0
0
Share with your friends










Submit
  • Home
  • About
  • Advertising
  • Privacy
  • Property
  • Contact
  • Sitemap

Logo

Navigation
  • Ski Resorts
  • Where to Ski
  • How to Ski
  • Snow
    • Snow Report
  • Gear
    • Ski Clothing
    • Ski Equipment
  • Family Skiing
  • Ski Holidays
  • Deals
  • Summer

Why You Should Ski Livigno

By Arnie Wilson | on April 10, 2014 | 6 Comments
Ski Resorts
Ski Livigno | Welove2ski

Photo: © Arnie Wilson.

It takes a long time to get to Livigno (at least 2½ hours by car from Innsbruck – 177km – and anything up to 4 hours by bus). Not for nothing is this remote ski area dubbed “Piccolo Tibet”. But once you’re there, it takes a long time to explore the Italian resort – both on and off the slopes. And – having travelled so far – there’s a huge choice of hotels. The village is a straggling ribbon development that’s strung out for 20km along a valley that comes to a full stop in the winter, denying easy access to the nearby Swiss border. There’s skiing on both sides of the valley: the Mottolino slopes reach 2710m, and the Cistaccia/Carosello terrain tops out at 2795m. Here are four reasons to visit:

The Great Snow

Ski Livigno | Welove2ski

Redundant snow-cannons. Photo: © Michel Cranmer.

Livigno is one of the highest ski villages in the Alps – in fact the satellite village of Trepalle claims to be Europe’s highest inhabited parish – and has an excellent snow record. This winter was consistently good and we found wonderful conditions on April 1 (and we’re not joking). Even when we left a few days later, slightly chilly early mornings were keeping the snow in good condition on both sides of the valley. The large collection of snow-guns we encountered – corralled on the Mottolino mountainside – were almost redundant all season through, glinting in the sunshine like a flock of unrequired robots.
 


 

The Extensive Slopes

So Long Livigno | Welove2ski

Photo: © Mario Mottini/Turismo Livigno.

There’s masses of skiing, especially for intermediates who will thrive on the wide open motorway pistes, although the comparative lack of trees (which gives the resort a bleak ambience if the sun isn’t shining) makes the terrain a little samey. With 114km of pistes served by 30 lifts, you won’t run out of different runs. Strong experienced skiers and snowboarders would benefit from hiring a guide to explore the extensive off-piste. Even better, take advantage of some exceptional heli-skiing at comparatively moderate prices: 250€ buys you two descents totalling at least 2000 vertical metres.
 


 

It’s Duty Free!

So Long Livigno | Welove2ski

Photo: © Turismo Livigno.

Because it’s so isolated and for a long period had a history of poverty – no longer the case with the advent of tourism – Livigno still has a special tax status (first granted by Napoleon in 1805, so the story goes). It’s a duty-free area – inhabitants pay income tax but there’s no Italian VAT so tourists (and locals) can take advantage of some useful bargains, especially the tax-free petrol  at not much more than 1€ per litre. Other duty-free products include shoes, souvenirs, cigarettes and tobacco, alcoholic drinks, perfumes, cameras, electronic devices and leather goods. Even apart from its duty-free status, Livigno is more moderately priced than most ski areas in France, Switzerland or Austria.

Great Food in Town – And in Some Mountain Restaurants Too

Why Go To Livigno | Welove2ski

Photo: © Carosello 3000.

We ate handsomely at our hotel – the Cristallo (dogs made welcome!) but the highlight was La Stüvetta gourmet restaurant at the Carosello 3000 where a gated outdoor section (ideal in good weather, or enhanced inside by a heart-warming pre-prandial Bombardino in less clement weather) offers superb fish dishes with a truly stunning mountain backdrop. Lobster, washed down with prosecco after a morning’s heli-skiing takes some beating.

One Reason Not to Go to Livigno

There’s no escaping the fact that it’s a long way! But the route from Innsbruck is certainly scenic, and it’s worth it when you get there.

So Long Livigno | Welove2ski

Photo: © Turismo Livigno/Fabio Borga.

Fact Box

Crystal Ski offers a week half board at Hotel Cristallo from £785pp including Gatwick flights and resort transfers. Direct flights from all major UK airports available at a supplement starting at £20pp. Kids’ price is from £643 (sharing a room with parents). For more information on the resort and future events visit the Livigno website.

Ski Livigno | Welove2ski

Livigno heli-skiing. Photo: © Vicky Norman.

Share this story:
  • tweet

Tags: Ski Resorts

Recent Posts

  • Morzine – For Skiing and Non-Skiing

    March 8, 2023 - 0 Comment
  • Six Reasons We Love Going to St Anton by Train

    February 1, 2023 - 0 Comment
  • 7 of the Best Wines to Sip on A Dolomites Ski Trip

    January 24, 2023 - 1 Comment

Related Posts

  • Innsbruck: the Perfect Base for a Ski Weekend or a Freewheeling Ski Safari

    January 18, 2023 - 1 Comment
  • Gurgl, Austria: High, Snowsure and Charming

    December 31, 2022 - 0 Comment
  • Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn: Four Resorts In A Huge Ski Area

    December 2, 2022 - 0 Comment

Author Description

Arnie Wilson

Arnie Wilson spent 15 years in television - 10 of them as a news and current affairs reporter - before becoming the Financial Times ski correspondent in 1986. In 1994 he skied every day for a year - a feat which took him to 240 resorts in 13 countries around the world, and into The Guinness Book of Records. In 2001 he took over the Ski Club of Great Britain's magazine, Ski+board, editing more than 50 issues before resuming his freelance career in 2014.

6 Responses to “Why You Should Ski Livigno”

  1. Avatar

    April 8, 2014

    @welove2ski Reply

    Some of the reasons to ski Livigno: https://t.co/IeHPycpbjt – great snow, extensive slopes, good food…and it’s duty free too!

  2. Avatar

    April 8, 2014

    @Marionski Reply

    Why You Should Ski Livigno | Welove2ski https://t.co/xsD5uSEIzv via @welove2ski

  3. Avatar

    October 1, 2014

    Williamjack Reply

    The best time of the year is here! It’s unfortunate that winter has come and gone but the ski season always saves the very best for last. Spring is a beautiful thing and we are loving it.

  4. Avatar

    October 1, 2014

    Peter Marker Reply

    Livigno is one of the highest ski villages and there’s a huge choice of hotels

  5. Avatar

    October 1, 2014

    carenstephen Reply

    livigno is the place which is covered by snow round the year…so skining is one of the favourite sport over here…including this you can enjoy the climate..which is suitable for your vaccation

  6. Avatar

    October 1, 2014

    stigmanmichael Reply

    My whole family was delighted after visiting this place. By far it is the best destination I have ever encountered.Trust me, visit Livigno and find yourself lost in its scenic beauty.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Free Updates

Join 16,000 clever people who get the latest Welove2ski content delivered to their inbox

RSSSubscribe 15168 Followers 10135 Fans

The Loveometer

Zermatt: Cool Chalets, Certain Snow and The Majestic Matterhorn
100 %
Tweenager Tips: How to Enjoy Ski Holidays with Older Kids
98 %
How to Go Green On Your Ski Holiday
98 %
St Anton, Austria: Wild Nights, Steep Pistes and Challenging Backcountry
97 %
Weird and Wonderful Ski Fads and Fashions
94 %
  • Home
  • About
  • Advertising
  • Privacy
  • Property
  • Contact
  • Sitemap
© 2020. All Rights Reserved. Created with love by WL2S