Off the Beaten Path – The Alpine Ski Resort at Livigno

Many if not most of the Alpine ski resorts you are likely to visit are renowned for their beauty, as well as what they have to offer to the recreational skier or snowboarder. Given what the Alps have to offer, that should come as no surprise. The ski resort at Livigno is no different in that respect. Livigno has a great deal of old world charm, there is duty-free shopping, the food and accommodations range from very good to superb, and the skiing is excellent. It is also less expensive than is the case with many of the other ski resorts in Italy, as well as in nearby Austria and Switzerland.

livigno hotelsThe Town of Livigno

Livigno is located in the midst of the high (1,816 m) Valle del Sole in the Italian Alps, not far from the Swiss border. The town and resort area is both a winter and summer destination. In the wintertime, when the area is covered in snow and ice, skiing is the major pastime. In the summertime, it’s mountain biking, guided hikes, and visits to rivers and waterfalls. Livigno is a duty-free zone, where you will find many shopping opportunities.

The Valle del Sole lies on a path running from Zurich, Switzerland south to Milano and is nearly equidistant from the two metropolises. Zurich is 200 km to the north and Milano is 220 km to the south. A duty free zone provides shopping opportunities when away from the slopes. Innsbruck, Austria lies 185 km to the north and east, while Rome is a more distant 780 km to the south.

Getting There

You can travel to the ski resort at Livigno by car, but it is not highly recommended to travel that way during ski season. If you decide to rent a car and drive, carry chains with you. There is train service from the major European cities, but not directly to Livigno. Connections must be made by bus. The nearest airports are in Milano, Bolzano, Zurich, Innsbruck, and Monaco. Ski Livigno offers transfer services from several of these airports.

The Ski Area

The Livigno ski areas have become both a skier’s and snowboarder’s paradise in recent years. Group ski and snowboard lessons are available. Rates are higher during the mid-winter high season but only by about 10 euros for six 2-hour lessons. You can choose from a wide range of lift passes, from morning or afternoon tickets to 1-day to 13-day passes. Lift passes tend to be significantly cheaper at the beginning and the end of the ski season than during mid-season.

Accommodations

A wide range of accommodations are available in hotels in livigno italy, ranging from hotels and bed and breakfasts to furnished apartments. Hotel prices typically run in the 60 to 70 euros per person/per night range, but you can find rooms at highly recommended hotels for under 50 euros/night. You can find accommodations in the center of town that are located only a few minutes walking distance to the nearest ski lift.

What Visitors Have to Say

While skiers at all levels enjoy what Livigno hotels has to offer, the area in general has a wide appeal to both newcomers to the sport as well as intermediate skiers. If you can manage only one or two ski outings a year, Livigno is an excellent destination. The resort area features a wide variety of runs, and less experienced skiers need not be confined to the bunny slopes. Many visitors prefer to stay in accommodations in or near the center of the town, locations which are still within walking distances of the lifts, but also where the duty-free shopping as well as the nightlife holds sway. The slopes are not crowded and lift line waits are not lengthy except on occasion during peak hours, which is usually a good time for a lunch break. Most reviewers make mention of the food which, in typical Italian fashion, is usually excellently prepared.

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