South Tyrol: one region, many options
South Tyrol, a region in the north of Italy, is without doubt a special place on the map of Europe. It once belonged to Austria and today is an autonomous Italian region where two cultures have intertwined for many years. Alpine and Mediterranean influences blend in its food, design and language, creating a whole that is unlike anywhere else. It is an ideal place for those who value an active holiday and close contact with nature. You cannot get bored in South Tyrol: it surprises with attractions at every turn and appeals to young and old alike. Everyone will find something here!
South Tyrol is one of the most interesting ski regions in the Alps, with excellent skiing conditions throughout the winter season. Both beginners and more advanced skiers will feel at home here, with modern lifts serving well-groomed pistes of varying difficulty and reliable facilities away from the slopes as well. Further assets are the picturesque mountain villages, high-standard accommodation, excellent food and a wide choice of wellness treatments. South Tyrol also offers great conditions for alternative winter sports, as well as accommodation that guarantees a high standard of comfort.
Alta Badia: a Dolomites classic at its best
Alta Badia is one of the best-known resorts in the Dolomites, with 130 km of superbly groomed pistes of varying difficulty. It is set among some of the most beautiful scenery in Italy and is part of the Dolomiti Superski network. The resort is famous for the Gran Risa slope, one of the steepest and most technically well-prepared pistes. This legendary World Cup venue attracts the best skiers in the world.
Food is an extremely important part of the local style, and the special events under the A Taste for Skiing banner let you try dishes prepared by award-winning chefs from all over Italy in the mountain huts. For après-ski, the atmospheric Club Moritzino is worth a visit, with partying to the best club music all day long and views of stunning, unforgettable scenery that take your breath away.
But Alta Badia is not just about skiing and regional specialities. There are as many as 74 km of walking trails, 30 km of cross-country trails and 2 toboggan runs, so those who prefer other kinds of winter activity will feel at home here too. A walk, a cross-country outing or a toboggan run can be rounded off with a rest in an atmospheric mountain hut and a taste of regional specialities.
Seiser Alm/Alpe di Susi: the largest mountain meadow turned winter playground
Seiser Alm/Alpe di Susi impresses with its scale: it is the largest high-alpine pasture in Europe, and in winter it becomes an ideal place for families, beginners and anyone looking for quiet pistes with panoramic views.
Linked with the Val Gardena/Gröden resort on the other side of the valley, it forms the largest ski area in South Tyrol, with more than 180 km of pistes. For other activities there are 50 km of walking trails nearby, 80 km of cross-country trails and several toboggan runs, and in the surrounding 50 mountain huts you can rest and discover regional flavours.
Every year Seiser Alm/Alpe di Susi also turns into a music stage during the Swing on Snow festival. For 20 years visitors have been able to enjoy the special atmosphere created by music echoing through mountain huts among the Alpine peaks. This year's edition takes place from 12 to 21 March 2026.
Eggental/Val d’Ega: surrounded by nature
Eggental/Val d’Ega, meanwhile, is the ideal valley for those who want to escape into nature but also value variety. With the Dolomiti Superskipass, visitors can use the facilities of three ski resorts: Latemar Dolomites (long, scenic pistes and snow parks), Carezza Dolomites (a resort known for its sunny, family-friendly slopes with the famous view of the Rosengarten) and Jochgrimm/Passo Oclini (a small, quiet area that is ideal for beginners).
Besides skiing, in South Tyrol you can plan winter hikes, try your hand at cross-country skiing on a variety of trails (for example the free one in Welschnofen/Nova Levante) and go down the toboggan runs.
Eggental/Val d’Ega is a place where the calm, high-alpine atmosphere is complemented by well-developed facilities and great places to eat. Particularly worth a visit is the famous Oberholz hut, designed in a simple modern style and located at an altitude of 2,096 m.
Kronplatz/Plan de Corones: winter activities with a side of Alpine culture
Kronplatz/Plan de Corones is one of the most modern and versatile resorts in South Tyrol. Skiers will find more than 120 km of pistes here, lifts with modern gondolas, snow parks and plenty of runs for beginners and for freeride. It is an ideal place for those who want to make the most of their time on the slopes. Good connections and wide pistes make it quick and easy to get around the whole resort.
But art lovers will also find something for themselves at Kronplatz/Plan de Corones: the summit is home to two excellent museums, Lumen (on mountain photography) and MMM Corones, created by the world-famous mountaineer Reinhold Messner. Adrenaline seekers, meanwhile, should definitely look into a winter paragliding flight.
Special events are held here in winter, such as Speck & Wine Emotion, where you can taste South Tyrolean speck with local wines, and the Polish week Ski Beats at the end of March, with concerts on the slopes, including the event's headliner Natalia Szroeder.
Schnalstal/Val Senales: glacier skiing right into spring
Schnalstal/Val Senales is a real haven for those who love long ski seasons with no surprises. Thanks to the glacier, skiing is possible until late spring. The resort is ideal for anyone looking for wide, uncrowded pistes and a wilder Alpine atmosphere.
Besides skiing, from September through to summer visitors can try cross-country skiing on the glacier, go on a guided glacier hike or enter a natural ice cave. It was in this area that the famous Ötzi mummy was found, so it is worth visiting the Archeopark and following the trail of his discovery on special ski excursions. It is one of the most authentic, rugged and picturesque winter spots in South Tyrol.
Ahrntal/Valle Aurina: a hidden valley full of winter attractions
Ahrntal/Valle Aurina is a valley full of character. It is less well known, which makes it ideal for those looking for a more intimate atmosphere. Its two resorts, Speikboden and Klausberg, are known for their excellent ski schools, making them a great choice for families.
The region also offers plenty of activities: cross-country skiing amid beautiful scenery, as many as five toboggan runs, night skiing and the Alpine coaster “Klausberg Flitzer”, which runs even when there is a lot of snow. The area combines a traditional mountain atmosphere with a touch of adrenaline and a very lively après-ski scene (with bars such as Hexenkessel and Skihaus).
Sterzing-Ratschings-Gossensass/Vipiteno-Racines-Colle Isarco: three resorts and plenty of excitement
This area covers three smaller resorts that are well suited to families with children: Ladurns, Rosskopf/Monte Cavallo and Ratschings-Jaufen/Racines-Giovo. They are ideal for families and for people who like small ski areas that are easy to navigate. They offer wide pistes, great conditions for beginners and some of the longest toboggan runs in the area (including the 10.5 km Rosskopf run (the longest in the whole of Italy!) and the 6.5 km run in Ladurns). Ratschings-Jaufen also tempts visitors with a beautiful 5 km toboggan run, making the area a real treat for fans of winter fun beyond skiing.
Visitors can also enjoy cross-country skiing in Ratschings-Jaufen, family curling in Gossensass and the chance to discover the charming medieval town of Sterzing/Vipiteno. And for food lovers, a highlight will be Becher mountain: a unique place where a brewery, a distillery, a coffee roastery and a cheese dairy share one building.
Ortler/Ortles: high-alpine skiing for everyone
The Ortler/Ortles region is for those looking for variety who want to tailor their winter holiday to their own needs. It is made up of three very different ski resorts, from high-alpine glacier pistes to quiet, sunny slopes for families.
Sulden/Solda, at the foot of the Ortler massif, is a classic Alpine village with a long ski season and reliable snow. Nearby, the small Watles stands out for its sunny, gentler slopes and panoramic views, which make it a great choice for families. Trafoi, in turn, is a small, cosy resort in the heart of the Stilfserjoch/Stelvio National Park, ideal for a quiet holiday close to nature.
Besides skiing, the region also offers cross-country skiing in Sulden/Solda at an altitude of 1,990 m, as well as winter hikes and snowshoe walks that let you explore the high-alpine scenery at a slower pace.
The variety of resorts means that in South Tyrol you can plan a trip tailored to your own needs. Whichever area you choose, visitors can expect high-quality facilities, beautiful mountain scenery and a wide choice of winter attractions beyond skiing too. It is this flexibility and wealth of options that make South Tyrol a great destination both for a longer holiday and for a spontaneous trip of a few days.