A skiing holiday to Italy offers a winter experience that blends fabulous scenery, great food and wine as well as a joyful and festive atmosphere. Add in relaxed Italian hospitality and quiet ski slopes and you end up with a wonderfully unique European ski holiday.
Italy also has plenty of large, interlinked ski areas so for those who like to ski or snowboard all day; you can certainly get some serious kilometres under your feet, or boots!
The huge Dolomiti Superski domain sprawls across the UNESCO-protected Dolomites and takes in the Sella Ronda, a connected 26km loop of runs, with breathtaking mountain views.
If you choose to ski in a true Italian style, then a leisurely morning should definitely be followed by a long lunch, and some easy afternoon piste cruising, which also leave the slopes wonderfully quiet for everyone else!
For those looking to ski the famous Sella Ronda circuit, then the Dolomite resorts of Arabba and Alta Badia are perfectly positioned. Arabba is best suited to those looking for challenging slopes whilst Alta Badia is perfect for families and intermediate skiers.
If there is a more perfect resort for intermediate skiers than Cervinia, we are yet to discover it. With a backdrop of the impressive Matterhorn, an extensive ski area linked to Zermatt over in Switzerland, its high altitude also makes it a great choice for early or late season skiing.
Like so much of Italy, their ski resorts can also have an effortlessly stylish ambiance. Cortina D’Ampezzo is Italy’s answer to Courchevel 1850 or St. Moritz and host of the 1956 Winter Olympics. The quality of skiing here is matched by the designer boutiques, mountain restaurants and après ski promenading and due to this the ski slopes stay marvellously quiet.
An alternative to Cortina is Madonna di Campiglio, which offers a varied and well linked ski area all with a backdrop of stunning Dolomiti mountain scenery. The village is built in a pleasant traditional alpine style and has a car free centre, whilst the skiing is located between 1,524m to 2,505m.
Kronplatz, is a distinctive ski area in the South Tyrol and has an amazingly efficient lift system, with access from the valley towns of Brunico and San Vigilio di Marebbe. With excellent snowmaking and piste grooming, this resort delivers a fantastic ski experience for all abilities.
Selva Gardena, with its spectacular setting beneath the mountain peak of Sassolungo, is one of the best-placed ski resorts to take advantage of the Sella Ronda and to enjoy the dramatic scenery of the Dolomites. Ortisei, close to Selva, is a charming resort with stunning & extensive skiing.