The tallest mountain ranges in Europe, the Dolomites and the French, Savoy Alps, and Swiss, define Italy’s northern and western borders. Slopes covered with snow are some of Europe’s most known features of Italian ski resorts.
With over 1,200 kilometres of ski routes spread across 12 major ski resorts, the Dolomites provide one of the most skiable terrain and options.
Skiing the Dolomites, Val d’Aosta, and the Savoy Alps west of Turin will reward you with breathtaking beauty and extensive ski routes that descend from the mountain tops to the resort town at the bottom.
The cost of a vacation is often lower here than in ski resorts in France or Switzerland because there are so many things to do while you’re not on the slopes.
1. The Best Italian Ski Resorts
With this list of the greatest Italian Ski Resorts in Italy, you can choose where to go skiing on your upcoming winter trip.
1.1. Alta Badia
Families with beginning and intermediate skiers enjoy Alta Badia, one of the Gruppo del Sella peaks’ ski resorts. Around 36% of the slopes are categorized as intermediate and have great soft starting terrain. Skiers with experience and the strength to complete it can start the new challenge at La Villa.
From here, lifts ascend once more before descending to Ortisei and then ascending back to Alta Badia. The course has 130 kilometres of downhill skiing and 53 lifts. It is situated in the center of the Dolomiti Superski region.
Alta Badia is serene and leisurely like its sister valleys, and La Villa, the valley’s main settlement, offers a great range of amenities.
Gourmet food is available here, even at the mountain huts; Rifugio Bioch is one of the best. An excellent venue to begin your after-dinner activities is Utia Club Moritzino.
1.2. Bormio
Skiers can enjoy the largest summit-to-base run in Italy at Bormio, located north of Verona between Bolzano and the Swiss border. It has a staggering 1,800 meters of vertical drop.
With 43 percent of its courses intended for intermediate skiers, Vallecetta, the primary ski area in Bormio, covers the north-facing slopes of Cima Bianca. It is a particularly well-liked mountain for families because a full third of the terrain is appropriate for novice skiers.
The summit-to-base run makes up for the nine percent of the route that is only for professionals. The annual World Cup downhill competitions have taken place on the Stelvio course since 1985.
The town center itself is a draw; it is a charming, historic spa town with plenty of character and three magnificent baths where you may relax achy muscles. More excellent skiing is accessible as a day excursion in nearby Livigno, which is a one-hour drive across the mountains.
A few hip pubs and a few small nightclubs make up Bormio town’s nightlife, while après ski is active at the slope-side bars up at Bormio 2000 and at the base terminal BeWhite bar.
1.3. Champoluc
Alagna and Champoluc are both connected to the Monterosa lift system; however, Champoluc is gentler and more suited for families. It still has the feel of a true hamlet with a life outside of skiing, even though it is located in a winding, forested valley.
Due to its location in the Aosta Valley, it also has an intriguing history that involves the French. It has intermittently truly been a part of France throughout the ages.
Although the company that made the connection, Ski-2, regrettably closed its doors, the delightful mid-priced hotels that housed its guests continue to exist. As a result, it has recently emerged as a major hub for British family ski holidays.
Similar to the brief gondola ride up to Crest’s serene nursery slopes, where skiers of all ages can perfect their parallel turns. Beyond that, a lengthy and dramatic range of mountains is traversed by a relatively narrow network of pistes.
Champoluc is bafflingly underdeveloped by contemporary standards, but as a result, it has never drawn the large throngs that throng the A-listers beyond the French border. Here is where you should go if you prefer your pistes to be empty.
1.4. Val Gardena
Val Gardena in Trentino-South Tyrol is still Italy’s largest and most exciting ski resort, with 133 km of cross-country slopes and 175 km of downhill over Selva di Val Gardena, St. Cristina villages, and Ortisei. It will be executed by one.
The Sella Ronda Circuit, a ski excursion around the Sella mountain, connects four Ladin valleys: Val Gardena, Arabba, and Fassa. Due to the interconnectedness of the Dolomiti Superski Area and the Alpe di Siusi, a skier can access more than 1200 kilometres of connected slopes with just one ski pass.
Some of the most beautiful descents for free riders may be found at Forcella Mezd, Val Lasties, and Forcella del Pordoi. King Lorin Snow Park, a fun park with 70 obstacles and a 750-meter Pitzcella, is at the Sassolungo’s foot.
Undoubtedly, the slopes, snow, comfort, overall tourism attractions, and views of the Sassolungo, Sella Group, and Odol make Val Gardena one of the best ski resorts in the world.
1.5. Breuil Cervinia: Highest Ski Resort In Italy
One of Italy’s largest and most impressive ski areas is Breuil-Cervinia in the Aosta Valley. Its 350 km of pistes connect the Swiss Zermatt region of the Matterhorn ski paradise with the Italian towns of Cervinia and Valtournenche.
Crossing the border requires a valid ID and a ski pass with a Swiss extension. Cervinia has 46 routes with a total length of 150 kilometres. Running next to the same glacier, the 11 km-long Bentina slope, which descends from the Rosa plateau to Cervinia at an altitude of 2050 m, is one of the most famous and highest alpine ski slopes.
Most slopes are fairly gentle. Exceptions are the black Matterhorn in the Cielo Alto and Cretaz regions. Plan Maison offers an Indian Park for snowboarders.
At an altitude of 2050m, Breuil-Cervinia has 3km of cross-country ski trails. At an altitude of 1954 m, the Valtournenche of Champreve has a cross-country track consisting of three loops of about 3km, 2.5km, and 3.8km, according to their beginner-friendly to medium-difficult slopes, respectively.
Finally, the Maen cross-country track winds for 6.5 km and is 3 km from Valtournenche. Après-ski in Cervinia takes place in pubs and is centred around villages.
Happy hour is fun and lively when the lifts are parked, and you can ski on the terraces of some of the pubs in the valley area. It is one of the best ski resorts in Italy.
1.6. Madonna di Campiglio
Madonna di Campiglio is one of the more established ski resorts in Italy. Over the years, it has been able to reinvent itself while maintaining its top spot in both national and international rankings and its status as a luxurious and cutting-edge venue.
Madonna di Campiglio, the village, lies at an elevation of 1522 meters above sea level.
Located beneath a western outcrop of the Dolomites, Madonna di Campiglio is a snowy area with active skiing that is fueled by stunning scenery and some stunningly steep slopes.
1.7. Courmayeur
The iconic Alpine resort of Courmayeur is located in the breathtaking Aosta Valley of ancient Italy. This well-established mountain hamlet is tucked away at the base of Mont Blanc, on the opposite side of the French town of Chamonix.
It provides a wonderful blend of old-world architecture and modern amenities, all in a breathtakingly magnificent location.
The majority of the ski lines in Courmayeur are on simple, open terrain above the tree line in the Checrouit sector, which is connected to steeper, forested slopes of the Val Veny sector, which offers breathtaking views of Mont Blanc and its glaciers.
The first time you see the Italian side of Mont Blanc, bathed in sunlight, will be the most memorable. The only inconvenience is needing to use the lift to return to the bottom of the mountain at the end of the day.
Après ski (after skiing) is often a refined activity, as it is in all of Italy’s top ski areas. It mostly focuses on the town’s central area, where some upscale café-bars and lounges serve complimentary canapés along with drinks.
1.8. Sestriere
This ski resort, which is located in the vast Milky Way-linked ski area that spans the French-Italian border, is also a fantastic option for beginners and intermediate skiers. Giovanni Agnelli of Fiat built Sestriere, one of the first ski resorts ever built specifically for skiing.
The local ski slope in Sestriere is divided into two distinct linked sectors: Monte Sises, which has a direct view of the town, and Monte Motta, which is located above the linked community of Borgata to the east.
There are several short ski tows that serve the large snowfields at the base of Monte Sises, which are primarily for beginners.
Ski long red and black summit-to-valley descents at the top levels of Monte Motta, including the famed ‘Kandahar Banchetta’ World Cup and Olympic downhill circuit.
West of the hamlet, via Sauze d’Oulx, is a gondola that connects to the Milky Way. Several Italian ski resorts and the nearby French resort of Montgenevre are both included in the Milky Way ski pass.
Pinky’s is one of the greatest early après ski bars and a fantastic pizzeria, so plan on staying put once you get comfortable. It is one of the most wonderful Italian Ski resorts.
1.9. Italian Ski Resort: Monterosa
The Monterosa Ski area, which is divided into three valleys, is located at the base of the Monte Rosa massif and offers a variety of high-altitude snow activities.
In this setting, the tranquillity and beauty of the surroundings are intermingled with a wide range of projects and activities for all seasons.
Off-piste skiers will find it to be a wonderland, with access to miles of unexplored powder fields and skiable terrain rising to nearly 3,275 meters. Both the skiing and the views of Europe’s notable mountain peaks, Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, and Monte Rosa, are breathtaking.
You guessed it: Monterosa offers fantastic food and drinks at an excellent price. Après-ski is quite laid-back; while the restaurants in any of the villages are of the highest calibre, the Bistrot and the Atelier Gourmand next to the Champoluc gondola base are cozy.
Gressoney and Champoluc both offer ice rinks for family entertainment.
1.10. Cortina d’Ampezzo
The Dolomites were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site for their glacier-carved topography of sheer sides and rocky pinnacles, and they also offer world-class skiing. Cortina D’Ampezzo is the most well-known of the dozen ski areas in the Dolomites because the Winter Olympics were hosted there in 1956.
In Cortina d’Ampezzo, where around half of the skiable terrain is intermediate, and there are slopes and pistes (trails) for novices, families with beginning and intermediate skiers will find plenty of terrain.
In addition to having the highest concentration of downhill ski areas in the Dolomites, Cortina d’Ampezzo also features a tonne of cross-country ski paths that wind through breathtaking mountain scenery, a floodlit bobsled run for nighttime sledging, and the Olympic rink for ice skaters.
The FIS World Championships were held in Cortina d’Ampezzo as planned, despite a number of major ski competitions being postponed in 2021. Cortina d’Ampezzo also called “The Queen of the Dolomites”.
1.11. Alpe di Siusi
The combined resort of Alpe di Siusi and Seiser Alm, which is by far the highest in the Dolomites, has 3km, which is 5% percent of terrain for expert skiers, but it also has plenty of terrain for intermediate and even beginner skiers on its own 63 kilometres and the 175 kilometres of slopes and trails it shares with Val Gardena.
It is renowned as one of the Dolomites’ most family-friendly resorts, with modern child safety features on its mountain lifts, a ski kindergarten, a ski school, kids’ fun parks, and kid-friendly trips. Additionally, it contains some of the top snowboarders’ snow parks, complete with boxes, stairs, and kickers.
1.12. Val di Fassa
The Dolomiti Superski ski region includes Val di Fassa, a beautiful valley in Trentino with a number of amazing skiable sections.
Unquestionably, the greatest region is that of Canazei and Campitello, where skiing is available in the Belvedere and Col Rodella sectors, both of which are connected to Val Gardena and Arabba by the Sellaronda circuit.
Catinaccio and Vigo di Fassa, two skiable areas, are located further down the valley. The Carezza – Passo Costalunga ski area, with its 40 kilometres of family-friendly slopes, is next, followed by Moena and the Tre Valli region.
Canazei is a part of the Sellaronda Skimarathon, a nighttime ski mountaineering competition for couples that winds for 42 kilometres along the Dolomiti Superski ski carousel and connects the four valleys surrounding the Sella massif via four Dolomite passes.
The Sellaronda, a well-known circuit of the four mountain passes, is easily accessible by cable car from either town and covers 40 kilometres, 26 of them on skis.
1.13. Corvara
Try Corvara in the Alta Badia if you enjoy the Sella Ronda’s sound but if you are concerned that your skiing isn’t quite up to par. The third major Italian resort that borders the circuit is Selva in the Val Gardena, along with Canazei in the Val di Fassa.
In addition, it provides rapid access to the kindergarten runs on the Pralongia plateau, which is also shared by San Cassiano so that you can warm up your ski legs and start your vacation there.
Additionally, the cost of private ski lessons at the resort is half that of private instruction at several prestigious French resorts, making it an excellent opportunity to improve your technique.
You can then do the tour later in the week, keeping in mind that the anti-clockwise path is a little simpler. And what happens if you determine you’re not prepared?
You may lift your spirits with another fantastic meal at a place like the Col Alt or Club Moritzino up on the plateau.
1.14. Alagna
Best for skilled skiers looking to join the ranks of off-piste experts and experts. Like Alagna, there aren’t many other ski areas. The enormous Monterosa massif is underneath it, and it is tucked away near the end of the deep and winding Valsesia. It only makes a half-hearted attempt to appeal to the mass market for ski holidays.
Only eight pistes are served by its ski lifts. But it’s sturdy, but an obstinate fan base prefers it that way. The majority of the Monterosa is the main attraction, and off-piste skiing is the primary activity here.
There is a tonne of softer terrain available here, so confident, fit black-piste skiers may easily adapt to powder skiing if they have hired a qualified coach to show them the proper turns to make. Skiers at this skill level are welcome to try heli-skiing as well.
1.15. Livigno
Livigno is hardly a familiar name among skiers despite being well known for its excellent terrain parks, which are regarded as the best in Europe, and for its isolated position.
But those who manage to find their way to these three cul-de-sac communities find it even more alluring due to its relative inaccessibility.
A total of more than 60 attractions, including an airbag, can be found in the main terrain park. Experts can use the newly expanded heli-skiing chances to explore the off-piste snow or climb higher.
The 2026 Winter Olympics’ freestyle skiing and snowboarding competitions will take place in Livigno. Ski runs are 115 kilometres in length in Livigno, with 12 for advanced skiers, 37 for intermediate skiers, and 29 for beginners.
1.16. Canazei
Why aren’t the gentle slopes of Dolomite well-known to Britons? After all, we are not a country of accomplished skiers.
Even while many of us fantasize about floating over deep powder fields or skiing backwards down a half-pipe, the majority of us are far happier riding along intermediate pistes that have been diligently groomed.
This type of terrain is abundant in the Dolomites. Sheer cliffs and enormous rock spires may dominate every vista, but the pistes extend over pleasant Alpine meadows and are serviced by quick, contemporary lifts.
The Sella Ronda circuit encircles the Sella massif with its slab-sided mountains and serves as the region’s natural center.
The vast majority of them are consistent, wide, and ego-stimulating. Canazei is a fantastic base for enthusiastic athletic intermediates who want to explore this area as much as possible.
Indeed, this location doesn’t offer ski-in/ski-out access, but its hotels are nonetheless reasonably priced when compared to those on the northern side of the Alps, and its snowmaking is unmatched.
1.17. Arabba-Marmolada
One of the more compact Dolomiti Superski resorts is Arabba-Marmolada, which is surrounded by the Gruppo del Sella peaks. About half of its slopes are classed as intermediate, making it a popular destination for families with beginner skiers.
These resorts, nevertheless, are not exclusively for inexperienced skiers. They offer skiing access to the Marmolada Glacier.
The Passo Pardon connects the Marmolada ski regions, while the Passo Campolongo leads to the Alta Badia. From the summit of Passo Pordoi, you may use lifts to descend into the Canazei resort.
The compact size of the wooden chalet-filled classic Italian mountain village makes it easy to reach the lodgings via lift. Many of them offer ski-in and ski-out lodging.
2. Wrapping Up the Journey
In conclusion, Italy is home to some of the most famous Italian Ski Resorts in the world.
With its picturesque scenery and multitude of ski trails, it’s no wonder that Italy is such a popular destination for winter sports enthusiasts. If you like snow, this place is indeed for you. Gear Up and go on this snowy adventure.
Last Updated on July 11, 2024 by Sathi Chakraborty
