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Home to Europe’s biggest XC area (Dolomiti NordicSki, at a whacking great 1000km), Italy’s sci di fondo has a lot going for it. Firstly, the Italian Alps are mind-meltingly scenic – especially the Dolomites – and most trails are designed to capture their best angles.
Then there’s the specialist instruction, with tuition costing a lot less than it does in France or Switzerland. Pick one of Italy’s best resorts for cross country skiing, and if you’re not already fond of di fondo, we’ll bet our bombardinos you soon will be.
Italy: Top 10 for Cross Country Skiing
Kick starting Livigno’s winter season each December is the international Sgambeda XC marathon (now part of the Swix Ski Classic circuit), placing cross country firmly at the core of this ski town’s agenda. Onto the terrain, 40km of trails are prepared with tramlines, with the… + more
They call Kronplatz the King of the Dolomiti Nordic Ski network, and we’re inclined to agree. Such a big claim has to have solid evidence, and Kronplatz isn’t short of convincing numbers – 300km of terrain to itself(!) and a whacking great 35km racing track. First-rate snow… + more
After Austrian soldiers opened the locals’ eyes to the world of XC during WWI, there was no going back. These days, cross country has become a Val di Sole staple, with 55km of the country’s finest trails linking beautiful villages to scenic mountain peaks. The most prestigious of… + more
The stupidly scenic Val Gardena is home to a whopping 133km of trails. Pick out the parish church and head 15 minute’s west (on foot) to where local XC schools and hire centres have set up shop; whether skiing solo or with the help of an instructor, the Vallunga is first port of… + more
Burrowed in a corner of the Val Ferret, at the foot of the mighty Monte Bianco, Courmayeur and the Arpy valley manage to tick every box on our XC wish list. All routes here begin in Planpincieux, but that’s the only common factor – a sleek 9km red winds down to Lavachey, while… + more
The pride and glory of this small community village is the Alpe di Siusi, where the locals claim the sun’s out all day, every day. Making it a cracking setting for XC, a mammoth 80km of tracks have popped up here over the years. Take the lifts up to 2000m, where classic and… + more
Cortina's Queen of the Dolomites, and XC skiers will have a royally good time here. The trails – all 75km of them – are high altitude, extremely organised and cover all abilities (and last time we checked, they were free to access). Start at the Fiames Sport Nordic Centre which… + more
55km of tramlines trickle through the Monterosa region, linking the time honoured pit stops of Gressoney-La-Trinité, Gressoney St. Jean and cosy Stafal. Directly opposite Trinité’s Hotel du Lys is the Underwoald loop, and it sets the bar high: a 3.5km circuit sits at 1665m and… + more
The Campo Carlo Magno Nordic Centre set up roots here in ‘98, and it’s dominated the mountain pass ever since. Inside the grounds, 4 trails, totalling 15km, have been set aside for each ability level, right up to athletes competing on the big stage. The local ski school - Scuola… + more
With the looming figure of Mont Thabor on the horizon, Bardo’s never short of good-looking landscape, framing every route in the area. Peaking at 1510m, two easy routes total 3km, covering just enough of the terrain to give a taste of the sport, without needing years’ of… + more
Above are Italy’s most incredible cross country ski resorts, much loved for their stunning scenery, careful grooming and sheer variety of trails.
To browse beyond the Italian border, have a look at our top 10 lists for XC in Austria, Switzerland and France and the whole world.
Italy cross country ski resorts
| Resort | Length of Nordic ski trails | Best cross country trail |
|---|---|---|
| Livigno | 40km | Turistica (18.6km) |
| Kronplatz | 300km | Gsieser Tal Lauf (35km) |
| Passo Tonale | 55km | Ponte di Lego - Vermiglio (9km) |
| Selva | 133km | Pra de Ri (10km) |
| Courmayeur | 30km | Arpy (7.5km) |
| Ortisei | 80km | Panorama (11km) |
| Cortina | 75km | Cortina – Dobbiaco (27km) |
| Gressoney | 55km | Monteroslauf loop (30km) |
| Madonna di Campiglio | 15km (local) + 22km (nearby) | World Cup route (7.5km) |
| Bardonecchia | 21.5km | Decauville (8km) |
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