Family ski holidays
Dancing on tables at après-ski was fun back in the day, but with young children in tow, the image of your ideal ski resort will have to shift a little! If you’re trying to plan the perfect family ski holiday in the Alps, you’ll need to scope out a ski resort that has beginner-appropriate terrain and, ideally, some children’s discounts and family-friendly facilities! The sunny region of South Tyrol in Italy is particularly popular with young families, but there are plenty of other ski resorts with kids’ skiing areas, ski cross, you name it. Below are ten of our favourite ski resorts for families in Italy.
Kronplatz offers wide, gentle slopes with almost no trees, the perfect conditions for children and beginners to practise their turns. Various children’s areas, a safety park and a children’s restaurant at this South Tyrolean ski resort promise a wonderful ski holiday for the young and the young-at-heart. Young parents will be delighted to know that in addition to children’s ski lessons, there is also childcare available for tots as young as 6 months. With 119km of pistes, Kronplatz has something for everybody.
Kronplatz (© Ferienregion Kronplatz)
Alta Badia is a staple in the Italian skiing scene. Opened in 1947, the ski resort has grown from one lift to an impressive 53, and 130km of slopes. This is the ideal choice for families with young children as children under the age of 8 will receive a free lift pass when accompanied by a parent who has bought an identical pass.
Alta Badia (© Alta Badia By Freddy Planinschek)
100km of slopes at the foot of the 3 Zinnen Dolomites provide guaranteed winter fun against the breathtaking backdrop of the Dolomites. Especially popular with families is the Haunold; a kids’ ski cross route and a toboggan track are complemented by a series of magic carpets that make the first turns on skis an easy and fun experience. Relax at the end of the ski day in a family-friendly mountain restaurant.
(© Tschurtschenthaler Christian)
If you’re not convinced by the excellent snow conditions and gorgeous scenery, you might be drawn to Seiser Alm (aka Alpe di Siusi) for the mouthwatering South Tyrolean cuisine and friendly hospitality. The ski area is characterised with mostly beginner and intermediate slopes, perfect for a family ski holiday. First-time skiers can lace together turns and learn the safety rules under the watchful eye of Nix the witch, while teens can explore the snow park, one of Italy’s best.
© Seiseralm.it
The sunniest ski area in South Tyrol, Val di Fassa-Carezza sits on the shores of the picturesque Lake Karer, with impressive panoramic views of Rosengarten and Latemar. With 41km of pistes and a purpose-built children’s area, this ski resort is the perfect size for little ones to build confidence. If the kids are past that stage already, the wide slopes are also great for progressive intermediate skiers and snowboarders.
Val di Fassa (© Archivio Immagini ApT Val di Fassa)
Schnalstal is a glacier ski area with around 30km of pistes. Children under 10 pay a nominal fee of only 3 euros per day for a lift pass when accompanied by a parent here, making it a very attractive option indeed. If you’re up to it, the 8km Smuggler’s Run presents a nice challenge for intermediate skiers and boarders. Thanks to its snow conditions, Schnalstal is a popular training centre for professional downhill and cross-country skiers.
© schnalstal.com
Sunny Meran 2000 is best-known for its rustic mountain huts and many days of sunshine. 40km of ski slopes, especially geared towards children and beginners, await skiers and boarders at this Italian ski resort. Family lift passes are easy on the wallet, and if you’re bored of skiing there is a host of other winter activities to try out. Meran 2000 is also well-adapted for people with mobility problems, meaning everyone can enjoy this lovely ski resort.
© Meran 2000
The Gitschberg Jochtal ski resort in Italy’s South Tyrol region has 50km of ski slopes for the whole family. Gimmy the mascot watches benevolently over tiny skiers in the children’s park while parents relax on the sunny terraces of traditional mountain huts and sample the regional delicacies. The Happy Family Festival kicks off the ski season in style.
Eisacktal (© Ski- & Almenregion Gitschberg Jochtal)
Klausberg has just 32km of slopes but families will find everything they need here. Besides the snow-sure ski area, a definite highlight for families is the Klausberg-Flitzer alpine coaster. It’s the longest alpine coaster in Italy and is open year-round. A ride is included with every ski pass so you’ve no excuse not to try it out!
© Klausberg
The sun-drenched Schöneben and Haideralm ski area has 7 lifts and abundant terrain for children and beginners. When you get tired of skiing, take a detour to the nearby Reschensee and try skating, kiting or even ice sailing! Parents, challenge yourselves with the terrain in the linked Zwei Lander Ski Arena, a network of six ski areas that stretches from Nauders all the way to Sulden am Ortler.
© schoeneben.it
Italy is a fantastic choice for families with its laid-back atmosphere, top-notch cuisine and gorgeous scenery. But if you’re planning a family ski holiday in the Alps, you’ve loads of choices apart from Italy. Austria’s Serfauss-Fiss-Ladis ski area, for example, has a host of childcare offers and a fun mascot called Murmli. Over in France, the Famille Plus label makes it easy to find a ski resort that will be adapted to your family’s needs.
Family ski holidays
Dancing on tables at après-ski was fun back in the day, but with young children in tow, the image of your ideal ski resort will have to shift a little! If you’re trying to plan the perfect family ski holiday in the Alps, you’ll need to scope out a ski resort that has beginner-appropriate terrain and, ideally, some children’s discounts and family-friendly facilities! The sunny region of South Tyrol in Italy is particularly popular with young families, but there are plenty of other ski resorts with kids’ skiing areas, ski cross, you name it. Below are ten of our favourite ski resorts for families in Italy.
Kronplatz offers wide, gentle slopes with almost no trees, the perfect conditions for children and beginners to practise their turns. Various children’s areas, a safety park and a children’s restaurant at this South Tyrolean ski resort promise a wonderful ski holiday for the young and the young-at-heart. Young parents will be delighted to know that in addition to children’s ski lessons, there is also childcare available for tots as young as 6 months. With 119km of pistes, Kronplatz has something for everybody.
Kronplatz (© Ferienregion Kronplatz)
Alta Badia is a staple in the Italian skiing scene. Opened in 1947, the ski resort has grown from one lift to an impressive 53, and 130km of slopes. This is the ideal choice for families with young children as children under the age of 8 will receive a free lift pass when accompanied by a parent who has bought an identical pass.
Alta Badia (© Alta Badia By Freddy Planinschek)
100km of slopes at the foot of the 3 Zinnen Dolomites provide guaranteed winter fun against the breathtaking backdrop of the Dolomites. Especially popular with families is the Haunold; a kids’ ski cross route and a toboggan track are complemented by a series of magic carpets that make the first turns on skis an easy and fun experience. Relax at the end of the ski day in a family-friendly mountain restaurant.
(© Tschurtschenthaler Christian)
If you’re not convinced by the excellent snow conditions and gorgeous scenery, you might be drawn to Seiser Alm (aka Alpe di Siusi) for the mouthwatering South Tyrolean cuisine and friendly hospitality. The ski area is characterised with mostly beginner and intermediate slopes, perfect for a family ski holiday. First-time skiers can lace together turns and learn the safety rules under the watchful eye of Nix the witch, while teens can explore the snow park, one of Italy’s best.
© Seiseralm.it
The sunniest ski area in South Tyrol, Val di Fassa-Carezza sits on the shores of the picturesque Lake Karer, with impressive panoramic views of Rosengarten and Latemar. With 41km of pistes and a purpose-built children’s area, this ski resort is the perfect size for little ones to build confidence. If the kids are past that stage already, the wide slopes are also great for progressive intermediate skiers and snowboarders.
Val di Fassa (© Archivio Immagini ApT Val di Fassa)
Schnalstal is a glacier ski area with around 30km of pistes. Children under 10 pay a nominal fee of only 3 euros per day for a lift pass when accompanied by a parent here, making it a very attractive option indeed. If you’re up to it, the 8km Smuggler’s Run presents a nice challenge for intermediate skiers and boarders. Thanks to its snow conditions, Schnalstal is a popular training centre for professional downhill and cross-country skiers.
© schnalstal.com
Sunny Meran 2000 is best-known for its rustic mountain huts and many days of sunshine. 40km of ski slopes, especially geared towards children and beginners, await skiers and boarders at this Italian ski resort. Family lift passes are easy on the wallet, and if you’re bored of skiing there is a host of other winter activities to try out. Meran 2000 is also well-adapted for people with mobility problems, meaning everyone can enjoy this lovely ski resort.
© Meran 2000
The Gitschberg Jochtal ski resort in Italy’s South Tyrol region has 50km of ski slopes for the whole family. Gimmy the mascot watches benevolently over tiny skiers in the children’s park while parents relax on the sunny terraces of traditional mountain huts and sample the regional delicacies. The Happy Family Festival kicks off the ski season in style.
Eisacktal (© Ski- & Almenregion Gitschberg Jochtal)
Klausberg has just 32km of slopes but families will find everything they need here. Besides the snow-sure ski area, a definite highlight for families is the Klausberg-Flitzer alpine coaster. It’s the longest alpine coaster in Italy and is open year-round. A ride is included with every ski pass so you’ve no excuse not to try it out!
© Klausberg
The sun-drenched Schöneben and Haideralm ski area has 7 lifts and abundant terrain for children and beginners. When you get tired of skiing, take a detour to the nearby Reschensee and try skating, kiting or even ice sailing! Parents, challenge yourselves with the terrain in the linked Zwei Lander Ski Arena, a network of six ski areas that stretches from Nauders all the way to Sulden am Ortler.
© schoeneben.it
Italy is a fantastic choice for families with its laid-back atmosphere, top-notch cuisine and gorgeous scenery. But if you’re planning a family ski holiday in the Alps, you’ve loads of choices apart from Italy. Austria’s Serfauss-Fiss-Ladis ski area, for example, has a host of childcare offers and a fun mascot called Murmli. Over in France, the Famille Plus label makes it easy to find a ski resort that will be adapted to your family’s needs.
Born and raised in the ski paradise of Vancouver, Canada, I learned to ski before I can remember, balancing precariously on my parents’ skis as they sailed down the hill. I started snowboarding in my teens and am now delighted to be exploring everything Europe’s ski scene has to offer!
