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Say buongiorno to ski holidays in Italy. Home to some of the Alps' best skiing...
There are two things to know about skiing in Italy. The coffee really is better and the mountains, scenery and people are truly bellissima.
Why choose to go skiing in Italy?
- Scenic villages to giant ski areas
- Terrain for all abilities
- Authentic Italian food and great apres
Ski holidays in Italy are blessed with high altitudes and snow-sure slopes. Being in the southern Alps also grants resorts here extra bouts of sunshine, perfect for catching rays on sun loungers with an espresso or grappa in hand.
Italy ski holidays suit all abilities. No matter if dropping down steep and narrow gullies is your thing, or you’re more up for cruisy corduroy and rolling pistes. Literally, 100's of kilometres of the white stuff await.
Amongst the best ski holidays in Italy is La Thuile - a classic Italian ski trip pick and good value to boot. Courmayeur is a gem for foodies, while chilled-out Sestriere boasts terrain for all abilities.
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KEY INFORMATION
Good to Know
Currency
Euro
Language
Italian
Travel Time (APPROX)
2 hours
from Gatwick
Timezone
GMT+2
Italy Ski Areas
Dolomiti Superski area
Explore the world's largest ski area. Resort include Alta Badia, Selva di Val Gardena, or Cortina d'Ampezzo.
- Total piste KM: 1,246
- Snow range: 934m - 3,342m
- Closest airport: Bolzano Airport (BZO)
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Via Lattea (Milky Way)
- Total piste KM: 400
- Snow range: 1,850m - 2,823m
- Closest airport: Turin Airport (TRN)
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Ski area Campiglio
Skiing the UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites at Madonna di Campiglio should be on everyone's bucket list.
- Total piste KM: 150
- Snow range: 1,300m - 2,505m
- Closest airport: Bolzano Airport (BZO)
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Cervinia-Zermatt ski area
- Total piste KM: 350
- Snow range: 1,524m - 3,883m
- Closest airport: Turin Airport (TRN)
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Monterosa ski area
Off-piste powder hounds should look no further than a trip to Champoluc, Alagna Valsesia, or Gressoney.
- Total piste KM: 29
- Snow range: 1,587m - 2,705m
- Closest airport: Turin Airport (TRN)
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Where are the best family ski holidays in Italy?
- Livigno and Bardonecchia are among Italy's best family ski holiday destinations. Pairing fab kid-friendly slopes with excellent ski schools and yummy Italian food - it's a marriage made in heaven!
- Madonna di Campiglio is a firm Italy family skiing fav - especially at Christmas, when the whole resort turns into a winter wonderland.
- La Thuile is a superb Italy family ski trip pick, complete with a dedicated snow park for kids (side note: it’s also famous for its chocolate fondue).
Where are the best group ski trips in Italy?
- Italy group ski holidays to Livigno are ideal for squads on a budget. Its duty-free status means prices are up to a third cheaper than elsewhere. It's also a great choice for groups seeking lively après-ski.
- Sestriere is fantastic for group ski trips where everyone wants to pack in the mountain time, with its high, linked ski area offering numerous options for beginner skiers and pros alike. You can even try snow paintballing. Yes, you read that right, snow paintballing. If that isn't a pub story, we don't know what is!
Italy Ski holidays
Your questions answered by our Italy ski holiday expert
Is Italy a good place for a skiing holiday?
Yes. Italy’s slopes provide excellent skiing, from world-class resorts for experts in the Alps and Dolomites, like Arabba and Cortina d’Ampezzo, to incredible beginner-friendly pistes over in Cervinia and Passo Tonale.
Come here to enjoy stunning scenery (especially around the UNESCO Dolomites!), a chilled, relaxed vibe, and (arguably) some of the best food you’ll find skiing anywhere in the world - we’ll toast to that!
When is the best time to ski in Italy?
Italy's ski season runs from December to April. For the best bet with snow, January to March offers the best window of opportunity. If you want to make the most of this time, the best snow conditions in Italy will likely be found at high altitudes or those with great snow-making systems.
Sestriere, Courmayeur, and Cortina, are perfect examples of Italian ski holidays that regularly have great snow conditions.
If avoiding the crowds is key, then stay clear of the weeks around Christmas, New Year’s Eve and Easter, as these can get busy.
What month to book an Italy ski holiday?
March is also fantastic for snow totals, as well as warmer temperatures, longer days, and plenty of lounging on sun terraces with an Aperol Spritz - bella!
Are Italy's ski resorts snow-sure?
Italy's ski resorts experience fantastic snow throughout the ski season, especially in high-altitude resorts such as Cervinia, Livigno, and Passo Tonale.
Are Italy ski holidays good for beginners?
Yes. Italy ski holidays are ideal for beginner skiers and snowboarders, offering numerous gentle slopes, excellent ski schools, and affordable lift passes and accommodation options.
What are the best ski holidays in Italy for beginners?
- Pila is home to a network of long blue runs, making it one of the best ski holidays in Italy for beginners. Wide open groomers. Not too many people. Easy runs back to the resort. These are the basic needs of all beginner skiers. Add in the spectacular views and alternate activities, and no wonder everyone’s happy learning to ski in Pila!
- Alternatively, Bardonecchia’s beginner-friendly slopes will have you shredding in no time, while its over 50km of beginner slopes make La Thuile an ideal training ground for learners. Or, head to beautiful Cortina for a relaxing beginner’s ski holiday with some retro glamour – Bond film ‘For Your Eyes Only’ was even filmed here.
- Want to learn more about some of Italy's best ski holidays for beginners? Click here.
What are the best ski holidays in Italy for advanced skiers?
Sestriere is one of the best Italy ski holidays for advanced skiers. Let rip and race down the steep red pistes that crisscross throughout the resort. Then hit up the infamous Olimpica piste for a blindingly fast black descent. Coated in thick Olympic heritage, speed devils will find themselves at home on the numerous downhill race slopes.
Linked to the Sella Ronda circuit, Campitello di Fassa offers endless pisted fun, as well as bucket loads of marked freeride options for the more adventurous skier.
Sauze d’Oulx is ideal for those taking their first forays off the groomers, thanks to heaps of easy and intermediate off-piste runs and forested descents.
For off-the-beaten-track beauty, things don’t get much more spectacular than the Dolomites' Cortina.
Meanwhile, for the serious and committed, Courmayeur offers some of the best off-piste skiing in Italy. Here we’re talking big mountain skiing off the shoulders of Mt Blanc, where experience, knowledge and big cojones are definitely required.
Another of Italy's best ski holidays for off-piste is Livigno, thanks to its bounty of patrolled free-ride zones and big powdery backcountry plains.
What are the best high-altitude ski holidays in Italy?
Cervinia is the highest ski resort in Italy, sitting in the shadow of Switzerland's spectacular Matterhorn (of delicious chocolate bar fame). It’s home to some of Europe’s highest-altitude pistes, with skiing up to 3,400m. That means snow is all but guaranteed (so bring some extra-warm gloves!)
Courmayeur is also one of Italy's best ski holidays for high-altitude skiing. Situated on the south side of Mt Blanc, it offers great snow-sure skiing in Italy – but only for the most advanced.
Sestriere and Sauze d’Oulx are also sure bets, and a bit better suited to beginners and families, with runs up to 2,800m.
What are the best holidays for snowboarders in Italy?
- Livigno is arguably the best snowboard holiday in Italy. A dream for all abilities. Big wide groomers, tons of off-piste and snow parks that would make the X-games blush. This mecca of fun also boasts one of the Alps' most lively après-ski scenes, thanks in part to its tax-free status and 150 bars.
- La Thuile is another of the top snowboard holidays in Italy. It’s perfect for beginner snowboarders experiencing the joy of mellow blues or advanced snowboarders hunting for steep pistes and gullies. And its close connection to La Rosiere and shared ski area means plenty of pistes to race around on.
- Sauze d'Oulx also has plenty to keep freestyle boarders airborne, and back on the ground, there's 400km of varied piste just begging to be carved.
Where to go for cheap Italy ski holidays?
What are the best ski holidays in Italy for ski weekends or shorts breaks?
Only 20 minutes shy of France's Chamonix and under 2 hours from Geneva Airport, Courmayeur's location just down the Mt Blanc tunnel makes it the best choice for a short ski holiday in Italy.
Cervinia and Sestriere are only an hour and a half away from Turin, making them great options for a ski weekend. Meanwhile, Venice gets you to Cortina in under two hours. Cruise the slopes and the city!
Can you go skiing in the Dolomites?
Yes, you can! The Dolomites are one of Italy’s top ski destinations, as well as being one of Europe’s most beautiful. Some of the best ski resorts in the Dolomites include Cortina d’Ampezzo, Val Gardena, and Alta Badia, which make up part of the 1,200km Dolomiti Superski area.
What are the best Italy ski holidays for après-ski?
For glamour, shoot on over to Cortina, whose boutique stores, piano bars and wine lists have long attracted the wealthy, well-to-do.
Sauze d'Oulx's apres reputation precedes it. Formerly coined the 'Ibiza of the mountains', there are plenty of bars to keep the night owls happy.
Most popular ski resorts in Italy
Here are just some of our top Italy ski holidays. To find the perfect one for you, speak to one of our specialists.
La Thuile
La Thuile is the perfect place for those looking for a great-value ski holiday in a classic Italian ski resort with access to some awesome skiing.
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Courmayeur
Nestled beneath the gorgeous snow-capped peaks is the Italian village of Courmayeur – and it’s an absolute gem. The ski area, although not that big or high, offers scenic views and good snow cover due to the north and north-west facing slopes and extensive snow-making ability. And you'll find some of the best restaurants in the Alps.
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Sestriere
Sestriere is a chilled Italian resort in the Milky Way ski area, offering access to 400km of pistes. With terrain parks, cross-country skiing options, and an energetic après scene, it caters to a range of preferences.
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Pila
Located in Italy's Aosta Valley, the family-friendly alpine village of Pila offers a serene skiing experience amidst snow-dusted pine forests. From gentle bunny slopes for young skiers to thrilling off-piste woodlands for freeride fans, there's something for everyone.
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Sauze d'Oulx
Sauze d’Oulx is part of Italy’s Via Lattea ski area, better known as the Milky Way. Think hundreds of kilometres of milky smooth pistes, from high alpine runs with panoramic views in every direction, to forested descents leading to sun-kissed terraces.
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All ski resorts in Italy
3 Zinnen DolomitesAlagna ValsesiaAlpe Cermis – CavaleseAlpe di Siusi - KastelruthAlpe LusiaAlta BadiaAndalo - PaganellaAostaApricaArabbaBardonecchiaBormioCampitello di FassaCanazeiCarezza
CavaleseCerviniaCesanaChampolucCivettaClaviereColfoscoCortina d'AmpezzoCorvaraCourmayeurFolgariaFolgaridaGitschberg JochtalGressoneyKronplatz (San Viglio)
Why book a Italy ski holiday with Heidi?
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Blogs about skiing in Italy
5 of the best Christmas ski resorts in Italy
Whether you’re seeking family fun or a hint of Xmas extravagance, we have the perfect Christmas ski trip in Italy for you! Here are Heidi’s best Italy Christmas ski holidays.
Phoebe Hewitt
15 May, 2025
1 min read
5 of the best half term ski resorts in Italy
Are you looking to whisk la famiglia away on the best half term skiing holiday this February? If so, let us tell you: the snowy slopes of Italia are hard to beat!
Phoebe Hewitt
11 Mar, 2025
1 min read
5 of the best Easter ski resorts in Italy
Famed for its snowy high altitudes, uncrowded slopes, and (of course) exceptional cuisine, Easter ski holidays in Italy welcome la famiglia with open arms. Offering heaps for you and your little ‘bambini’ squad to get stuck into.
Phoebe Hewitt
7 Feb, 2025
1 min read
All flight-inclusive holidays sold on Heidi are fully financially protected under the ATOL scheme (ATOL 11456)