Inspiration for your own tailor-made trip
Venice - Cortina d'Ampezzo
100% customisable for you
Your adventure begins at your UK airport and lounge, where (if you’ve timed it right) you’ll have a few hours to relax, read the morning papers and enjoy a few mimosas before boarding your two-hour flight to Venice.
Once on Italian soil, you’ll be whisked from Venice Marco Polo Airport to your five-star boutique hotel in the artistic centre of the island. Take a moment to ogle at your rooms’ bold colours, chrome touches and views over the city before heading downstairs to join locals and fellow travellers in the thick of it. Buy a gelato from Gelateria Gallonetto (one of the best gelato shops in the city) and venture over the Rialto Bridge. A superb feat of engineering, Antonio da Ponte’s 1592 Istrian stone span took three years and 250,000 gold ducats to construct. Make sure to swing by its 1,000-year-old market located on the western side of the bridge. Spend the evening being wined and dined in one of the city’s top restaurants; just ask your Concierge if you’re struggling to choose.
Your next two full days are all about seeing the sights of Venice. After a typical Italian breakfast of coffee – naturally – yoghurt, fruit and cereals, you’re all set for your like a local tour. Discover neighbourhoods like Castello, the domain of the Venice Biennale, and Dorsoduro, Venice’s own Soho, home to boho hotels, beautiful fine dining eateries and world-renowned contemporary art galleries. Spend the rest of the day moseying around the Piazza San Marco and up the Campanile, where lifts whisk you 323ft in the air for picture postcard views over the city and lagoon.
The next day is dedicated to the northern reaches of Venice’s lagoon, on the islands of Murano and Burano. Serious shoppers will love Murano for its one-of-a-kind glass art while budding photographers will fall for Burano for its brightly coloured houses and Museo del Merletto, which celebrates the lucrative craft of lace making. On your final night in Venice, there’s only one place for it: Il Ristorante Adriatica. Offering interesting alternatives to Venetian traditions, this trendy (and tourist-lite) hangout is the perfect spot to toast your days in ‘The Floating City’.
After breakfast, it’s arrivederci to Venice and ciao to Cortina d'Ampezzo. Located deep in the heart of the Dolomites, chic Cortina is considered a classic Italian alpine resort, home to peaks, lakes, numerous spas and world-renowned restaurants. Plus it’s only a two-hour drive from Venice. After you’ve dropped your bags at your hilltop hotel, reward your efforts with a soak in its salubrious spa, outdoor pool and ice fountain. Spend the afternoon getting acquainted with the town, walking along its riverside and stopping for gelato en route, before treating your tastebuds to a slice of agriturismo at a nearby farmhouse-come-restaurant. Or if you want to get the legs ready for tomorrow, we can recommend some nearby routes for an afternoon hike.
The next two days are yours to spend as you like. The best way to see the Dolomites is on them, so we recommend heading to the hills – or towers – on the five-mile trail up the Cinque Torri (Five Towers). The rock formation, made up of several peaks, is a favourite among serious climbers. But thanks to the Bai de Dones chairlift and Scoiatolli Refuge (the perfect spot for a break, snack and aperitif), it can be tackled by all abilities. If you prefer your hiking with a side of history, head to Museo deller Regole d’Ampezzo and Rinaldo Paleontology Museum, which houses a collection of fossils found in the Dolomites. And, if you’re after a lake, we’ve got you covered with an eight-mile loop culminating at the crystal blue, glacially-fed Lake Sorapis. Spend evenings soaking your legs and feet in your hotel’s spa and enjoying Italian wine and food.
The best way to see the Dolomites is on them, which is why we’ve saved the best ‘til last - hiking the Tre Cime di Lavaredo. Given they’re considered some of the Dolomites’ most famous peaks – Google their unusual jagged dinosaur teeth-like shape and you’ll see why – we’re thinking you won’t mind an early start today. From Rifugio Auronzo, the starting point of this eight-mile loop, you’ll crisscross round lakes and up smaller peaks to hilltop rifugios, where you’ll enjoy a well-earned lunch complete with canederli (Tyrolean dumplings) and goulash (beef stew). There are plenty of reminders of the region’s role in World War I also, with tunnels, bunkers and old barracks scattered across the route. On your return to Rifugio Auronzo, we recommend detouring 30 minutes or so to the famous Cadini di Misurina viewpoint – trust us, it’s worth the extra steps. Come nightfall, it’s all about fine dining and wining at your hotel’s restaurant. Or, if you want to head further afield, just ask your Concierge for their favourite spots.
Bid Cortina d’Ampezzo a fond arrivederci as you make your way back to Venice’s Marco Polo Airport in a private transfer. With an early morning flight time, you’ll be back in Blighty just in time for lunch. The perfect excuse to carry on the holiday at your favourite local Italian restaurant we think…
Each of our trips is entirely tailor-made with originality, quality and cultural immersion in mind. Our team of destination specialists will craft itineraries based on your tastes, using their first-hand knowledge and the help of our in-country team of Concierges and guides. All trips are accompanied by a wide range of additional services, including a 24-hour helpline, the Original Travel app, fast-track airport services and much more.
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Our team of destination experts will get to know you and your unique requirements for your holiday
We work with you to build an ultra-personalised holiday itinerary with your choice of accommodation, experiences and activities
All of our holidays include little extras designed to make a big difference to your trip, from fast-tracking you through airport check-in and security to our network of local Concierges
