Snow on the roof: clear it, and the windows and lights, before you drive.
Which car for Venice–Cortina in winter?
For winter in the Dolomites, all-wheel drive and good ground clearance are what matter. A Range Rover or a Bentley Bentayga is the most relaxed way to cover the A27 and the SS51 with ski luggage, while a Lamborghini Urus, a Mercedes-AMG G 63 or a Ferrari Purosangue add character on the mountain roads. For larger groups, a Land Rover Defender 130 or a Mercedes V-Class 4MATIC takes up to eight people, and a BMW X7 or Audi SQ7 seats seven. For a couple who prefer an estate, the Audi RS6 Avant combines quattro all-wheel drive with a large boot. With IsyLuxe you book the exact model, not a category, it comes with winter tyres in the cold season, insurance and 24/7 assistance are included, and handover can be arranged at Marco Polo, Treviso, Piazzale Roma, your hotel or directly at your chalet. See the options on our luxury car rental in Cortina d'Ampezzo page.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need winter tyres to drive from Venice to Cortina?
From 15 November to 15 April you need winter tyres or snow chains on board on the A27 and on the SS51 in Veneto. Outside those dates the obligation can still apply when there is snow or ice.
Do I have to cross a mountain pass to get to Cortina from Venice?
No. The A27 and the SS51 follow the valleys all the way to Cortina. The passes (Falzarego, Giau, Tre Croci) are only needed for trips beyond the town.
Are Passo Giau and Passo Falzarego open in winter?
Both are maintained in winter, as is Tre Croci, but they can close temporarily for heavy snowfall or avalanche risk. Giau is the most exposed. Check the Veneto Strade bulletin on the day.
Is there still a ZTL in Cortina after the Olympics?
The large Olympic limited-traffic zone was temporary and ended with the Games. The centre, Corso Italia, remains pedestrian, with local access restrictions on some central streets. Ask your hotel how to reach it by car.
Do I need an Austrian vignette to come from Innsbruck?
The A13 Brenner motorway uses a section toll instead of the vignette. If you drive on other Austrian motorways, such as the A12 to reach it, you also need a vignette.
Can the car be delivered to my chalet in Cortina?
Yes. Handover can be arranged at the airport, at Piazzale Roma, at your hotel or at your chalet in Cortina, agreed when you book.
Related guides: Driving to the Alps in winter: the rules country by country.
