Gillian Knows Best mini guide to Cortina & Bressanone

What to eat and see in 2 mountain towns that are super close to Venice

I grew up in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. Despite the objective beauty of my hometown, the mountains are not for me. For as long as I can remember I have craved the sea. My husband does love the mountains. Before he met me he lived in Colorado and Utah. When his brother, who also lives in Colorado, announced he was coming to visit Venice Mark realized this was finally his chance to explore those mountains that sometimes on a clear winter day we can see from the end of our street. I had almost zero input into the planning of this trip. Mark took care of everything from the car rentals to navigation to hotel bookings. He even figured out where to eat! Maybe I need to officially add Mark to the Gillian Knows Best travel planning team.

Paid subscribers can keep reading and find out where we stayed, shopped and ate in Cortina and Bressanone and how I fared in German speaking Italy. Bookmark this post if you are planning on coming to Cortina for the 2026 Winter Olympics.