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Bardonecchia Ski Resort
You’ll find Bardonecchia in a sunny, forest surrounded location at the end of the Susa Valley in North West Piedmont. A proper mountain town rather than a purpose built resort, it’s steeped in history with cobbled streets, ancient chapels and historic hamlets. This bustling old market town was one of Italy’s first ski resorts back at the very beginning of the 20th century and continues to be one of the country’s best resorts.
Covered by an efficient bus service, the town boarders France and is on the Italian side of the Frejus tunnel. Turin airport is only an hour’s drive away and the drive here from Milan airport takes around 2 hours. Unlike most ski resorts, Bardo also has its own train station – the international Rome to Paris train regularly stops here and there are also direct trains from Milan.
With excellent transport links and a fashionable atmosphere, it’s a firm favourite with Italians as their weekend ski resort of choice and since hosting various boarding events in the 2006 Olympics, has become a popular destination for snowboarders from all over the world.
6 smaller hamlets include the quaint, historical Rochemolles, Melezet, a pretty village about 3km from the centre, Les Arnauds which has lift access to the Clomion and Melezet ski areas, Gleise which is perched at 1700m between Bardonecchia and Mont Jafferau and Millaures, a cluster of tiny villages on the slopes of Mont Jafferau itself.
The ski area is accessible from Campo Smith which is the ski hub of the resort a bit outside the town – lifts from here can take you directly to heights of 2400m. Lots of the accommodation is based here and you can also choose to stay in the town itself if you prefer to be near the shops and ameneties.
Stats & FAQ
Location: Italy, Alps.
Established: 1935
Open: December- April
Downhill: 100km
View our detailed Bardonecchia snow forecast or snow report and see all live webcams, piste maps, road and travel maps and lift pass prices. For a picture of historic snow conditions see the snow depths month by month with our Bardonecchia snow history.
| Nearest Airport & Transfer Time: | |
| Torino Caselle | 95km, 1 hour |
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| Top Altitude: | 2800m |
| Bottom Altitude: | 1300m |
| Resort Altitude: | 1312m |
| Longest run: | 6km |
| Slope Orientation: | N W NW |
| Vertical Drop: | 1377m |
| Skiable Vertical: | 1377m |
| Night Skiing: | No |
| Glacier: | No |
Snow Report
Web Cam
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| Downhill Runs: | 100km |
| Beginner slopes: | 45% |
| Intermediate: | 50% |
| Advanced slopes: | 5% |
| Lift Pass Price: | 180€ (adult 6 day) |
| Nearby resorts: Montgenevre, Claviere, La Norma, Sansicario, Serre Chevalier | |
Skiing/BoardingSkiing in Bardonecchia
Colomion-Les Arnauds, Mezelet and Jafferau are the 3 ski areas covered by the lift pass and you can usually ski one day in Montgenevre or the Milky way too. Colomion-Les Arnauds is the largest ski area, with great connections to Melezet's wide, sloping runs. The Jafferau slopes are a short bus ride away and have some amazing off piste.
With beginners’ slopes starting from the edge of the main centre, learners can get to grips with new sensations with the help of gentle magic carpets. 45% of the runs are classified blue, giving plenty of varied terrain to practise on.
Half of the runs are red hot for intermediates: fight the burn as you scale down top heights from Jafferau mountain at 2807m. At P.ta della Mulattiera, an induction into unmarked terrain deemed suitable for intermediates lets you try out some freeriding.
Experts can thank slope maintenance for leaving gorgeous diamond forest trails ungroomed - the Trampolino and Bardonecchia-Fregiusia runs provide mogul trailed paths through the pines.
The amazing Snowpark on Mezelet is served by a modern chairlift and divided into 5 separate parks. Find kickers, rails and boxes for skiers and boarders of all levels in the Eagle Park and perform tricks high at 1,850m in the Lynx park. Grizzly park is dedicated to jibs and the Wood park is made of eco-friendly wooden features. Novices are not forgotten here, as the Baby Park offers an induction into the art of freestyle. Look out for the boarder-cross and 130m long half-pipe, at 18m wide and 6m high it featured in the 2006 Winter Olympics.
For something different, the 10km Valle Stretta trail, aimed at intermediate cross country skiers, attracts appreciative eyes to la Parete dei Militi (‘the Soldiers’ Wall’) and other landmarks.
Bardonecchia Apres Ski
The Lalimentari Multicafe is a swanky abode open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, putting local specialities of polenta, game and mountain produced cheeses on your table. American style restaurant, Garage Bar, is a great place for children and you can enjoy a divine coffee break at Bar Miretti, as you watch the world go by with a crumbly, Italian pastry in one hand, and a blend of fragrant coffee beans in the other. Chalet style restaurants like Lo Chalet provide the perfect to warm up with good food and wine and La Grangia in Pian del Sole is lovingly decorated with homely charm and traditional Italian meats, potato dishes and locally grown vegetables, for the toasty Alpine evening you've been dreaming of. The Pizzeria I Cusiné is lovely – with pizzas, meats, pastas and fondues letting all ages try the tastes of Italy and La Ruota is another hotspot for a cracking pizza.
With a number of bar-cum-restaurants like La Crota-Enosfizi, those after livelier après ski won’t have to look hard to find it. As the evening gets on, ‘disco pubs’ like Camarillo Cafè let you continue the party into the early hours. Cafe Medail pours the beer and plays the tunes if you’re looking for a disco-pub venue where it's possible to both catch up with friends and migrate onto the dance floor later on.
If you’ve come to Italy for its couture, check out shops like Dal Caliè Creazioni for Italian shoes and leather goods. Alternatively, kick back to basics on Campo Smith’s snow tubing run, floodlit of an evening for a taste of the mountains under the stars.
Best time to go
Best time to ski Bardonecchia
Best time to visit & ski Bardonecchia
Bardo’s season usually runs from December to April. Thanks to its position in a sunny valley, it’s known for sunny skiing. 38km of the pistes are aided by snow canons, so that runs below the 2000m mark receive a little extra sprinkling of fresh, white goodness if needed.
Skiing tends to be pretty good even towards the end of the season thanks to north facing slopes. Whatever time you visit, you’ll find the best snow above 2000m – try the runs from the top of the Ban and Jafferau lifts and Vallon Cros and Cresta Seba, where you can ski slopes descending from lofty heights of 2807m and 2400m.
A generally peaceful resort throughout the year (but generally busier over weekends when the locals catch the train in), high season for Bardo is from early February to early March.
Peak Dates
Rock around the Alpine trees and skate under the stars in Bardonecchia at Christmas! Don your Christmas jumpers and enjoy good food, good wine and good company in the mountains – most hotels put on a festive feast for the day itself! Bardonecchia Christmas ski holidays ‣
Pick a hotel that does a gala dinner on NYE and raise a glass of Prosecco and toast to the New Year at Bardonecchia! Bardonecchia New Year ski holidays ‣
It’s a relaxing break for all the family in Bardonecchia at half-term! Snow parks, skiing and spas are a triple treat for a week of fun. Bardonecchia Half Term ski holidays ‣
No need to continue the hunt for a great ski holiday- visit Bardonecchia at Easter for oodles of fun both on the slopes and in the town centre. Bardonecchia Easter ski holidays ‣
Families in Bardonecchia
Bardonecchia is super for families. The ski area itself is made up of 95% blue and red runs, with a large quantity of wide, gentle slopes so you’ll all have the room you need to find your feet, improve and enjoy the rush. Woodland trails have been crafted amongst the trees for young explorers to track down mountain creatures; all ages will love the snow tubing runs, and the baby snow park allows little ones the chance to practise their own adorable freestyle moves.
English speaking ski and snowboard schools take beginners to nursery slopes complete with magic carpets and with children’s courses, competitions are organised at the end of the week where children can proudly show mummy and daddy the medals they’ve won on the snowcrosses and speed tests. For any tots too little for ski school, childcare is offered by ski schools and some hotels, preparing weeks jam-packed with indoor and outdoor fun – ask our ski specialists about this if it’s an essential for your holiday.
Pizza and pasta dishes served in most restaurants (we like La Ruota and Pizzeria I Cusiné) are sure to keep the whole clan happy – even fussy eaters would struggle not to enjoy the food here! The more adventurous will find a range of mountain classics and dishes with modern twists and grownups can accompany their meal with a well deserved glass of fine Italian vino.
Opt for accommodation in the Campo Smith area if you want easy access to the ski lifts and ski school meeting point – in some properties these are less than a minute’s walk away. Staying in the centre of the resort means you’ll be closer to the shops and amenities and the slopes are a short bus journey away.
GroupsGroup Holidays Bardonecchia
Bardonecchia is an all-round winner with groups of beginner and intermediate skiers and boarders. If you’re all of a similar ability, join one of the English-speaking schools group courses, sharing laughs over failed snowploughs and wipeouts of the day. If you’re all of different abilities you can split up on the piste and meet together for lunch. We love mountain huts like Chesal 1805 where you can grab a group table for a plate of inside-warming pasta and a glass of mulled wine. Whatever your ski or snowboard level, try out one of the resort’s five snow parks, for various levels of half-pipe, boxes and rails.
Non-skiing friends will love exploring the wintery woodland trails and warming up in one of the town’s health and wellness centres. And great news for shopaholics: there’s a shelf load of shoe and leather shops in the town!
There are loads of places to join together in the evenings for a meal or round of drinks. Grab a pizza at WAIKIKI if you’re in Mezelet or La Ruota if you’re in the resort centre or cosy up in Lo Chalet with some tasty mountain favourites. Disco Pubs such as Cafè Medail are open late into the evening if you fancy a cheeky tipple and some dancing.
Which are the best ski holidays in Bardonecchia?
| Accommodation | Number of nights | Price (per person) from |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel Cà Fiore | 7 | £ 632 |
| Hotel Rivé | 7 | £ 686 |
| Residence Campo Smith | 7 | £ 479 |
| Residence Tabor | 7 | £ 394 |
| Residence Villa Frejus | 7 | £ 397 |
| Hotel La Betulla | 7 | £ 633 |
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