Rifugio Cinque Torri
4.2About
Rifugio Cinque Torri sits at 2,137 m directly beneath the Cinque Torri, the cluster of freestanding rock towers between Cortina d'Ampezzo and Passo Falzarego whose tallest, Torre Grande, reaches 2,361 m. Built in 1902, it is one of the oldest huts in the Ampezzo Dolomites and is run today by the Alberti family as a small, intimate inn with just five rooms and 16 beds. The towers form the historic 'rock gymnasium' of Cortina, where generations of climbers — including the famous Scoiattoli di Cortina — trained on routes of every grade, and the surrounding slopes hold the Great War open-air museum, a network of restored Italian trenches and gun positions from the WWI front line. Chef Massimo 'Lelo' serves traditional Ampezzo cooking, from homemade casunziei to ricotta strudel. The hut opens in summer only, from early or mid-June to late September. The simplest approach is the 5 Torri chairlift from Bai de Dones on the Passo Falzarego road to Rifugio Scoiattoli, followed by a 20-minute descent on trail 439; on foot from Bai de Dones the walk takes about an hour. The access road from Cianzopè is closed to private cars in high summer, with a paid shuttle in August.
Access Routes
From Bai de Dones via the 5 Torri chairlift
0h
Easy
Ride the 5 Torri chairlift from the Bai de Dones car park on the SR48 Falzarego road up to Rifugio Scoiattoli, then descend trail 439 to the hut in about 20 minutes.
From Bai de Dones on foot
1h
Easy
A pleasant walk on forest tracks and paths from the Bai de Dones parking area to the foot of the towers, about 1 hour with modest elevation gain.
From Passo Giau via trail 443
1h
Moderate
From Passo Giau follow the panoramic trail 443 toward the Cinque Torri group, descending past Forcella Nuvolau and Rifugio Scoiattoli to the hut in about 1.5 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
Contact the hut directly at [email protected] or +39 0436 2902. With only five rooms and 16 beds, availability is extremely limited — summer 2026 sold out entirely — so book many months ahead or plan a day visit for lunch instead.
The hut operates a summer-only season, roughly from early or mid-June to the third week of September (6 June to 20 September in 2026). It closes for the winter, although the Cinque Torri area itself becomes a ski zone served by the chairlift.
Park at Bai de Dones on the Cortina–Passo Falzarego road (SR48) and ride the 5 Torri chairlift to Rifugio Scoiattoli, then descend trail 439 for about 20 minutes. Walking up from Bai de Dones takes about 1 hour; in August a paid shuttle also runs from Cianzopè while the access road is closed to private cars.
Yes — it is one of the easiest famous huts in the Dolomites to visit. The chairlift plus a short downhill walk suits almost any age, the loop trail around the towers is gentle, and children love exploring the restored WWI trenches of the open-air museum scattered around the towers.
The towers are a historic climbing playground with routes of all grades, the Great War open-air museum's trenches and gun posts encircle the hut, and easy trails connect to Rifugio Scoiattoli, Rifugio Averau and Rifugio Nuvolau. The restaurant's homemade casunziei and ricotta strudel are a destination in themselves.
Location
46.5082, 12.0547
HutLists Score
4.2
Overall
Facilities
Access
Season
Based on facilities, access, and how reliably the hut is open.
Quick Facts
- Managing club
- private
- Season
- June – September
- Beds
- 16
- Min hiking time
- 1.0h
- Nearest trailhead
- Bai de Dones (5 Torri chairlift)
- Cable car access
- Yes
Facilities
Meals served
Contact & Booking
- [email protected]
- Phone
- +39 0436 2902
- Website
- https://rifugio5torri.it
Activities
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