Auronzo e Misurina: what to see, do and where to stay

Auronzo di Cadore and the nearby Misurina represent the Cadore and Veneto side of the Tre Cime di Lavaredo, in a territory where mountain culture intertwines with a long history of timber work and valley life. Auronzo stretches along its reservoir lake, while Misurina, set higher up, shelters one of the most celebrated stretches of water in the Dolomites: the largest natural lake in the Cadore, framed by the peaks that mirror themselves in it.

Misurina has been a holiday destination for over a century and is also known for its air, long considered beneficial to the respiratory tract — so much so that a treatment centre for young asthmatic patients was established here and remains active today. A short distance above, Monte Piana was one of the bloodiest fronts of the First World War and is now home to a vast open-air museum of restored trenches, galleries, and walkways, while the Cadini di Misurina provide a dramatic spire-studded backdrop.

From Misurina, beside the small Lago di Antorno, a toll road climbs seven kilometres to Rifugio Auronzo at 2,333 metres — the starting point of the famous Tre Cime loop, the southern gateway to one of the most beloved walks in the world. In summer, arrive early before the car parks fill and the best light fades; autumn colours the Cadore forests and reveals razor-sharp views of the peaks.

When to go & weather — Auronzo e Misurina

Summer, from June to September, is the ideal season for reaching the Tre Cime from the southern approach, exploring the Cadini di Misurina, and visiting the lakes. Winter, from December to March, brings skiing, cross-country trails, and a quiet atmosphere around the frozen Lago di Misurina. The first hours of summer mornings offer splendid light on the lakes and far fewer visitors, before the Rifugio Auronzo car parks fill up. Autumn colours the Cadore forests and reveals sharp views of the peaks.

How to get there — Auronzo e Misurina

Auronzo and Misurina are reached by driving up the Cadore from Belluno and Pieve di Cadore along the State Road d'Alemagna, or by descending from Cortina via the Tre Croci pass. Drivers on the A27 follow it to its final exit at Pian di Vedoia and continue on the state road toward the Cadore. The nearest rail station is Calalzo di Cadore, connected to Auronzo and Misurina by scheduled buses. From Misurina, beside Lago di Antorno, the toll road rises seven kilometres to Rifugio Auronzo at 2,333 metres, the starting point of the Tre Cime loop.