Top Skiing Destinations Italy
As a ski destination, Italy boasts excellent facilities (having regularly hosted the Winter Olympics), cuter than cute towns, wonderful traditions, amazing scenery and a stylishness that is entirely Italian. Whether you are a family of different levels of proficiency, an avid and skilled skier, planning a relaxed trip with pals or looking to try skiing for the first time, Italy has the appropriate resorts and ski areas to suit you and your needs! Here are some of the key ski destinations that you won't want to miss out on in Italy:
Trentino – Dolomites
Skiing in Trentino offers a charming mixture of Alpine and Italian traditions in the Dolomites. The towering spikes and exuberant forms of these mountains form a dramatic backdrop, there are plenty of top-notch and high-thrill slopes and there are a large amount of resorts to choose from in the area, at a variety of different price points. For a wealth of choice, it is one of the best ski destinations in the world.
Val Gardena – Alta Badia
Famous for skiing, rock climbing, and woodcarving, Val Gardena is a sporty ski destination that has hosted the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships (1970), and the annual Saslong Classic (a men's World Cup downhill race, held almost every year since 1969) and is part of the Sella Ronda alpine ski touring circuit. Alta Badia (the upper part of the same area), meanwhile, is a regular stop on the World Cup schedule.
Val di Fassa – Canazei – Marmolada
Val di Fassa is the collective name for a number of villages and ski resorts that boast over 220km of piste skiing and is home to resorts such as Canazei, Campitello, Pozza di Fassa, and Marmolada. Each has its own unique character and there is an extensive lift network that includes many access points to the Dolomiti Superski area. This region is very well-connected by bus routes making it the destination where you don't have to make a choice at all – you can ski in a different resort each day!
Madonna di Campiglio
Madonna di Campiglio is one of those famously stylish Italian ski towns. It is synonymous with the famous Canalone Miramonti run, a regular on the World Cup slalom circuit for more than 50 years and is home to upscale eateries, beautiful boutiques, trendy bars and 60km of piste of various levels. One of the first resorts in Italy to embrace snowboarding, it is also a place where you can try other – more unusual – winter outdoor pursuits like ice climbing on frozen waterfalls or parapenting from Monte Spinone. Thrills and frills.
Merano
Merano has numerous skiing areas in its surroundings including Merano 2000, with its ski slopes; toboggan runs and cross-country ski trails; the family-friendly Val Passiria; Schwemmalm in Val d’Ultimo, with its incredible views of the Ortles mountain range; and the Val Senales Glacier, where you can ski in winter, spring and autumn. With a lot of variety in ski areas and a lot of options of when to visit, it is a well-rounded ski destination.
Cortina d'Ampezzo
Cortina d'Ampezzo is a fashionable ski resort town located in the Veneto region of Italy, just a two hour drive from Venice. The area has been a winter sports mecca since the 1930s and even played host to the first Italian Winter Olympic Games in 1956. Known as the “Queen of the Dolomites”, it is one of the best-known ski resorts worldwide and hosts international sports events annually such as the Alpine Ski World Cup, the Tour de Ski, ice hockey and curling championships, and Cortina Winter Polo.
Breuil Cervinia
This ski area is one of the largest in the Alps and stretches across three valleys and two countries, Italy and Switzerland. Known for its snow-capped mountains, including the pyramid-shaped Matterhorn, it is home to the world-famous Ventina piste and its high altitude guarantees a long season that runs from November to the beginning of May. It may not be the prettiest town on this list but the natural surroundings are truly majestic.
Bormio
Bormio is a charming resort that offers a range of high, snow-sure pistes and lower wooded slopes, as well as speedy lifts to take you around. However, many rate this ancient ski town for the overall experience and the food and drink offered in the area. Full of rustic charm, it is the perfect spot for intermediates (beginners and advanced skiers are less well accommodated for) to have a great holiday and spend time enjoying local cuisine and relaxing in the ancient Roman baths.
Livigno
Located near the Swiss border, Livigno is a lovely village that boats a long and snow-sure season that stretches from the end of November to the end of April. Family-friendly, it has 115km of fantastic pistes suitable for all grades of skiers, as well as other activities like quad biking, go-karting, husky rides and paragliding. Home to a vibrant nightlife and the opulent Aquagranda Wellness Park, one of Europe's biggest and most integrated wellness facilities, it is a pretty and bustling little ski town with everything you could want or need for a perfect holiday.
Bardonecchia – Monte Rosa
Bardonecchia is a well-kept secret, a beautiful ski area located in the Piedmont region of Italy. It played host to the snowboarding events in the Turin Winter Olympics in 2006 but has never really taken off with tourist crowds. However, despite this, you will find that there is plenty worth writing home about: over 100km of excellent intermediate slopes, excellent food at fair prices and a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. If you like doing things off the beaten track, this is the ski destination for you.
