Italian ski towns off the beaten path.
What are some less-touristed ski towns in Italy, for travelers seeking beautiful places with fewer crowds? Answer
Options include Capracotta, a high mountain village in Molise with a snowfall record; Alagna Valsesia, an alpine village at the foot of Monte Rosa; and Bardonecchia, a ski town in the upper Susa Valley. This page includes 9 options. Click here to see which are close enough to be day trips from major cities like Rome, Milan or Naples.
Macugnaga
High in the Italian Alps at the foot of Monte Rosa's dramatic east face, Macugnaga is a tiny mountain village in Piedmont offering skiing in winter and hikin…
Castel di Sangro
This compact town in Abruzzo's L'Aquila province, Castel di Sangro sits along the Sangro river with a central core of cafés and restaurants and a photogenic…
Alagna Valsesia
This compact alpine village in Piedmont's Valsesia valley, Alagna Valsesia sits at the foot of Monte Rosa — the second-highest peak in the Alps — and is inte…
Bardonecchia
This small mountain town in Piedmont's upper Susa Valley, Bardonecchia is a winter sports base with two ski areas — Colomion-Les Arnauds-Melezet and Jafferau…
Leonessa
Founded in 1278 at the foot of Monte Terminillo in the northeastern corner of Lazio's Rieti province, Leonessa is a little town with an outsized number of hi…
Arcidosso
This small Tuscan village on the slopes of Monte Amiata, Arcidosso draws visitors year-round with access to skiing in winter and mountain trails in summer, a…
Capracotta
One of the highest-elevation villages in central Italy, Capracotta sits in the mountains of Molise and holds several historic churches for a settlement of it…
Garessio
This pocket-sized Piedmontese village in the Ligurian Alps known for its mineral water, Aqua San Bernardo, which drew spa visitors at the turn of the twentie…
Sulmona
Sulmona, in the Abruzzo region of central Italy, has been producing confetti — the sugar-coated almond sweets — for centuries, and the tradition remains cent…
Italian ski towns: quick answers
Which Italian ski towns can you visit on a day trip from Rome or Milan?
Leonessa and Castel di Sangro are among 2 ski towns on our day trips from Rome. And Bardonecchia is among 1 ski towns on our day trips from Milan.
Which are the highest-rated?
4 are rated gold, including Bardonecchia, Alagna Valsesia, Arcidosso and Macugnaga.
Which can you reach by train?
2 of the 9 have a railway station within a 10-minute drive, including Bardonecchia and Castel di Sangro.