Sestriere

Sestriere Ski Resort

The 2006 Olympic host resort of Sestriere offers the most snowsure slopes in the Milky Way, a vast 400km network of interconnected, intermediate pistes.

For a relatively dry part of the Alps, Sestriere is the most snowsure ski area. Not only are the local slopes all above 2000m, but 60% are now covered with snowmaking to aid what falls from the sky naturally. The slopes to the east of the resort are amongst the steepest in the entire area – including former Olympic racetracks – and there is some good off piste if conditions allow. The Fraiteve side of the mountain is less steep and the long, top to bottom blue (piste 26) is a great cruise. Access is then available to the rest of the Milky Way and its 400km of slopes from here.

Sestriere was Italy’s first purpose built resort and is thus incredibly convenient. It is very much ski in ski out and the revamp completed for the 2006 Winter Olympics only improved it further. Sestriere may not be the prettiest resort, but the convenience, allied with affordable prices make this a great base for your ski holiday.

Our Sestriere Resort Ratings

• Beginner ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
• Intermediate ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
• Advanced ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
• Snow Reliability ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
• Fast Lifts ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
• Resort Activities ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
• Après ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆
• Value ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Sestriere Skiing and Snowboarding

The local slopes are home to an excellent beginner zone at the edge of the village, from which there is good progression on to longer blues. Intermediates will really enjoy the longer reds at Nuevo Nube and also those across the valley from the Fraiteve gondola down to Sansicario. There are also some much steeper challenges off the Banchetta and Cit Roc chairlifts – but note that the black ratings here are perhaps a little flattering.

The rest of the Mily Way is mostly suited to intermediate skiers, who have an almost limitless choice of terrain across the 400km linked area – which includes Sauze d’Oulx, Sansicario, Claviere, Cesana Torinese and Montgenèvre.

• Total Pistes: 400km
• Blue: 24%
• Red: 55%
• Black: 21%
• Lifts: 63
• Altitude: 1372m (Sestriere sits at 2035m) – 2749m

Sestriere Piste Map

The local area map can be downloaded here.

Sestriere Resort

The purpose built resort is very convenient and much of the accommodation is located right next to the slopes or at the most a very short walk away from the lifts. A number of good value hotels can be found in the town, whilst the former Olympic Village provides affordable self-catered accommodation, right at the foot of the slopes.

There are some decent restaurants and a couple of bars to explore in the evenings, but generally the après ski and evening scene is pretty chilled here – if you’re looking for more of a buzz and a better nightlife scene then head to Sauze d’Oulx.

How to get to Sestriere

Sestriere is one of the most accessible resorts in the Alps and can be reached in around an hour and a half via car from Turin airport. The resort is also only thirty minutes from the train station at Oulx – which itself is around an hour and a half from Turin airport. Milan is two and a half hours away.

• Turin airport: 1.5 hours (driving) or 2.5 hours (by train)
• Milan airports: 2.5 hours (driving)

Sestriere Contact Details

• Website: www.turismotorino.org
• Email: info.sestriere@tursimotorino.org
• Telephone: +39 01 15 35 181
• Facebook: @Sestrierefanpage