April in Italy. Tourists in the south are already packing their beach towels and venturing out to explore the piazzas in short-sleeves, but up north in the mountains, skiers are making the most of the late season snow.
Resorts in the Italian Alps can get overlooked for April ski trips in favour of their French cousins. And sure, the high altitude resorts over the border have a great track record for late season snow, but there’s still plenty of springtime skiing to be had across Italy’s six fantastic ski areas, which include the Dolomiti Superski and the Monterosa.
Below, we tell you everything you need to know about skiing in Italy in April, including the best resorts and the likely snow conditions in each one at the end of the season.
Read more:
Intrigued to know which French resorts offer the best April skiing? Read more in our dedicated guide.
In this guide, we cover:
What’s it like to ski in Italy in April?
Skiing in Italy in April is all about making the most of those increasingly frequent bluebird days and those increasingly quieter pistes.
The best way to do that is to book a trip to one of the snow-sure, higher altitude resorts, which offer a great variety of runs for skiers of all abilities, as well as glorious glaciers, fresh powder, plenty of sunshine, and, of course, Italian food.
Just make sure to plan your trip around the variable closing dates of Italian resorts. Some close early in April, but some of the higher up ones are open until the first week of May.
The other great thing about Italy's resorts is that they're well-equipped for periods of lower snowfall thanks to their arsenal of snow making facilities.
Does it snow in Italy in April?
Yes, snow conditions in Italy in April rival even some of the famous French resorts. Just compare the average weekly snowfall for Cervinia (43cm) and Passo Tonale (33cm) with the likes of Chamonix (28cm) and Les Deux Alpes (26cm).
By the end of the season, you’re looking at a healthy snow depth of 74cm in Cervinia and 43cm in Livigno.
Can you ski the Dolomites in April?
Yes, you can ski in the Dolomites in April. While the Alta Badia region in the Dolomites closes at the end of the first week of April, the snow depth in Passo Tonale was 84cm by April last year, and it was 40cm in Cortina, both resorts that are open until early May.
Read more:
You can read more on spring skiing conditions in our dedicated guide.
The Best Italy Ski Resorts in April: Ranked
To discover the best places to ski in Italy in April, we’ve used historical snowfall data from snow-forecast.com and combined it with the number of sunny days for each resort to determine which of Italy’s resorts have the best April ski conditions.
According to our research, the top Italian resorts for an April ski holiday are:
-
Cervinia
-
Passo Tonale
-
Champoluc
-
Livigno
-
Cortina
The table below gives you more explanation on why the above resorts are our top 6.
April weekly snowfall and sunny day information for each of the ski resorts
| Resort |
Blue bird powder days |
Blue bird days |
Total sunny days |
Weekly snowfall |
| Cervinia |
0.9 |
0.9 |
1.8 |
43cm |
| Passo Tonale |
0.8 |
1 |
1.8 |
33cm |
| Champoluc |
0.6 |
0.6 |
1.2 |
28cm |
| Livigno |
0.7 |
0.7 |
1.4 |
23cm |
| Cortina |
0.4 |
0.6 |
1 |
22cm |
| Corvara |
0.3 |
0.6 |
0.9 |
21cm |
| Arabba |
0.2 |
0.5 |
0.7 |
24cm |
| Sestriere |
0.3 |
0.5 |
0.8 |
14cm |
| La Thuile |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.8 |
17cm |
| Pila |
0.4 |
0.6 |
1 |
12cm |
| Sauze d'Oulx |
0.3 |
0.5 |
0.8 |
13cm |
| Bardonecchia |
0.3 |
0.5 |
0.8 |
12cm |
| Selva |
0.2 |
0.4 |
0.6 |
16cm |
| Courmayeur |
0.3 |
0.3 |
0.6 |
15cm |
The best resorts in Italy for April skiing: Everything you need to know
Find out more about the top resorts below.
1. Cervinia
Resort height: 2050m
Highest lift: 3480m
Average April snow depth: 74cm
Closing date: Early May
This high altitude resort offers excellent skiing across its 200km of pistes, especially for intermediates, who shouldn’t find anything beyond their capabilities. Advanced skiers can venture towards Valtournenche for some more challenging runs. You’ll also enjoy a pleasant 1.8 sunny days every week.
Cervinia is linked to Zermatt in Switzerland, opening up a much larger skiing area for the adventurous, while being much more affordable to stay in than its Swiss neighbour.
Even on a bad snow year, you can expect to find decent skiing in Cervinia.
2. Passo Tonale
Resort height: 1883m
Highest lift: 3010m
Average April snow depth: 84cm
Closing date: Early May
High up and with wide slopes that are mostly above the treeline, Passo Tonale is an excellent April skiing destination, offering almost guaranteed snow and a wide, white canvas on which to enjoy those bluebird days. It’s especially good for beginners and intermediates, and skiers can enjoy a continuous 11km descent from Presena to Ponte di Legno.
Thanks to a healthy average April snow depth of 84cm, Passo Tonale is pretty reliable, even when snow's been thin on the ground, but if snowfall is lacking, the resort can improve conditions thanks to its 200 snow cannons (as long as its cold enough!)
3. Champoluc
Resort height: 1570m
Highest lift: 3550m
Average April snow depth: 35cm
Closing date: Mid April
A charming resort, Champoluc forms part of the Italian three Valleys alongside Gressoney La Trinite and Alagna Valsesia. It sure looks pretty on a sunny day after fresh snowfall, with white-tipped trees and a traditional, unspoilt village to admire. The ski area is relatively small, but offers plenty of late season snow, with lots of long, wide, uncrowded reds that are perfect for intermediate skiers. And if you’re keen to venture off-piste, you’ll find some of the best powder in Italy.
Dramatic mountain scenery in Champoluc
4. Livigno
Resort height: 1816m
Highest lift: 3000m
Average April snow depth: 43cm
Closing date: Early May
There are few more snow sure resorts in Italy than Livigno, which enjoys an average April snow depth of 43cm. The resort is charmingly rustic yet modern, with a super efficient lift system and excellent piste management.
Thanks to its high altitude, you can expect Livigno to stay open until the beginning of May, with a variety of pistes that are great for beginners and intermediates, as well as both skiers and boarders. The resort is also duty free, so get ready to shop nearly as much as you ski.
5. Cortina
Resort height: 1,224m
Highest lift: 3248m
Average April snow depth: 22cm
Closing date: Early April
Located in the Dolomites super ski area, Cortina is considered a high end resort and the go-to ski destination for wealthy Italians. What about skiing? Well, on one side, you’ll find beginner and intermediate-friendly blues, and on the other, plenty of more challenging reds and blacks - something for everyone. It’s also easy to explore other Dolomite resorts by jumping on the bus.
On a good snow year, Cortina is great, but as it's a lower altitude than other Italian resorts, the season ends in early April, and if the snow has been particularly hit and miss you may have to stick to the higher slopes.
The pretty resort town of Cortina
So, is April a good month to go skiing in Italy?
Thanks to their generous snowfall and long seasons, the above five resorts offer the best of April skiing in Italy, and are a great alternative to the generally busier and more expensive French Alps.
If you're after snow surety, varied pistes, and seasons that stretch into May, Cervinia, Passo Tonale or Livigno are great options. Or, if you can get there by early April, (and the webcams look good) why not book a last minute trip to mix with the fluffy-coated, long-lunching denizens of Cortina, or try going both clockwise and anticlockwise round the famous Sella Ronda circuit.
Read more:
Italy isn't the only country to offer fantastic spring skiing. Discover the top resorts for April skiing across Europe and beyond.
Read more:
Discover the ski resorts that offer the best snow all season long with out guide to the most snow sure resorts in Europe.
Book your Italy April ski holiday with Iglu Ski
Late season snow is just a few clicks away. Book your next Italy ski holiday with Iglu Ski and enjoy the scenic villages, expansive ski areas, and great value of the resorts across the Italian Alps and Dolomites.
