The Italian mountains boast some of the most famous and highly regarded ski resorts in Europe. Some are perfect for enthusiasts and expert skiers (let's not forget that Italy has hosted many Winter Olympic Games and Alpine skiing championships), while others are more suitable for beginners or families with children. Altogether, Italy's ski portfolio includes over 280 ski areas, around 5,800 km of slopes, and more than 1,800 cable installations.
The most popular ski resorts are situated in the regions of Northern Italy - Aosta Valley, Trentino-Alto Adige, Piedmont, and Lombardy. Among them are Cervinia, Courmayeur, Cortina d'Ampezzo, Sestriere, the resorts of Alta Badia, Livigno, and Madonna di Campiglio. In fact, as a curiosity, every region of Italy (except for Puglia) has at least one ski resort. Even in sunny Sicily, you can ski on Mount Etna.
Italy offers a good quality/ price ratio, considering not only the number and the quality of the slopes but also the costs related to skipass, flights, accommodation, and food. Moreover, there are flights from most major European cities to Italian airports close to ski areas.
Ski Rules in Italy
If you want to go skiing in Italy, you should know that there are a few mandatory rules established by law (Legislative Decree 40/2021):
- Starting January 1, 2022, it is mandatory to have liability insurance that covers damages and accidents caused to third parties. The insurance is not included in the ski pass and must be purchased separately (it costs a few EUR per day). Fines for skiers without liability insurance range between 100 and 150 EUR, along with the withdrawal of the ski pass.
- Wearing a helmet is mandatory for all persons under 18 years old who practice skiing, snowboarding, or sledding. Fines for not wearing a helmet range from 100 to 150 EUR.
- Skiing under the influence of alcohol or other substances is prohibited. The limit applied is the same as in the Italian Traffic Code (0.5 g/l). Fines range between 250 and 1000 EUR and may also lead, in some cases, to the withdrawal of the ski pass.