The Dolomites Italy are a paradise we’ve written about in our guide to the Italian Dolomites, but this spot near the famous Cortina d’Ampezzo has a completely different atmosphere. It’s actually Europe’s largest open-air museum of the First World War. While Lukáš and I used to scramble up hillsides on our own two feet, we now have a little one in tow and have come to truly appreciate the local cable cars. The large gondola up Lagazuoi from Passo Falzarego and the chairlift to Cinque Torri from Bai de Dones are absolute lifesavers when you’re travelling with a small child (or for anyone with limited mobility).
TL;DR
If you’re already packing your bags and just need the quick facts, here are the key takeaways from our guide:
- Two separate sites close together: Cinque Torri (Five Towers) and Mount Lagazuoi sit near each other by the Passo Falzarego pass. Both are easily reached by cable car with zero effort.
- History everywhere you look: The entire area served as a frontline between Italy and Austria-Hungary during WWI. You’ll find reconstructed trenches, artillery positions, and tunnels carved into the rock.
- Best base: Cortina d’Ampezzo, hands down — it’s only about 15 minutes by car to the cable car stations.
- Who is it for: Thanks to the cable cars, this is a perfect destination for families with small children, older visitors, and dog owners. You ride to the top without breaking a sweat.
- Watch out for the tunnels: The famous Galleria del Lagazuoi (a war tunnel through the rock) is a brutal 600-metre descent in darkness and damp conditions. It’s absolutely not suitable for children or dogs — a helmet and headtorch are mandatory.
What Are Cinque Torri and Lagazuoi?
To get our bearings, we’re in the Veneto region near the mountain passes of Passo Falzarego and Passo Giau. This is an area that takes your breath away before you even step out of the car, and we bring every visitor who comes to see us in the mountains here.
Cinque Torri — “Five Towers” in English — is an absolutely iconic rock formation that looks as though it was placed into the landscape from another planet. As the name suggests, it’s made up of five main massifs, the tallest being Torre Grande, along with Torre Inglese, Romana, Quarta, and Quinta. Rock climbers love these crags, but regular hikers do too, because you can walk around them on comfortable, well-maintained paths. Directly across the valley rises the majestic Mount Lagazuoi, its summit reaching 2,778 metres above sea level, looking like an impregnable stone fortress.
Bloody History in Paradise: The Great War 1915–1918
Looking at those lush green meadows and white rock faces, it’s hard to believe the horrors that unfolded here. Whenever Lukáš and I walk among the Cinque Torri, we’re struck by a profound sense of humility. Between 1915 and 1918, some of the most senseless and brutal battles of the First World War took place on this very ground.
Mount Lagazuoi was riddled with kilometres of tunnels as Italian and Austro-Hungarian forces tried to undermine each other’s positions and blow them sky-high. The madness reached its peak in 1917, when the Italians literally detonated a massive mine directly beneath the Austrian positions — when our guide described it on site, we honestly didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. At Cinque Torri, you’ll find reconstructed Italian artillery positions, because the rocks provided perfect cover. Today, the whole area has been beautifully restored and functions as a vast open-air museum with completely free entry, where you can experience for yourself what it must have felt like to huddle in a freezing trench.
When to Visit and What Weather to Expect
Planning a trip to the Dolomites is always a bit of a gamble, because mountain weather does whatever it pleases — and that very much applies to the dolomites italy weather around Cinque Torri. We always check the webcams in the morning to make sure the summit isn’t sitting in cloud.
The ideal window for hiking and exploring the museums is from late June to mid-September. If you can, though, avoid August — and especially the Italian holiday Ferragosto on 15 August. That’s when half of Italy heads for the mountains; car parks fill up completely and you’ll queue for ages at the cable cars. We personally love early September, when the weather is usually more settled, the air is crystal clear, and the autumn sun paints the rocks in incredible shades of gold and pink — an absolute dream for photography. In the dolomites italy winter, the entire area transforms into a brilliant ski destination within the Cinque Torri ski area.
How to Get to the Cable Cars and Where to Park
Getting around this part of the Dolomites is fairly straightforward, especially if you have a car — which we’d say is pretty much essential. If you’re flying in from the UK, the nearest airports are Venice Marco Polo or Treviso, both roughly a two-hour drive away. We can heartily recommend the comparison site RentalCars.com for sorting out your hire car — it’s what we use everywhere we travel.
If you’re heading to Lagazuoi, your destination is the Passo Falzarego pass, where there’s a large car park right by the bottom station of the big gondola. If you’re aiming for Cinque Torri, you’ll stop a few hairpin bends lower down at Bai de Dones, where the chairlift begins. Parking at both spots is usually paid — expect roughly 5 to 10 EUR per day. Bring cash, as the card machines occasionally play up. During the main summer season, a reliable bus (number 27) also runs from Cortina directly to Passo Falzarego, which is a great alternative if you fancy a glass of wine with lunch or simply want to skip the parking stress.
Where to Stay Nearby and How Much It Costs
Our long-standing favourite base for this area is Cortina d’Ampezzo. It’s only about 15 minutes by car to the cable cars, you can stroll through the gorgeous town centre packed with boutiques and cafés in the evening, and there’s excellent infrastructure whether you’re after luxury or something more modest. We usually search for accommodation on Booking.com.
If Cortina is bursting at the seams (which happens regularly in season), a great alternative is the charming little town of Alleghe, sitting right beneath the majestic Marmolada, or the village of Arabba, from where you can easily explore the famous circuit of Passo Pordoi and Passo Sella. A happy middle ground are the apartments scattered around the Falzarego pass itself. There’s not exactly a buzzing nightlife up there, but you’ll be first in line at the cable car in the morning.
- Best places to stay in Cortina: We can wholeheartedly recommend Hotel de la Poste right in the centre, which oozes historic charm, or the more upscale Rosapetra SPA Resort if you fancy some post-hike pampering.
10 Things to See and Do at Cinque Torri and Lagazuoi
This really isn’t a place you can just drive through and tick off. Every couple of minutes you’re bouncing between jaw-dropping views and chilling history, and it changes you a little. Below are ten things Lukáš and I have done ourselves and honestly recommend.
1. Cable Car to Lagazuoi in Three Minutes
This is an experience in itself. You step into the big red gondola at Passo Falzarego and in under three minutes you’re whisked up to an incredible 2,778 metres above sea level. It’s fast, steep, and for our little Jonášek it was his first big mountain adventure — he watched the whole thing wide-eyed from his baby carrier. At the top, you find yourself in a world of rock and ice where even in August you might need a down jacket. You can buy tickets online too; find more info on the official Lagazuoi cable car website.
When we first stepped out at the top with our little one, we immediately appreciated the barrier-free access right up to the viewing platform. Don’t hesitate to bring grandma along — the ride is incredibly smooth and the views over the Ampezzo valley are truly worth it, even if you’re not much of a mountaineer.
2. Galleria del Lagazuoi: For the Brave Only
Here I need to give one big, honest warning. The tunnels carved into the heart of the mountain by Italian soldiers are a breathtaking feat of engineering, but this is absolutely not a casual stroll. It’s a descent of over 600 metres through solid rock, down steep, wet steps made of iron and stone, with water dripping everywhere and pitch blackness all around. Lukáš and I did it years ago and it took us nearly three hours. It’s for fit adults ONLY — completely unsuitable for dogs, and small children are rightly not allowed.
If you do decide to go for it, make sure you hire a proper helmet and headtorch at the bottom cable car station or at the rifugio. The steps are incredibly slippery and you’ll be grateful for every solid handhold. But that feeling when you finally emerge back into the sunlight? Absolutely priceless.
3. Views from Rifugio Lagazuoi
Whether you hike up or take the cable car, your reward is Rifugio Lagazuoi — a mountain hut perched right on the cliff edge like an eagle’s nest. The terrace is legendary. Sit down with a hot tea and gaze into the distance, and you’ll have the glaciated Marmolada, the Sella massif, and nearby Tofana spread out before you like a relief map. On a clear day, you can supposedly see all the way to Austria.
We usually spend at least an hour here, because you simply can’t tear yourself away from those views. Inside the hut there’s heating, and on cooler days it fills with the smell of hearty food and coffee — making it the perfect refuge when the sky suddenly clouds over and that icy mountain wind kicks in.
4. Chairlift to Cinque Torri
While a big gondola whisks you up Lagazuoi, the route to the Five Towers uses a classic open chairlift, which you board at the Bai de Dones station. The ride is wonderfully relaxing — you float gently above the trees as the rock towers gradually grow larger before your eyes. Dogs are welcome on board too; our Kája and Baby had no issues at all.
The staff at the chairlift are usually incredibly helpful — they assisted us getting on even with a baby strapped to Lukáš’s chest in a carrier. The whole ride is pure bliss for the soul: peace and quiet everywhere, the forest rustling below, and already in the distance you can see the five majestic stone fingers towering above you.
5. Open-Air Museum at the Five Towers
As soon as you step off the chairlift, you’re right in the middle of the historic site. You can freely wander through reconstructed trenches and peer into shelters where original cannons and firing positions are still preserved. Entry is completely free, and the whole area is brilliantly explained on information boards — so even Lukáš and I, who don’t exactly study history on a daily basis, quickly understood the full picture. You can read more on the open-air museum website.
It was an incredibly powerful experience, especially when it hit us just how brutal the conditions were that those poor soldiers had to endure. The trenches are quite narrow in places, so you have to squeeze through a bit, but thankfully everything is safely reinforced and you can manage it perfectly well even in trainers.
6. Panoramas from Rifugio Nuvolau
If you don’t just want to potter around Cinque Torri, take the roughly one-kilometre walk up to Rifugio Nuvolau. The path is a bit steeper and rocky, but you can manage it in decent trainers or proper hiking boots. Your reward is a classic 360-degree panorama across the entire Dolomites. This hut, incidentally, is one of the oldest in the region and has bags of character.
I have to say, the climb is worth every drop of sweat. The surrounding lunar landscape creates a beautiful contrast with the distant massifs, and when you reach the top you feel like you’re standing on the roof of the world. We’d definitely recommend heading up early in the morning to beat the crowds.
7. Relaxing at Rifugio Cinque Torri and Scoiattoli
When hunger strikes during our wanderings, we usually drop anchor at Rifugio Cinque Torri or at the neighbouring, more modern Scoiattoli hut, which sits right by the top chairlift station. From their terraces you can watch climbers tackling the sheer tower walls while you tuck into apple strudel and coffee. They also have great facilities for dog owners.
8. Easy Trek to Cima Falzarego
This is a genuinely easy trek with gentle inclines and clearly marked paths. Best of all, you escape the main crowds, so you finally feel like an explorer rather than a sheep on a guided tour — just bring plenty of water.
For Jonášek in his carrier, it was the ideal nap-inducing stroll — no giant boulders to clamber over, just a gentle walk across soft grass. If you want to wander away from the cable cars for a bit and enjoy the mountain silence without the clinking of trekking poles, this is exactly the right direction.
9. Via Ferrata for Experienced Mountaineers
Lukáš and I came here back in our carefree pre-baby days specifically for the via ferratas, and this area is an absolute paradise for them. If you’re travelling without a little one, definitely try the route that leads directly through the Galleria Lagazuoi.
This particular route takes you not only along exposed ledges with mind-blowing views, but also partly through the mountain’s interior — so you get that historical dimension first-hand. Just please don’t underestimate it: afternoon thunderstorms are common here in summer, so always set off as early as possible.
10. Winter Fun and Dolomiti Superski
Although we were here in summer this time, Cinque Torri is an absolute paradise in winter too. The whole area is connected to Cortina’s ski network, and you can pick up a combined pass on the Dolomiti Superski website. The pistes run right beneath those enormous rock towers, and when the winter sun hits them, it’s an experience you’ll never forget.
Skiing among these rocky giants has a strange, almost mystical atmosphere that can’t be compared to your typical overcrowded resorts. The local runs are usually beautifully wide and perfectly groomed, so even recreational skiers will find their sweet spot and can carve away until sunset.
Cinque Torri and Lagazuoi with Kids
Travelling with children to the mountains always raises a lot of questions — I know that all too well now. Honestly, we were a bit worried about how Jonášek would cope, but it turned out to be unnecessary. The cable cars handle the worst of the climbing for you, and you reach the top without breaking a sweat.
The open-air museum at the Five Towers is a genuine adventure for older kids. They can safely run through the trenches (under your supervision, of course, so they don’t trip on the rocks) and explore the bunkers. At Rifugio Scoiattoli there’s also a lovely outdoor playground where Jonášek enjoyed his first Italian mountain sand on his hands, while we soaked up the views. Just don’t forget to pack warm layers for the little ones — the wind above two thousand metres can be bitterly cold even in August.
Where to Eat
High-altitude hiking wouldn’t be the same without proper food — let’s be honest. And the local mountain cuisine will surprise you, because the Dolomites are still just a stone’s throw from Austria, and the menus make that abundantly clear.
- Rifugio Lagazuoi: They make an absolutely phenomenal wild goat stew here that melts on the tongue — you simply have to try it.
- Traditional mountain huts in the area: If you’re after something more traditional, treat yourself to a hearty portion of polenta baked with local cheese or Tyrolean dumplings (canederli).
- Local Ampezzo wine: And because we’re in Italy, wine is a must — order a glass of the local stuff with lunch. After a day in the fresh mountain air, it tastes like nectar of the gods. Just don’t overdo it if you still need to drive back down to the valley. 😁
Practical Tips, Prices, and Things to Watch Out For
To make sure nothing catches you off guard, we’ve put together a few practical tips — most of which we learned the hard way. Italy can be surprisingly strict about rules, and a bit of preparation goes a long way. If you don’t have travel insurance sorted, have a look at our travel insurance article, because trust us — you do not want to pay for a helicopter rescue out of the Dolomites. And don’t forget about mobile data; we recommend grabbing an eSIM from Holafly beforehand so you can translate Italian signs on the go.
- Cable car prices: A return ticket on the Lagazuoi gondola costs around 30 EUR, while the Cinque Torri chairlift comes to roughly 15 EUR. For flights to Italy (ideally Venice or Treviso), we usually search on Kiwi — it’s our go-to flight comparison site.
- Galleria del Lagazuoi: If you do decide to tackle the tunnel descent, you MUST have a helmet and a strong light. You can hire them at the entrance (or at the bottom cable car station) for around 5 EUR. And remember, children are officially only permitted from the age of 8.
- Leave your drone at home: Lukáš was gutted about this (poor thing), but there’s a strict no-fly zone across the entire area, as it sits within a protected national park and UNESCO natural heritage site. Fines can reach up to 3,000 EUR, so those aerial shots will have to wait.
Where Else to Go in the Dolomites
If you have more time in the area, definitely check out our other articles from the region, because Cinque Torri and Lagazuoi are just the beginning of all the mountain riches the Dolomites Italy have to offer. Try the iconic trek to Tre Cime di Lavaredo, the ultimate Dolomites landmark, or explore the queen of the mountains herself — the glaciated Marmolada. And if you’re still firming up your itinerary, browse our article on What to Do in the Dolomites.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
We know full well that planning a trip to such a specific mountain area can throw up loads of practical questions — especially when you’ve got kids, dogs, or limited time. So we’ve rounded up the most common questions our friends ask when we send them here.
Jak se dostat na Cinque Torri?
Nejjednodušší cesta vede z Cortiny d’Ampezzo po klikaté silnici směr Passo Falzarego. Odstavíte auto na parkovišti Bai de Dones a odtud vyjedete nahoru přímo sedačkovou lanovkou, což zabere jen pár minut a stojí to kolem 15 EUR za osobu.
Co vidět v okolí Cortina d’Ampezzo?
Kromě Cinque Torri a hory Lagazuoi určitě navštivte úžasné jezero Lago di Sorapis, které má naprosto neuvěřitelnou tyrkysovou barvu, zajeďte si na Tre Cime di Lavaredo nebo prozkoumejte průsmyk Passo Giau, ze kterého jsou nádherné výhledy.
Smí na lanovky psi?
Ano, do kabiny na Lagazuoi i na sedačkovou lanovku na Cinque Torri vás se psy pustí bez problémů, naši Kája a Baby to zvládli několikrát. Mějte ale s sebou vodítko a pro větší plemena raději i náhubek pro klid ostatních cestujících.
Kde najdu cinque torri webcam?
Aktuální záběry z webkamer pro kontrolu počasí najdete přímo na oficiálních stránkách Dolomiti Superski nebo na portálu Cortina d’Ampezzo. Vždycky se na ně před odjezdem z ubytování podívejte, protože dole může svítit slunce a nahoře sedí hustá mlha.
Je muzeum první světové války zpoplatněné?
Ne, celé venkovní muzeum kolem Pěti věží i tunely na hoře Lagazuoi jsou volně přístupné a vstup se do nich neplatí. Platíte v podstatě jen za dopravu k nim, tedy za lanovku, případně za parkování.
Dá se projít tunely na Lagazuoi s dětmi?
Nikoliv, sestup tmavými, mokrými a strmými tunely (Galleria del Lagazuoi) je povolen pouze dětem starším 8 let a rozhodně to není žádná příjemná procházka. Menším dětem ukazujte pouze zákopy pod širým nebem u Cinque Torri.
Potřebuji na Cinque Torri ferratové vybavení?
Záleží na tom, jaké máte plány. Pokud se chcete jen procházet mezi skálami a obdivovat zákopy, stačí vám běžné turistické vybavení a dobré boty. Pokud ale plánujete lézt na samotné věže nebo jít jištěné cesty, pak je sedák, úvazek a helma absolutní nutností.
Tips and Tricks for Your Vacation
Don’t Overpay for Flights
Search for flights on Kayak. It’s our favorite search engine because it scans the websites of all airlines and always finds the cheapest connection.
Book Your Accommodation Smartly
The best experiences we’ve had when looking for accommodation (from Alaska to Morocco) are with Booking.com, where hotels, apartments, and entire houses are usually the cheapest and most widely available.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Good travel insurance will protect you against illness, accidents, theft, or flight cancellations. We’ve had a few hospital visits abroad, so we know how important it is to have proper insurance arranged.
Where we insure ourselves: SafetyWing (best for everyone) and TrueTraveller (for extra-long trips).
Why don’t we recommend any Czech insurance company? Because they have too many restrictions. They set limits on the number of days abroad, travel insurance via a credit card often requires you to pay medical expenses only with that card, and they frequently limit the number of returns to the Czech Republic.
Find the Best Experiences
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