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Passo Tonale Ski Holidays

It doesn’t take long to see why this is one of Italy’s top resorts - Passo Tonale is a treat for any snow lover. Known for its amazing value for money, you get lots more than you pay for here when you consider the sunny and snow-sure slopes, skiable glacier, queue-free lifts, homely vibe and ridiculously tasty food.

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

Snowboard

At a glance: • Glacier skiing • Cheap ski holidays • Lots of activities

Great for: • Families • Snow-sure • Freeriders

It doesn’t take long to see why this is one of Italy’s top resorts - Passo Tonale is a treat for any snow lover. Known for its amazing value for money, you get lots more than you pay for here when you consider the sunny and snow-sure slopes, skiable glacier, queue-free lifts, homely vibe and ridiculously tasty food.

Passo Tonale Resort

Up in the Rhaetian Alps at 1883m, rubbing shoulders with Trentino and Lombardy, the purpose-built town of Tonale is one of the highest resorts in the country. With a top altitude of 3016m, snow is guaranteed throughout the season here, as there are lots of Italian sunshine.

Milan and Verona are the nearest serving airports, where you can find coach, taxi and train connections to the resort. Trains from Milan pass through Verona to Trento where the rail service stops at Val di Sole’s top resorts, Passo included.

Thanks to the resort being purpose-built, everything is easy to get to. The traffic-free streets host a pick-‘n’-mix of establishments to make your stay easy and hassle-free; for those on a budget, there’s a supermarket, rental shops and relatively cheap options for eating out, (we’ve found pizza and pasta from only 5€). For those looking to push the boat out, there are wellness centres in the big hotels and equipment shops for buying the latest mountain trends.

A superb lift system made up of chair lifts, gondolas and cable cars can carry up to 33,000 skiers per hour. With various ski pass options, it doesn’t matter whether you’re a complete beginner or a prospective applicant to the Adamello Ski Raid (this famous high-altitude race that takes place here every spring). The Adamello Ski pass covers Passo Tonale, Ponte di Legno, Temù and the Presena Glacier (the areas in the immediate vicinity) and the Superskirama covers these areas and the Skirama Dolomiti Adamello Branta area, effectively tripling the original ski area size to over 380km of runs.

Stats & FAQ

Location: Italy, Alps.

Established:

Open: Early November- Early May

Downhill: 100km

View our detailed Passo Tonale 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 Passo Tonale snow history.

Nearest Airport & Transfer Time:
Milan Bergamo124 km, 2 hrs 30
  • Beginner
  • Intermediate
  • Advanced
  • 11runs 25%

  • 23runs 60%

  • 6runs 15%

Top Altitude:3016m
Bottom Altitude:1883m
Resort Altitude:1883m
Longest run:4.5km
Slope Orientation:NSEW
Vertical Drop:2,000m
Skiable Vertical:
Night Skiing:Yes
Glacier:Yes

Snow Report

  • Top
  • 39cm
  • Base
  • 59cm
  • Forecast
  • 250cm

Web Cam

Passo Tonale web cams
Downhill Runs:100km
Beginner slopes:25%
Intermediate:60%
Advanced slopes:15%
Lift Pass Price: €241 (Adult 6 day high season pass)
Nearby resorts: Peio, Folgarida, Marilleva, Madonna di Campiglio

Skiing/BoardingSkiing in Passo Tonale

As a beginner, having to take loads of lifts to reach easy runs can be a bit daunting. You don’t have to worry about this here, with most blue runs near hotels and bars, for those all-important hot chocolate breaks. Nursery slopes with magic carpets let learners work on snowploughs, in short, manageable bursts - when you begin to feel more comfortable, take the Valena chair lift for a couple of mid-length blues.

60% of the slopes have been carefully crafted for intermediates, leading in all directions for quick-fire chases and lengthy thigh burning runs. We especially like the long Alpino if you’re after more of a challenge. Present Destra is a scenic red trail from the top of the glacier leading to the red Presena Paradiso (get the lift the rest of the way down if you don’t want to tackle the following black). If you fancy gliding through the trees, Ponte di Legno has some steeper, wooded runs.

For experts, the 3km Paradiso black is terrific, with a vertical drop of 700m. If you make your way up to Cima Presena at 3016m, you can drink in the panoramic views before descending 1215m on blacks and reds for a rippling ride back to the resort.

Thanks to the amazing snow, there’s some incredible off-piste – hire a guide and take the itinerary route off the Presena, which brings you back to the village, albeit with a ten-minute walk. Heliskiing also grants exclusive access to even more of the pow - it’ll feel like just you and Mother Nature out on the mountain.

The Adamello Snowpark has jumps, boxes and all the toys, guaranteed to keep all ages entertained for hours on end and the 1000m snowcross means it’ll be a nail-biting race against the clock. Watch out for the Presena glacier’s snow park, which usually opens later on in the season.

Passo Tonale Apres Ski

Of course, one of the best things about Italy is its delectable delicacies. Whether you're looking for fast food to fill you after a hard days skiing (try La Torretta for their filling pizza) or a more authentic, native dining experience (El Bait serves local, genuine cuisine), you won't be disappointed. Il Focolare is well worth a visit for classic pasta and tiramisu – make sure you book early! Eating on a budget is easy, with fast food dishes from 5€, and you can usually grab a three-course meal for about 10€. Nico's Bar makes delicious pizzas, and there is an amusement arcade for entertaining the kids.

The nightlife has a laid-back, jovial feel as people come together in Magic Pub and other promisingly named watering holes. Bar Heaven and La Barraca have an excellent atmosphere and play great music - get there for happy hour to make the most of your evening. The Disco Pub Miramonti is a fun, late-night spot to let loose and move your feet in a way that's just not possible when you have skis strapped to them.

In terms of activities, the town's 'Sleddog' run means you can have the husky sled ride you've always dreamt of. Hike from Passo de Tonale to Rifugio Citta di Trento includes incredible views and pistes reserved exclusively for sledding and tubing provide no end of fun for all the family. There is also an ice-skating rink, snowmobile tours, snowshoeing tours, snowkiting, slopes reserved for fat bikes and helicopter tours.

Best time to go

Best time to ski Passo Tonale

Best time to visit & ski Passo Tonale

Passo Tonale’s ski area sits above the town’s settlement at 1883m. With a top altitude of 3016m, this Alpine resort is generally one of the first to open in the ski season come early November, and one of the last left open in April or May.

There isn’t much call for snow cannons at such an altitude, but operators have installed some, all the same, to give the slopes a little dusting when the snow fairy hasn’t been. Located in the Val di Sole (sunny valley), blue skies look promising for this resort all year round, with its mountains pointing towards all 4 faces of the compass.

A purpose-built resort that works well just as it is, Passo’s slopes are known for being generally open throughout the season, and the lifts are famous for being queue-free.

Peak Dates

If you’ve asked Santa for snow-sure slopes and good food and you don’t want to break the notorious December budget, spend your Christmas in Passo Tonale. Passo Tonale Christmas ski holidays ‣

In past years they’ve ladled out free vin brule (that’s mulled wine to you and I) over New Years in Passo Tonale to accompany the amazing torchlit descent and firework display. Passo Tonale New Year ski holidays ‣

Things tend to be deliciously crowd-free even over February Half term in Passo Tonale and the value for money here can make this peak week much more affordable. Passo Tonale Half Term ski holidays ‣

With a glacier that’s usually open for skiing all year, a typically long season and a claim as one of Italy’s highest purpose-built resorts, spending Easter in Passo Tonale is likely to see some wonderful snow conditions. Passo Tonale Easter ski holidays ‣

Passo Tonale Ratings & Customer Feedback
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Average Rating 3.8 out of 5
We had an awesome week, this was our first snowboarding trip to Italy and we loved it. I think the weather helped, there had been a lot of snow prior to our arrival and we had more at the beginning of the week. The layout’s a bit funny compared to what we’re accustomed to in France and the skiing doesn’t hav... + more
Rickers, Darlington
3 out of 5
Passo is a good place for families - it was the UK half term week while we were here and we had virtually no lift queues anywhere, which meant we could ski wherever we liked! You probably have to be a good intermediate to enjoy the whole ski area. The family we met there had a daughter who was a nervous interme... + more
Christopher Freeman, Langford
5 out of 5
Passo Tonale is built for skiing and isn’t really the best place to ‘do things’ if you’re not skiing. There are loads and loads of slopes and I like that they’re nice and wide. There’s also a long run down to a different area if you’re advanced and want to ski more black runs. We saw quite a few snowboar... + more
Aileen Munday, Highbridge
4 out of 5
Passo Tonale’s a quiet resort and not very big. The locals are very friendly and it’s great for our family but it depends what you want from a holiday – if you want parties and karaoke it’s probably not for you! The resort has an ice rink although it wasn’t open when we stayed as it wasn’t cold enough. Yo... + more
The Grimes Family, Bristol
4 out of 5
I’ve skied a bit before but my girlfriend hadn’t – we chose Passo Tonale because it looked good for beginners and also because it’s high and we were skiing late in the season. It was as we’d expected and we had a really nice holiday! The conditions were a bit slushy towards the end of the day but overall t... + more
Mike G., Chester
3 out of 5
It was my first time in Passo Tonale, we had a great holiday. I would definitely recommend doing the day trip over to Madonna di Campiglio, that was very good. Passo Tonale is a very high resort so it was full of snow even though it was only New Years. It was quite busy. There are a few good bars and places t... + more
Andrew Cox, Castleford
4 out of 5
Passo is quite a small resort and there’s not much there, but I’d ski here again. The good thing is it’s high – go to the glacier if it’s open as there’s a good black run as well as a couple of reds and blues (not to mention excellent scenery). We skied past the husky skiing place and had a go at that whi... + more
Richard Winder, Rickmansworth
4 out of 5
We went to a couple of places for a drink in the evenings and a few of the bars seemed OK. It was very quiet at the time we went, we did some off piste in a lesson with a guide and there’s a nice route that takes you down a long 14-16km trail down to the village. Overall we had a good experience on the piste. ... + more
Catherine Harris, Guildford
3 out of 5
I really liked Passo Tonale. For a first ski holiday / if you’ve got children it’s perfect and my daughter (6 at the time) and I had a lovely week together. If you’re a beginner or intermediate, there are lots of good slopes and they all go back down into the centre so you can’t get lost. We had lessons wit... + more
Elizabeth Froggatt, Derbyshire
5 out of 5
Ski Holidays in Passo Tonale With magical views, a variety of skiing and being snow-sure, Passo Tonale is a treat for any skier. Being relatively unknown, queues are kept to a minimum, and with an extensive coverage of lifts linking the towns of Tonale, Ponte di Legno and Temù together you can be sure to be ab... + more
Tom, St Marys Platt
4 out of 5
Passo Tonale Ski Resort is perched high up on the Rhaetian Alps and has exquisite views over the mountains of Italy. At 1883m, the town of Tonale is one of the highest purpose built resorts in the country, providing unrivalled snow quality, assuredness and an above average amount of sun coverage, allowing for t... + more
Mr Wigley, Kent
4 out of 5
Those looking to pick up skiing and snowboarding will think they have gone to heaven once they set foot in Passo Tonale. With over 110 instructors in both Tonale Presena and Ponte di Legno, as well as 50 years’ experience, you will be taught everything you need to know about skiing, as well as getting insider ... + more
Andrew, London
4 out of 5
For those who value the European après ski scene, Passo Tonale has plenty to offer, with ten bars catering to a number of tastes. The main place to go, coming the most highly recommended, is Bar Heaven; a great and lively spot to head to after a long day’s skiing, and with its happy hour providing two for one... + more
Francesca, Brighton
3 out of 5
As a learner (came here on my second time skiing), it's pretty ideal. Good blues of varying length means you can advance as quickly as you like, and the number of reds in close proximity means you can go in a mixed ability group and still be near each other. If you do learn quickly, the reds will keep you occup... + more
Sean Stanfield,
3 out of 5
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Families in Passo Tonale

Whether you're all taking to the piste as beginners or this is an annual ski holiday you've been doing for donkey's years, Passo Tonale's a gem for families.

Beginners can join one of the ski schools, where areas equipped with magic carpets help make first skiing experiences memorable for all the right reasons. Experienced teens will have a ball on the glacier, doing tricks and turns in the Presena snow park. If the whole family is learning or improving together, book a private instructor for quality time together.

Many of Passo's hotels are family-friendly, with childcare packages crammed with activities, so tots who aren't yet big enough for ski lessons will be well cared for. More often than not they're very near the piste, making getting from A to B a breeze.

Sledding opposite the Hotel Dolomiti provides hours of fun, while restaurants like Nico's offer a variety of cheap but scrumptious pizzas (Nico's has the added bonus of an arcade room for kids can while parents enjoy a quiet bottle of vino). In previous seasons Ski School Ponte Tonale has dedicated Wednesday evenings to kids with music, face painting, and torch-lit walks - some mid-week fun that's well worth looking out for.

GroupsGroup Holidays Passo Tonale

Groups of mixed abilities will be doing somersaults in the snow over this resort's terrain for all: beginners can get to grips with short, blue runs, booking lessons with one of the mountain's schools (Ski & Snowboard school Tonale Presena or Ponte di Legno - Tonale).

If the majority of your party are intermediates, there couldn't be a place better to go, as 60% of this resort's runs are classified red. Head to the glacier to tackle top heights of 3016m - hire a guide for the day if you all fancy exploring with someone who knows the area inside out. If you've got some friends who haven't quite warmed to skiing, but like the idea of a mountain getaway, alternative daytime activities like dog sledding, natural ice rinks and wellness centres mean you won't have to take no for an answer.

Good food and wine (for ridiculously good prices) can be found all over Passo Tonale. Head to La Baracca as the sun goes down for panoramic views, happy hours and bucket loads of Aperol Spritz. As the night heats up, Hotel Miramonti's nightclub is always waiting for your dance routines to grace their dance floor…

Which are the best ski holidays in Passo Tonale?

Accommodation Number of nights Price (per person) from
Hotel Delle Alpi 7 £ 679
Hotel Grand Paradiso 7 £ 725
Hotel Miramonti 7 £ 781
Hotel Sport Vittoria 7 £ 847
Hotel Piandineve 7 £ 652
Hotel Adamello 7 £ 710
Hotel Savoia 7 £ 537
Hotel Locanda Locatori 7 £ 559
Hotel Cielo Blu 7 £ 620
Hotel La Mirandola 7 £ 640

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