Luxury Ski Chalets Italy
Home to an abundance of luxury ski resorts blessed with spectacular scenery, good food and a laid-back atmosphere, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to booking a luxury ski holiday in Italy.
Alta Badia
Alta Pusteria
Breuil-Cervinia
Cortina d'Ampezzo
Kronplatz
Madonna di Campiglio
Val di Fiemme
Val Gardena
Via Lattea
Luxury Ski Holidays Italy
If you are looking for a relaxing winter break then Italy is the destination for you. Renowned for its laid-back ambience, skiing in Italy places as much emphasis on long lunches and soaking up the sun as it does on actual skiing. Stretching along the full length of the Italian border, from Sauze d’Oulx in the west to the Dolomites in the east, luxury Italian ski resorts vary as widely in their characteristics as they do in their location. Whether you are looking for quaint villages, fashionable towns or remote ski stations, you are sure to find the perfect luxury ski chalet in Italy to suit your needs.
Home to more than 300 resorts, Italy boasts a number of vast ski areas, the most famous being the Dolomites. This impressive mountain range in the northeast of the Italian Alps has a number of awe-inspiring peaks, eighteen of which rise to more than 3,050 metres.
Luxury Ski Resorts in Italy
Whether you are looking to discover the majesty of the Dolomites or relax in a charming traditional luxury Italian ski chalet, Italy’s luxury ski resorts have a lot to offer.
The Dolomites is home to the Sella Ronda - a panoramic circular network of lifts and pistes around the Gruppo del Sella, a majestic limestone massif, taking in a host of ski regions including Val Gardena and Alta Badia. One of the most well-known resorts in the Dolomites is Cortina d’Ampezzo, an ancient mountain town with luxury Italian chalets, elegant boutiques, gourmet restaurants, intimate wine bars and softly-lit nightclubs.
Away from the Dolomites, another popular luxury Italian ski resort is Cervinia, which is linked across the Swiss border with Zermatt. Stretching across Sauze d’Oulx, Sestriere and Claviere in Italy, and over the border to Montgenèvre in France, is the lift-linked Via Lattea area, also known as the Milky Way. Located in the Province of Turin, the area encompasses seven ski resorts of differing size and atmosphere with a scenic array of slopes and a number of towns and villages which are home to a series of luxurious ski chalets and apartments.
Skiing in Italy
If you are looking for a luxury ski holiday in Italy then you may be surprised by the variety of skiing on offer. Italy is home to one of the most famous ski circuits in the world, the Sella Ronda. The Sella Ronda covers 26 km of epic pistes in the Dolomiti Superski region. Looping around the Sella massif, this one-day circuit includes four passes (Pordoi, Sella, Gardena and Campolongo) and four Ladin valleys (Fassa, Gardena, Badia and Arabba).
The total distance of the loop, including lifts, is about 40 km and is suitable for any relatively fit, competent skier and for anyone that appreciates a good view. With astonishing mountain and forest views at every turn, you won’t cover the same route twice as you make your way around the circuit.
Best Luxury Italian Ski Resorts for Beginner Skiers
Stretching 16 km along a sunny valley in south-eastern South Tyrol, Alta Badia is the perfect place for beginner skiers to base their luxury ski holiday in Italy. Alta Badia has a vast ski area which links directly to the Domoliti Superski network, giving you access to 500 km of pistes. The Alta Badia ski area boasts 130 km of pistes with slopes positioned between 1,300 and 2,788 metres above sea level. With fantastic nursery slopes and a number of excellent runs to progress to, Alta Badia is perfect for beginners.
Best Luxury Italian Ski Resorts for Intermediate & Advanced Skiers
A true paradise for winter sports enthusiasts and nature lovers alike, Cortina is a captivating town in a truly spectacular setting. Known as the "Queen of the Dolomites", Cortina has been a tourist destination for a very long time and has hosted many major international sporting events, including the 1956 Winter Olympics.
The resort is part of the Dolomiti Superski, one of the world’s largest ski areas with 1,200 km of slopes across 12 ski regions, accessible with a single ski pass.
Cortina has three main ski areas: Cortina Cube (Cristallo, Faloria, Mietres), Tofana and Lagazuoi-5 Torri, offering 115 km of slopes. The Cortina Cube area offers spectacular views across the Ampezzo valley and a selection of scenic red and black runs, whilst Tofana ranges from beginner slopes to the unforgettable runs of the 1956 Winter Olympics.
In the company of guides, adventurous skiers can enjoy fantastic off-piste terrain and there are possibilities for ski touring too. Snow is not a problem here as 95% of the pistes are covered by excellent snow-making facilities meaning the ski season runs from the end of November until late April.
Although accommodation in the resort is dominated by hotels, it is always worth seeking out the increasing number of luxury Italian ski chalets.
Catered Ski Chalets in Italy
Whilst Italy is well known for it’s world class cuisine, the convenience of a catered ski chalet is hard to beat. Both Cortina and Kronplatz in particular have an array of luxury Italian chalets with a full team of staff ready to attend to your every need. Wake up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee and set yourself up for a day exploring the well-groomed pistes, before returning to afternoon tea, champagne, canapes and a bespoke dinner created for you by your private chalet.
Luxury catered ski chalets in Italy are certainly one of the most relaxing options for your luxury ski holiday. With daily cleaning included and often a driver at your disposal to chauffeur you to the ski lifts and back, you can revel in a hassle-free ski holiday.
Eating & Drinking In Italy
Whilst many luxury resorts offer the convenience of a luxury catered chalet in Italy, you may be looking for the flexibility of a luxury self-catered chalet which gives the option to explore the local cuisine. One resort that stands out above the rest for it’s high standard of restaurants is Alta Badia. Alta Badia is extremely proud of its gastronomic scene with four Michelin-stars within a 15 km area; three stars for Norbert Niederkofler from the St. Hubertus restaurant at Hotel Rosa Alpina in San Cassiano and one star for Nicola Laera from the La Stüa de Michil restaurant in Hotel La Perla, Corvara.
There are also some superb restaurants serving delicious local Ladin cuisine. I Tabla is just one example; serving hearty plates of homemade dumplings, barley soup and polenta with sausage, this is Ladin cuisine at its best. At Piz Boe Alpine Lounge, you have a choice between a formal à la carte menu served in an elegant dining room, or a choice of traditional flavours such as polenta, pasta or gnocchi in a self-service area. Another favourite for local dishes is Maso Runch in the rustic village of Badia. For impressive views try Utia Las Vegas and for the best pizza, Fornella in Corvara is a must.
Alta Badia has plenty of fun bars and cosy taverns where you can enjoy a tipple or two. Traditional apres-ski drinks in this region include eggnog with hot milk or with cream, a Pinecone Schnapps or the famed “Jargetee” made from rum, sugar, black tea and herbs.
Frequently asked questions
Where are the best luxury resorts in Italy?
The most luxurious resorts in Italy can be found in the Dolomites. Alta Badia is famous for its high end culinary scene whilst Cortina d'Ampezzo is the best place for designer shopping.
Where is the best place to ski in Italy?
Cortina d'Ampezzo, Val Gardena and Breuil-Cervinia are all well known for being some of the best places to ski in Italy
Is skiing in Italy Expensive?
Skiing in Italy offers some of the most affordable skiing in the Alps, with a wide variety of resorts to choose from.
Can you rent luxury chalets in Italy?
Yes, many of the best luxury chalets in Europe can be found in Italy in resorts like Alta Badia, Breuil-Cervinia or Kronplatz.