
Beautiful Cortina is one of our top picks for a Christmas ski holiday in Italy
Few experiences can match how special a Christmas ski holiday is, where you’ll celebrate with friends and family in some of the most spectacular locations on earth, while sampling the alpine (or, indeed Dolomite) spirit and food along the way.
Wherever you go in Italy, you’ll be able to ski every day (yes, including Christmas Day!) and enjoy the usual alpine views and activities - as well as the odd Christmas event or two.
Below, we’ll tell you all about skiing in Italy over the festive period, including where the prettiest resorts are, which have the most snow and which have special Christmas events to enjoy.
READ MORE: Not sure on Italy? Have a look at our best Christmas ski resorts in France.
What's it like to celebrate Christmas in a Italian ski resort?
Italy - and Europe in general - doesn’t celebrate Christmas in quite the same commercialised way as we do in the UK. Father Christmas typically isn’t a character outside the big cities (although he does pop up in one of the resorts below!), while traditions tend to be more low-key and about spending time with people, rather than handing out lots of presents.
Resorts in Italy are also quieter at Christmas than French resorts, which tend to put on a lot more family-friendly activities - such as meeting Father Christmas, watching parades, firework displays and shows put on by the ski instructors. If you want a more energetic Christmas, then have a look at the best Christmas ski resorts in France.
That doesn’t mean that Italy doesn’t do Christmas, though! There are Christmas markets in some resorts (which we’ll get into below), as well as pretty decorations and lights dotted around the resorts. You’ll likely get a special Christmas meal at the accommodation you’re staying in, but check this before you go.
Our top 5 resorts for Christmas skiing in Italy
If you’re keen to get away to Italy for a Christmas ski holiday but haven’t nailed down which resort, then we’ve put together this guide to help you.
Using a variety of data and our own resort knowledge, we’ve put together a scoring system to help you choose your perfect ski resort - have a look at the table just a bit below to see which resorts suit your preferences.
Factors we've considered include:
According to our research, the top Italian resorts for a Christmas ski holiday are:
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Cortina
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Cervinia
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Pila
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Passo Tonale
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Selva Val Gardena/Ortisei
You can compare the stats for each resort in the table below:
Resort |
December snow/week (cm) |
December snow days/week |
Christmas market |
No. Christmas events |
Christmas charm |
Christmas Day skiing |
Cortina |
25 |
2.7 |
Yes |
1 |
5 |
Yes |
Cervinia |
37 |
3.5 |
Yes, nearby |
2 |
3 |
Yes |
Pila |
22 |
2.9 |
Yes, nearby |
1 |
4 |
Yes |
Passo Tonale |
25 |
2.8 |
Yes, nearby |
2 |
4 |
Yes |
Selva Val Gardena/Ortisei |
19 |
2.8 |
Yes |
0 |
3 |
Yes |
1. Cortina
Snowfall per week in December: 25cm
Snow days per week in December: 2.7
Is there a Christmas market: Yes
Additional noteworthy celebrations: 1
Prettiness score: 5/6
Christmas Day skiing: Yes
Cortina - often known as Cortina d’Ampezzo, and nicknamed the ‘Queen of the Dolomites’ - is a beautiful ski resort found in the Dolomiti Superski area. It attracts lots of affluent daytripping Italians and is very pretty, with lots of brilliant skiing, too.
Snow conditions are very strong, as detailed above, and has quick access to the iconic Sella Ronda ski circuit - a circular route which takes in some breathtaking rocky scenery.
The town’s main street, pedestrianised Corso Italia, is home to an annual Christmas market, where colourful wooden huts sell handmade gifts and decorations, as well as hot wine and chestnuts. The market is usually open for the majority of December and closes in early January.
Another tradition to look out for is the advent calendar countdown on Cortina’s beautiful former town hall. Every day during Advent, a new window is opened to unveil a festive art piece.
2. Cervinia
Snowfall per week in December: 37cm
Snow days per week in December: 3.5
Is there a Christmas market: Yes, nearby
Additional noteworthy celebrations: 2
Prettiness score: 3/6
Christmas Day skiing: Yes
Found within the huge Matterhorn Ski Paradise area, high-altitude Cervinia is another great option for Christmas skiing. Topping our list of the world’s most snow-sure resorts, it’s no surprise that December snowfall has averaged at 37cm per week in recent years.
Meanwhile, the Matterhorn Ski Paradise provides interconnected skiing with nearby Valtournenche and glitzy Zermatt, over the border in Switzerland. Overall, it has a humungous 360km-plus of slopes.
While Cervinia itself doesn’t have a Christmas market, neighbouring Valtournenche does. It’s just a 10-minute drive between the two, with buses running well into the evening.
The Valtournenche Christmas market runs every day from Christmas Eve until the 8th of January, from 3pm to 7:30pm in the town square. You’ll find wooden huts selling souvenirs, decorations and food and drink, while children will also be entertained by Santa Claus and his Elves, as well as face-painting opportunities.
Valtournenche also puts on a concert on Christmas Eve at about 5:30pm, while there’s a falconry exhibition on the 27th and 28th.
Cervinia is a great pick - it ranks number one for our most snow-sure ski resorts in the whole of Europe!
3. Pila
Snowfall per week in December: 22cm
Snow days per week in December: 2.9
Is there a Christmas market: Yes, nearby
Additional noteworthy celebrations: 1
Prettiness score: 4/6
Christmas Day skiing: Yes
Pila is another great choice for a Christmas ski trip in Italy - thanks largely due to its proximity to the historic city of Aosta on the valley floor.
With a smaller ski area of 70km, it’s a great choice for beginners and early intermediates.
The resort itself gets decorated and has festive cheer, but it doesn’t really have many extra Christmas activities going on. That’s fine though, as it’s just an 18-minute cable car down to beautiful Aosta. The last cable car back up is at 5pm, before a free bus takes over, with final departure at 10:30pm.
Aosta is full of Roman monuments and has a bustling high street. The Marché Vert Noël is the Christmas market which runs every day from 23 November to 6th January, from 3-8pm. You’ll find it in Chanoux Square, and it has plenty of local crafts, foods and wines to enjoy.
Also in Aosta, you’ll find the ‘enchanted light park’ in Lusso Gardens, near the train station, and the ‘talking tree’ in Piazza Arco d’Augusto (from 5pm). Santa Claus also visits the Piazza Arco d’Augusto in Aosta on December 21, 22, and 23, plus the preceding weekends.
And if you’re in Pila, you can meet Santa Claus in the Pila 2000 Place from 3:30pm to 6pm on Christmas Eve, where there’ll be music, sweets and face-paint for the children. They’re also encouraged to bring a letter for him.

Historic Aosta is a quick gondola ride away from Pila and is beautiful at Christmas
4. Passo Tonale
Snowfall per week in December: 25cm
Snow days per week in December: 2.8
Is there a Christmas market: Yes, nearby
Additional noteworthy celebrations: 2
Prettiness score: 4/6
Christmas Day skiing: Yes
Another compact ski area, Passo Tonale is characterised by its beautiful tree-lined runs and is a top pick for families and beginners. It’s got its own glacier, and snow conditions are usually excellent, as pointed out by the average 25cm of snow per week in December it receives.
Passo Tonale itself doesn’t put on a Christmas market, but nearby Ossana has several attractions - and is only a half an hour bus ride away. The Christmas market is open from 10am to 7pm from the 21st December through to 6th January, as well as the preceding weekends. You’ll need Line 5 of the local ski bus service, but make sure you double check this before you go.
Ossana also plays host to ‘Santa’s House’, where children can meet the big man himself. This is in the Piazza Venezia Square from 5pm-7pm from December 21st to the 30th, and preceding weekends.
Meanwhile the parents can enjoy more than 100 nativity scenes on a route with warm lights. This Nativity Scene Tour is open every day throughout the entirety of December, and can be easily found in the town centre.
5. Selva Val Gardena/Ortisei
Snowfall per week in December: 19cm
Snow days per week December: 2.8
Is there a Christmas market: Yes
Additional noteworthy celebrations: 0
Prettiness score: 3/6
Christmas Day skiing: Yes
Technically separate resorts, we’ve grouped Selva Val Gardena and Ortisei together as they are in such close proximity - just a 10-minute bus ride.
With a substantial 176km ski area and useful snow conditions, the resorts are a good choice for Christmas skiing - and each also has its own Christmas market.
Selva’s “Mountain Christmas” market is found next to the Nives Square and has a miniature cable car decoration running overhead, as well as several wooden huts dotted about with food, drink and gifts to buy.
Ortisei’s version is less a market, and more a collection of Christmas stalls spread over town, adding to the enchanting lights, decorations and general festive atmosphere.
Discover the wonders of a Christmas ski holiday in Italy with Iglu Ski
If a Christmas ski trip sounds enticing, then let us help you out. We’re the UK’s largest ski travel agency with a wealth of skiing knowledge - every one of us has done a season in the mountains.
Have a look at our Christmas ski deals to Italy, and if you have more questions to ask then call us on 020 3848 3700, or make an enquiry and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
We’ll help you with anything, whether it’s which resort, what equipment to buy or rent, which accommodation to stay in - don’t be afraid to get in touch!