Best known for delicious pasta and fascinating landmarks, Italy is also a wonderful winter destination with coveted ski resorts. Northern and Western Italy is framed by some of the tallest and most stunning mountain ranges in Europe, such as the Dolomites and the Alps. With nearly 6,000 km of slopes, thousands of ski lifts, and thick coats of snow all through winter, Italy offers more affordable and casual ski resort options than neighboring Swiss and French options while maintaining all the style and amenities to offer some of the best ski resorts in the world.

10 Cortina d’Ampezzo

Cortina d’Ampezzo is the wintry gem of the Dolomites, known for its spectacular winter tourism since the 1800s. Host of the 1956 Winter Olympics, it is often considered one of the best ski resorts in the world; With the Dolomite Mountains cutting a grandiose silhouette against the charming town and its top-rated skiing facilities, it isn’t hard to see why. Cortina has 120 km of slopes for all levels and 27 lifts that transport guests practically from the door of their lodgings up the mountains. Staying at an accommodation like the Hotel Bellevue is the perfect way to enjoy Cortina d’Ampezzo.

9 Sestriere

The 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin took Sestriere from being a local ski enthusiast's well-kept secret into a world-rate ski resort. Right near the beautiful Val Chisone and Val Susa Via Lattea ski area has 400 km of ski and snowboarding slopes and 69 lifts. The height rises to 2,800 meters, and half the slopes are intermediate. Staying at Hotel Sciatori within walking distance of the Sestriere Ski Area is a great choice to enjoy an Italian ski vacation.

8 Alta Badia

Alta Badia is the highlight of South Tyrol skiing, a charming region surrounded by the Dolomite mountains with world-renowned cuisine that rival its excellent ski facilities. Popular among skiers of all skill levels and especially families, Alta Badia, has gentle pistes perfect for beginners, and everything up one of the most challenging slopes, the stage of the FIS Ski World Cup, the Gran Risa. Ski huts are peppered throughout the whole resort with delicious aprés ski options. The Hotel Steinrosl is an amazing choice for skiers to take in the best out of the Alta Badia Dolomites.

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7 Val Gardena

Nestled in the heart of the South Tyrol and the Dolomites, Val Gardena is a top-class ski resort. Home of the longest ski slope in South Tyrol, La Longia at over 10 km, Val Gardena counts 178 km of ski and snowboard slopes, 79 lifts, and a drop of 1,273 meters, one of the highest in the region. Skiers just beginning can have as much fun in the gentler parts of the terrain as experienced ones looking to be challenged. Staying at Garni Hotel Geier in the Santa Cristina villa will house travelers in the best Ladin style and a few meters away from Sellaronda Cable Car.

6 Courmayeur

Cradled in between Italy and France, spreading down Monte Bianco (Mont Blanc), Courmayeur offers a smaller, and yet one of the most luxurious, ski resort experiences in Italy. The 18 lifts transport the guests to the 40 km of slopes and the vast and scenic area for off-piste skiing - only for experienced skiers and with a guide - and cross-country skiing. Staying at Le Massif Hotel Lodge Courmayeur, two minutes away from the Courmayeur cable car, is an ideal way to enjoy the luxuries and the skiing in Courmayeur and the Val d’Aosta.

5 Livigno

Bordering Switzerland, Livigno is a veritable winter wonderland particularly favored by true winter sports enthusiasts. Considerably harder to reach and uncrowded, Livigno is known for some of the best snow coverage in the country - and on the downtime, great opportunity for duty-free shopping. Livigno has 115 km of slopes and 32 lifts, with elevations up to 2,800 meters. Hotel La Montanina offers guests alpine charm and comfort just a few meters away from the Mottolino lift.

4 Bormio

Made famous by the 1985 and 2005 World Ski Championships, Bormio is known for having the biggest vertical drop in the country - and one of the biggest in Europe - at 1,800 meters. Bormio, at the heart of Alta Valtellina, also counts with dedicated spaces for beginners and children - skiing for the whole family in some of the best snow in the Alps! Staying at Baita Fanti Ski will put guests right beside the Bormio Ski Area.

Related: Ski Season In The Northern Hemisphere: What You Need To Know

3 Alpe Di Siusi

Val Gardena’s neighbor, Alpe di Siusi is the place for guaranteed top-class skiing in Italy, with top-rated snow-making and piste grooming. Alpe di Siusi is a perfect destination for families, with dedicated spaces for children, snowparks, and carriage rides. There are 63 kilometers of slopes and areas for cross-country skiing. Staying at Hotel Sun Valley is a grand opportunity to enjoy skiing at Alpe di Siusi.

2 Arabba-Marmolada

Sixty-three kilometers of ski and snowboard slopes await travelers at Arabba/Marmolada ski resort, a smaller resort in the Dolomites Sella Ronda ski circuit. Arabba has a wide array of beginner and intermediate pistes, perfect for easygoing skiers and families, but experienced skiers can get their thrill on skiing in the Marmolada Glacier. The Alpenroyal Arabba Hotel, 2 minutes away from the lifts, makes for a perfect stay.

1 Monterosa

Monterosa ski resort network links many ski areas across the Val d’Aosta and Valsesia, in what amounts to 180 km of the ski area. Pistes of all levels, as well as large areas of untouched, off-piste ski areas stretching for almost 3,000 meters in between the scenic views, framed by some of Europe’s most stunning mountains: the Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, and the Monte Rose itself. Staying in Pietre Gemelle Resort is the perfect way to stay minutes away from the ski areas, all that in style.