Very few 3,000-metre summits in the Alps let you go from a town centre to the top in about 30 minutes, but Cima Tofana di Mezzo is one of them.
It rises to 3,244 metres above Cortina d’Ampezzo, and the Freccia nel Cielo cable car takes you almost all the way up.
In this guide, we’ll start by explaining what the mountain is. Next, we’ll look at the hiking routes and via ferrata climbs that lead to the top, and then we’ll show you how the cable car works. Finally, we’ll help you plan your trip so you get there in good weather.
Why is Cima Tofana di Mezzo worth the trip?
From the summit you can see the Cortina basin, Monte Cristallo to the east, the Marmolada glacier to the south-west and, on clear days, peaks across the Austrian border.
To get there, you can ride the whole way up, combine the cable car with a short summit path, or earn the view on one of the Dolomites’ toughest via ferrata routes.
What is Cima Tofana di Mezzo? Height, history and key facts
Cima Tofana di Mezzo is the highest of the three Tofane, the huge group of limestone peaks on the western side of Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Only the Marmolada (3,343 m) and Monte Antelao (3,264 m) stand higher in the whole Dolomites.
The mountain lies within the Ampezzo Dolomites Natural Park, and the area has been part of the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site since 26 June 2009.
| Peak | Also known as | Height | First ascent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tofana di Mezzo | Tofana II | 3,244 m | 1863 |
| Tofana di Dentro | Tofana III | 3,238 m | 1865 |
| Tofana di Rozes | Tofana I | 3,225 m | 1864 |
The Austrian climber Paul Grohmann and the Cortina hunter Francesco Lacedelli made the first known ascent on 29 August 1863. Grohmann measured the summit at 3,269 metres, only 25 metres off the modern figure. Half a century later, the Tofane were on the front line of the First World War.
Italian and Austro-Hungarian troops fought across these ridges, and you’ll still find tunnels, trenches and wartime paths, especially on Tofana di Rozes.
The lower slopes have a sporting history too. The Olimpia delle Tofane run below the peak hosted women’s alpine skiing at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
Lower down, the Bus de Tofana rock arch is one of the most photographed spots on the massif.
Hiking routes and via ferrata on Cima Tofana di Mezzo
The approach you choose depends on your experience, your kit and how much of the day you want to spend on the rock.
| Route | Start | Time | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summit path from the top station | Cima Tofana terrace (3,191 m) | About 15 minutes | Easy but exposed, with steel cables |
| Via ferrata Gianni Aglio | Doss de Tofana (about 2,900 m), from Ra Valles | About 3 hours 30 minutes | Difficult |
| Via ferrata Giuseppe Olivieri to Punta Anna (2,731 m) | Rifugio Pomedes (2,303 m) | About 4 hours | Experts only |
| Olivieri and Aglio combined | Rifugio Pomedes | 5 hours 30 minutes to 8 hours | Long and very demanding |
| Via ferrata Lamon | Tofana di Dentro summit | Around 80 minutes for the ferrata, 6 to 7 hours from the car park | Moderate ferrata, long day overall |
The Olivieri is widely seen as one of the finest via ferrata routes in the Dolomites.
It climbs the steep, almost fully cabled south ridge of Punta Anna, with big drops and views over to Tofana di Rozes. Strong climbers carry on along the Aglio, which has ladders, iron rungs and a famously airy traverse before the summit.
Most people then ride the cable car down rather than walking. If you’d like an easier warm-up first, the Pomagagnon via ferrata on the other side of Cortina is a good test of your head for heights.
If ferrata isn’t for you, there’s still plenty of walking around the middle stations.
Rifugio Giussani (2,580 m), Rifugio Dibona (2,083 m) and the paths around Col Drusciè all connect to the wider network of hiking trails in the Dolomites.
Must-do checklist before you climb
- Bring a full via ferrata kit: harness, Y-shaped lanyard with energy absorber, helmet and gloves
- Start early, as afternoon storms are common in July and August
- Pack a warm jacket, since it can be below freezing at the summit even in summer
- Check the time of the last cable car down before you set off
- Carry enough water, as there’s none on the ferrata routes
- Hire a mountain guide from Cortina if it’s your first difficult ferrata
How does the Freccia nel Cielo cable car to Cima Tofana di Mezzo work?
The Freccia nel Cielo, or “Arrow in the Sky”, has run since the late 1960s, and its three sections were already among Italy’s most important lifts by 1971. The ride starts beside the Olympic Ice Stadium in central Cortina at 1,216 m and takes about 30 minutes to reach the top. Along the way, you rise more than 2,000 metres.
- Cortina to Col Drusciè (1,778 m): a gondola over forest, with restaurants and an observatory at the top
- Col Drusciè to Ra Valles (2,475 m): a cable car up into bare rock and scree
- Ra Valles to Cima Tofana (3,244 m): the final cable car, ending at a panoramic terrace just below the summit
How to get to Cima Tofana di Mezzo
Everything starts in Cortina. The cable car base station is in Via dello Stadio, next to the Ice Stadium, with a large paid car park beside it.
- From Venice: Cortina is roughly 160 km from Venice Marco Polo Airport, about two hours by car, and seasonal coaches run direct to the town
- By train: take a train to Calalzo-Pieve di Cadore, then a Dolomiti Bus up the valley to Cortina
- From Cadore: if you’re staying in Vodo di Cadore, Cortina is only around 20 minutes away by car
- Within Cortina: local buses stop right outside the base station in winter, so you don’t need to drive
Book your stay near Cima Tofana di Mezzo with D4U
Staying close by makes it easy to wait for the right weather window rather than gambling on a single day.
D4U has apartments, wellness apartments and rooms in Cortina d’Ampezzo and across Cadore, so you can be at the cable car in minutes and still have quiet evenings in the mountains.
Take a look at our homes, choose the one that fits your group and plan your holiday in Cortina around the summit.
