SKI MUSE

Dolomiti Superski

5.0

Probably the best ski area anywhere for day trips: vast, scenic, great value, and with skiing for every level.

The Sella group from Ciampinoi in winter

1,000 to 3,265 m

–

Forecast at 2000 m today: low / high, modelled snow depth, and new snow in the last 24 hours.

Terrain4.5

Snow4.5

Lifts4.5

Village4.5

Mountain food5.0

Après4.5

Families5.0

Value5.0

Best for

Experts

Intermediates

Families

Beginners

Is the Dolomiti Superski worth it?

Yes. It's one of our top three ski areas anywhere, and probably the best for day trips. It's vast, so you can explore new slopes every day of a week-long stay, and the Sella Ronda circuit is built right into the official piste map. Several villages are big, with plenty to do in the evenings, and there are prices for every budget.

Against the 3 Vallees, there's less of the high-end scene, and the grooming is a bit looser. In return, the weather is usually milder, the snow is consistent, and it's much better value. If you care more about the winter holiday than skiing all day, or you're a beginner, a smaller, cheaper area may suit you better. This one is for people who love skiing far.

Most people don't realise how huge it is. All the villages on this page are linked on skis, and more valleys on the same pass are a short drive away. That makes it the biggest ski area on a single lift pass.

Which village to choose

For a ski traveller, stay in Selva or Santa Cristina in Val Gardena. Ortisei is the alternative if you want more to do than ski. Young groups who party should look at Arabba. Beyond that, choose on a good deal or the kind of place you want to stay.

Dantercepies and Col Bustac above Selva in January

1,563 mSelva di Val Gardena5.0Our favourite base in the Dolomites: ski-in, lively evenings and the best start to every day trip.

The Saslong downhill run above Santa Cristina, below Sassolungo

1,428 mSanta Cristina4.5A small, typical ski village next to Selva, with ski-in hotels, some affordable options and the Saslong above it.

The Seceda ridge above Ortisei in winter

1,236 mOrtisei4.5The biggest town in Val Gardena, between Seceda and the Alpe di Siusi, with no ski-in at all.

Val di Fassa from the Belvedere above Canazei, with the Marmolada

1,465 mCanazei4.5The livelier, slightly better choice in Val di Fassa, on the Sella Ronda, with some ski-in and a piste back to the village.

The Sella group from Col Rodella, above Campitello

1,448 mCampitello di Fassa4.5Small, quiet and cheaper, with one big cable car to start and end every day.

The Sella group and Arabba seen from Porta Vescovo

1,602 mArabba4.5Great skiing on the doorstep, lots of ski-in and the best après for young groups, but on the edge of the map.

1,568 mCorvaraGuideThe main village of Alta Badia, with Colfosco next door, good skiing all around and the easy blues towards La Villa.

La Villa below the Sassongher and Gardenaccia, with the Gran Risa run

1,433 mLa VillaGuideA quieter Alta Badia village on our Corvara to Santa Croce day, at the foot of the Gran Risa.

The Lavarella and Conturines peaks above San Cassiano in winter

1,537 mSan CassianoGuideA small Alta Badia village in a side valley, linked to Piz Sorega and the rest of the area by lift.

The skiing

Experts

Terrain gets 4.5 from us only because it lacks some steeper, more extreme runs. The big test is the Marmolada: up to Punta Rocca at 3,265 m and down La Bellunese, about 12 km, long, steep and bumpy. For speed, the short black off the Puflatsch on the Alpe di Siusi is very steep and usually well groomed.

Don't just stick to the Sella Ronda. Make the side trips to the Marmolada, the Alpe di Siusi and from Corvara to La Villa: they're all spectacular.Our insider tip

Intermediates

This is where the Dolomites shine. Ride the Sella Ronda both ways, and save La Longia, 10.5 km from Seceda to Ortisei, for the last run of a day. It's one of the most spectacular ski slopes we've ever skied.

Beginners and families

Very beginner and family friendly, with lots of kids' classes, and every area has easy pistes. You won't use the whole area, but it's still worth buying the full pass and travelling a bit, just for the views.

Day routes

Plan your days

Five day trips that cover the best of the area. The first four are the classics; the fifth is a relaxed day for less experienced skiers.

Sella Ronda orange (clockwise)Full dayRed Sella Ronda green (anticlockwise)Full dayRed Marmolada and Punta RoccaLongest dayBlack Alpe di Siusi, the far pointShortest dayBlue Alta Badia: Corvara to Santa CroceFull dayBlue

All five day routes in full

Weather and snow

On weather, the Dolomites beat the 3 Vallees. In all our trips we've only seen one lift closed for weather, once, at Seceda. The reason is the layout: you ski around the Sella group rather than over ridges and between valleys, often facing the massif itself.

The snow is consistent too. We'd give snow reliability 4.5 out of 5; only glaciers get a 5.

Lift pass, queues and mistakes

Always buy the full Dolomiti Superski pass, even as a beginner. That's the opposite of our advice for the 3 Vallees, but here it's worth travelling just for the views.

The biggest mistake is staying in one area. People find a spot they like and never leave it. Every area has beginner-friendly pistes, so ask someone who knows the region and explore at least a bit.

We wouldn't call anywhere crowded, but a few chokepoints queue at peak times: the second leg up to Seceda, the Campitello cable car, the three Marmolada cable cars on sunny weekends (day-trippers drive straight to Malga Ciapela), and the Sella Ronda on busy days, though it spreads out evenly.

Getting there

Take the train from Milan to Bolzano (Bozen), usually changing at Verona; it's a very good link. From Bolzano, and from Chiusa or Bressanone, regional buses run up the valley, so you don't need a car or a private transfer. Bolzano and Bressanone (Brixen) are both sizeable Alpine towns and nice to walk around if you have an hour between trains.

If you're injured, the main hospital for the area is in Bressanone.