You’ve decided to go skiing in Italy and are now faced with the next dilemma: which region, which resort and how do we get there? The good news! The Check Yeti team has researched the best ski resorts in Italy and has put together the top 5. Whether for families, friends or simply for more pistes, we have the ideal resort for you!
The best Italian ski resort for families? Val Gardena!
Located within the Val Gardena Valley of South Tyrol, the ski resort of Val Gardena (German: Gröden) is surrounded by the spectacular nature of the Dolomites UNESCO heritage site. The resort offers 175km of local runs and is an access point for the renowned Sella Ronda – a day-long, 40km ski tour that circles the Sella Mountains. Val Gardena is also part of the 1,220km Dolomiti Superski.
The ski schools in Val Gardena offer ski lessons from age 2,5yrs with group lessons specifically for young advanced skiers. Adult lessons are available for The resort has 52km of beginner runs but family members with more experience also have an extensive choice, with no less than 105km red and 18km black pistes.
Crowned multiple times with the title “best Italian ski resort” and with an ideal transfer time of under 1,5hrs from Innsbruck, Val Gardena is undoubtedly one of the best Italian ski resorts for families.
Madonna di Campiglio: great pistes and lively après ski
Set within the woodlands of the Dolomite mountains, Madonna di Campiglio offers great pistes combined with a vibrant après ski scene. The resort is reached within 2hrs from Verona and 2,5hrs from Milan Bergamo, and has 60km of mostly blue and red slopes. Madonna di Campiglio is also part of the 156km Campiglio Dolomiti di Brenta ski area.
The ski schools in Madonna di Campiglio offer group and private ski lessons for all ages and standards. Private lessons provide the ultimate flexibility regarding starting times and lengths, and can even be taken as a small group of family or friends. The après ski scene in Madonna di Campiglio is varied and lively and there is something for everyone, from cozy bars with music and entertainment to Michelin-starred restaurants.
For skiing fans looking for the best ski resorts in Italy for excellent pistes and unforgettable aprés ski, Madonna di Campiglio ticks all the boxes.
Sestriere: the snowy paradise for intermediate skiers
Sestriere is reached within an hour from Turin airport and lies high up in Italy’s western Alps, near the French border. The resort offers 164km of local slopes for all levels, with steep terrain and off-piste for advanced skiers, numerous cruising reds for intermediates and excellent beginner slopes.
Sestriere regularly hosts major international ski championships such as the FIS Alpine Ski World Cup races. The resort is additionally part of the Milky Way (Italian:Vialattea), the largest ski area in western Italy, which extends from Italy into France.
The ski schools in Sestriere offer a range of group and private ski lessons for advanced skiers who want to perfect their technique. Lessons are very reasonably priced, group lessons lasting 3hrs and private lessons offering full flexibility regarding their length, starting time and the number of participants.
Thanks to world-class local pistes plus the extensive 400km of slopes within the nearby Milky Way, Sestriere offers some of the best skiing in Italy for experienced skiers.
Cortina d’Ampezzo: skiing in Italy with young kids
Known as “The Queen of the Dolomites”, Cortina D’Ampezzo is undoubtedly one of the best Italian ski resorts to visit with kids. The resort lies encircled by the Dolomites within the heart of the Ampezzo Valley. Offering 45km blue, 55km red and 20km black pistes, Cortina D’Ampezzo is reached within 2hrs from from Treviso & Venice airports, and in just over 2hrs from Innsbruck.
Cortina D’Ampezzo is a family-friendly ski resort with the main beginners’ area lying directly by the village. The ski schools in Cortina offer a wide range of kids lessons from age 3yrs and both group & private lesson have flexible options, such as half or full-day hours and lunchtime supervision.
Young freestyling fans and their parents can head to the Freestyle Station to try out some tricks on the various obstacles. Furthermore, the whole family can take advantage of the resort’s extensive 78km of cross country trails, or try out some of the many snowports on offer.
Cervinia: for the best late season skiing in Italy
With a season from October to May and snow sure pistes, Breuil-Cervinia is the no.1. choice for the best late season skiing in Italy. The resort lies high up in the Italian Alps, in the shadow of the Monte Cervino mountain – known by most as the Matterhorn.
With 200km of local slopes, Breuil-Cervinia is also part of the huge Breuil-Cervinia Valtournenche Zermatt skiing region, which ranges across three valleys within Italy and Switzerland.
The ski schools in Breuil-Cervinia offer group ski lessons until May and lesson prices are almost half the price of their equivalent in neighbouring Zermatt. Within the last official week of the season, the Breuil-Cervinia ski-pass is free. The pass includes the international surcharge, meaning that snow fans get even more for their Euros, being also able to ski for free on the Swiss side of the Matterhorn.
I have always loved snow but winter in England was usually more grey than white. Now living in Austria, my kids have inherited my passion for skiing and we make most of every winter, getting out in the snow whenever we can!