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Corvara Ski Resort
If any mountain resort in the South Tyrol deserves to be appreciated for its rugged mountain skyline, we reckon it’s this one. Gathered at the foot of Mount Sassongher and the Sella massif, Corvara’s towering church steeple surrounded by little boutiques, numerous restaurants and cosy cafes form an uncluttered alpine community.
Also known as Kurfar in German, this is the best known of the six villages in the Alta Badia ski area. So far it’s been slightly overlooked but the quickly accessible skiing and folkloric charm are gradually being more recognised, so a lot can be said for jumping on the Corvara bandwagon.
The village is part of the famous Sella Ronda circuit with connections to the rest of Alta Badia and the Marmolada Glacier. Being on the north-eastern side of the Sella Ronda, it’s most easily reached via the Adige valley (near the Austrian border and Verona). Innsbruck and Venice are the most convenient airports and Brunico and Bressanone the nearest stations if you’re travelling by rail.
A novice or intermediate will love the forgiving slopes covered by the Alta Badia Skipass where you can potter between the Colfosco, San Cassiano, La Villa and Badia areas. The Borest chairlift links the village with Colfosco (you can explore the Edelweiss valley over here) and both give good access to the Sella Ronda route. The pass also extends over to Passo Campolongo, Passo Gardena and Passo Falzarego. The region is well-respected as a World Cup venue with the Gran Risa above La Villa frequently used as a demanding and lengthy slalom course. If the 130km fails to satisfy your interest, the 1200km covered by the Dolomiti Superski pass might do the trick, not least because it includes access right the way round the Sella Ronda and to 11 other villages.
Stats & FAQ
Location: Italy, Dolomites
Established: 19th Century
Open: December - April
Downhill: 130km
View our detailed Corvara 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 Corvara snow history.
| Nearest Airport & Transfer Time: | |
| Innsbruck | 2 hrs |
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| Top Altitude: | 2750m |
| Bottom Altitude: | 1568m |
| Resort Altitude: | 1568m |
| Longest run: | 8.5/10 km |
| Slope Orientation: | N, S, E, W |
| Vertical Drop: | 1570m |
| Skiable Vertical: | 448m |
| Night Skiing: | No |
| Glacier: | Yes, Marmolada Glacier |
Snow Report
Web Cam
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| Downhill Runs: | 130km |
| Beginner slopes: | 54% |
| Intermediate: | 40% |
| Advanced slopes: | 6% |
| Lift Pass Price: | 242€ (adult 6 day) |
| Nearby resorts: San Cassiano, Ortisei, Santa Cristina, Arabba, Selva, Val Gardena, Dolomiti Superski, Sella Ronda | |
Skiing/BoardingSkiing in Corvara
The Ladinia Ski and Snowboard School should get beginners off to a good start and there’s a large expanse of blues above the village via the Col Alt gondola - stop for the views at Pralongia before a long, breezy run down to San Cassiano. The Edelweiss valley by Colfosco has a quiet collection of blue and red pistes for a step up the confidence ladder.
Intermediates have a choice of pistes running between Piz La IIa and Piz Sorega - particularly good if it clouds over as they’re tree-lined, giving you some cover and visibility. The Boe gondola out of the village takes you to one or two more reds and if you continue on over to Arabba, you can head up the Marmolada glacier with the Superski pass for some superb snow.
The Alta Badia pass alone lets experts hair-neck down the world cup slalom run to La Villa and the Vallon chairlift will get you to a popular black and a windy tree-lined red back to Corvara.
Those looking for some more testing terrain might be more interested in the Superski Pass - just like the Three Valley’s you get an enormous amount of skiing, 1200km to be precise. This is also the pass you’ll need for the full Sella Ronda; the village has direct access to this bucket-list route, which is definitely worth an early start one morning if you’re intermediate or above.
Alta Badia is somewhat limited for off-piste due to the rocky landscape but the Alta Badia Guides can take you to some more extreme terrain.
Freestylers have the snow park at Piz Sorega with a boardercross, rails and jumps and there are two main cross-country routes; the 10km to Colfosco giving easy and medium options as well as the Armentarola and San Cassiano route which is 30km.
Corvara Apres Ski
Up from the Passo Campolongo side you’ll find the Pralongia mountain hut which is a fantastic place to stop, sunbathe and drink in the view. If you fancy another stop-off when you reach the foot of the Pralongia piste, try out Capanna Nera Hutte. Piz la Ila specialise in serving seafood and in the Apline Hut Punta Trieste you can enjoy a glass of vino in the Ladin parlour or out on the terrace.
Occasionally, the tourist board run ski safaris where you buy a ticket from one of the participating huts and move between the rest to sample some fine wines and slope-side snacks.
In the town centre (near the base of the Col Alt gondola) L Murin is the definition of après-ski. It’s very down-to-earth - either arrive changed into some dance-friendly attire or stick-it-to-the-man and bop around in their ski boots. Underground is another friendly bar but for a late night disco, head to Posta Zirm Taverna.
If you’re celebrating something special, Hotel Sassongher offers a bit of luxury dining and La Stua de Michil is a Michelin starred restaurant (part of La Perla Hotel). It’s quite an intimate setting with a soft ambience – perfect for a romantic meal for 2.
For non-skiers or something different, there are various trails mapped out for snowshoeing and the ‘hunter’s path’ makes a scenic winter hike. The summer waterfalls of Fanes nature park and the Sella Massif are a perfect platform for ice climbing come winter. You can skate at the rink in Covara or over at Lake Sompunt in Badia – they often get the disco vibe going later on in the day.
If you’re here with children or just the young at heart, there are three sledging routes starting from Pralongia, Piz Sorega and Spesci, for a speedy few kilometres of downhill tobogganing. There’s also horse-riding between La Villa and Corvara and on occasion they run a moon-lit excursion from Armentarola.
Best time to go
Best time to ski Corvara
Best time to visit & ski Corvara
Out of the 130km of tidy groomed slopes, the majority are around or above the 2000m mark which is promising in terms of piste conditions. The south facing slopes across to Pralongia mean you get a good mix of sun and snow in the first half of the season too. The season usually stretches from December to April, with a good bunch of canons and piste bashers in action during the colder months. With the Dolomiti Superski Pass you can always head up to the Marmolada glacier for the crème de la crème of all snow conditions towards the end of the season…
Peak Dates
There’s nothing quite like an outdoor activity in the snow to really get you excited about Christmas in Corvara. Toboggan, ice skate or horse ride, it’s up to you! Corvara Christmas ski holidays ‣
New Year in Corvara should put some well-prepared snow under your skis, a snapshot of fireworks on your camera and a drink in your hand. You have plenty of opportunity to cram in a couple of resolutions too, whether it’s staying up for a party or getting down the world cup slalom run. Corvara New Year ski holidays ‣
Spend February half term in Corvara and you’ll have a proper excuse not to have done your homework as the weather and cruisey slopes should be distracting enough... Fingers crossed the carnival is on this year as we’ve heard it’s great fun! Corvara Half Term ski holidays ‣
If the Easter Bunny could ski he’d probably love the altitude and expanse of skiing around Corvara at Easter. It sits directly on the Sella Ronda circuit with easy links around the Alta Badia area and beyond. Corvara Easter ski holidays ‣
Families in Corvara
Pretty much everyone has a photo album of their first ski holiday, which sits on a shelf or hard drive, harbouring the embarrassing falls and ski school achievements safely until the next family party... With heaps for beginners and intermediates, Alta Badia area is perfect for a first ski holiday. A large selection of blues lie just above Corvara for those who want to cruise or just build some confidence. Corvara’s Ski School has a Safepark near the Costes da L’Ega camp, teaching 6 – 14 year olds to master and build techniques. The School Camp has a mini lift system and train for getting up the slope and they like to include lots of fun and games in their teaching. Skikinderland kindergarten take care of younger children and beginners from 3 years old, with lunch included.
If you’re a family with more experience on the snow, heading off in the other direction around the Sella Ronda should most definitely make it onto your to-do list. The full route means you need the Dolomiti Superski pass but from there it only gets better as this also gives you access to 1200km of skiing. If you find yourself back early one afternoon, the snowpark at the plateau in Piz Sorega will entertain the teens as well as the world cup slalom run down from Piz La Ila.
For some quality time together off the slopes, go ice skating at the rink in the village centre or over on the Sompunt Lake in Badia. There are marked trails for tobogganing from three separate but accessible locations (the run at Sorenga might be shorter but it’s also a little easier to get back up the mountain again with the ski lift at San Cassiano).
There are lots of restaurant choices if you want to wander out and have a meal together - Fornella is the place to go for pizza in town. On the slopes, the Col Alt is a popular choice because it has a hearty menu with a view to boot
GroupsGroup Holidays Corvara
Going away with a group of your nearest and dearest can really make the week that bit more enjoyable. Whether you’ve dared to ask the mother-in-law along or got a group of work mates together, you’ll find something in Corvara to get everyone excited. Although the après ski isn’t as extensive as the big European resorts, the places you do find are young, fun and vibrant. L Murin is a particular favourite in the village centre - in classic Brit style you can keep your ski boots on to have a drink and a dance right off the slopes. It’s always nice to chill out at the Underground Bar and night owls will probably end up at the Posta Zirm Taverna for a late night dance. If it’s a special occasion while you’re out here, La Stua is a super Michelin-starred restaurant with a decadent atmosphere.
Those who haven’t skied before or need to build some confidence will take to the Alta Badia area like ducks to water. The Ski and Snowboard school is minutes from Covara’s centre and up the Col Alt Gondola you’ll find an intermingling of cruising blues while more experienced skiers can head off to the reds between Piz La Ila and Piz Sorega. The world cup slalom run down from here to La Villa is perfect for a group challenge - Piz Arlara will then make a good meeting point where you can plan the next challenge over at the snowpark by Piz Sorega... Corvara sits right on the Sella Ronda circuit for an unforgettable day trip on skis and with the Superski Pass, you can range right across the Dolomites over 12 different valleys.
Which are the best ski holidays in Corvara?
| Accommodation | Number of nights | Price (per person) from |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel Col Alto (Corvara) | 7 | £ 1234 |
| Hotel Mezdi (Colfosco) | 7 | £ 1459 |
| Sporthotel Panorama | 7 | £ 1589 |
| Garni Bracun | 7 | £ 839 |
| Pension Angelo (Corvara) | 7 | £ 957 |
| Hotel La Plaza (Corvara) | 7 | £ 1039 |
| TH Corvara Greif Hotel, Corvara | 7 | £ 1148 |
| Hotel Kolfuschgerhof, Colfosco | 7 | £ 1587 |
| Hotel Planac, Corvara | 7 | £ 931 |
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