When choosing a ski resort for families, Italy is a great choice for many reasons. Obviously there is the delicious food, with plenty of child-friendly pizza and pasta options as well as more gourmet fare for adults. Then there’s the price, it’s really easy to stay within budget in most Italian resorts as they offer excellent value for money.
Also there’s the friendly hospitality and great landscapes to compliment everything else. So what are you waiting for? Read on and choose from our list of the best Italian ski resorts for families and get ready for a wonderful time on and off the slopes.
Our Selection of Italian Ski Resorts for Families
Courmayeur
The quaint, car-free cobbled streets of Courmayeur offer the perfect playground for your next Italian family ski holiday. And the backdrop is even more spectacular with three giants – Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn and Monte Rosa surrounding this Aosta valley town. If you’re looking to head to the highest point, try the family experience at the stunning Monte Bianco Skyway, which will take you up to a soaring 3466m above sea level.
The fantastic Baby Snow Park lets your snow babies get up to anything from fat biking and bobsleighing to junior snowmobiling, cross-country, and beginner freeriding. There’s also the petting zoo with real reindeer for Santa to take through the town at Christmastime. And with skating, climbing, tennis, table tennis, golf and five-a-side football there’s something for everyone.
Sestrière
Sestrière was purpose built in the 1930s by the founder of Fiat. While it may not have the architectural charm of some villages which have grown up as mountain villages, it’s location only an hour’s transfer from Turin yet at an altitude of just over 2000m and located at the heart of he Vialattea, or Milky Way, it makes for great family skiing holidays.
The Leo Monthy children’s area is located very centrally in Sestrière and offers a magic carpet as well as child-friendly elements for learning to ski in a playful way. Your family purse strings will also be delighted to found out that The Milky Way offers one of the best value for money ski passes in the world! As well as all the on the snow activities there’s the in-resort Cinema Fraiteve which has specific showings for children.
Livigno
Transfers will be the first hurdle you’ll need to decide whether you’d like to jump or not when considering Livigno as your next family holiday destination. The transfer time is over three hours. Once you get there though a wealth of family fun awaits. Lupigno Kid’s Club has adventure paths, a tube track, a racetrack and inflatable rafts. The Yepi Park, complete with it’s own yeti, allows you to choose from choose from the fun box or the music tunnel and then continue through the awesome punchballs, parabolic turns and small snow waves which will guide you to the natural pipe.
There’s also a beach themed kids cross, complete with sharks and palm trees with humps and tunnels suitable for all ski levels and ages. The lines and obstacles have been designed to ensure maximum safety. There are also several picnic areas in Livigno complete with inflatable slides. Those members of the family looking for an adrenaline rush, look no further than the Mottolino fun mountain, where you’ll find 27 slopes, the coolest snowpark in Italy and even a pro riders area.
Passo tonale
In the Italian Dolomites and sitting at an impressive 1800m altitude, Passo Tonale is a great choice for families with beginner skiers. There’s plenty of wide blue and red slopes to enjoy. There’s more good news in that children up to the age of 8 years old who go skiing in the Pontedilegno-Tonale Ski Area, accompanied by a paying adult, ski for free!
Fantaski and La Bruscadela are the two fun areas where children can have fun with super descents on sleds, toboggans and snow-tubing while smaller children can have fun on colourful bouncy castles. Adults haven’t been forgotten either, they can relax in an area equipped with deckchairs. At Fantaski parents can leave their children at the mini-club or in the care of babysitters. Two nights a week there’s Fun Kids Evenings organised too making PAsso Tonalo one of the best Italian ski resorts for families.
Champuloc
Part of the Monterosa ski area, Champuloc is a laid-back village with a traditional Italian vibe. The locals are so welcoming, you’ll almost feel as though you’re visiting family. It’s away from the crowds of some of the larger resorts and so your family will have plenty of space on the pistes and very little queueing at the lifts.
When you’re off the slopes why not check out Champuloc’s five star hotel with a real difference. The CampZero ‘luxury active resort’ boasts an outdoor ice climbing wall and helipad (handy if you’re looking for a super speedy transfer or the thrill of heli-skiing). Not to worry if it’s too chilly for you outside though: there’s an indoor climbing wall too. And if you’re not feeling energetic, you can just watch on through the glass window as you sip a cocktail in the bar! If you’d like to stay longer then why not book a family suite or ‘pod’, spread out over two floors. The Monterosa ski area offers over 200km of on-piste skiing stretching over three valleys, meaning there’s plenty of opportunities to stop for a hearty family lunch at one of the many excellent restaurants.
Bormio
Bormio is a surprisingly affordable family-friendly resort, despite it’s medieval charm and cobbled streets. Head to the Gormiti Children’s Park for all the magic carpet fun you could desire. Bigger kids may enjoy one of the two Funslopes or why not head to the Husky Village for some memorable dog sledding.
Bathe in the history of the traditional Roman Baths at Bormio Terme, which offer various areas for children, guarantying lots of fun in the hot thermal waters. Alternatively the little ones can also splash around at the modern leisure centre. You can also benefit from family reductions on ski passes and senior citizen reductions if you’re bringing the grandparents along!
