5 AWESOME Ski Resorts in Italy (For Every Level!)

Growing up in Italy, I was lucky enough to spend a lot of time skiing. I lived in Milan, which is a stone throw away from the beautiful Alps.

Every year when it was time for the winter holidays we would load our car and drive to the mountains, to hit the slopes at some of Italy’s best ski resorts.

We didn’t have one specific ski resort we always went back to, we moved around every year and tried lots of different ski resorts.

My dad works a lot with skiing competitions, which meant every year we would travel around the Alps, following ski world cups, and trying new world class slopes.

In this guide I’ve put together my years of skiing experience, to share with you the best places to go skiing in Italy for every level. If you want to go skiing in Italy, but aren’t sure where, this is the Italy ski guide for you!

I’ve listed the best ski resorts in Italy (in my opinion), listing pros and cons of each, as well as what to expect and useful tips for your ski trip.

So what are you waiting for? Start planning your Italian ski trip, the Alps are waiting!

Contents

1 The 5 best ski resorts in Italy
2 What to bring on an Italy ski trip

Skiing at the top of Ghiacciaio Presena close to Passo del Tonale

The 5 best ski resorts in Italy

Passo del Tonale & Ponte di Legno

I spent more than one Italian Christmas in this part of the Alps.

Passo del Tonale is one of those ski resorts we regularly went back to, and which I personally really enjoyed. The ski slopes start directly in town, which makes it very easy to access from anywhere.

Unlike some resorts where you might have to get a bus to the lifts, with all your ski gear on you, at Passo del Tonale you can just walk over to the lifts. We stayed at Sport Hotel Vittoria, which was right in front of the lifts.

The slopes in Passo del Tonale are mostly for beginners, with lots of variety of blue and red slopes, and the occasional black slope. If you’re a more experienced skier, worry not, as there are plenty of slopes also for you.

Enjoying the view from the top of Ghiacciaio Presena close to Passo del Tonale

From Passo del Tonale you can easily ski over to Ghiacciaio Presena and Ponte di Legno. Ghiacciaio Presena is home to one of the longest and steepest black slopes of the Alps, the famous Pista Paradiso.

Ponte di Legno is the nearby town, and you can find plenty of red and black slopes for more advanced skiers.

Personally I love the change in scenery, from the bare Passo del Tonale and Presena to the slopes of Ponte di Legno, which weave in and out of the pine trees.

Once you get off the slopes you will find lots of great restaurants. The Après Ski scene here is quite mellow, as its mostly a family ski resort, but you can still find some fun bars.

The easy slopes at Passo del Tonale

Courmayer

If you want a fancy and lively ski resort, Courmayer is the place for you. Being a short 2-hour drive away from Milan, Courmayer is one of the most popular ski resorts amongst trendy Milanese people.

Prices are a bit higher than other ski resorts in the Alps, but when you’re nestled at the foot of Mont Blanc, it’s only to be expected.

You will find a big variety of slopes for every level, as well as different landscapes, with some slopes weaving in and out of the trees, and others being above the treeline.

One of the coolest things about skiing in Courmayer is that you can ski over the Mont Blanc and into the French Alps. Skiing across a country border isn’t the sort of thing you do every day!

Off the slopes you will find a lively après ski scene, lots of cool bars and tasty restaurants. There are lots of shops in the town centre, where you can buy pretty much everything from ski gear to swimsuits.

In evenings you will find plenty of Italians roaming the streets and bars of the town.

Skiing in Courmayer

Madonna di Campiglio

Madonna di Campiglio, in Trentino, is one of the best Italian ski resorts. The slopes are fantastic and the town is lovely.

I had the pleasure of visiting it during the 3Tre Ski World Cup, which meant there was an ever more amazing atmosphere.

The fact that they do Ski World Cups here gives you an idea of just how good the slopes are in this area of Trentino.

There is a huge variety of slopes, both for beginners and more experienced skiers, and they’re all easily reachable from the town centre.

Skiing on these slopes, amongst the breath taking views of the Alps, is a must-have experience on any Italy bucket list. In Madonna di Campiglio you can expect fun slopes, a lively town centre and delicious Italian food.

A glimpse of Madonna di Campiglio

View of the Dolomites from the top of the slopes

Cortina d’Ampezzo

They’re planning on holding the 2024 Winter Olympics here. Need I say anything else? The level of the slopes in Cortina d’Ampezzo is amongst the best in Italy.

Here you will find incredible slopes, both for beginners, intermediate and advanced skiers.

The stunning mountain views that you get while skiing in Cortina are also unrivalled. If you’re visiting Italy in winter, you definitely have to factor in a few days of your Italy itinerary to try some skiing.

Cortina is also a very lively town, even if slightly more on the expensive side of things. In the town you will find lots of lovely shops, selling mostly souvenirs and ski gear, but also some cool clothing stores.

There are also lots of excellent bars and restaurants in Cortina.

Gorgeous mountain views over the Dolomites

Bormio

Bormio is the perfect ski resort for people who want to do more than just ski. The town is famous for its natural thermal waters and spa.

Once you get off the slopes you can head to the famous Terme di Bormio, and enjoy a relaxing spa session to ease your tired muscles.

When it comes to skiing you will find excellent slopes. Here they regularly run world cup skiing competitions, which gives you an idea of the level. If you’re a beginner don’t worry, as there are also plenty of blue and red slopes.

The ski lifts start right in the middle of town, so you can easily reach them from anywhere you’re staying.

There are also lots of restaurants and “rifugi” on the slopes, so that you can break up your day of skiing with a tasty lunch on the slopes.

Some of the mountain views in Bormio

What to bring on an Italy ski trip

If you’re looking for detailed packing guides, check out my Italy packing list or this skiing packing list.

I didn’t want to overwhelm this skiing in Italy guide with packing tips, so I just listed some essentials you don’t want to forget.

Swimsuit – Most hotels in the mountains come with a spa. Relaxing in the sauna or on poolside after a long day out in the cold will make you feel like a new person.

Make sure to bring your swimsuit, so you don’t have to check out all the sports gears shops looking for one to buy!

Swimming cap – Pools in Italy will usually ask you to wear a swimming cap over your hair. You can usually rent it from the hotel, but I prefer to have my own.

Exploring the snowy landscapes of Courmayer

Thermal socks & under clothes – The most essential part of your ski gear is having an appropriate layer of thermal clothing under your ski suit.

It’s what keeps you warm, while also being breathable and allowing you to sweat. My ski trip packing list is quite similar to what I packed for my Lapland trip.

Polarised ski mask – Make sure to go skiing with appropriate ski goggles. Otherwise being out on the snow, with the sun reflected on the white snow, will be very painful for your eyes.

Moisturiser & lip balm – The cold air will dry your skin and lips. Make sure to bring some mountain appropriate moisturiser to keep it soft.

Ski gear – If it’s your first time going skiing and you don’t want to invest in skis and boots, don’t worry! You will easily find ski rental shops in all the ski resorts listed above.

Enjoying the views from Ghiacciaio Presena with my friends Laura and Ramis, on our first Italy ski trip together

Final thoughts on where to go skiing in Italy

There you have it, the ultimate compilation to all the most awesome ski resorts in Italy! If you’re planning a ski trip to Italy this winter, I hope this guide answers your questions.

This guide is based on my own experiences skiing in Italy. Despite not being a fan of winter in Europe, I love being on the snow.

The only time I appreciate winter is when I’m in the mountains, have skis on my feet and am surrounded by snow. In the Italian Alps you will also find lots of beautiful lakes, like Lago di Carezza!

I hope you find this Italy ski trip guide useful! If you have any questions about where to go skiing in Italy let me know in the comments below.

Looking for more Italy travel tips? Check out these guides:

Best Ski Resorts in Italy – Where to go Skiing in Italy (For Every Level!)