Italy Ski Guide

There are plenty of good ski resorts in Italy including the famous Cortina d’Ampezzo and Courmayeur. The best facilities can be found in Italy’s northern alpine regions. With the main airports located near Italy’s fantastic cities, you could even combine a city break with a few days skiing. The skiing season tends to run from early December to the middle of March but this does of course depend on the snow fall, so it is advisable to check before booking your break. The après ski is popular and lively in Italy.

Find out more about driving in Italy, or read our Italy travel guide. You may also like to view our car hire Italy destinations.

Ski resorts in Italy

Aprica

The Aprica ski resort is situated in the Valtellina region of Italy. It has a wide variety of runs and good nursery slopes with wide uncrowded runs for beginners. There are lots of bars and restaurants, a cinema and even a floodlit ice skating rink.

Closest airport: Milan Linate Airport

Bardonecchia

Bardonecchia is situated in the southwestern Alps, it is made up of four different ski areas, Campo Smith-Colomion, Les Arnauds, Melezet-valle Stretta and Fregiusia-Jafferau.

Closest airport: Turin Airport

Breuil-Cervinia

Breuil-Cervinia in Italy appeals to all kinds of levels of skier, both beginner and intermediate skiers will enjoy its broad, wide, open slopes which are not too steep.

Closest airport: Milan Malpensa Airport

Champoluc

Just below the highest mountain in Italy, Monte Rosa, you will find the un-spoilt village Champoluc. The 150km of slopes in the Monte Rosa ski area are quiet; there are lots of long wide red runs which will suit novice and intermediate skiers.

Closest airport: Turin Airport

Cortina d’Ampezzo

The most up market of Italian resorts, Cortina d’Ampezzo has quite fragmented ski areas which can frustrate some skiers; access to the Sella Ronda and other Dolomiti super ski resorts can help to compensate for this, having a car is essential if you want to get around these areas.

Closest airport: Venice Airport

Courmayeur

Courmayeur is a small resort situated just below the end of the Mont Blanc Tunnel. To get the best out of skiing in the region, you should hire a car and buy a regional lift pass.

Closest airport: Turin Airport

Gressoney-la-Trinite

Part of the Monte Rosa ski area, Gressoney-la-Trinite is one of the most scenic resorts in the Aosta Valley, with views of Mont Blanc, the Monte Rosa glacier, the Matterhorn and the Gran Paradiso.

Closest airport: Turin Airport

La Thuile

La Thuile is situated in the Aosta Valley on the Italian French border, the resort has a mixture of old and new, with new hotels being developed alongside the smaller, older family-run hotels. From here you can take a day trip to Courmayeur. It is good for all levels of skier with different runs suiting all levels.

Closest airport: Turin Airport

Livigno

Livigno is situated in the Valtellina alpine valley near the Swiss border, it has modern ski lifts and well prepared pistes and still retains the traditional rustic character of its three original villages.

Closest airport: Milan Linate Airport

Madonna di Campiglio

The ski resort of Madonna di Campiglio extends to the neighbouring resorts of Folgarida and Marilleva. The resort has some stunning scenery with runs to suit the needs of all levels of skier. There is a ski school to cater for the more novice skier and challenging black runs to suit the more adventurous.

Closest airport: Verona Airport

Passo Tonale

Passo Tonale is one of Italy’s highest resorts; it is good for beginners and lower intermediates.

Closest airport: Verona Airport

Sestriere

Sestriere is one hour from the city of Turin; it is part of the 249 miles long Via Lattea, also known as the ‘Milky Way’ ski area.

Closest airport: Turin Airport

Cavalese

Cavalese is the Italian centre for cross country skiing, with 150km of trails. The resort is centrally-located and is great for accessing lots of other areas.

Closest airport: Verona Airport

Claviere

Claviere is a small resort right on the border with France.

Closest airport: Turin Airport