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Gressoney Ski Resort
Nestled to the west of Monte Rosa (the 2nd highest mountain in Europe) the Gressoney Valley makes up the second and middle valley of Italy’s very own 3 Valleys: the Monterosa ski region.
The resort is made up of three villages; Stafal is a miss-match of hotels and ski hire shops and provides the best lifts to the east and west side of the valley.
Gressoney-La-Trinite is an unspoilt village 3km to the south with a charming parish church that dates back to 1671, cobbled streets and pretty wooden buildings including a handful of friendly bars and cafes. It also has direct access to the main ski area via the Punta Jolanda lift.
A further 7km down the valley, Gressoney Saint-Jean is a slightly bigger but just as authentic town, with old cobbled streets, age old architecture and a natural ice rink as well as its own slopes (a long blue and shorter red and black). A free bus shuttle for multi-day Monterosa ski pass holders runs throughout the valley.
The towns have a very rustic, sleepy feel, with a variation of the Walser dialect known as ‘Titsch’ spoken by some locals. Walser dress is also common, as well as the art of ‘puncetto’ knotted needlelace, making you feel like you’ve stepped back in time.
The scenery here is a massive selling point; Gressoney’s positioning gives you a panorama that includes not just one of the alpine giants but four: Monte Rosa, Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn and Gran Paradiso.
With the Monterosa ski pass, you’ll be able to take advantage of the extensive 180km of from the very heart of the area.
Stats & FAQ
Location: Monterosa, Aosta Valley, Italy
Established: 1965
Open: Dec-May
Downhill: 180km
View our detailed Gressoney 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 Gressoney snow history.
| Nearest Airport & Transfer Time: | |
| Turin | 115km, 1hr 30mins |
| Milan | 175km, 2hrs |
| Geneva | 250km 3hrs |
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| Top Altitude: | 2970m |
| Bottom Altitude: | 1200m |
| Resort Altitude: | 1640m |
| Longest run: | 9km (Pistone Betta) |
| Slope Orientation: | W SW E SE |
| Vertical Drop: | 1334m |
| Skiable Vertical: | 1334m |
| Night Skiing: | No |
| Glacier: | No |
Snow Report
Web Cam
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| Downhill Runs: | 180km |
| Beginner slopes: | 30% |
| Intermediate: | 59% |
| Advanced slopes: | 11% |
| Lift Pass Price: | 210€ (adult 6 day) |
| Nearby resorts: Champoluc, Alagna | |
Skiing/BoardingSkiing in Gressoney
Gressoney has a couple of short nursery slopes; one in Stafal and another by the Hotel Velverde in La Trinite. The Gabiet Lago blue (which is also home to the snow park) and the Castore blue from the Stafal gondola are both nice and gentle for easy progression and lessons with Scoula Sci Gressoney will get beginners quickly up to scratch.
Intermediates have the pick of the bunch here. On the West side, the Sant Anna Colle Betta chair lift goes to Colle Bettaforca peak at 2727m, giving you the choice to either drop into Champoluc, or take the Betta1 or Pistone Betta reds back to Stafal. If you feel like an extra challenge, take on the added Nera black run or the tight and twisting Dalla Marmotte. The East side of the valley has a wider variety of reds. Salati is the descent from the Passo Salati peak and has everything from open views to tight tree-lined sections.
Experts will love black runs with likes of Moos on the eastern slope- a rock lined descent with a mixture of steep and tight drops that’s tree lined in the latter half. In Alagna, the descent from Passo Salati is a good challenge with red section to give your thighs a break. For skiers wanting to try something new, the telemark ski club also operates in the area.
Naturally, heli dropping onto one of the surrounding peaks is the first choice for real adventure lovers, but if you’re strapped for time, the Punta Indren descent of nearly 1000m from 3275m to Gabiet is awesome. Alternatively, try a guided descent from the marked blue Cimalegna.
Freestylers will love the snow park on Gabiet which has a mixture of kickers and rails of different sizes over a fairly big area.
Gressoney Apres Ski
A very authentic Walser town, Gressoney is ideal if you want a relaxed ski trip. If you like a good cocktail, ask for the ‘negrone’ at The Petit in La-Trinite, or head to Castore Lounge. La Pulce and the Da Giovanni are certainly worth a stop-off after a good day on the piste if you’re in Stafal. The Core bar is a small and chic place for a drink straight from the slopes, and if you’re staying in Hotel Nordend, all you’ll have to do is pop downstairs!
For on-piste dining, Ristoro Sitten is accessible in the evening via snowmobile, watch day turn into night with their great Italian dishes, relaxing on the east facing slope. Rifugio Gabiet has some fantastic gnocchi and is located on the west facing piste, just by the snowpark.
In Saint-Jean, The Pizzeria Principe is rumoured to have the best pizza in the region. Capanna Carla is a warm and welcoming place in Stafal for great food, while Klein Finnland is good for smaller bites to eat and a cheeky beer. Hotel Residence and the Jolanda Sport in La-Trinite have almost ski-in ski-out restaurants just at the base of the Jolanda red run, making them great dining choices before jumping back on the lifts.
If you’re looking for non-ski activities, relaxation is the order of the day. A number of hotels have their own wellness facilities, perfect for a wind down before settling into dinner.
The chance to drink in the culture is too good to miss if you like a bit of sightseeing. The Parish Museum of Saint Jeans has a large crucifix from 13th Century and the Castel Savoi was a favoured holiday residence of Queen Margherita in the early 20th Century. Alternatively, the Alpenfauna Museum has a very extensive and impressing weapons and trophy collection.
Best time to go
Best time to ski Gressoney
Best time to visit & ski Gressoney
From the latter half of December and early January through to March, the area is fairly reliable with snow and as the middle valley of the Monterosa region, it has access to the East and West facing piste, as well as the wider slopes on the other sides of valley, so you can plan your skiing to soak up / avoid the sunshine. If history decides to repeat itself like 2009/10 season, powder dumps could be hefty.
The majority of the piste is also above 2000m, and from Stafal, the highest skiable peak of Passo Salati at 2971 is very accessible. The East and West facing slopes mean you will also be able to enjoy the sunshine and the shade depending upon the time of day, allowing you to get as much of a tan as you like.
Experts looking for snow sure conditions can always open themselves to the world of heli-skiing. With the high-altitude drop-offs on the peaks that overlook the resort, and the chance of a day trip to resorts like Cervinia and Zermatt, snow-sure conditions can always be found even at a push.
Peak Dates
Have a relaxing Christmas in Gressoney with a traditional church service, local market stalls and carol singers. See the resort come to life with Christmas cheer and feast on great alpine cuisine. Gressoney Christmas ski holidays ‣
Celebrate New Year’s in Gressoney with bounties of food and vino in a laid back manner, watching the torch light descent in the regal blue shadow of the Monte Rosa massif. Gressoney New Year ski holidays ‣
Enjoy a quiet and uncrowded piste during February half term in Gressoney. Ski hard in the day, and relax hard in the evening with a good book. Gressoney Half Term ski holidays ‣
Easter in Gressoney gives you the chance to soak up the atmosphere and the sunshine, while riding the snowy peaks on high, crowd-free slopes. Gressoney Easter ski holidays ‣
Families in Gressoney
The quiet atmosphere and feeling of seclusion that the Gressoney Valley offers is great for families looking to get away from it all. The three villages, Stafal, La-Trinite and Saint Jean are good for families looking to move around on foot; and the free shuttle bus for those with multi-day ski passes works for added convenience to those staying in Saint Jean.
The Scuola Sci Gressoney is very well respected and runs great tuition programs for youngsters and adults alike. Those with more confidence will be able to seek out the best runs throughout the area, or spend time practicing tricks on the kickers and rails of the snowpark.
Many hotels and chalets also offer childcare services and have facilities very suitable for young children, allowing parents to enjoy the piste before having family time in the afternoon and evening.
If you are staying in La-Trinite, the children’s snow park by the Edelboden nursery slope sometimes has inflatable obstacles, tubbing and tobogganing. The eco-adventure park over in Champoluc is great for children and adults of all ages, and lift access to it is included in the Monterosa ski pass.
For family friendly food, head towards the Pizzeria Principe in Saint Jean. Their delicious pizza topped with the incredible views makes for a perfect setting for a family meal out.
GroupsGroup Holidays Gressoney
Groups of hardcore skiers will be right at home in the Gressoney valley. With an extensive 180km of piste and some of the best off-piste and heli-skiing available in the region, staying in Gressoney gives you the best access to the runs of the three valleys that make up the Monterosa ski resort.
The Monterosa ski pass encompasses all three valleys and their attached slopes, so groups of all abilities will be able to venture across the region to find slopes which suits them all.
For those with experience, the extensive variety of reds and blacks across the valley will give you plenty of play with, and the snow park on the Gabiet run can provide some light relief for those wanting to get some airtime.
For non-skiers, the ski pass can also come in handy. While Gressoney has plenty of authenticity in the form of its Walser culture and historical structures like the Castel Savoia and Alpenfauna museum, the Ayas Valley is also well worth exploring. Use the Monterosa ski pass to head to Champoluc to try out the high wire eco-adventure park by the Crest gondola. Relax after with a beer in Bruno’s Bar while waiting for others in the group. If you don’t mind jumping on a bus, check out the ice rink in the village of Brusson. The après ski is also livelier in Champoluc compared to Gressoney, so it may be worth venturing over to the other side to try out some of the louder bars in the region.
As a hotel focused resort, some of Gressoney’s hotels are quite large, meaning big groups can be accommodated for very well in this valley. With halfboard accommodation also, groups will be well fed before they head out to sample to small local bars, like The Core or La Pulce in Stafal; or The Petit in La-Trinite.
Which are the best ski holidays in Gressoney?
| Accommodation | Number of nights | Price (per person) from |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel Chalet Du Lys | 7 | £ 879 |
| Hotel Dufour | 7 | £ 679 |
| Chalet du Lys Hotel & Spa, Stafal | 7 | £ 804 |
| Hotel Lo Scoiattolo, La Trinité | 7 | £ 863 |
| Hotel Monboso, La Trinité | 7 | £ 596 |
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