Region: Cortina d’Ampezzo — Ampezzo Valley, Dolomites, Italy
Places To Stay: Stay central in Cortina d’Ampezzo for buses, shops and easy starts. If you prefer something quieter Corvara, Canazei and Selva di Val Gardena work well too. Looking for more Dolomites trails? Head to my ‘Dolomites Hiking Guides‘ page to see all regions and routes.
Below are a few ideas for day tours and transfers around Cortina d’Ampezzo, with GetYourGuide offering great discounts and easy booking + a huge amount of options in the Dolomites area, see more here.
For a wider choice of accommodation in the Dolomites, Booking.com has a huge variety to browse through.
This is a brilliant circular walk that shows off Cinque Torri with it’s big limestone towers, easy-going alpine paths, cracking rifugios, and a real dose of First World War history. Starting from Bai de Dones, you climb steadily up to the towers, loop past Rifugio Cinque Torri and Rifugio Scoiattoli, explore the open-air museum, then return on quieter paths back to where you started. It’s not a long day, but it packs a lot in with the views, history, and plenty of places to stop and soak it all up.
Getting There: Directions, GPX and Map
- Start/Finish: Bai de Dones (SR48 Falzarego road) car park/bus stop.
- Transport: Seasonal buses from Cortina towards Passo Falzarego stop at Bai de Dones (5 Torri chairlift available). Parking available but can fill up in peak season.
- Download the GPX file here.
- Follow this route on my Outdooractive profile.
Travel Data: I use eSIMs to stay connected — quick setup and no roaming faff. Sim Local has been solid in Italy/Europe with good prices and coverage.
Hike Profile
- Distance: ~7 km (loop variations + museum detours).
- Duration: 3–4 hours (allow longer with stops at rifugi + museum)
- Ascent/Descent: ~350 m
- Highest Point: Near Rifugio Scoiattoli (~2,255 m)
- Difficulty: Easy / Moderate
- Terrain: Forest tracks, wide gravel paths, rocky alpine trails, historic trench paths
- Best for: Views, WW1 history, relaxed alpine walking, first-time Dolomites visitors
Route Overview (Clockwise from Bai de Dones)
| Section | From → To | Path | Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bai de Dones → Rifugio Cinque Torri | Forest path / wide trail | ~2 km | Steady uphill through woodland with early views opening up |
| 2 | Rifugio Cinque Torri → Rifugio Scoiattoli | Open alpine path | ~1 km | Short, scenic section beneath the towers |
| 3 | Rifugio Scoiattoli → Cinque Torri Open-Air Museum | Museum paths | ~1 km | Trenches, tunnels and WW1 sites |
| 4 | Museum → Lower slopes | T2 | ~1.5 km | Quieter descent with wide views |
| 5 | Lower slopes → Bai de Dones | T1 | ~1 km | Easy return back to the start |
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Hike Description
The walk starts at Bai de Dones, just off the Falzarego road, a very relaxed area with a cafe/bar and restaurant. You will see signs to start on the path that will take you up through the trees, on a really steady comfortable incline. You quickly settle into a rhythm, and every so often the forest thins just enough to give you a glimpse of the rock above, a hint of what’s coming.
As you gain height, the landscape starts to open out and the Cinque Torri is there right in front of you. They are five limestone towers that rise sharply in true Dolomite fashion. You arrive at Rifugio Cinque Torri, a great first stopping point, with benches outside and a front-row seat to the towers themselves. Even if you don’t stop long, it’s worth pausing here to take it all in.
From here the path continues gently upwards towards Rifugio Scoiattoli, which is at a slightly higher elevation that Rifugio Cinque Torri. We had a coffee and a bit of cake here, and just sat and took in probably the best viewpoints on the whole route. The WW1 open-air museum is a short walk from here, so that was our next stop.
Not far from the rifugio, you walk into the Cinque Torri Open-Air Museum, a series of pathways through trenches, tunnels, and restored shelters carved straight into the rock. There are information boards in many languages that explain how the Italian and Austro-Hungarian soldiers lived and fought up here during the First World War, often in brutal conditions at altitude. Walking these paths now, in peaceful surroundings, it’s hard not to think about what this landscape has seen.
After exploring the museum area, you begin the descent by picking up the T2 route. This side of the loop feels quieter, with fewer people and a more relaxed pace. The path drops gently, giving you space to enjoy the views back towards the towers and across the Cortina basin. It’s a really nice section, especially later in the day when the crowds are thinning.
Lower down you’ll need to pick up the T1 path which will take you back to Bai de Dones.
Places to Stay in the Dolomites – My Picks
I’ve put together a few guides to make choosing a hotel in the Dolomites easier. If you’re after a romantic break, I’ve found some cosy hideaways. If it’s hiking that’s front and centre, I’ve rounded up the best hotels with trails right from the door. There are also ski-in ski-out favourites, family-friendly bases, and hotels with those wow-factor mountain views or even hot tubs to sink into after a long day.
- Most Romantic Hotels in the Dolomites ⇢
- Best Hotels for Hiking in the Dolomites ⇢
- Best Ski-In Ski-Out Hotels in the Dolomites ⇢
- Best Family Friendly Hotels in the Dolomites ⇢
- Best Hotels with Mountain Views in the Dolomites ⇢
- Best Hotels with Hot Tubs in the Dolomites ⇢
Places to Stay in Cortina
For a wider choice of accommodation in the Dolomites, Booking.com has a huge variety to browse through.
Recommended Stays
Right in the centre of the famous ski resort of Cortina d’Ampezzo, the 4-star Hotel De La Poste is set in an early 19th-century building. It features 2 restaurants and free WiFi throughout.
Parc Hotel Victoria is a great hotel to relax in Cortina, the staff are ready to help at all times and are very friendly. It is located very close to the promenade, shops and restaurants in Cortina, and simple access to the buses.
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Practicalities
- Start early: Cinque Torri is popular for good reason. An early start means quieter paths and better light.
- Footwear: Trail shoes are fine in dry weather; boots are better after rain as limestone paths can be slick.
- Cash: Rifugi often prefer cash for drinks, snacks, or toilets.
- Food & water: Plenty of huts in summer, but still carry water — it gets hot up here.
- Toilets: Available at Rifugio Scoiattoli and lift stations, but queues are common mid-day.
- Weather: Storms can build quickly in the Dolomites. Pack a waterproof even on blue-sky mornings.
- Chairlift option: Using the Bai de Dones chairlift shortens the walk and saves ascent — worth it if you’re tight on time.
- Navigation: Very well signed, but a GPX is handy if mist rolls in.
- Crowds: Expect busy paths late morning to mid-afternoon in peak season.
- Best season: June to late September, depending on snow levels.
Cinque Torri Circular FAQs
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Walk this route yourself in 3D!
The video is a 3D walkthrough of this route; it’ll give you a great idea of what to expect before you set foot on the mountain.
I’ve created 3D videos of my walks and shared them with the Outdooractive and Welsh Man Walking communities.
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