Skiing near Milan: 4 resorts within 2.5 hours

Milan’s strategic location, between Valle d’Aosta and Trentino, means that this city is literally surrounded by ski slopes. As most ski resorts are located three or more hours from Milan, it might seem tricky to organise a spontaneous trip to the slopes. However, with our suggestions about the closest slopes to Milan, you won’t have to drive longer than 2.5 hours to enjoy a fun weekend getaway on the slopes!

So, if you’re wondering where to ski in Lombardy near Milan, keep reading! We’ll introduce you to three ski resorts within two and a half hours away from Milan, easily reachable by car: Monte Pora, Chiesa in Valmalenco, Gressoney La Trinité and Piani di Bobbio. Here, you can spend a great day on the slopes with your friends, or you can learn how to ski with the help of the local ski schools mentioned in this article.

The article covers the following ski resort in the vicinity of Milan:

Here the features of each ski resort at first glance, before we dive deeper into it:

Monte PoraChiesa in ValmalencoGressoney La TrinitéPiani di Bobbio
Height1880 masl2353 masl3275 masl1662 masl
N. of lifts792012
Km of slopes1123.3 180 35
Blue slopes2.3 km10.4 km29 km10 km
Red slopes8.2 km8.1 km89 km16 km
Black slopes0.5 km4.8 km14 km9 km
Ski schoolsMonte PoraValmalencoGressoneyPiani di Bobbio
Features of ski resorts close to Milan

Now, let’s have a closer look at these four ski resorts, what they have to offer, and how to best get there from Milan!


Piani di Bobbio – Ski slopes and activities within 2 hours

© Scuola di sci Piani di Bobbio

Features of the ski resort

Piani di Bobbio is a renowned ski resort located in the Lombardy Pre-Alps, at a short distance from Milan, just about 1.5 hours by car. Known for its natural beauty and accessibility, the resort offers a complete skiing experience suitable for skiers of all levels. Surrounded by forests and overlooking spectacular valleys, Piani di Bobbio is an ideal destination for those seeking a winter escape close to the city.

The ski school Scuola di sci Piani di Bobbio is a point of reference for those wishing to learn or perfect their skiing skills. Led by highly qualified and passionate instructors, the school offers customised lessons for every level of experience, from training beginners to refining the techniques of more experienced skiers.

In addition to skiing activities, this area offers a wide range of off-piste experiences. Nature lovers can explore the snow-covered trails with snowshoes or engage in exciting winter hikes. The surrounding village is home to cosy mountain huts and restaurants serving local specialities, providing the perfect opportunity to relax and enjoy the region’s cuisine after a day of adventure in the snow. With its combination of breathtaking scenery, high quality services and variety of activities, Piani di Bobbio confirms itself as a complete destination for ski and mountain lovers.

How to get there

To reach Piani di Bobbio from Milan, you can drive or take a train to Lecco, followed by a bus to Barzio. Alternatively, the Snow Bus offers direct transport from Milan to Barzio. From Barzio, take a gondola to the slopes. More details can be found on this guide.


Chiesa in Valmalenco – A ski area reachable by train from Milan

 Kids standing on the snow with ski instructor and mountains in the background.
© Enjoyski School Valmalenco

How to get there – Snow Train

Chiesa in Valmalenco is a small village surrounded by forests in the province of Sondrio, just over two hours by car from Milan. Thanks to Trenord’s initiative “Snow Trains” (it. “I Treni della Neve”), the combo Train+Shuttle+Skipass allows you to reach the slopes leaving your car at home. By buying a single ticket, you can save money and at the same time do a favour to the environment. In fact, arriving by train in Sondrio and taking a shuttle to the ski lifts of Chiesa in Valmalenco, will help to limit the CO2 emissions caused by cars.

Features of the ski resort

From Chiesa in Valmalenco you can take the Snow Eagle, one of the largest cable cars in Europe and reach the slopes of Alpe Palù. The ski area of Valmalenco boasts more than 50 km of alpine ski slopes suitable for skiers of all levels. Beginners can ski on various blue slopes, while more experienced skiers can enjoy some red and black slopes, including the Thoeni, with an inclination up to 55%. Valmalenco is also a very popular destination for snowboarders thanks to the Palù Park, which often hosts World Cup competitions and offers an 11-metre jump plus several funboxes suitable for riders of all levels.

If you are not a ski lover, you can reach Lake Palù on snowshoes and try the excellent specialities of Valtellina, available in all the mountain huts of the area. If, on the other hand, you would like to take skiing or snowboarding lessons, the qualified instructors of the EnjoySki Ski School will guide you patiently in learning the sport while you are immersed in the breathtaking landscape of Valmalenco.


Gressoney la Trinité – Monte Rosa Ski with 180 km of slopes within 2 hours

Kids and ski instructor standing on the snow with the white mountains as a background.
©Ski School Gressoney Monte Rosa

How to get there

Gressoney La Trinité is an important tourist destination located in the Lys valley, and easily reachable in a bit more than two hours by car from Milan via the A4/E64. Dominated by the Lyskamm glacier, the charming village of Gressoney La Trinité is part of the Monterosa Ski area and boasts a strategic position between Champoluc and Alagna Valsesia, easily reachable on skis. The area offers many blue and red runs and is equipped with snow cannons to guarantee a continuous snow cover.

Features of the ski resort

Experienced skiers can enjoy 180 km of slopes in the Monterosa Ski area. Taking the Punta Jolanda chairlift, you can reach the Bedemie-Seehorn lift and descend to Staffal, a key connection to Champoluc and Alagna. The highlight is the historic “yellow slope”, often used for international slalom competitions. For a unique adventure, heli-skiing in Gressoney offers access to untouched peaks and pristine snow in the Aosta Valley.

The ski area of Monte Rosa Ski also has areas dedicated to children and blue slopes for beginners with convenient carpet lifts. In Gressoney La Trinité there is a baby snow park where children can play in the snow and familiarise themselves with skis and snowboards. The instructors of the Ski School Gressoney Monte Rosa boast a qualified staff able to teach both children and adults in an effective and fun way, paying attention to safety and passing on all their passion for winter sports.


Monte Pora – A beginners’ paradise only 1 hour and 45 minutes by car

Ski instructor with adult beginner during a private adult ski lesson at Monte Pora.
© Monte Pora National Ski & Snow School

How to get there

One of the closest ski resorts to Milan is Monte Pora, in the province of Bergamo. Located just 100 kilometres from Milan, about 1 hour and 45 minutes by car via the A4/E64, this area offers a unique panorama, which includes not only mountains but also the calm waters of Lake Iseo.

Features of the ski resort

The slopes of Monte Pora are located in an area characterised by abundant snowfalls that guarantee a ski season from late November to April. The ski runs are also equipped with artificial snow cannons that can create a consistent layer of powder in a short time. Due to the scarce vegetation of Monte Pora, the slopes are wide and safe, while thanks to the western exposure of this ski area, it is possible to ski in the sun all day long, but on Fridays, it’s also possible to ski at night for a very competitive price. There is also a snowpark for freestyle enthusiasts and a skating rink for those who prefer to stay in the valley.

With its 20 slopes, Monte Pora’s ski pass is relatively cheaper than most ski resorts, making it the perfect place for adults and children to learn skiing. The qualified ski instructors at the Monte Pora National Ski & Snow School work carefully to teach these winter sports to children and adults alike, passing on their strong love and respect for the mountains.


Now that you know which ski slopes are closest to Milan, you have no more excuses to spend the weekend on the couch! If you’ve never set foot in a ski or snowboard boot, now is the perfect time to get started. Practising a sport in contact with nature is a great way to leave behind the hustle and bustle of everyday life and to admire the magnificence of the mountains while breathing in some good fresh air.

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2 Replies to “Skiing near Milan: 4 resorts within 2.5 hours”

  1. Hey Dale, that’s great, Valmalenco is an amazing ski resort with more than 50km of slopes for all skill levels. If you and your wife are looking for personalized instruction, I can recommend you checking out this offer. Have a great time skiing in beautiful Italy!

  2. From Pennsylvania, USA, we would love to ski at Chiesa in Valmalenco in January or February 2025. Both my wife and I are intermediate skiers.
    We would fly from Philadelphia, PA to Milan.
    We would love your thoughts.

    Thank you Dale & Barbara Weigand

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