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Sestriere Ski Holidays

With world class skiing, beautiful vistas and a relaxed Italian atmosphere, Sestriere offers amazing, high altitude skiing conditions for all abilities in the heart of the Milky Way. For a stylish ski and apres week and short transfer, look no further.

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

Snowboard

At a glance: • Relaxed atmosphere • Cuisine & Culture • vast Milky Way

Great for: • Families • Snow-sure • Groups • Intermediates

With world class skiing, beautiful vistas and a relaxed Italian atmosphere, Sestriere offers amazing, high altitude skiing conditions for all abilities in the heart of the Milky Way. For a stylish ski and apres week and short transfer, look no further.

Sestriere Resort

The wonderful thing about Sestriere is that it’s really easy to reach – only about an hour and a half by car from Turin airport.

Things are just as convenient when you arrive: This was the first purpose built resort in the Alps (thanks to the owners of Fiat). While it won’t be found on any lists of the world’s prettiest ski towns, its handy location more than makes up for it - high on the mountainside in the Northern Province of Turin, near the Franco-Italian border.

Most hotels are rated 3/4 stars, while apartments (some in the centre, others on the edge of town) are a super way to spend a more intimate week with family and friends. A lot of the accommodation is ski-out or a short walk from the slopes. With Sestriere hogging the highest spot in the ski area (and one of the highest in all of Italy) you’re usually skiing out onto terrific conditions.

And what a ski area - the sumptuous international Milky Way covers 8 resorts in all, including Sauze d’Oulx, Sansicario, Cesana, Claviere and Montgenevre in France. Slopes cover a whacking great 400km and you’ll struggle to find any type of snow lover who’s not catered for. Having hosted the 1997 FIS World Championship and the men’s alpine skiing competitions in the winter Olympics in 2006, the quality of things from slopes to snowmaking is high.

The whole place works well for families with young children and teens, with excellent ski schools and a bundle of off-slope activities: Indoor golf, ice-skating and paintballing and a playground on the slopes for the young ones. Grown-ups love the laid back restaurants and bars, where food and drink cost a lot less than you’d find in France or Switzerland (€6 a pizza at Le 2 Stagioni – and fabulous pizza at that).

Stats & FAQ

Location: Italian Alps.

Established: 1934

Open: December – April

Downhill: 400km

View our detailed Sestriere 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 Sestriere snow history.

Nearest Airport & Transfer Time:
Turin/Torino – Caselle (TRN)90km from Sestriere, 2 hours
  • Beginner
  • Intermediate
  • Advanced
  • 95km 24%

  • 218km 55%

  • 87km 22%

Top Altitude:2823(m)
Bottom Altitude:2035(m)
Resort Altitude:2035(m)
Longest run:5 (km)
Slope Orientation:North/West
Vertical Drop:1466(m)
Skiable Vertical:1466(m)
Night Skiing:Yes
Glacier:No

Snow Report

  • Top
  • 9cm
  • Base
  • 179cm
  • Forecast
  • 189cm

Web Cam

Sestriere web cams
Downhill Runs:400km
Beginner slopes:24%
Intermediate:55%
Advanced slopes:22%
Lift Pass Price: €180 (adult 6 day for whole Milky Way)
Nearby resorts: Milky Way, Claviere, Montgenevre, Pragelato, Sansicario and Sauze d'Oulx

Skiing/BoardingSkiing in Sestriere

There’s a whopping 400km of slopes to explore here, and the fact that it hosted the 2006 winter Olympics is a fine mark of quality. Two local ski areas - Mount Sises and Motta - are accessible directly from the town and with the Milky Way lift pass in hand, you can ski far and wide across the Via Lattea. Sauze d'Oulx is easy to reach by gondola, and Sestriere’s also a super base for day trips across the border to Montgenevre in France.

One of the best things for beginners is the price of ski lessons – which are often half of what you’d pay in France for the same high standard of tuition. You’ll find ten beginner runs in the local ski area alone, with the two directly above resort tending to be the very first ones you ski. The Manovia run is reserved specifically for learners, so even on busy weekends and school holidays, you can practice in peace and quiet before hitting the main slopes.

Intermediates will have an absolute ball, with 20 runs nearby and 102 in the Milky Way. Banchetta and Sises are your two main sectors, each crammed with gloriously wide and scenic runs. You can easily ski to neighbouring Sauze D’Oulx and Montgenevre on reds. To up the difficulty, the Number One is a SNO favourite.

There are a number of black runs (we like #5 on Mt Sises which forks off into more black-graded pistes). Check out the racing slopes too - Kandahar slalom and Kandahar Banchetta have been used in World Championship races (see if night skiing is still available on them for an amazing moonlit descent). On good snow week, the off-piste is cracking with piles of powder between the trees. Get a guide to show you the Rio Nero Valley, or make the most of the cheap heli-trips for the ultimate powder run.

With so many wide groomers, snowboarders will love it here. The snowpark is a great spot to try out 360’s (there’s another in Sauze for a change of scene) and specialist instructors at YES Snowboard School are always on hand for tuition.

Sestriere Apres Ski

Après-ski livens up at the weekends with the influx of local Italians who come to enjoy their free time in the town. During the week the resort is more relaxed but still offers a fun vibe and good nightlife with plenty of bars to wind down in and reminisce over the days adventures. Groups will always find great places to spend their evenings with a few drinks and delicious food. For those all-important après-ski drinks, Pinky’s Pizzeria is the place to be (and if you’ve worked up an appetite on the slopes, it also does amazing pizzas for around 6 euros).

Kandahar wine bar and Brahms bar are popular pre- dinner drinks and both offer a great ambiance. A couple of must-try drinks are Spritz and Grolla- an amaretto based ceramic sharing pot, enough to warm any skier in the winter ski period. You can pick these up in most bars and on the mountain at Chalet Raggio di Sole, a favourite among many skiers. You can enjoy live music on Saturdays at Bar Abba which also boasts exquisite food and a top class wine menu. Singers can get even get involved in a touch of karaoke (Irish Igloo Bar and Al kovo are popular spots for this) and if you’re making a night of it Tabata is a popular, lively nightclub for those wanting to dance the night away.

Restaurants to satisfy every palate scatter the centre of the resort. For romance and sophistication L’Antica Spelonca is the perfect dining spot. Eating out for the whole family is easy as there are loads of casual pizzerias and cafes, such as Baby Bar and Pinkies Pizzeria. The foodies of the bunch will appreciate the unbeatable Italian cuisine in this cultural hub with a number of great, rustic Italian restaurants to try.

As well as wining and dining there are many activities for the whole family off the slopes. Indoor golf, shopping, ice-skating and indoor pools, paintballing and Bobsleighing are a number of the fun activities to get involved in. There is also a cinema and a library for those taking a rest from the piste.

Best time to go

Best time to ski Sestriere

Best time to visit & ski Sestriere

The high altitudes (up to 2823 on M. Motta) and north-west facing slopes give Sestriere a history of great skiing conditions throughout the season.

At 2035m, this is one of the highest ski resorts in the country, and often it’s the Milky Way’s first and last resort to be skiable each year (making it a top choice for Christmas or Easter holidays).

There’s also the back up of extensive snowmaking, which was set up for the Olympics in 2006. Making up for any erratic Italian snowfall, this means that cover is constantly in supply throughout the season.

Peak Dates

Spend your winter evenings gathered around the magical Christmas tree with a drink in hand, or in a cosy bar sipping Grolla and mingling with the mix of nationalities. Book a ski holiday over Christmas in Sestriere and stay in an apartment away from the buzz of the town for a homely and relaxed Christmas time, or celebrate the festivities in the social hub with hotels offering ski in- ski out accommodation. Sestriere Christmas ski holidays ‣

This charismatic Italian ski-town is ideal for those wanting to celebrate the New Year in a charming winter wonderland. Spend New Year in Sestriere and enjoy the lively après, a fireworks show at midnight and the Italian exuberance that comes alive in the countdown to New Year. Perfect for skiing in the New Year at the heart of the Italian via Lattea and for lively après-ski. Sestriere New Year ski holidays ‣

A history of high snow fall in February means the piste usually has great snow with great skiing conditions for all abilities to explore the Milky Way over February Half Term in Sestriere. The buzz of the town comes alive during peak weeks with loads of lively bars to relax in after a long day on the slopes. Enjoy an array of delicious Italian cuisine ranging from casual pizzerias to Michelin starred restaurants. Sestriere Half Term ski holidays ‣

High altitude and N/W facing slope orientation make this is a good option for Easter skiing. All abilities can enjoy Easter in Sestriere with an abundance of challenging runs and well groomed terrain for the confident of the group with first-timers able to enjoy the peace of the beginner slopes. The playground on the slopes, fun ski schools and plenty of off piste activities give families the perfect place for their Italian ski holiday. Sestriere Easter ski holidays ‣

Sestriere Ratings & Customer Feedback
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Average Rating 3.7 out of 5
We’d been moved to Sestriere because of bad conditions elsewhere at the beginning of the season. We were a big group and this was everyone’s first time in Sestriere and we had a brilliant week, a big success. The skiing was good, obviously the conditions weren’t the best they could be but everyone was please... + more
Large Group from Pembrokeshire,
5 out of 5
Sestriere is lovely, everything is reasonably priced and the skiing is really good. The red runs in Borgata are beautiful and in the other area behind Sestriere (can’t remember the name) the blue runs are amazing. My 17 year old son loved it here, he made friends easily and Sestriere has a lovely fun park ... + more
Mrs Gordon, Purley
4 out of 5
I like the size of Sestriere, you have a huge ski area of about 4-5 different resorts and you can also ski into France in a day if you want to. In Sestriere alone there are some good runs for all abilities. I taught my fiancé to Snowboard there so it’s a great place for beginners, with plenty of cruisey blue ... + more
Stephen Vincent, Stalybridge
4 out of 5
Sestriere is a nice resort, I’d definitely go back and most ski resorts we just go to once and don’t go again, so that shows how good it is! We didn’t manage to ski everywhere in one week, there are loads of slopes so you can ski a different piste each day. You can ski the Olympic downhill and things like t... + more
Dougal Moir, Berwick Upon Tweed
5 out of 5
Sestriere is a very good winter resort, we have been two or three times now so we know what we’re going to get. It could do with more night life but that’s the story of many ski resorts. It links up to the Milky Way and has very good snowboarding and skiing. It’s also very good value compared to France, when... + more
Garry,
4 out of 5
Sestriere is one of the better ski resorts I’ve been to, it’s amazing! The mountain was really good and the snow was excellent – I was very impressed. I ski and snowboard and wasn’t going off piste but it had a really good spread of everything with big open bowls as well as pistes right through the treeline... + more
Nadia Graham, Aberdeen
4 out of 5
Well, it was December 2011 that we went to Sestriere. Resort was excellent for intermediate skiers. Lots of great red and blue runs, and the vast expanse of the Milky way area meant that you would never be bored. Queues for lifts were short (although we did go over Christmas) and the area of Sestriere, Sansicar... + more
Mr Sean O’Brien, Norhtampton
4 out of 5
We had a great time! Sestriere is great for beginners and intermediates but not so much for experts. It’s really good for families though and there’s a very easy green run back to the resort which is the perfect way to end the day. One thing I definitely wouldn’t recommend is skiing over to Sauze d’Oulx – ... + more
Robert Welling, Maldon
3 out of 5
Sestriere is not a cutesy-cutesy Alpine village like you’d find in Switzerland. The best way to describe it is that it’s a bit like an out of town shopping centre, with big concrete buildings. The resort was built by the owner of Fiat as a rest and relaxation place where employees of the car company in Milan ... + more
Tony,
3 out of 5
A very good week overall, we had decent snow – a couple of days of white out but it was fine for me. Sestriere is a purpose built resort; it’s not olde worlde like others but I knew that before we arrived. It’s really good for intermediate skiers, but you can go and do advanced stuff if you want. Likewise th... + more
Pete BG, Gloucestershire
3 out of 5
I would recommend Sestriere, it was good for us and we enjoyed our week here. It wasn’t terribly good for absolute beginners who were adults, but for our 2 children it was fine and the ski school was good. It was the end of the season so the conditions weren’t brilliant and the place wasn’t very exciting, bu... + more
Dorian Tucker,
3 out of 5
Sestriere was perfect for the kids and we’ll be going back next year. Compared to France and Switzerland it’s much easier to learn here, as there’s nothing to scare you or put you off. Towards the end of the week we couldn’t get them off the slopes! The Italian ski school were great. It’s a good resort if ... + more
Melanie M.,
3 out of 5
We were lucky with the weather and had a great week. Our group has quite different levels but the area worked fine for us. I’d definitely go back. + more
Jacob Clark, London
4 out of 5
Hadn’t been to Sestriere before, and wouldn’t go again although Italy is great – much cheaper and a short transfer to the resorts. You have to go up the little carpet and then push yourselves up to the bubble lift where you then go over the top. You can’t ski down to the bottom so have to get back in the ... + more
Mrs Moore, Banbury
3 out of 5
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Families in Sestriere

Slopes designated for beginners, ski schools and children’s clubs means that families will be well accommodated during their ski holiday in Sestriere. School holidays are fairly busy on the slopes but beginners can learn in peace with the Manovia area dedicated to the newbies. For families with younger children, Sestrieland is a fun play-ground on the slopes that makes a great day for the family. Scuola ski school have a children’s group so families can leave the children in the safe hands of the instructors whilst they explore the more challenging runs in the Milky Way. For the Non-skiers there are loads of other activities such as sports and spa facilities, paintballing, bobsleighing and sledging! An indoor golf course and ice-rink are also popular among non-skiers.

There are a number of nurseries and child care facilities in the town, many of which can be arranged at certain hotels. Check with us for any childcare queries and make sure to book in advance for busy holiday periods as they can fill up quickly.

The resort is very family orientated and we have some great accommodation for those skiing with young children or teens such as the Hotel Cristallo, located directly opposite the ski school meeting point as well as a number of apartments to ensure a more intimate family time. See our range of family ski deals in Sestriere below. The best family ski holidays leave children and adults happy – let us relieve the stress of finding your perfect holiday by giving us a call.

GroupsGroup Holidays Sestriere

Great for mixed ability groups, Sestriere has a variety of slopes for all skiing abilities with loads of intermediate trails and more challenging runs for the advanced as well as beginner slopes and some fantastic ski schools. There is a range of accommodation including large hotels to suit different group sizes, where you can book in any stragglers who want to join the group later on in the process and apartments for a more intimate skiing experience to accommodate any group. The Olympic apartments and Hotel Cristallo are located in the centre of town really close to the slopes which makes them ideal if you want to maximise ski time.

The relaxed atmosphere of the bars creates the perfect place for groups to spend their evening. Irish Igloo bar and Tabata disco will be good for those seeking a party filled night whilst Il Kavo and Bar abba are great for a few casual drinks. It’s not just the great skiing that attracts groups to this resort but there are also a range of activities off the mountain make it great for people of all ages. For a girly day away from the snow, a number of hotels offer spa facilities for blissful pampering. Paintballing and Bobsleighing are also available and indoor golf is popular for all ages.

We’re confident that our ski specialists can find the perfect group holiday for you. Have a browse through our holidays or give us a call to find out about our large and small group discounts.

Which are the best ski holidays in Sestriere?

Accommodation Number of nights Price (per person) from
Grand Hotel Sestriere 7 £ 869
Hotel Savoy Edelweiss 7 £ 859
Hotel Cristallo 7 £ 1059
Hotel Sud Ovest 7 £ 709
Hotel Banchetta 7 £ 789
Hotel Gran Roc 7 £ 777
Grand Hotel Sestriere 7 £ 793
Hotel Principi di Piemonte 7 £ 870
Hotel Du Col 7 £ 923
Hotel Savoy Edelweiss 7 £ 783

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