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5 of the best ski resorts for New Year's in Italy
Italian ski resorts and New Year's Eve parties are just like Nonna's ragu and fresh tagliatelle: perfectly paired. In Italy, NYE certainly feels special, with a range of vibrant events and celebrations, from live music and parades to DJ sets and lavish cenone (New Year's dinners) that will leave your salopettes feeling slightly less roomy than when you arrived.
Like a skilled chef grating lashings of parmesan over a towering plate of spaghetti bolognese, Italy’s ski resorts serve up some truly peachy powder dumps in January. Add to this excellent skiing, prosecco-fuelled dance floors, and lively piazza parties under the stars, and you can be sure that an Italy NYE ski holiday will leave you and your crew with some truly memorable celebrations.
With so many fantastic resorts and a wealth of fabulous Italian skiing to enjoy, choosing the right spot for your New Year Italy ski adventure can seem tricky. But don't worry, our Heidi experts are here to help. Bringing you their list of the top Italy NYE ski resorts. Whether it's toasting goblets of Campari Spritz on a bar balcony in Cortina d'Ampezzo or hopping on a snowcat to dine under the stars in Madonna di Campiglio, we've got you covered with our list of the best Italy New Year's Eve ski holidays to book this year.
1. Cervinia
For big ski days and major celebrations, Cervinia is the perfect resort choice. Nestled beneath Switzerland's majestic Matterhorn, this high-altitude haven is famed for its legendary powder parties, especially during NYE. It offers plentiful skiing and a lively après-ski scene that will have ski-mad groups raving into the early hours.
Looking to spend the days after Christmas carving up 322km of relaxing blues and reds in the Valle d'Aosta? Then Cervinia is the perfect destination. Filled with pristine pistes and a range of high-altitude runs suitable for beginners, intermediates, experts, and snowboarders alike, Cervinia is ideal for anyone serious about skiing. And if you're feeling adventurous, you can also cross over to Zermatt to enjoy some seriously top-notch off-piste powder and peak parties—talk about bellissimo!
New Year's Eve in Cervinia means big parties, mountain style. Festivities start as early as the 29th with the traditional fiaccolata torchlight procession down the pistes, followed by the first of many fireworks displays. On the 31st, return to the foot of the slopes for DJ sets from 7pm to 1am and a fiery pyro-musical show, or buy a ticket and ascend the mountain to Cervinia's wildest NYE celebration at Super G, where cocktails, champagne, and serious table dancing are on the menu. In Italy, they call it "Spaghetti al vento" or "spaghetti in the wind"—completely chaotic, but truly epic!
Book a New Year's Eve ski holiday in Cervinia
2. Cortina d'Ampezzo
One of Italy's most renowned and beloved resorts, Cortina d'Ampezzo is celebrated as the Queen of the Dolomites, with its surrounding towering limestone peaks serving as the jewels of its royal crown.
A perfect choice for families and large groups of mixed abilities, Cortina offers a variety of slopes, making it ideal for both beginners and intermediates. With an impressive 120km of wide, well-groomed runs spread over three mountains, the pistes here remain relatively uncrowded throughout the ski season. Beginners can hone their skills on Tofano's nursery area and green runs, while the more confident can enjoy plenty of relaxed, cruisy blues and reds across the resort. For those seeking a challenge, a trip up to the Pomedes mountain hut to ski in the tracks of champions on the 1956 Winter Olympic downhill run is a must - it's the stuff of legends!
If you're looking for something a little different for your New Year's Eve ski celebrations, Cortina d'Ampezzo has plenty going on. You can spend the day on thrilling snowmobile, toboggan, and snowshoeing excursions, or indulge in some New Year's glamour with drinks and nibbles at high-end wine bars. If you're in the mood for a boogie, the Bilbo and Belvedere clubs host all-day discos. And when it's time for the midnight fireworks, you can join the lively crowd at the central square Corsa Italia or opt for a touch of luxe with a traditional cabin dinner via snowcat up in the peaks. Enjoy Italian mountain fare, raise a glass of champers, and watch the fireworks sparkle from above - saluti!
Book a New Year's Eve ski holiday in Cortina d'Ampezzo
3. Sauze d’Oulx
Looking for a more affordable option for your New Year's skiing trip? Then say hello to the powder-capped peaks of Sauze d'Oulx. Sure, Italy might not be your first thought when it comes to a budget-friendly New Year's ski holiday, but let us assure you, Sauze d'Oulx offers some great savings, and is perfect for anyone wanting to combine lively New Year's celebrations with excellent skiing and snowboarding.
With picturesque, tree-lined runs, stellar snow records, and some of the finest skiing in the Italian Alps, Sauze d'Oulx is nestled within the Via Lattea, better known as the Italian Milky Way. A popular hotspot for Italian tourists, the resort's 2,035m elevation ensures pow-packed pistes and bright, bluebird days are nearly always on the cards. Spend the day exploring the 400km of beginner and intermediate-friendly slopes, and you can even take a ride on the ultra-modern lift system to visit Le Français in the neighbouring resort of Montgenèvre, should you fancy a quick raclette and baguette lunch. Délicieux!
As the sun begins to set, the celebrations kick off with lively bars and vibrant après-ski spilling into the cobbled streets. Spend the night hopping between clubs and bars, enjoying numerous bustling NYE parties that feature special DJ sets, live music, and performances. Or gather outside with bottles and glasses to toast champagne flutes under the stars while Catherine wheels whoosh overhead.
Heidi's top tip: With one of Europe's best-value lift passes and just one hour and 15 minutes' transfer from Turin Airport, Sauze d'Oulx is ideal for a short ski break or ski weekend.
Book a New Year's Eve ski holiday in Sauze d’Oulx
4. Sestriere
On the slopes, Sestriere's high-altitude peaks of up to 2,789m ensure there are snow worries when it comes to powder records. Spend your days exploring the heart of Italy's 400km Milky Way ski area, with a range of tree-lined forest pistes suitable for beginners and intermediates, as well as plenty of steep terrain for the more adventurous.
If you're looking to try something different, why not unleash your inner Mario and swap skis for a spin around the ice-kart track in Pragelato? Mamma mia! Or venture into the peaks with a snowshoeing trip to spot eagles, goats, and the occasional cheeky marmot darting through the powder.
At night, Sestriere's bars, clubs, and watering holes come alive with DJs and discos that extend into the early hours. Take the celebrations to the slopes for the 9pm fiaccolata ‘Torchlight Parade’, then return to the town square to sip cups of mulled wine or cocoa while enjoying live music and street performances. Whatever you and your group get up to, make sure you're back outside for the midnight countdown - because you definitely don't want to miss that booming firework display lighting up the rooftops and peaks.
Book a New Year's Eve ski holiday in Sestriere
5. Madonna di Campiglio
Looking for a chic Italian New Year's getaway? Let the slopes of Madonna di Campiglio be your guide. This charming chocolate-box resort is a favourite among Italy’s elite, offering long, snow-covered forest runs, stunning Dolomite views, and some truly remarkable New Year's Eve celebrations.
When it comes to skiing, Madonna di Campiglio caters to all skill levels, with 150km of pristine pistes to explore. Campo Carlo Magno is ideal for beginners with its drag lifts and gentle slopes, while the expansive, open wooded valleys beneath the rugged Brenta Dolomite peaks provide a thrilling challenge for the more experienced.
After a day cruising the corduroy, return to your hotel for some grub before heading into town as the Piazza Sissi square takes centre stage for Madonna di Campiglio's New Year's Eve extravaganza. From lively DJ sets and fantastic live performances to celebrity guests toasting the year ahead, this is THE place to be when raising a glass of champers and watching the spectacular fireworks display.
Carry on celebrating into the early hours with disco nights and club anthems at Ober 1, Piano 54, Des Alpes, Home Stube, and Cantina del Suisse, or rest up before the festivities start again tomorrow, when over 300 skiers will descend the Tre3 in the spectacular New Year's fiaccolata torchlit parade – it's pure magic!
Heidi's top tip: Want to add a unique twist to your NYE celebration? Escape the crowds, hop on a snowcat, and enjoy a mountain lodge dinner instead! Many slopeside huts serve special NYE menus with seafood, traditional dishes, and plenty of bubbles, giving you the perfect perch to watch the spectacular fireworks erupting above the town below.
Book a New Year's Eve ski holiday in Madonna di Campiglio
Want to learn more about the best New Year ski holidays in Austria? Check out our non-skier holiday page! It is filled with all the very best recommendations.
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