What makes Livigno one of the most popular skiing resorts in Italy?
Perhaps because it has a long season and lots of reliable snow, with slopes catering for varying abilities and dedicated areas for snowboarders. It will be a snowboarding venue for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics! There is also the bonus that Livigno is a duty-free enclave, making everything a little cheaper, especially the après-ski.
There is also something about Livigno’s remote location that adds to its appeal. It often feels like a world apart, and is known as ‘Little Tibet’ – not just because of its isolation but how cold it can get!
Where is Livigno?
Livigno is in the Alta Valtellina in the Lombardy region of northern Italy, very close to the Swiss border.
The village of Livigno, with the Carosello 3000 mountain to the left
Driving to Livigno from Calais
It takes around 12-13 hours to drive to Livigno from our Calais terminal. Travelling through France (with tolls) via Reims and Nancy, you cross into Switzerland at Basel, then follow the A3 Swiss motorway.
There are only two roads from Switzerland into Livigno, and one of them, the Fluella pass, is closed during winter because of the heavy snowfall in the area. You can take the rail transporter from Chur, and then drive through the Munt la Schera tunnel. Arriving by the banks of the Lago di Livigno is simply spectacular!
Alternatively, you can drive via Saint-Moritz and approach Livigno from the south.
One word of warning – it can sometimes get so cold that diesel freezes. If you are driving a diesel car try and fill up in Livigno, as the diesel sold there has an anti-freeze additive.
Use our skiing holiday checklist to make sure you have everything packed before you set off!
Exploring the resort
The ski area around the resort spreads out over the two sides of the valley, the Mottolino and the Carosello 3000. The ski areas on the two mountains are linked by a free bus service, and there is a car-free area in the town to make it safer to get around. Livigno is a long, linear resort, so make sure your accommodation is not too far from the slopes you will be using.
When can you ski in Livigno?
Livigno has one of the longest ski seasons in Italy, with snow on the slopes from late November right up to early May in some years. Its high altitude of 1,800 metres gives Livigno a reliable amount of snow.
Livigno’s ski area
Livigno has slopes for skiers of all abilities
Resort statistics
There are 115km of marked runs in total for skiers and snowboarders, including 30km of easy runs, 65km of intermediate runs and 20km of difficult runs. Further up each mountain there is more challenging terrain for intermediates and advanced skiers, including two black runs at 2,785 metres.
Mottolino Fun Mountain is one of the best snow parks in Italy, with 27 slopes, 60 structures for snowboarders and freeskiers, and freeride runs.
The long and technical Giorgio Rocca trail is a challenge for expert skiers, and families and beginners have some great opportunities to learn on the gentle lower slopes.
Beginners will be glad to know there are plenty of drag lifts near the village, and 32 lifts in all.
Snow conditions
Livigno is a snow-sure place to go. If it ever does thin out during the season, the resort has excellent snow making facilities and can cover 70% of the slopes.
The lake that often freezes during the season
Can you snowboard in Livigno?
Yes – in fact, Livigno is one of the best places to snowboard in Italy. The resort boasts several terrain parks set up for snowboarders of all abilities, including children, with plenty of different jumps, lines and wedges. The pistes are well maintained, and there are some exciting off-piste areas and a strong emphasis on safety. The World Snowboard Guide rates it 8/10, saying that ‘Livigno has nailed the freestyle scene’.
The resort is so well regarded that Livigno will host the snowboarding and freestyle skiing events at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Livigno's après-ski
A Bombardino is the perfect post-slope cocktail!
Being in a duty-free zone certainly helps people enjoy the nightlife in Livigno even more! The drinks are more reasonably priced than in most Alpine resorts, and there is plenty of variety, from cosy restaurants with crackling fires to trendy downtown bars with live bands and resident DJs. Choose from over 150 different nightspots in which to wind down after a long day on the slopes.
Make sure you try the Bombardino, the creamy egg liqueur invented in Lombardy. Topped with whipped cream and cinnamon, it is a staple on the Italian slopes and will give you all the warming winter feels.
Other activities in Livigno
Aquagranda water park
If you need to get away from the slopes for a few hours, head for the Aquagranda water park on the lake edge. It is the highest water park in Europe, featuring a swimming pool, water slides, family sauna room, spa treatments, gym and sunbeds. The site also has an outdoor athletics track, and in summer tennis courts and a beach volleyball court.
Museum of Livigno and Trepalle
The remote area of Livigno has a fascinating history, and this charming ethnographic museum in the town explores the way local people lived in the past through a range of displays and activities. You will find out how people worked, what they ate and the clothes they wore.
The winter wonderland of Livigno
Make the most of your ski holiday by travelling with Eurotunnel Le Shuttle
Ideal for all kinds of skiers from beginners to experts, and a snowboarding paradise, Livigno is a duty-free, snow-sure ski destination. Remember that the first part of your ski holiday is a 35-minute crossing from Folkestone to Calais on Eurotunnel Le Shuttle. Driving to your skiing holiday is a great way to travel, and means you can fit in more gear than a baggage allowance.