Passo Giau
Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy
A 2,236 m pass with tight hairpins and a wall of peaks at the top. Come at sunrise.
Passo Giau lies at 2,236 m in the Dolomites (Belluno province, Italy) and links Selva di Cadore with Cortina d'Ampezzo. On the Selva di Cadore side the road climbs in 29 hairpin bends; from Cortina it is easier to drive. The Giro d'Italia has crossed the pass several times; in 1973, 2011, 2021 and 2026 the Cima Coppi, the race's highest point, was here. From the top there is an almost 360-degree panorama with Nuvolau, Averau, Ra Gusela, the Tofane, Marmolada and Civetta.
At the summit there is a car park and a mountain hotel. A stone dated 1753 recalls the Marogna di Giau, a boundary wall between Cadore and the Ampezzo area. You climb to the Rifugio Nuvolau at 2,574 m in about 1.5 hours, and the walk to Lago Federa below the Croda da Lago takes two to two and a half hours.
You can watch sunrise and sunset straight from your car. Summer mornings are quiet; from mid-morning many motorcyclists and cyclists arrive. Unlike the road over the Passo Falzarego, this road is also open to lorries and buses; depending on snow it is usually open from May to November.
- Nearest town
- Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy
- Category
- Scenic viewpoints
- GPS
- 46.4827, 12.0536
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually July. Still fine, with some compromises, in June and August–September. Cold, short days in November–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- Italy: Motorway tolls. Tolls on most autostrade; pay at the barrier by card or cash. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
Campsites nearby
- Camping CortinaCampsite8 km from Passo GiauTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
- Camping RocchettaCampsite8 km from Passo GiauTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWi-Fi
- Camping Sass DlaciaCampsite10 km from Passo GiauTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Camping AllegheCampsite10 km from Passo GiauTentsCaravansMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Camping OlympiaCampsite11 km from Passo Giau · 314 pitchesTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWi-Fi
- Camping Colfosco - CalfoschCampsite17 km from Passo GiauTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposal
All campsites in Italy · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Passo Giau?
Passo Giau is in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, at GPS 46.4827, 12.0536. It is about 9 km from Alleghe.
Can you camp near Passo Giau?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Camping Cadore, about 6 km away; within 25 km there are 31 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Passo Giau?
Passo Giau is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: A loop through the Dolomites and Great Dolomite Road: Bolzano to Cortina.
What is there to see near Passo Giau?
Places worth a stop nearby: Passo Pordoi (19 km), Lago di Misurina (19 km), Passo Gardena (20 km) and Passo Sella (23 km).
When is the best time to visit Passo Giau?
The most pleasant months are usually July. Still fine, with some compromises, in June and August–September. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)