Skiing in Livigno: resort overview and accommodation

With an altitude of 1,800-3,000m, heavy snowfall is guaranteed between Nov and May; its duty-free status means that it is exceptionally cheap  – so is Livigno the new star of the Italian ski world?
Livigno is an Italian resort with a fantastic European following. As a duty free location, Livigno offers excellent prices if you are buying designer clothes, electronic goods, perfumes, alcohol, cigarettes, etc. It therefore attracts mostly the young, families and budget conscious groups of skiers and holidaymakers. It offers good value drinks, food and accommodation. There is an excellent choice of dining possibilities in some of the best and most reasonably priced restaurants in the ski dome. In fact the whole area offers a fun, laid back atmosphere. Livigno makes no claims to sophistication or airs about being a jet set destination. It is simply a good value, good fun, "lets do it" type of ski resort surrounded by breathtaking scenery and pretty wooden chalet style structures. At times, Livigno looks and feels like the quintessential winter wonderland.  The village itself is located in the most northern province of the Lombardy region.


Skiing in Livigno
For skiers, Livigno has excellent possibilities and is blessed with a more than adequate selection of skiable terrain. As the highest liveable resort in Europe, Livigno often has snow when lower resorts do not. Snowmaking facilities now also cover more than half of the pistes. The skiing on both sides of the valley is best suited to those of beginner and intermediate talents with little on tap for the real expert. With more than 30 lifts on both sides of the mountain and scores of ski pass sales points you will never be too far away from either a ski area or a place to buy your ticket. You might also like to know that each of Livigno's ski areas (6 in all) has its own website and most have their own ski school. Ski buses in Livigno are free with a valid ski pass.

Livigno has 12 black, 37 red and 29 blue pistes. Experienced skiers can satisfy their desire for speed on steep and long slopes among which the exciting Giorgio Rocca run. Families and beginners can use the easy runs and many of the well equipped fun areas for learning the basic techniques. The Little Tibet offers a modern network of lift installations: 6 cabin lifts, 13 chair lifts and 11 draglifts with a total capacity of 47.300 people per hour. For info about ski pass and prices: http://www.skipasslivigno.com/
Ice climbing can be undertaken on a range of frozen waterfalls. Livigno also has 3 rock climbing walls. There is also a bowling alley, sports centre, night-ski-dooing and many other activities to keep you busy off the slopes.


Refuges and après-ski
The distinguished gastronomical delights of the area are offered by the mountain refuges: from fast food, to self-service, to restaurants with wonderful alpine views. There are 10 or so mountain huts in Livigno. Mottolino, Camanel di Planon, Costaccia and Carosello refuges are able to satisfy the most demanding tastes with renowned Italian dishes that bring out the typical local products. Besides its refuges on the slopes and on the summits of the mountains, close to the lifts there are various bars and pubs that offer a wide range of drinks and snacks.
Livigno is also known for the liveliness of its "apres-ski". Those seeking an après-ski culture that is more than hearty need not look any further. One of the few places with real ambience is Kuhstull with live music, cabaret and karaoke.


Accommodation:
Holiday Homes in Italy offer a lovely chalet with self catering studio apartments only 150m from the lifts: Chalet Livigno


How to get to Livigno by Plane
- Innsbruck (Austria): 180 km
-Zurich (Switzerland): 200 km

Airport Transfer:
Livigno Express offers you the possibility to get to the ski slopes in a fast and comfortable way.You can choose one of the transfers from and to the major airports of Milano Malpensa, Bergamo Orio al Serio and Inssbruck and with a simple click you can create the service most suitable to your needs. Visit the website www.livignoexpress.com to have more information about the schedule, the prices or to buy your ticket online.


By Car:
From south-east via the Passo del Foscagno (2.291 m) and the Eira (2.210 m) along route nr. 301, connecting Livigno with Bormio and the Alta Valtellina
From south-west via the Passo della Forcola (2.315 m), connecting Livigno - from June to October - to Switzerland via the Poschiavo, the Tirano and the Media Valtellina
From the north via the Bernina (2.323 m) to the High Engadine (Pontresina, St. Moritz, Samedan and SilvaPlàna)
From north-east via the Strada del Gallo and the De La Schera tunnel to the Lower Engadine (Zernez).

By Train;
TRAIN AND BUS FROM MILAN: Train from Milan to Tirano - Ferrovie dello Stato Tirano -Tel. 0342.70.13.14 (information on local traffic only); or 89.20.21 www.trenitalia.com with bus connection from Tirano to Livigno (change at Bormio) Autobus Perego Bormio - Tel. 0342.90.50.90 http://www.busperego.com/

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