Holly Price
Mar, 12 - 2025 - 7 mins
The Best Ski Resorts in the Dolomites: Where to Ski, Stay & Explore
Skiing in the Dolomites is a bucket-list experience. A designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and National Park to boot, the scenery is nothing short of spellbinding and the ski areas are colossal. Thanks to their geographical position in the eastern Alps, the Dolomites are also more exposed to sunlight with less cloud cover and a milder, drier climate. Not only does this mean you’ll be able to top up your tan when you stop for that well-earned après beer, but it also means that the pow is likely to be lighter and fluffier thanks to the low precipitation. If you haven’t already dropped everything to get out there at this point, keep reading to discover some of the Dolomite’s best resorts.
Why you should choose the Dolomites for your next ski trip
Still not convinced? Here’s a quick-fire list as to why the Dolomites should be your next ski destination:
- The food scene: Italy is widely regarded as the epicentre of great food, and the mountain huts (Rifugis) throughout this region are known for their hearty pasta dishes, crispy polenta and delicious local wines.
- The challenges: Downhill daredevils will delight in taking on the Gran Risa and Saslong World Cup slopes - two of the most technical and demanding runs in the industry.
- The scenery: The panoramas are world-renowned for a reason. Pastel-pink skies reflected on the Tre Crime can be admired from wide, cruisey pistes.
- The Sellaronda: The Ski Tracks addict will rejoice when they find out there is a 40km circular ski route with breathtaking scenery.
- The culture: Finishing one of the most beautiful descents in the world (Armentarola 101) with a horse-drawn ski tow back to the resort? Sign us up.
For Uncrowded Slopes: Carezza
One of the sunniest resorts in the Dolomites, Carezza is an affordable and quiet option that comes without the fanfare of other nearby resorts such as Cortina or Alta Badia. With 40 km of well-groomed pistes, this resort is perfect for beginners, intermediates, and families who want relaxed, stress-free skiing. The wide, rolling blues and reds are ideal for carving, while advanced skiers can make a beeline for the legendary Pra di Tori black run. Snow reliability is pretty good, thanks to a reasonable altitude range of 1,200–2,337m. Lift infrastructure is also reliable, and access to the Dolomiti Superski area opens things up even further.
Famous for the stunning views of the Latemar and Catinaccio mountains, Carezza is home to many mountain huts serving warming Tyrolean cuisine in a friendly environment - just the thing after racking up the kms on those quiet slopes.
For Authentic Après: Cortina d'Ampezzo
A classic destination for alpine winter sports, Cortina d’Ampezzo, or Cortina, as it is more affectionately known, is an upscale option consisting of three main regions. The regions are Tofana-Socrepres, Cristallo-Faloria and Lagazuoi- 5 Torri. Altogether, you’ll enjoy 120km of pistes serviced by 26 lifts. There is a vibrant town centre, where you’ll find plenty of shops, heritage attractions, off-slope activities and of course, après bars.
Slopeside, après will usually kick off in one of the mountain huts such as Rifugio Averau or Faloria. In the heart of town, Villa Sandi is known for serving excellent aperols beneath heaters, while Enoteca is a charming boutique wine bar where you can enjoy tasting menus accompanied by a cheeseboard. For a truly iconic experience, head for cocktails in the bar at Hotel de la Poste - rumoured to be a favoured spot of old Hollywood star Elizabeth Taylor during the filming of Ash Wednesday. Belvedere mixes seventies discotheque with a ski chalet for a playful wood-clad glitterbox vibe and often has DJ sets spanning long into the early hours.
For Off-Piste Thrills: Alta Badia
With its vast freeride terrain, hidden powder stashes, and breathtaking scenery, Alta Badia offers some of the most rewarding backcountry skiing and snowboarding in Italy. One of the biggest draws for freeriders is the amount of varied terrain. The north-facing slopes of Vallon (above Corvara) offer excellent powder conditions, with steep chutes and open bowls while the Lagazuoi area, accessible via the famous Hidden Valley run, is a dream for freeriders, featuring interesting rock formations, untouched snowfields, and a colossal frozen waterfall at the bottom.
For true backcountry lovers, the Sass Pordoi area (about 40 mins from Alta Badia) is world-famous for its big-mountain freeriding, with 1,000m vertical descents and multiple line choices down its dramatic faces. The off-piste routes from Col Alt and Crep de Mont also offer great powder turns with fewer crowds. If it’s something seriously exhilarating but closer to home that you want, the ski school in San Cassiano offers heli-skiing tours.
Find out more about Alta Badia
For Local Culture: Val Gardena
Want to find the spot where world-class slopes meet fascinating culture? Val Gardena is your perfect destination. This stunning valley is home to the Ladin people, an ancient Alpine community with one of the best-preserved cultures in Europe. During a ski holiday in the Dolomiti Superski area, you can experience Ladin language, traditions, and way of life. Deeply rooted in woodcarving, the local culture involves beautiful craftwork. As you stroll through Ortisei, Selva, or Santa Cristina, you’ll find charming workshops creating handmade nativity scenes, sculptures, and traditional masks—a chance to immerse yourself in the area’s rich artistic heritage. The language is a mix of Latin, German, and Italian influences. Still spoken by many locals, it is also the language you’ll find on many of the signs throughout the resort.
Arguably the best part of soaking up any new culture is the food, so visitors will be glad to know that Ladin cuisine is a delicious fusion of Italian and Austrian flavours. Must-try dishes include “tutres” (savory pastries), “cajincí arstî” (spinach dumplings), and “gulasch” (hearty stew). Pair your meal with a local Südtirol wine for the full (bodied) experience.
Find out more about Val Gardena
For Fun Park & Piste: Seiser Alm
Seiser Alm (Alpe di Siusi) is the ultimate fun zone for freestyle riders taking a trip to the Dolomites. Home to the largest snowpark in South Tyrol, the area caters to both families looking for fun and dedicated freestylers going full send.
Stretching over 1.5 km, the Seiser Alm Snowpark features more than 40 obstacles, including perfectly shaped kickers, rails, boxes, and more. The park is divided into Beginner, Medium, and Pro lines, making it ideal for everyone. It’s little wonder that Seiser Alm is the training ground for Italy’s national freestyle team.
Beyond the park, Seiser Alm’s wide-open slopes and playful natural features make it perfect for riders who love to incorporate jibs into their runs and simply explore the local mountain. The Goldknopf and Laurin pistes offer fun rollers and side hits, while the Panorama and Spitzbühl areas have mellow powder stashes for those surfy turns.
Find out more about Seiser Alm
Compare ski resorts in the Dolomites with Snomad
Want to take your time combing through the finer details? You can browse thousands of unbiased reviews and ratings on ski resorts in the Dolomites from the Snomad Community. Alternatively, if you want to narrow the search down straight away, you can even find your perfect ski resort for you via the finder quiz.
