Rifugio Averau

Rifugio Averau is an alpine hut in Cortina d'Ampezzo. It sits at 2413 m. Typical season: Opening June 6 for the summer period.

Hut to hut on foot

Nearest staffed huts on walking trails from Rifugio Averau: Rifugio Scoiattoli (~30 min), Rifugio Nuvolau (~36 min), Rifugio Cinque Torri (~48 min).

Estimated times for an average hiker, based on distance and elevation.

Staying at Rifugio Averau

The gourmet hut: white-tablecloth cooking on a 2,400 m saddle, with rooms that outclass some valley hotels.

Averau sits on the Forcella Nuvolau saddle between the Averau tower and the Nuvolau summit, looking one way at the Marmolada glacier and the other at Civetta. It has quietly become famous for something rare at this altitude: food people plan a day around. The kitchen turns out hand-made casunziei stuffed with wild herbs the chefs pick themselves, and at busy lunchtimes you need a table reservation indoors, which tells you everything.

Staying the night

Recently renovated: doubles and quads with private bathrooms that guests regularly describe as better than hotels they’ve stayed in, plus 6–10 bed dorms for groups. It’s the “treat yourself” night of an Alta Via 1 itinerary, and the practical fallback when Nuvolau (25 minutes above) is full, with 90% of the same panorama and 100% better plumbing.

The food

The reputation is “best restaurant in the high Dolomites”, and most guests agree; a minority of reviews find peak-season lunch overpriced. Dinner as an overnight guest is calmer and better than the lunch rush. Prices run a notch above neighbouring huts, which is expected given what’s on the plate.

Booking reality

Beds go early for July–August (the private rooms first), but it’s less brutal than Nuvolau. The restaurant takes table reservations separately; book both if lunch matters to you.

Getting there

Ten minutes’ walk from the top of the Averau chairlift, ~45 min from Passo Giau, or en route on Alta Via 1. Being on the Dolomiti Superski slopes, it also runs a winter season.

Good to know

• If you can’t get Nuvolau for sunset, sleep here and walk up for it: 25 minutes each way, headlamp for the way down.
• The saddle catches wind; the dining room’s panoramic windows mean you enjoy the drama from indoors.
• Half board here is the culinary highlight of most AV1 itineraries.