Italy’s Best Ski Resorts for this Season

Climate anomalies in the Pacific Ocean were unusually strong at the end of 2023, resulting in a mild Alpine winter. Now that the storm is over, we can hopefully look forward to something like normal weather this season. It’s a good thing for Italy. As a result, the main Alpine ridge protects its ski resorts from Atlantic storms.

Snow-making systems are among the best in the world because of the drier, sunnier Mediterranean climate. Several of the most beautiful sun terraces in the ski world can be found here, mostly in Italian-run restaurants offering views of the mountains and affordable, high-quality food. Often, it’s exceptional; right down to the smooth, €1.50 shot of espresso that’ll rev you up again.

If you favor groomed pistes over backcountry powder and need good food and sunshine, include some of these resorts on your shortlist. Winter is the best time to ski them, except for high-altitude Cervinia, as slush-forming thaws are less likely to occur.

Do not book your accommodation yet if you are targeting the second or third week in January. Alps are still low-season, so you might find last-minute discounts. Even though there is little snow, you may well discover a blizzard upon arrival. Italians don’t hold back when Mother Nature sends a snowstorm. Several resorts are a must this season.          

Skiing is plentiful in Little La Thuile, surrounded by spectacular scenery. Easily accessible pistes are found at the top, while steep World Cup descents are found lower down. The two resorts are linked by a lift pass, and in La Rosière you’ll also find intermediate slopes.

Whether you are a family or a couple, you will enjoy the reasonable restaurant prices and the convenience of the slopeside Planibel apartments. 

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Despite its cute twinkling appearance, Madonna di Campiglio isn’t for the faint of heart. It is advisable to ski the town’s five plunging black runs if you wish to get a sense of its quality:

gradients can reach 35 degrees. Get a taste of the gentler – but equally spectacular – blues and reds in lift-linked Pinzolo. Close to the connecting lift is Madonna di Campiglio’s Romantic Plaza Hotel.

Interested in skiing well-tended pistes while keeping your eyes on stalks all the time? Canazei offers steady slopes, expert snow-making, and slab-sided Dolomite scenery. There’s no better place to be when you want to get to skiing than Hotel Albolina.

Courmayeur offers intermediate-friendly skiing and an Italian flair 90 minutes from Geneva. Afterward, relax on the Via Roma in the center of town and enjoy an aperitif. You can reach the main lift easily from Hotel Pavillon.

Gardena Grödnerhof is not only known for its sumptuous spa, but also for its combination of pools, wood paneling, and a scenic sauna. Seiser Alm cable car brings you to a plateau with gentle slopes surrounded by a sawtooth crown of Dolomite peaks. Guests can enjoy a Michelin-starred dinner at Anna Stuben restaurant.

Especially in April, Cervinia is a treat when the sun’s out. There will be a lot of slush at resorts, but you can still ski frosty, grippy pistes up to 11,400ft. Hotel Grivola provides easy access to the snow, but bring sunscreen in case of storms.

Gressoney’s groomed slopes are just a bad-weather backup; the real attraction is heli-skiing on Monte Rosa. If you book the Chalet du Lys, you’ll have easy access to the pickup points and pay €360 (£303) per person.

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Cortina d’Ampezzo is getting new lifts and luxury hotels for the 2026 Olympics and Paralympics. 2022 marked the opening of the Hotel de Len. Pine-scented waxed-wood rooms provide a peaceful retreat amid spectacular skiing and shopping on the Corso Italia.

Sauze d’Oulx has buzzing bars and excellent intermediate slopes. Guests at the Edelweiss Hotel will enjoy both. Booking through Neilson’s gets competent skiers two coaching sessions. When the lifts close, we’ll take you to Sauze’s beloved Assietta bar with a squad of ski buddies.

Alta Badia is a great choice for a long ski lunch due to its easy slopes, gorgeous scenery, and delicious mountain and sea ingredients. Additionally, the local Südtirol wines are of high quality, as you’ll discover on Winter Sommelier tours. Take a quick route to the slopes by booking the piste-side Sporthotel Panorama.

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