Winter

From the large ski resorts in the Turin and Cuneo areas, to the more secluded resorts with views of Monte Rosa and the lakes between Valsesia and Ossola, to the Biella Pre-Alps overlooking the Po Valley: winter in Piedmont has much to offer! With1,350 km of slopes and over 50 peaks that exceed 4,000 metres (Monviso, Monte Rosa and the Gran Paradiso massif), high-quality accommodation facilities, state-of-the-art facilities, Piedmont is an incomparable mix of outdoor activities and Alpine flair, in landscapes that convey well-being. A mosaic of routes and itineraries and many activities to choose from: downhill skiing, snowboarding, ski mountaineering, kite skiing, sledging, skating, ice skating and fat biking, wild watching and high-energy snowshoeing or walking on the white tracks of the cross-country ski trails. After so much movement, you can then enjoy the unmistakable flavours of the Piedmontese Alps après-ski in a mountain hut, trattoria or panoramic restaurant.

Dog sledding is an increasingly popular winter sport in Italy, but also an original and fun way to discover the snowy landscapes: an excursion in the snow on a sled pulled by dogs. What’s needed? Winter trekking clothing or ski clothing, trekking boots and a great desire to have fun and be in close contact with the dogs. If you’re eager to discover beautiful winter landscapes on a dog sled: here are the best destinations for dog sled lovers to enjoy the experience, obviously, in winter time in Italy.

The ski area in the province of Sondrio offers around 60 kilometres of slopes and holds the record for Europe's largest cable car. The Snow Eagle, in the comune of Chiesa in Valmalenco, has cabins for 160 people and takes you along a 1,000-metre tramway in just four minutes, offering breathtaking views of the Alps as you are transported to the ski area quickly and comfortably.

Recoaro Terme, thermal baths in the province of Vicenza, is nestled in the beautiful Conca di Smeraldo, at the foot of the little Dolomites. It is the ideal location for a relaxing day trip dedicated to outdoor activities, health and wellbeing. The magic of this place is due to its well known healing waters, which flow from various springs that are used for healing thermal baths, in the historic complex of Recoaro thermal baths.

Spectacular ski runs and engaging trails, where to devote yourself to ski as well as to freeriding, cross-country skiing, snow-kiting or take on an exciting off-track ride: in central and southern Italy there are many (sensational) destinations where to enjoy snow sports. The most renowned destinations include Gran Sasso and Mount Etna, Aspromonte and La Sila plateau, Abetone, but also Terminillo, Alto Sangro and the Samnite Apennines, between Molise and Campania. In central and southern Italy, there are more than one hundred ski areas for skiers and snowboarders, with both soft and challenging slopes, that attracts many enthusiasts every winter. So not just the Alps: also the Apennines offer emotions to all people visiting in winter. Which are the most interesting ski areas in central and southern Italy?

It was Le Corbusier, the famous French naturalised Swiss architect, town planner, painter and designer, who called them “the most beautiful architectural work in the world”. A paradise for those who love sport, untouched nature, uncompromising mountains and traditional flavours: the Dolomites, the legendary mountain range of the Eastern Alps, a UNESCO World Heritage List site. The so-called “pale mountains” are distributed over three regions, Trentino Alto Adige, Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia. An absolutely unique habitat in which to enjoy breathtaking views.

In the Upper Tagliamento Valley, the Forni di Sopra ski resort is the perfect ski holiday for those seeking fun, sports and relaxation, far from the crowds, in the enchanting scenery of the Friulian Dolomites Natural Park, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009. The ski resort of Forni di Sopra, which rises up from 900 to 2,500 metres above sea level, offers activities to suit everyone, with downhill slopes, cross-country trails, a well-equipped snow park, ski mountaineering and hiking routes, ice climbing, an ice rink and a sports centre with facilities dedicated to wellness and indoor activities.

Surrounded by the extraordinary landscape of the Dolomites, with 450 ski lifts and 1,200 kilometers of ski slopes in twelve different ski areas where you can ski with just one single ski pass, Dolomiti Superski is one of the largest and most exciting ski areas in the world. Each of the twelve Dolomiti Superski areas boasts a number of one-of-a-kind features that are worth knowing about. Let's find out about them.

Are you planning a skiing week? Did you know that Emilia Romagna is perfect for people who love mountain sports? Thanks to the longest bob track in the Apennines, descents for expert skiers and beginners alike and fun snow parks for snowboarders and freestylers, this beautiful region is an unmissable destination for a skiing holiday. Here are 3 places to choose from:

The Milan - Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics is scheduled for February 6th to the 22nd 2026: two electrifying weeks of pure competition, showcasing the best athletes in the world involved in 16 different disciplines. In the meantime, why not explore the places that will host this unmissable international event and learn about the activities and events scheduled? Here are the places and activities so that you can already start to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the Milan - Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.

It was once also renowned for a spring of iron-rich water of various qualities, which has since been lost. It rises in a basin, between Bormio, the Stelvio Pass and the Passa Gavia, at the foot of the mountains of the Ortles Cevedale group and there is no season when mountain lovers cannot appreciate it. Of course, skiing is the reigning discipline here. Santa Caterina Valfurva hosted the Women's Alpine Skiing World Championships and several Alpine and Nordic Skiing World Cup races in 1985. Its real attraction is the slope dedicated to Deborah Compagnoni, a three-time Alpine skiing gold medallist, inaugurated for the World Championships in 2005 and illuminated at night to allow moonlight skiing. It is over three kilometres long, reaches a gradient of 75 per cent (only in some places) and is one of the most varied and exciting slopes in the entire Alpine region. In the heart of the Stelvio National Park, the ski area is a true jewel of nature and snow-capped peaks. An oasis where you can find tranquillity amidst the mountain scenery.

The slopes are perfect, the mountain scenes captivating, Paneveggio forest enchanting, the services and entertainment rich and varied. Not to mention the enrosadira, the spectacle of sunset on the Dolomite mountains, where the rocks glow rosey pink as the sun goes down. So mesmerising it will take your breath away, the Pale di San Martino puts on quite a show.

In Veneto, wellness and nature combine perfectly at the spas of Abano and Montegrotto. These thousand-year-old spas, well-known to the Ancient Romans, now offer specialised and modern centres for relaxation and preventive health, in a natural park to be explored on foot or on horseback, in the evocative landscape of the Euganean Hills. In the two main spa towns and throughout the surrounding area, you will find architectural works, ancient villages, museums, castles and ancient residences that are all worth a visit.

If we love to enjoy the beneficial power of spas, we owe it above all to the Romans, who, borrowing the traditions of neighbouring Greece and exploiting the area’s natural springs, made the practice of bathing in these beneficial waters an integral part of Italian identity, laying the foundations of a wellness culture. Fortunately, Lazio was and remains one of the richest regions in terms of natural springs. These can be found throughout the region, each with its own particular characteristics. The most interesting are definitely the outdoor hot water spas – pure oases of pleasure where you can find yourself and relax. You have the choice between natural springs that are free of charge, and those that are within organised facilities, including luxury spas, where you can combine a visit to the pools with aesthetic and medical treatments. If you have chosen to spend your summer holidays visiting the wonders of Rome and the surrounding area, with its rich history and natural beauty, don’t miss the opportunity to visit one of the many outdoor thermal pools in Lazio. Here is are some sites that are worth a visit.

The power of nature has incredible effects on psycho-physical well-being and Emilia Romagna, among picturesque villages and quiet valleys surrounded by greenery, one of the most beautiful Italian destinations for wellness tourism. A region where it is easy to enjoy authentic experiences, whether you choose to immerse yourself in history, take advantage of the therapeutic power of the spas or enjoy the renowned cuisine. Wellness tourism in these parts can be found in a thousand ways and it takes very little to unwind, relieve tensions and rediscover deep relaxation. Have you ever tried, after a stressful day, to walk in the woods surrounded by trees and plants or to walk barefoot in the vegetation? The body's response was certainly not far behind, with renewed optimism and an almost forgotten sense of peace. In Romagna there is no shortage of opportunities to indulge in these experiences and, whether for a short weekend or a longer stay, the art of good living can be breathed in every corner. Choosing a destination is not the only essential step in ensuring a wellness holiday. Planning an itinerary in advance is always a good idea. Seeking the support of a local expert, both before and during the tour, is another useful tip to discover hidden curiosities and glimpses of a destination you are getting to know for the first time. A final tip is to think of a slow journey, one that allows you to savour every moment, without the urge to see as much as possible and end up getting tired without appreciating anything.

'Mens sana in corpore sano' said the Romans, perhaps thinking of Ischia and its thermal baths. As the thermal properties of the island were known as far back as the Roman Empire, water and mud were likely already used for creams and cosmetics. Ischia offers various options for those in need of specific cures or treatments or, more simply, for those who have made wellness their philosophy of life. Here then is an itinerary among the colourful thermal gardens, natural springs and the magic of fumaroles. From Molo Beverello in Naples, boarding a ferry or hydrofoil, it takes less than an hour to reach Ischia, an island that from the sea reveals itself as a block of rock and Mediterranean scrub and that contains within itself a microcosm of environments with a character that is anything but homogenous. The climate is mild all year round, the nature lush and untamed, the sea crystal clear, the beaches a dream, the towns picturesque. And if you add to all this the thermal waters, the island's true natural heritage, it is evident why Ischia is at the top of the rankings of favourite destinations for tourists from all over the world.

Busy lives, full agendas and multiple worries: being, or feeling, stressed is a condition that many people share. So why not recharge your batteries by treating yourself to some relaxation away from work and everyday life? Spas in winter can regenerate you, and the good news is that Italy is full of facilities, spas and thermal centres where you can reconnect with yourself. If you are looking for ideas for a romantic weekend or a wellness weekend among thermal baths, outdoor pools and invigorating massages, here are some beautiful spas in Italy also open in winter.

To regenerate mind and body there is nothing like a spa treatment, excellent for relaxing but above all for taking care of your health in a targeted way. The thermal spa centers with mud and sulfur rich waters in Italy are pure excellence: distributed throughout the territory, they offer various treatments and offerings. There are also many luxury facilities where you can take care of yourself in an luxurious way. Treatments with thermal waters in Italy are well known and appreciated, but mud therapy is also particularly effective, thanks to the use of mud obtained from the mix of clays and thermal water that are placed all over the body or in particular areas. But what is mud for? Among the many benefits, it relieves muscle, rheumatic and chronic pain and dermatological or joint problems. Choosing the most suitable treatment for you is of course in the hands of your doctor who would be able to guide you in the best possible way. For some treatments Italian residents can benefit from agreements guaranteed by the Italian National Health System.