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5 of the best places to ski in Italy at Christmas
Italian Christmases are just like Italian summers: they’re all about great food, great company, and a whole lot of la dolce vita! Heralding the start of the skiing season for many resorts, December sees Italy’s first significant snow dumps, promising epic pow days alongside fantastic early-season ski deals.
Although Italy doesn’t celebrate the festive period as loudly as the UK, there’s still plenty happening at resorts to make an Italy Christmas ski trip magical! We’re talking torch-lit processions down the slopes, twinkling fairy lights, winter markets, parades, fireworks, and even the promise of a Christmas dinner you won’t have to cook yourself (sign us up!). What’s more, the mountains are famously less crowded in December than at other times of the year, allowing for mornings of wide-open, peaceful pistes and long afternoons and evenings of fantastic Italian après… The only question is, just where do you go?
Well, don’t you worry. Our Heidi experts have done the hard work for you, offering their pick of the top Italy Christmas ski resorts to visit this year. Whether you’re after gorgeous family fun in the chocolate box village of Madonna di Campiglio or looking for a touch of crimbo opulence on the slopes of luxurious Courmayeur, these are Heidi’s best Christmas ski holidays in Italy:
1. Selva di Val Gardena
Val Gardena is known in South Tyrol as the “Christmas Valley” thanks to its whimsical winter markets, snow-capped alpine huts, and fun family festivities.
Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Italian Dolomites, this fantastic resort receives a generous dusting of early-season December snow each year, which means a white Christmas here is almost always on the cards. Perfect for passionate mountain enthusiasts, Val Gardena is integrated into Italy’s expansive Sella Ronda ski circuit, offering direct ski-in/ski-out access right from your doorstep to over 1,200m of quiet, high-altitude slopes - ideal for everyone from beginners and children to intermediate and professional skiers and snowboarders.
From the 1st of December, Val Gardena’s “Mountain Christmas” winter market next to Nives Square kicks off the festive season in full swing. Walk beneath twinkling fairy lights and a miniature running cable car overhead, explore stalls selling local wood carvings and delicate baubles, and feast on a whole host of mouth-watering alpine eats. Think fragrant mulled wine, delicate spiced Italian biscuits, and plenty of good ol’ fashioned Italian favourites. Mmmm…
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2. Madonna di Campiglio
The gateway to the beautiful UNESCO Brenta Dolomites, Madonna di Campiglio is a whimsical, cutesy, car-free, chocolate-box resort perfect for those seeking a touch of luxury alongside picture-perfect pistes.
Beginners and intermediates will be spoiled for choice on over 150km of wide-open, cruisy corduroy down high-altitude peaks and snow-capped forest trails, while the more experienced can make it a Christmas to remember on the challenging DoloMitica piste. Once the skiing is done, Madonna di Campiglio continues to delight with dog sledding, ice climbing, ice skating, and plenty of aperitivo tasting at the resort’s numerous high-end bars and eateries. Saluti!
On the 12th of December, Madonna di Campiglio hosts its “Witches in Flight” event, where Santa Lucia brings panettone, pandoro, and mugs of steaming hot chocolate for the kids. Following this, the resort will host the “Embrace of Light” walk starting on the 14th, a kid-friendly route through scenes inspired by the Nativity. And if you can hang on until the 27th, you’ll witness the arrival of the Krampus. This spectacular, not-to-be-missed parade - starring dozens of half-goat/half-demon creatures marching in from the Salorno and Val Rendena mountains - aims to amaze and jest with children and adults alike!
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3. Courmayeur
Found nestled at the base of Europe's mighty Mont Blanc, the resort of Courmayeur is ideal for a quick Italy Christmas ski weekend or short break. Just 20 minutes from the bright lights of Chamonix, this chic resort serves up sunny south-sided slopes, glistening snow-dusted peaks, and more incredible après-ski than you could shake a yule log at.
With some of Italy's best pistes and powder, Courmayeur is a paradise for skiers and snowboarders of all levels. The compact skiing area near the resort is perfect for beginners, while intermediates can enjoy the thrill of perfectly groomed reds running through lush alpine forest and snowboarders can let loose on the open bowls. And for those seeking a truly unique Christmas skiing experience, there's even freeriding or heli-skiing - the sky really is the limit!
Rather than wait to meet Santa on Christmas Eve, children and adults in Courmayeur eagerly anticipate the arrival of Rhémy de Noël: a red-jacketed, white-bearded mountaineer with climbing boots, ropes, and ice axes. Legend says this adventurer scaled Mont Blanc one Christmas Eve to confront a glacier-dwelling giant who was blocking Courmayeur's snow from falling. Today, children light lanterns to guide Rhémy de Noël back down the mountain, where his arrival is celebrated with gifts, hot chocolate, and delicious treats!
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4. Cortina d’Ampezzo
Christmas market? Check. Christmas Day skiing? Check. An advent calendar the size of a three-story building? Check!
Often referred to as the ‘Queen of the Dolomites,’ the stunning slopes of Cortina d’Ampezzo are among Italy’s most famous. Italian tourists flock to the area throughout the season for its breathtaking limestone towers, fantastic food and drink, and incredible skiing—and it’s easy to see exactly why!
Located within the magnificent Dolomiti Superski area, this ‘Alpine Dolce Vita’ features 83 uncrowded pistes, ideal for beginners, snowboarders, and even experts. And with December bringing strong snow conditions, an Italy Christmas ski trip here is pure magic, especially when combined with a Christmas Day trip around Cortina’s iconic Sella Ronda circuit.
During Christmas, Corso Italia - Cortina’s main pedestrian street - transforms into an annual festive market. Open for most of December, this winter wonderland showcases wooden huts filled with handmade decorations, gifts, mouthwatering alpine eats, and those all-important mugs of steaming spiced mulled wine. And don’t forget to channel your inner Michelangelo with a visit to Cortina’s former town hall each evening to witness the advent calendar countdown, where each new window displays a unique festive artwork created by a local talented artist. Buono!
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5. Pila
The alpine ski village of Pila is the perfect choice for beginners and families seeking a relaxed Italy Christmas skiing holiday combined with a cheeky winter city break. Connected by cable car to the beautiful Aosta, Pila offers visitors the best of both worlds—fantastic beginner-friendly skiing, wonderful Christmas markets, and incredible big city celebrations!
Pila's compact 70km ski area is a family-friendly haven for beginners. It features gentle bunny slopes and quiet, pine forest-lined pistes, all overlooked by the majestic backdrops of Mont Blanc, Monte Rosa, and the Matterhorn—what a view!
The resort sparkles in December with fairy lights and decorated trees, but for true Christmas magic, we recommend taking the 18-minute cable car to the city of Aosta. There, the Roman streets and vibrant high streets come alive with one of Italy's most beloved Christmas markets, the Marché Vert Noël.
Over 30 wooden chalets gather here to sell local handicrafts, specialities, and delicious treats. After enjoying roasted chestnuts and local wine, stretch your legs with a stroll through Lusso Garden's enchanted light park or visit Piazza Arco d'Augusto to meet Santa and deliver your Christmas list. (Don't worry if you miss him - he'll return to Pila 2000 Place on Christmas Eve!)
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New to Heidi? If you're frustrated with typical package holiday restrictions, then we might just be what you're looking for.
You’ll find our ski holidays more customisable than your typical ski package provider, but a lot easier to put together than doing it all yourself. Choose where you want to go from 300+ ski resorts, travel the day you want, stay as long as you like.
For help finding a ski holiday, WhatsApp us, call us on 0117 457 6000, or simply start a search.
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