Livigno

For visitors, though, what matters most is that Livigno is still a very convenient resort for a week-long trip. The ski area has 115 km of pistes, including 29 blue, 37 red and 12 black runs. The slopes are served by 6 gondolas, 14 chairlifts and 12 surface lifts. Its big strengths are the altitude, the wide, sunny pistes and an extensive snowmaking system covering around 80% of the pistes. Livigno works particularly well for families, beginners and intermediate skiers. The lower part of the valley has gentle practice slopes, children's lifts and learning areas, while more experienced skiers can use the longer red pistes and the black runs in the Mottolino, Carosello 3000 and Vetta Blesaccia areas. It is not, however, one of those big Alpine circuits where you spend the whole day skiing from valley to valley without taking your skis off. The two sides of Livigno are covered by a single ski pass, but you move between them through the village using local transport. One of Livigno's great advantages remains its town-like character. Many hotels and apartments are close to the pistes, and after skiing it is easy to walk to restaurants, bars, shops and Aquagranda, a large pool, wellness and sports complex. Livigno is also an Italian duty-free zone, which still sets the town apart from other Alpine resorts, although for bigger purchases you need to remember the customs allowances when leaving the zone. The offer for cross-country skiers also deserves a mention. Livigno has 30 km of cross-country trails in the Forcola and Alpe Vago areas, and thanks to Snowfarm it prepares a technical training loop in autumn for racers and amateurs.