Italian Dolomites

Skiing in Italy’s Dolomites is about more than vertical feet and groomed slopes. It’s about immersing yourself in dramatic alpine landscapes, filling your stomach with rich cuisine and spending afternoons lounging on sunny terraces. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Dolomites combine cinematic scenery with world-class infrastructure, creating a grand ski experience.

As you explore the Italian Dolomites, you’ll find a vast network of ski resorts, villages and towns, each with its own personality. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, but broadly speaking, the region has two main groups of ski resorts:

The Dolomites are confusing. They’re often referred to as a mountain range, a ski area and a region. But when it comes to skiing in the Dolomites, some things need to be cleared up.

First, the Dolomites aren’t a ski town or ski resort — although it’s often talked as if they are. The Dolomites are a mountain range in northeastern Italy named after a mineral that gives the peaks a pinkish glow. 

Typically, if someone says they’re skiing in the Dolomites, they’re skiing in one of two areas. Either the Dolomiti Superski area or the Skirama Dolomiti area. 

Dolomiti Superski is a network of 12 ski resorts and is accessed by its own lift ticket as well as the Ikon Pass. It includes some of Italy’s most popular resorts like Cortina d’Ampezzo and Alta Badia, along with Arabba Marmolada, Val Gardena, 3 Zinnen Dolomites, Alpe di Siusi (Seiser Alm), Kronplatz, Val di Fiemme, San Martino di Castrozza, Alpe Lusia, Brixen, Civetta and Val di Fassa. Many of these resorts also have multiple names attached to the resort, for example, Alpe Lusia is often mentioned in conjunction with San Pellegrino.

About five hours west of the Dolomiti Superski network is the Skirama Dolomiti network. This is another grouping of ski resorts and includes Madonna di Campiglio, Pinzolo, Folgarida-Marilleva, Pontedilegno-Tonale, Pejo3000, Paganella Ski, Monte Bondone and Alpe Cimbra: Folgaria-Lavarone. Epic Pass holders can access Skirama.

With so many resorts spread across the Dolomites, there’s a range of ski vacations and experiences to discover in the region. Each one is different, so whether your ski trip centers on serious mileage, vibrant après, gourmet dining or relaxed family time on the mountain, the personality of each resort can help determine where to go in the Dolomites. Below are some of out Mountain Travel Experts' favorite picks.

Corbet’s Couloir lures travelers to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Wyoming, while Delirium Dive entices experts to Sunshine Village in Canada. In the Dolomites, it’s the Sella Ronda that has skiers and snowboarders visiting from around the world.

The Sella Ronda is a 25-mile loop that is the quintessential Dolomites experience. Often referred to as a ski safari, the ski circuit connects four valleys and multiple villages around the Sella massif, including Val Gardena, Alta Badia, Arabba and Canazei. The route takes about a day to complete and is ideal for intermediate skiers and riders.